text:
EYE MUSIC
a section of Michael Shannon's "Matrix" as completed by Tanith Lanzillotta
eyemusic at ribexibalba dot com
"Fans of the avant should investigate Eye Music whose existence shocks and pleases me. I'm appalled that no local college or university in Washington has an ensemble dedicated to performing graphic scoresÑnontraditional notation usually made up of lines, words, and symbols. So I'm grateful that Eye Music, which includes Stuart Dempster, Dissonant Plane cofounder Eric Lanzillotta, Esther Sugai, and Dean Moore, continues to champion such overlooked music." - Christopher DeLaurenti, The Stranger
Taoist Studies Institute
225 North 70th Street, Seattle
https://www.taoiststudiesinstitute.org/
8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM
$15-$20 donation
Eye Music have released a recording of Toshi Ichiyanagi's 1963 composition "Sapporo". Recorded at Jack Straw Productions with a grant from the 2010 Jack Straw Artist Support Program, this CD was published in Germany in May 2018 by the label Edition Wandelweiser Records.
Toshi Ichiyanagi (1933) is a Japanese composer that studied with John Cage. Cage's influence can be heard in the piece "Sapporo" which mixes sustained tones with sharply attacked sounds. Each performer plays from a different page of lines and points with the only synchronization being in the form of notations to listen to or watch the other players.
Details about the CD and a sound sample can be found at https://www.wandelweiser.de/_e-w-records/_ewr-catalogue/ewr1801.html
photographs by Carl Lierman
Originally formed in August 2006 to perform a student composition by Sune Smedeby, Eye Music has continued to focus on playing graphic scores since that time. Graphic scores are written musical compositions that rely on visual information rather than standard notation to convey musical ideas. Often these scores are as beautiful to look at just as they are intriguing to play. In addition to graphic scores, Eye Music has also plays text scores which consist of verbal instructions for music making. In all cases, the scores used by the ensemble allow for a certain amount of openness in interpretation. These are musical pieces selected for the possibilities they inspire. They often require improvisation on the part of each performer because much can be interpreted differently each time a piece is played. However, they maintain a sense of form in one or more areas making the pieces a group activity in reaching a common goal. The openness of these compositions allows Eye Music to draw its membership from a wide range of musical backgrounds, instrumentation, and musical skill. Whenever possible, the ensemble works with guest composers on their pieces to gain a greater appreciation for possible approaches and considerations in performance of these works.
Members of the ensemble include:
Amy Denio is a multi-instrumentalist composer and singer based in Seattle, WA. Home-taper since the Dark Ages of Analogue, she started her label Spoot Music in 1986, with the release of her first cassette, 'No Bones.' Since then, she's recorded & released other cassettes, LPs and 35 CDs created solo and with an array of international musicians. She has been creating & producing soundscores for dance, theater and film since 1983.
Noel Kennon is a violist, dishwasher, record collector, instrument builder and composer living in Seattle, WA.
Dave Knott: (Animist Orchestra, Greasy, No Clocks No Clues, Anomalous Records Thursday Nights above the Artificial Limb Company, Messenger Girls Trio, Ready Made Ensemble, Metaphonic Orchestra, inscrutable-d). Solo and group electro and/or acoustic improvisation & composition using natural & artificial materials, original as well as traditional stringed instruments. With particular interests in timbre, listening practice, the tension between utility and aesthetics of music & the forms exposed through exercises in instability.
Susie Kozawa, a sound artist, composer and performer, works mostly with sound collages and site-specific installations, in which the gathering of sounds is a primary activity. She explores different acoustic spaces using musical instruments she makes out of found objects, kelp, modified toys and human voice. She creates live sound design for dance and theater productions. She was a founding member of Aono Jikken Ensemble and has been a Foley type sound artist to Guy Madden's "live spectacle performance" of his silent film Brand Upon The Brain! that performed in Seattle, Portland, Sao Paulo and Winnipeg. Recently she designed the sound score with Esther Sugai for Serge Gregory's film "When Herons Dream". Most recently she had been featured in the artist portrait documentary "Degrees of Inspiration" along with Britta Johnson and Lori Goldston by filmmaker Gabriel Miller. She also creates sound collages from field recordings of found sounds. She is a member of the Seattle Phonographers Union. She has permanent public art installations with visual artist Erin Shie Palmer for the new Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle.
Eric Lanzillotta is the director of Eye Music and founder of Anomalous Records, Ri Be Xibalba and the magazine Bixobal. Recordings of his work have been released on CD and vinyl by Selektion, Alluvial Recordings, Beta-lactam Ring Records, RRRecords, EE Tapes, Jnana Records, and Cold Spring. He has had no formal musical training.
Carl Lierman is a self taught visual artist and sound composer. He is co-founder of FotoCircle Gallery in downtown Seattle in the 90Õs, and a member of Gyre. His work has been heard in Iancu Dumitrescu's 1st Annual Computer Music Festival in Bucharest, and the Center on Contemporary Art's "People Doing Strange Things With Electricity TooÓ.
Michael Shannon	is a sound/recording artist, musician, photographer, and performer of experimental media, based in Seattle. He began performing in the punk clubs of San Francisco in the late 1970's evolving performance and sound designs through various venues and media, specializing in the use of a variety of string instruments from Asia, percussion, sound objects, and electronics. In San Francisco, he began Joy Street Studios, the name for all of his sound art productions and his studio in 1983, to the present. First releases of audio works in the form of cassettes began in 1987, followed by an LP 'Laguz' on Anomalous Records and CDs on various labels around the world. Presently a member of Seattle-based performing groups Gyre, Eye Music, Echore, Aono Jikken Ensemble, Animist Orchestra, Broken Mask (Bay Area). Past San Francisco bands: Appliances, Kahunas, KuKuKu, Earnerve, Joyo, Lethal Gospel.
David Stanford: First instrument was saxophone. Began theory lessons, piano lessons, and self-instruction on guitar several years later. Graduated Cornish College of the Arts (B.M., 2000). Has played with Gamelan Pacifica, Seattle City Gamelan, animist orchestra, and has collaborated with a number of different choreographers and video artists. Current focus is on playing natural objects, amplification/electronics, and (when access permits) prepared piano.
Esther Sugai is a flutist and composer. She is a founding member of the Aono Jikken Ensemble and also performs with the Fisher Ensemble. She has a Masters degree in Music Composition from the University of Utah, where she studied with electronic music pioneer Vladimir Ussachevsky. Esther has received grants from Meet The Composer and ASCAP and is a past Seattle Arts Commission Composer-in-Residence.
Jonathan Way is a translator of Asian texts as well as a sound artist. He is probably best known for playing with the Seattle Phonographers Union. He has also released a CDR on Greg Davis' Autumn Records and a track on the phonography.org 7 compilation.
past members of the ensemble include:
Stuart Dempster Ð Sound Gatherer - trombonist, composer, didjeriduist, et al, and Professor Emeritus at University of Washington, is best known for creative beautiful, rich acoustic drones in reverberant natural spaces and for commissions for trombone by Berio, Erb, Erickson, Krenek, Oliveros, Suderburg, and many others. He has recorded for numerous labels including Columbia, Nonesuch, and New Albion. The latter includes In the Great Abbey of Clement VI at Avignon - a "cult classic" - and Underground Overlays from the Cistern Chapel consisting of music sources for a 1995 Merce Cunningham Dance Company commission. Grants include: Creative Associate at SUNYAB; Fellow, Center for Advanced Study, University of Illinois; Fulbright Scholar (Australia); NEA Composer Grant; US/UK and Guggenheim Fellowships. Dempster, a leading figure in development of trombone technique and performance, published his landmark book The Modern Trombone: A Definition of Its Idioms in 1979. Dempster has had a front row seat in the world of avant garde music having played in the world premiere of Terry Riley's minimalist masterpiece In C and the US premiere of Cornelius Cardew's Treatise. He has worked with artists as diverse as Merce Cunningham, Luciano Berio, Folke Rabe, Jani Christou, The Nihilist Spasm Band, Yuji Takahashi, Lesli Dalaba, William O. Smith, Sheri Cohen, Dave Knott, Ellen Fullman, David Tudor, John Cage, Wu Man, and Greg Powers. Most important of his musical collaborators is Pauline Oliveros, with whom he founded the Deep Listening Band.
Jay Hamilton studied music composition at Fairhaven College on the campus of Western Washington University with Americole Biasini and Dr. E. LaBounty. He has attended the workshops of Kenneth Gaburo, David Mahler, Meredith Monk, and Pauline Oliveros. Since 1973 Jay has been active as a composer/performer working primarily with instruments of his own design and construction, using just intonation for the basic tuning. In 1982 he formed the Quixotic String Ensemble with adults who had little musical experience.
Robert j Kirkpatrick is a self-taught performer of the wire strung harp which he plays with various preparations and electronics.
Dean Moore is a versatile percussionist who performs with many ensembles and also as a solo performer. Over the past two years he has specialized in playing gongs and other resonant metals. Dean has been working with Garrett Fisher and the Fisher Ensemble since 2005. He has performed with The Aono Jikken Ensemble. Starting with their piece 'Eclipse', and most recently part of a live foley team performing an original foley sound score for Guy Maddin's latest silent film 'Brand Upon The Brain'. Dean has performed and composed music for local dance companies and was also a founding member of Circus Contraption.
Other members of the ensemble have included Marshall Bialas, Rachael Jackson, Taina Karr, Rob Millis, Tanith Lanzillotta, Matt Shoemaker, and Marcia Takamura.
photograph by Rachael Lanzillotta


This year at Trinity Elementary we are learning from each other as different teachers create and lead professional development. Teachers have been learning about how to integrate social studies standards in their ELA block. Mrs. Heflin, 5th Grade ELA teacher is leading four sessions on using social studies themes to create stimulating cross-curricular lessons that meet reading and writing standards too. This week Mrs. Heflin showed teachers how to use primary sources in their ELA lessons.


