text:
Todd Butler Baseball Camps
EAGLES BASEBALL CAMPS COACHING STAFF
Sherman Reed
Sherman Reed, the 2018 MEAC Coach of the Year and winningest skipper in school-history, enters his ninth season as the head coach of the Coppin State baseball program in 2019 after previously spending two seasons as an assistant.
During his first three seasons at the helm, Reed worked tirelessly on the recruiting trail to help turn the Coppin State baseball program around. The 2012 edition of the Eagles featured 20 freshmen and sophomores laying the foundation for success in the coming years. The fruits of his labor really paid off in the 2018 season when the Eagles won their first MEAC Northern Division Title since 1996 with an 18-4 record in conference play, shattering the old single-season wins record by five games. Finishing with a school-record 21 victories, Coppin earned the top overall seed in the MEAC Tournament and earned a win over Florida A&M before falling in an extra-inning affair in the Semifinals.
The 2018 season also showed dividends for several individuals with the Navy & Gold. Derek Lohr and Nazier McIlwain both earned First Team All-Conference honors with Lohr being named a Freshman All-American. Four others (Erik Crossman, Caleb Duhay, Allen Saar and Jahmon Taylor) earned Second Team recognition as the six All-Conference selections was also a program-record. Elsewhere, Marcos Castillo and Corey Treyes took home All-Black College Nines accolades.
In the final regular season game of the 2018 campaign at UMBC on May 9, one that seemed to reflect the fight and effort put forth by the Eagles all year, Coppin came from behind to defeat the Retrievers, 13-11. In doing so, Reed won his 84th career game at Coppin, breaking Jason Booker's old mark which stood for 21 years.
Coppin has qualified for the MEAC Championship six out of the past eight years with a total of six tournament game wins. Coppin State was a semi-finalist in the 2013 Tournament after beating Bethune-Cookman and NC A&T. They came close to duplicating that feat in 2016 before losing a 12th inning hardly fought contest to Norfolk State 7-6. Under Reed, the 2013 Eagles had the nation's highest win turnaround percentage while winning 18 games.
Reed became Coppin's second-winningest coach in school history after the 9-5 victory over NC A&T on February 18, 2018, and just completed his fourth year serving as President of the MEAC Baseball Coaches Association. Reed is also finished his third year serving on the NCAA Division I Baseball Regional Advisory Committee for the Atlantic Region.
Reed was an assistant coach at Coppin State in 2008 under former head coach Harvey Lee and in 2009 working with Mike Scolinos.
"This is like coming home for me," said Reed. "I was raised in west Baltimore, I went to public schools here and I have family members that graduated from Coppin State.
"I recognize that there are only 301 Division I coaching jobs and am very honored that the University believes than I am the right person to turn the program around."
Reed was inducted into the Oldtimers Baseball Association of Maryland Hall of Fame in October 2013.
Reed played collegiately at Towson State under former Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers manager Billy Hunter. He then spent 10 seasons playing independent baseball prior to beginning his coaching career.
The Baltimore native has coached at various levels, including Western Tech and Catonsville High Schools, pony league and Cal Ripken collegiate baseball.
Additionally, he was the director of the Yankee Rebels Baseball Club from 2005-10 which is one of the oldest amateur baseball club in Maryland and was the coordinator of the Urban Baseball Camp for the Kansas City Royals in 2008-09.
He graduated from Towson in 1983 with a degree in instructional technology and later earned his M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins in 1999.
Reed and his wife Dorothy have three children, Tynetta, Candice and Sherman, Jr. and reside in Catonsville.
Matt Greely
Matt Greely is entering his third season at Coppin State University and his second since being promoted to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2018 season. Matt's duties include being the Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator as well.
A new standard was set in Greely's first year as the Associate Head Coach as the Eagles tied a school-record with 21 victories and won its first MEAC North Division Title since 1996 with a school-record 18-4 mark in conference play. CSU also put six players on the All-Conference team which set a school-record.
