text:
Blu-ray: For Fans Only
List Price 19.99
3rd Party 29.99
Release Date: June 20th, 2006
Review Date June 26th, 2006 by Peter Bracke
For Fans Only
BD-25 Single-Layer Disc
Video Resolution/Codec: 1080p/MPEG-2
480p/i/MPEG-2 (Supplements Only)
Aspect Ratio(s):2.35:1 Widescreen
English Descriptive Audio: Mandarin PCM 5.1 Surround
Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles/Captions: English Subtitles
Mandarin Subtitles
Korean Subtitles
Chinese Subtitles
Thai Subtitles
Special Features: Featurette
Storyboard Comparisons
Movie Studio: Sony
Okay, I'll be honest and say I wouldn't be reviewing 'House of Flying Daggers' if it wasn't my job. It is not that I have anything against the "martial arts" genre, it is just not the type of film I have ever really taken much of a liking to.
Like the western or old screwball comedies, the sight of people flying around in forests attacking each other with swords just doesn't speak to me in any sort of profound way. Of course, I realize this is a gross simplification of the genre, and that there is indeed much more at work both intellectually and emotionally in a film like 'House of Flying Daggers' than just your standard chop-socky exploitation film. But I still can't deny that going in I couldn't help but think this film wasn't going to be my cup o tea.
Yet even after going in with so many prejudices, I must say that after watching 'House of Flying Daggers,' I came away suitably impressed. Not only because it is an incredibly beautiful film, but because I was perhaps expecting at best another 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' knock-off, or at worst, some sort of big-budget version of 'Kung Fu Hustle.' Instead I witnessed a film that is indeed a wonder to behold. I'm not usually prone to superlatives, but the images here rival the breathtaking visual stylings of such auteurs as Ang Lee, Terrence Malick and even vintage David Lean. Imaginative and ethereal, impeccably produced and bold in its use of color and texture (the production and costume design are staggering), with 'House of Flying Daggers' director Yimou Zhang (who also helmed the recently acclaimed import 'Hero') proved he stands firmly besides the top filmmakers working today on any continent.
Admittedly, I was not quite as captivated by the film's narrative as I was by its visuals. 'House of Flying Daggers' deals with the fairly standard themes of its genre -- loyalty, honor, courage and romantic betrayal. But even here I was pleasantly surprised -- there is a genuine joy, even whimsy, in how Zhang tells his tale that simultaneously respects the story, yet is never weighed down by heavy-handedness or pretension. Zhang is also aided by a very strong cast, including tremendously forceful performances by Takeshi Kaneshiro and especially Ziyi Zhang (who finally earned notice from American audiences with her breakout role in last year's 'Memoirs of a Geisha'). Though I can't say I've been converted to a fan of the genre by 'House of Flying Daggers,' my respect for films of its type has grown exponentially after having seen it.
1080p/MPEG-2
Mandarin PCM 5.1 Surround
Featurette
Alas, as beautiful as 'House of Flying Daggers' may look on film, this high-def transfer just doesn't do it justice. This is my last review of Sony's initial crop of Blu-ray releases and I had hoped to finish them off on a high note, but the poor source material here torpedoes any hope I may have had.
Presented in 2.35:1 and encoded at 1080p, the big problem is consistency. About half the film looks little better than the standard definition DVD release, and even the other half only occasionally delivers the kind of striking images I expect from HD. The weak quality of the source print would seem to be the culprit. While black levels are fine, contrast is too blown out, which is especially problematic during nighttime scenes and dark interiors. Colors are a bit better, but even there I noticed some slight smearing and noise. Detail suffers the worst -- there were moments when the picture was far too soft and flat, which is a real shame, because there are some beautiful landscapes in 'House of Flying Daggers' and the image should have been three-dimensional. Granted, there are moments that really deliver -- on some shots you can make out details as minute as the shape of a leaf on a tree or the pattern on a piece of fabric -- but such isolated moments of brilliance only make this uneven presentation that much more frustrating.
The transfer may not be up to snuff, but I can't say enough great things about this excellent uncompressed PCM 5.1 surround track. Presented in the film's native Mandarin (additional Mandarin, English, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes are also offered), it has moments so good it rivals the best reference-quality soundtracks produced for home theater that I've heard.
What makes 'House of Flying Daggers' so special is its exemplary sound design. Not only in its pronounced use of directional effects, but also subtle music cues and rich atmospherics, which combined deliver the kind of enveloping presence that makes you to really feel the movie, not just hear it. From the razor-sharp high-end sound of clanking metal swords to the rich mid-range oriental harmonies of the score to the thumping low bass, the expansive dynamic range is among the best I've ever heard on video. It is never too bombastic -- even minor sounds like the rustling of leaves in the wind or the delicate sound of fabric along skin are clear and distinct. Imaging is also transparent, with pans between channels seamless. Really great stuff -- and certainly the best soundtrack I've heard on Blu-ray so far.
Like most of Sony's initial Blu-ray releases, the majority of extras from the standard DVD release of 'House of Flying Daggers' have not been ported over. Gone is the original disc's commentary track and most of its making-of featurettes, which were the bulk of the standard DVD supplements.
What we do get is the pithy four-minute "Creating the Visual Effects" featurette, but it is far too short to go into any depth. There are also a few Storyboard Comparisons, but they are presented with little context, making them feel simply tacked on. Given the visual beauty of this film, the lack of extras here is particularly disappointing.
'House of Flying Daggers' is an undoubtedly beautiful film with exquisite photography and production design. Though I've never really taken a shine to the martial arts picture, even an ignoramus like myself can't deny this is a great example of the genre. Unfortunately, the transfer on this Blu-ray release is subpar, though the soundtrack is excellent. Also missing are most of the extras from the standard DVD release, so ultimately this rates as another disappointment from Sony.


When something goes wrong in the home, the knee-jerk reaction is to replace it. Sometimes this is necessary. However, there are lots of fixes we can apply ourselves if we're in the know.
Your heart sinks as you spill that glass of red wine, mug of coffee, or plate of curry. It never happens in the kitchen where you can wipe away the stain from the linoleum. It's always on the lounge carpet or settee. Stains like these seem impossible to remove, and it's understandable that you feel you have no option to replace the affected area, which can be costly. However, the problem can be resolved quickly and simply by enlisting the help of a carpet stain removal specialist, and at a fraction of the cost. Your carpet and upholstery will look as good as new in no time at all, and will smell clean and fresh.
Wallpaper that starts to peel at the edges can look unsightly and gives the impression that your home needs some TLC. Before dashing out to the DIY store and gathering sample books, try the following. All you need is a small tub of wallpaper paste and a clean sheet of plain paper. Apply some paste to the paper and slide it under the peeling edge. The paper is thin and can be pushed up and underneath the area coming away from the wall without tearing it. Gently remove the sheet of paper and smooth down the wallpaper to remove any bubbles. This will save you the time and money you would need to invest to repaper the whole are. So you can spend your money on the little luxuries that will make your home more comfortable.
Cushions and pillows don't last forever. They become stained and lose their shape over time. If you opt for machine-washable versions, they can last a little longer. Remove coverings and wash the cushion/pillow insert according to instructions. The washing and drying process can leave them looking a little lumpy. To counteract this, place them in the dryer with dryer balls. The action of the balls will gently tease the pads back into shape and avoid that lumpy, uneven look. Clean tennis balls will also do the trick.
For cushions that don't need washing, try leaving them in the sun for a couple of hours. This will dry any moisture that has seeped into them over time and leave them plump and fluffy.
Pet owners are familiar with the constant battle of keeping their homes free from the build-up of pet hair. Most of this can be vacuumed, but it's not so simple when it comes to curtains and fabric blinds. You end up with something that looks like a tide mark around the base. Many curtains can't be placed in the washing machine, and even if they can, it's a real hassle to take them down, launder them, iron them, and rehang them. Sticky lint rollers don't always pick up all of the fur. Fortunately, a simple device is all it takes to pick up the hairs and clean the area. It's cheap and easy to use. Just rub gently across the fur to lift it off.
Adopt the make do and mend mentality in your home and breathe new life into furnishings. The money you save can be put to good use and spent on things you enjoy.


text:
Q: PC shuts off just by touching the usb port with an external drive, won't turn on anymore with weird tick noises So the computer was running fine until I decided to plugin a external drive via the usb. I didn't even get to insert it, as soon as the usb touched the usb port, the computer shut off and there was a weird loud crackling noise from the Power supply unit. I unplugged everything and back in, the loud crackling is back.
When I press power button, the computer momentarily starts then immediately shuts off. I press it again and same thing. with the regular loud tick sounds every 2 seconds.
how to fix this and what has happened or happening?

