text:
\section{Introduction}

The traditional theory of noise induced transport deals with a
Langevin equation describing the motion of a model Brownian
particle in an external periodic potential, spatially symmetric or
asymmetric. \cite{ratchet,rmp,rev1,rev2,rev3} The nature of
asymmetry of the external force field, in which the Brownian
particle is moving, is crucial in generating biased directed
motion. While moving in a symmetric potential, the Brownian
particle is unable to generate motion in a preferred direction due
to the detailed balance principle which can be broken easily by
applying an external time dependent perturbation, either
deterministic or random. The correlation time of the external
perturbation needs to be greater than the correlation time of the
fluctuations which the system experiences from its immediate
surroundings, the heat bath. A general approach in this direction
involves the application of a time periodic deterministic field or
the application of a colored noise to the system of interest
\cite{ratchet,rev1,rev2}. Adopting a different approach, one can
create directed motion by putting the Brownian particle in a
biased asymmetric periodic potential from the very beginning. The
spatial bias in the potential is able to overcome the detailed
balance principle and hence can generate motion in a preferred
direction. \cite{rmp,rev1,rev2}

The theory of directed motion has gained wide interdisciplinary
attention to model the phenomena of noise induced transport, where
the interplay of fluctuations and non-linearity of the system
plays an important role. \cite{ratchet,rmp,rev1,rev2,rev3}
Exploitation of the nonequilibrium fluctuations present in the
medium helps to generate directed motion of the Brownian particle.
Presence of spatial anisotropy in the potential together with
nonequilibrium perturbation enables one to extract useful work
from random fluctuations without violating the second law of
thermodynamics. \cite{ratchet,rev1} This leads to its wide
applicability in explaining the mechanism of molecular motors,
\cite{rmp,rev1,howard} tunneling in a Josephson junction,
\cite{rev1} rotation of dipoles in a constant field, \cite{rev1}
phase locked loop, \cite{rev1} directed transport in photovoltaic
and photoreflective materials \cite{photo} and the efficiency of
tiny molecular machine in a highly stochastic environment.
\cite{rev2,rev3,tiny} Motor proteins like kinesins,dyenins and
myosins are versatile biomolecular shuttle cargo encapsulated in
vesicles and are present in the different parts of the cell. In
living cells, transport occurs via the cytoskeletal filaments and
motor proteins. \cite{howard,cell} Motor proteins are also
important ingredients of the mechanism of muscle contraction and
cell division. \cite{cell} The search for physical principles that
enable such tiny molecular machines to function efficiently in a
highly Brownian regime and construction of artificial molecular
rotors which produce controlled directional motion mimicking
molecular motor proteins \cite{motor} are the subject of ongoing
interest.

During the last two decades, several theoretical models have been
proposed using the idea of a Brownian particle moving in a ratchet
potential \cite{ratchet,rev1,rev2,rmp} to explain the transport
mechanism under various nonequilibrium situations. The ratchet
model and its many variants like rocking ratchet, \cite{ratchet}
diffusion ratchet, \cite{ref14} correlation ratchet, \cite{ref15}
flashing ratchet, \cite{ref16} etc., have found wide attention in
recent days. \cite{rev1} To get a unidirectional current, either
spatially asymmetric periodic potentials or time asymmetric
external forces are necessary in these models. In explaining the
above mentioned directional transport phenomena, most of the
theoretical approaches adopt phenomenological models. The first
self consistent microscopic attempt was made by Millonas
\cite{millonas} in the context of construction of a Maxwell's
demon like information engine that extracts work from a heat bath.
In this microscopic construction, the Hamiltonian for the whole
system includes a subsystem, a thermal bath and a nonequilibrium
bath that represents an information source or sink.
\cite{millonas}

In this article, we consider a simple variant of the system
reservoir hamiltonian \cite{millonas} to model the directional
transport processes where the associated bath is in a
nonequilibrium state. The model incorporates some of the features
of Langevin dynamics with a fluctuating barrier \cite{ref18} and
the kinetics due to space dependent friction along with the
presence of local hot spots. \cite{landauer,porto,jrc} Since the
theories of transport processes traditionally deal with stationary
bath, the nonstationary transport processes have remained largely
overlooked so far. We specifically address this issue and examine
the influence of initial excitation and subsequent relaxation of
bath modes \cite{millonas,jrc1,jrc2,rig,popov,bolivar} on the
transport of system particle. We show that relaxation of the
nonequilibrium bath modes may result in strong non-exponential
kinetics and nonstationary current. The physical situation that
has been addressed is that at $t=0_-$, the time just before the
system and the bath are subjected to an external excitation, the
system is appropriately thermalized. At $t=0$, the excitation is
switched on and the bath is thrown into a nonstationary state
which behaves as a nonequilibrium reservoir. We follow the
stochastic dynamics of the system mode after $t>0$. The separation
of the time scales of the fluctuations of the nonequilibrium bath
and the thermal bath to which it relaxes, is such that the former
effectively remains stationary on the fast correlation of the
thermal noise. \cite{jrc1}

The organization of the paper is as follows: We discuss in Sec.II
a microscopic model necessary to compute the transient transport
process where the system in question is not initially thermalized
and the associated bath is thrown into a nonequilibrium and
nonstationary situation by sudden initial excitation of some of
the bath modes. Appropriate elimination of the reservoir degrees
of freedom leads to a non-Markovian Langevin equation,
stochasticity being contributed by both additive thermal noise and
the multiplicative noise due to relaxing nonequilibrium modes. In
Sec.III, following the prescription of Ref.\onlinecite{sancho},
the Fokker-Planck description is provided in position space which
is valid for state dependent dissipation. We then derive the time
dependent solution of the associated Smoluchowski equation for
probability density function. As an application of our
development, in Sec.IV, we consider the motion of a Langevin
particle in a periodic ratchet potential and obtain the stationary
and time dependent average velocity of the Langevin particle and
show that for symmetric periodic potential, the direction of
average velocity depends on the initial excitation of intermediate
bath modes. Summarizing remarks are presented in Sec.V.

\section{The background and the model}

To make the paper self contained, we first discuss the essential
features of the traditional theory of system reservoir dynamics in
this section and then describe the model we adopt in the present
work. This shows how our model deviates from the usual system
reservoir theory and brings up the new features of our model.

\subsection{The traditional system reservoir model}

In the traditional system reservoir model, \cite{micro,open,ref2}
the reservoir is assumed to be in equilibrium at $t=0$ in the
presence of the system, and the appropriate distribution of the
initial state of the heat bath is governed by the Hamiltonian
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq1}
H_B + H_{SB}  = \sum_{\nu} \left [ \frac{p^2_{\nu} }{2m_{\nu}} +
\frac{m_{\nu} \omega_{\nu}^2}{2} \left ( q_{\nu} - \frac{g_{\nu}
x}{m_{\nu} \omega_{\nu}^2} \right )^2 \right ],
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent which includes the static interaction part, $H_{SB}$,
between the system and the reservoir. The total Hamiltonian of the
system plus bath is then usually written as
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq2}
H = \frac{p^2}{2} + V(x) + H_B + H_{SB}.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent In Eqs.(\ref{eq1}-\ref{eq2}), the system (mass weighted)
is described by the coordinate $x$ and the conjugate momentum $p$,
and the heat bath, composed of a set of linear harmonic
oscillators, by the coordinate $q_{\nu}$ and the conjugate momenta
$p_{\nu}$, $\nu = 1,2 \cdots N $. $m_{\nu}$ is the mass of the
$\nu$-th oscillator and $\omega_{\nu}$, the corresponding
frequency. The system bath interaction is generally taken to be
linear in both the system and the bath coordinates through the
coupling constant $g_{\nu}$. $V(x)$ represents the external force
field in which the Brownian particle is executing random motion.
The bath is assumed to be in thermal equilibrium at temperature
$T$ and the initial distribution is considered to be a canonical
one \cite{micro,open,ref2}
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq3}
W[{\bf q(0),p(0)}] = \frac{1}{Z} \exp \left (
-\frac{H_B+H_{SB}}{k_BT} \right ),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where, $Z$ is the normalization constant and $k_B$ is
the Boltzmann constant. To derive the dynamical equations for the
system in terms of $x$ and $p$, one usually eliminates the bath
degrees of freedom from the equations of motion of the system
variable \cite{micro} and obtains,
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq4}
\dot{x} &=& p, \nonumber \\
\dot{p} &=& - V^{'}(x) - \int_0^t d\tau \gamma (t-\tau)p(\tau) + \xi (t),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $\gamma(t)$ is the memory kernel
\begin{eqnarray*}
\gamma(t) =  \sum_{\nu} \frac{g_{\nu}^2} {m_{\nu} \omega_{\nu}^2 }
\cos\omega_{\nu}t,
\end{eqnarray*}

