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Super Card System
S.C.S Chapter 16: Demon In Your Heart
That night was a full moon night, the bright moonlight spread on the earth, making everything looks so distinct. On the vast grassland outside the village, Zoro and Kuina stared at each other holding their swords.
In the woods not far away, Ian kept watching the scene.
The duel finally began. From Ian's point of view, the round moon just became the background of the duel. In the moonlight, the two figures were intertwined, chopping and attacking each other with their swords, their swords kept slashing in a rhythmic pattern that creates scenery of dancing blades, and there was a strange aesthetic feeling.
However, this time the two talented kids in the duel understood that the battle was actually very dangerous. The bamboo sword was replaced by a real sharp sword. If they were not careful, they might get a serious wound or possible, death.
Perhaps it was because of this that the fight between the two has become more cautious and more serious.
Fighting for dozens of rounds, Zoro has been panting, his greatest achievement was just cutting off a bunch of Kuina's hair. On the contrary, Kuina wasn't that tired.
"It's heavy to fight with two real swords, isn't it? Zoro!" Kuina continued to stimulate him and said, "You are still very weak indeed!"
Upon hearing her, Zoro screamed unconvinced and attacked Kuina, but she had deliberately provoked him. The flaw revealed again. Kuina rushed over while lowering her body and made an upper blow, hitting Zoro's two swords and made them flew away!
Suddenly he was thrown by the force, Zoro fell backward, and her sword turned around and plunged beside Zoro's ear.
"You lost again! 0 wins and 2001 defeat!" Kuina laughed.
Lying on the ground, Zoro muffled his face and growled, "Damn it! Damn it!"
He lost again. He was so unwilling to lose, and he was about to cry.
However, Kuina looked at him in silence and suddenly said, "I'm not willing to cry…"
Zoro took off his hands and looked over in surprise, he saw the tear in Kuina's eyes, and she was lonely and said, "When a girl grows up, she will be weaker than a boy. Look at Big Brother Ian, you can see that he has not tried to compete with me for a long time. It's not that he doesn't want to, but that I don't want to compete with him, because I know that he may be stronger than me now."
"You too, Zoro! You'll soon catch up with me, too…"
Kuina looked up at the sky and tried not to let her tears fall. "My father told me that girls can't be the strongest swordsman in the world, I understand… I've known that for a long time!"
"Hey Zoro, because you're a boy… I also want to be the strongest swordsman in the world, but…" Kuina put her hand on her chest. "My chest is growing too!"
Zoro blushed when he saw this scene.
"If, if I could be a boy too…" Kuina lowered her head, and her unwilling tears finally flowed down.
Then Zoro was reluctant and shouted, "Don't whine when you've beaten me already! That's too mean. You're my goal. Whatever a man or woman, when I beat you one day, will you use this as an excuse!? It seems that I did not win by my own strength. Wasn't I an idiot who worked so hard training?"
"Zoro…" Kuina looked at him in surprise.
"Stop saying that!" Zoro went up to Kuina and said, "Promise me that one day it will be you or me, one of us, must become the strongest swordsman in the world! Let's compare and see who can be The One!"
Kuina looked at Zoro in a daze and found that his eyes were more serious than ever.
Zoro reached out to her and motioned.
Kuina smiled, wiped her tears from her eyes and muttered, "You fool! You are so weak…"
However, she extended her hands and held Zoro tightly.
Under the moonlit night, this scene seemed to have been frozen and became a beautiful picture.
But Ian, far away in the woods, couldn't help covering his head and sighing, "Ah, this is youth!"
What does he mean with that sentence? He remembers that day running in the sunset, which was his lost memory of his youth! That's what he's talking about now, but here the sunset is replaced by the moon…
'But, you damn idiots, when you two made your goals, have you forgotten about me?'
As a bystander, Ian's mood was very complicated at this time. Zoro and Kuina have set their goals, but what about him?
When he came to this world, he can't go back. Should he continue to live like this as a bystander?
Ian was in a confused state, but then suddenly he found a figure walking towards him, after looking at it, Ian found that it was Kuina!
Zoro didn't know when she had left him. Meanwhile, Kuina has found Ian, so she came over and said to him, "Have you seen it, Big Brother Ian?"
Ian nodded. Kuina smiled and pulled her hair around her ear, then said, "Is it my father who asked you to come over and find me? Don't worry. I'm fine."
Ian looked at Kuina for a while and suddenly said, "Although you have made a pact with that idiot, are you still a little unwilling?"
Kuina kept silent and turned her head aside.
Ian wasn't a fool like Zoro. Only he would simply think that an agreement would make Kuina happy.
The limitation of her body makes it impossible for her to become the strongest. This is probably the demon in Kuina's heart. She has been bound by this idea, and her heart was not free, so what progress in her swordsmanship would she make?
She knows very well that one day, she can only look up to Zoro and watch him defeat her so that she can feel the taste of the defeat!! For Kuina's strong personality, the thought of such a picture would make her feel as uncomfortable as being needled.
To say that in Frost Moon village, who knows the most about Kuina, it must be Ian, even Master Koshiro can't be compared with him!
That's why he was going to ask her such a sentence.
Looking at Kuina's reaction, Ian sighed slightly and said, "Come with me!"
Ian took Kuina back to the dojo and went to his room. As Kuina watched curiously, Ian carefully picked up the Den Den Mushi sleeping on the table.
After a year, this little Den Den Mushi has grown up.
If it wasn't sleeping, she could see that its beans-sized eyes had become a bit of Ian's charm. The funniest thing was that there was a little bear ear cap on his head now! Looks so much like Ian.
And on its shell, there is now another number, 9209, which was Ian's number.
"Brother Ian, what are you doing with the Den Den Mushi?" Asked Kuina.
Instead of answering her, Ian touched the Den Den Mushi's little head and said, "Kuina, do you remember that time when you haven't seen me for the whole day, and when I appeared, I had this hat on my head?"
Kuina nodded, of course, she remembered.
"That's because a group of outsiders came to the village that day!" Ian said, "These people were the revolutionary army! They gave me the hat, and among them, there was a very strange person!"
Kuina listened quietly to Ian's story, but she heard him suddenly change the subject and say, "Have you ever heard of the Devil Fruit?"
"My father once mentioned it to me, but I don't really believe it, is there such a thing as Devil Fruit?" Asked Kuina.
Ian nodded and said, "Really, Frost Moon Village is very small, and the outside world is very big. This Devil Fruit really exists, and the strange person I want to talk about is a Devil Fruit user!"
"His name is Ivankov. He has Hormone Fruit Ability!" Ian said: "He has a strange ability to manipulate human hormones and become a man or a woman freely,"
Looking at Kuina, she had opened her mouth in surprise, and Ian laughed. "And the most important thing is that his ability can be applied to other people!"
When she heard this, Kuina looked at Ian. She finally understood what Ian meant to say.
"Yes, I escorted them out of the village!" Ian nodded. "When I left, I got his number. Now that my Den Den Mushi has grown up, I can call him if… I mean, if you really want to be a boy, maybe you can talk to him, and he will help you?! "
That's right, this was the real reason why Ian asked Ivankov for his number when he left.
Looking at Kuina's silence, Ian sighed and said, "Although we are not brothers and sisters, I have always treated you as my real sister. You have a demon in your heart. If you don't set it free, it will be very difficult for you to strengthen your swordsmanship. I don't want to see you sinking because of this matter, so I can only help you by finding this strange way. It may be hard for you to accept, so everything depends on your personal wishes. If you want to be a boy, go to the sea and find Ivankov. If you don't want to, then go on like this all the time. Girls can't be the strongest, I don't believe that, even though it takes a lot of hard work, there is always hope."
"I… I have to think about it!" Kuina stood up and walked towards the door.
She seemed a little lost, and Ian's words had a significant impact on her.
At the moment when she was about to close the door, Ian took off Kuma's cap from his head with his right hand and showed a sweet smile to Kuina, saying, "Remember, follow your heart! No matter what decision you make, I will support you! "
"Thank you, Oniisan!"
"You're welcome, who made me your brother?"
Otaku_Senpai
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02:22 AM - Fiftytwoeighty quoted Juanikun in post First track day with the beast!
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05:40 AM - Fiftytwoeighty quoted Juanikun in post First track day with the beast!
05:15 AM - Juanikun quoted Silvek in post First track day with the beast!
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Vice Ganda celebrated his 43rd birthday yesterday, March 31, 2019. During his birthday special on 'It's Showtime,' President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo even gave him a surprise birthday greetings.
KAMI learned that the comedian celebrated his birthday with a bang and was spotted having a good time with some of his closest friends in showbiz.
A video of the said celebration went viral on social media. Among the stars who were spotted during his party was Anne Curtis, Ryan Bang, Angelica Panganiban, and Isabelle Daza.
What caught the attention of netizens was Ion Perez's 'kilig' moments with the birthday celebrant. Ion even kissed his rumored partner on the forehead which sent kilig vibes on social media.
"Sa mga negative sa relasyon nla meron man o wla, Wlang basagan ng trip! Life nla un..bhala cla kung cno gusto nlng pa2lan babae man o lalake.. bsta happy cla..wla na tau don.. Peace!"
"Vaklang tow HAPPY birthday stay in love with... Goodluck sa LOVE life."
"Ang swet nmn ni ion kay meme..happy bday meme mbtc..lakas maka respect nung kiss"
"Kiss on the forehead is a sign of respect and love. Go Vice and Ion. Stay in Love"
"Hayyy makkita mo ang sobrang saya ky meme vice at n love na n love talaga go go go lng at magpakasaya alam nmin na ngaung bday mo ang pnakamasaya sa buong buhay mo"
"Si ion lang ung nakita kong sincere sa lahat n ngng bf nya"
As reported earlier by KAMI, Vice Ganda was reportedly disappointed with the group "Hashtags." The group has now lesser exposure on the noontime show 'It's Showtime.' Rumor has it that it has something to do with Vice's reaction to what they did.


