text:
To become a Pioneer
By David La Vaque, Star Tribune, 12/08/10, 10:22PM CST
Hill-Murray is a storied hockey institution, but it comes at a steep price
Hill-Murray coach Bill Lechner addresses his players. Photo by Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune
Editor's note: This is the first of four parts in an occasional series that will span the length of the Hill-Murray boys' hockey team's season.
Nick Sova believed the fourth and final day of Hill-Murray varsity hockey tryouts was his best yet.
Sova, a 6-3 senior center, skated with returning varsity players on each wing. He came in with a reputation for being a good citizen and a leader after serving as co-captain of the undefeated junior varsity team last season.
"I thought I'd make varsity," Sova said. "I felt deserving."
Seconds after declaring this "the worst moment of my career," Pioneers coach Bill Lechner entered the locker room and addressed 43 waiting players – three of whom would not come back. A total of 59 players (32 forwards, 21 defensemen and six goalies) started the week. Lechner made similar pre-emptive speeches before cuts on Tuesday and Wednesday, encouraging youngsters that getting cut did not mean their hockey careers were finished.
The vibe changed Nov. 18. Getting down to 40 players, 20 each for the varsity and junior varsity, meant cutting familiar faces. Only six varsity spots were available and seniors such as Sova, per Lechner's policy, can't play for the junior varsity.
"If you're not on a list you want, you will still do great things in life," Lechner said. "If you're too old to be on junior varsity, you're still a good person."
At 4:58 p.m., the final roster was taped to the wall. To Sova's surprise, he could not find his name, not even after scanning the roster up and down five times.
Stunned, Sova headed for his car. He sat in silence, wondering what else he could have done. Work conflicts prevented Sova's parents from joining the two dozen or so parents and observers at Thursday's tryout. So it wasn't until Gary Sova answered his son's phone call that the young man broke the news, and then broke into tears.
Hockey is the draw
Ask the returning varsity players why they chose Hill-Murray and you get various responses. Several attended private schools their whole lives. Others are children or siblings of Hill-Murray alumni. All learned of the school's hockey tradition and wanted to take part.
The Catholic school in Maplewood boasts one of the state's most tradition-rich hockey programs. Not until 1975 were private schools allowed to compete in the Minnesota State High School League state tournament. The Pioneers qualified that year, the first of 24 appearances highlighted by championships in 1983, 1991 and 2008.
Along the way, the Pioneers became, as former Burnsville coach Tom Osiecki said half-jokingly, "the private school that taught us to hate private schools."
Why the disdain? Because while some public school hockey coaches work to strengthen the pipeline from the youth ranks to the varsity, private schools draw top-end players from surrounding communities and parlay deep rosters into deep playoff runs. With a nod to Hill-Murray's pull from Stillwater's youth hockey ranks over the years, one message board poster noted, "You can't spell Pioneers without Ponies."
Several private schools, including Benilde-St. Margaret's, Breck and St. Thomas Academy, followed the Hill-Murray hockey model by building programs to compete for visibility and state championships. All are ranked within the top five of their respective classes this season by Let's Play Hockey magazine.
Most players on the current varsity roster come from the school's primary drawing areas. Eleven live in eastern suburbs Afton, Cottage Grove, Maplewood, Oakdale, Stillwater or Woodbury. Two varsity newcomers who were on the junior varsity last season, Luke Voltin and Blake Heinrich, drive in daily from Blaine (22 miles) and Cambridge (50 miles), respectively.
Voltin earned some varsity shifts late last season. During tryout scrimmages, he skated on a line with top forwards Ben Bahe and Kevin Becker. But while elated to make varsity as a sophomore, Voltin considered those who fell by the wayside.
"It was hard to see others crying," Voltin said. "This year, one of my best friends is on JV again and that's hard to see."
Each year, one or two hockey players who do not make a team leave the school not long after tryouts. While Hill-Murray principal and acting school president Susan Paul wonders "whether those family's priorities are misplaced," she also takes responsibility for "not grabbing them and getting them to embrace" the school's other enticements.
High price, lower enrollment
At $330 per player, boys' and girls' hockey athletic fees are the most expensive of the winter sports. But that is not the key figure. Annual tuition costs $10,800 – $700 more than last year, the largest one-year increase in at least 20 years.
Enrollment is down 80 students this year as Hill-Murray faces stiff competition in the east metro from two-year-old East Ridge High School in Woodbury and St. Croix Preparatory Academy in Stillwater, a public charter school.
Hill-Murray marketing and communications director Steven Moravetz said need-based assistance "as determined by our financial aid company has nearly tripled in the last four years." Scholarships are available to students who meet various criteria, but few of those awards cover more than a fraction of the overall tuition.
Lechner knows of several families who wanted to send their hockey-playing sons to Hill-Murray but were caught in a budget bind – they made too much to qualify for aid, yet not enough to make ends meet after paying tuition. Similar reasons led six players from last year's junior varsity to leave the school.
Some have found a way. Goaltender Tim Shaughnessy worked at Culver's to help pay his tuition. Anne Becker, whose sons Kevin (varsity) and Sam (JV) play hockey, got laid off from her job in the mortgage industry. She landed a job in the school kitchen at Hill-Murray and has since worked her way up to administrative assistant. School employees qualify for tuition remission on a graduated scale based on years of employment.
Anne Becker said Kevin, her oldest child, left Roseville for Hill-Murray initially for hockey reasons.
"But he'll come out of here getting both a great hockey experience and a great education," Anne said.
Standing as one
On the evening of Nov. 18, the newly minted varsity team left Aldrich Arena, the Pioneers' home rink, for a two-mile drive east on Larpenteur Avenue to the school. They dined on Little Caesar's pizza and White Castle hamburgers and talked about available jersey numbers while waiting for the coaches to arrive.
Lechner called players down the hall to a conference room for their first team meeting.
"Don't feel guilty to be in this room," Lechner said. "We let go some of your friends and some of our friends."
Ground rules were laid out next. Be respectful. Be punctual. Be proud but never arrogant. Be accountable.
"Part of the reason we took you is because you can handle it," said assistant coach and former Pioneers captain Pat Schafhauser.
Lechner said he pondered an often-asked question: What makes Hill-Murray a consistently strong program? Before answering, Lechner told all 20 players to stand in a circle.
"Are we going to do trust falls?" joked one player.
Lechner went around the circle, making up scenarios where players violated rules then asking them to sit down. The point: The team's success depends on the willingness of each player to make good choices and stand as one.
Lechner gave one more directive before players began gathering their schedules, bags, practice jerseys, socks and other team apparel.
"Some of you guys need to get your hair trimmed," said the 57-year-old Lechner, whose own hair is deserting him. "But you don't have to look like me."
Reveling in Hill-Murray's rich tradition is fun. Maintaining it is not. To avoid inflaming the emotions triggered by final cuts, Lechner took his varsity team out of school early on Friday for scrimmages in Grand Rapids.
Sova did not attend school Friday. He took a road trip with his father to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to watch older brother Dan, a defenseman with Michigan Tech, take on the Gophers. Dan Sova started for the Pioneers' 2008 Class 2A championship team.
"One of the guys who made varsity sent me a text and told me he understood how I felt," Nick Sova said. "I know what he was trying to say, but there's no way he could have understood."
Sova, who supports Lechner's policy of not allowing seniors on the junior varsity, is playing for Twin Cities Northern Lights of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League.
"I would have loved to put on the varsity jersey but my dream of playing Division I hockey is not over," Sova said. "I'm just going to have to take a different path to get there."
Some varsity players face their own challenges after failing to make various select teams this fall. But as Schafhauser told them the evening of Nov. 18: "We believe you guys fit into what we think we can achieve."
It was a reminder to all 20 varsity players of just how lucky they were – and just how much was expected of them now that their dreams had come true.
Photo by Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune
Boys' hockey schedules posted
By Trevor Squire, SportsEngine 10/12/2018, 12:15pm CDT
Minnetonka, the defending Class 2A champion, will have a steep challenge when it faces St. Thomas Academy in The Opener on Nov. 23.
Jim O'Neill steps down as Cretin-Derham Hall coach
By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune 05/11/2018, 3:00pm CDT
O'Neill coached the Raiders to the 2006 AA state title.
All-state teams unveiled
By Ryan Williamson, SportsEngine 03/27/2018, 2:15pm CDT
Check out which players were selected to the AP all-state squads.
Forward Lucas McGregor happy he decided to play for Centennial boys' hockey team as senior
Lucas McGregor helped the Cougars reach the Class 2A state tourney.
Third-period goal drives Orono past Alexandria to claim Class 1A crown
By Loren Nelson, Special to the Star Tribune 03/10/2018, 9:30pm CST
The Spartans clipped the Cardinals 2-1 to clinch their first state title.
Top games: Storied rivalry between Warroad and Roseau intensifies with added luster
Jan. 9: The Warriors' unbeaten record and the Rams' strong start crank up interest in this matchup between northern neighbors.
Prior Lake hands Eden Prairie its second straight loss
The Lakers pulled off the upset over the No.2-2A Eagles thanks to a second-period goal from sophomore Will Schumacher.
South St. Paul, Rochester Century tie in anniversary celebration at Doug Woog Arena
The Packers rallied from two one-goal deficits to force a draw. The game was part of the team's agenda in commemorating their 75th anniversary Saturday.
Top games: Powerhouse Hermantown preps for skirmish against ailing St. Cloud Cathedral
Jan. 3: The top-ranked and high-powered Hawks will challenge the depth of the defending Class 1A state champion Crusaders who are dealing with injuries to standout players.
MN Hockey Hub fans: Vote now for the top performer from Dec. 30-Jan. 4
Tag(s): Home Classic Suburban Hill-Murray


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text:
Mana-Zucca (25 December 18858 March 1981) was an American actress, singer, pianist and composer.