A: The following is what comes to mind, especially if the system just hard powered off and did not give you a glimmer of the BSOD before doing so, or did NOT reboot:

*

*You have some type of electrical short in the system.  Perhaps something metallic, like a screw, is touching the motherboard.

*Your USB ports, or the small PCB they exist on, are damaged.

*The wires leading from the USB ports to the motherboard are damaged or short circuiting.  This normally wouldn't "just happen" inside a PC unless the wires were in the way of a fan or something.

*The USB header that connects the ports to the motherboard is not connected properly or is connected to the wrong motherboard pins.

*Possibly your power supply is damaged, or some electrical component on the motherboard has suffered damage due to a power surge.  I would suspect this last.

A short might have damaged your hard drive but it also could be the power supply making that noise.
If you are experienced with building computers I would open it up and take a look at it and see if any metal is touching the motherboard, and possibly check the above.  If you lack this expertise get someone to help you.

A: Loud tick sounds might be an indication that your hard drive (on the computer, not the USB hard drive) has crashed. If so, the computer would start, show some startup text and then fail to start.
On the other hand, that would probably not cause the computer to shut down. It would be more likely that it would supply an error message saying something about not being able to access the hard drive.
A diagnosis could be made by disabling the hard drive (in BIOS, or by physically remove/replace it) and see if the loud tick noises disappear when you start the computer

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


LevaData seeks a Specialist – Data Analyst/Customer Success Analyst, with 6-8 years experience. General responsibilities includes interacting with clients, importing, cleansing, transforming, validating or modelling data with the purpose of loading data into cloud-based application, presenting data in charts, graphs, tables, developing analytics for the clients.
Directly working with customer to gather requirements and data. Write the business logic to convert un/semi structured data to structured data which will suit for the product.
Assist peers to implement the requirements including cleansing, structuring data.
In depth experience in analysing large amounts of semi/un structured data and associate different data sets into single structured data set.
Experience in cleansing, validating, transforming the data into data model.
Experience in scalable data mining, data structuring and modelling on supply chain/procurement data.
Very Strong on Advanced MS-Excel including Macros and MS-Access.
Strong on SQL, RDBMS concepts and able to write complex queries which involves data aggregations and calculations including joins, sub queries, query optimization.
Very Strong in understanding the requirements and convert them into business logic and take it into implementation.
Identify ways of building new rules, insights, metrics, and data improvement approaches. Develop a data quality improvement plan that leverages automation as well as other data management best practices.
Currently working on Advance MS-Excel and MS-Access (optional) including macros/VBA.
Supply Chain Management domain knowledge.
Working experience on any RDBMS systems like MS SQL Server/MySql/Oracle.
Detailed knowledge of BOM structures, cost elements, product cost roll ups, supplier related information, commodity/ part hierarchies.
Experience in writing medium to complex SQL queries and stored procedures.
Good at logical and data analytical skills.
Good at written and oral communication skills.
Flexible to switch technologies and quick learner.


text:
Articles written by Marie Perry
By Marie Perry Sports January 26, 2023
Belleville's Boys and Girls Basketball Teams Dribble Against Lofty Goals This Season
What makes any team great is their collective spirit and determination, and that's what coaches in Belleville see in both their high school boys and...
A Look at Mid-Season From the Mat
The Raiders' wrestling journey is going strong as athletes get set for the second half of their season hoping to finish at state! Coach Pete Swenson...
By Marie Perry Schools January 12, 2023
Honoring MLK Jr.'s Vision Offers a Chance to Support Our Community's Needs
As Martin Luther King Jr. accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, he shared this vision: "I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can...
By Marie Perry Schools December 29, 2022
Jazzing Up the Holidays
We are all given gifts – but real gifts rarely come in boxes with bows tied on top – they come from within. Some people are handy, some are...
By Marie Perry Community December 22, 2022
Author Deepak Chopra notes, "Treat every moment as a gift, that is why it is called the present." Families in Belleville recently received a very...
Packers Foundation Gift Will Help the School District of Belleville Foster Community Engagement
'Tis the season for giving, and the Green Bay Packers Foundation is no different! This organization has readily given back to Wisconsin communities...
By Marie Perry Schools December 8, 2022
FutureQuest Reunites Belleville High School Alumni With Eighth Grade Students Looking to Shape Their Futures
On November 29th, Belleville eighth grade students participated in FutureQuest, a hands-on event at the Alliant Energy Center to give students...
Writing for a Good Cause – There is Nothing More Inspirational for Seventh Grade English Language Arts Students!
Picture this: you are about 12 or 13 years old and have been assigned to write a "persuasive argument" in your seventh grade English class. I love...
By Marie Perry Schools November 24, 2022
Under the Direction of Meredith Smith, Science Olympiad Competition Continues to Foster Key STEM-Related Events for "Intelletes" in Wisconsin and Beyond
There are many things to be thankful for this time of year, but in Belleville, educational opportunities that embrace the sciences are one of them!...
By Marie Perry Community November 17, 2022
Veterans Day and the Importance of Educating Our Youth About the "Gift of Sacrifice"
Red, white and blue - the colors of our nation - come out in bold as parades and fireworks remind many of our love of country as we celebrate our...
By Marie Perry Sports November 10, 2022
Carter Scholey Goes the Distance
What does it mean to push yourself as a high school student athlete? Carter Scholey knows first-hand after training for five months to run the race...
By Marie Perry Schools October 27, 2022
Sixty Pairs of Helping Hands Stand Ready to Honor Young Samaritans Club's Goals This Fall
The word "Samaritan'' is synonymous for a person who is generous in helping those in need. A living example of this is the Young Samaritans Club at...
When School Connects With Community, it's Something Special
With the onset of Homecoming activities in Belleville last week the school year is truly in full swing, which means there will be many opportunities...
Looking Ahead to November – School District of Belleville Prepares for Operating Referendum
As November approaches, the School District of Belleville's administrative team, in conjunction with the Belleville Board of Education, have been on...
By Marie Perry Schools October 6, 2022
A Book Can Teach a Reader So Much
The month of October is World Bullying Prevention Month and the Belleville Public Library and the School District of Belleville have partnered...
By Marie Perry Schools September 29, 2022
"Organic" is a Key Ingredient in Belleville's School Lunches
When farm meets table in the school lunch menu, you know your kids are getting something special as part of their school experience. In a time when...
CERN Program Offers New Mathematics Teacher the Catalyst for Change in How She Approaches STEM Teaching
In March of 2020, teacher Erin Treder was selected as 1 of 48 teachers from 34 different countries to participate in the International High School...
Two of Belleville's Finest Honored With the 2022-23 Outstanding PLTW Teacher Award
The American poet Mark Van Doren once noted, "The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." To be innovative in the classroom, teachers...
By Marie Perry Schools September 1, 2022
The "Joy" in Learning: New Staff Prepare for a Wonderful Start to the 2022-23 School Year
"Welcome" and "thank you" are the words of the day as the School District of Belleville joyously kicks off its in-service week in preparation for the...
By Marie Perry Schools August 18, 2022
Lovenberg Prepares to Lead the BMS-BHS Wildcat Learning Community
"August is like the Sunday of summer." – anonymous August often causes a mental shift in our focus from the leisure of summer activities, kids' spor...
By Marie Perry Schools August 4, 2022
Thole Wins College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship
As August starts to unfold, Belleville High School's recent grads are beginning to have their next chapters top of mind. As some prepare to start...
By Marie Perry Schools July 14, 2022
Grant Makes Huge Impact Through Offering Summer Reading Opportunities
When Shelley Lentz learned she had received the Impact Grant she had applied for from the Alliant Energy Foundation, she knew she could make a huge...
By Marie Perry Community July 7, 2022
The School District of Belleville Offers Future Community Space to Splash Around and Feel the Warmth of Community
On the heels of the 4th of July celebrations we just commemorated, the School District of Belleville has some exciting news to strengthen the...
By Marie Perry News June 9, 2022
The World Needs More Empathy
As Belleville High School (BHS) graduates made their way to loved ones to give out flowers in acknowledgement of their special relationships of love,...
By Marie Perry Community June 2, 2022
Showing a Tradition of Commitment to One's Community
The School District of Belleville invites the public to join in celebrating the induction of the fifth class of the Wildcat Wall of Fame in a 10:00 a....
Little John's Temporar...
Belleville's Boys and...Marie Perry
Monticello Chamber of...
Sunflower Resettlement...
PEGGY L. LEGLER