Greely's pitching staff, led by the trio of Jahmon Taylor, Aaron Rea and Corey Treyes, recorded school-records in both ERA (5.51) and strikeouts (274) and was a major factor in Coppin's historic run in 2018.
Taylor earned Second Team All-MEAC honors after leading the conference with a 2.66 earned run average along with 81 strikeouts, just two off the school-record. Rea finished his junior season with a 6-0 mark in conference play, earning the win in six-straight starts. Treyes proved to be one of the top closers in the conference as a sophomore with a program-record eight saves and already owns the school's career-record.
Greely's time on the recruiting trail also proved instant dividends as the Eagles fielded shortstop Derek Lohr who earned Freshman All-America, MEAC Rookie of the Year, 1st Team All-Conference and All-ECAC honors. Like Lohr, Marcos Castillo also was one of the top freshman in not just the conference, but the region as well. From the centerfield position, Castillo led the MEAC with five triples, was named the Black College Nines Freshman of the Year and a BaltimoreBaseball.com All-Maryland All-Star.
In 2017, with Greely's tutelage, the Coppin State pitching staff saw drastic improvements from the year before as the team walked 154 less batters and lowered its ERA by over a run.
Coach Greely came to Coppin after a successful 2016 season of leading the pitching staff at Arizona Western College.
During his time at Arizona Western, the pitching staff commanded the baseball to a tune of 245 strikeouts and 105 walks in year one. Prior to AWC, Matt was in charge of pitching at Everett Community College. The EVCC Trojans finished the 2014 campaign with a 2.18 ERA and an opponent batting average of .222 in conference play.
During the past three summers, Coach Greely has been the pitching coach for the Matsu Miners of the Alaska Baseball League. The Alaska Summer Collegiate League is one of America's premier summer collegiate leagues.
During his time, the Miners pitchers have had a 1.70 ERA, 321 K to 169 BB in 2015, and a 2.31 ERA with 321 K to 129 BB in 2016, and 2.45 ERA, 319k to 140 BB in 2017.
The Matsu Miners have been ranked as high as #2 in the country, and won the 2016 and 2017 ABL championships.
During Matt's time as a collegiate coach, Greely has heard over 45 of his former players named called in the MLB Draft.
Matt started as an Assistant Coach at College of Idaho in 2009. He then moved back to his hometown in Juneau, Alaska to complete his Master's Degree in Secondary Education. While back in Alaska he also was the Pitching Coach for Thunder Mountain HS for one year before being promoted to Head Coach during his last three years.
Matt spent the summer of 2013 as Head Coach of the North Shore Emeralds, a semi-pro team in Washington State. He also spent this that summer as the Head Coach of the 18u Laces Baseball Academy (WA).
Matt was a pitcher for four years in college. He played and received his AA from Walla Walla CC (WA) from 2005-06. Matt then attended University of the Cumberland (KY) where he played one season before transferring closer to home while completing his Bachelor's degree in Sports and Fitness Management at the College of Idaho. Greely finished his career at College of Idaho with a 3.71 ERA.
Coach Greely has a passion for working with young people. He has taught high school PE and Health, worked in drop-out prevention, and works several clinics and camps throughout each season. His mom (Marla), dad (John), and brother (Sam) still live in Juneau, Alaska.
LynDon Watkins
LynDon Watkins is entering his first year as Coppin State's assistant baseball coach. His duties will consist of overseeing the hitters and outfielders, while serving as the first base coach.
Coach Watkins comes to Coppin State with a vast amount of knowledge and experience, having spent nine years coaching at nationally ranked St. Johns College High School in Washington DC, which has produced 13 drafted players and two free agent signees in the last ten years.
After nine years of success as an assistant and head coach at St. John's College High School, Watkins was named the head coach of St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland. In his first season, he took the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Under his tenure the program produced two All-Conference selections as well as a Maryland Private School All-Tournament selection.
As an assistant Coach he helped lead the Cissel Saxon Post #41 American Legion team to a Maryland State Title in 2003.