Biography
Mana-Zucca was born Gussie Zuckermann in New York City on December 25, 1885. The daughter of Polish immigrants, she was a child prodigy who began composing at an early age.

Mana-Zucca was interested in music when she was very young. She was frustrated at the age of three when she found that her toy piano didn't have half tones. Her first piano teacher was her neighbor called Patotnikoff. Not long after that, her piano teacher was changed to Platon Brounoff, who was a Russian immigrant. Shortly after giving her first recital at the age of three and a half, she got a scholarship at the age of four when she had an audition for the National Conservatory of Music (New York City). In the conservatory, she studied with different teachers, including Misses Margulies and Okell.

At the age of seven she began to study piano with the eminent Polish pianist and pedagogue Alexander Lambert, who taught at the New York College of Music. Lambert was not only her teacher but also her concert manager and mentor. Her practice regime, dictated by Lambert, was rigorous. So that he could make sure she kept to her schedule, Mana-Zucca lived with Lambert while her career as a child prodigy flourished. The two remained very close friends throughout his lifetime. Lambert suggested that she take the stage name of Augusta, which she used for a while but did not like and later dropped in favor of Mana-Zucca, a rearrangement of her surname.

At the same time that Mana-Zucca studied piano with Lambert, she also studied harmony and composition with Herman Spielter. Her first published work, Moment Musicale for Violin and Piano, was composed when she was only seven years old. Her Etude de Concert was written when she was eight. Her first art song, Frage, was published by Rudolph Schirmer, as were Moment Triste and Moment Orientale, both composed when she was nine.

At the age of eight, she performed as piano soloist in the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 with the New York Symphony Orchestra. In 1914 she made her stage debut with a soprano role in Franz Lehár's The Count of Luxembourg.

As Mana-Zucca approached her early teens, she sailed to Europe with her elder sister Beatrice, better known as Bess. They settled in Berlin, Germany, and she soon became part of that city's busy and exciting cultural milieu. Mana-Zucca's debut in Berlin, at the Bechstein Saal, was highly acclaimed and opened doors for other engagements throughout Europe. Given the opportunity to play with famous Spanish violinist Juan Manén, she performed with him in several successful concerts before signing a contract to play sixty concerts with him over a three-year period; they appeared together throughout Germany and Russia.

While in Berlin, Mana-Zucca studied the works of Brahms with the eminent pedagogue Josef Weiss, and later she was accepted for study in the master classes of the great Ferruccio Busoni, which she attended for eight months. She received private instruction from Leopold Godowsky and also attended master classes that he conducted for selected students. In addition, while in Berlin she studied voice with a Fraülein van Gelder, and later, in London, she studied with Raimond von zur Mühlen, a famous singer of lieder and a much-sought-after voice teacher.

Mana-Zucca and her sister stayed in London for several years after leaving Berlin. In England and later in the United States, she was accepted as a singer in several musical comedies, including The Count of Luxembourg, The Rose Maid and The Geisha.

A new phase in Mana-Zucca's life began when she accepted the marriage proposal of Irwin M. Cassel, a gentleman she had known since her youth. The couple eloped on 21 September 1921. Cassel promised his new wife that they would spend seven months of each year in New York City and the remaining five months in Miami, Florida, where he made his home. Cassel supported Mana-Zucca's musical career and even wrote the lyrics to the then-famous song "I Love Life" (1923), which was performed by celebrated singers such as John Charles Thomas and Lawrence Tibbett. Ultimately, and especially after the birth of her only child, a son named Marwin (a portmanteau of Mana and Irwin) in 1925, Miami became her permanent residence. She spent many happy hours there composing and presenting musicales in her home, "Mazica Hall." She was the teacher of pianist and pioneer Ruth W. Greenfield. She died in Miami.

Mana-Zucca had three distinct but interconnected careers: as a concert pianist of great renown, as a singer who performed leading roles in musical comedy, and as a prolific composer. Her brochure of published music totals more than four hundred works. These include music for piano, orchestra, and voice. In addition, she also composed music for young students.

The University of Miami awarded Mana-Zucca an honorary Doctorate of Music on May 19, 1974.

Mana-Zucca died in Miami on March 8, 1981. The Mana-Zucca Collection, a collection of her papers, including copies of her compositions, is housed in the Green Library at Florida International University.

Works
Mana-Zucca composed over 1,000 works, including two operas (Hypatia and Queue of Ki-Lu), orchestral works, a ballet, three choral works, more than 20 chamber works and solo works, including the piano concerto Op. 49, a collection of 366 piano pieces called "My Musical Calendar" and the violin concerto Op. 224 for the American violinist Joan Field. Her compositions are best known through popular songs, including "There's Joy in My Heart", "Big Brown Bear", "Honey Lamb", "I Love Life" and "Time and Time Again", with the lyrics by her husband Irwin M. Cassel.

References

1885 births
1981 deaths
20th-century classical composers
American classical composers
American classical pianists
American women classical composers
American music educators
American women music educators
American opera composers
Jewish classical composers
Piano pedagogues
American women classical pianists
Women opera composers
20th-century American women pianists
20th-century American composers
20th-century classical pianists
20th-century American pianists
20th-century women composers