Life insurance is one of the most important purchases you'll ever make. But what if your beneficiaries are unable to locate and submit a claim on your policy after you die? Without quick access to your policy's proceeds, your loved ones may have a more difficult time paying for expenses and coping with their loss.
Fortunately, you can prevent unnecessary burdens later with some simple steps now. First, make sure you have copies of your life insurance records in at least two secured places. Consider one location away from your home, such as a bank safety deposit box, in case a fire or a weather related disaster destroys all of your belongings.
Second, provide all pertinent information related to your life insurance policy with the contract, including the full name, address and phone number of the company that issued the policy. Also provide: policy number, amount of death benefit, type of policy (e.g., term, whole life) and name and address of agent who sold the policy.


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1 edition of Equity ownership in America. found in the catalog.
Published 2002 by Investment Company Institute and the Securities Industry Association in Washington, DC .
Stock ownership -- United States -- Statistics.,
Stockholders -- United States -- Statistics.,
Securities -- United States -- Statistics.,
Households -- United States -- Statistics.
Contributions Investment Company Institute., Securities Industry Association.
LC Classifications HG4910 .E65 2002
Pagination vi, 147 p. :
Equity: Generally speaking, equity is the value of an asset less the amount of all liabilities on that asset. It can be represented with the accounting equation: Assets -Liabilities = : Chris B Murphy. Equity essentially means ownership. Equity represents one's percentage of ownership interest in a given company. For startup investors, this means the percentage of the company's shares that a startup is willing to sell to investors for a specific amount of money.
Private equity firms manage investment capital obtained from institutional investors or high net worth individuals (HNWI) to acquire equity ownership of companies through a Author: Mark Kolakowski. The contribution increases the owner's equity interest in the business. You might also contribute other assets, like a computer, some equipment, or a vehicle that will be owned by the business. These assets must be valued at the time of the contribution, so everyone knows how much they add to your capital account.
Putting personal money into a business can help you overcome startup funding needs, but can also create unnecessary risk if done incorrectly. You need to make sure you properly account for the money on your business books so you accurately track the amount your business either owes you or how much ownership you : Dennis Shirshikov. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. stock ownership remains below where it was before the financial crisis in the fall of , with declines since then evident among most major subgroups of the population. Adults aged 65 and older and those with an annual household income of $, or more are two groups whose ownership rates have held : Jeffrey M. Jones.
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Equity ownership in America Download PDF EPUB FB2
Employee Ownership in America: The Equity Solution (Issues in Organization and Management Series) Hardcover – October 1, by Corey Rosen (Author), Katherine J. Klein (Author), Karen M. Young (Author) & 0 moreAuthor: Corey Rosen, Katherine J.
Klein, Karen M. Young. 2 EQUITY AND BOND OWNERSHIP IN AMERICA, » Most equity and bond investors use the Internet for fi nancial purposes, and they often rely on professional advisers when making investment decisions.
Use of the Internet in general is rapidly becoming ubiquitous, and within the investor population, the tendency to view or manage. ISBN: OCLC Number: Description: x, pages ; 24 cm. Contents: Introduction: Mr. Smith, meet Mr. Marx --How employee ownership plans work --In search of equity: research on employee ownership --The mystery and the method: tracking the causes of employee ownership success --Company characteristics and employee reactions to ownership.
Investing in Real Estate Private Equity: An Insider's Guide to Real Estate Partnerships, Funds, Joint Ventures & Crowdfunding Sean Cook out of 5 stars Owners' equity (Shareholders equity) is the shareholder ownership interest in company assets.
Owners equity, that is, represents what the owners own outright. Because the highest level objective for a profit-making company as Increasing owner value, Owners' equity is.
A net loss decreases equity. In our sample company, the Owners' Equity section increased because of the increase in Retained Earnings. Amounts shown in thousands. Book Excerpt: (Excerpts from Financial Intelligence, Chapter 12 – On the Other Side) Equity includes the capital provided by investors and the profits retained by the company over.
That's because home equity, rather than income-producing investments, represents the single largest contributor to net worth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's data, the typical American's net.
Specifically, shareholders are a particular type of equity holders. "Equity holders" is a broader term that refers to shareholders as well as everyone else with an ownership interest in a business.
Latin American Private Equity Fund IV (LAPEF IV) and Latin American Private Equity Fund V (LAPEF V) FUND SIZE LAPEF IV US$ billion LAPEF V US$ billion DATE(S) OF INVESTMENT JULYMARCH AMOUNT US$ MILLION THE LATIN AMERICAN PRIVATE EQUITY DEAL BOOK ESG CASES THE LATIN AMERICAN PRIVATE EQUITY DEAL BOOK ESG CASES.
Equity ownership peaking in near 65%. While these aggregate numbers of help, the extreme disparity of wealth suggests digging deeper is necessary. This is. A 'Forgotten History' Of How The U.S.
Government Segregated America Author Richard Rothstein says the housing Rothstein's new book, The Color of Law, examines in suburbs and building equity. The only way an owner's equity/ownership can grow is by investing more money in the business, or by increasing profits through increased sales and decreased expenses.
If a business owner takes money out of their owner's equity, the withdrawal is considered a capital gain, and the owner must pay capital gains tax on the amount taken out. The top concerns for the private company employer/business owner (i.e., the principal security holder) are giving up control and having to account to minority shareholders in managing the business.
Book value of equity represents the fund that belongs to the equity shareholders and is available for the distribution to the shareholders and it is calculated as the net amount remaining after the deduction of all the liabilities of the company from its total assets.
Tappable equity in U.S. homes has reached an all-time high, but Americans are growing more reluctant to use their homes as an ATM. Tappable equity in U.S. homes has reached an all-time high. Calculate book value of equity by subtracting a firm's total liabilities from its total assets to arrive at stockholders' equity.
You can find these figures on the balance sheet. For example, in Apple's 1Q report, released February 1,the company reported total assets of $ billion and liabilities of $ : William Adkins. The authorization code located in your letter from American Equity must be entered to acquire full access to your account and to prevent your account from being locked.
The history of equity and trusts concerns the development of the body of rules known as equity, English trust law and its spread into a modern body of trust law around Commonwealth and the United States.
The law of trusts was constructed as part of "equity", a body of principles made by the Courts of Chancery, which sought to correct the strictness of the common law.
The Investor Relations website contains information about American Equity Investment Life Holding Company's business for stockholders, potential investors, and financial analysts.
Stokley Carmichael and Charles V. Hamilton's book Black Power: The Politics of Liberation in America was catalytic in this shift. Offering a framework for black political, economic, and psychological empowerment, Carmichael and Hamilton differentiated between individual and institutional racism, locating the foundation of the latter in a.
This election will apply to all American Equity annuity contracts you own. Notice If you submit an electronic distribution request prior to am CT on 12/31/19 it will process for the tax year Social ownership is any of various forms of ownership for the means of production in socialist economic systems, encompassing state ownership, employee ownership, cooperative ownership, citizen ownership of equity, common ownership and collective ownership.
Historically social ownership implied that capital and factor markets would cease to exist under the assumption that market .How equity gets divided initially and at harvest. One of the most common questions I get is about how equity should be distributed.
I'll warn you in advance: there are no hard and fast rules. Equity is negotiated on a case-by-case basis, which makes it hard to give any generalizations.
travelingartsfiesta.com - Equity ownership in America. book © 2020