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Visa Requirements for Iceland: What You Need to Know
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and travel: The situation around the world is changing dramatically. Various governments have changed their travel warnings to restrict travel during this time. To understand how this may impact cover under your policy, please go to our FAQs and select your country of residence.
For the latest travel warnings and alerts around the world, read about lockdowns and border restrictions.
What type of documents do visitors to Iceland need? What if you're hoping to live or work here? Iceland local Marvi has the answers to your visa questions.
Photo © iStock/patpongs
Just visiting Iceland
Looking to stay in Iceland
Residence permitsfor Iceland
Insider tips and downloadable forms
The popularity of Iceland has also made me very popular with friends. Keeping track of departures and arrivals also forced me to become somewhat of an expert on the nitty gritty of getting here, and what type of documents are required.
Visas if you're just Visiting Iceland
Iceland is a signatory of the Schengen agreement, so if you already have a visa for the Schengen region or a resident/citizen of Schengen´s visa exception countries, it is unnecessary to get one. You can stay for 90 days without a visa. However, passports must be valid for 3 months over the date of departure from Iceland. Here is a list of countries whose citizens do not need a visa to come to Iceland.
If your country is not on the list, a visa is necessary. Here is a checklist of requirements that you need to submit. Except for Beijing and Moscow, Icelandic embassies do not accept visa applications. You can submit to these embassies.
Getting into the country with intentions of staying and working can be difficult. The degree of difficulty mainly depends on your answer to the following questions:
Are you a citizen or a permanent resident of an EU or EEA country?
Do you have a specialized skill that an Icelander or EU/EEA citizen does not have?
A yes to either of these means you can definitely move to Iceland without too much trouble. If you answered no to both, there is a longer and harder road ahead.
Residence Permits for Iceland
There are several categories of residence permits:
This permit is valid for one year only. It's not renewable or convertible to another residence permit. At the end of its validity, an au pair must leave and be away from Iceland for two years.
This permit applies to the spouse, cohabiting partner, parent over 67 years old, parent of a child in Iceland under 18 years old and a child under 18 years old with a parent in Iceland. The closest family member must be an Icelandic citizen, a Scandinavian citizen or a foreign citizen with a permanent residence permit in Iceland.
Work-based
Given to those who are coming to Iceland based on a shortage of workers, those who are athletes of exceptional talent and for qualified professionals with contracts. This type hinges on employer sponsorship. It ensures easier navigation through Icelandic bureaucracy.
This permit is for those who already have an acceptance letter from an accredited Icelandic university, an exchange student or someone who is doing an internship that is part of his/her studies. Full time students are allowed to work 15 hours a week after obtaining a work permit.
Special ties to Iceland
For these permits, what they usually look for are family ties and length of previous stay in Iceland.
Legitimate and special purpose
These permits apply to those who got sick while on a visit, those with a sick family member in Iceland, expecting a child with an Icelandic citizen or someone who is a party to a lawsuit and it is necessary to be in Iceland while litigation is ongoing.
Volunteers and missionaries
Those with proven relationships with charities and non-government organizations may apply for this permit. Here's where to find the detailed info for volunteers and missionaries.
It really helps if you know someone in Iceland who can write a guarantee letter for you. The letter must contain assurances that in case something happens, they will house, feed and clothe you. Also important is to put forward that they are gainfully employed and have contact information available (email, work and home phones, mobile number). Iceland also has a downloadable document that you can use.
If you have a Schengen visa issued by another country, your point of entry into the Schengen region should be in that country. You must also stay for a longer period there. Here is the official application form.
There has been a lot of interest from same sex couples to get married in Iceland. This is allowed as long as your visit is legal. A tourist visa counts.
By Marvi Gil,
World Nomads Contributor - Thu, 30 Nov 2017
Get a travel insurance quote for Iceland
Top 10 Must-Have Experiences in Iceland
From thundering waterfalls to Viking legends to the mesmerizing Northern Lights, Iceland is for lovers of nature and culture alike – and despite its chilly name, you won't find friendlier people anywhere.
Experience Reykjavik Like a Local
Iceland's capital packs plenty of culture and entertainment into a small space. Our insider James shares his tips on what to see and do, from hot spots to hidden gems.
Beyond the Blue Lagoon: Iceland's Best Hot Springs
The endless supply of hot water bubbling up from underneath Iceland's volcanic landscapes means there are scenic swimming holes everywhere. From check-list famous to tucked-away, here are some of the best.
Don't Be "That" Tourist: Responsible Travel in Iceland
With scenery this spectacular, it's no wonder Iceland is popular – but this small island nation is in danger of being overrun by tourists. Here's how to reduce your impact.
How To Cycle Safely in New Zealand
Motorbike Riding in Vietnam: Know Before You Go
What You Need To Know About Ski Safety in Japan
How to Stay Healthy and Safe on Your Trip to Japan
Visas for Japan: What Travelers Need to Know

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Today I am SO excited because I have a very special guest blogger. My handsome husband, Dustin, is coming on here to tell y'all about the building experience from his perspective. I can't wait for y'all to see it through his eyes and laugh at his jokes (he's definitely funnier than me). Enjoy!
About two years ago I forced Lindsey to watch another one of my cult classics (how I married a woman that can't recite Varsity Blues, Ghostbusters and Goodfellas from memory is beyond me), the Tom Hanks comedy The Burbs. We laughed aloud as the still funny, pre-Forrest Gump Tom and in-his-prime Cory Feldman destroyed their picturesque suburban neighborhood. However, it slowly dawned on me that soon spying on neighbors through our curtains and "walking the dog" to sneak a cigar would become my reality.
Fast forward 18 months and Lindsey and I were anxiously waiting at the neighborhood Bruegger's for a local relator to arrive. Rising rent, a couple of work promotions, and low interest rates had convinced us that we needed to start looking for a permanent home. Zillow had confirmed that it wouldn't be in our current Myers Park neighborhood. We had done some homework looking at various neighborhoods and Charlotte suburbs but were needing some professional guidance as we quickly realized we were in over our heads. Luckily, Debbie Stallings of Pegg Properties swooped in to help point us in the right direction.
I need to take a quick moment here to discuss HGTV. Personally, I believe HGTV is to house hunting what Pinterest is to weddings. Seems awesome at first, but you quickly realize that everyone's budget is bigger than yours, those prices don't add up, and how in the hell can two teachers have a $1.2 million budget???!!?? The worst part is the ideas it gives Lindsey. OOOOHHH the ideas. Also, House Hunters is fake and if you can't agree on open or closed floor plan you shouldn't be married.
Anyway, back to the story. Debbie was a Godsend that was quickly able to help us realize that our best bet was going to be new construction north of the city. We checked out some developments in Huntersville and Davidson over the course of a few weeks and were honestly getting a tad discouraged. We couldn't afford a couple of the neighborhoods that we really liked and/or they were nearly built out (which caused much higher home prices and decreased options). Some of the others weren't in great school districts (#adulting) or weren't near the restaurants, grocery stores, etc. we were looking for. Late one Saturday, we debated driving up to Mooresville to visit one last community. The ride up I-77 sucked, even by 77 standards and I wasn't in a great mood. However, once we arrived at Stafford at Langtree we were thrilled we had made the trek. It was a new community, nestled between Davidson and Mooresville with several floor plans that fit our needs, reasonable building costs, and only 30 minutes from Uptown Charlotte. Best of all, Uber was available in the area.
The next few weeks were a whirlwind. We decided that Taylor Morrison would be our preferred builder (Ryan Homes was the other option) based on floor plans and home quality and considered several home sites. We decided on one that backed up to a small field and wooded area, wrote a big check and signed paperwork the last week of May. Within a few days we were in the Taylor Morrison Design Center, spending several hours picking out every piece of our house. Hardwood color, tile, countertops, paint, front door, carpet, light fixtures, kitchen sink, toilet height- you name it and we chose it. We celebrated not getting divorced by walking over to Montford Street in Charlotte and over indulging to drown the pain of leaving the city and tying ourselves to 30 years of "memories"- although I'm sure Lindsey looked at it a little differently!
Over the course of the summer we would stop by the home site and check out the progress. Building a house this way is a little unique, as we didn't have any real input during the building process aside from a few meetings with Taylor Morrison. In some ways this could be frustrating as we weren't able to make any changes during the process, however in general I think it a blessing as we had little to argue or worry about during the actual build.
On November 30th we signed our mortgage paperwork and were handed the keys to our new home. It had turned out beautifully and we were excited to take the next step……at least until the lawyer's secretary told us to "say 30-year mortgage" while snapping our photo. We took a couple of weeks to move all of our belongings over from our apartment, and have spent the past 6 weeks or so slowly filling our house with furniture while Lindsey does her best to make it a home. It's been an incredibly exciting and fulfilling process and I'm honestly proud of how we were able to work as a team to make it possible. There were far more laughs than tears, and as much as I miss our old neighborhood it's nice to be able to go somewhere other than the guest bed if we get in an argument. I think we both agree that aside from our engagement and wedding it's the biggest step we've ever taken together and we look forward to many years of memories to be made (and tans to be had at the pool).
Ok, seriously. How cute is he?! I hope y'all loved hearing from Dustin as much as I loved having him write this. I'm excited to be able to share our home with you and I look forward to revealing more of it as we continue to settle in and decorate!