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Recent Manifesto Launches in South Africa: A Critique
Published on 5th March 2019
The Black Consciousness oriented Azanian People's Organisation launched its manifesto in Mahwelereng, Limpop Province. The SABC reporter summarises issues raised in that forum.The land question, as expected, was one of the issues raised. Azapo's manifesto raises people centred issues, no false promises, no reneging and backtracking on its commitments, no mendacious statements and no scare tactics and fear mongering.
Another group that launched its manifesto in Pretoria is the white supremacist party, the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus). It raised, inter alia, issues such as the self-determination for white people, 'slaan terug' which means hit back or fight back; privatisation of public utilities and opposing affirmative action and black economic empowerment policies of the ANC government.
It should be noted that the policies of the predominantly white party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), which is the main opposition party in parliament, converge in many areas with those of the FF Plus except that the DA has not openly called for the self-determination of white people but tacitly support it. DA posters call for 'securing our borders' and 'keeping our streets safe'.
This begs the questions: fight back and secure our borders against who exactly? This is ironic considering that the very same people who are calling for self-determination and 'securing our borders' originate in Europe and are calling for the 'self-determination' which they denied the indigenous people. Almost everything is imposed on them from jurisprudence copied from Europe to an imposed elitist constitution and a dog-eat-dog capitalist system.
The FF Plus and DA use subliminal messages to convey their racist vitriol yet the media ignores these load of hogwash because the media is still a citadel of white supremacy.
Many African people do not have any truck with affirmative action and black economic empowerment because they create the wrong impression that African people are in the positions they occupy not because of merit but because of favours.
Most policies benefit those with political connections and proximity to people in the high echelons of power including some white people as the Bosasa scandal has revealed during the state capture commission of inquiry. Moreover, who affirms whom? Why should there be affirmative action where Africans are the majority? In the US they claim they used affirmative action because African Americans were a minority. These policies should be called affirmative action for certain people and black economic empowerment of certain people.
The FF Plus and the DA say they are against corruption but they were happy to stay mum when apartheid officials were embroiled in corruption. Corruption is corruption irrespective of who is involved.
The FF Plus manifesto launch was attended by white people only. There is nothing wrong with an all-white manifesto launch since manifesto launches of some political parties that are led by African people are also predominantly African. What is wrong is for a predominantly white party such as the DA to have a sea of African faces at their manifesto launch when the party is controlled by white people. Another wrong thing is for white supremacist parties such as the FF Plus and the DA to accuse the ANC and other predominantly African parties of racism when they are the worst bigots around.
African people in the DA are voting cattle and token leaders. It is about time that African people in the DA learn why some black students left the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) in the late 1960's and went to form the black consciousness oriented South African Students Organisation (SASO). They should also learn why the Africanists led by Robert Sobukwe in the 1950's objected to be led by whites in a struggle that was about the liberation of Africans.
The principle is that one cannot expect another group of people with diametrically opposed interests to one's interests to fight for one's liberation, especially when that group benefits materially from the system that they purport to oppose.
In present day South Africa, the DA is fighting to safeguard and preserve the interests of white people and their businesses which derived from the apartheid government and it is using Africans to achieve its racist exploitative agenda. In other words, the DA wants to maintain the status quo. The DA is calling for the privatisation of public enterprises such as Eskom which is supposed to supply affordable electricity to poor people the majority of whom are Africans. Naturally, African people would like to fight for the status quo ante. A political party that supports the privatisation of public utilities is not worth supporting.
During apartheid, the same white people who are now calling for the privatisation of Eskom used to enjoy exclusive electricity benefits when Africans did not have electricity at all. Now that everybody is supposed to benefit and has benefited from affordable electricity, the DA and FF Plus are calling for the privatisation of Eskom. The DA and FF Plus anti-African schema has been laid bare.
An analogy with other private and public entities is called for. Private facilities are not designed to serve majority interests. They are good for the few rich individuals. Let us take, for example, private hospitals which have the best medical care. Poor people cannot afford to go for medical treatment at private hospitals. They go to public hospitals which are government funded. Just imagine how the situation is going to be when only a few rich people - who are mostly white - have access to electricity and the rest have no electricity because they cannot afford it? As far as I am concerned there are no compelling reasons to privatise state owned enterprises.
Recently, SABC television covered what it called a PAC manifesto launch in Johannesburg. The SABC and IEC are well aware that a legitimate PAC leadership was elected last year in 2018 December in Kimberley. One wonders what the SABC is going to call the organisation that, if the rumour mill is anything to go by, is going to launch its manifesto on the 21st March.
Is the SABC planning on not covering the 21st March PAC manifesto launch since the SABC apparatchiks have convinced themselves that they are done with the manifesto launch of the PAC? Should the PAC launch its manifesto on the 21st March and the SABC fails to cover the event, they will have to come up with a very good reason.
By Sam Ditshego
sam412d@gmail.com
This article has been read 1,497 times
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In today's post, I'll briefly cover some of the international issues I discussed in the EBI presentation. I'll also provide some brief updates on important international developments that have occurred in the weeks since that presentation. The two issues I highlighted in my talk were the EU Renewable Energy Directive and its importance in promoting the use of biofuels, particularly advanced biofuels, in the EU, and the need for consistent, broader, enforceable mandates for ethanol and biodiesel use in countries around the world. My talk also touched on issues relating to international trade harmonization.
European Union Renewable Energy Directive. As I've described in several previous blog posts, the EU Renewable Energy Directive (along with its companion legislation the Fuel Quality Directive) is the major regulatory policy promoting the use of renewable fuels in the EU. As discussed last year in Advanced Biotechnology for Biofuels, the EU RED was put in place in 2009 to establish the goal for all EU member states to derive 20% of their overall energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020, including 10% of energy consumption within the transportation sector by the same year. This would be accompanied by concomitant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as these targets are met. Companies selling transportation fuels to the public would be required to utilize fuels certified as renewable in order to meet these goals, while developers or producers of fuels had certain requirements to meet in order to demonstrate that the fuel is indeed produced renewably and sustainably.
As is the case with all EU directives, the 28 EU member states are obligated to adopt national laws containing all the provisions of the RED, and so the directive is enforced at the national level in all EU states. Compliance to date has therefore varied considerably from country to country, although it seems clear that the directive has led to increased adoption of renewable transportation fuels across the EU, and a number of renewable fuel producers have had their fuels certified as complying with the requirements of the directive.
However, most of the renewable fuels used to date in the EU have been first-generation fuels such as corn or sugar beet derived ethanol, or biodiesel or other renewable diesel fuels largely derived from vegetable oils or oilseed crops, so the mandates of the RED have become entangled with the politics of the "food vs. fuel" debates that are prominent in Europe. This led to the proposal, in October 2012, of an amendment to the RED that was aimed at discouraging the use of food-derived biofuels and encouraging the use of advanced biofuels not produced from food crops. The main feature of this proposal, which was originally described in a January 2013 post on this blog, was to establish a ceiling on the amounts of food-derived fuels that could be included in the volume of renewable fuel that each EU member state would count towards meeting its volume obligations. As originally proposed, this ceiling was 5%, meaning that, regardless of how much food-based biofuel was used in any country, the amount that could be applied towards the overall goals of renewable fuel use would be limited to 5% of the total transport fuel usage in the country.
In the months that followed, this proposal was debated at various levels within the EU, including by several different committees of the EU Parliament. On September 11, 2013, the full EU Parliament adopted a proposal which would set a limit of 6% for food-derived fuels, while setting separate targets for the use of advanced biofuels in the overall transport sector at 0.5% by 2016 and 2.5% by 2020. However, in meetings in December 2013, the Energy Ministers from EU nations failed to reach agreement on the path forward for these amendments, after considering compromise language that would have raised the limit on crop-based biofuels to 7% but would also have required mandatory reporting of indirect land use change (ILUC), the latter generally being opposed by the industry.
This stalemate persisted until only recently. In May 2014, a group of EU diplomats proposed a revised version of a proposed amendment which was agreed to by the Energy Council of the European Council in June 2014. The key provisions of this policy are a 7% cap on food-based biofuels as of the 2020 target date, an invitation to member states to promote the adoption of second and third generation biofuels by setting a national target for advanced biofuels of 0.5% of total fuel usage, among several other provisions. This proposal apparently still needs to be ratified by the Parliament, but the general reaction to this development was that the logjam was broken and that these are the changes that will be adopted as policy.
During my talk at the EBI conference, I didn't come out in favor of any particular proposed amendment to the RED. However, I did stress the importance of maintaining the RED and the incentives it creates for biofuel usage, and, if amendments are to be adopted to the Directive, to be sure that they adequately address the goal of promoting the use of advanced (second or third generation) biofuels. It seems like the recent developments (which came after my talk at the conference in early May) are taking the policy in the right direction, although the final word will be written by the ultimate action by the EU Parliament.
International Trade Harmonization. The other broad international issue I touched upon in my talk is the issue of international trade policies. There have been recent developments relatating to some of the ongoing trade disputes between the EU and different regions of the world, several of which I've reported on in previous blog entries. One development has to do with the anti-dumping duties imposed in February 2013 by the EU on ethanol imported from the U.S. Apparently, companies were getting around this requirement by shipping U.S. ethanol to Norway, for subsequent importation into the EU. As a result of an investigation into this practice, on June 4, 2014, the European Commission decided to apply the duties on U.S.-originated ethanol coming into the EU from Norway. This action had been requested by the European trade association ePURE, which welcomed the news of the new duties. According to Ethanol Producer Magazine, a compliant in EU court filed in May 2013 by the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy challenging the decision to impose an anti-dumping duty is still ongoing.
Other recent developments relate to EU anti-dumping duties on biodiesel coming from Argentina and Indonesia. These sanctions were imposed by the EU in 2013, a decision which Argentina had already challenged in December 2013. In June 2014, it was announced that Indonesia had also begun to challenge these duties, by filing a notice with the World Trade Organization, requesting consultations with the EU about these anti-dumping measures. Even more recently, the European Commission announced that it may renew for another five years anti-dumping tariffs already in place against U.S. biodiesel exporters. These duties were to have expired on July 11, but in announcing its intent to launch two new inquiries to see how the situation may have changed since 2009, the tariffs will remain in effect for as long as the investigations last.
Although I don't have any unusual perspective into these trade controversies, during my talk at the EBI conference I highlighted the need to resolve international trade disputes so that renewable fuels produced anywhere in the world could be imported to any other region of the world where there might be a market. I acknowledge each nation's right to protect its domestic industries from cheaper foreign imports, but climate change and energy security are global issues facing all countries, which demand global solutions, and it seems to me that these frequent disputes only serve as roadblocks to accomplishing those goals.


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Q: mongodb sort on aggregate with group I'm able to get a distinct group of Documents for a Collection by using $group and aggregates.
let uniqueFoos= Collection.rawCollection().aggregate([
    {
      $group: {
        _id: 0,
        foos: {
          $addToSet: '$foo'
        }
      }
    }
  ]).toArray().await();

This works great. But how can I sort the foos array in descending alphabetical order? I know how to do this standalone, but not how to insert it into the pipeline. I've tried inserting it before and after to no avail. Any ideas?
chaining a .sort() to the .await() can work, but I'd like to do this from the query itself. Thanks!

A: You can do it with the following pipeline:
[
    {
        $group: {
            _id: "$foo",
        }
    },
    {
        $sort: { "_id": -1 }
    },
    {
        $group: {
            _id: 0,
            foos: {
              $push: '$_id'
            }
        }
    }
]

But I think it will be much better if you just group and sort the data (without building an array within query). Try this pipeline:
[
    {
        $group: {
            _id: "$profile.name",
        }
    },
    {
        $sort: { "_id": -1 }
    }
]

and then use the result array in your code.
NB: Also note, that MongoDB has distinct method, but you will have to sort the results in js code.