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Main Sources Of Employment Of The United Kingdom
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Robert Sheldon is a technical consultant and freelance technology writer. He's written numerous books, articles and training materials related to Windows, databases, business intelligence and other areas of technology. He is also the author Ebook Now, a step-by-step guide about publishing ebooks.
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Last fall, a trustee committee began examining how Princeton should recognize Woodrow Wilson's legacy. The committee convened in the wake of a student protest at Nassau Hall that called attention to Wilson's racism. It has now issued a report, which the Board of Trustees has approved. The report is thorough and perceptive, guided by humane values, and candid in its recognition of this University's failings and of the importance of making a "renewed and expanded commitment to diversity and inclusion at Princeton." I concur fully with the committee's analysis and recommendations, and I hope that all Princetonians will read its report and the news release about it.
I anticipated that the Princeton community would deliberate thoughtfully about Wilson's legacy and that the Board would decide wisely. The process surpassed my high expectations. I want to express my appreciation to Brent Henry '69, who chaired the special trustee committee, and to all of its members for ensuring that all Princetonians had an opportunity to register their opinions, for listening with care, and for weighing judiciously all of the considerations relevant to the issues before them. I am also grateful to the more than 600 alumni, faculty, staff, and students who submitted online comments, and to all who participated in the open forum and the eleven in-person meetings that the trustee committee held during January and February. Finally, I would like to thank the nine distinguished historians who contributed scholarly letters assessing Wilson's legacy at Princeton and as president of the United States.
Last fall's student protests and the thoughtful discussions that followed have changed how this campus will remember Woodrow Wilson and, I suspect, how our country will remember him as well. Over the past few months, many Princetonians remarked to me that they had little knowledge of Wilson's racism. I count myself among those who have learned from this process. I now have a deeper appreciation for Wilson's failings and for what those failings have meant to this country and our campus. While I continue to admire Wilson's many genuine accomplishments, I recognize the need to describe him in a way that is more balanced, and more faithful to history, than this University and I have previously done.
The trustee committee's report emphasizes, and I agree wholeheartedly, that our most significant and enduring challenges pertain to enhancing the diversity and inclusivity of our community. Princeton's educational and research mission requires that we attract, welcome, and embrace talented individuals from every background and sector of society. We must strive energetically and imaginatively to make this campus a place where all of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni can feel fully at home.
The trustee report makes several specific recommendations to help us achieve these goals. My colleagues and I will begin implementing them immediately, along with other initiatives already underway. Inclusivity is an important priority for Princeton and for me personally, and it will remain so throughout my time as this University's president.
The issues facing Princeton reflect the particulars of its history and culture, but they have analogues on other campuses, and indeed in the country and the world more broadly. The quest to achieve genuine equality and inclusivity is one of our society's greatest and most profound challenges. I am confident that Princeton can be a leader in meeting that challenge, and I look forward to working with all of you to do so.


Dortmund – Borussia Dortmund will not take a long time looking for a replacement for Jurgen Klopp, because next week the club will announce their new coach next season.
Dortmund Klopp no longer use the services of next season after the eccentric coach decided to resign from the club that has been practiced for seven seasons.
Klopp's departure makes him directly linked with several European clubs. Not only Klopp, Dortmund was so because a number of names mentioned will directly deal with the club from the Ruhr Valley.
One of the strongest candidate is Thomas Tuchel, who was rested for a year after the retreat from Mainz 05 last season. Related Tuchel name or other coaches who will be pembesut Mats Hummels et al. next season, Dortmund will be announced in the near future.
"I do not know who will be our new coach, and even though we knew we were not going to tell you. What is clear he is not from the second division Bundesliga club, and he will speak German," said Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, such as Soccernet quoted.
"I warn everyone to just focus on Tuchel. We did not want to take a long time to find a replacement. I think next week we're going to find," he continued.


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Category: Watch
December 20, 2022 Keith Watch
Creature from Black Lake
There are certain conventions in the Bigfoot mini-genre, and Creature from Black Lake is quick to fulfill them all.
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Atomic Terror and Cold War Trauma in Rocketship X-M and The Quatermass Xperiment
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Research rabbit holes, Steve Reeves movies, and a brief history of the Gothic War
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A murderous samurai finds himself on the wrong end of a host of mythological creatures and ghosts in this yokai tale from Shintoho Studio
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Chor Yuen delivers another phantasmagorical, confusing, delirious martial arts fantasy-mystery full of secret clans with secret kungfu.
1975 | ItalyAKA: Nude per l'assassinoDirector: Andrea Bianchi By Keith Allison Strip Nude for Your Killer (Nude per l'assassino) may be scummy, but it wastes no time letting you know exactly where you stand. The first shot is a full-frontal nude shot of a woman in a doctor's office, legs spread in medical stirrups, with … Continue reading Strip Nude for Your Killer
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When it comes to truly loathsome giallo characters , few can match Giuliano Carnimeo's The Case of the Bloody Iris, a film in which pretty much everyone is hateful or stupid; or more often, hateful and stupid.
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Who Saw Her Die?
Who Saw Her Die? is the rare giallo that attempts an emotional connection, and it succeeds thanks primarily to a committed performance from former James Bond, George Lazenby.
The Bloodstained Butterfly, while certainly part of the giallo genre, also integrates aspects of the emerging poliziotteschi crime films.


text:
Marienberg ist ein Ort in Papua-Neuguinea, im Osten der Provinz East Sepik. Der Ort liegt am Unterlauf des Sepik-Fluss (ehem. dt. Kaiserin-Augusta-Fluss), rund 50 Kilometer oberhalb von dessen Mündung in den Pazifik. In der Nähe gelegene Orte sind Angoram, Mambel, Dabero, Bien, Mabuk und Ariapan.

Es gibt eine kleine Start- und Landebahn für Flugzeuge. Bereits zu deutschen Kolonialzeiten gab es dort eine Missionsstation. Daher trifft man noch heute die Bezeichnung Marienberg Mission für Marienberg.

Nach dem Ort ist die Gruppe der Marienberg-Sprachen benannt.

Ort in Papua-Neuguinea
East Sepik Province
Ort auf Neuguinea

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Further to recent news from Qatar Ports Management Company, MSC wishes to confirm details of the forthcoming migration of all container vessel operations from current Doha Port to the new Hamad Port.
The new Hamad Port becomes fully effective as of THURSDAY 1st DECEMBER.
We are pleased to inform customers that the call of M/v MSC ESTHI will mark the inaugural ceremony of Container Terminal 1 at Hamad Port on Thursday 1st December.
We look forward to providing you with our high standard service to and from Qatar.