\noindent and $\xi(t)$, the forcing function
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq55}
\xi(t) = \sum_{\nu} g_{\nu} \left [ \left \{ q_{\nu}(0) -
\frac{g_{\nu}}{m_{\nu} \omega_{\nu}^2} x(0) \right \}
\cos \omega_{\nu} t + \frac{p_{\nu}(0)} {m_{\nu} \omega_{\nu}} \sin
\omega_{\nu} t \right ].
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Having chosen a distribution for the initial state of the
bath, given by Eq.(\ref{eq3}), the fluctuating force $\xi(t)$ becomes
zero centered, and the correlation function of $\xi(t)$ gives the
celebrated fluctuation dissipation relation (FDR) \cite{micro,
open,ref2}
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq5}
\langle \xi(t) \xi(t^{'})\rangle = k_B T \gamma(t-t').
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent To complete the identification of Eq.(\ref{eq4}) as a
generalized Langevin equation, one must establish the conditions
on the coupling coefficients $g_{\nu}$, on the bath frequency
$\omega_{\nu}$ and on the number $N$ of the bath oscillators which
ensure that $\gamma(t)$ is indeed dissipative. Sufficient
conditions for $\gamma(t)$ to be dissipative are that it is
positive definite and decreases monotonically with time. Both the
conditions are achieved if $N \rightarrow\infty$ and if
$g_\nu/m_\nu \omega_\nu^2$ and $\omega_{\nu}$ are sufficiently
smooth functions of $\nu$. \cite{ref3} As $N \rightarrow\infty$,
one replaces the sum by an integral over $\omega$ weighted by a
density of states $D(\omega)$ to get
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq6}
\gamma(t) = \int d\omega  D(\omega) c(\omega) \cos(\omega t),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent with  $(g_\nu/m_\nu \omega_\nu^2) \rightarrow c(\omega)$.
For
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq7}
D(\omega) c(\omega) = \frac{\gamma/\tau_c}{1+ \tau_c^2 \omega^2},
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent which can be achieved by a variety of combinations of
the density of states $D(\omega)$ and the coupling function
$c(\omega)$, and which broadly resembles the behavior of
hydrodynamic model in a macroscopic system, \cite{open} the
dissipation kernel $\gamma(t)$ becomes
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq8}
\gamma(t) = \frac{\gamma}{\tau_c} \exp (-|t|/\tau_c).
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent $\tau_c$ in the above expression is the cut-off frequency
and is characterized as the correlation time of the bath. In the
limit $\tau_c \rightarrow 0$, $\gamma(t) \rightarrow 2 \gamma \delta(t)$
and one obtains the traditional Langevin equation in the Markovian domain
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq9}
\dot{x} &=& p, \nonumber \\
\dot{p} & = & -V^{'}(x) - \gamma p + \xi(t),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where, $\langle \xi(t) \rangle = 0 $ and $\langle \xi(t)
\xi(t')\rangle = 2 \gamma k_B T \delta (t-t')$. If one considers
the dynamics of the Brownian particle in a periodic potential $V(x)
= V(x+L)$, whose spatial symmetry can be broken by an external load
(force) thereby creating a biased force field, then the system's
dynamics is governed by
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq10}
\dot{x} &=& p, \nonumber \\
\dot{p} & = & -V^{'}(x) - \gamma p + \xi(t) +F,
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $F$ is the external force. The sum of the periodic
potential $V(x)$ and the potential $-Fx$ due to the external force
$F$, i.e., $U(x) = V(x) -Fx$, is a corrugated plane whose average
slope (a measurement of the bias) is determined by the external
force $F$. \cite{ref4}

Eq.(\ref{eq10}) is the standard Langevin equation of a particle
moving in an external potential under an external load force and
is Markovian in nature. In addition to that, the dissipation term
$\gamma$ is constant due to the linear system reservoir coupling
$g_\nu$ and the noise term $\xi(t)$ is Gaussian, additive in
nature reflecting the Markovian kinetics of the Brownian particle.
In the following subsection, we show how this Markovian kinetics
changes to a non-Markovian one due to the sudden excitation of the
few bath modes and splits the noise term $\xi (t)$ into two parts.

\subsection{The nonstationary system reservoir model}

We consider a Brownian particle of unit mass, described by the
coordinate $x$ and the conjugate momentum $p$, moving in a
periodic potential of periodicity $L$, i.e. $V(x+L) = V(x)$. It is
acted upon by an external force $F$, which for the present study
is assumed to be constant and time independent. The system mode is
coupled to a set of relaxing modes considered as a semi-infinite
dimensional system ($\{q_k\}$-subsystem) which effectively
constitutes a nonequilibrium bath. \cite{millonas,jrc1,popov}
These $\{q_k\}$ modes are in contact with a thermally equilibrated
reservoir. Both the reservoirs are composed of two sets of
harmonic oscillators of unit mass characterized by the frequency
sets $\{ \omega_k\}$ and $\{ \Omega_j\}$ for the nonequilibrium
and the equilibrium bath respectively. The system reservoir
combination evolves under the total Hamiltonian
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq11}
H = \frac{p^2}{2} + V(x) - Fx + \frac{1}{2} \sum_j (P_j^2 +
\Omega_j^2 Q_j^2)
+ \frac{1}{2} \sum_k (p_k^2 + \omega_k^2 q_k^2) -x\sum_k \kappa_j
Q_j - g(x) \sum_k q_k - \sum_{j,k} \alpha_{jk} q_k Q_j.
\end{eqnarray}
\noindent In Eq.(\ref{eq11}), $\kappa_j$ is the coupling constant
describing the coupling of the system with the equilibrium bath
modes and $g(x)$ is the coupling function. The term $g(x) \sum_j
q_j$ indicates the coupling of the nonequilibrium bath to the
system and the last term describes the coupling between the
nonequilibrium bath and the thermal bath with coupling constant
$\alpha_{jk}$. The equilibrium bath is assumed to be in thermal
equilibrium at a temperature $T$ and the initial distribution of
equilibrium bath variables are assumed to Gaussian. The form of
the nonequilibrium bath, that of a set of phonons or photons, is
chosen for both simplicity and because of its generic relationship
to many condensed matter type systems. \cite{ref2}

Eliminating the equilibrium bath variables $\{Q_j,P_j\}$ in the
traditional way, \cite{micro,open,ref2} one may show that the
nonequilibrium bath modes obey the dynamic equations
\begin{eqnarray} \label{eq12}
\dot{q_k} &=& p_k, \nonumber \\
\dot{p_k} &=& -\gamma p_k -\omega_k^2 q_k - g(x) + \eta_k(t).
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Eq.(\ref{eq12}) takes into account the average
dissipation $\gamma$ of the nonequilibrium reservoir modes $q_k$
due to their coupling to the thermal reservoir which induces
fluctuations $\eta_k(t)$ characterized by the usual FDR
$\langle\eta_k(t)\eta_k(0)\rangle = 2 \gamma k_B T\delta(t)$.
\cite{micro,jrc1} In general, $\langle\eta_k(t)\rangle$ being a
non-zero constant quantity which, without loss of any generality,
may be chosen as zero by shifting the origin of our coordinate
system as we are dealing with a periodic potential. In passing we
mention that in deriving Eq.(\ref{eq12}) from Eq.(\ref{eq11}), the
cross terms for $\sum_j \gamma_{kj} q_j$ have been neglected.

Proceeding similarly to eliminate the thermal reservoir variables
from the equations of motion of the system, we obtain
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq13}
\dot{x}&=& p, \nonumber \\
\dot{p} &=& -\gamma_e p - V^{'}(x) + F +\xi_e(t) + g^{'}(x) \sum_k q_k.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $\gamma_e$ refers to the dissipation coefficient
of the system mode due to its direct coupling to the thermal bath
providing fluctuations $\xi_e(t)$. The statistical properties of
$\xi_e(t)$ are $\langle \xi_e(t)\rangle = 0$ and $\langle \xi_e(t)
\xi_e(t^{'})\rangle = 2 \gamma_e k_B T \delta(t -t')$. Comparing
with Eq.(\ref{eq10}), it is easy to see that the dissipation term
$\gamma_e$ and the noise term $\xi_e (t)$ are basically $\gamma$
and $\xi(t)$, respectively, that arise due to the direct linear
system reservoir coupling. Now making use of the formal solution
of Eq.(\ref{eq12}) which takes into account the relaxation of the
nonequilibrium modes, and integrating over the nonequilibrium bath
with a Debye type frequency distribution of the form \cite{jrc1}
\begin{eqnarray}
\rho (\omega) &=& \frac {3 \omega^2}{2\omega_c^3} \text{ for }
|\omega|\leq\omega_c, \nonumber \\
&=&  0  \text{ for } |\omega|>\omega_c,
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $\omega_c$ is the high frequency Debye cut-off,
one finally obtains the following Langevin equation for the system
mode, from Eq.(\ref{eq13}) as
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq14}
\dot{x} &=& p, \nonumber \\
\dot{p} &=& - \Gamma(x) p - \widetilde{V}'(x)
+F +\xi_e(t)  +  g^{'}(x) \xi_n(t).
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent In the above Eq.(\ref{eq14})
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq15}
\Gamma(x) = \gamma_e + \gamma_n [g^{'}(x)]^2,
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent is the  state dependent dissipation constant comprising
of $\gamma_n$ and $\gamma_{e}$. $\xi_n$ refers to the fluctuations
of the nonequilibrium bath modes which effectively cause a damping
of the system mode. This damping is also state dependent due to
the nonlinear coupling function $g(x)$ as is given by $\gamma_n
[g^{'}(x)]^2$ . In Eq.(\ref{eq14}), the potential $V(x)$ in which
the particle  moves has been modified to
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq16}
\widetilde{V}(x) = V(x) - \frac{\omega_c}{\pi} \gamma_n g^2(x).
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent The fluctuations $\xi_n(t)$ due to the presence of
nonequilibrium bath is also assumed to be Gaussian with zero mean
$\langle\xi_n(t)\rangle = 0$. Also, the essential properties of
$\xi_n(t)$ explicitly depend on the nonequilibrium state of the
intermediate oscillator modes $\{q_j\}$ through $u(\omega,t)$, the
energy density distribution function at time $t$ in terms of the
following FDR for the nonequilibrium bath \cite{jrc1}
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq17}
u(\omega,t) = \frac{1}{4\gamma_n} \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} d\tau
\langle \xi_n(t) \xi_n(t+\tau)\rangle e^{i\omega\tau}
= \frac{1}{2} k_BT + e^{-\gamma t/2} \left [ u(\omega,0) - \frac{1}{2} k_BT \right].
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent $[ u(\omega,0) - (k_BT/2) ]$ is a measure of the
departure of energy density from thermal average at $t=0$. The
exponential term $\exp (-\gamma t/2)$ implies that this deviation,
due to the initial excitation, decays asymptotically to zero as
$t\rightarrow \infty$, so that one recovers the usual FDR for the
thermal bath. \cite{jrc1,popov} Eq.(\ref{eq17}) thus attributes
the nonstationary character of the $\{q_k\}$-subsystem. At this
point it is pertinent to note that the above derivation is based
on the assumption that $\xi_n(t)$ is effectively stationary on the
fast correlation time scale of the equilibrium bath modes. This is
necessary for the systematic separation of the time scales
involved in the dynamics.