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BJP MP Varun Gandhi thanks PM Modi for CAA, says 'one witnesses end of a kind of apartheid'
BJP MP from Philibhit Varun Gandhi has put out a tweet thanking PM Modi for the enactment of CAA which facilitated the integration of persecuted minorities
Bengaluru: Persecuted. Marginalised. Harassed. This is the state of affairs of the Hindus and other non-Muslims living in Pakistan.
As the CAA was enacted by the Modi government, facilitating the granting of citizenship to these men and women, there is a sense of satisfaction and contentment.
Varun Gandhi, a BJP MP from Philibhit, put out a tweet thanking PM Modi for the enactment of the CAA, saying the persecuted minority families in his constituency.
In all villages that house Bengali refugees in Pilibhit, one witnesses the end of a kind of apartheid: stateless for almost 50 years & now hopeful of a legitimate existence & the dignity that accompanies it,thanks to the CAA. All hugely grateful to @narendramodi ji & @AmitShah ji pic.twitter.com/yacvaNlIkr
— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) December 28, 2019
The CAA grants citizenship to 32000 Hindus and non-Muslims persecuted in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
However, though the Modi government is trying to integrate them with India on a social and emotional basis, the opposition is crying foul, saying the CAA is discriminatory.
However, as senior lawyer Harish Salve pointed out, CAA doesn't violate any article of the Indian constitution.
He had said that the Act doesn't violate article 14 of the Constitution as this particular article has to be viewed with the prism of intelligible differentia. When it comes to societal good, the government can positively differentiate with a view to absorbing the less privileged or marginalised into the mainstream.
As regards other articles 15 and 21, he had clearly maintained that these two articles can be invoked only in cases involving Indian citizens. As of now, those religiously persecuted Hindus and non-Muslims in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh continue to be refugees and don't come under the bracket of citizens.
Sitaram Yechury, the CPI(M) secretary also reiterated that the CAA, NRC and NPR are not in the good interests of the society.
But on the contrary, be it CAA or NPR or NRC, all these exercises are only to include the less privileged and give them dignity in life.
The NRC was carried out only in the state of Assam as per the Supreme Court's orders. The Prime Minister also made it clear that as of now, they have not discussed anything on the NRC, and has assured people it won't be implemented soon.
Varun Gandhi


This high-performance shackle consists of a special screw, nut and split pin, which makes losing the screw practically impossible. The wide opening makes this shackle extremely versatile – for instance, it may be used on spreader beams. The clevis system makes linking the shackle to the chain quick and simple, without the need for an additional connecting element. The clevis shackle is manufactured according to EN 1677‑1 with mechanical values for G10, and comes with a full operating manual, BG-approval and CE-marking.
Prior to each lifting operation, it must be checked that the safety split pin is in place and that the system is subjected to straight pull only. Lateral forces must not be applied. Assembly must be handled by a competent person. No special tools are required. The KBSW spare parts set consists of coupling pin and retaining pin.
The KBMSW spare parts set consists of special screw, nut and split pin.


Italy : Nebivolol prevents anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2016 by Professor Mirela Cleopatra Tomescu, a cardiologist at Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
The goal of the current study was to find a method that detects cardiotoxicity accurately and early, and to see if a cardioprotective drug could prevent heart failure in these patients.
Depressed myocardial contractility is traditionally diagnosed using echocardiography, based on the estimation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fraction shortening (FS). However, these parameters are affected in the advanced stages of cardiotoxicity. New echocardiographic techniques, such as tissue Doppler, speckle tracking and strain rate imaging, allow the recognition of myocardial dysfunction before heart failure symptoms occur, and before the classical echocardiographic parameters are impaired.
For the cardioprotective drug, the researchers chose nebivolol, a cardioselective beta blocker with anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic and vasodilator properties which is used to treat hypertension and heart failure.
The study group included 60 women with HER-2 negative breast cancer, with a mean age of 52 ± 13 years, scheduled to start chemotherapy with doxorubicin. They were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (n=30) and the nebivolol-treatment group (n=30). Nebivolol was administered at a dose of 5 mg once daily, for the duration of chemotherapy. Cytostatic treatment was performed with doxorubicin 70 mg/m2, administered intravenously alone, every 21 days. There were six cycles of cytotoxic therapy. The average cumulative dose of doxorubicin was 520 ± 8 mg/m2.
Echocardiography was performed at baseline and after six months of chemotherapy and included conventional two-dimensional echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging, and speckle tracking imaging. There were no significant differences between groups in baseline clinical and echocardiographic characteristics. The cumulative dose of doxorubicin was similar in the two groups. No patient stopped chemotherapy, and no patient died during the study.
After six cycles of chemotherapy with doxorubicin, LVEF, FS, and left ventricular (LV) diameters did not change significantly in either group. In the control group, tissue Doppler imaging revealed significant alterations of LV diastolic function, assessed by a decrease of myocardial velocities. Speckle-tracking imaging assessed in the control group showed a statistically significant alteration of the LV systolic function, of longitudinal and radial strains, as well as of the strain rates. In the nebivolol treatment group, no significant changes in heart function were noted.


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Q: Algorithm to create X number of dates Currently I have a list of Strings that represent a date in a yyyyMM format, something like this:

*

*202008

*202009

*202010

I need to create x number of entries in this list with each entry increasing the month by one, so if I were to create 3 new entries they would look like this:

*

*202011

*202012

*202101

Currently my idea is to create a method to pick the latest date, parse the String to separate month and year, increase the month value by 1 if it is < 12 otherwise set it to 1 and increase the year instead.
Then I would add that value to a list and set it as the most recent, repeating x number of times.
What I want to know is if there is a more elegant solution that I could use, maybe using an existing date library (I'm using Java).

A: YearMonth And DateTimeFormatter
I recommend you do it using these modern date-time classes as shown below:
import java.time.YearMonth;
import java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Test
        List<String> list = getYearMonths("202011", 3);
        System.out.println(list);

        // Bonus: Print each entry of the obtained list, in a new line
        list.forEach(System.out::println);
    }

    public static List<String> getYearMonths(String startWith, int n) {
        List<String> list = new ArrayList<>();

        // Define Formatter
        DateTimeFormatter formatter = DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("uuuuMM");

        // Parse the year-month string using the defined formatter
        YearMonth ym = YearMonth.parse(startWith, formatter);

        for (int i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
            list.add(ym.format(formatter));
            ym = ym.plusMonths(1);// Increase YearMonth by one month
        }
        return list;
    }
}

Output:
[202011, 202012, 202101]
202011
202012
202101

Learn more about the modern date-time API at Trail: Date Time.

A: Use proper date-time objects: YearMonth
Don't store your dates as strings in your list. Just as you use int for numbers and boolean for Boolean values (I hope!), use proper date-time objects for dates and times. For your use case the YearMonth class is appropriate.
And just as it's easy to format an int into a format with or without thousand separators and a boolean into yes or no, for example, formatting your YearMonth objects into strings is trivial. So do that when you need a string, not before.
A method for extending such a list of YearMonth objects would be:
public static void extendDateList(List<YearMonth> dates, int numberOfNewDates) {
    if (dates.isEmpty()) {
        throw new IllegalArgumentException("List is empty; don't know where to pick up");
        // Or may start from some fixed date or current month
    } else {
        YearMonth current = Collections.max(dates);
        for (int i = 0; i < numberOfNewDates; i++) {
            current = current.plusMonths(1);
            dates.add(current);
        }
    }
}

Let's try it out:
    List<YearMonth> dates = new ArrayList<YearMonth>(List.of(
            YearMonth.of(2020, Month.AUGUST),
            YearMonth.of(2020, Month.SEPTEMBER),
            YearMonth.of(2020, Month.OCTOBER)));

    extendDateList(dates, 3);

    System.out.println(dates);

Output is:

[2020-08, 2020-09, 2020-10, 2020-11, 2020-12, 2021-01]

Formatting into strings
I promised you you could easily have your strings. I would suggest using the format with a hyphen printed above for two reasons: (1) it's more readable, and (2) it's ISO 8601 format, the international standard. In any case, to demonstrate that you can have it just the way you want, I am using a formatter to produce the hyphen-less format that you used:
private static final DateTimeFormatter YEAR_MONTH_FORMATTER
        = DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("uuuuMM");

Now converting to a list of strings is a one-liner (if your editor window is wide enough):
    List<String> datesAsStrings = dates.stream()
            .map(YEAR_MONTH_FORMATTER::format)
            .collect(Collectors.toList());
    System.out.println(datesAsStrings);

[202008, 202009, 202010, 202011, 202012, 202101]

Links

*

*Oracle tutorial: Date Time explaining how to use java.time.