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In our core businesses – consumer, endpoint security, storage management and backup – we utilize our market leadership positions to accelerate new growth opportunities. As the industry matures, we pair new technologies with our core solutions to deliver integrated solutions that address evolving customer needs.
As the threat landscape evolves and customers shift to adapt to new technologies and technology consumption, we are investing in future growth areas such as mobile, virtualization and SaaS that will help to reduce cost and complexity for our customers. Symantec leverages internal R&D, acquisitions and partnerships to accelerate our long-term strategy.
With Symantec, customers can protect more of their information and its technology infrastructure, in greater depth, wherever information is stored or used. From securing a consumer's online identity and interactions to protecting an organization's mission-critical data, Symantec offers the leading and best-of-breed security, backup and recovery, data availability and data loss prevention products.
As a platform-independent software company without bias to an individual operating system or hardware environment, Symantec helps customers manage more technologies with greater efficiency, on more platforms – even in virtual environments – than any other company. With multi-platform software and a worldwide delivery and support infrastructure, Symantec helps customers optimize technology investments throughout their lifetimes.
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Disgraced Equifax CEO blames 145.5 million-record breach on a single forgetful flunky
Cory Doctorow 9:05 am Wed Oct 4, 2017
Former Equifax CEO Richard Smith — who retired with $90m for his year's work after overseeing a breach of 145,500,000 Americans' most sensitive date — testified before Congress yesterday and explained the cause of the breach: "The human error was that the individual who's responsible for communicating in the organization to apply the patch, did not."
During his testimony, Smith identified the company IT employee who should have applied the patch as responsible: "The human error was that the individual who's responsible for communicating in the organization to apply the patch, did not."
That didn't stop the committee from thrashing Smith and Equifax's failure to protect user data. Lawmakers pondered over how to prevent similar breaches in the future, but focused on the company's failure in what might be the hearing's iconic quote: "How does this happen when so much is at stake?" Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) said to Smith. "I don't think we can pass a law that fixes stupid."
Former Equifax CEO blames breach on one IT employee
[David Lumb/Engadget]
lynndie england did it
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra urges court to force Amazon to comply with coronavirus labor probe
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra asked a court on Monday to compel Amazon.com to comply with outstanding subpoenas for a state investigation into Amazon's response to the coronavirus pandemic, and the impact on warehouse workers. From Reuters: The petition, filed with the Sacramento County Superior Court, accused Amazon of failing to adequately follow the state's… READ THE REST
FDA to approve emergency use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
During an appearance on ABC News this morning, Health and Human Services Director Alex Azar said the FDA intends to grant Emergency Use Authorization to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. The EUA could be issued as early as Saturday. This means distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine and vaccinations could begin in the United States as… READ THE REST
Elon Musk moves to Texas from California
• Elon Musk confirms he has moved to Texas where SpaceX's new Starship spacecraft and Tesla's new Gigafactory are located Elon Musk said Tuesday he has relocated from California to Texas, where he intends to focus more on a new Tesla factory, and on SpaceX. "The two biggest things that I got going on right… READ THE REST
Launch your Amazon side hustle with this awesome training bundle
Back in the infancy of Amazon, third party sellers were just a tiny facet of the company's growing eCommerce power. In fact, those small retailers affiliated with Amazon only accounted for 3% of their sales back in 1999. Of course, the company's growth and the emergence of more FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) businesses brought thousands… READ THE REST
Get a MagSafe Wireless Charging Cable and a 20-watt adapter for your iPhone 12
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text:
War Tournament
If you'd like to follow along at home, I've published the code for this post on Github
Last Friday, FiveThirtyEight's Friday puzzle column, The Riddler, posted another exciting game theory competition. I'll let the author, Oliver Roeder, explain:
You and a random opponent are playing a simplified game of War. Both you and your opponent have 13 cards in your deck: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, king and ace. You can arrange these cards in any order you want. You'll play a one-round game, where you go through all 13 of your cards just once. Both you and your opponent draw a single card off the top of your deck and compare them. If your card outranks your opponent's, you get a point. (No points are awarded for ties.) After all 13 cards have been shown, the player with the most points wins.
I'll match you up against every player who submits, and the player who wins the most games overall will be this week's Express winner.
However, to enter into this tournament, you must first beat me, the house. I have a deck that is in this order: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A. I, being the house and all, get an additional advantage in that I also win ties. Plus I can choose to play my decks forward or backward — the order above or A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Your deck must be able to beat both of my decks to enter the tournament.
If this sounds familiar to my two previous posts on The Riddler's two previous Colonel Blotto tournaments, then you're onto something. The key lies in the "beat the house" requirement to entry. There are 13! or 6,227,020,800 permutations of the thirteen cards (what I'll refer to as a deck), only ~15% of which beat the house. Without the entrance requirement, the Nash equilibrium of this game is simply a random choice of those six billion options, i.e. no deck is better than any other. To visualize this, I've simulated a tournament of 40,000 random entrants, and calculated their win margin percentage against the field. This is defined a deck's winning percentage minus its losing percentage. Here, I've plotted the win margins as a function of their percentile:
As you can see, the spread of win margins is quite minimal, and can entirely be explained by chance. For example, the best deck in the field only won 1.7% more games than it lost, with a record of 16717 wins, 7247 ties, and 16036 losses. Another way to visualize this is by comparing the win margin of a random sample of decks against two different random fields. In the figure below, I've plotted the win margin of 1,000 random decks against two different random fields of 10,000 decks:
The R squared, or coefficient of determination, is practically zero, showing no relation between the scores. Thus, even the most successful decks against field one were completely average against the second one, i.e. the scores are due to random chance. However, when requiring that decks beat the house, these figures change noticeably. First, the percentiles of win margin percentage for a field of 40,000 random decks that beat the house:
The spread of win margins is much larger, with some entries dominating the field, and others being, well, utterly dominated. Next, we'll repeat the correlation plot, comparing the win margin of a random sample of decks that beat the house against two different similarly qualified random fields. Again. this is 1,000 decks scored against two fields of 10,000:
Notably, the error between the fields is similar, both in rms and mean absolute terms, since the same random variation occurs given the identical sample sizes. However, the R squared is now at 1 to three significant digits since the spread of win margins is so much larger.
So clearly, with the beat the house requirement, some decks are better than others, but which ones? In order to answer that question, I've plotted on the right the probability distribution of cards for each hand in the deck. The color of each bar represents the average win margin percentage of decks with that card in that hand.
The histogram for the first hand shows that the most likely card is a 3, with high cards being less likely than lower ones. Decks that start off with a mid-valued card are more successful, while a deck with a 2 or Ace at the top will on average lose 11-12% more games than it wins.
One of the first things to note from this chart is the symmetry of the hands in a deck. Beating the house means beating the cards in ascending and descending order, thus any valid deck's reverse order is also a valid deck, i.e. its reverse beats the cards in descending and ascending order. That leads to hands 1 and 13 having an identical distribution, along with 2 and 12, and so on.
Interestingly, it appears that a successful strategy involves playing mid-value cards at the beginning and end, with low and high cards in the middle. However, any one card placement only has so much impact on the win margin, with the spread of colors representing -15% to +10%, while the actual win margins vary all the way from -60% to +40%. Clearly, this level of analysis can only get us so far. Thus, its time to break out the optimization!
In my two previous posts on the Colonel Blotto tournament, I used a simple multi-start hill climbing algorithm to search the space for optimal troop distributions. Since the troop distributions were discretized, i.e. the number of troops defending each castle was a round number, each distribution had 90 nearest neighbors, found by taking a troop from one castle and moving him/her to another. The hill climber, given an initial start, would try out one nearest neighbor at a time (in random order) until it found a better one, at which point it would step to that distribution and start its search of nearest neighbors all over. At some point, after stepping one troop movement at a time, it would find a local maximum, at which each nearest neighbor was inferior. To combat the existence of many local but not global maxima, I would start the algorithm multiple times, i.e. multi-start, giving me a higher likelihood of searching the entire space.
It turns out a very similar framing can work wonders for this tournament. We can step through all possible decks by swapping one card with another, our new definition of nearest neighbor. In this case, a deck has 78 nearest neighbors to choose from. The only catch is that some of these nearest neighbor decks no longer beat the house, so before stepping to a new deck, we have to check its validity first.
Running this optimization algorithm with 1,000 random starts over a random field of 10,000, I found that the deck [5, 8, 7, 3, 4, K, Q, 2, A, J, 9, 10, 6] has a win margin of 52%. The distribution of win margins for locally optimal decks looks like the following:
Optimizing over the random field is interesting, but ultimately not the way to win this tournament. This is because the field against which our deck will be matched up will not be random. Instead, each competitor will, to varying degrees of obsessiveness, also be strategically planning their own deck. The question is, to what degree?
As I discussed in my second Colonel Blotto post, this tournament can be thought of as a Keynesian beauty contest:
... professional investment may be likened to those newspaper competitions in which the competitors have to pick out the six prettiest faces from a hundred photographs, the prize being awarded to the competitor whose choice most nearly corresponds to the average preferences of the competitors as a whole; so that each competitor has to pick, not those faces which he himself finds prettiest, but those which he thinks likeliest to catch the fancy of the other competitors, all of whom are looking at the problem from the same point of view. It is not a case of choosing those which, to the best of one's judgment, are really the prettiest, nor even those which average opinion genuinely thinks the prettiest. We have reached the third degree where we devote our intelligences to anticipating what average opinion expects the average opinion to be. And there are some, I believe, who practise the fourth, fifth and higher degrees.
In this analogy, first degree thinkers randomly choose the first deck they find that beats the house. Second degree thinkers optimize around beating the first degree thinkers, i.e. the deck we previously found. Third degree thinkers optimize around beating the second degree thinkers, and so on. An infinitely rational thinker corresponds with the Nash equilibrium.
I previously used publicly available data from a "Guess ⅔ of the Average" game to estimate the "level of rationality" of the public, but in the case of this game, I don't think that data applies very well. Its clear that the complexity of a game partially determines to what depth the players analyze it. While "Guess ⅔ of the Average" is simple, and only takes a multiplication of ⅔ to dive one level deeper, some games, like this one, require a deep analysis to do so. As well, the audience of the Riddler is decidedly more analytical than your average Jack & Jill. For these reasons, I arbitrarily chose a distribution of 57% first level, 29% second level, and 14% third level thinkers (each level has half of the previous one).
One final note: one important consideration to my analysis of the Colonel Blotto tournament was factoring in the "trolls," i.e. players intentionally playing sub-optimal strategies. Notably, someone found and submitted a troop distribution guaranteed to lose every time. Impressive! By my calculation, trolls made up about a quarter of the entrants.
However, even after channeling my inner troll, I was unable to come up with a strategy meant to throw people off and/or lose for this game. For that reason, I didn't take them into account.
The results of the tournament should post in this week's Riddler on Friday, so look out for an update soon thereafter!
UPDATE: FiveThirtyEight didn't end up publishing the data from this competition in the next week's post, and since I didn't place in the top 5, I'll never know how I did. Ah well! That said, it looks like they incorrectly reported the percentage of decks that beat the house, so that's a bummer.