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text:
Agency Search & Onboarding
Agency Roster Modelling
Agency Relationship Management
Agency Compensation
Asia English
France Français English
Dubai English
Nicolas Gondeau
Partner France - Paris
26 rue Brunel 75017 Paris, France
T: +33 (0)1 84 78 10 30 M: +33 (0)6 72 88 00 96
Nicolas has worked predominantly across the digital marketing and communication disciplines.
Starting his career in Montreal, Canada as a product manager for Yves Rocher, Nicolas has been based in France since 2000, operating at a senior level within two of the largest advertising agency groups – OMNICOM (Tribal DDB) and PUBLICIS (DigitasLbi). In 2011, he retired from DigitasLbi to join Uniteam Communication as General Manager Associate for 4 years before joining The Observatory International Paris.
In 2010, Nicolas was elected vice president of the Interactive French Association of Advertising Agencies. In 2011, he became professor at Sciences Po Paris.
Nicolas holds a Master's degree in economics and a Master's in Marketing and Communication.
About The Observatory International The Observatory International is the leading global management consultancy dedicated to helping companies drive brand growth by transforming their Marketing and Communications resources
90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LJ, United Kingdom
info@observatoryinternational.com
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text:
Q: bash script: why does test check more than exact matches? I'm trying to make HAL 9000. I have a file that contains "dialog" from the movie,
and a wordlist that has words in EEPROM, at their respective memory locations, and chips where the words reside in memory.  I wrote a bash script that reads the movie dialog, and should output the memory addresses, and chips. It seems to work when the words are longer than one letter. When the words are 1 letter (ie: i, a), it seems to output every instance where the letter is found in a word. The bash script:
#!/bin/bash
#Read dialog get the word on a line, then find the memory location and chip it is on
#rec_column2 is the address in the chip for the word
#cs=Chip Select, the value of rec_column3
#wordlist is the library xlsx converted via: for i  in *.xlsx; do  libreoffice --headless --convert-to csv "$i" ; done
#then put in all lower case because I don't know how to compare values that only differ by case
#command used: tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' < input.csv > wordlist.csv
input="dialog"
while IFS= read -r line
do

while IFS="," read -r rec_column1 rec_column2 rec_column3
do
if test "$line" = "$rec_column1"
    then
           echo "// " $line " , " $rec_column1 " :: " $rec_column2 ", " $rec_column3

           #echo "digitalWrite($rec_column3,LOW);"
           #echo "SPI.transfer($rec_column2);"
           #echo "digitalWrite($rec_column3,HIGH);"
           #echo "delay(850);"
fi

done < wordlist.csv

done < $input

[
The wordlist, with memory locations is here.
The dialog for HAL 9000 is here.
so again, in the event the word is more than one letter, the script seems to work.
why does it check single letters against every word containing that letter? how do I not do that?