Eq.(\ref{eq14}) is the required Langevin equation for the particle
moving in a modified potential $\widetilde{V}(x)$ and is acted
upon by a uniform force $F$. The motion of the particle is damped
by a state dependent friction $\Gamma(x)$. Depending on the
coupling function $g(x)$, both $\widetilde{V}(x)$ and $\Gamma(x)$
are, in general, nonlinear in nature. As a result, the stochastic
differential Eq.(\ref{eq14}) becomes nonlinear. The fluctuating
part in Eq.(\ref{eq14}) is comprised of two quantities;
$\xi_e(t)$, an additive noise due to thermal bath and $\xi_n(t)$,
a multiplicative noise due to nonlinear coupling to the
$\{q_k\}$-subsystem. The Langevin equation (\ref{eq14}) describes
a non-Markovian process as well, where the non-Markovian nature is
characterized by the decaying term in Eq.(\ref{eq17}), describing
the initial nonequilibrium nature of the $\{q_k\}$-subsystem
created by applying sudden excitation at $t=0$. \cite{jrc1,popov}

\section{Stochastic dynamics in the overdamped regime and
the time dependent distribution}

For large dissipation, i.e., in the overdamped limit one usually
eliminates the fast variable $p$ adiabatically by omitting the
inertial term $dp/dt$ from the dynamical equations of motion to
get a simpler description of the system in position space. The
approach of adiabatically eliminating fast variables is valid on a
much slower time scale and is a zero order approximation. For
constant large dissipation, this adiabatic elimination of the fast
variables leads to the correct description of the system's
dynamics. However, in presence of hydrodynamic interactions, i.e.,
when the dissipation is state dependent, the traditional adiabatic
reduction of fast variables does not work properly and gives an
incorrect description of the system's dynamics. For state
dependent dissipation, an alternative approach was proposed in
Ref.\onlinecite{sancho}. Using the method given in
Ref.\onlinecite{sancho}, and using Eq.(\ref{eq14}) one may carry
out a systematic expansion of the relevant variable in powers of
$1/\gamma_e$ by neglecting terms smaller than  $O(1/\gamma_e)$.
Then, by Stratonovich interpretation, it is possible to obtain the
appropriate Langevin equation corresponding to a Fokker-Planck
equation (FPE) in position space. Thus, following
Ref.\onlinecite{sancho}, the formal FPE for the probability
density function (PDF) $P(x,t)$ corresponding to the process
described by Eq.(\ref{eq14}) can be obtained as
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq18}
\frac{\partial P}{\partial t} & = & \frac{\partial}{\partial x}
\left \{ \frac{\widetilde{V}^{\prime}(x) - F} {\Gamma(x)}  P \right
\} + \gamma_e k_B T \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \left\{
\frac{1}{\Gamma(x)}  \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)}
P \right \}
+ \gamma_n k_B T \left( 1 + r e^{- \gamma t/2} \right)
\frac{\partial}{\partial x} \left \{ \frac{g^{'}(x)}{\Gamma(x)}
\frac{\partial}{\partial x} \frac{g^{'}(x)}{\Gamma(x)} P
\right\} \nonumber \\
&& + \gamma_n k_B T \left( 1 + r e^{- \gamma t/2} \right)
\frac{\partial}{\partial x} \left \{
\frac{g^{'}(x)g^{''}(x)}{\Gamma^2(x)} P \right \},
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $r = \left \{ [u(\omega \rightarrow 0,0)/2k_BT ]-1
\right \}$ and is a measure of the deviation from equilibrium at
$t=0$. Under the steady state condition (at $t \rightarrow
\infty$), $\partial P/\partial t =0 $ and the stationary
distribution obeys the following relation,
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq19}
k_B T \frac{d P_S(x)}{dt} + \left ( \widetilde{V}'(x) -F\right) P_S(x)
=0,
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent which has the solution
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq20}
P_s(x) = N \exp \left[-\frac{1}{k_B T} \int^x \left (
\widetilde{V}^{'}(x^{'}) -F \right) dx^{'} \right],
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $N$ is the normalization constant. In Stratonovich
description, the Langevin equation corresponding to the FPE given
by Eq.(\ref{eq19}) is
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq21}
\dot{x} = - \frac{( \widetilde{V}^{'}(x) -F )}{\Gamma(x)} -
\frac{\widetilde{D}(t) g^{'}(x)g^{''}(x)}{\Gamma^2(x)} +
\frac{1}{\Gamma(x)}
\xi_e(t) + \frac{g^{'}(x)}{\Gamma(x)} \xi_n(t),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent with $\widetilde{D} = \gamma_n k_B T \left( 1 + r \exp(-
\gamma t/2) \right) $ being the time dependent diffusion constant due
to the relaxation of nonequilibrium bath modes. \cite{jrc1} Let us
consider that the time dependent solution of Eq.(\ref{eq18}) is
given by \cite{jrc2}
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq22}
P(x,t) = P_S(x) \exp(-\phi(t)),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $\phi $ is a function of time only and
$\lim_{t\rightarrow \infty} \phi(t) =0$. $P_S(x)$ is the steady
state solution of Eq.(\ref{eq18})
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq23}
&& \frac{d}{dx} \left\{  \frac{( \widetilde{V}^{'}(x) -F
)}{\Gamma(x) } P_S(x) \right\}
+\gamma_e k_B T \frac{d}{dx} \left\{ \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)}
\frac{d}{dx} \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} P_S(x)\right \}
+ \gamma_n k_B T  \frac{d}{dx} \left \{
\frac{g^{'}(x)}{\Gamma(x)} \frac{d}{dx}
\frac{g^{'}(x)}{\Gamma(x)} P_S(x) \right\} \nonumber \\
&& + \gamma_n k_B T  \frac{d}{dx} \left \{ \frac
{g^{'}(x)g^{''}(x)}{\Gamma^2(x)} P_S(x) \right \} =0.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Substitution of Eq.(\ref{eq22}) in Eq.(\ref{eq18})
separates the space and time parts and we have the dynamic
equation for $\phi(t)$
\begin{eqnarray*}
-\frac{d\phi}{dt} \exp(\gamma t/2) ={\rm const}= \alpha \text{
(say)}.
\end{eqnarray*}

\noindent On integration over time we get,
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq24}
\phi(t) = \frac{2 \alpha}{\gamma} \exp(-\gamma t/2),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $\alpha$ can be determined from the initial
condition. The time dependent solution of Eq.(\ref{eq18}) thus
reads as
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq25}
P(x,t) = P_S(x) \exp \left [ -\frac{2 \alpha}{\gamma} \exp(-\gamma
t/2)\right].
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent To determine $\alpha$, we now demand that just at the
moment the system (and the non-thermal bath) is subjected to
external excitation at $t=0$, the distribution must coincide with
the usual Boltzmann distribution where the energy term in the
Boltzmann factor, in addition to the usual kinetic and potential
energy terms, contains the initial fluctuation of energy density
$\Delta u[= u(\omega,0) - (k_B T/2)]$. This demands that
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq26}
\alpha = \frac{\gamma \Delta u}{2 k_BT},
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent $\alpha$ is thus determined in terms of relaxing mode
parameters and fluctuations of the energy density distribution at
$t=0$.