The virtual MVPD landscape is beginning to come into clearer focus, with subscriber counts—either announced or reported—giving industry observers some idea of which services are capturing market share in the distribution model's early days.
Former Scripps Networks svp, corporate communications Cindy McConkey Cox died Thursday morning at the age of 57. She had been battling cancer over the past four years. McConkey Cox joined Scripps in 2001 and has served in volunteer positions for the Association of Cable Communications, NCTA and WICT, among other organizations.
Three major deals—Disney's $68.4bln purchase of 21st Century Fox assets, Discovery's $11.8bln acquisition of Scripps Networks and Crown Castle's $7.1bln takeover of Lightower Fiber Networks—accounted for about 63% of all M&A value in the media and telecom space.
Amid concerns about decelerating growth in the maturing broadband marketplace, Comcast believes it can continue to count on the sector for big gains going forward.
Altice USA responded Tuesday to Starz's Emergency Petition for Injunctive Relief from the FCC, which the premium net filed last week amid a carriage dispute.
Verizon CEO Lowell McAdams proclaimed the wireless carrier is not looking to make a large content acquisition in the foreseeable future.
It might seem like everyone you know already has Netflix, but customer acquisition isn't showing any signs of plateauing.


text: Q: How can I use an enhanced keyboard and mouse with a KVM? What technical solutions can enable multimedia keyboards and multi-button mice to operate with a 4-port DVI or HDMI KVM switch such as the Avocent 4SVDVI10-001?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I really like how good you've gotten with making the sets Cent.
When Cent gave me work-in-progress shots for this room, I went into raptures. I'd chosen the base set, but Cent really dressed it up amazingly with other props and details to make it look lived-in.
Those sets do look like something you could actually live in. Both Kyle's teenager room, and the room that Dolly is in.
You're good at what you do!
I agree with Mark and say that Dolly looks awesome on this page.
to all you Kyle haters..... Pffffffft!
Is that a picture of a pink-haired girl?
Very interesting modified USAF logo. I hope I'll get to see some explanation for that later.


text:
LATEST LOCAL
Ashley Spicer
Reporter, anchor
Ashley Spicer, who the News4Jax audience has known for years as Ashley Mitchem, anchors the weekend morning show and reports during the week. Her name change comes after her recent marriage to William Spicer and Ashley is now a proud mother to a beautiful girl.
Ashley is a 2009 graduate of the University of North Florida. She interned at News4Jax, then was hired as the morning assignment editor in May 2010. She moved to Tallahassee to report at WCTV, but she couldn't stay away from Jacksonville long. She rejoined the News4Jax team in December 2011.
Ashley was honored by The Buzz Magazine as Jacksonville's Top 30 Future Leaders Under 30 in 2014 and was featured in Jacksonville Magazine's November 2014 issue.
She is a board member of Best Buddies Florida, a charity that creates opportunities for 1-to-1 friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Although Jacksonville is now home, Ashley is proudly from Eustis, Florida. In her off time, she enjoys the beach, fishing, horseback riding and playing soccer. She loves animals and has two Boston Terriers, Evey and Loxley.
Her teams are the Florida Gators and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Firefighter with PTSD helping others recover
Firefighters don't just fight fires, they're exposed to victims with serious injuries and horrific scenes of death and destruction.
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Jacksonville Beach City Council updates alcohol ordinance
Jacksonville Beach City Council approved a change to an ordinance Monday night that could revoke permits allowing a bar or restaurant to sell alcohol after midnight if the business...
Parents left scrambling after Jacksonville day care abruptly closes doors
Parents whose children attend a Jacksonville day care were stunned Monday morning when the business abruptly closed its doors and changed the locks.