text:
21 Free Best Offline Games for Android
Play these games when there's no internet
Posted by By Saurabh Jadhav Last Updated: December 4, 2021 1:11 pm
Internet. It's ubiquitous – for most of us.
Even though we live in 2021, internet connection is not so common for most people. We visit areas that often have poor network reception and at such times, we wish we could pass time with what we have.
So, for the sake of people with poor or no internet connection, I have gathered a list of some free best offline games for Android.
Now, iOS folks shouldn't get upset as I'll make it up for you considering I'm on your team. These games are free – at least to download – and can be played offline.
You can download them before your big trip.
Free Best Offline Games for Android
1. ARCADE
3. RACING
6. PUZZLE
7. BOARD
As I have mentioned before, these are the best offline games for Android. Also, as the title mentions they all are free to play.
1. Subway Surfers
I am sure that many of you have played this game at least once on your smartphone.
The game is so popular that it is known to everyone. With 3 billion+ downloads, it is easily the most-played game on a smartphone.
Even after years of its inception, it enjoys continued success. The gameplay is much like Temple Run, with endless running while gaining coins and avoiding getting hit or being caught by the police.
I still love this game, and it's one of the stress busters I know.
The graphics are colorful and vivid.
Lightning-fast swipe acrobatics.
Infinite gameplay.
Download Subway Surfers
2. Temple Run
Temple Run is a cousin of Subway Surfers. The endless runner game, created by Imangi Studios, has simple gameplay.
Players steal a monkey statue and run from monkey-like creatures who are mad at you. So, what you do is run, run, and keep running. The visuals aren't spectacular and they aren't supposed to.
Unfortunately, the graphics haven't aged well. If graphics are your thing, you should look for the sequel.
Addictive swiping.
Tests your reflexes.
Get out alive from a maze of booby traps.
Download Temple Run
3. Fruit Ninja
No, you don't have to eat fruits to play this game.
Fruit Ninja has been my favorite for a decade now.
I love how simple the gameplay is. You have to just swipe through flying fruit to divide it in two while avoiding bombs.
This game is made to waste your few minutes here and there and it is successful at that.
The game is super fun and you'll yourself hooked to it.
Arcade mode.
Zen mode.
Daily challenge mode.
Download Fruit Ninja
1. Alto's Odyssey
Those who have played Alto's Adventure know what a fun ride that was. Alto's Odyssey is a better sequel by all means.
New players will enjoy it so much that you'll binge-play it. Although old players might see a similarity at first, as you play along, you'll see sandboarding and it's real.
You can also perform backflips and land safely. Once you land safely, you'll gain a speed boost. If you want to ace Alto's Odyssey, then timing your flips is essential.
You'll enjoy it so much that you will play the heck out of it.
An endless sandboarding journey.
Intuitive controls.
Complete 180 goals.
Download Alto's Odyssey
2. Shadow Fight 2
Shadow Fight 2 is a premium fighting title that won't disappoint you.
Although the game's journey began on Facebook and garnered a lot of attention on iOS, it was later released for Android, with now 14,669,600+ downloads.
The visuals are stunning and the 3D characters are presented as silhouettes against a mixture of backgrounds.
You'll fall in love with the epic combat sequences.
If you want to Experience classical fighting and RPG in one game, then Shadow Fight 2 is the game for you.
Experience classical fighting and RPG.
Heroic combat sequences.
Travel through six different worlds.
Download Shadow Fight 2
Into the Dead is a first-person zombie endless runner with simple controls and eerie yet riveting gameplay. There isn't a story. No ending or levels.
The most interesting thing is that the character never speaks. He simply runs into the fog.
The dense mist sets a very spooky and redolent atmosphere. This serves as an essential gameplay purpose. The game is worth your time.
Intense gameplay with striking visuals.
Play mini goals and missions.
Experience the world of the zombie apocalypse.
Download Into the Dead
1. Hill Climb Racing
Most free racing games aren't good or suffer from the plague of poor graphics.
That's not the case with Hill Climb Racing, which has fast-paced gameplay. The graphics aren't heavy, but they aren't bad either.
The game has a low file size and has the controls are easy, too.
Play offline.
Unlock 29+ vehicles.
Garage mode – build and drive your dream vehicle.
Download Hill Climb Racing
2. DATA WING
Data Wing is an outright brilliant game with a hint of ancient arcade gameplay.
The game feels a bit ordinary, but in a good way.
The gameplay is simple as you fly as who looks like a refugee from the ancient arcade game Asteroids. The storyline is fabulous and it unfolds in many surprising ways.
There's a friendly malware that attempts to influence you and peek into your innermost feelings. You might feel a bit apprehended while playing, but you'll enjoy it along the way.
Intuitive two-touch controls.
Gives an arcade feel.
40+ immersive levels.
Download DATA WING
3. Traffic Rider
If you want a simple racing game with minimal graphics, then Traffic Rider is the best game for you.
This "too simple" game has good graphics and design that make you want to pay for in-app purchases.
Although the game is free, it soon makes you pay for more. I hate such games that sell you a good game but want you to pay money to play more.
The first-person perspective to riding a motorcycle is simple and the controls are easy to understand.
If it weren't for the paywall, I'd wholeheartedly recommend this to everyone, but given that there's no network, this game looks nice.
Detailed gaming experience.
Endless highway roads.
Extreme missions in career mode.
Download Traffic Rider
1. Flick Soccer 21
We all know that football/soccer is the world's most popular sport. And Android developers know that.
So, when you search for football on the Play Store, you'll be inundated with tonnes of soccer games. Some are okay, but a few are gems.
Flick Soccer won't need a second chance as it will win you over the first time.
The game has wonderful graphics, a good physics engine, and gameplay that screams 'play me.'
All you need to do is swipe the ball in the right direction so that it gets past the goalkeeper and defenders. If you are good, then it can even hit the moving bullseye.
Flick Soccer will keep you entertained without an active internet connection.
Get unlimited fun!
Fabulous 3D graphics.
Challenging modes.
Download Flick Soccer
2. Baseball Star
Baseball Star is a baseball player simulator that gives players full online control.
This is a 3D game where players get to play three modes – League Mode, Challenge Mode, and Event Match.
During the game, you will get a team that you are required to build. Soon, you'll compete with strong and skilled players so that you don't lose a game.
You get to upgrade your stadium, collect bonuses cards, edit your roster, etc.
If you haven't played Baseball before, this game will make you its fan.
Full offline control.
A real full 3D baseball game
Plentiful daily free bonus.
Download Baseball Star
3. Pool Billiards Pro
As the name suggests, Pool Billiards Pro is the best billiards game. Due to the pandemic, you might hardly find actual tables, but the game is growing on the digital scape.
The game lets you play in single-player mode or online mode 1-on-1. There are several different modes to play, but the arcade challenges are amazing.
Players will be happy to know that 180+ levels are bound to make you the master Pool Billiards Pro. Play this game when you have a few minutes of spare time without an internet connection.
Realistic 3D ball animation.
Single-player mode.
Time mode with no rules.
Download Pool Billiards Pro
Ludo King is the king of multiplayer games. The game has crossed 8,176,900+ downloads, which is mighty impressive.
This classic board game can be played offline, where players can play with a computer or, local multiplayer that can be enabled in pass and play mode.
The new updates include fresh themes, new modes, and the same old gameplay with a bit of spice.
There's a quick mode that comes in handy for a passing time.
The UI is more user-friendly and now supports low-end devices.
User-friendly UI.
Enticing live themes.
Play 2 to 6 players with local multiplayer mode.
Download Ludo King
2. Mini Militia – Doodle Army 2
Mini Militia – Doodle Army 2 has great and intense multiplayer combat.
If you are a fan of multiplayer games, this game will set a high standard for other games.
The offline survival mode is apt for when you don't have an active internet connection.
This 2D fun cartoon-themed game can let up to 6 players online. I love the extensive range of modern and futuristic weapons.
Intuitive dual stick shooting controls with jetpack flight.
Offline Survival mode.
20+ maps to explore.
Download Mini Militia – Doodle Army 2
3. Brothers in Arms 3
If war games are your type, then Brothers in Arms 3 will surely entice you.
This massively multiplayer game has an offline story mode that follows Sergeant Wright in the aftermath of the World War 2 invasion.
When you get to play, your task is to master four maps and be a champ at playing two gameplay modes – Team Deathmatch and Free for all.
If you want the best multiplayer experience, then ensure that you play when you have an active internet connection.
Single-player squad-based combat.
Great action gameplay.
Ultimate arsenal.
Download Brothers in Arms 3
1. Mazes & More
For those looking for solving tricky mazes in a queue sans internet connection, Mazes & More should be on your list.
Think of this as the same classic game, but blended with some evasive twists.
I am particularly enchanted by the Darkness mode, where you can see the maze at the beginning. But then, the lights are off and you have to make your way toward the exit.
There's Ice Floor mode, Time Trial mode, and Traps mode which are all fabulous to explore.
But, if you want a no-nonsense mode, then there's Classic mode.
No matter which model you end up playing, all of them have plenty of levels to keep you entertained till your connection comes back again.
Superb in-game navigation.
User-selected avatars.
Great offline mode.
Download Mazes & More
2. Sudoku (by Fassor)
Sudoku is said to be a great exercise for our brains, and when you want to play one on your Android phone, good luck finding that perfect game.
Well, Sudoku by Fassor fills most of the gaps.
It has the best difficulty levels that can be played offline.
Players can write multiple estimated numbers in a cell, but you'll get a 30-second penalty.
All your offline scores will be visible to your friends once you are online.
While this isn't the best sudoku game, it surely reached a level.
Fully offline.
4 difficulty levels.
Automatic saving & loading.
Download Sudoku
3. Lazors
When you search for the best offline games for Android on Reddit, Lazors will top that list. You'll know once you begin to play.
Even though the game looks intuitive, it is challenging. All the levels start with at least one current layer and one or more targets.
You'll have blocked such as glasses, mirrors, etc. to move around. All you have to do is position them so that the laser hits each target.
The game will keep you occupied for a long time with its 280+ levels. Also, they get more challenging as you keep leveling up. There are 280 levels to get through, and it gets more difficult as you progress.
Intuitive gameplay.
280 levels.
Simple yet challenging.
Download Lazors
1. Bad Chess
Chess is a classic strategic game. And Bad Chess is the opposite of that. This game can be played offline, so when you play it, you are challenging yourself to think differently.
The chessboard is unchanged, but the pieces are entirely arbitrary. You could begin your game with three queens and a single pawn, while the computer could have a series of six rooks.
This will make you think outside the box. When you play more and your ranking is raised, the AI level doesn't change, but the pieces to start.
If you were ever hesitant to play a game of chess seeing how hard it is, this game might just change the way you think.
Get essential puzzle experience.
Oblivious challenges.
Makes you think out of the box.
Download Bad Chess
2. Sea Battle 2
Sea Battle 2 will remind you of the good old Battleship games. What you do is plot your ships on a grid map and shoot missiles at coordinates, trying to sink your opponents.
Sea Battle 2 is a digital recreation of the classic game that will change the way you play. When you play this game offline, AI is your competitor and it keeps improving.
Speaking of improving, the multiplayer mode is bang on. Two people can play it with Bluetooth. Yes, that's right. If you are on a flight, you can your co-passenger can play it with no hassles.
Play via Bluetooth.
The battle to raise your rank.
Fight in epic arenas.
Download Sea Battle 2
3. Mini Metro
Even though this isn't a free game, Mini Metro will be worth your penny. The gameplay is simple – you get to design a subway map for a city transit system.
With over 18 cities and other exciting gameplay, your pass time has just found a fix.
If you have played Ticket to Ride, you will find a few similarities between this and that game. Mini Metro has simpler graphics and other niceties such as night mode, colorblind mode, etc.
Over two dozen real-world cities.
Random city growth for challenging levels.
Colorblind and night modes.
Download Mini Metro
Which is the best free offline game?
Alto's Odyssey is the best free game to play when you don't have an internet connection.
Is Call of Duty offline?
No, Call of Duty is completely offline.
Can you play Fortnite offline?
Like COD, Fortnite is also a completely online experience as there isn't an offline mode.
Is Alto Odyssey free?
Yes, it is free on the Google Play Store, but if you want to play it on an iOS device, then you'll have to subscribe to Apple Arcade.
Will Temple run ever end?
No, Temple Run will never end, as it is an endless running game. The character will only die when the character collides with a large obstacle, taken by the demon monkey, or when the character falls into the water.
As the game is an endless running game, there is no end to the temple; the player plays until the character collides into a large obstacle, falls into the water, or is overtaken by the demon monkeys. … The coins can be used to buy and then upgrade power-ups and/or other characters.
These are the free best offline games for Android. I have been in multiple situations when I had zero connection but wanted to pass time.
I know these titles aren't the high-action games you were expecting, but these will do the trick.
Tags: Android Games Offline Games
Saurabh Jadhav
I am an ambivert, an avid reader, a movie buff, a tea connoisseur, and a staunch fan of Priyanka Chopra Jonas. I like to give my insights through words, which come naturally to me. They also help me to express the myriads of emotions I go through. When not working, I'm either watching the latest tech videos or flipping through pages.
A working demo shows off the app archiving feature on Android
Posted by By Saurabh Jadhav October 13, 2022 4:55 pm
Microsoft unveils Surface Pro 9 with 5G, Surface Laptop 5 and Surface Studio 2+
Experience Roblox at Walmart, the Metaverse-way
Posted by By Saurabh Jadhav September 27, 2022 5:50 pm
Android users can now test WhatsApp's new multi-device mode


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Surgery is an important decision and a big event in one's life. We know that, which is why, at Pinnacle Specialty Hospital, our goal is to make your surgery as uneventful for you as possible. Our professional and caring staff is here to answer your questions, explain what you should expect before and after your surgery, and do everything possible to ease your fears and make you comfortable.
Pinnacle Specialty Hospital surgeons are among the best anywhere. They are trained in the latest procedures and utilize the very best in technology and equipment. By utilizing a team approach, we bring the talents of respected medical specialists, subspecialists, nurses, and staff together to provide empathetic and professional care, which is individualized for each patient's unique situation.
Make sure you follow the directions of your doctor and those that were covered by the nurse when you were discharged. You should have been given a follow-up appointment before you left the hospital. If not, please call us within a couple of days to schedule your follow-up visit. If you have a health concern that requires immediate attention, please call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room.
You will experience some pain after your surgery and most likely you were given a prescription for pain medication. If you were not given a prescription for pain medication and you are in pain, please call us. The most important aspect of dealing with pain is to stay on top of it and manage it. If not, it may become unmanageable with your current pain prescription and require a trip to the doctor or the emergency room for stronger medication.
Pinnacle Specialty Hospital is a privately owned hospital located in Tulsa, OK.
We specialize in serving Tulsa hospital patients with a wide range of medical procedures and surgeries including eye surgery and more.