*Wikipedia article: ISO 8601

A: Since you're just dealing with strings you could just create a method to produce the string dates for you and return all those string dates in a String Array, like this:
public static String[] addMonthsToDateString(String startDate, int monthsToAdd) {
    // Break the string date down to integers Year and month.
    int year = Integer.valueOf(startDate.substring(0, 4));
    int month = Integer.valueOf(startDate.substring(4));
    // Calculate the number of iterations we need.
    int loopCount = ((month + monthsToAdd) - month);
    // Declare and initialize the String Array we will return.
    String[] stringDates = new String[loopCount];

    // Generate the required Date Strings
    for (int i = 0; i < loopCount; i++) {
        stringDates[i] = new StringBuilder("").append(year)
                         .append(String.format("%02d", month)).toString();
        month++;
        if (month == 13) {
            year++;
            month = 1;
        }
    }
    return stringDates;
}

To use this method you would need to supply a string start date ("202008") and the integer number of months you want to list (24):
// Get the desired list of string dates:
String[] desiredDates = addMonthsToDateString("202008", 24);

// Display the string dates produced into the Console Window:
for (String strg : desiredDates) {
    System.out.println(strg);
}

The Console Window will display:
202008
202009
202010
202011
202012
202101
202102
202103
202104
202105
202106
202107
202108
202109
202110
202111
202112
202201
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Washington becomes the first state to legalize composting of humans
Posted: May 22, 2019 7:24 AM CST
Updated: May 22, 2019 4:10 PM CST
Washington has become the first state in the nation to pass a law allowing composting as an alternative to burial or cremation of human remains. By Faith Karimi and Amir Vera, CNN
(CNN) -- Washington has become the first state in the nation to pass a law allowing composting as an alternative to burial or cremation of human remains.
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill Tuesday legalizing human composting. The bill will go into effect in May next year.
Currently in Washington, bodies can either be cremated or buried. The process of recomposition provides a third option that speeds up the process of turning dead bodies into soil, a practice colloquially known as "human composting." The bill describes the process as a "contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil."
The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Jamie Pedersen, said it is an environmentally friendly way of disposing of human remains.
"It's about time we apply some technology, allow some technology to be applied to this universal human experience ... because we think that people should have the freedom to determine for themselves how they'd like their body to be disposed of," he said.
How human composting works
Katrina Spade, CEO of the human composting company, Recompose, explained the process of turning a dead body into soil to CNN affiliate KIRO.
"(The) body is covered in natural materials, like straw or wood chips, and over the course of about three to seven weeks, thanks to microbial activity, it breaks down into soil," she said.
Luke Perry's daughter says he was buried in a mushroom suit
While the body is being broken down, she said, families of the deceased can visit the facility and will ultimately receive the soil that remains. It's up to the family to determine how they want to use that soil.
The process was the focus of a study at Washington State University in which six people donated their bodies for research, KIRO reported.
"We proved recomposition was indeed safe and effective for humans as well," Spade said.
The average burial can cost between $8,000 and $25,000. Cremation can top $6,000. Spade told the affiliate she hopes to charge about $5,500 for human composting.
Human composting supporter Leslie Christian told the affiliate it's an attractive option from an environmental perspective. She said a lot of people approve of the process, including her brother, who told her he wants his soil to be used to plant tomatoes.


Spring largemouth bass fishing is usually a shallow water affair as these fish are often in, and around, shallow water cover at this time. Pencil reed patches, boat docks, fallen trees, and any other shallow cover will often harbor largemouth bass as they go through their spawning ritual, and also roam the shallows looking for food. When chasing "largies" at this time, I often rely on two bait presentations.
When shallow water largemouth bass are the target, I like to start my day using a presentation that fishes fast allowing me to cover water searching shallow cover. Obviously, I am hoping to catch some fish, but am also trying to read what the fish are doing as far as how they are relating to the shallows.
When starting the day, my bait is a swim jig tipped with some sort of soft plastic trailer. A swim jig is simply a skirted bass jig, though often in a somewhat smaller size than we often use for the classic bass flipping and pitching techniques. For example, when flipping and pitching, many bass anglers prefer jigs from 3/8- to 5/8-ounce in sizes. When swimming the jig, however, I often like a ¼-ounce sized jig.
My jig of choice is, in fact, a ¼-ounce white shad Jungle Jig. I tip the jig with various trailers, but recently have had good success tipping with a white or fathead-colored Impulse Paddle Minnow. This bait has a wobbling, injured-minnow appearance as it moves through the water that the bass seem to like. I prefer the white jig and light-colored trailer combination because I think it does a good job of "matching the hatch" in mimicking baitfish that largemouth feed on.
When fishing swim jigs, I simply make long casts to the shallows and reel the bait back using a steady retrieve.
Some days, the fish will be roaming the shallows and I encounter fish scattered here and there using this presentation. When that is the case, the swim jig is the bait I often use all day. Other days, however, the fish will be holding closer to the actual docks, reeds, and timber and are less willing to chase. When that happens, slowing up, and using another bait often yields better results.
My bait in this situation is the "do nothing" stick bait. This bait, in shape, resembles a pen we would use for writing. When fishing shallow, I hook the bait wacky-style, which means hooked in the middle, and use a weed-less hook. Without the addition of any weight (other than the weight of the hook), this presentation has a slow, "do nothing" fall that shallow largemouth often can't resist! Simply casting it to cover and slowly letting it fall is usually best.
I prefer an Impulse Dip-Stick Worm when "wacky rigging" the shallows for largemouth as this bait has a tantalizing fall and features the Impulse scent and flavor formula that the fish bite and hold onto, giving me ample opportunity to set the hook. The white shad pattern Dip-Stick works well in the shallows because I can often see the bait and watch fish bite it! On other days, the fish prefer darker colors like black & blue and June bug. As always, the only sure way to determine the color the fish prefer is to experiment.
Regardless what colored baits largemouth bass prefer on a given day, one of the two presentations just detailed will probably fool some into biting this spring. As always, good luck on the water, and remember to include a youngster in your next outdoors adventure!
photo- Shallow water cover areas are prime spots for finding early season bass!


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Home Books Film Review: 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before'
Film Review: 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before'
K. Sue
MWP_4199.tif
Hollywood News Source got an advanced screening of Netflix's film adaptation of popular YA series 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before.' Check out our thoughts on the film below!
When her secret love letters somehow get mailed to each of her five crushes, Lara Jean finds her quiet high school existence turned upside down.
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Israel Broussard
Genres: Comedies, Teen Comedies, Romantic Movies
Director: Susan Johnson
Length: 1h 39m
The movie begun with Lara Jean, played by Lana Condor, imagining herself as a regency heroine. She's out in the field having an illicit affair with her sister's betrothed, which is somewhat a parallel to her real-life situation. Here's the thing, Lara Jean used to be in love with Margo's boyfriend Josh (Israel Broussard.) He happened to be her first love before he became her older sister's boyfriend. Sounds complicated right? Everything went downhill when a mysterious person mailed her love letters to her five old flames.
One of the receivers of those letters is Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), the most popular guy at her school; her childhood friend; her first kiss. To make things more difficult for Lara Jean, of course, Josh also received his own love letter! To save face and to convince Josh it was all in the past, Lara Jean and Peter connived a fake-dating contract. It was a make-believe ploy for Josh's benefit and for Peter's ex, Genevieve (Emilija Baranac). It was all fun and games until someone fell in love.
"To All The Boys I've Loved Before delivered a teen flick that's going to be heralded as a rom-com classic years from now on."
Based from the best-selling novel of the same title by Asian-American author Jenny Han, the film mainly feature actresses who are of Asian descent. The story follows Korean-American teenager Lara Jean and her sisters; played by Vietnamese-American actress Lana Condor. What's beautiful is the plot didn't revolve around her race, though the story never erased or downsized her identity. As a matter of fact, I love that her hippie gynecologist dad is constantly making an effort at honoring his daughters' heritage. This is why I fell in love with the books and now the film. I love those little details. Hopefully with the success of this adaptation, there will be more push for Asian voices — especially in authentically representing people of different backgrounds.
Staying true to its roots, the movie delivered a teen flick that's going to be heralded as a rom-com classic years from now on. As a huge fan of the books, I went in with this enormous expectation and I was extremely happy with the product.
This Netflix original is very teen appropriate, it didn't edge away from hot-topic issues such as sex positivity, racism, and feminism.
We have a batch of relatable characters that are internet savvy, especially Lara Jean, who's head is always in the clouds. She has this massive room with Tumblr's approval of aesthetic, she's a fashion icon, she loves to read romance novels and she's quite a mess. Sounds like every other introvert YA reader that I know. I personally love the camaraderie of the main character and her sisters. There's slight changes from the books to the movie, but it was a transition that made it perfect for the medium.
I'm not going to spoil anything, but Noah Centineo is the perfect casting for Peter. I swooned. I love the awkward fumbling and sweet moments. It was a tender and slow-burned romance. It was short and fast paced. The ending left an open note for a possible sequel. I am crossing my fingers because I cannot get enough of this movie.
With its catchy soundtrack and aesthetically pleasing backdrop, To All The Boys I've Loved Before is a comical and swoon-infected flick. I seriously cannot recommend it enough, I have to watch it twice.
To All The Boys I've Loved Before launches globally on Netflix August 17!
Israel Broussard
Janel Parrish
Previous articleExclusive: Interview with 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' Author Jenny Han
Next articleRiverdale: Comic-Con Interview with Madchen Amick & Skeet Ulrich
https://www.hollywoodnewssource.com/