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Queluz, a fairy tale palace filled with real life drama
Posted on February 20, 2017 by Jules & Verne
Flamboyant. Extravagant. Frivolous. Once called a "very expensive birthday cake", this 18th century Rococo summer palace reflected the carefree lifestyle of the Portuguese monarchy of the time, inebriated by the gold and riches brought from Brazil. But things would soon take a turn to the worse, with the Queluz Palace playing a central role. A dead King, a mad Queen, an invading Napoleon, a fleeing royal family and a ruler that would come back to die in the same bed where he had been born.
Queluz Palace, Portugal (18mm, f3.5, 1/60s, ISO 640)
The palace was never meant to be an official residence as, at the time, Queluz stood quite far from the hustle and bustle of Lisbon. In 1777, Queen Maria and her husband King Pedro III ascended to the throne and dismissed Marquis of Pombal, who had been de facto running the country. Weary from the affairs of the state, the monarchs would often use the Queluz summer palace as a quiet refuge.
Queluz Palace, Portugal (90mm, f5.6, 1/7s, ISO 800)
Queluz Palace, Portugal (22mm, f7.1, 1/450s, ISO 200)
When the king died, Queen Maria's mental health deteriorated and she would spend more and more time at Queluz. In 1794, after a major fire destroyed the royal quarters of the Ajuda Palace, Queluz became the family's official residence.
Queluz Palace, Portugal (27mm, f4.2, 1/2200s, ISO 500)
Queluz Palace, Portugal (31mm, f9, 1/350s, ISO 200)
The turn of the century would not bear better news. In 1807, supported by the Spanish crown, Napoleon invades Portugal. In a rather questionable move, the Portuguese royal family hastily leaves the Queluz Palace and flees to Brazil. By transferring the crown to one of the Kingdom's colonies, sovereignty would not be lost but the population would be left to its own devices.
Under the heavy weight of indignity, the fleeing ship carried the King D. João VI, the Queen Carlota Joaquina and their sons to warmer waters. Their eldest, Dom Pedro, born in a beautiful room at Queluz, didn't let his shielded childhood get in the way of becoming a decisive – albeit controversial – ruler. Through a series of cunning political plays worthy of a Brazilian novela, he would see his son Dom Pedro II become the first emperor of a truly independent Brazil, and his daughter Dona Maria II the Queen of Portugal.
The second part of that plan required him to return to Portugal, a hard thing to do for someone that had fallen in love with Brazil. Once back to this side of the Atlantic, he fought a civil war with his brother Dom Miguel, who had in the meantime ascended to the throne. In 1834, Dom Pedro – supported by the British – and Dom Miguel – supported by the Spanish – clash in a final battle near Tomar. Overpowered, Dom Miguel retreats to Alentejo and signs a peace treaty that makes Dom Pedro's daughter the Queen of Portugal.
But, weakened by the rigors of war, Dom Pedro dies of tuberculosis that same year. In his last moments, spent on the very same Queluz Palace bedroom where he had been born, he wrote an open letter to his son and the people of Brazil, urging for the end of slavery:
"Slavery is an evil, and an attack against the rights and dignity of the human species, but its consequences are less harmful to those who suffer in captivity than to the Nation whose laws allow slavery. It is a cancer that devours its morality."
Jules and Verne *
EuropeExplorationhistoryLisbonPhoto EssayPhotographyPortugalTravelWriting59 comments
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59 thoughts on "Queluz, a fairy tale palace filled with real life drama"
Helga Sma says:
Jules & Verne says:
Thanks Helga 😉 looking fwd for your next post!
Interesting story! Well written too. 🙂
Thank you so much Joy! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
rosemaylily2014 says:
Stunning photos and such an interesting story!
Thank you Rosemary! Glad we found your blog too, as we share an interest for both travelling and history! – Verne
A well-presented chunk of history with marvellous images.
Thank you! We were lucky when we visited: gorgeous winter sky and the sun perfectly positioned for photographing the gardens – Verne
Len Kagami says:
Gorgeous! Despite having a not-so-happy history, the palace is still a masterpiece. I love the garden 🙂 Is it far from Lisbon?
Thanks Len! It's a quick 20 minute train ride from Lisbon, along the same line that takes you to Sintra 🙂 – Verne
Oh thanks 🙂
Denzil says:
Stunning place, lovely story.
Thanks Denzil! I remember going there as a kid, when it was still a bit run down. But now, after the restoration, it looks magnificent. – Verne
Pingback: Queluz, a fairy tale palace filled with real life drama — Jules Verne Times Two – GOOD LUCK
1000journeys says:
Nice post. A complex history but you managed to tell it simply and beautifully, and in just a few lines too — well done!
Thank you! It's funny how you inevitably bring traits from your professional life onto your hobbies: both Jules and I very often have to summarize stuff for our jobs 🙂 – Verne
missyhawk says:
Really interesting glimpse of history. Thank you! 🙂
Obrigado nós! 😉 -Verne
Another Américaine says:
Gorgeous photos! Looks spectacular
Thanks for reading Elizabeth! I would suggest a visit, but with Versailles practically at your doorstep it might be a hard sell 🙂 – Verne
Anabel Marsh says:
Interesting! I know nothing of Portuguese history so have learned something.
Thanks for reading, Anabel! A while ago Jules talked about when the Templars took refuge in Portugal, you may find that one worth a read: https://julesvernex2.com/2016/12/22/templars-in-tomar-a-time-travel-to-medieval-portugal/
Beautiful photographs of a gorgeous palace!
Thank you Jessica, it is indeed worth a visit! – Verne
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Dom Pedro was ahead of his time when it came to slavery, wasn't he? It's a stunning palace and definitely on my list for the next time I'm up that way. Fab photos! 🙂
He was! Portugal had officially abolished slavery in 1761 (by the hand of Marquis of Pombal), but it would take as far as 1869 to completely eradicate it across the empire. Jo, if you can help it, visit Queluz on a sunny afternoon: the gardens light up beautifully and the sun comes rushing into the palace through those tall windows 🙂 – Verne
I'll do my best 🙂
Bama says:
Portugal for so many years has been on my wishlist, not only because of its beautiful buildings and palaces, but also because of the past connection with Indonesia. The Portuguese were, after all, the first Europeans who discovered direct sea routes from Europe to the Spice Islands — which are now in modern-day Indonesia. Speaking of Queluz, what an impressive summer palace it really is! Thanks for the brief history lesson about this part of the world.
Indeed, the Moluccas! The race to find a sea route, the scuffles between Portugal and Spain, the Treaty of Zaragoza… that story alone makes me want to return to Indonesia 🙂 Hope you can make it to Portugal, drop us a line if you do! -Verne
In 2015 I did a six-month trip across Southeast and South Asia with my best friend to retrace parts of the spice route. I ended up learning a lot more than I expected. We're thinking of going to the Netherlands and Portugal some time in the future, to finish off what we have started. Really appreciate that, Verne!
Incredible pictures and I love your writing style!
Thank you Dustin! And thank you as well for the great posts on China. The one about the Muslim Quarter at Xi'an brings back some great memories 🙂 – Verne
In awe, Glorious!!
It is indeed, hope you have a chance to visit the Queluz Palace one day 🙂 -Verne
LuiZ FernandoS says:
Unfortunately, D Pedro II didn't listen to his father and slavery lasted 50+ years in Brazil. I didn't know about this letter.
Unfortunate indeed! As in most countries, the actual abolition of slavery lagged intentions by many years. May I take advantage of the fact that you're Brazilian (I'm going on a limb here, based on your name) to ask a question? I had the impression that, like his father, Dom Pedro II was an abolitionist, but was prevented by the Assembly (which included many landowners) from passing legislation to end slavery. Is the real story more complicated than that?
No, you are correct. I'm not sure he was abolitionist, because he reigned since 1831. One fear was to lose power, what indeed happend, for abolition was an ideal of republicans. His daughter signed the law in 1888, while he was sick and she was reigning. As ever, Deputies rule more for themselves than to people.
Sapna Kapoor says:
Interesting story and beautiful captures.
Thank you Sapna! -Verne
Anita and Richard @ No Particular Place To Go says:
Fascinating post and your photos are marvelous! You've combined my favorite interests – travel, history and Portugal – into a terrific post and I can't wait to visit the Queluz Palace. Anita
You know, your blog was a big influence for these posts. We realized that we could take our initial fairly rigid structure – made to take about our round-the-world trip – and use it to talk about other things we love. On next Monday's post we'll introduce another one of our passions, hopefully we won't be testing the patience of our readers too much 🙂 -Verne
Feisty Harriet says:
So gorgeous!! ❤ ❤ ❤
Thanks for reading, Harriet! You too, Feisty 🙂 -Verne
Dippy-Dotty Girl says:
Thank you for reading my post on Dave's blog. I am glad I came across yours. Lovely post. I am a sucker for storytelling 🙂
Our pleasure, Dippy-Dotty! 🙂
Very interesting! What a palace and what a story!
Thanks for reading, Anne! The earlier Portuguese history, particularly around the Discoveries period, is also captivating. We'll have to find an excuse to talk about that 🙂 – Verne
Karlie says:
I find political intrigue very interesting and loved how you wove it through the beautiful photographs of the palace. It's neat to read stories in history of people who had a particular heart for a country and wanted to see change.
http://thetatteredpassport.wordpress.com
Hi Karlie! Thank you so much for your comment. Portuguese history is very rich in political intrigue and drama, so we have plenty of material to work on! I was peeking at your blog and you have gorgeous photos! Made me want to go back to a lot of those places 🙂 – Jules
Would love to read more on history! Thank you 🙂
taureansite says:
Interesting. Beautiful photographs too.
Namrata D Prabhakar says:
Going through your posts takes one to an other world. Simply amazing
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girlandworld says:
Thank you! – Verne
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Q: How to return 0 incase of empty result in oracle select query? I have a Query where there is number datatype column. In case of empty resultset O/P is blank. I want 0 in that case.
My query is
select nvl(infodata,0)
from table1
where group_id = 111
  and appid in (select max(id)
                from table1, table2
                where status = 'A');

Now my inner query is returning null in that case. NVL seems to be not working on infodata column. Please help

A: Outcome of such a query is no rows selected.
For example (based on Scott's EMP and DEPT tables as I don't have yours, and you didn't post test case), this query returns nothing:
SQL> select e.deptno
  2  from emp e
  3  where e.ename = 'Littlefoot';

no rows selected

If it is used as a subquery, the result is equal to what you currently have:
SQL> select nvl(d.dname, 'x') result
  2  from dept d
  3  where d.deptno in (select e.deptno
  4                     from emp e
  5                     where e.ename = 'Littlefoot'
  6                    );

no rows selected

But, if you apply aggregation (see line #1), then you'd get what you wanted:
SQL> select nvl(max(d.dname), 'x') result
  2  from dept d
  3  where d.deptno in (select e.deptno
  4                     from emp e
  5                     where e.ename = 'Littlefoot'
  6                    );

RESULT
--------------
x

As I said: it works on my test case; might, or might not on yours. If you post sample data, we'd have something to work with.


text:
Q: Computing the posterior mean using a Gaussian prior? I was reading through "Machine Learning: A Probabilistic Perspective" by Kevin Murphy and came across this example using priors but I don't understand how the posterior mean was calculated (page 168):

I tried computing the posterior mean myself, but I don't understand how it is 3.43. Since the likelihood and prior are conjugate Gaussian, we can use a closed form formula to get the posterior mean (Lemma 5 here):
$$
\theta = \frac{\sigma^2_0}{\sigma^2 + \sigma^2_0}x+\frac{\sigma^2}{\sigma^2 + \sigma^2_0}\mu_0
$$
where the prior is $\theta \sim N(\mu_0, \sigma^2_0)$, and $\sigma^2$ is the variance of the observed $x$'s distribution. So the posterior mean should be
$$
\theta = \frac{2.19^2}{1+2.19^2}5 + \frac{1}{1+2.19^2}0 = 4.14
$$
Am I doing something wrong or misinterpreting the example? Why is the posterior mean 3.43?