A: Orders.aggregate(
  [
    {
      $group: {
        _id: { $dateToString: { format: "%Y-%m-%d", date: "$createdAt" } },
        "order": {
          "$sum": 1
      },

        total: {
          $sum: "$total_price"
        },

      },
    },
    {
      $sort: { "_id": -1 }
  }
  ],
  function(err, result) {
    if (err) {
      res.send(err);
    } else {
      res.json(result);
    }
  }
);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Mid-Michigan restaurants fined for keeping dine-in open during shutdown
The Meeting Place in Fenton lost its liquor license temporarily
Fenton restaurant keeping indoor dining open for freedom and working employees(Ryan Smith/WJRT)
LANSING, Mich. (WJRT) - The Michigan Liquor Control Commission fined several restaurants and suspended liquor licenses after they kept their dine-in facilities open during the statewide shutdown.
The Meeting Place in Fenton had its license to sell alcoholic beverages suspended. The Big Boy in Sandusky received a $5,000 fine while The Meeting Place and Woodchips BBQ in Lapeer both were fined $1,000.
The Meeting Place and Woodchips kept their indoor dining rooms open after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued an epidemic order Nov. 18 requiring that all restaurants and bars close to dine-in service. They can remain open only for carryout or drive-through service until Dec. 9.
"Although none of us wants to take such actions, the deliberate and blatant defiance of the state emergency public health orders by these owners put their businesses at risk," said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. "While we are heartbroken at the toll these closures invariably have on the businesses affected, first and foremost the state has an obligation to protect the lives of our residents."
Restaurants in Newaygo and Fremont also had their liquor licenses suspended Wednesday, meaning they are not allowed to sell alcohol. All three restaurants are scheduled to appear before an administrative law judge on Dec. 4 for a hearing to decide whether they can get their licenses back.
The Big Boy restaurant in Sandusky received a $5,000 for staying open to indoor diners in violation of the order.
"The vast majority of restaurant and bar owners are doing the right thing and they have temporarily closed their indoor service to help prevent the spread of the virus," said Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon. "We know this is not easy for anyone, this is not an action we take lightly, but the sooner we can mitigate the spread of COVID-19 the sooner we can all get back to doing the things we enjoy."
New COVID-19 variant: be aware, be safe, but don't panic


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Community/Lifestyle
Council pledges support for campaign against domestic abuse
Friday 8 November 2019 16:25
MEMBERS of Derry City and Strabane District Council have taken a stance in support of victims of domestic violence, coercive control and parental alienation – calling for a more joined up approach to tackling these growing problems across the city and district.
A notice of motion brought by the Mayor Michaela Boyle and Alliance Party councillor Rachel Ferguson, calling on council to acknowledge and respond to the level of domestic violence, sexual crime and coercive control crimes, was unanimously supported at a full council meeting on Thursday.
A second motion highlighting the issue of domestic abuse, particularly in the form of parental alienation and its effects on children, brought by Sinn Féin councillor Sandra Duffy, was also widely welcomed by members.
Councillors pledged to work with statutory partners in the areas of health and criminal justice to ensure that the issues are dealt with effectively, and acknowledged the work of local charities including Foyle Women's Aid and La Dolce Vita in highlighting and addressing the problem.
La Dolce Vita is now spearheading a pilot project that aims to unify organisations across the country to protect children from the damaging effects of parental alienation, and will host the first international conference on the issue in the city in April 2020.
The motions were brought before council to highlight Domestic Abuse Awareness Month and members took the opportunity to show their solidarity with victims, and pay tribute to the organisations who currently provide support.
Mayor Boyle, herself a strong advocate for victims of domestic abuse, said she was pleased to see council placing the issue firmly on the agenda.
"It's timely that we highlight these very serious problems during Domestic Abuse Awareness Month," she stressed.
"And I'm delighted to see the level of support expressed today across all the parties.
"I want to offer my own thanks to the organisations working on the ground to help victims and following today's show of support, would like to explore further how council can be more proactive in raising awareness and combatting the problem.
"There are many forms of domestic abuse, and we are becoming more aware of behaviours such as coercive control and parental alienation that can be just as damaging in terms of psychological impact on victims.
"There needs to be more done in terms of establishing consistent approaches to providing support across all organisations tasked with dealing with the problem, from when it is first identified through to finding the best channels of support for victims and families.
"We need cohesion across both jurisdictions and support services and I am delighted to see La Dolce Vita taking the lead on the issue of parental alienation with the launch of the first project to address the problem on a national level here."
At the meeting members councillors also voiced their support for the 16 days of activism against gender based violence, commencing on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, running until December 10, Human Rights Day.
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Q: Pygame moving image not appearing on moving background So, i have a moving background for my pygame that is working fine. Now i wanted to add an obstacle (like a rock), that would be at the bottom of the screen and would move with the background. However, the image (obstacle) just disapears after appearing for a couple of seconds. I want the rock to appear over and over, however, it does not appear. Cant figure out whats wrong. Plz help, thanks!
background = pygame.image.load('background.png')
backgroundX = 0
backgroundX2 = background.get_width()
obstacle = pygame.image.load('obstacle.png')
obstacleX = 0
obstacleX2 = obstacle.get_width()

# use procedure for game window rather than using it within loop
def redrawGameWindow():
    # background images for right to left moving screen
    screen.blit(background, (backgroundX, 0))
    screen.blit(background, (backgroundX2, 0))
    man.draw(screen)
    screen.blit(obstacle, (obstacleX, 380))
    screen.blit(obstacle, (obstacleX2, 380))
    pygame.display.flip()
    pygame.display.update()

The main loop:
while run:
    screen.fill(white)
    clock.tick(30)
    pygame.display.update()
    redrawGameWindow()  # call procedure

    obstacleX -= 1.4
    obstacleX2 -= 1.4

    if obstacleX < obstacle.get_width() * -10:
        obstacleX = obstacle.get_width

    if obstacleX2 < obstacle.get_width() * -10:
        obstacleX2 = obstacle.get_width()

A: The surface.blit() (i.e.: screen.blit) function takes an image and top-left co-ordinates of where to draw it.
In the code provided the two copies of obstacle are drawn at obstacleX and obstacleX2 - one of which is set to 0, and the other the width of the image.  So this should result in the two images being drawn next to each other, on the left side of the window, at line 380.
If these images are no longer being drawn after a while, this could be caused by -

*

*The variables obstacleX and obstacleX2 being changed to an off-screen position

*The image obstacle being changed to a blank (or otherwise invisible) version

There is no evidence in the small code sample above, but since the question suggests the images move, it's my guess that the obstacleX and obstacleX2 co-ordinates of the drawing positions are being changed to become off-screen.
EDIT:
It's apparent that your objects are starting at position 0 (window left), and the position is being updated obstacleX -= 1.4 which is moving the obstacle further left.  This is why they start on-screen, but soon disappear.
Put your screen dimensions into constants, e.g.:
WINDOW_WIDTH  = 400
WINDOW_HEIGHT = 400

And use these instead of peppering your code with numbers.  This reduces the number of changes needed if you decide to change window sizes, and it also allows calculations based on window width.
So start your obstacle just off the screen.
obstacleX  = WINDOW_WIDTH          # off-screen
obstacleX2 = WINDOW_WIDTH + 100    # Further away from first obstacle

In the main update-loop, when the position of the items change, check to see if they need to be re-cycled back to in-front of the player:
# Move the obstacles 1-pixel to the left
obstacleX  -= 1.4
obstacleX2 -= 1.4   # probably just 1 would be better

# has the obstacle gone off-screen (to the left)
if ( obstacleX < 0 - obstacle.get_width() ):
    # move it back to the right (off-screen)
    obstacleX = WINDOW_WIDTH + random.randint( 10, 100 )

# TODO - handle obstacleX2 similarly


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Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Everything You Need To Know [2022]
What You Need To Know About The Microsoft Surface Pro 9
The release date of the Surface Pro 9 is predicted
Is it possible to pre-order the Surface Pro 9?
Estimate cost of the Surface Pro 9
Surface Pro 9 specifications compared to Surface Pro 8
What will the new Microsoft Surface Pro 9 look like in 2022?
Which Microsoft Surface model is the latest?
What is the best generation of Microsoft Surface Pro?
Does Microsoft plan to discontinue the Surface?
Microsoft is expected to merge the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 and Surface Pro X lines, according to sources. In 2012, we first learned about the Microsoft Surface line of tablets, which at the time were running Windows RT. Almost every year, Microsoft releases a new Surface, leading many to speculate that Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is close at hand.
There has been no official announcement from Microsoft regarding the next Surface Pro, but the Microsoft Surface 8 Pro was released back in October 2021 and included Windows 11 as its operating system. Featuring a stunning design, display, and speakers of reasonable quality, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 has received outstanding reviews.
The device does not have a USB-A port, but it does have USB 4.0 and Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports. A Microsoft Surface 9 entry-level model with the keyboard and pen included instead of expensive extras would be great.
We are preparing to release the next version of what we consider to be an excellent iPad alternative. As far as the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 release date, pre-order options, and price are concerned, we'll cover everything we know and want to know.
Also Read How To Get Local Channels On Samsung Smart TV? Free Methods
Microsoft Surface Pro was not released in 2020, which was highly likely due to the old pandemics. In recent months, we've also seen major processor manufacturers making progress with their next generation processors, such as AMD and Intel.
We predict the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 will be released in the same period of 2022 as the Microsoft Surface Pro 8. At present, we don't know what Microsoft is planning, but if the Surface Pro X refresh doesn't skip a year, we might see the Microsoft Surface Pro 9.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 will not be available for pre-order until it is officially announced. Following the launch of the Microsoft Surface Pro 8, pre-orders will be available soon.
Checking the Microsoft store is the best way to keep up with pre-order dates.
While it is impossible to predict the exact price for the Microsoft Surface Pro 9, it is likely to be close to the price of the Microsoft Surface Pro 8. At first, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 cost approximately $750, with additional extras costing around $1,000. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 started at $1,099, topping out way beyond $1,699.
Therefore, we don't expect to see a significant price increase, though specifications will play a role as well. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 would have to justify a price hike big time, remember the keyboard and trackpad type cover weren't included with Surface Pro 8. In my opinion, Microsoft would be better off selling this as a 2-in-1 bundle.
Also Read How to Fix TV Picture Flickering [8 Ways]
Surface Pro 9 specs are nothing more than rumors until the company announces it. However, Microsoft Surface Pro 8 specifications are likely to be very similar, but with improved processing power. It is possible that Intel 12th-gen processors will be introduced.
Enhanced display features, such as higher refresh rates, may also be included. A significant improvement has been made for handheld devices and laptops since AMD launched the Ryzen 6000 series. We believe AMD CPUs will not be included in the next line of Surface Pro/X products, but they may be included in some laptops.
ARM and Intel configurations of the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 may be available from Microsoft. Additional nice-to-have features include 5G, interesting color options, and an OLED display, among others.
Neither a formal announcement nor a timeline have been released. Every year, Microsoft releases a new Surface Pro model, despite the Surface Pro X being refreshed this year.
It is currently the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 that is the newest Microsoft Surface.
This generation (8th) is considered to be the best so far, bringing Microsoft's tablet solution into the discussion.
Throughout the years, the Surface line of devices has made great progress and improvements.
BEST UNIVERSAL REMOTE APPS – FOR ANDROID & IPHONE [2022]
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A wild boar wandered into a park in Aberdeen on Wednesday morning, ambling about like a regular promenader, before it got tired, dozed off, woke up and walked away.
The animal, weighing about 70 kilograms with a length of about 1.2 meters, was seen around 8 a.m. walking and foraging in the Old Main Street Rest Garden, Apple Daily reports.
After enjoying bits of food it found lying around the area, the animal lay down near a tree in a planter and fell asleep.
Many park visitors were quite amused at the animal's sleeping posture. They let down their guard and gathered around the snoozing beast for rounds of selfies.
Police arrived and cordoned off the area, before notifying the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the incident.
After about two hours of contented sleep, the boar got up and continued its morning walk.
Staff from the AFCD rushed to the park and used bread to lure the animal and capture it.
A spokesperson for the department said the boar was sent to a veterinary center on Hong Kong Island for a check-up.
After a veterinarian determined that it was healthy, the boar was released back to the wilderness, the spokesperson said.