\section{Stationary and Transient Current}

In the over damped limit, the stationary current from
Eq.(\ref{eq23}) can be represented as
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq27}
J_S = -\frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} \left [ {\widetilde V^{'}}(x) -F + k_BT
\frac{d}{dx}\right]P_S(x).
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Integrating Eq.(\ref{eq27}) we have the expression for
stationary probability distribution in terms of stationary current
as
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq28}
P_S(x) = e^{-U(x)}  h(x)
\left [ \frac{P_S(0)}{h(0)} - \frac{J_S \gamma_e} {k_B
T} \int_0^x h(x^{'}) e^{U(x^{'})} dx^{'} \right]
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $h(x) = 1+ (\gamma_n/\gamma_e)[g^{'}(x)]^2$,
$\Gamma(x) = \gamma_e h(x)$ and $U(x) = \gamma_e \int_0^x
dx^{\prime} h(x^{'}) [{\widetilde{V}^{'}}(x^{'}) -F]/ k_BT $. We
now consider a symmetric periodic potential with periodicity $L$,
i.e. $V(x) = V(x+L)$ as well as the periodic derivative of
coupling function with the same periodicity as that of the
potential, i.e., $g^{'}(x) = g^{'}(x+L)$. As a consequence of this
choice, $U(x)$ is also a periodic function of $x$ with the period
$L$. If we impose the condition that $P_S(x)$ is bounded for large
enough $x$, it follows from the above mentioned conditions of
periodicity, that $P_S(x+L)= P_S(x)$ i.e. $P_S(x)$ must be
periodic with the same period $L$. \cite{ref4} Now applying the
periodicity condition of $P_S(x)$, we have from Eq.(\ref{eq28})
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq30}
\frac{P_S(0)}{h(0)}  = J_S \frac{ \gamma_e/k_BT} {1-e^{U(L)}}
\int_0^L h(x) e^{U(x)} dx.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Because of the periodicity, we normalize the steady state
PDF in the periodic interval
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq31}
\int_0^L P_S(x) dx =1,
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent to get
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq32}
\int_0^L h(x) e^{-U(x)}
\left [ \frac{P_S(0)}{h(0)} - \frac{J_S \gamma_e}{k_BT}
\int_0^x h(x^{'}) e^{U(x^{'})} dx^{'} \right ]dx =
1.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Now eliminating $P_S(0)/h(0)$ from Eq.(\ref{eq30}) and
Eq.(\ref{eq32}), one obtains the steady state current
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq33}
J_S &=& \frac{k_BT}{\gamma_e} \left [ 1 - e^{U(L)} \right ]
\left [\int_0^L h(x) e^{-U(x)} dx \int_0^L   h(x^{'})
e^{U(x^{'})} dx^{'}
 \right. \nonumber \\
&& \left. - \left [ 1 - e^{U(L)} \right ]
\int_0^L \left ( h(x) e^{-U(x)} \int_0^x h(x^{'})
e^{U(x^{'})} dx^{'} \right ) dx \right
]^{-1}.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent From Eq.(\ref{eq33}) it is clear that in the absence of
any external bias $F$, the steady current vanishes. We thus observe
that there is no occurrence of current for a periodic potential and
for periodic derivative of the coupling function with the
same periodicity for $F=0$. At
the macroscopic level this confirms that there is no generation of
perpetual motion of the second kind, i.e., no violation of second law of
thermodynamics. In passing, we note that in the absence of
$\{q_k\}$-subsystem, i.e., when $\gamma_n =0 $ , Eq.(\ref{eq33})
reduces to the standard form \cite{ref4}
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq34}
J_S &=& L \gamma_e k_B T \left [ 1 - e^{L F/k_BT} \right ]
\left [\int_0^L e^{V(x)/k_BT} dx \int_0^L e^{-V(x)/k_BT} dx -
\left [1 - e^{-2L F/k_BT} \right ] \right. \nonumber \\
&& \left. \times \left \{ \left ( \int_0^L e^{-V(x)/k_BT} \int_0^x
e^{V(x^{'})/k_BT} dx^{'} \right) dx \right \}
\right]^{-1}.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Next, to find the time dependent current $J(x,t)$ we
resort to Eq.(\ref{eq18}) and observe that
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq35}
J(x,t) & = & -  \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \left \{
\frac{\widetilde
{V}(x^{\prime}) - F} {\Gamma(x)}  P \right \}
+ \gamma_e k_B T   \left\{ \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)}
\frac{\partial}{\partial x} \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)}
P \right \}
+ \gamma_n k_B T \left( 1 + r e^{- \gamma t/2} \right)
 \left \{ \frac{g^{'}(x)}{\Gamma(x)}
\frac{\partial}{\partial x} \frac{g^{'}(x)}{\Gamma(x)} P
\right\} \nonumber \\
&& + \gamma_n k_B T \left( 1 + r e^{- \gamma t/2} \right) \left \{
\frac{g^{'}(x)g^{''}(x)}{\Gamma^2(x)} P \right \}.
\nonumber \\
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Now substituting Eq.(\ref{eq22}) in Eq.(\ref{eq35}) and
making use of Eq.(\ref{eq23}) we find that $J(x,t)$ can be expressed
in a much simpler form
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq36}
J(x,t) = J_S e^{-\phi(t)} - {\cal {D}}(t) \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)}
\frac{d}{dx} \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} [g^{'}(x)]^2 P_S(x),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $P_S(x)$ is the steady state PDF and $J_S$ is the
steady state current given by Eq.(\ref{eq34}) and
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq37}
{\cal{D}}(t) = r \gamma_n k_B T e^{- \gamma t /2} e^{-\phi(t)}.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent The steady state current $J_S$ thus can be obtained from
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq38}
J_S = - \frac{( \widetilde{V}^{'}(x) -F )}{\Gamma(x)} P_S(x) -
\gamma_e k_B T   \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} \frac{d}{dx}
\frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} P_S(x)
- \gamma_n k_B T  \frac{g^{'}(x)}{\Gamma(x)}
\frac{d}{dx} \frac{g^{'}(x)}{\Gamma(x)} P_S(x)
- \gamma_n k_B T \frac{g^{'}(x)g^{''}(x)}{\Gamma^2(x)} P_S(x),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent from which we have
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq39}
\frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} \frac{d}{dx} \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)}
[g^{'}(x)]^2 P_S(x)
= - \frac{J_S} {\gamma_n k_B T } - \frac{( \widetilde{V}^{'}(x)
-F )}{ \gamma_n k_B T \Gamma(x)}
- \frac{\gamma_e} {\gamma_n} \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} \frac{d}{dx}
\frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} P_S(x).
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Using Eq.(\ref{eq39}) we then obtain from Eq.(\ref{eq36})
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq40}
J(x,t) = J_S \left [ e^{-\phi(t)} + \frac{{\cal D}(t) }{\gamma_n
k_B T} \right]
+\frac{{\cal D}(t) }{\gamma_n k_B T} \left [ \frac{(
\widetilde{V}^{'}(x) -F )}{\Gamma(x)} P_S(x)
+ \gamma_e k_B T \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} \frac{d}{dx}
\frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} P_S(x) \right ].
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Defining the space dependent part on the RHS of
Eq.(\ref{eq40}) as $M(x)$, we obtain
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq41}
J(x,t) = J_S \left [ e^{-\phi(t)} + \frac{{\cal D}(t) }{\gamma_n k_B
T}\right] + \frac{{\cal D}(t) }{\gamma_n k_B T} M(x),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq42}
M(x) & = & \left [ \frac{( \widetilde{V}^{'}(x) -F )}{\Gamma(x)} P_S(x)
+ \gamma_e k_B T \frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} \frac{d}{dx}
\frac{1}{\Gamma(x)} P_S(x) \right ]. \nonumber \\
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent From Eq.(\ref{eq41}) we observe that the current
$J(x,t)$ can be written as a sum of two terms. The first term is
space independent and only a function of time. The second term is
product separable in the form of time and space part. As $t
\rightarrow \infty$, RHS of ${\cal {D}}(t) \rightarrow 0$ and
asymptotically $J(x,t)$ reduces to the steady state current $J_S$.
Now using the continuity equation
\begin{eqnarray*}
\frac{\partial P(x,t)}{\partial t} = - \frac{\partial
J(x,t)}{\partial x},
\end{eqnarray*}

\noindent along with $P(x,t) = P_S(x) e^{-\phi(t)}$, we get from
Eq.(\ref{eq41})
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq42n}
\frac{dM(x)}{dx} = - \frac{\alpha}{r}P_S(x),
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent or equivalently
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq43}
M(x) = - \frac{\alpha}{r} \int^x P_S(x) dx.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent As we are dealing with periodic functions, the constant
of integration is chosen to be zero. Now integrating
Eq.(\ref{eq27}) for $P_S(x)$ and using the normalization
condition, Eq.(\ref{eq31}), we have the expression for steady
state PDF as
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq44}
P_S(x) = e^{- (\widetilde{V}(x) - F x)/k_B T}
\left [ \frac{1+ \frac{J_S}{k_BT} \int_0^L e^{-
(\widetilde{V}(x) - F x)/k_B T} \{ \int_0^x \Gamma(x^{'})
e^{(\widetilde{V}(x^{\prime}) - F x^{\prime})/k_B T} dx^{'} \} dx }
{\int_0^L e^{- (\widetilde{V}(x) - F x)/k_B T} dx}
\right].
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent Using Eq.(\ref{eq44}) along with Eq.(\ref{eq43}) one
obtains from Eq.(\ref{eq41}) the expression for the time dependent
current, $J(x,t)$ as
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq45}
J(x,t) & = &  J_S \left [ e^{-\phi(t)} + r e^{-\gamma t/2} \right]
- \frac{\alpha e^{-\gamma t/2} \int^x dx^{'}  e^{-
({\widetilde{V}}(x^{'}) - F x^{\prime})/k_B T} }{\int_0^L e^{-
({\widetilde V}(x) - F x)/k_B T} dx}
\left [ 1+ \frac{J_S}{k_BT} \int_0^L e^{-
({\widetilde{V}}(x^{''}) - F x^{''})/k_B T} \right. \nonumber
\\
&& \left. \times \left \{ \int_0^{x^{'}} \Gamma(x^{'''}) \{ e^{
({\widetilde{V}}(x^{'''}) - Fx^{'''})/k_B T} dx^{^{'''}} \}dx^{''}
\right \} \right ],
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent where $J_S$ is given by Eq.(\ref{eq33}). Since the
potential possesses spatial periodicity, one has $J(x,t) =
J(x+L,t)$. Hence the net time dependent current is given by
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq46}
j(t) = \frac{1}{L} \int_0^L J(x,t) dx.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent It should be noted that for symmetric potential with
$F=0$, $J_S=0$. But, in our development, transient current exists
and the direction of current depends on the sign of $\alpha$. What
is immediately apparent is that for symmetric potential, the sign
of $\Delta u [= u(\omega, 0) - (1/2k_BT)]$ determines the
direction of initial current
\begin{eqnarray}\label{eq47}
j(t) = - \frac{\alpha e^{-\gamma t /2}}{L} \frac { \int_0^L dx
\int^x dx^{'} \exp[-{\widetilde{V}}(x^{'})/k_BT ]}  { \int_0^L dx
\exp[- {\widetilde{V}} (x)/k_BT ] }.
\end{eqnarray}

\noindent It is also clear from Eq.({\ref{eq45}) that the time
dependent current reduces to the steady state current, $J_S$ in
the asymptotic limit. The presence of the term $\exp[-\phi(t)]$ in
the expression of $J(x,t)$ makes the transient current strongly
non-exponential in nature. The transient behavior of growth or
decay of charge and current in $L-R$, $C-R$ or $L-C-R$ circuit is
important in construction of many electrical and electronic
devices where there is the mechanism of storage of energy. In
construction of molecular motor or nano-switch, the transient
behavior of the devices may be worth studying. In our development,
the preparation of intermediate relaxing bath plays a key role to
generate the time dependent current. Nevertheless, our methodology
will also be applicable in the case when any arbitrarily prepared
bath is approaching towards equilibrium. In passing, we mention
that the model considered in the present paper may be realized in
a guest-host system embedded in a lattice where the immediate
neighborhood of the guest comprises intermediate oscillatory
modes, while the lattice acts as a thermal bath.