A: You are correct, but the book does not provide a correct variance of the prior distribution.
The correct variance of the prior distribution:  $\sigma_0^2=1.4781^2$.
You can try to use the correct variance to verify that: $p(\theta\leq-1)=p(-1\leq\theta\leq0)=p(0\leq\theta\leq1)=p(1\leq\theta)=0.25$
Instead if you use the incorrect variance provided by the book, you will get :
$p(\theta\leq-1)=0.324,\,\,p(-1\leq\theta\leq0)=p(0\leq\theta\leq1)=0.176,\,\, p(1\leq\theta)=0.324$
Now you can derive that:
$\theta = \frac{1.4781^2}{1+1.4781^2}5 + \frac{1}{1+1.4781^2}0 = 3.43$


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Blooregard 'Bloo' Q. Kazoo is Mac's imaginary friend. Charming, self-centred, fun and rebellious, Bloo likes to take advantage of the friends at Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, but he still has a good heart and sometimes apologises for his trouble-making.
Mac is a clever but shy 8-year-old boy who created troublesome Bloo. He spends most of his time at Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends trying to stay out of trouble, but can get easily distracted by sugar - which makes Mac really hyperactive!
Wilt is a tall, friendly and red imaginary friend whose arm is missing and left eye is wonky after an accident in a basketball game. Wilt tries to help out at Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends in any way he can, and he's always happy and positive.
Coco is a mixture between a bird, an aeroplane and a palm tree. She can also only say or write the word 'Coco'. But despite being strange, she comes in handy for her friends at Foster's when she lays her small plastic Easter Eggs - which contain amazing surprises!
Eduardo has big horns, purple fur, long fangs, a spade tail and weighs more than 35 stone! Even though he looks like the scariest of Foster's Imaginary Friends, Eduardo is actually timid and compassionate. He also cries very easily and is scared of almost everything.
What happens to imaginary friends when kids grow up? They end up at Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Home to the best friends you can think of.


will explain the different steps in the restoration process of the oyster sloop Priscilla.
The Priscilla, built in 1888, is a 60 feet long oyster sloop with a 14-foot beam.
In 1976, she was donated to the Long Island Maritime Museum.
This vessel is the oldest and only sailing work-boat to survive from the Great South Bay oyster fleet. There are only four of her kind still in existence.
In 2006 Priscilla was designated as a National Historic Landmark.


text:
Excitement builds as recordings for virtual Dance Live! TV event begin
The Guildhall Trust's Dance Live! team has been hitting the road to bring a virtual edition of the popular dance competition for Schools and Colleges to fruition this summer.
Following an earlier decision that the in-person event at Portsmouth Guildhall, due to take place in March, would not be able to go ahead due to Covid restrictions, the Trust was determined that the show would go on and worked with teachers to agree on a Covid safe option that ensured all was not lost for the young people who had already missed out on so much in the last year.
The team is recreating the Dance Live, taking an LED screen, backdrop, dance floor, and filming equipment into each participating school and college, the team is recreating the Dance Live! stage for pupils to perform the routines they have been rehearsing remotely and in their bubbles, as guidelines have dictated, which will then be recorded and brought together in a live-streamed Dance Live! TV final available for all to view on Saturday 19th June.
Competing schools from across Portsmouth, Southampton, Dorset, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight will all have their performances judged by a panel of industry professionals, including Dance Live! Patron and Head Judge, Mark Smith, Founder & Artistic Director of Deaf Men Dancing.
Dance Live! Producer Cherry Lambert said, "It would have been easy to cancel events for this year but the compelling feedback we were getting from the young people and their teachers was that Dance Live! was giving them a key focus away from Covid with the opportunity to connect with each other, stay active and be creative at a time when most other activities had been suspended. Taking our set to all the participating schools and colleges across such a wide area with a rigorous set of Covid safety measures in place is not without its challenges, but now we are here, seeing the performances and the joy we have brought to the young people involved, it is all worth it!"
"Just wanted to say on behalf of everyone at Rowner a huge thank you to the Dance Live team – the kids were absolutely buzzing and we do not underestimate the work and time that has gone in to make it happen for them – so thank you." – Rowner Junior School.
"It brought me closer to my classmates. It taught me a new form of creativity. As the video editor in this project, Dance Live! was very challenging and I learned new skills in this field." – Itchen Sixth Form Student
Businesses and organisations in the region have also given their support to ensure the initiative could go ahead, including Hornpipe Theatre Company, Wightlink, Isle of Wight Ferries, Becketts of Southsea and returning sponsor, Wave 105 FM.
Wave 105 FM said, "Wave 105 is the region's market leading commercial radio station. We have enjoyed over 20 years of working in partnership with many businesses, events and organisations across the city and we are extremely proud to support Dance Live! 2021. Reflecting the culture, creativity and passion of the places we broadcast to is at our core and we are excited to be part of this inspirational event".
Dance Live! will return to its normal format in 2022 with a socially distanced and digital launch event taking place at 5 pm on Thursday 27th May, where interested schools, colleges and organisations can find out more. If you would like to attend the launch, virtually or in person, please contact dancelive@portsmouthguildhall.org.uk or 023 9387 0193 to secure your place.
Tickets for the Dance Live TV! digital final on 19th June will be on sale soon at: www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk
PrevPreviousPortsmouth's pandemic heroes celebrated in the Coronavirus Civic Awards
NextCall for tourism champions to help celebrate the city and welcome back visitorsNext


Come and visit the Elgar School of Music on 24th August for their annual String Taster Day Workshop. People of all ages are welcome to try various string instruments, have a short taster lesson, hear existing students perform alongside professionals and much more! It will be a day filled with exciting activities – bring the whole family!


text:
Teen breaks cycle of heroin abuse
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin will share more pieces of Reyna's story in future Kids in Crisis stories
Submit video about mental health Enter the "Break Stigma" contest to end shame around mental illness and raise money.
Reyna Saldana can't remember what it was like to be addicted to heroin. She is 18 now; she was just a baby then.
It's a problem on the rise throughout the country. A recent study showed that in less than a decade, the number of babies born with health problems from in-utero exposure to heroin and other opiates has doubled. These babies often experience withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, tremors, fever, trouble sleeping and other issues.
RELATED: Can kids of addicted parents break the cycle?
RELATED: Learning how suicide affects a community
Last week, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reporters shared findings that children are being affected by parental drug use in alarming numbers around the state. In 2015, 951 kids were removed from homes where officials found drug use was happening.
When Reyna first met her birth mother after years of living in foster homes and institutions, it was a disappointing moment.
"She was very high," Reyna said. "She looked like she was dead."
But Reyna tends to look for what's happening under the surface. As someone who's been forcibly restrained and thrown into youth prison more times than she can count, she understands what it's like to be blamed unfairly. Reyna has dealt with mental health issues her whole life and is sharing her story with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin's Kids in Crisis series with the hope of helping others dealing with mental health challenges.
RELATED KIDS IN CRISIS TOPICS
CHECK OUT THE SERIES: See all our Kids in Crisis coverage
VIDEO CONTEST: Submit a video a about mental health
E-NEWSLETTER SIGN UP: Get the latest Kids in Crisis stories in your inbox
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: Share your stories about youth mental health
Reyna sees deeper issues going on with her birth mother, as well as several other family members dealing with addiction.
When Reyna didn't get the help she needed, when authority figures entered her personal space without sensitivity to her being a rape survivor, Reyna tended to react violently. So it's easy for her to see how others, when they lack mental health support and other basic needs, look for other outlets.
Talking about illegal drug use, she puts it simply: "It's a way that you can help yourself without telling anyone."
Reyna is now free of many of the systems that plagued her growing up. She is working with Milwaukee Jobs Corps and hopes to spend her future career helping others with health issues. But she said substance abuse is still part of her life as she sees family members turn to street drugs and struggle to access health care.
"Ninety-eight percent of my family has trauma; they've all gone through something massive and none have ever seen a therapist or a psychiatrist," Reyna said.
There's one family member Reyna painfully watches cycle through the stimulant prescription drug Adderall, without a prescription.
"There's emotions she can't deal with," Reyna said. "She needs help and she's asked many times. She's like 'I just don't know where to go.'"
Reyna sees her family member's energy rise while she has the drug, and then crash hard when she's without it, leaving children without an attentive caretaker.
"As a parent, she's trying so hard, the best she can," Reyna said. "She doesn't have the resources to help herself or her kids. They're not getting a childhood."
Reyna doesn't know how to help. It's hard enough for her to find help for herself. For months she has been trying to find a therapist in the Milwaukee area who will take her insurance.
She understands why people give up.
"There's many times I've gone through so many hoops and it fails, and then I'm humiliated I even tried," Reyna said. "Someone told me, don't give yourself false hope for something the system can't accomplish. It's not always up to you."
Catch up on Reyna's story
Read earlier chapters about Reyna:
Mental health trauma didn't set Reyna's destiny
Reyna discovers source of "monster" trauma
Recounting her childhood behind bars
Rory Linnane: rlinnane@gannett.com or 920-993-7184; on Twitter @rorylinnane
About this series
Kids in Crisis which launched last year and will continue through 2017, is a series that explores barriers and solutions for supporting youth with mental health challenges. You can keep up with our latest stories on our home page and by subscribing to our e-newsletter .