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HP phone reviews
HP Pre 3
Ian Morris, Former reviews editor · 2 September 2011 ·
1/16 Pocket-lint
It's a great shame that HP has decided to shut down both Palm, and the phones it helped to create. The Pre 3 is a wonderful little device. The company has improved it over previous iterations and it's now a smashing little smartphone.
Screen is lovely
Keyboard is good
Well thought-out OS
Well-designed and well-built hardware
Email support is second-to-none
Poor internal storage capacity
Lack of apps
Battery life still not brilliant
Suffers with lag and slowdowns
Flash video is dreadful
(Pocket-lint) - The HP Pre 3 is the latest in a line of similarly-styled handsets from the now defunct Palm division of HP. Each model has improved the original's excellent design and tweaked both the hardware quality and the way the operating system works too. There has also been a significant improvement in both battery and processor performance.
When HP bought Palm in April 2010 there was much excitement. Could this be a new era of investment and opportunity for the much-loved PDA company? Sadly, it seems not, as HP recently announced that it was shutting down production of both the Pre 3 and the only-recently launched Touchpad.
So this review comes to you at an interesting time. It's certainly going to be possible for you to get a Pre 3 from one of several suppliers. HP had announced that it would sell the phone at a loss for just £50, but as we're writing this there have been virtually no retailers actually offering the handset at this price. It is, however, possible to get it on a pretty cheap monthly tariff via Carphone Warehouse or buying it direct from online retailers.
So, the question has to be, if you can find one for a good price, should you invest in a phone that will have no successor and an operating system that is very likely on the decline.
Originally announced around the time the iPhone was starting to make waves, the Palm Pre was always a lovely looking device. With a pebble aesthetic, it offered a small size along with a beautiful big screen and a full QWERTY keyboard which slid out from the bottom of the handset.
In early versions, this mechanism was clumsy and flawed. To get the slider to work smoothly, and not get caught half-way out, you needed to press the middle of the screen and use your thumb to slide the screen upward. This was fine if the phone was locked, but if it wasn't then you would end up messing things up in the quest to access the keyboard. Happily, HP's Pre 3 has fixed this entiely. The phone now has a smooth, beautiful action that works wherever you press and push. This means you can flip it out using the space at the bottom of the screen.
Also gone are the horrible, sharp, edges of the original that surrounded the keyboard tray. These were very unpleasant, and it was one thing that made the original Pre (and indeed, the Pre 2) feel cheap in comparison with rivals from Android manufacturers, and of course Apple's high-end iPhone.
Around the outside edge of the phone there is a USB socket for charging and data transfer, a screen lock button on the top-right corner of the phone, a silent mode slider and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the left-hand side, there are two volume buttons too, which we found impossible to locate and operate during a call.
On the back there's a tricky cover which snaps off to reveal the battery and SIM card socket. You can remove the battery if you want, and HP has made this really easy indeed, providing a pull chord that lifts the battery out of its home. Very well thought-out indeed. There is also the option of getting the Touchstone which allows you to charge the Pre 3 without wires. Handy if you are used to dumping your phone on your desk.
The Pre 3's keyboard is a contentious issue. Some people like it, and enjoy typing on it, and some people find it too small to use comfortably. However, when you learn the trick to using this phone's keyboard it's actually one of the nicest we've ever used on any phone. It's raised keys make it easy to locate the key you're looking for, and the rubber material means that you can dig a fingernail in to get some traction as you type.
We suspect that the Blackberry keyboard allows for faster typing long-term, but for a enjoyable process we actually think the Pre can't be beaten. We judge it this way: if a phone with a QWERTY keyboard makes you want to email more, on the move, then it's surely a success. And that's the case with the Pre. We found ourselves replying to more email, and in more detail, than we would on a touchscreen handset. The Pre is then, a success in its main field, which is as a rival to Blackberry's multitude of very capable business handsets.
We like the logic behind the keyboard too. There are 36 keys on the Pre 3. Mostly, these are letters with only backspace, return, full stop, space, shift, alt and sym taking up any other space. The alt button switches letters to a either numbers or symbols while the 'sym' button brings up a touch panel on-screen which gives more obscure offerings. There even emoticons included, in case you can't be bothered to type them in.
Interestingly, there's no on-screen keyboard. So if you want to type without the keyboard being extended, you're bang out of luck.
When it comes to the eye-phone interface, HP has got it licked. The screen on the Pre is an impressive 480 x 800 resolution squeezed into a 3.58-inch area. This means that text is crystal clear and incredibly easy to read. Web pages, in particular look incredible with massive detail. We even found browsing the Internet to be one of the best mobile experiences we've had.
The screen also has the advantage that it has been mounted as close to the surface of the phone as possible. This gives it a feeling of high-technology. It's easy to forget it's just an LCD screen, and assume it's some sort of surface projection from a brand new type of technology.
The touchscreen is responsive too. WebOS users will know how important gestures are in this OS, and they only work on a nice sensitive screen. Flicking around cards, or apps as most people call them, is super-fast and amazingly smooth. To get rid of an app, you just swipe up from the bottom of the screen, and it flies off never to be seen again. All of this works with at least as much style and finesse as the iPhone.
And like the iPhone will have in iOS5, deleting things or dismissing notifications is just a matter of swiping to the right. It's logical, and works brilliantly.
The Pre can shoot video at resolutions of 720p and the 5 megapixel camera produces some very nice photographs. On the built-in screen, images look stunning, and happily when you email them to friends, they still look great too.
What's more, the Pre's camera app is incredible simple. There aren't a lot of customisable options, so it's really just a matter of pointing and shooting. You can turn the flash off or switch to video mode, but that's about it.
Best smartphones 2021: The top mobile phones available to buy today
Even better though, the camera has the little to no lag. Press the shutter button, and the photo gets taken straight away. This is a much more important feature than an array of idiotic picture modes, and we have to applaud HP for spending the time getting this phone to work as it should.
In many ways, the camera app is a good example of what's good and bad about the whole phone. It's simple, and works smoothly and as you'd expect. The problem is, it's not got much room for growth, and keen users will struggle to get the control they desire. Deep stuff.
Notifications and multi-tasking
It's worth mentioning the HP notification system too, because it's a mixed bag. On the one hand, information about incoming mail, tweets and social media updates all appear at the bottom of the screen as a little icon. This works well, as you can see everything that's happening.
The problem with notifications is that they generally aren't updated on a push basis. This means that they only arrive when the application polls the server. This is far from a major issue, but email junkies will want their notifications to appear as soon as the mail hits the server, and it's not our experience that the Pre can deliver this.
The thing we really like about notifications is that there's real consistency with how they are presented. On Android, apps can provide notifications in seemingly very random ways. The dropdown bar on those phones can often become a mess of things you're being told about. And with iOS 4 the iPhone system is horrible, popping up messages in the middle of the screen is very unsophisticated compared to the HP WebOS system. The good news for Apple fans is that notifications are soon going to get a lot better.
The other strength of WebOS is that it does multi-tasking properly. And by properly, we mean the way most people expect it to work. In Android, apps run much like they do in a Linux environment. This means that closing an app doesn't necessarily close it. Google's apps, on Android for example don't close when you switch out of them. On WebOS it's handled slightly differently. Apps can be closed by the user and when they are closed they really are closed. It's more like a PC or Mac really, where you are in charge of what is open and closed.
Lag and running out of memory
And there's one clear reason that the company has done this. Memory. The phone has just 512Mb of RAM. That means that having too much open at once can cause real problems. So much so that if you have too many "cards" or applications open, the phone will moan at you, and demand you get rid of some open apps.
This happens quite inconsistently though, so you can't really plan to only have a certain amount open at any one time. This is a minor issue though, as for the most part the phone is quite good at managing its limited memory.
Another infrequent, but annoying, problem is that of lag. We notice that web pages with Flash embedded were a particular source of trouble for the plucky Pre 3. Several times the phone just locked up, and took several minutes before allowing us to close anything. This slowdown, once started seemed hard to reverse too. In the end, when the handset gets like this, you need to consider restarting it. It's also worth pointing out that restarting the Pre 3 takes longer than the creation of the entire universe. We have no idea what the phone is doing during boot, but we can only assume it's really difficult.
Email is excellent
The Pre excels when it comes to email, although it doesn't have as many service provider options as Android seems to. If you're a Hotmail user, then you'll also have to jump through hoops to get that service to deliver email to your phone. Unlike other handsets, there don't seem to be many pre-loaded presets for other mail providers.
On the plus side, Gmail works out of the box, and you can have multiple accounts too. We use both personal and Google Apps accounts, so this is very helpful indeed. You can also add Exchange accounts which makes it ideal for those in corporate environments. Yahoo mail is also provided for, which is nice, although makes us wonder why Hotmail isn't offered the same luxury.
The unified inbox works well too, as you'd hope, and is far better than any we've seen on Android. The one feature missing is the ability to exclude an account from this combined inbox. This isn't a major pain, but it's a feature coming to the 7.5 update of Windows Phone 7, and it makes a nice change.
Like other smartphones, there's the ability to sync contacts, calendars and mail. We found this system elegant, and the way the Pre handles your calendar is unique too. Although the layout is quite compact, the company has managed to extract a lot of mileage from it, and your complicated calendar is greatly simplified by the Pre 3.
It would be remiss of us not to mention apps here, so allow us to explain the situation. There aren't any. There aren't likely to be any and the few there are either cost a lot of money, or just aren't that good.
The disgracefully named 'Spaz' is a must-have, purely because it appears to be the platform's only Twitter client. It's an okay piece of software that has several quirks. It is, however, better in every way than the official Twitter Android client, so that's good news.
Other than that, a few games and a pretty decent Facebook app you won't feel the need to fire up the app catalogue all that often. With HP withdrawing all its WebOS devices, we'd wager app support will get even worse from now on, unless another company licences the OS for its phones.
By far the best option for owners, or potential owners, of this phone is to buy it and assume that it's feature complete. We often call the Pre a feature phone, rather than a smartphone, which is a little mean. In fact, apps really only supplement functionality missing from the device, it could be argued that the Pre does everything most people need, so what's the point of an app store, but try telling that to an iPhone or Android user.
It's fair to say that most people won't be buying this handset for music or video. Its storage capacity is really sub-standard at 8GB. The biggest let-down is that there's no external storage option. You can't simply add a 16GB microSD card to increase storage capacity, because there's no mircoSD card slot.
And, with a normally configured phone, with a few apps and some photos taken on the built-in camera, we only had around 6GB of usable storage. This isn't anywhere near enough for most music-loving smartphone owners.
Copying files over USB is quick though, and it's hassle-free. When you plug the phone in, it asks you if you'd like to switch to USB mode, or simply charge the phone. In USB mode, the phone shows up as an external drive, like any other USB storage device. The problem is, when it's in this mode, you can't make or receive calls or text messages. In fact, all you can do is copy files, and look at a USB logo.
Once you've got music on the phone though, it does sound pretty good. There's no EQ settings, but the default sound is pretty flat, which means you'll pretty much hear the music as it was recorded. The only problem with that is, MP3s are often sub-standard quality. We listened to some Jennifer Lopez (it's best you don't ask) and it had a good range, although it was a little too bright without much low-end. The mid-range was fine though, but nothing much to write home about.
There's no point pretending that the HP Pre 3 is a contender in the smartphone arena. Apple and Google have that sewn up with worth contributors in the form of BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7. What the Pre 3, and WebOS can offer is one of the simplest, most beautifully designed user interfaces, a nice likable keyboard and for the first time, reasonable battery life.
If you buy the Pre accepting that it's got little or no real developer support, the apps are pretty much universally rubbish and you'll end up using the phone pretty much in the state it came out of the box, then you'll relax and start to enjoy the handset a lot more.
For phone calls, email and text messaging it's just about the best all-rounder we've used. Social network applications cover Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter, which, for the time being, is good enough. There are a smattering of games and apps in the App Catalogue, but we found ourselves not really caring all that much. This isn't a phone designed at gamers, it's a phone aimed at business users who want something with terrific email support and that works well as a phone and don't want to be just another BlackBerry user.
It's hard to really moan about much on the Pre, as long as you walk into buying one with your eyes open. We've used ours instead of an Android handset, and the honest truth is we don't actually miss the dozens of apps we had installed. Obviously, a time will come when we do, but for most use, the Pre has it all.
So it's with a tinge of sadness that we conclude that this worthy, pleasant little phone will be the last of its kind. HP has absorbed Palm for its patents rather than for its products, and that means a good opeating system is probably going to die a death.
Get one while you can, even if its just for posterity.
The Palm Pre 3 was kindly loaned to us by Handtec.co.uk
Writing by Ian Morris.
Sections HP Palm Tablets Phones