Gymnastics Drills and Conditioning for the Handstand should be extremely helpful for beginner gymnasts just learning the handstand. It should also be useful for the more advanced gymnasts in need of a friendly reminder on how to remain tight while performing skills involving or passing through the handstand. These drills are a necessity for all gymnasts because the handstand is the most important skill in gymnastics! Topics: Specific Conditioning, Body Tightness, Handstand Shape, Keeping the Handstand Shape in Motion, and Planche Work.


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You are here: Home / Insights / Social Responsibility / Creating safe work for women at The Big Issue
Creating safe work for women at The Big Issue
WSE dispatch assistants:Susie Laima Jodi Pawandeep and Harjinder
The Women's Subscription Enterprise (WSE) is an employment alternative for homeless and disadvantaged women who may feel vulnerable selling The Big Issue magazine on the streets.
Selling magazines on the street is simply not a safe or viable option for many women, including those fleeing domestic violence or caring for children.
WSE employees instead pack copies of The Big Issue for distribution to subscribers in a secure environment. The Women's Subscription Enterprise launched in Perth recently and has employed more than 130 women in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide since it launched on the East Coast in 2010.
At the first official shift supporters from the corporate, government and community sectors came together to mark the occasion and pack magazines alongside the new WSE employees.
The Big Issue received funding from the Westpac Foundation and Westpac Women's Markets to help establish the WSE in Western Australia.
As the number of subscribers grows the WSE will be able to offer further employment opportunities, making every subscription count. By spreading the word to family and friends who may be interested in subscribing to the magazine you will support work for women in need.
46,000 Australian women are homeless every night
40 per cent of homeless people living in shelters are women
The largest single cause of homelessness in Australia is domestic and family violence, which overwhelmingly affects women and children
To subscribe: click here and view snapshots of the first shift in our photo gallery.


State Rep. Ken Hawkins, R-Bedford, announced his candidacy for the District 9 State Senate seat April 11.
Hawkins has served in the Bedford citizen legislature for 10 years. He has served as a Republican member of the New Hampshire State House of Representatives from 2002-present. In the 2011-12 legislative season, Hawkins was appointed as the vice chairmen of the Executive Departments and Administration Committee and chairman of the Special Committee Public Employee Pensions Reform.


text:
AXA is the 1st global insurance brand
> AXA is the 1st insurance brand worldwide for the 6th consecutive year,
with a brand value growth of 14%
> AXA is ranked the Best Green Brand in the insurance industry worldwide
PARIS, 9 OCTOBER 2014
AXA brand's strength and leading position within the industry have been confirmed today by Interbrand1.
Overall, AXA is the 53rd best global brand and the 5th best French brand across all industries, with a brand value that has gone up by 14% and is valued at USD 8.120 billion.
Some key achievements in 2014 such as expansion in new territories, investment in tech labs and start-ups, partnerships with leading tech companies and universities but also various CSR initiatives have been particularly highlighted by Interbrand to reflect AXA's leadership in the industry and its brand strengths.
According to Interbrand, "AXA is adapting intelligently to a changing world" to "strengthen its connection with customers in both the enterprise and consumer spaces".
Moreover, Interbrand has assessed AXA as the Best Green Brand2 in the insurance industry worldwide, particularly underscoring its role in addressing climate change through improving the understanding of environmental risks as well as the reduction of AXA's environmental footprint.
"We are all very proud to be the leading insurance brand for the 6th year in a row, one of the world's 100 best brands across all industries. "AXA" is a strategic asset to attract and retain customers, partners and talents worldwide. The strength of our brand is instrumental to our expansion in higher growth markets and a competitive advantage in the digitization of our business", said Véronique Weill, Chief Operating Officer of the AXA Group.
"Everywhere in the world, it is a daily challenge to ensure we are up to the commitments of our brand - protecting our clients, providing expertise in insurance and asset management, constantly improving our service, being a strong, reliable partner through crises, showing the highest ethical standards, committing to have a positive impact on societies through risk education and prevention.
"Over the last 12 months, we have continued to invest in our brand and its consistency - the rebranding of our US business under the AXA name was a major milestone in the history of the Group. We have also improved the customers' experience leveraging mobile devices, providing innovative services such as AXA Drive or MonAXA. I would like to warmly thank all of our employees and distributors worldwide - the first ambassadors of the AXA brand - for their strong engagement in servicing our clients, daily", added Véronique Weill.
1 See: The Best Global Brands ranking calculates the value of a brand based on three criteria: its financial performance, the strength of its brand and the role of the brand in the purchase of products and services. See more: http://www.interbrand.com/
2 The Best Global Green Brands ranking gathers the 50 best performers in the arena of sustainability and how their environmentally conscious efforts are perceived by the public.
See: http://www.axa.com/en/news/2014/AXA-ranked-1-global-green-insurance-brand-in-2014.aspx
ABOUT THE AXA GROUP
The AXA Group is a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 157,000 employees serving 102 million clients in 56 countries. In 2013, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 91.2 billion and IFRS underlying earnings to Euro 4.7 billion. AXA had Euro 1,113 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2013.
The AXA ordinary share is listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CS (ISN FR 0000120628 – Bloomberg: CS FP – Reuters: AXAF.PA). AXA's American Depository Share is also quoted on the OTC QX platform under the ticker symbol AXAHY.
The AXA Group is included in the main international SRI indexes, such as Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and FTSE4GOOD.
It is a founding member of the UN Environment Programme's Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Sustainable Insurance and a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.
THIS PRESS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE ON THE AXA GROUP WEBSITE
Investor Relations : +33.1.40.75.46.85
Andrew Wallace-Barnett:+33.1.40.75.46.85
Yael Beer-Gabel: +33.1.40.75.47.93
Florian Bezault: +33.1.40.75.59.17
Stéphanie Bonel: +33.1.40.75.48.15
Clemence Houssay: +33.1.40.75.73.22
Sulabh Kakkar +33.1.40.75.48.91
Individual Shareholder Relations:+33.1.40.75.48.43
Media Relations : +33.1.40.75.46.74
Garance Wattez-Richard: +33.1.40.75.46.42
Hélène Caillet: +33.1.40.75.55.51
Jean-Baptiste Mounier: +33.1.40.75.49.68
Varvara Romanenco: +33.1.40.75.73.63
Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Please refer to the section "Cautionary statements" in page 2 of AXA's Document de Référence for the year ended December 31, 2013, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA's business. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
Capture d'écran: http://www.axa.com/


One of our first – and toughest – projects as a husband and wife team, Toby Court is a stunning showcase of our carpenters' high-level craftsmanship.
The home was built on stumps – not only to preserve the integrity of the sloping block but also to create the elevation required to maximise the stunning rural views. The home's split-level design further capitalises on the location, allowing three-metre high ceilings in the front section of the house, with floor-to ceiling glazing framing the views.
The Hamptons-inspired interiors feature hardwood timber floors, detailed joinery, raked ceilings, and exposed timber beams. Toby Court represents country living at its finest.