\section{conclusion}
We have hereby proposed a simple microscopic system nonequilibrium
bath model to simulate nonstationary Langevin dynamics. The
nonequilibrium bath is effectively realized in terms of a
semi-infinite dimensional reservoir which is subsequently kept in
contact with a thermal reservoir which allows the non-thermal bath
to relax with characteristic time. The frequency spectrum of the
relaxing bath is assumed to be of Debye type. By an appropriate
separation of time scale, we then construct the Langevin equation
for a particle in which the dissipation is state dependent and the
stochastic forces appearing are both additive and multiplicative.
The underlying stochastic dynamics is found to be nonstationary
and non-Markovian. Based on the strategy of Sancho \emph{et al}.,
\cite{sancho}
we then show that this Langevin equation can be recast into the
form of generalized nonstationary Smoluchowski equation which
reduces to its standard form asymptotically. We then solve the
expression for time dependent PDF. As an immediate application of
our recent development, we consider the dynamics of a Langevin
particle in a ratchet potential and obtain the analytic expression
for both stationary and nonstationary transient average velocity,
which is followed by an immediate observation that in a periodic
potential the direction of nonstationary current depends on the
preparation of the nonequilibrium bath.

\begin{acknowledgments}
We dedicate this article to Professor Jayanta Kr. Bhattacharjee, a
motivating scientist and an inspiring teacher spearheading the
proliferation of Physics as a whole through his skilled
exposition. SB wishes to acknowledge the constant support of his
school authority (Parulia K. K. High School, Burdwan 713513)
towards pursuing his Ph. D. work.
\end{acknowledgments}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


As the year draws to a close, it is a time to reflect on the past 12 months and to ponder what worked and what didn't. It is also a time for us accountants to prepare for year-end financial reporting and tax return preparation.
As we wind down these last few days, we have to ask ourselves if we put into place any recommendations we received from our accounting consultants, advisors, etc., such as did we reconcile all of our balance sheet accounts? It is very common to spend a great deal of time analyzing our operations and comparing to prior year, to budgets, and to the industry, however, oftentimes, the balance sheet accounts are neglected on a regular basis, and this can lead to surprising adjustments at year-end. We recommend a review of these accounts not only at year-end, but also throughout the year. If it has not been done, we strongly recommend these accounts be reconciled as soon as possible to ensure appropriate financial reporting and tax return preparation.
Another question to consider is if you currently value your inventory with the last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory method. If so, you must consider LIFO conformity, which requires the use of the LIFO method for both financial (book) accounting, and tax. As a result, dealerships must ensure their financial statements are adjusted for LIFO at year-end (12th month).
In summary, in addition to the items described above, there are many things to consider at year-end as you prepare for your financial and tax return reporting. The accuracy and completeness of this reporting is critical to your organization's success.
Please contact us if you have any questions about year-end reporting and visit the 'Our Thoughts On' blog to read the latest developments impacting your industry.


text:
Q: Appending select box I'm trying to add my select options into a select box when the user clicks an image. The image opens up a hidden search div containing the box. I have the following code:
html
<select id="search_state" name="state" class="large">

</select>

jquery
$(document).ready(function(){

  $('.search').click(function() {
    $('#search_state').append('<optgroup label="Chile"><option value="907">Región Metropolitan</option></optgroup><optgroup label="China"><option value="1355">Guangdong</option><option value="1353">Hainan</option><option value="1341">Jiangsu</option><option value="1307">Shanghai</option></optgroup><optgroup label="Costa Rica"><option value="1037">Alajuela</option><option value="1041">Guanacaste</option><option value="1043">Heredia</option><option value="1047">Puntarenas</option><option value="1049">San José</option></optgroup>');
    alert("works");
  });

});

The image class is .search, and the selectbox ID is #search_state. For some reason I can't get the selectbox to append, but the alert works onclick. Even when the box is hidden, its still listed under the source code. Does anyone know why I'm having this issue?

A: could you try to fill selectes content istead of appending
$(document).ready(function(){

      $('.search').click(function() {
        $('#search_state').html('<optgroup label="Chile"><option value="907">Región Metropolitan</option></optgroup><optgroup label="China"><option value="1355">Guangdong</option><option value="1353">Hainan</option><option value="1341">Jiangsu</option><option value="1307">Shanghai</option></optgroup><optgroup label="Costa Rica"><option value="1037">Alajuela</option><option value="1041">Guanacaste</option><option value="1043">Heredia</option><option value="1047">Puntarenas</option><option value="1049">San José</option></optgroup>');
        alert("works");
      });

    });

A: If it is using dropkickthen call refresh method after changing the select programatically
$('#search_state').dropkick('refresh')

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Hong Kong on the Brain10 min read
December 11, 2017 December 13, 2017 Christopher Rea
Christopher Rea reviews Hon Lai-chu's The Kite Family
'Spoiled Brains,' the first story in Hong Lai-chu's collection The Kite Family, expertly translated by Andrea Lingenfelter, reminds me of Wong Kar-wai's 1994 film, Chungking Express. When I taught a course on the history of Chinese cinema in Vancouver last spring, students voted Chungking Express their favorite film. In one of its iconic sequences, a cop commemorates his lost love by buying and consuming tins of pineapple stamped with a date that has already passed. He hopes that she'll return before his 25th birthday, but she doesn't, and he gorges on rancid fruit, only to throw it up again. "When," he muses in a voiceover, "did everything start having an expiration date?"
"Hong Kongers experience the present itself with nostalgia. For Hong Kong, it's always already too late."
For Hong Kong at least, the obvious answer would be 1984. That was the year that the Sino-British Joint Declaration started the clock ticking down until July 1, 1997, the date when Hong Kong would cease to be a British colony and become a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. The Declaration included a second expiration date: the year 2046, when Hong Kong's Basic Law would become open to revision and China would no longer be bound to maintaining "One Country, Two Systems." Since the 1980s, one popular theory has been that Hong Kong culture is defined by a sense of expiring time. Living with an acute sensation that the future is constantly displacing an expiring present, Hong Kongers experience the present itself with nostalgia. For Hong Kong, it's always already too late.
Over the past two decades, Hong Kong filmmakers have been obsessed with the idea of expiring time, from director Fruit Chan's so-called Handover Trilogy, inaugurated with Made in Hong Kong (1997), to Samson Chiu's Golden Chicken 2 (2003), which looks back on Hong Kong's "worst year"—the 2003 SARS epidemic—from 2046, when (in a happy fantasy) actor and Cantopop superstar Andy Lau is the SAR's Chief Executive. In 2004, Wong Kar-wai made his own contribution to this trend with the surrealistic 2046, set fifty years after the 1997 Handover.
Then, in 2014, time for Hong Kong suddenly became very short indeed. The Beijing government announced that it was imposing tighter controls over the election of Hong Kong's Chief Executive, and over one hundred thousand Hong Kongers took to the streets to call for unfettered direct democracy. In the wake of the protests, the sleeper film hit of 2015 was Ten Years, which showed life for Hong Kongers in 2025 having become desperate. The tagline: "It's not too late."
In 'Spoiled Brains,' one hundred and thirty-two people die on a journey to a new city. Blanc, the sole survivor, is dragged out of a freight truck filled with vomit and suffocated corpses and reawakens in a hospital having forgotten his name. What he does remember is his mother's advice on how to endure the stench and the stares of neighbors in the public toilet back home: "Forget yourself." Blanc, an amnesiac (the pun in his name is adeptly carried over from the Chinese) "illegal migrant" to a city "famous for its freedoms" becomes a blank slate onto which its citizens project their fears and desires. From the hospital he is transferred to a new home: a glass-encased furniture showroom in a sprawling mall. There he lives on display in a luxurious bedroom suite, obsessively sketching cross-sections of brains. His presence draws shoppers: one berates him for stealing local jobs, another tells him to go home, yet another tries to buy him. Moved from one cramped space to another, human refuse becomes a commodity as alluring as a (wait for it) Mont Blanc.
As illustrator and human display object, Blanc is a space-filler twice over. While his drawings of bisected brains fail to fill in absent memories, Blanc himself represents the conundrum of what to do with all the bodies of "illegal migrants"—an epithet that seems as superficial as his brain drawings. The manager takes Blanc on a tour of the mall, which is identical to many others, telling him that one need only memorize the order of the shops in order to orient oneself to "the coordinates and cardinal directions of your life." The mall now appears as an externalization of Blanc's redundant drawings of brain architecture.
Ultimately, Blanc is evicted from the display case like so much seasonal stock and arrested by the police for allegedly trafficking in spoiled brains. It's a sly touch: Hon Lai-chu's Hong Kong mall-brain is not only vacuous and short-sighted, but—like the pineapple in Chungking Express—gone bad.
In the title story of the collection, 'The Kite Family,' the narrator and her family members suffer from hereditary bloat. Morbid obesity strikes as a terminal symptom of a mysterious disease, accompanied by insatiable hunger. The first victim is Grandmother, who grew up with food shortages and dies at a time when her grandchildren are throwing uneaten food into landfills. A postmortem of her swollen body divulges the family jewelry; she turns out to have died from choking on a string of pearls—a symbolic scapegoat of society's pathological gluttony. To divide up the estate, the deceased is cut open and family members take what they like from her stomach contents. When the narrator herself succumbs to the condition, she experiences a ravenous desire to fill in her own vast, inexplicable emptiness. Gorging on random junk, she is disappointed to find that everything tastes bitter. While most of the fat bodies in the story end up as objects displayed in a "jewel-like array" in a museum, the narrator imagines her own body carried away on a breeze, big enough to fill the world.
The funniest story in the collection for me is 'Front Teeth,' in which Pearl finds herself in a dentist's chair with too many pearly whites. Pearl is another of Hon's freaks—she grows teeth faster than a shark, in multiple rows—but we move quickly from her physical deformity to the psychological deformity of the dentist, a professional representative of the extraction economy with his own backstory. The dentist, we are told, took an interest in his mother, a retired TV actor, only when she started to lose teeth in her sleep. He keeps her teeth in a drawer and colors them black in memory of the time his mother played a geisha. Aside from the morbid theme, Hon's stories are connected by certain specific details. The clinical malice that Pearl's brother displays in wiring open the mouth of their pet rat resembles that of the leg-sawing Zero in 'The Kite Family.' In that story, people fatten in hot weather; in 'Front Teeth,' Pearl's teeth sprout when it's chilly.
Claustrophobia, social surveillance, devaluation of human life and other recurring topics in Hon's stories resonate with unpleasant aspects of life in contemporary Hong Kong. 'Notes on an Epidemic' dramatizes the impossibility of solitude: survivors of a virus (the airborne pathogens call to mind the 2003 SARS crisis) are forced to live together as artificial families and perform conjugal roles for spectators. Illegal migrant as mall display, teeth as barter, man as furniture and other images suggest Hon's fixation on the commodification of human life. In 'Heartbreak Hotel,' disaster victims are given away like unsold merchandise. One laid-off worker auctions off another whose selling point is that he's lost his memory. The critique is sometimes bald, as when a hotel clerk advises that "Empty-eyed people need to buy things to fill their emptiness."
Hon often pushes her stories beyond a Hong Kong context by making characters and settings deliberately abstract. Migrants in 'Spoiled Brains' are on their way to Y City. The woman in 'Notes on an Epidemic' hails from S. Characters tend to be roles: Mother, Father, Little Brother, Doctor. Even characters with names, like Blanc or Rich Woods, are more symbols than individuals. In the most self-consciously Kafka-esque story in the collection, a man turns into a chair and rents himself out by the hour to clients named L, M, F, H, K and Z. Abstraction, artificiality, alienation from self and society, being out of place and time—these are all familiar post-modern atmospherics, so I especially enjoyed Hon's twists, as when young people dispel boredom by playing "an ordinary game of Clock."
At times, Hon Lai-chu's writing reminds me of Yu Hua, a contemporary writer best known for the novels To Live and Brothers and the essay collection China in Ten Words. Grandmother's postmortem in "The Kite Family" recalls the protracted surgery scene in Yu Hua's 'One Kind of Reality,' in which surgeons methodically remove every organ from the corpse of a murdered brother. Hon also shares with Yu Hua (and many other contemporary Chinese authors) a penchant for surrealism and matter-of-fact descriptions of violence, tinged by black humor. Yu Hua stories like '1986' and 'The Past and the Punishments' leap to mind while reading Hon's descriptions of a youth sawing off a friend's leg, a worker drilling a hole in sister's head, and mother having sister put in the refrigerator. Even the dentist in 'Front Teeth' is reminiscent of Yu Hua, who famously gave up tooth-pulling for fiction-writing. (Not coincidentally, the dentist in Brothers is referred to as Yanker Yu.)
Why do surrealists so enjoy depicting bodies in distress? (Think of the sliced eye in Un Chien Andalou.) In Hon's work at least, the impetus seems to be not just to indict the cruelty of society or of human beings but also to keep the narrative hovering between reality and fantasy. Her characters are always vomiting, and nausea is as visceral a sensation as one could hope to experience. One of my favorite images is in the title story, in which the narrator struggles in a typhoon to manage the rope attached to her sister, who has turned into a kite. A kite might soar into the heavens, be reeled back in, or, as in this case, get blown into a tree. Hon's flights of fancy are tethered by images of human bodies slipping out of control.
Twenty years have passed since the Handover, and the anniversary offers a tempting opportunity to read works by any Hong Kong writer as political allegory. The year 1997, after all, marked a transferring of political control between great powers, over the heads of locals, and recent government attempts to dilute Hong Kong's limited democratic institutions have provoked popular protests against further slippage.
Yet strictly allegorical interpretations of Hon Lai-chu's stories, studded though they are with topical allusions to Hong Kong, diminish their sense of possibility. At the end of 'Forrest Woods, Chair,' L has sold the titular man-chair overseas and reassures his mother, Mrs. Woods, that her son is "the most outstanding chair I have ever seen." Mrs. Woods starts going over in her mind how she will tell others that her son is now "a professional engaged in chair work." The comment reminded me that the fondest wish of many in my profession is to become a research chair or a chair professor.
Kafka, eat your brain out. ∎
The Kite Family, by Hon Lai-chu, trans. Andrea Lingenfelter (East Slope Publishing Ltd, March 2016)
Published by Christopher Rea
Christopher Rea is the author of The Age of Irreverence: A New History of Laughter in China (California, 2015) and co-translator, with Bruce Rusk, of The Book of Swindles: Selections from a Late Ming Collection (Columbia, 2017). View all posts by Christopher Rea
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Five has commissioned Shine North to produce Banged Up, a new series featuring former Home Secretary David Blunkett. The show tackles head-on the sensitive issue of juvenile behaviour and rehabilitation, it was announced today, (TUES).
In a bold social experiment, Blunkett will head the 'parole board' of a 'prison' that mixes reformed criminals with juveniles on the cusp of a life of crime.
Rt Hon David Blunkett MP said: "The prime task of any criminal justice system is to prevent people from committing a crime in the first place, and then to avoid re-offending. Getting across a clear message, forewarning young people what prison is like, and encouraging them to take an alternative path in life, has to make sense.
He added: "Therefore, linking preventative work in warning young people, with a clear method of getting across to both potential criminals and the public as a whole, the reality of prison, will make a significant contribution to both education and greater understanding.
Banged Up is a ground-breaking new series working in conjunction with pupil referral units, charities, youth groups, community projects and concerned parents to offer an insight into life 'inside', identify the youngsters who could benefit from the experiment and offer a whole new perspective on the debate surrounding youth crime – and punishment.
Each contributor has a very different story to tell and we follow them on their own personal road to rehabilitation. First-hand accounts and testimonies from former criminals will underline the consequences of what you can expect if you choose a life of crime.
Banged Up is a Shine North production for Five. The executive producer is Robin Ashbrook and the series producer is Andrew Nicholson.