Feedback and Comments on the new 1.96 Test version on Windows.
You have zero points. First what most people do is just copy the archive content completely over the existing one. Second I do so for don't know how long and never had a problem. This means to me adding the ini is something new.
Of course, a superior solution would be that XnView does not need to have an ini on startup at all. If it doesn't find one it just creates it. Seeing the 2 entries from the included one that should be a breeze to implement.
pic_viewer wrote: ... Of course, a superior solution would be that XnView does not need to have an ini on startup at all. If it doesn't find one it just creates it. Seeing the 2 entries from the included one that should be a breeze to implement.
In the past XnView never needed any .ini file for starting. If this has changed, I strongly vote to make appropriate changes in XnView so that the .ini is no longer needed. XnView did work in the past without, so it also should in the present.
There is no need, but i put a simple .ini to not overwrite the good .ini. For example, in b1, a new bad entry was created. The beta must not use the original .ini for me.
However, I cannot navigate this box with the keyboard at all... I cannot tab between the selected buttons or just press enter when it pops up. I am forced to use the mouse to click on Yes.
While this is not a major issue at all, it worked so much quicker and faster just using the keyboard. When you get used to doing this a lot and realizes it can make things go much faster, it is kind of hard to get used to not being able to do it this way.
Back to the ini: I was just chasing down a strange problem when I put beta 1 back and forgot about the ini. So I immediately closed the program again, deleted the ini in the program dir and voilà: everything back to normal.
It seems the real ini (in Documents and Settings/User/Application Data/XnView) is not automatically overwritten at start-up. Is it used at all as long as there is an ini in the prog dir? If not that would simplify testing, but I never saw that information here.