I'm a shoe gal...said most women everywhere. I've always been a shoe lady and most likely will always follow suit on this passion. I've done the leg work on all kinds and types, have the blisters and scars, and lack of closet space to prove it.
In no particular order of preference, I have experienced the love and joy of the following types of shoe: wedges, espadrilles, stiletto, high rise boots, bootie boots, ballets, peep toe, gladiator, oh my! And of course there was that unfortunate phase of kitten heeled. Le, sigh. We've all got demons.
What I've learned in my years of connoisseurship for feet accessories, is that the quote in the above picture is beyond correct. Whenever I need to hustle in the utmost of style, I've got my go to foot ditties. When the time comes to hustle in style yet comfort, I know. When the time calls for who cares how I feel, how do I look??...I'm on it. But for every instance we can imagine, the truth is in the footwear. With the right pair of shoes, I can in fact conquer any world I am living in. It's just, like, science.


Reinforce @ Mari | REEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
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Dog license deadline extended
Special to the Gazette
CHILLICOTHE - Ross County Auditor Tom Spetnagel, Jr., has announced that the deadline for purchasing dog licenses without a penalty has been extended until Feb. 15.
Cost for a license is $10 per animal or $50 for a kennel license. Ohio law requires that after the deadline, a $10 penalty per animal or $50 penalty per kennel license must be assessed.
There are several locations where licenses may be purchased besides the auditor's office. They include the Humane Society offices on Lick Run Road, Central Center Hardware, Northfork Animal Clinic on Anderson Station Road, Paint Valley Hardware & Supply in Bainbridge, Save A Lot on Western Avenue, Corner Market on Charleston Pike, Town & Country Animal Clinic on East Main Street, the Animal Care Clinic on Western Avenue, Bridge Street Valero, the Western Avenue Valero, Pettit's No. 4 in Clarksburg, Kingston Valero, Edwards Hardware & Supply in Kingston, Huntsmen Market on Blain Highway, Railway Express in Pleasant Valley, Garman Feed & Supply in South Salem, Scioto Farm Supply Inc. on Seney Road, Frankfort Hardware, Elliott Feed & Supply in Bainbridge, Bourneville Valero, Riverside Valero on North Bridge Street and Southeastern Valero on U.S. 50.
An additional 75 cents per tag registrar's fee will be charged for tags purchased at those locations.
Licenses also can be obtained by sending a description of the dog, including age, sex, color and breed, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to County Auditor Tom Spetnagel, Jr., Ross County Courthouse, 2 N. Paint St., Suite G, Chillicothe, OH 45601. Applications may be downloaded from the auditor's website at www.co.ross.oh.us/auditor. Dog tags may be purchased with a credit card through an online service linked to the auditor's website for an additional $2 per tag transaction fee.


This is a multi-purpose, make-ahead staple that's perfect year-round since it can be served hot or cold! I make large batches of caponata because it can be used so many different ways. I've tried numerous recipes over the years, and the one below contains elements from the different recipes that make it my favorite. Pictured are wanton shells filled with chilled caponata and topped with herbed goat cheese. Other ideas for cold/room temperature dishes: spread on top of crostini (sprinkle crumbled feta on top), as a sandwich spread, in a wrap, and as a dip. Ideas for hot dishes: use it as a chunky pasta sauce (topped with Parmesan of course!), place a spoonful on top of small squares of puff pastry and then bake, serve hot over quinoa/cous cous. In fall, when tomatoes are not very good, I replace them with butternut squash and it's amazing!
1. Heat the olive oil, garlic, onion, and crushed red pepper in a large pot over medium-high heat until the garlic just starts turns light brown (3-5 minutes).
2. Stir in the tomato paste. Then, add the eggplant, bell peppers, tomato, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes until the eggplant is tender.
3. Add the balsamic vinegar, sherry vinegar, raisins, capers, and olives. Cook for ~5 minutes, until the vinegar thickens.
4. Remove from the heat. Add salt and pepper as needed. Mix in the cilantro and pine nuts.
5. Serve warm, or chill in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
1. Place the olive oil, garlic, onion, and crushed red pepper in the instant pot bowl. Use the saute function to cook these for 3-5 minutes, until the garlic turns light brown. Turn off the saute function.
2. Mix in the tomato paste, eggplant, bell peppers, tomato, and salt. Turn on the slow cooker function, cover, and let it cook for 1 hour.
3. After an hour, add the balsamic vinegar, sherry vinegar, raisins, capers, and olives. Turn on the slow cooker again and cook for 1.5 hours, uncovered.
4. After 2.5 hours total in the slow cooker, the caponata should be a thick, chunky dish. If it still very liquidy, you can use the saute function to burn off the excess liquid. Turn off the Instant Pot and mix in the cilantro and pine nuts. Adjust the salt and pepper as needed.


If you are looking to create an elegant and relaxing outdoor space then you should consider decorating with inspirations from Morocco. Due to its location, Moroccan décor has been influenced by many countries including France, Spain, Persia, Africa, and Portugal. Moroccan style includes vibrant colors, mosaic patterns, lamp and pendant lighting, and wood accents. Below are some ways to create a Moroccan inspired outdoor space that can be enjoyed by both your family and anyone who comes to visit.
Want or need a nice relaxing space to unwind after a long day, then create your own Moroccan Oasis Retreat. An oasis retreat can be created by utilizing comfortable lounges, side tables, Moroccan style rugs, and Moroccan lanterns that double as great looking accent pieces as well as functioning lanterns so you can enjoy your oasis day or night. This simple yet elegant outdoor space will provide hours of relaxation and entertaining for friends and family.
Moroccan inspired firepits are a great way to create an inviting outdoor space that is not only comfortable but is aesthetically pleasing as well. By adorning the floor space and/or firepit in colorful Moroccan tiles and adding furniture that will fit perfectly around the round shaped fire pit you can create a great entertaining space where friends and family can talk for hours all year round. Add foliage and lighting and you can create a stunning outdoor space that will make the neighbors envious.
If you live in an apartment or house that only has a small porch and no backyard, you can still create a Moroccan inspired outdoor space in even the smallest of areas. Simply place comfortable furniture that fits the space and use colorful pillows, Moroccan style rugs, curtains, and lamps to create a relaxing and enjoyable space no matter what the dimensions. You can paint the walls white to not only make the space look larger, but it will complement the bright fabrics to create a visually appealing room.
Want to create a great outdoor space with Moroccan influences, then simply bring the indoors out. You can create a stunning outdoor room that is inspired by Moroccan architecture by creating an outdoor porch with an arched entry and stucco walls that offset the brightly colored tile floor. Add great furniture, accents, artwork, or any other Moroccan inspired accessories you choose to create an outdoor space that is as comfortable as the spaces indoors. The space you create will be a perfect place to seek some solitude and relax or as a great way to entertain guests, either way, you are sure to create a stunning room that will have people talking.
Do you have an open porch and don't know how to create a great space for relaxing, then try utilizing Moroccan influences to create a stunning covered porch. You can hand a large Moroccan lantern in the middle of the ceiling to create a stunning and unique focal point for the room, add a comfortable day bed, white sheer curtains to create a Mediterranean feel. Compliment with colorful accent pillows and rugs and you can create the covered porch of your dreams.
Do you want to create a Moroccan inspired outdoor space, but prefer a less cluttered minimalist space without large pieces of furniture? No problem! You can create the space of your dreams with some simple and practical items. Start with some Moroccan style rugs, add colorful and geometric pillows, a nice side table, and hang some lights so you can enjoy your space regardless of the time of day. This simple outdoor space will allow you to not only change the configuration at will but since there are no large pieces you can move or store the items in case you need to use your outdoor space for other reasons.
A great way to create a relaxing and interesting outdoor space is to create a Moroccan inspired outdoor water feature. One of the most soothing and relaxing sounds in nature is that of running water so as to create a calming and aesthetically pleasing outdoor space add a water feature. You can choose from a fountain, pond, pool or whatever your imagination can create, simply adorn the water feature in colorful mosaic tile and add luxurious green foliage along with bright flowers, lighting and comfortable furniture and you can create a relaxing space where you can go and clear your head as well as create a visually stunning outdoor space to entertain friends and family.
Because of its location in the Mediterranean, Moroccan style has been influenced by many cultures from both Europe and Africa. The cornerstone of Moroccan style is color, from rugs to tiles, pillows to walls, Moroccan style is inspired by deep colors especially blue, green and gold. Moroccan floors are often made from beautifully colored tiles that not only look great but also help to keep the space cool. Moroccan style is also known for its use of exotic and bright colored fabrics that you can use to accent your space with pillows, rugs, and curtains. To help give your space that Mediterranean feel, make sure you use large colorful baskets and pots to place you exotic plants in. Be sure to add great accents like lanterns, artwork, as well as candles and incense to complete your Moroccan influenced outdoor space.