8:59 pm, April 25, 2018: the moment I was hit by a car.
It's been 10 days since this happened and it's still weird to type out. I was hit, by a car. A car hit my body. I was on my bicycle. It's one of those things you hear that happens to your best friend's cousin's sister's boyfriend's roommate--not something that actually becomes a reality.
Because I know you are wondering, yes, I am fine. No broken bones. I have a scratch on my arm that will probably leave a little scar. Incredible soreness like never before, but I am alive. So physically, I think I am fine. But it's been the most surreal experience, emotionally. I have never felt so uncomfortable being in my skin. I have never felt so unlike myself. Emotional trauma is super, super real, whether it's from physical trauma or being on the receiving end of bad news or whatever. And it's something I thought I could type out and explain, but maybe I can't. I'm still not entirely sure.
Maybe some emotions can truly only be felt, not described in words. But I imagine that I am not alone in this feeling. I am willing to bet that this feeling, the process of trying to process, can apply when you get a horrible diagnosis. Or horrific news. Or any of the "is-this-really-happening?" moments in life that are quite inevitable, as I am learning. The things that happen that you never anticipated would happen to you.
Up until this instance, I really hadn't had many of those before. At least none that directly impacted me. I have watched many friends and family members go through crap--divorce, abusive spouses, miscarriages, cancer, death of loved ones, suicide attempts, you name it. But I had never been the one to feel like I just got hit by a car--literally.
Life is hard enough already. It really is. Then you throw in something that is truly traumatic and you have yourself a real mess of feelings that you can't sum up in words. And it can consume you. It has consumed me, many times in the past week and a half. I have never felt so out of control and out my element as I have for the past 10 days. And feeling this way, and feeling like nobody can possibly understand me, is beyond paralyzing.
I wrote the above 122 days ago. It's very strange still, trying to wrap my mind around the concept of actually being hit by a car. In some ways, I feel like a broken record, recapping this story, but in other ways it feels equally as surreal as it did four months ago. And so much has happened since then.
I could write so much on little event that is just a blip in the expanse of human existence. There are many lessons I have learned about myself, about God, about relationships, about grace. But I am not going to do that. Because I think I might still be processing and learning all this and I am notorious for getting ahead of myself. So I am giving myself grace, and it's so sweet. So while this could be a long, drawn out article on the many lessons that are being learned in my head, I am going to put one into practice: breathe and accept that things take time.
I am still seeing a chiropractor. I am still seeing new specialists for my injuries. I am still working through the insurance mess (fun fact--if you get hit by a car, whether you are in a car, a pedestrian, on a bike, whatever, everything goes through your car insurance...who knew?!). I am still seeing a counselor as I am working through the emotional and mental trauma I went through. My energy level still isn't back to 100%. I am in the middle of this process, this mess. It's not necessarily fun, but I am learning to breathe through it all. And that is new for me. I am usually the incredibly and productively busy, Ms. Fix-it. And as much as I would like to fix all this, fix myself, I'm not able to. So I am breathing, taking it a day at a time. And I gotta say, there is freedom in breathing. In trusting that Someone has this under control so I don't have to pretend like I do.
If you are a human reading this, you or a loved one are going through some sort of trauma, here is what I have for you : 'tis life. It happens and never in the ways you thought it would. We are told we will have trials and troubles, it's a given. If you haven't gone or are going through something overwhelmingly difficult, just wait. Because it will. And know, that this too shall pass--it always does. But what you do in the meantime is what makes all the difference.
It has now been 160 days since the accident, a little over 5 months. It's funny because right now, it seems like it was forever ago, that things are still dragging on. The scratch that has turned into a deep scar, the never-ending doctor appointments, insurance hiccups, counseling appointments, and the copious amounts of time spent thinking about all this. But when I consider how long it's been in terms of months or days, it really hasn't been that long--5 months. The nature of humanity, at least in my experience, makes time so relative. When pain is at its peak, seconds can last a lifetime and the good moments feel incredibly fleeting. As I type this thought out, I feel like I sound very melodramatic. But it's the best way I can describe it. I still have so much trouble translating my feelings into words. I assumed it would get easier from ground zero. I don't think it has. It might even be more complicated now, as I try to incorporate reason into feelings. Ha!
At the risk of this sounding more like diary entries than they already do, I have been thinking more about the impact of the middle--the time after a trauma and before resolution--and what we do with it. It's easy to sit back and let the pain consume you because at the very least, that's a familiar feeling. But when we look outside ourselves, even outside this earthly realm, we can glimpse something new and different. It might be cheesy to say it this way, but Jesus really does make all the difference. I've seen it in my life and in the lives of many other people. He's the only solution that sticks, that isn't just temporary, and isn't dependent on my ability to give back in return.
Some days are hard still. It kind of relates back to the waves in life that we experience. It's all a cycle of progress and backsliding and plateauing that all makes up the middle. There is so much in the middle that we can't control. But there is so much that we CAN control: our attitudes, our active choices towards recovery, and trust that the One who made us will see us through it. It's amazingly simple and yet effective to hold onto the promises that are laid out in Scripture for us. I still don't know when the light at the end of the tunnel will be clear in terms of my recovery. I don't know how many more really bad days I will have. I don't know how long it's going to take to feel mentally and emotionally okay. I don't know how many more doctors it'll take to understand the extent of my injuries. There are so many unknowns. But knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have not nor will ever be alone, is enough. It's enough to get me through the moments, the days, the weeks that feel impossible. it's enough to take something as crazy as getting hit by car and trust that it will one day be used for something good. And the same goes to you. Your deepest pains aren't in vain, so long as you look to the Father. Just let Him take it. He can handle it. I promise.
I ll go out on a limb and say that GSP vs Anderson Silva would be biggest fight in UFC history a true clash of the titans featuring the two best fighters in the world.
This kind of publish appears to get yourself a lot of visitors. How will you acquire traffic to that? It provides an excellent special twist upon issues. I guess having something traditional or perhaps substantial to give info on could be the central aspect.