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CEMEX bold move in digital innovation creates a unique competitive advantage - CEMEX bold move in digital innovation creates a unique competitive advantage
CEMEX bold move in digital innovation creates a unique competitive advantage
publishDate1 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 11:59:00 +0000
publishDate2 Feb 8, 2022 11:59:00 AM
publishDate3 February 8, 2022
Working Smarter, CEMEX's most ambitious undertaking to adopt digital technologies to date, creates a new competitive advantage through higher value-added services, a novel operative model, and fast innovation.
The initiative focuses on digitizing mission-critical business services in its finance, customer support, human resources, and information technology operations.
CEMEX will leverage the collective R&D investment of leading service suppliers to accelerate access to the latest innovations.
Expected benefits include a step-level improvement in global service delivery, increased focus of employees on value-added initiatives and the establishment of the new ways of working through a redesigned operating model.
CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. ("CEMEX" or the "Company") announced today material progress in its Working Smarter digital transformation initiative, through which the Company is leveraging a combination of digital technologies, operative models, and innovation from leading service suppliers to reshape its business management services. Working Smarter is a pillar in CEMEX's digital strategy alongside CEMEX Go, the industry's first digital global platform.
Working Smarter will capture current and future opportunities to enhance business management services worldwide. Services range from finance and accounting back office, information technology, and human resources to commercial back- and middle-office services. The initiative brings all worldwide locations together into a unified CEMEX experience, supported by data analytics, artificial intelligence, and cognitive technologies to enrich the employee experience.
"Our digital strategy has already brought us very close relationships with our customers, as evidenced by our record-high Net Promoter Score index of 68 for 2021", said Fernando A. González, CEO of CEMEX. "Working Smarter takes us one step further as the digital leader of the construction materials industry, not only in customer experience, but now also in our business management processes."
As part of this initiative, CEMEX redesigned its shared services operating model, implementing virtual delivery centers that leverage a remote workforce, tapping into high quality talent pools independent of their location. Remote work is made possible by CEMEX's advanced collaboration and service management platforms protected by strong cybersecurity.
To accelerate innovation, CEMEX has signed separate multi-year contracts that range from 5 to 7 years that in the aggregate total US$500 million with six leading service providers in the fields of finance and accounting, information technology, and human resources, replacing current expenditures with the new suppliers' services at an optimized cost, effectively continuing to reduce the Company's operating expenses. Our partners and their contributions are:
IBM brings increased agility and flexibility to CEMEX's finance and accounting operations as well as in its back-office commercial services. IBM will combine the use of multiple global delivery centers with increased automation, advanced analytics, and applied cognitive technologies. It will also provide advanced IT security services and technology to help secure CEMEX digital infrastructure and strengthen the company's cyber resilience.
HCL Technologies together with NEORIS, a digital accelerator subsidiary of CEMEX, enable end-to-end transformation in the Business and IT, leveraging hybrid cloud platforms and strengthening CEMEX's application landscape with state-of-the-art automation for enhanced service levels.
Axians will enable CEMEX with end-to-end network management and transformation services, including the global deployment of SD-WAN technology to add routing intelligence, resilience, and flexibility to support the network-intensive environment of interconnected real-time operations.
Tata Consultancy Services, with its advanced HR platforms, analytics, and automation services, provide digital workplace solutions and collaboration frameworks to enhance the employee and workforce experience.
ServiceNow's market-leading digital transformation platform enables CEMEX to seamlessly orchestrate service delivery between both internal and external service delivery organizations, reducing processing times and providing employees with a superior digital experience.
Avasant, a digital and sourcing strategy firm, is taking responsibility for ongoing management of the partner relationships with its January 2022 acquisition of CEMEX's global vendor management operations in Monterrey, Mexico.
In planning and carrying out the Working Smarter initiative, CEMEX also partnered with Avasant to select and establish the relationships with the strategic service providers.
CEMEX expects to announce additional strategic relationships in upcoming months to expand the current scope and complete the deployment of its digital strategy. The Company estimates that the combination of these next-generation service contracts and its internal delivery transformation should materially contribute towards the US$100 million annual savings goal the Company has set once implementation is complete.
"Beyond the deeply transformational impact to how we manage our business and the competitive advantage it creates for the Company, the Working Smarter initiative will be very accretive, with an expected four-fold return on investment", said Maher Al-Haffar, CFO of CEMEX.
The Working Smarter initiative and CEMEX's digital strategy continue to unfold. In the coming months, CEMEX will communicate additional details on its digital transformation journey.
CEMEX (NYSE: CX) is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. CEMEX is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development. CEMEX is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the use of new technologies. CEMEX offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience, enabled by digital technologies. For more information, please visit: www.cemex.com
About IBM
IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.
About HCL Technologies
HCL Technologies (HCL) empowers global enterprises with technology for the next decade, today. HCL's Mode 1- 2-3 strategy, based on its deep-domain industry expertise, customer-centricity and entrepreneurial culture of Ideapreneurship™, enables businesses to transform into next-gen enterprises. HCL offers its services and products through three business units: IT and Business Services (ITBS), Engineering and R&D Services (ERS) and Products & Platforms (P&P). ITBS enables global enterprises to transform their businesses through offerings in the areas of applications, infrastructure, digital process operations and next generational digital transformation solutions. ERS offers engineering services and solutions in all aspects of product development and platform engineering. P&P provides modernized software products to global clients for their technology and industry specific requirements. Through its cutting-edge co-innovation labs, global delivery capabilities and broad global network, HCL delivers holistic services in various industry verticals, categorized as Financial Services, Manufacturing, Technology & Services, Telecom & Media, Retail & CPG, Life Sciences & Healthcare and Public Services. As a leading global technology company, HCL takes pride in its diversity, social responsibility, sustainability, and education initiatives. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, HCL had consolidated revenue of US$11.18 billion. Its 198,000 ideapreneurs operate out of 52 countries. For more information, visit www.hcltech.com
About NEORIS
NEORIS is a leading global digital accelerator that co-creates disruptive solutions for companies that digitally aspire to increase their connections with customers, employees and stakeholders. The company is made of creative teams with technical experience and deep knowledge of their sectors. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, NEORIS has a network of global delivery centers, design studios, and operations in the United States, Europe, Latin America and India. More information is available at www.NEORIS.com, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
About Axians
Axians, leader in integration services around ICT for VINCI Energies Spain, has a successful 27-year track record as the leading integrator around ICT in the Spanish market and one of the 5 largest integrators worldwide. With its incorporation into the VINCI Energies Spain group, Axians plays a differential role in the Digital Transformation scenario, with unified solutions in the Energy and Industry markets and in the lines of innovation linked to IoT, Industry 4.0 and Smart Cities. Axians currently has a turnover of 2,500 million euros, more than 11,000 employees and a presence in 23 countries.
About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world's largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 50 years. TCS offers a consulting-led, cognitive powered, integrated portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions. This is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development. A part of the Tata group, India's largest multinational business group, TCS has over 556,000 of the world's best-trained consultants in 46 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $22.2 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 and is listed on the BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) and the NSE (National Stock Exchange) in India. TCS' proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit www.tcs.com
ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) is the fastest-growing enterprise cloud software company in the world above $1 billion. Founded in 2004 with the goal of making work easier for people, ServiceNow is making the world of work, work better for people. Our cloud-based platform and solutions deliver digital workflows that create great experiences and unlock productivity for more than 6,200 enterprise customers worldwide, including approximately 80% of the Fortune 500. For more information, visit www.servicenow.com
About Avasant
Avasant is a leading management consulting firm focused on translating the power of technology into realizable business strategies for the world's largest corporations. Specializing in digital and IT transformation, sourcing advisory, global strategy, and governance services, Avasant prides itself on delivering high-value engagements through industry-focused innovation and flexible client-based solutions.
CEMEX assumes no obligation to update or correct the information contained in this press release. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. CEMEX intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements reflect CEMEX's current expectations and projections about future events based on CEMEX's knowledge of present facts and circumstances and assumptions about future events, as well as CEMEX's current plans based on such facts and circumstances. These statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from CEMEX's expectations. The content of this press release is for informational purposes only, and you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. CEMEX is not responsible for the content of any third-party website or webpage referenced to or accessible through this press release.
jorgeluis.perez@cemex.com
Analyst and Investor Relations
Alfredo Garza / Fabián Orta
+1 (212) 317-6011 / +52 (81) 8888-4327