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Action Concepts, Inc. d/b/a Fast Forward v. Rakuten USA
The Complainant is Action Concepts, Inc. d/b/a Fast Forward, of 7503 Flagstone #30, Fort Worth, Texas 76118, United States of America.
Represented by Ken Emanuelson, Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, 1601 Elm Street, Suite 3000, Dallas, Texas 75201, United States of America.
The Respondent is Rakuten USA, of 505 Montgomery St. 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States of America.
Represented by Mr. Charles Baxter, Director, Rakuten Inc. 2-6-20, Nakameguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0061, Japan.
The domain name with which this dispute is concerned is: <fastforward.com>.
The Registrar with which the domain name is currently registered is Tucows, Inc. 96 Mowat Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6K 3MI, Canada.
3.1 The Complaint was filed on January 16, 2002, electronically and on January 18, 2002, in hard copy to the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "WIPO Center").
3.2 On January 24, 2002, the Registrar verified:
(i) that the domain name is registered with it;
(ii) that the current registrant of the domain name is the Respondent;
(iii) that the Policy applies to the registration of the domain name;
(iv) that the domain name is currently in "on hold";
(v) that the language of the registration agreement is English;
(vi) Respondent's contact details of Administrative, Billing and Technical Contact.
(vii) The domain name was created on July 14, 1994.
3.3 On January 29, 2002, all formal requirements for the establishment of the Complaint having been checked by the WIPO Center, the Amended Complaint was found to be in compliance with the applicable ICANN Policy, ICANN Rules ("the Rules") for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy ("the Policy"), and WIPO's Supplemental Rules. The Panel has checked the file and confirms the WIPO Center's finding of proper compliance with the Rules and establishment of the Complaint.
3.4 On January 29, 2002, the WIPO Center sent the Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding as follows:
(i) by courier and by e-mail to Respondent, the Administrative Contact and the Technical Contact;
(ii) by e-mail to the postmaster at the domain name;
3.5 The e-mail and courier deliveries appear to have been effected. The Panel is satisfied the responsibility on the Center imposed by Rule 2(a) of the Rules has been met and that Respondent received due notice of the Complaint.
3.6 The Administrative Proceeding commenced on January 29, 2002, and the Response was due on February 18, 2002.
3.7 A Response was filed on February 18, 2002.
3.8 On February 27, 2002, Complainant submitted a Motion for Leave to File a Reply to the Response on the basis that new and relevant facts, unavailable to Complainant at the time of filing the Complaint have subsequently developed and come to light. These facts relate to the ostensible authority of Jon Levine in relation to the matters referred to in paragraphs 6.2 and 6.5 below. Complainants Motion correctly acknowledges that Leave to File a Reply will be granted only in exceptional circumstances and in the discretion of the Panel. The Panel accepts Complainant's submission that such exceptional circumstances exist in this case, but in the Panel's opinion, the further material sought to be adduced cannot alter the ultimate outcome of the decision. The Panel therefore in the exercise of its discretion declines to admit Complainant's proposed Reply.
3.9 The sole panelist, Desmond J. Ryan, having filed the Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence, the Panel was appointed on February 27, 2002.
4.1 The Complainant is the owner of US trademark registration No. 2,508,289 registered November 20, 2001, on an application dated September 13, 1996, and claiming first use in commerce in 1984. The registration is in respect of retail stores services in relation to clothing, jewellery, footwear, sunglasses, skateboards and in-line skates (Complaint Exhibit 3).
4.2 Complainant asserts, but does not quantify, extensive use and advertising of its "Fast Forward" trademark, and claims that it is now recognised nationwide as representing products and services provided exclusively by Complainant. Complaint Exhibit 4, is said to be copies of national advertising for Fast Forward. That exhibit comprises a photograph of a shopfront bearing the words "Fast Forward".
4.3 The domain name is currently "parked" with easyDNS, a domain name service provider which is also the Technical Contact for the domain name.
4.4 According to the Response:
"Rakuten USA is the United States operating subsidiary of Rakuten, K.K., a Japanese corporation based in Tokyo and listed on the Tokyo JASDAQ stock exchange. Rakuten K.K. operates Japan's largest Internet Shopping Mall and is one of Japan's largest and most successful e-commerce companies. Rakuten USA conducts various business activities related to the development, management and maintenance of the core Japanese e-commerce business, and was set up additionally to launch Rakuten K.K.'s business in the United States."
4.5 Rakuten K.K.'s on-line shopping mall is accessible at its Internet site "www.rakuten.co.jp", and appears to offer a wide range of goods including electronic equipment and computer hardware.
4.6 According to Respondent the domain name was originally held by Fast Forward Inc., an on-line media and e-commerce company based in Georgia, USA, in which Rakuten K.K. had invested. The domain name was acquired by Rakuten USA in the latter half of 2001, as part of a bankruptcy settlement with Fast Forward Inc.'
5. Applicable Dispute
5.1 This dispute is one to which the Policy applies. By registering the domain name, Respondent accepts the dispute resolution policy adopted by the Registrar. The Registrar's current policy set out in its domain name registration agreement is the Policy.
5.2 To succeed in its Complaint, Complainant must show that each of the conditions of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy are satisfied, namely that:
(i) the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; and
(ii) the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the domain name; and
(iii) the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.
6 The Parties' Contentions
6.1 Complainant contends:
(a) Respondent knew, or ought to have known, on acquisition of the domain name that Respondent's use of the domain name would likely cause confusion and deception;
(b) Respondent chose the domain name for purposes of selling the domain name at a profit to Complainant;
(c) The domain name was obtained by Respondent in order to prevent Complainant from reflecting its trademark in a corresponding domain name;
(d) Respondent is not commonly known by, or do business as the domain name;
(e) Respondent's unauthorised and confusing use of the domain name is likely to cause confusion and mislead as to the source and origin of Complainant's services and to a belief that Complainant has no web-site.
6.2 Complainant contends that in response to a phone call from Mr. Brandon Batton, owner and president of Complainant, Respondent's agent, Jon Levine, said that Respondent would sell the domain name for $100,000 and informed him that "Respondent routinely held and transferred domain names in exchange for money". In support of its contention, Complainant exhibits an affidavit by Mr. Batton (Complaint Exhibit 7) to which is attached a transcript of a voicemail received from Mr. Levine (Complaint Exhibit 6).
6.3 Respondent contends that:
(a) it acquired the domain name as part of the bankruptcy settlement specifically to launch its US business selling Japanese products into the USA, and that it intends to launch a US on-line business link to its Japanese parent site at "www.rakuten.co.jp";
(b) the term "Fast Forward" is generic and widely used in relation to electronic goods and is included in "20 listed trade marks in the USA",
(c) its business will be no way related to, or resemble Complainant's business. Respondent contends that it will primarily target American users of Japanese descent, and will be linked to its Japanese parent where familiarity with the Japanese language will be required. This contention seems to be at odds with Respondent's further assertion that it proposes to operate under the name Fast Forward Inc. "as the Rakuten name, quite well recognised in Japan, was deemed to be too difficult to pronounce and remember in the USA".
6.4 With respect to the offer for sale of the domain name by Jon Levine and the alleged statement that Respondent "routinely held and transferred domain names in exchange for money", Respondent asserts that Mr. Levine is a network engineer based in "our Tokyo Office" who was responsible for the transfer of the domain name to Respondent, but is not an authorised representative of Rakuten USA.
6.5 Respondent asserts that Complainant's reference to the statement by Jon Levine and his offer for sale of the domain name are "disingenuous attempts to link the unsanctioned actions of Mr. Levine and possibly his personal activities and proclivities with those of the actual Respondent in this Complaint which is not Mr. Levine… but is Rakuten USA". Respondent asserts that it, Rakuten USA, has never transferred or sold a domain name, nor does it intend to enter into the business of selling domain names for a profit.
6.6 Respondent asserts a belief that the Complaint "is a veiled form of harassment and an attempt to acquire our property without fully understanding or researching the background of the owner and the circumstances of ownership".
Identical or Confusingly Similar Trademark
7.1 Complainant has established that it has rights in the trademark "Fast Forward" in the USA. The Domain name, save for joining together of the words and the addition of the domain designation ".com" is identical with the trademark.
7.2 The Panel therefore finds that the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark in which Complainant has rights and paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy is satisfied.
Rights and Legitimate Interests
7.3 In these proceedings the onus is on Complainant to make out each of the grounds specified in paragraph 4(a) of the Policy. To make a showing that Respondent has no legitimate right or interest in the domain name, Complainant must at least set up a prime facie case and cast upon Respondent an onus of rebuttal.
7.4 The Complaint does not specifically address the question of whether or not Respondent has a legitimate right or interest in the domain name. However, an assertion to that effect is implicit in Complainant's contention that Respondent is not commonly known by the domain name, and other assertions in the Complainant going to the question of registration and use in bad faith.
7.5 Respondent likewise fails to specifically address the question of legitimate right or interest. Respondent had not been known by the domain name, was clearly not making a non-commercial fair use of the domain name and did not demonstrate any use or preparation for use of the domain name prior to notification to it of the dispute. Respondent's assertion that it intends to use the domain name to link to its Japanese parent site does not state whether that intention, or any preparations for the realisation of the intention, occurred prior to notification of the dispute. However, the domain name has been registered since 1994, and on the basis of Respondent's assertion that it had a financial interest in the former registrant, Fast Forward Inc, and had acquired the domain name from it (or from its trustees in bankruptcy) as part of a bankruptcy settlement, Respondent would appear to have a claim to legitimate right or interest in the domain name.
7.6 Whilst Respondent has not demonstrated any of the specific circumstances set forth in paragraph 4(c) of the Policy, it is clear and well recognised that those circumstances are merely enumerated and are not limiting and Respondent's assertions as to the history of its acquisition of the domain name and its intentions of linking it to its parent company's Japanese site are, in the opinion of the Panel, sufficient to displace any prima facie showing of lack of legitimate right or interest which may be implied in the Complaint.
7.7 The Panel therefore finds that Complainant has failed to discharge the onus upon it of showing that Respondent has no legitimate right or interest in the domain name.
Bad Faith Use and Registration
7.8 Complainant having failed to show absence of Respondent's legitimate right or interest it is unnecessary to consider whether the domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith. The Panel notes however, that the evidence and assertions contained in the Complaint are not sufficient to establish bad faith use and registration. Whilst the Panel is unimpressed by, and does not accept, Complainant's attempt to dissociate itself from its parent company employee, Jon Levine, and to distinguish the acts of Respondent from those of its parent, the mere fact that there has been an offer to sell the domain name in response to an enquiry from Complainant, is not in itself sufficient to establish bad faith.
7.9 The Panel would therefore find, were it necessary to do so, that Complainant has failed to show that Respondent has registered and is using the domain name in bad faith. Whilst Respondent has failed in this respect also, there is nothing in the record to support Respondent's allegations of Complainant impropriety referred to in paragraphs 6.5 and 6.6 above.
8.1 The Panel decides and orders that:
(i) The domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark in which Complainant has rights;
(ii) Complainant has failed to establish that Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name;
(iii) Complainant has failed to establish that the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith;
(iv) The Complaint is dismissed.
D.J. Ryan
Dated: March 12, 2002
Источник информации: https://internet-law.ru/intlaw/udrp/2002/d2002-0032.html
Правовая информация, 18+


Last month I bought a Micromax Unite 2 A106 Mobile. When I connected OTG cable, the notification shows checking errors. I searched about this and somebody suggested to install USB OTG helper and then mount your storage. But I installed OTG helper and opens it. It shows root access not available and "su" binary is not found. How do I solve this issue. How to connect my external storage with OTG cable. Please help me. I have no computer with me.
Download and install USB OTG Helper from Play Store.
Now use any file explorer, go to storage/usbotgdrive/drive/here (I would suggest ES File Explorer).
You will be able to see your USB drive.