Close to Europe and a great winter destination, Morocco is a great option for families with small kids with plenty of short excursions and day trips.
Family travel to Morocco has never been easier. Travel to Morocco is easy, and there are a lot of fun activities for kids, teens and adults alike. Holidays can be arranged to include a comfortable stay, but with plenty of exciting excursions to visit medinas, camel rides into the desert, and hiking – depending on where one stays. A family holiday in Morocco combines adventure, culture and lots of fun.
Visiting a city like Marrakesh or Fez gives kids and adults plenty to see or do, besides enjoying the hotel facilities. Medinas are a wonderful place to while away a few hours, with intriguing spices, smells, foods, wares and trinkets to bargain for. Pastries, fresh fruit, nuts and kebabs are readily available on the streets.
Travel on a camel into the sand dunes of the Sahara desert.
Ride on a mule to visit ancient Berber villages.
Visit one of Morocco's excellent beaches for surfing, diving and swimming opportunities.
Visit the palaces, mosques and open-air markets.
Visit a kasbah (fort), which are usually beautifully renovated and in prime locations.
Don't allow kids to pet stray animals.
Drink bottled water only, or take water from the hotel along on excursions.
Keep out of the sun in the hottest times of the day.
If kids are unused to very hot climates, travel during the cooler months of the year (before or after July and August).
Allow kids and teens to swimming costumes and skimpy clothes at the beaches only.
Following a few tips and guidelines will make a trip to Morocco memorable. Families travelling to this wonderful African country usually return time after time to experience the unique culture.


I strongly believe that Blue Estate is one of the unsung great comics of the recent Image Renaissance. This is a truly unique book, with a story and approach to art that is not done anywhere else.
This issue is the penultimate one of this 'first season', and all of the various plot threads that the writers have been laying out for some time are all beginning to intersect and collide throughout. To give a summary of this book at this stage in the game is very difficult - basically, a whole whack of Russians and Italians have converged on a termite-infested house to blow each other away, and some of our heroes - alcoholic recently widowed actress Rachel Maddox, hapless private investigator Roy Blount Jr., useless mob son Tony Luciano, and recovering alcoholic assassin Clarence (also known as Johnny).
This is a much faster paced issue than we are used to, as much of the book is given over to people from the various groups try to shoot one another. Rachel figures out that it was Clarence who killed her husband, and much woodwork gives way.
This is the first issue that does not have Viktor Kalvachev's art in it, though he continues to serve as 'art director'. It looks like most of this issue was drawn by Cypress and Fox, although it can be very hard to tell who has done what with this comic, which is a big part of its appeal to me.
I'm pleased to hear that there are plans for a second season of Blue Estate, as I would miss this book.


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CLA South West News
Consultation on draft revisions to Dartmoor's byelaws
Dartmoor National Park Authority has recently agreed draft proposals to review Dartmoor's byelaws.
Written by Kim John. First published on September 15th, 2021.
There will now be a public consultation which will start week beginning September 20.
The byelaws are in place to protect the special qualities of Dartmoor National Park including its wildlife, habitats, cultural heritage, archaeology, and the livestock that graze the commons. The current set of byelaws regulating access on the commons have been in place since 1989. They are now 32 years old and in that time there have been legal, practical, technological and societal developments.
The byelaws need updating to better reflect modern needs, improve public understanding and address issues which have the potential to damage the National Park's special qualities. The review aims to ensure the byelaws are updated to be:
Relevant and proportionate for modern society
Clear and easy to understand
Cover the right activities and areas
Complement other powers and legislation.
The Authority's Director of Conservation and Communities Alison Kohler said: "The Authority has agreed to consult on revisions to the National Park byelaws. We are doing this to ensure the byelaws are fit for purpose and help protect the National Park for all to enjoy today and tomorrow.
"Updating the byelaws is an important topic for everyone who cares about Dartmoor whether it's landowners, commoners, residents, businesses or visitors, and we recognise people will want to have a say.
"Following Authority agreement, a draft set of byelaws will go out to public consultation from week beginning September 20. We're keen to hear a diverse range of views so we can develop byelaws that are relevant, clear, enforceable and enable people to enjoy Dartmoor, help look after it and 'leave no trace'."
The consultation will be publicised on the National Park's website, social media and by news release. People can subscribe to receive newsletters to stay updated.
The consultation will remain open for six weeks. The following step is that the Authority will meet again to consider responses, agree appropriate changes and formally approve the byelaws. They'll then be sent to Defra for final confirmation.