Three years ago, when Swanson and her husband welcomed their second child, Delphine, into the world, she was diagnosed with Down syndrome. The Swanson's received little to no information from their doctors. DSDN connected her to a birth club group and LuMind RDS. Now, these two organizations are collaborating to educate families about the promising scientific research for Down syndrome and raise awareness in the community. Beth is thrilled about DSDN's new partnership with LuMind RDS, a foundation focused on identifying and accelerating result-driven Down syndrome research and therapies. "The more studies that can be conducted, the more answers we're going to get. There are so many questions across the board where the answer is just, 'because they have Down syndrome," she says. "That's not an answer; I want to know, 'why?'" LuMind RDS is dedicated to finding the 'why' through funding clinical trials that lead to scientific breakthroughs. By partnering with DSDN, the two organizations are serving the Down syndrome community as a whole.
All are welcome to run or walk in the Rockin' It Run 5K on Thursday, September 6. The race begins at 8:30 PM at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. Registration open online at www.bit.ly/rockinitrun and is $35 for adults and $15 for kids. Family and friends are encouraged to come support the runners.
To learn more or donate, visit or www.LuMindRDS.org.
DSDN is the largest national organization supporting parents with a new child with Down syndrome. Its mission is to provide information, connections and support, especially in the early years.


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Why I'd prefer you not to vote for Tony Abbott as Australian Prime Minister
August 20, 2010 Jessica Mudditt	5 Comments
Kallista, Victoria
Before leaving Australia in 2006, I told my family that I wouldn't return until there was a change of government. Sure, I was being a petulant 20-something, but I really meant it. John Howard's xenophobia embarrassed me and it was causing real harm to others. I spent a lot of time feeling disaffected and bitching about him with fellow Australians in South East Asian guesthouses.
In the blink of an eye, nearly two years passed and I found myself drinking champagne in London at 8am to celebrate 'Kevin 07's' resounding election victory. The old prime minister had lost his own seat, the new one promptly apologised to the Aborigines and then iced the cake with a speech delivered in Mandarin. It was all very exciting – but temporary, perhaps. As I'm yet to come home, I've been following the run-up to tomorrow's federal election from Bangladesh. I was appalled to read the following statement made by the opposition leader Tony Abbott:
"We will determine who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come."
Uh-oh. Talk about echoes of the dark and distant past. John Howard uttered those exact same words in parliament on 6 December 2001. "Little Johnny" was the second-longest serving prime minister in our history (shame!), and therefore had the opportunity to achieve a great number of things, but Google him today and you will find that the fifth hit, after the encyclopaedic styled-entries, is an article called "John Howard: Muslims Out of Australia." And so forth. With an online legacy like that, it wouldn't surprise me if the International Cricket Council was able to find a more suitable candidate for the post of vice-president.
I've noticed other alarming sentiments expressed by Mr Abbott, and feel compelled to address them, midnight-hour though it may be…
Tony Abbott on people smuggling: 25 July 2010
"Stamping out people smuggling is a way to alleviate people's anxieties and to reassure them that we are, in fact, sovereign in our country."
Oh please. If Tony Abbott was concerned with reassuring "people" (which people? his people??) about Australia's sovereignty, he wouldn't be opposed to reopening the debate on becoming a republic. And he might want to alter the words on the first page of our passports, in order to alleviate any confusion on the part of immigration officials in overseas nations when they read the following:
"The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, being the representative in Australia of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, requests all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford him or her every assistance and protection of which he or she may stand in need."
But he won't do anything so rash, because he's a staunch monarchist.
Flinders Street Station, Melbourne. A cabbie told me that this station was meant to be built in India, but the architectural plans were swapped by mistake!
However it's true that the thought of people being smuggled to Australia makes me anxious – particularly when they arrive on boats. Are those people dehydrated or malnourished? Were they tortured? Have they been separated from their children or partners? Are we capable and willing to fulfil our legal obligations under international laws as well as our moral obligations to them as fellow human beings? When the debate between the two prime ministerial candidates degenerated to arguing over whether it is physically possible to turn boats away, I became very anxious indeed.
Labor leader and incumbent PM Julia Gillard, despite also having a tough stance on the issue, gave a response to "the boat people" [refugees] question that I admire:
"I say to those engaged in this type of rhetoric: 'Stop selling our national character short. We are better than this. We are much better than this."
At the time when John Howard was accusing asylum seekers of "throwing their babies overboard," I was a law student at Monash University and I came to know a group of refugees from Afghanistan. I picked them up from a legal aid centre in Collingwood and drove them to their new home in Dandenong, as they didn't have money for a train ticket. I like to think that the favour was returned when three Pashtun men took me along the Khyber Pass to the border with Afghanistan in 2007. I know it's corny, but I remembered one of the guys in the car talking about the mountains in Afghanistan when he first saw the Dandenongs in Victoria.
Over the next few months I became good friends with a young man called Habib, who had paid a lot of money to be smuggled to Australia. He eventually told me why he did it – but not how he got the scars on his face. He's now working as a taxi driver in Melbourne and he's doing really well.
Case study of a person who was smuggled to Australia
Habib was a teenager when the Taliban arrived in his home city of Kabul in the 1990s. He and his family were kicked out of their home and forced to live in a house with several of their neighbours. The Taliban installed themselves in this way along most of the main streets, and Habib said that none of the locals knew who the Taliban were, because they shared no particular ethnicity. This was especially terrifying. After living in cramped and stressful conditions for many months, Habib's uncle arrived in the mail – chopped up into small pieces. Habib decided to leave Afghanistan and he reached Indonesia, mostly by overland routes, several months later. He paid a hefty amount to spend six months living in a room with around 40 other people who were also waiting to be smuggled – to no country in particular. Habib did say, however, that the smugglers tried their best to feed everyone adequately. One morning, the people smuggler boss announced to the group that they would set sail that day. When Habib saw the size of the boat and the number of people that were attempting to board it, he became very frightened. The boat sank before it reached Australia, but a Norwegian vessel rescued more than 400 people and placed them onboard the MV Tampa. The Australian government refused to allow the rescued people onto Australian soil, and quickly passed a new law called the Border Protection Act, which aimed to "determine who will enter and reside in Australia."
Habib spent the next two years in a detention centre on the coral atoll of Nauru (NB: also a sovereign nation) waiting for Australia to determine whether he could enter. Of course he was grateful to be accepted, but Habib said that those last two years were tougher than the Taliban and worse than anything else he went through.
Rye Beach on a Tuesday morning
It's my belief that, like his party predecessor John Howard and a growing number of Australians, Tony Abbott suffers from "island mentality." Unlike the vast majority of nations, Australia doesn't share a border with anyone – yet it's as though we're turning into the only-child who never learnt to share. If Australia could somehow spend a year located next to a porous border it could do us a world of good – pardon the pun. I lived in London for two-and-a-half-years, and was struck by the UK's (mostly) liberal attitude to immigration. The government there didn't even know how many people had arrived, let alone how to stop them! Tony Abbott has complained that under Labor leadership, the net migration to Australia increased from 210,000 to 300,000. That's a few football stadiums worth of people, so we should be worried, right? Well, at least not until the UK starts freaking out. Every year, the UK accepts 510,000 people – yet it's less than a thirtieth of the size of Australia. And anecdotally speaking, it didn't seem too crowded to me… If anything, the diversity and energy, especially in London, was one of its greatest strengths, both economically and culturally. Furthermore, the UK has granted 250,000 Australians the right to reside in the UK at present, which is nearly the same number of immigrants that Tony Abbott would permit to enter Australia in an entire year. I've not heard him comment on the fact that there are currently 1.3 million Britons living in Australia, but presumably this should also be a cause for concern?
Whilst it's possible to play around with numbers all day, I'll add just two further statistics in conclusion. According to UN figures, in 2009 there were 44 million displaced people around the world. Last year, Australia accepted less than 3,000.
And finally, I'd just like to say that I know many talented and creative people here in Bangladesh who would be thrilled to live, work or study in Australia. In my mind, it would only be our loss not to welcome them.
VOTE FOR JULIA GILLARD ON 21 AUGUST 2010
A few weeks later….
I hope the clever person who designed this will regard its reproduction as 'fair use'!!
australiaaustralian election 2010boat peopleimmigrationjulia gillardlaborliberalpeople smugglingrefugeetony abbott
Google helped me see the light: I have a thing for Christian hymns
When I was about 13 years old, I wrote two poems on cardboard, covered them in a sticky, shiny, plastic wrap and stuck them on my wall. They stayed there, next to my bed, for years.
This was the first poem:
The trumpet shall be heard on high,
The dead shall live, the living die,
And music shall untune the sky.