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Leading Questions: Doctor Manhattan's Ding Dong
Charles Webb, Dave Wallace
Columns, Leading Question
Planetary #15: Dreaming of a New Tomorrow
Big Two, Columns, DC Comics, The Full Run
Countdown to the King: Godzilla In Hell
Columns, IDW
Review: "Tokyo ESP" - Interesting Direction, but Lost in Translation
Ziggy Marley: They Feel It and They Know It
Kickstarter Spotlight: Fist of Justice: Changes
Tiny Pages Made of Ashes: Small Press Comics Reviews 11/2/2012
Review: 'Cartoon County' is a Breezy, Fun Burst of Comics Nostalgia
Why I Hate The Hood: Problems with the Big Marvel Crossover Villain
One of the characters to receive the greatest profile boost since Norman Osborn became a member of the 616's Obama administration is The Hood (a.k.a. Parker Robbins). In the last year or so he's become head of a vast criminal empire rivaling that of the Kingpin, entrenched in Osborn's cabal, and a mystical threat to Dr. Strange. He's also one of the least interesting and most poorly-fleshed-out characters in recent memory who more often than not comes off as some kind of villainous Mary Sue.
Parker Robbins: The Hood
Created by Brian K. Vaughan, Kyle Holt, and Eric Powell, the Hood inauspiciously began as a lowly thug with good intentions (he takes care of his comatose mom and pregnant girlfriend) who finds a demonic cloak that imbues him with mystical abilities. In recent pages of New Avengers he has assembled the members of New York's supervillain underworld into a gang that we're told time and again is pretty impressive. In practice, they beat up Tigra and got into a couple of rumbles with the New Avengers.
Where the Hood fails for me is in his utter lack of personality or viability as a threat. Much of the impression we're supposed to have of the Hood is based on his ubiquity – by having him appear so frequently in so many books we're supposed to believe he's important. Unfortunately, I believe that Bendis has skipped the step where the character has actually done anything important to warrant all of the attention.
Dave Wallace: That's a good point. As originally created, Parker Robbins was set up to be the anti-Spider-Man of the Marvel Universe: all of the power without any of the responsibility. Vaughan's original miniseries took quite a lot of time to explore his character's selfish reaction to stumbling across a source of demonic power, providing Robbins with a complicated home life with familial responsibilities that helped to sell the idea that he could be tempted to use his powers for all the wrong reasons.
Charles Webb: As Dave characterizes him above, he seems like the quintessential Marvel character, wracked with conflict with a compelling personal life (and above all – human). It often comes as a surprise to me when this essential formula is ignored when new characters are created (both at Marvel and elsewhere).
Dave Wallace: It's interesting that you say that, because when Bendis decided to pick up the character for use in his New Avengers series, he neglected to maintain this focus on his characterisation, instead setting him up as a wannabe Kingpin whose only function seemed to be that of supervillain gang leader. This helped the writer to quickly put together a large group of C-list villains for his Avengers to fight, but had the effect of reducing the Hood to yet another overly simplistic villain whose only motivation to commit crime seemed to be money. I'm not sure that I'd call him a "Mary Sue" so much as an empty vessel for the plot.
The Hood puts the gang together.
Charles Webb: Yeah, the "Mary Sue" thing has more to do (for me) with his "oh, isn't he so cool" ubiquity. Every time we see the Hood it's in the context of some other character telling us how particularly badass he is (with very little proof outside of the severe beating of poor Tigra).
The Hood vs. Tigra
I always get the feeling when a character is pushed as hard as the Hood that someone in editorial (or the writer themselves) is playing an odd game of favorites. They're so in love with a character that they reuse them in the hopes that others will "get" them. (cf. The Sentry or Jason Todd).
Narratively, the deck is stacked in these characters' favor, but ultimately giving them a one-size fits all personality. They react how the story needs them to, regardless of how little sense it makes in the context of previous appearances.
Dave Wallace: That's true; the Hood feels as though he's had his edges softened a little in order to make him more straightforward as a character, and thus easier to use in guest-appearances and crossover stories.
Bendis also made another significant change to the character, exchanging the Nisanti demon that was the original source of the Hood's powers for the more familiar face of Dormammu. The significance of this development remains to be seen, although I imagine that we'll get some idea of Dormammu's importance to Bendis once the current "Search for the new Sorcerer Surpeme" storyline running in New Avengers is brought to a close. Still, it seems a little awkward to be retconning a character's origins so soon after his debut.
Demon-y.
Charles Webb: This is one of those cases of putting the plot before the character (and a symptom of another comics malady – "making it all connect even when it doesn't"). As originally conceived, Robbins becoming the Hood was a matter of chance which thrust a character unwillingly into complex circumstances. Now, as readers we're being told that his experiences were guided by another character. To some degree this kind of invalidates the Hood's characterization and all of his choices if it was all supposed to happen.
This type of retcon tends to have the feeling of an exercise in being too clever by half, particularly when it has no consistent thread running through it to unify the grand plan of the villain orchestrating it all. It's one part sloppy world building and another part lazy plotting shortcut if the writer is unable to explain why it's important that this change has been made (other than to give Dr. Strange someone to magic fight).
Dave Wallace: Yeah, that's a good point. Bendis' introduction of Dormammu to the Hood's backstory does seem to be a case of him letting the needs of his New Avengers plot take precedence over any attempt to maintain a consistent characterization (there's a shock!).
Other than that, the Hood's main function in the Marvel Universe has been as part of the "Dark Reign" event. Unfortunately, this storyline has seen the Hood continue to be used as a plot device first and as a character second. His greatest asset seems to be his ability to facilitate easy crossovers with other titles that want to tie into the "Dark Reign" event, but which prefer to make use of a generic villain without too much baggage rather than any of the other Marvel Universe big guns that comprise Norman Osborn's "cabal."
It's ironic that the Hood's highest-profile appearances (in New Avengers, Secret Invasion, and "Dark Reign") have been his least satisfying. I prefer the way he was employed by Ed Brubaker during his Daredevil run, as the writer managed to successfully incorporate the character into a gang war storyline in that book (to a limited degree) whilst also sketching out some fairly interesting characterisation of Parker Robbins as a rising player in the New York underworld. Dwayne McDuffie's take on the character in Beyond! also worked well, with a straightforward selfish-kid-with-powers take on the Hood that was perhaps the closest that we've seen to Vaughan's original vision, despite the cosmic setting of the story.
Since those appearances, writers have seemed determined to keep Parker Robbins in a state of arrested development, a mid-level thug who can be used to propel other stories along, but whose own story never really goes anywhere. Perhaps the Hood is just one of those characters who are destined to work better as a supporting character than as a major player in the Marvel Universe. Whilst I still feel as though the character has potential, I have a feeling that Marvel still has a lot to do if they're to convince readers that the Hood is worthy of the high-profile status that has been bestowed upon him over the last couple of years. Having said that, we're gradually seeing writers begin to explore the character in more depth in stories such as Rick Remender's vignette in the Dark Reign: The Cabal anthology one-shot, and the character's guest appearance in Remender's Punisher series. There's also the prospect of Jeff Parker's upcoming solo miniseries, Dark Reign: The Hood, which promises to shed some more light on his character. We'll have to wait and see how successful it is.
Charles Webb:While I didn't enjoy the Cabal story very much (mostly because it was too brief to convince me I should care for the Hood or the person in the casket), I have in spite of myself been enjoying his appearances in Remender's Punisher.
He's actually as one-dimensional here as he's been portrayed elsewhere, but Remender isn't going for subtlety with this particular book. So Robbins being an over-the-top villain who would be at home in the MAX titles actually works for me. I'm still not sure anyone has convinced me one way or the other if he's supposed to be a Machiavellian mastermind or a thug with lots of muscle (a la the Owl).
Now, having griped about the character at length, I think the fundamentals (as laid out by Dave) still work. Here are some suggestions on how to "fix" the Hood:
Give him his own ongoing or miniseries so we can get inside his head (or inside the heads of the people who work around him everyday). (ETA: Marvel's Dark Reign tie-in might fit the bill, but my concern is that it will focus on all the Cabal shenanigans.)
Limit his exposure in the Marvel U. Nothing has killed the mystique (but apparently not the sales) of Wolverine more than his being in 80 books a month. The Hood isn't a big seller so why is he everywhere when no one is demanding him?
Clarify the one-line description of Parker Robbins' personality. Who is he and why should we care about him? Why does he think he's the "good" guy?
If he's supposed to be such a clever and deadly threat to the Marvel U, then make him clever and deadly (without making the heroes look incompetent). Not just by beating up C-list Avengers (sorry Tigra) or killing D-list hoods, but by actually showing him outsmart heroes and other villains on a regular basis. When Frank Miller used the Kingpin in his early Daredevil run, he went to great pains to show the ways Wilson Fisk set about destroying Matt Murdock's life.
Speaking of which: who is the Hood's archenemy? He doesn't seem to come into contact with any character particularly regularly and Dr. Strange is essentially just facing off against Dormammu by proxy.
Dave Wallace: All great points. The character definitely isn't beyond redemption, so maybe Marvel's editors will be listening and will take some of these suggestions on board.
If you liked this review, be sure to check out more of the Charles Webb's work at Monster In Your Veins
Charles WebbComics Bulletin SoapboxDave Wallace
All sorts of thoughts
Mondo Marvel #3 – July-August 1962
Charles Webb is a writer for Comics Bulletin