text:
Get Thee Behind Me, Santa: An Inexcusably Filthy Children's Time-Travel Farce for Adults Only
"I leaned back in my chair and tried to wash away the uncomplicated flavors of shame, bile, and monkey spit."
- Get Thee Behind Me, Santa
Online Praise for Get Thee Behind Me, Santa
"...an off-the-wall noir-ish tale of blasphemy, time-travel, and social commentary on the hyper-commercialization of Christmas, interwoven with a series of 'Carols' that certainly deliver on the book's subtitle...the plot has the zaniness of something you and your friends would conceive while consuming way too much cheap whiskey after your 2:00 college creative writing class gets out..."
"...if you want a quick read...that will have you laughing and entertained with a 'holiday theme' then I can recommend this book. If you are a 'Church Lady' and want to get this to prove how much of a prude you are and complain how no one should read this...then pick it up too. It may just put a smile on your face..."
"I found this book to be completely, riotously hilarious...not a book for anyone who gets sick easily, or can't take a joke...quite offensive and crude and lewd and disgusting and harsh and unnecessary but that's what I loved about it."
It's December 21st, 2012, and something's gone terribly wrong with the timeline. Now it's up to Saint Nicholas, a soft-boiled detective, and an unknown carpenter's son named Jesus of Nazareth to set things right in this giddily blasphemous collection of literary parodies by internationally touring storyteller phillip andrew bennett low. Fully illustrated by cartoonist Kay Kirscht, and with a foreword by comedian Joseph Scrimshaw!
A one-man performance of material from this book was recognized as the bestselling show in its venue at the 2018 Kansas City Fringe Festival and selected for a coveted Encore slot.
May contain mature language, as well as immature and insensitive humor regarding genitalia, flatulence, regurgitation, sex, drugs, rock and roll, lies, videotape, duct tape, tapeworms, subversion of ethnic stereotypes, fulfilment of ethnic stereotypes, hate culture, rape culture, ape culture, horticulture, and/or a deep reverence for deep irreverence. Not for the faint of heart or stomach.
At the Westin Boston Waterfront, as part of the Arisia science fiction convention (Boston, Massachusetts):
Saturday, January 18th at 11pm
Registration for the convention is $75 at the door. Advance registration can be purchased through the Arisia website.
No other events currently scheduled. Correct this grievous state of affairs!
The book is available from a variety of places online: I get the largest cut of the sale if you order it from Lulu, though I would appreciate it if any reviews were left on Amazon. (Sincerely, I would, whether you loved it, hated it, had any kind of emotional or intellectual response -- there's nothing worse than dead silence.) If you're a retailer interested in carrying the copies of the book on your shelves, they're available wholesale from Ingram.
I am available for and delighted to do any combination of readings, signings, workshops, and/or question-and-answer sessions. Additionally, I have turned the book into an award-winning multimedia one-man show (bestselling production in its venue at the 2018 Kansas City Fringe Festival), and it has been adapted into an ensemble musical comedy (with songs by musician Pablo Jones). If you're interested in any of the above, drop me a line!
I have also published a political humor collection!
© 2020 Maximum Verbosity.


I've got what you need right here lover! Let CarolineMeyer 's prowess enchant you! My imagination is running wild thinking of you caressing me. Oh baby. I want to see you explode in the bedroom, the living room, all over baby.


text:
CEO Saves Taxpayer Dollars, Improve Lives
Home » Gold & Blue Magazine » CEO Saves Taxpayer Dollars, Improve Lives
Few people's to-do lists include training flight surgeons, setting up military computer networks, and responding to life-threatening pandemics. But these are only a sampling of a routine day for Mary Ellen Londrie (B.B.A. '92), CEO of P3S Corporation—a San Antonio-based company that provides solutions for the government's day-to-day operations needs. While she may consider this a "normal day," Londrie in no way takes her job lightly.
She views each day as an opportunity to make life better for others. Agencies including the Center for Disease Control, the Department of Homeland Security and all branches of the United States Armed Forces, rely on P3S to help them accomplish their objectives on budget, and on time. By doing just that, Londrie and her team have made a name for themselves saving millions in federal funds.
Nine years ago, Londrie oversaw the procurement of contracted services for the federal government as the COO and Vice President for the United States Department of Treasury Franchise Fund. But she often observed that contractors would promise to deliver results, but would not follow through. Time and again, vendors failed to fulfill the terms of their contracts, laying waste to astronomical amounts of taxpayer dollars.
She decided she had seen enough: if contractors wouldn't shape up, she would become the competition. Londrie paid off all of her debt, saved up $1,000, and to the shock of friends and colleagues, left her GS-15 level position, the highest-paid position on the civil service pay scale. She then started P3S Corporation from her home – her kitchen table to be exact. And, what started in 2005 as a home-based, single-employee business, grew into a thriving, minority-female-owned company providing government support in the areas of information technology, financial management and healthcare services.
"Our team consists of professionals in a variety of areas," she says, describing her company. "We employ computer programmers, certified public accountants, biologists and epidemiologists." With 25 offices located in the United States and in Puerto Rico, her company currently employs a team of more than 350, with estimated revenues surpassing $25 million.
Londrie grew up in poverty along the Texas coast in Port Isabel, a small town in the Rio Grande Valley. There she caught the entrepreneurial spirit early. As a child, she tagged along with her father who worked handyman jobs around town to provide for her family. Clients often bartered with her father rather than offering conventional payment, and she recalls how her parents' resourcefulness taught her valuable life lessons.
"As kids, we'd look at the pie or the chicken someone gave my dad as payment and wonder what we were supposed to do with it," she recalls. "But my dear mother would get so excited. She could make anything out of everything." A good student in school, Londrie always knew that she would attend college someday. It was the tight-knit faith community that drew her to St. Mary's University. As a corporate finance major, she met now-retired Professor of Languages Ruben Candia, Ph.D., who recommended her for the Outstanding Scholars Program.
Competition was fierce in the federal government program created to help qualified but under-represented groups of college graduates earn upper entry-level civil service jobs. But unsurprisingly, Londrie was selected, thus beginning her 12-year federal career.
Award-winning success
Following her rise to the top of the civil service arena, Londrie continued on a path of success. Her company grew nearly 5,900 percent from its inception in 2005 to 2008. In 2010, during a ceremony at the White House, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognized P3S as the Texas Hispanic Small Business of the Year. That same year, the San Antonio Business Journal selected P3S for its list of Top 50 Private Companies. P3S was also ranked by Inc. 500 as the 17th Fastest Growing Company in the nation, first among Hispanic-owned small businesses and first among women-run firms.
"Do what you say you're going to do," she states matter-of-factly. "While I managed procurement for the government, I quickly learned how easy it is for a salesperson to say whatever's necessary to win when competing for a government contract, but many often fail to deliver. With the government turning its focus toward performance-based contracting, federal employees and government contractors are being held responsible for increased productivity. We do what we promise."
And it has worked. P3S (an acronym for performance, productivity and powerful solutions) has earned its reputation for saving millions of taxpayer dollars. In turn, the company wins greater numbers of contracts, which translates to increased revenue. Londrie shares the benefits of those revenues with the entire P3S team. A commitment to improving the quality of life for each team member is written into the organization's mission, vision and values statement.
It's evidenced, Londrie shares, by the fact that her employees are compensated well and never feel disconnected even though they're dispersed throughout the country. Despite the geographical distance, she fosters a sense of community, something she picked up from her time as an undergraduate. "Personal attention is something I learned while at St. Mary's. It was great to be at a university where every professor, and even many of the administrators, knew my name. It provided such a sense of belonging. I never felt like I was just a number."
Compelled to give back
Londrie understands that no person achieves success alone, and she doesn't count herself as an exception. "God has always put the right people in my path, even people I never saw or knew." Grateful for the generosity she received throughout her lifetime, she has an extensive list of charitable organizations with which P3S partners.
"I received the best education because of scholarships that were funded by generous people. I've had some great opportunities, which have helped me get to where I am today. And I never want to forget where I, and this company, have come from. It's what compels me to give back."
Whether it has been providing internship opportunities for St. Mary's students in the Greehey Scholars Program, mentoring other small business owners on how to successfully work with the federal government, or adopting a needy family for Christmas through a local church, Londrie urges her team to be active members in society. "I hope it's making a difference by improving the quality of people's lives like other people did for me." This article originally appeared in the Spring 2012 issue of Gold & Blue magazine.
A Q&A with a Texas Journalism Icon
After 40-plus years in print journalism, Rick Casey (B.A. '68) is tackling television. His show airs on San Antonio's public broadcasting affiliate KLRN, where he presents the week's most important stories, people and issues in depth. We chatted with him about his career, which took root at St. Mary's.
Walking into the St. Mary's University School of Law's Raba Building, it's easy to get distracted by the numerous trophies. But those awards, earned by the School of Law's Advocacy Program, represent tournament placements and are points of pride for a program that has produced national champions.
The St. Mary's University School of Law graduates alumni from all over the world, but the Dowd family from St. Louis produces School of Law graduates en masse.
Zack Valdez, Ph.D. (B.S. '10), finds motivational fuel in explaining complex science and increasing public trust in scientific findings by everyone from community members who need to understand their environment to Congressional decision-makers.