I think I loved it because it smelt of anarchy. But eventually I forgot about it. Last night the words suddenly popped into my head after almost a decade of forgetting them. Today I googled the three lines to learn the name of the poet. I don't have a good memory, but I can usually remember the authors of quotes I like. And it's weird that I don't know it, because I can count on one hand the number of poems (however short, like this one) I know by memory. If I had to guess, I thought it could have been Virgil or someone like that.
These days I'm fascinated by Muslim societies, and I've spent about two years living in or visiting Bangladesh (pictured), Iran, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, Turkey and the Indian state ofIndia.
I was so surprised to discover that my favourite childhood (and adulthood, for that matter) poem is actually part of the 'grand chorus' of a Christian hymn written in 1687. So I decided to write a blog about it, which is a big step up from a link posted on Facebook. Or maybe I just don't want to forget it again. Anyway, a highly influential Englishman called John Dryden composed it for the festival of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music. In his portrait, he is nearly-smiling and has waist-length, light brown hair (or perhaps a wig), as was the custom way back then. He died in 1700.
The Literature Review Network writes of Dryden's "A Song for St. Cecilia's Day 1687", "To be appreciated, it must be read aloud."
This is the full chorus – SING IT LOUD!!
GRAND CHORUS
As from the power of sacred lays                      55
The spheres began to move,
And sung the great Creator's praise
To all the blest above:
So, when the last and dreadful hour[11]
This crumbling pageant shall devour,                  60
I suspect that I may have come across the verse during Christian religious studies in primary school or early high school.  I'm not sure how else I would have found it.  I hope it wasn't a funeral...  But it's funny to think how after all these years, I thought I was humming about freedom and disorder, whereas I was supposed to be thinking about God.  Or rather, Hell, if I am interpreting it correctly.  I'm amused because I'm an atheist and have been for a long time - and whenever I first found the hymn, I sliced out the references to God.  After a relatively brief stint as an overly enthusiastic 10-year-old Christian (I started a war against swearing that started and ended with my big sister), I decided that it wasn't for me.  I was actually put off by my religious studies teacher, who used to always come to class with a picnic basket for some reason (though it wasn't the picnic basket that put me off, but rather the way she answered a single question).
A smartass put up his hand and said, "What about the Buddhists – they don't believe this stuff, do they?"
The teacher said, "The Buddhists are wrong."
Buddhist monks in Thailand, July 2010
True story – this was the early 1990s, and maybe that wouldn't happen in Australian state education today. Anyway after that I flirted with Buddhism (possibly just to rebel against my teacher), but converted to Science and Reason after a guy who I can't remember told me that Buddhism actually encourages a self-focused state of being (the author does not necessarily agree with the views expressed on this page).
That's all I wanted to say about that. If you're still interested, this is the second poem that was plastered to the wall of my bedroom:
There is pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is rapture in the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes,
I love not man less;
But nature more.
– George Gordon, Lord Byron (I still remember writing it out, thinking what an incredible name he had…)
1990satheistaustraliachristianchristianityhymnjohn drydenreligious educationstate educationvictoria
Cambodia, Laos
An Australian reflects on the last World Cup
June 11, 2010 Jessica Mudditt	Leave a comment
Mudslide during the football match in Don Det, Laos
The Weekend Independent Magazine, 11 June 2010
Amongst the kaleidoscope of national flags dotting Dhaka's skyline in preparation for the World Cup, I've not seen a single Australian one. Not that it ever occurred to me to look—everyone knows that Australia is no football heavyweight. When one of my Bangladeshi friends politely asked whether Australia had qualified for the World Cup 2010, I was ashamed to admit that I didn't know. But I've just checked on the internet: yes we did. In fact, Australia topped their group in the qualification round and was one of the first nations to qualify for the finals tournament without conceding a goal. But I still think that cricket will always be our thing.
Although my interest in Australia's performance in the World Cup 2010 has so far been lacklustre, in 2006 it was an entirely different story. The "Socceroos" were competing for the second time in the competition's history and it was very exciting – even if we were the last team to qualify and the second-lowest ranked team. I was in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh at the time Australia was scheduled to play the mighty Croatians. My travel guidebook conveniently informed me that there was a sports bar across town that boasted a massive TV screen. Under normal circumstances I would not have had the faintest interest in going to a sports bar, but it was perfect for the occasion and I figured that other Aussies in town might have the same idea. So I set off in a tuk-tuk (CNG) just as the June evening rains set in. The monsoon was just beginning and I had been in Cambodia for just a few days, so I had no comprehension of how quickly the waters rise. In less than a quarter of an hour, the bottom of the tuk-tuk was submerged – at which point the driver turned off the engine and refused to take me any further. So I hopped out and started walking – or rather, wading. The water, which had reached waist level, was dark brown and full of debris. Pretty soon one of my rubber flip-flops broke, so I was forced to walk barefoot. It wasn't the sharp objects under my feet that bothered me so much as the soft, squishy ones. Was it a dead rat, a baby's nappy or perhaps some spoiled fruit I trod on? I don't ever want to know.
It was difficult to read my map as the streets were poorly lit, but after some frustrating backtracking and with the assistance of some rain-friendly locals, I eventually spotted the bar's glowing neon sign and stumbled in. I was panting heavily and drenched from head to toe. I like to think I looked like a model patriot… All eyes turned to my bedraggled state – but why were there so few pairs of eyes? Where were my fellow Australians? A young man eyed me cautiously and I deliberately mistook that as an invitation to sit opposite him.
"Are you here for the game?" I asked over the steady drip-drip from my clothes.
"Dunno. Not sure if I'll hang around here long enough."
I interpreted this to mean that he was finding my presence so offensive that he might leave within the next ten minutes. Although he probably did find me foul smelling, his answer was related to the fact that the match wasn't due to begin for another two hours. I'd muddled my calculations of the time difference between Germany and Cambodia and thus I had walked through water for nothing. I ordered a beer and tried to feel grateful that I wasn't two hours late. The match itself was pretty dull and riddled with inconsistencies by the referees – the result was a two-all draw.
A few weeks later – long after Australia had been knocked out by Italy – I found myself playing an international football match in the most unlikely of places. I was on a tiny island called Don Det in Laos, which had no electricity, save for an hour a day. Spectating was therefore out of the question, but opportunities to play the beautiful game were rich. A rumour was circulating amongst backpackers that three members of Laos' national football team were living on the island. So a group of us bicycled across a rickety bridge to a clearing containing a raggedy field and goal posts. And sure enough, a group of Laotian men in red and white uniforms had gathered under a palm tree to escape the light drizzle. They were wearing shin-guards and stretching. As I recall, the ratio of female to male players was 2:20 and to make things just that bit more challenging, I hadn't exercised properly for two months. Anyhow, our motley group of nationalities and coloured t-shirts took up our positions as we made self-deprecating jokes. I was on the wing – my favourite position for hockey and football alike. Within a few minutes after kick-off, the field had morphed into a mud pit. It was so slippery that it was difficult to maintain an upright position, let alone connect a foot with a ball. A couple of mangy dogs were sent off for interference, only to return at inopportune moments. Each time the Laotians scored a goal, one of them would leap up a nearby palm tree, whooping victoriously. Despite the fact that some of the backpackers were remarkably good players, we suffered an ignominious defeat. The score is too shameful to publish.
Backpackers vs Laos - that's me in the blue trousers
Unlike many Bangladeshis, I can't honestly say that I have World Cup fever this time around. I will enjoy watching a few matches, and I might even visit the Australian Club for the first time, so that I can cheer on the Socceroos. But what would truly excite me would be watching an African nation win the World Cup. I'm backing the whole continent.
20092010africa winaustraliabangladeshcambodiadhakadon detfootballlaossoccersocceroosworld cup


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text:
Q: jQuery UI: "Uncaught Syntax Error: Unexpected token <" in one environment, but not another I have a really simple autocomplete function attached to one of the fields on a CakePHP form. Here is the jQuery:
<script>
$(function() {
   var availableTags = [<?=$suppliers?>];
   $( "#MsrSupplier" ).autocomplete({
   source: availableTags
  });
});
</script>

And here is the code in my controller that pulls the dropdown values from the database.
//Dropdown suggestions for autocompleting the Suppliers field
$suppliers=$this->Msr->find('list',array('fields'=>'Msr.supplier'));
$strSuppliers='"'.implode('","',$suppliers).'"';
$this->set('suppliers',$strSuppliers);

Field code in my edit.ctp:
<?php echo $this->Form->input('supplier', array('type'=>'textbox', 'div'=>false,
          'name'=>'supplier', 'id'=>'MsrSupplier')); ?>

This is working fine in my development environment, which is just a local installation of XAMPP running on Mac OS X. When I start typing a word into the field, I get autocomplete suggestions, complete with CSS formatting. When I push this out to my production server, however, I get the following error when I inspect the field:
Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected token <

The error points to this line in my jQuery code:
var availableTags = [<?=$suppliers?>];

So, I see the problem, but I don't know why it's a problem or what to do about it. The Apache version in XAMPP is 2.4.16. The version on my server is 2.2.3-92 running on CentOS 5. Both environments are running CakePHP version 2.0.5, and the default layouts, which point to my version of jQuery, are the same.