The Concert 4 the Cure, featuring Jeffrey Steele, took place on Saturday, September 9th at 5:00 PM on the Great Lawn at the Westhaven Residents Club, and once again DCR Nashville stepped in to support our neighbors and a great cause. Proceeds from both the Family Fun Run and the Concert 4 the Cure will fund discovery grants at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Discovery grants provide seed funding for cancer researchers to pursue bold ideas in the lab that can lead to breakthrough discoveries in the fight against cancer. Findings from preliminary research supported by these grants are essential to obtain funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and other federal agencies that grant millions every year to support cancer research.
Concert 4 the Cure is an event that is very important to DCR Nashville because of the charity it supports. Understanding the importance of raising as much money as possible for Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, DCR Nashville donated all of the lighting, sound and crew for this great event for the 9th year in a row.
DCR Nashville again deployed our small but mighty (12) box Meyer Mina Powered Array with (4) HP700 subs, (4) Meyer Mina Powered FF and Out-fill boxes and (8) mixes of Meyer MJF212's. For audio control DCR Nashville deployed (1) Midas Pro2 for FOH and (1) Avid Profile for monitors. The lighting rig consisted of (24) Martin Mac 301's, (8) Quantum Profiles and (16) Elation Color Chours 24's. DCR Nashville would also like to include mention to it's team of engineers and technicians who helped make this event a success. Without their generous donations of time and skills, DCR Nashville could not have accomplished what we have for a great cause. The DCR team included: Account Manager: Shane Hamill, Systems Engineer and FOH: John Schirmer, Monitor Engineer: Trevor McIntosh, A2: David Bayles, Lighting Design and LD: Drew Lombana, L2: Jordan McKinney and overall utility guy: our very own warehouse manager Calvin James.
DCR Nashville is extremely grateful to once again provide support for great people and a great cause. We look forward to coming back again next year for our 10th anniversary in providing support for Concert 4 the Cure.


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Extra Security On Hand At Mahwah Schools After Alleged Threat
Filed Under:Janelle Burrell, Local TV, Mahwah
MAHWAH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Extra police are on hand Friday at schools in Mahwah after an alleged threat was made against a school months ago.
Armed police officers and a police dog were seen standing guard outside Ramapo Ridge Middle School Friday in attempt to reassure the community, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
But Mahwah resident David Rosenstein says there needs to be a more permanent fix to keep schools safe.
"They're not gonna be there forever," he said. "They gotta come up with a better solution."
School officials say an eighth grader was accused of making a threat against the school back in October, allegedly specifying Friday's date. The alleged threat was later found to be unconfirmed and unsubstantiated, officials said earlier this week.
"I want you to know that I am sure our police department has done absolutely everything to assure the safety of our children," Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet said Tuesday.
After last week's deadly shooting in Parkland, Florida, keeping students safe in school has become an even more critical conversation.
President Donald Trump has discussed the idea of arming some trained school staff members and teachers with guns.
"I think we need hardened sites," he said Thursday. "We need to let people know you come into our schools, you're gonna be dead and it's gonna be fast."
On Friday, NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill rejected the proposal.
"It's not a good idea,"he said. "The teachers have to teach. We are in law enforcement. We are here to protect people and to keep people safe."
But it's already happening in other parts of the country. In Colorado, about 100 specially trained staff members volunteer to carry firearms. Science teacher Karl Donnelson says he keeps one concealed in his cowboy boot.
"We can't afford security guards and if teachers are willing go through the training, I think they should have the opportunity to protect them," he said.
Thursday night in Newark, parents, teachers and administrators came together to discuss options.
"We send them every morning to learn and be educated, not to face all this danger that's going on," said parent Ada Cintron."Guns are not the answer," said principal Patricia Gois.
"At any given moment a teacher could have a bad day," said parent Lisette Tapia.
"It's hard to have a child walk into a school where they see guns," said parent Ariagna Perello.
Officials said the student allegedly behind the threat in Mahwah had other issues and has been suspended for at least the remainder of the school year.


Which competences do you need to reconcile cultural differences.
What are commonly used vendors for international assignments, what selection criteria are being used, what are practice challenges in vendor management.
Key traps and challenges in practice, non-compliance risks and consequences.
The moving and relocation process.
The tuition fee includes 12 months access to a personal online learning environment containing handbooks, video lessons, e-learning tests, memo training, communities, libraries, and amounts to € 1,200 per participant.
VAT will be applied where appropriate.
The content of this online training as well as the look and feel of the learning environment can be customized according to the needs and wishes of the employer in question.


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'Hostages' Series Premiere Review
by Jason Tabrys
in TV Reviews, TV News
The cast (Toni Collette, Dylan McDermott) is intriguing and the concept hooks you: a doctor, wife, and mother who is about to perform surgery on the President of the United States is forced to choose between ending his life or risking the lives of those that she loves, as her family is being held captive by a band of well trained killers.
Hostages - CBS' new foray into serialized drama from Traitor writer/director Jeffrey Nachmanoff and Alon Aranya - wasn't going to have a problem getting attention, they just have to worry about keeping it for 15 episodes.
The show pits seemingly crooked FBI agent Duncan Carlisle (McDermott) and his team against Dr. Ellen Sanders (Collette), her husband (Tate Donovan), and their two teenagers (Mateus Ward and Quinn Shephard) in their suburban Mc-fortress.
Hostages takes the slow burn approach, slogging through almost half of the debut episode to introduce us to every main character before addressing the show's central conflict: Carlisle's plan to turn Dr. Sanders' family into bargaining chips and her into an assassin.
We don't really learn much about these characters, though, and that robs us of our chance to truly care about their predicament. There's also the fact that nearly every character is embedded with a deep dark secret, creating further distance between the viewer and the characters due to the absurdity of just how many problems this well-to-do family has. Honestly, this could have been called Keeping up with the Calamities and no one would have blanched.
Not only is Ellen's husband Brian cheating on her (and willing to do almost anything to keep that secret), but her teenage daughter is pregnant, and her son is a junior dope dealer who owes more than a grand to a guy named Nico. Barkley, the family dog, is knocked out through much of the episode, but at this point, it would seem that he probably has something to hide as well.
We're also shown three sides to McDermott's agent Carlisle - a brash and tropey FBI agent who gets results despite his recklessness (he identifies and plugs a bank robber because his boots didn't match his suit - honestly, that feels like a scene taken right out of Sledge Hammer!), the sensitive husband and father who is sitting beside his comatose wife's hospital bed, and the ruthless kidnapper and traitor. McDermott delivers a tour de force with that much variety in front of him - but really, it feels like he is coasting at times. Still, the effort to flesh out and add complexity to McDermott's character - a character that could have easily been one note - is appreciated.
Collette is seemingly always on her game, but you never feel as though the former United States of Tara actress' character is really afraid of her captors or concerned about what she is being asked to do. Not enough, at least. In the end, she tries to take back some sense of control with a risky play for the sake of a family that she apparently barely knows, but it is through agent Carlisle that we see a bridge to carry this show forward, as events take place that have us wondering if he is no more than a supremely effective pawn in a much, much, bigger conspiracy.
Will viewers get a chance to see this story unfold and get answers? One can never tell with serialized freshman dramas, but CBS gave Hostages a prime spot on the schedule (though, it is unfortunately up against the James Spader-ific serialized drama The Blacklist), so one assumes that Nachmanoff will get a bit of time to build his audience and tell his story.
With that said, Hostages was presented as a political thriller. Here's hoping that they get back to that and sidestep some of the trite family drama.
Hostages airs on Mondays @10 PM on CBS
Tags: hostages
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I recently purchased a beautiful, vintage Green Goddess–the 1960 Olympia SM4 portable typewriter in this very picture. Demeter needs a small amount of restoration and repairs, which I think I can handle. I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm a little obsessed, am on *every* typewriter message board and blog, and am performing the surgical procedures a little at a time. The chrome clasps on her adorable travel case have some rust, and I'm tackling that too. Guys, I'm psyched about her new ribbon: black on top and purple on the bottom. Her 1960 ribbon had no words.
Kids. They are the greatest: At keeping you exhausted. Trying your patience. Implying your presence is desired and despised in a five-minute span. Hugging as though the soft warmth is a future lifeline. Absorbing all the yeses and letting the noes slide off like temper tantrums. That's the Great Beauty of spending time with young kids. You remember hope, relearn the confident ask, raise your expectations because no won't kill you, and you're confident you can win the yes. The world hasn't broken them yet, and if you can carry that fragile memory from your nieces in NJ, home to ME, you can cheerful your way through the months until you hug them again.
I ordered pink kicks by Vionic, with orthotic soles or insoles or something podiatrist-approved. The size was not-good, so I ordered a different size and shall return the first pair. Said podiatrist injected numbing solution into both sides of each ankle to release presumed nerve impingement. Ouch. Pain decreased from walking on hot coals and nails, to walking on dull tacks with gentle-ish vice grips. Take that, toe arthritis. And heel bone spurs. And plantar fasciitis.
Putting a pin in my love for Neil Gaiman's many Great Works. Will resume on the morrow. I mentioned the exhaustion, right?
I planted my flag in the rich and fertile lands of domain ownership (rentership?) yesterday. Do I own this domain, even though I must pay a yearly fee? As a former IT person I feel like I should know the answer.
Regardless, this hectare is mine, all mine. Wipe the mud off your feet and close the door; we don't live in a barn.
Mansplaining for bears: Less fun than manscaping. While reading a Berenstain Bears book to my niece, G, today, I was blindsided by misogyny. Mama Bear attempted to explain Thanksgiving to the cubs, but Papa Bear interrupted Mama Bear and mansplained all over her monologue. Page images below.
I'm sick, and loopy on cold meds. That's my only real excuse.
After a strange conversation with friends about what exactly we're really celebrating.
We had no bad times.
Written for my friend, Adam, when we were both feeling melancholy.
I see you, sort of.
no air stirs your hair.
feathers? Where did your fangs go?
Would you like some steak?
holes. In your mom's neck.