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How a Wall Street Fugitive Inspires the World of Wine and the Wine Country Lifestyle
Port wine simplified
Annette Hanami October 17, 2011 Douro Valley, Porto, Portugal
A selection of Ports from Churchill's
If the greatest wines in the world are made to age using the most expensive production methods, have a long history of quality control and are so recognizable by style that they can only be a single wine from a singular place, then Port is such a wine.
Port is a sweet, fortified wine made since the 17th century from grapes grown in the Douro River Valley in Portugal. They are aged, traditionally, downriver in the cooler port city of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river from Porto. In the European Union and in countries that honor appellation of origin under wine trade agreements, only wines originating from the demarcated region of Douro can be labelled "Port" or "Porto."
Fermentation is arrested early with grape spirits, leaving residual sugar of about 100 grams per liter (think Sauternes levels) and 19-20% alcohol. Because fermentation is arrested early, winemakers need to accelerate extraction of color, structural and flavor components as fast as they can, using techniques unique to Port – such as foot treading in wide and low stone pits called lagares that maximize skin to juice contact. Foot, or increasingly robotic, treading is considered the finest method to achieve intensity of fruit and fine structure vs. pumping over in stainless steel tanks.
The most common Ports are made with a blend of mostly indigenous red grape varieties in two basic styles: ruby and tawny.
Ruby styles are aged to minimize oxidation, resulting in fruit-driven, deep ruby-colored Port. This can be achieved by aging in larger vats called balseiro with greater wine-to-wood contact ratio, and by shorter overall aging. Basic commercial Rubys are aged 2-3 years while Reserve Rubys are made with higher quality fruit and aged a little longer.
The best Rubys are Vintage Ports, Ports made in exceptional years from the highest quality vineyards, usually tread in lagares, and approved as a declared Vintage Port by the Port Wine Institute. They age in cask for two years, then are bottled young to capture the intense fruit. These unfiltered wines are meant to age in bottle and will continue to evolve in bottle for several years.
Vintage Ports are big, powerful and fruit-driven wines that may taste drier than they actually are if the fruit dominates, as in a young Vintage Port. When serving, younger vintages could benefit from decanting to "open it up" while vintages older than 15 years may need decanting to remove accumulated sediment. Serve at room temperature and consume within a few days of opening.
Recent Vintage Ports available in the market include 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2007.
Another major category of Rubys are Late Bottled Vintage or LBV Ports. These wines are single vintage Port but not "declared" vintages for LBV. They are bottled after 4-6 years of aging in wood cask so show a little more evolution than a Vintage Port, and are ready to drink upon opening.
Tawny styles are aged with more oxidation, for example through aging in smaller wood casks such as 550 liter "pipes" or 700 liter cascos, or through longer aging, resulting in rich, mellow and complex wines with colors ranging from amber to brown. Port producers say that Vintage Ports reflect specific vintage conditions while Tawnys reflect an individual Port House's style since Tawnys are complex blends of different lots of wine from different vintages. House styles can range from fruitier to complex and drier vs. sweeter.
Tawny Ports can be aged for a short time in cask, such as basic Tawny, or a really long time, such as Tawnys with Indication of Age of 10-year, 20-year, 30-year or 40-year. The "Indication" of age is the average age of the blend, conferring a typical taste for the age as verified by the Port Wine Institute.
Colheita are the Tawny version of Vintage Port, but more rare, although more producers are thankfully producing them. Colheita age for a minimum of 7 years in cask, but usually much, much longer.
These aged and blended Tawnys are rich and mellow, with flavors that develop with age into dried fruit, citrus, nuts, honey and toffee. Tawnys can be chilled (as in France as aperitif) and should be served cooler than a Ruby, about 55 degrees. Pedro Pocas Pintao of Pocas told us that for them, Tawnys go in the fridge with the whites.
Since Tawnys are already long-aged and naturally clarified, there is no need to decant and they are ready to drink upon opening. After opening, the wines will keep for a long time.
about ruby port about tawny port Port 101 Port simplified Port wine serving
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What do you get when the studio that is supposed to be behind it's film 100% - in this case Warner Brothers - drops the ball repeatedly making mistake after mistake in it's gloriously inept marketing strategies to the point that one of the best reviewed films of the summer becomes a box office bomb? The answer; Edge of Tomorrow.
Edge of Tomorrow is one of those Tom Cruise vehicles that came and went without a whimper literally just a few weeks ago....the kind of film Cruise seems tailor made for and undoubtedly a sure bet as his next big hit. Touted as the next big summer sci-fi blockbuster under it's original title All You Need is Kill (before WB got scared and absurdly changed it to the lame Edge of Tomorrow), it received glowing previews and reviews and currently holds a 90% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. If you're not familiar with their rating system, let me assure, rarely does a film get a rating that high and when it does, it's wholeheartedly deserving of it.
IMDB's current 8.1 positive rating along with Rotten Tomatoes 90% fresh rating and Metacritic's 70% critic score/8.4 user rating ain't no lie. Edge of Tomorrow is a smart, engaging sci-fi thriller that is just about the best example of the type of big-budget sci-fi film theaters have been bereft of for a long time; let's just forget all this Transformers garbage for a minute. Not only that, it's also got some dark humor. Whaaat? Seriously, it's true. Since the trailers never hint at that because the studio is trying to sell you a big loud sci-fi picture, which it also is, the fact that you're not even aware of it's intense entertainment value as a top of the line sci-fi/thriller/action film that's also darkly funny, is a testament to Warner Brothers lack of good sense in their marketing department and should be ashamed of themselves. But I think it all begins with that ridiculous, sub-par and generic title change.
Based off of the original Japanese military/science fiction novel All You Need is Kill, Edge of Tomorrow is a great sci-fi film. It's smart. It's engaging. It's action-packed. It's clever and from time to time, even funny. Centering around a time-loop premise and the takeover of the planet Earth by a race of aliens, on a technical level, it's quite an ambitious film for everyone involved, most importantly director Doug Liman, who's career has seen him jump from genre to genre. While I've never really been that big a fan of his kinetic freestyle approach to directing, he is able to tame it down from time to time, like with Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Jumper for example. He's also done that here, and it's refreshing. Arguably his biggest film to date, it's aesthetically a daring one also. Maybe even his most visually impressive? Mixing some of his hand-held style with some really great steady camera work evenly, the enormous amount of CGI work here never falls into Michael Bay territory (Hallelujah!). Better yet, the action/battle scenes, of which there are a plethora, are damn impressive and most importantly, you can see what the hell's going on at all times.
Every aspect of the design of this film is stellar, with the robot attack suits being particularly kick ass. While I've been a huge opponent of any alien design in the last 10 years or so, though the designs of them here are somewhat similar (kind of shapeless with lots of arms and/or tentacles), they come off as way more organic and bottom line, more interesting and menacing. Are you with me on that? It's like every artist of an alien or monster from any film in the last decade follows the same rule of thumb in designing these things, and it's annoying. "Hey, let's make them look like huge insects with lots of arms/appendages that makes it difficult to make out what they look like or what they're doing!". Cut it out guys.
Cruise, to his credit, again delivers the goods. Though his star power is nowhere near the strength it was during all of the 90's into the early 2000's, he's still a huge box office commodity, especially overseas. You know, a lot has been said about Cruise and his personal life, all beginning with his Oprah stunt. Yea it was weird, and his stance on everything regarding Scientology and his personal views on....well everything else come off as......odd, but who cares? A lot of people shit all over the guy, but I've always found Cruise to be one of the most consistent and hardest working actors out there, and I continue to be a big proponent of this dudes talent. He's a badass; charismatic, likable, and not nearly enough A-List stars can possess all three of these qualities. Dwayne Johnson definitely. But who else?
It's a shame this hasn't done too well at the box office. If any film out there deserves to, it's Edge of Tomorrow. Maybe if the studio had kept it's original and more awesome title All You Need is Kill, it would have performed better? I personally think so. It sounds more on target. I'm sure when international ticket sales and then DVD/Blu ray and rentals are factored in, it may break even or even make a slight profit in the end, but it deserved much more than it got initially. But WB's marketing, or lack thereof, absurdness is confusing as all hell because it's painfully obvious they either didn't know what the hell they were doing or were so thrown off by focus groups uncanny ability to "not get it". Seriously, from what I understand, when it hits the home video market in the next few weeks, it will again have another title change to Live Die Repeat, which is somewhat better than the bland Edge of Tomorrow. But who knows? It may change yet again when it's all said and done.
Whatever the new title may be, do yourself a favor and check this out. It's a rock-solid science fiction thriller with an overabundance of charm and entertainment value and surely one of the best you'll see in a while. One of the best reviewed films of the summer is just begging to be seen.
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Q: TCP client socket connecting with public server IP in dart I have a server running on my local machine, i have opened a port on my router and want to use that from the clients to connect to my server using my public IP address.
Server Code
Getting an error on the client side while trying to establish a connection.
Unhandled exception:
SocketException: OS Error: Connection refused, errno = 61, address = 39.41.**,***, port = 50640

Client Code


Everybody learns differently – and everyone needs variation. We believe that learning spaces need to support different ways of learning and developing skills for the 21st century.
We use the design principles to assemble playful learning landscapes where the school day can be organized as destinations in the landscape. Students could start around a Mountain Top, continue with group work in Campfires where they can work Hands-on with their project. Some will need a Cave to immerse themselves while others seek Watering Hole for informal encounters with other learners in the learning community – and throughout the learning sequence, the children can choose Movement to stimulate both mind and body.
Our work with open and flexible learning spaces is supported by academic research, pointing to the significance of the physical space in learning. According to the analysis of academic learning projects from the Center for Research in Early Scientific Learning, students improve their creative skills in flexible spaces that support play and co-creation. And according to the Clever Classrooms report from HEAD Project, the degree of ownership and flexibility in the physical design means improved acquisition of skills.
Students need more involvement in their own learning – with a sound balance between autonomy and fixed boundaries. Strategic interior design can engage and motivate, so all students can achieve their potentials.
The flexible framework of the learning landscape supports the development of 21st Century Skills where students cultivate creativity, critical thinking and collaboration – as wells as the ability to learn to learn on their own.
The learning landscape aims to activate the students' senses. Vibrant colors, tactile materials and strategic light design direct attention while the vast and flexible spaces create dynamic learning processes.
Read more about our design principles in Rosan Bosch's book Designing for a Better World Starts at School.


VK Singh clarified on Monday.
"Nothing has come from the government's (Pakistan) side. This issue has been going on for a very long time. If anything come about we will let you know," Singh told reporters here.
"There can be no bigger happiness than this for the people of Punjab," Sidhu had said on September 7 after coming back from Pakistan, where he had gone to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Imran Khan .
The Kartarpur route, along India-Pakistan border, is barely 3km away from Gurdaspur , Punjab. If opened, it will allow Sikh pilgrims a direct access to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan where Guru Nanak died in 1539.


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Q: Spark streaming 1.6.1 is not working with Kinesis asl 1.6.1 and asl 2.0.0-preview I am trying to run spark streaming job on EMR with Kinesis. Spark 1.6.1 with Kinesis ASL 1.6.1. Writing a plain sample wordcount example.
        <dependency>
        <groupId>org.apache.spark</groupId>
        <artifactId>spark-streaming-kinesis-asl_2.10</artifactId>
        <version>1.6.1</version>
    </dependency>

    <dependency>
        <groupId>com.amazonaws</groupId>
        <artifactId>amazon-kinesis-client</artifactId>
        <version>1.6.3</version>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
        <groupId>com.amazonaws</groupId>
        <artifactId>amazon-kinesis-producer</artifactId>
        <version>0.10.2</version>
    </dependency>

This throws following exception
java.lang.RuntimeException: java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException: java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: com/google/protobuf/ProtocolStringList
    at com.amazonaws.services.kinesis.clientlibrary.lib.worker.ShardConsumer.checkAndSubmitNextTask(ShardConsumer.java:157)
    at com.amazonaws.services.kinesis.clientlibrary.lib.worker.ShardConsumer.consumeShard(ShardConsumer.java:126)

Upgrading to 2.0.0-preview
        <dependency>
        <groupId>org.apache.spark</groupId>
        <artifactId>spark-streaming-kinesis-asl_2.10</artifactId>
        <version>2.0.0-preview</version>
    </dependency>

gives following exception
java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/apache/spark/internal/Logging

at org.apache.spark.streaming.kinesis.KinesisUtils$$anonfun$createStream$1.apply(KinesisUtils.scala:74)

A: It was caused by protobuf-java dependency conflict.
Use mvn dependency:tree to find the version of protobuf-java, which is KCL and KPL depend on. And go to spark lib directory, you would find the another version.
Please use maven-shade-plugin, and relocate the conflict classes:

<plugin>
    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>maven-shade-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>2.3</version>
    <executions>
        <execution>
            <phase>package</phase>
            <goals>
                <goal>shade</goal>
            </goals>
            <configuration>
                <outputFile>
                    ${project.build.directory}/${project.artifactId}-${project.version}-selfcontained.jar
                </outputFile>
                <relocations>
                    <relocation>
                        <pattern>com.google.protobuf</pattern>
                        <shadedPattern>shade.com.google.protobuf</shadedPattern>
                    </relocation>
                    <relocation>
                        <pattern>com.amazonaws</pattern>
                        <shadedPattern>shade.com.amazonaws</shadedPattern>
                    </relocation>
                </relocations>
                <filters>
                    <filter>
                        <artifact>*:*</artifact>
                        <excludes>
                            <exclude>META-INF/*.SF</exclude>
                            <exclude>META-INF/*.DSA</exclude>
                            <exclude>META-INF/*.RSA</exclude>
                        </excludes>
                    </filter>
                </filters>
                <transformers>
                    <transformer implementation="org.apache.maven.plugins.shade.resource.ServicesResourceTransformer" />
                </transformers>
            </configuration>
        </execution>
    </executions>
</plugin>


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