A:
echo also has a shortcut syntax, where you can immediately follow the opening tag with an equals sign. Prior to PHP 5.4.0, this short syntax only works with the short_open_tag configuration setting enabled.

http://php.net/manual/en/function.echo.php
Your server likely has the option disabled, hence it's being output as is, ie as <?=$suppliers?>, instead of being interpreted as PHP.
ps. generally I'd use json_encode when passing data from PHP to JS, ie, do not build comma separated, quoted strings in your controller, but pass the query/results to the view as is, and then just do:
var availableTags = <?php echo json_encode($suppliers) ?>; // or <?= when applicable


Steph Bowe: NSW Writers' Centre Kids & YA Festival! And updates!
NSW Writers' Centre Kids & YA Festival! And updates!
Hello humans! I emerge from the all-consuming vortex of university exams to tell you I'm super excited to be appearing at the NSW Writers' Centre Kids and YA Festival on June 25.
I'm appearing on a panel called 'YA All The Way' alongside awesome writers Adele Walsh, Dave Burton, Will Kostakis and Tristan Bancks. The festival is chock full of terrific events and great writers. You can check out the full program and book tickets on the NSW Writers' Centre website.
I was lucky enough to appear at Noted Festival back in March, and you can listen to the podcast of my event on the role of feminism in Young Adult fiction on Noted's Soundcloud.
As you may know, I'm a Stella Prize Schools Ambassador for Queensland, and had the pleasure of being interviewed for the Stella Prize Schools blog!


text:
Globophobia may refer to:
Fear or dislike of globalization
 Balloon phobia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: how rand (timestamp) works if running on webserver? while studying some security things, there was a question that one can guess the generation of some sequence for rand (timestamp) running in webserver. He said that our first goal should crash the server (assuming that server will get up in 1 min), we can sync our generator with server and then rand (timestamp) generated by the webserver could be same with our generator.
I am confuse, if we have a function rand (timestamp) would not it be depend on system timestamp or on server "up time" stamp?
P.S:
Asking a general question - its not dependent if it is in JAVA/PHP/ASP. Just asking how webserver/compiler work for such code?
May be its vague question but i would like to make clarification.

A: The default behaviour of many implementions of rand(), is to use the system time as a seed if a seed value is not supplied. Even if that is not the default behaviour, it is almost guaranteed that an application will pass the system time to srand() as a seed to randomise the sequence.
So, if you know the precise system time, you can generate the same sequence that would be produced from the remote system calling rand(). Several years ago, an online casino was attacked using this random sequence prediction technique.
The solution is two-fold: derive the seed from a non-predictable hardware source (there are commercial units to this) AND use the longest pseudo-number generator available.
There have been many questions on SO on the topic of hardware generators, for instance:

*

*What Type of Random Number Generator is Used in the Gaming Industry?

*Alternative Entropy Sources

A: rand() returns a pseudo random number. The pseudo random number generator is typically initialized with a seed. If two instances of the pseudo random generator are initialized with the same seed, then they will produce the same sequence on successive calls to rand.
By crashing the server, you are forcing the application to initialize the pseudo random generator with the current unix timestamp since that is what it uses as seed. An attacker can easily guess the seed/timestamp in a few attempts (server may use ntp which makes it even easier).
That is why it is not a good idea to use the unix timestamp as the seed. In any case for cryptographic uses typically the random number generator that comes with a crypto library is used. For example Openssl has RAND_bytes that makes available cryptographically strong pseudo random bytes. On many unix systems this pseudo random number generator is automatically seeded with bytes from /dev/urandom. See http://www.openssl.org/docs/crypto/RAND_add.html for more details.


text:
Apple ditches purchase limits for iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks
Peter Phelps | March 23, 2020 5:28 pm GMT
After having instituted restrictions on quantities of products you could purchase, Apple seems to have backtracked and will no longer block bulk buys.
Last week, Apple decided to limit its customers to smaller order sizes, presumably by reason of the coronavirus pandemic, and in order to stop people from… hoarding iPhones?
Related: Best Phones
However, 9t05Mac reports that this restriction has been lifted, and that availability is no longer affected (apart from in China). This applies to online purchases via the Apple Store; physical retail outlets remain closed due to the risk of transmission.
The restrictions had applied to the following products in the following quantities:
MacBook Air 2020 (x5 per customer)
Mac Mini 2020 (x5 per customer)
iPad Pro 2020 (x2 per customer)
iPhone 11 (x2 per customer)
iPhone 11 Pro (x2 per customer)
iPhone 11 Pro Max (x2 per customer)
It's good news that these limitations no longer apply, though frankly there must be relatively few customers looking for such big orders.
The first three of these products had hardly been unveiled before the restrictions came into effect.
We welcomed the launch of the MacBook Air 2020, which we said had delivered "exciting, major changes" including an improved keyboard, must faster processor, support for 6K displays, and Thunderbolt 3 ports for faster data transfer.
The changes were more modest to the Mac Mini 2020 (increased storage and more sustainable construction materials), while the iPad Pro 2020 has been upgraded with a new chipset and an improved camera set-up.
While we haven't yet reviewed the previous three devices, we have run the rule over the latest iPhone range and we were very impressed by all of the models.
The base iPhone 11 packs an excellent camera and enduring battery − and for once the price doesn't seem extortionate for an Apple product.
Related: Best laptops
In comparison, the iPhone 11 Pro and its Max big brother both offer an extra telephoto camera sensor, superior screens and fast chargers − but they are significantly more expensive too.
We're certainly looking forward to the launch of the iPhone 12, expected in early autumn this year, to see what Apple does with what is expected to be its first-ever 5G-compatible handset.
Peter Phelps
Mobile Writer
Peter is a mobile tech writer, covering the latest smartphones, tablets, and wearables in news stories, reviews, and features. Previously he worked as a business researcher for Which?, analysing the m…


Casey Tak, M.P.H., Ph.D., has been hired as an assistant professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He will join the Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy and work from the School's Asheville satellite campus.
Tak earned his Ph.D. in pharmacotherapy outcomes research and health policy at the University of Utah. He received his Masters of Public Health from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2014.
Prior to joining the School, Tak served as a graduate assistant and a clinical research coordinator at the University of Utah. As a graduate student, he was honored at the AMCP Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy annual meeting with the award for best graduate student poster presentation.
Tak's research interests include biostatistics and epidemiological and economic data evaluations. He has experience teaching undergraduate, graduate and professional students.


text:
Artist News Releases
Chvrches detail new album, release collaboration with The National's Matt Berninger
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 1 March 2018
Chvrches have announced details of their new album, 'Love Is Dead', and released a new collaboration with The National's Matt Berninger called 'My Enemy'.
"[The album is about] coming to terms with the fact that there are great things in the world and there are awful things in the world and that you can't get one without the other", says vocalist Lauren Mayberry.
Of working with Berninger, she adds: "We've all been huge fans of The National for a long time. We had played a few festivals together but really got to know Matt when we were involved in Seven-Inches For Planned Parenthood, a fundraising and awareness campaign that he spearheaded. It's really inspiring and reassuring to meet other artists you admire and realise that they are trying to do some good in the world".
"We kept in touch after that and, when it came time to record 'My Enemy', Iain and Martin suggested I email Matt to see if he'd like to sing on it", she goes on. "We never realistically thought he'd have time to do it but he replied right away and recorded the track at his house the next day".
'Love Is Dead' is set for release on 25 May. Listen to 'My Enemy', featuring Matt Berninger, here now:
READ MORE ABOUT: Chvrches | Matt Berninger | The National


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