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Motion Computing LE1700 Tablet PC…Near Perfection.
I've always been intriuged by Tablet PCs, particularly the slate (not convertible) type, but since they have never caught on, I've been a little skeptical. Well, with my birthday coming up, I decided to treat myself and take a chance. I could only find one slate PC with decent reviews and that was the Motion Computing LE1700.
A PC World review indicated the Core 2 Duo model got very hot and recommended the Core Solo version. With Vista getting such horrid reviews, my initial instinct was to get XP; however, Vista's Tablet PC features were supposed to be superior to XP, so in the end I got the model with a 1.2GHz Core Sole, 1GB RAM, Vista Business…and crossed my fingers.
I thought I would blog some of my thoughts since I found the various reviews kind of lacking in the actual usability department. I found my questions on how the darn thing works in the real world unanswered. Hopefully, I can answer some of your questions.
After four days with the device I can uncategorically say, "I love it!" It is everything and more that I thought it would be. The build quality is superb. Solid. The are some videos on YouTube of people dropping this unit several feet (apparently) without problem. Also, the Core Solo CPU gets a little hot, but not unbearably so. It also seems powerful enough to do everyday tasks.
It has a large and bright 1400 x 1050 display that is very easy on the eyes. Most of the time I use it in portrait orientation which is great for web surfing. I do much less scrolling compared to my widescreen laptop with it's 1280 x 800 resolution screen. It does seem to have an issue with remembering the orientation when booting or returning from standby, but since there is a hard button to change it, it's not a real big deal. The recent software update was supposed to fix this, but I haven't seen it work yet. There is an auto-orientation feature, but that just seems to cause me more confusion that it's worth.
Generally, the bulk of my computer use is web surfing, checking email, and reading RSS feeds. The LE1700 is a dream for these tasks. I've even done some light web development, but you really need a keyboard for heavy input chores, like writing this post. Of course, you can add a keyboard, I'm thinking a Bluetooth one would be perfect. Motion Computing offers a nice keyboard that docks the slate in it and another USB version that has a built-in touchpad. Since my regular laptop works fine and isn't worth that much on eBay, I figured I'll just hang onto it for those situations where I need to use a keyboard and mouse. You can never have too many computers.
I am basically floored at how accurate the handwriting recognition is. I can often barely read what I wrote and it seems to guess the correct words. I think that's the trick they use. Instead of trying to figure out each individual character, it guesses the word. In addition to just scribbling out a word or sentence, you can input character by character. This is a good mode for entering usernames and passwords that might mix letters and numbers. There is also a full floating virtual keyboard.
The writing surface is nice and hard. It feels quite natural to move the pen tip over it. You can move the cursor around without actually touching the screen which takes some getting used to. By default, the pen's cursor (a small) dot indicates the the position on the screen, but I turned that option off and just use the normal mouse cursor.
The limitation of pen input is quickly found when you need to use the Ctrl or Shift key with mousing, like selecting a range or multiple items. You must press the key on the virtual keyboard, which stays on, and then do the mousing chores. A minor nuisance. I suppose you could reprogram one of the hard buttons, if you really wanted to.
With USB keyboard, Flex dock and DVD+-RW drive.
great with a headset. I need to try that.
You can get a Sprint wireless broadband card, but I did not get this option.
I get about 2 hours on the standard battery. You can get a super slim snap-on extended battery which supposedly will add another 3 hours. Since I'm usually near an outlet, I'm passing on this for now since it will add more weight.
If you use Firefox, get the Grab and Drag add-in. This allows you to grab the page and scroll rather reaching for the scroll bar.
Go to the Motion Computing downloads section and update all of the software and drivers that need it.
Get an extra pen. Since the device doesn't support touch, you'll be dead without one. I'll probably remove the tether string once I get my spares.


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Are Large Portions to Blame for Obesity?
It turns out there is very little evidence linking bigger portion sizes to increasing waistlines.
Kate Wheeling
(Photo: George Redgrave/Flickr)
Have you ever mindlessly eaten an entire family-size bag of chips, or a jumbo bucket of popcorn at the movies, just because, you know, it was there? Well, science has a name for that. It's called the portion size effect. It's a simple concept: The more food people are served, the more they tend to eat. It is perhaps unsurprising that the massive portion sizes characteristic of modern society have been blamed for the obesity epidemic. To be fair, it's a cognitively satisfying theory; larger portions mean we eat more calories, an excess of which leads to weight gain. But according to the authors of a new study published in Physiology & Behavior, there is actually little evidence larger portions are responsible for our larger waistlines.
Here's the researchers' reasoning: In order to even be considered as a possible cause of the obesity epidemic, the factor in question—portion size—has to meet two requirements:
1. The timelines for increasing portion sizes and increasing human sizes must overlap.
2. There must be empirical evidence that larger portions increase weight.
As it turns out, there's plenty of evidence for the former—the 1950's "king-sized" 12-ounce Coke, for example, is today just a kid-sized drink, and even portions of homemade foods have been climbing as obesity rates began to soar in the late 20th century. But there is surprisingly little evidence for the latter.
Most of the research that's been carried out on the portion size effect only follows its effect on intake over the course of a single meal. The question remains whether or not people will continually eat more when presented with larger portions, or if they will compensate for past excesses by eating less in the future. Another pitfall: Many studies on the effect are conducted in environments where it's difficult to set food aside for later. "It is at least conceivable that larger portions at home could simply mean more leftovers," the authors write.
Future studies that examine the effect of portion size on intake and weight over longer time periods might yet find stronger evidence for a causative link, the authors concede. But they present at least one other reason to be skeptical such a link exists: The obesity epidemic has not struck the population evenly. Mean weight has increased faster than median weight, which means the heavier end of the spectrum has become much heavier, while the lighter end has barely budged. What data we have on the portion size effect so far indicates that it does not discriminate; people of all shapes and sizes fall victim to the psychological trap, so larger portion sizes alone can't explain the pattern of obesity we see today.
The focus on portion size, the authors argue, blinds us from targeting other potential culprits of obesity, such as the increase in meal frequency—another well-documented trend.
Quick Studies is an award-winning series that sheds light on new research and discoveries that change the way we look at the world.
ObesityPortion Size EffectFood
Kate Wheeling is a staff writer at Pacific Standard, where she specializes in criminal justice and the environment.
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Study: Depictions of Portion Sizes in the Last Supper Increase
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Of Obesity, Sweets and Numb Tongues
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Home » Global News » Green architecture: how low can a low-carbon building go?
Green architecture: how low can a low-carbon building go?
When is a green building a green building? Does it need to bristle with wind turbines and photovoltaic tiles, and sprout Sedum plants from every available plane? In a world packed with "greenwash", outlandish claims and confusing information, there are two very different approaches to assessing the criteria of what constitutes a low-carbon building.The BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) system has been in place since 1990, and is used in more than 60 countries. The assessment rates buildings from "pass" to "excellent", based on criteria including the use of renewable technology, super-efficient insulation and passive design features.
The method can be applied to new builds, and to measures that reduce the ecological footprint of existing buildings. There is also a category that encompasses entire communities in an attempt to encourage a more sustainable approach to planning new, multi-property developments. BREEAM covers landscape considerations as well as the fabric of the building, and also – controversially – allows carbon offsetting.


12775 scores the same as the Rock Hill, NY average of 72.
12775 scores higher than the New York average of 71.
12775 scores the same as the national average of 72.
There are 3 senior living facilities in the area, including John Crawford Senior Citizen Housing, Country Gardens Apartments, and Catskill Regional Medical Center S N F.
There are 36 golf courses nearby, including The Challenger Course at Concord Resort & Golf Club, Forestburgh Country Club, and Pines Hotel & Golf Club, The.
There are 5 parks nearby, including Holiday Mountain Ski Area, Hilltop Farm Campsites, and Camp Kaylie.
There are 3 churches nearby, including First Baptist Church, United Methodist Churchof Mont, and Catholic Charities Family.
The area has an average household income of $83,149, which is in the top 17% of all incomes in the US.
The area has a median household income of $75,595, which is in the top 12% of all incomes in the US.
The area has a per capita income of $30,328, which is in the top 22% of all per capita incomes in the US.
The unemployment rate is about 0.66%, which is very low compared to national statistics.
12775 has a sparse population density of 219.1 people per square mile.
This area has a very high education attainment of 94.71%.


After a series of outages and with the prognosis not looking good, things needed to change! We knew we had to break bad and follow the paths not travelled before to take us into new ways of thinking.
Fulfilling our motto "Fighting downtime whilst focusing on data" required introducing new technology. However, introducing new technologies in large organizations is always challenging, even more so when it is a distributed platform in a financial institution. There are just so many details that require attention and it is especially challenging when many DevOps squads need them.
Our goal was to alleviate these teams as much as possible of such challenges by providing KaaS – Keyspace as a Service based on Cassandra distributed datastore. For us this meant the total package: from training to learning, from experimentation to production, from unpredictable to predictable.
In this talk, we will share our journey on how we created this developer's journey to enable them to deliver their customer journeys. We will also talk about how we used existing products and tools within the organization to solve some of the challenges quickly and effectively. And how we designed the feedback loop between us and the many DevOps squads that use our platform.
This lecture is made possible by Datastax.