Watkins other baseball experience includes consulting, serving as a clinician for several baseball organizations and he is the President of the Diamond Dynasty Baseball Organization.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Coach Watkins played high school baseball at Paul Robeson and collegiately at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Watkins earned a BS degree from Chicago State University in Chemistry and a CPM from George Washington University in Public Management.
Matt Blevins
Matt Blevins enters his second season on the Coppin State baseball coaching staff as an assistant coach working with hitters, catchers, and baserunners, while serving as Head Scout.
In his first season, Coach Blevins helped the Eagles to their first MEAC North championship since 1996, while sporting a league-best 18-4 record in conference play. The 18 conference wins set a new standard for CSU baseball and its 21 overall wins tied the school record and represented a 10-game improvement from 2017.
In 2018, CSU's team batting average improved by 23 points from the previous year, and the Eagles concluded the regular season hitting a league-leading .286. The aggressive Coppin State squad also finished 20th in the country in stolen bases per game.
Coach Blevins worked closely with 2018 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Freshman All-American, Derek Lohr, who headlined a long list of national, regional, and conference awards for the Eagles in 2018. Lohr earned MEAC Rookie of the Year, first team all-conference, and led the league in hitting at a .362 clip. He also earned second team recognition from the ECAC and Black College Nines.
Nazier McIlwain joined Lohr as first team all-conference and second team All-ECAC selections, and earned the nod at first base in the BaltimoreBaseball.com 2018 Collegiate All-Maryland All-Star Team.
Erik Crossman, Caleb Duhay, Allen Saar, and Jahmon Taylor earned second team All-MEAC honors, and Corey Treyes earned a BCN second team nod, while Marcos Castillo earned BCN Freshman of the Year and joined McIlwain on the All-Maryland All-Star Team.
The CSU baseball team also had plenty of success in the classroom, as 17 Eagles earned a spot on the 2018 MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team by maintaining a 3.0 (or better) GPA during the 2017-18 school year.
Prior to Coppin State, Blevins worked as an assistant coach at Bluefield State College for five seasons, where he recruited the first player to sign an MLB contract in the program's history. During his tenure, 17 players earned all-conference honors, and the team earned a cumulative GPA above 3.0 each year.
Blevins spent the summers of 2009 to 2012 as the head coach of the West Virginia Wild in the Carolina-Virginia Summer Collegiate League. During that time, his teams led the league in hitting twice and had three players drafted. Blevins also coached the 2011 CVSCL Player of the Year, and had 15 players named to the league's all-star team.
Blevins graduated from Bluefield State with a Bachelor's degree in Education, where he played third base and pitcher, after playing for WVU Tech as a freshman. Blevins went on to earn a Master's degree in Communication Studies from West Virginia University in 2009, and a Juris Doctor from Charlotte School of Law in 2017.
The True, West Virginia native attended Summers County High School in Hinton, WV, where his mother (Kathy) teaches Health and serves as the Director of Athletics, and his father (Rick) teaches Social Studies and coaches baseball and girls basketball. The eldest of three siblings, his sisters, Sarah and Emily, both played college basketball.
Geoff Kimmel
Coppin State University Baseball
2523 Gwynns Falls Parkway
gkimmel@coppin.edu


Grid patterns are very popular among people from the very early time. Its unique patterns can be used for any purpose. According to your choice and needs, you can adjust the size and shapes of a grid pattern.
From the Indus era, people were using grid patterns. In the Indus culture, people made everything in a grid pattern. Streets, house, public well, drainage system any more were made of same grid patterns. Along with the Indus grid pattern, people used Tumblr grid pattern, diagonal grid pattern, seamless grid pattern, diamond grid pattern and many more grid patterns.
These days also people are randomly using the grid patterns. Abstract grid patterns, revolved innate axis in a grid pattern, descriptive grid pattern, monochrome warped grid pattern and much more are recently added into the grid pattern. HD quality is also introduced in the grid pattern. 3D effects are on the grid pattern also very new and highly demanded in the market.
People love the grid pattern for its vibrant picture. The simple grid pattern collection is just ideal for any wallpaper, and can be used on any occasion. 3D effects in the grid pattern look just great and give a feel of realistic. The Bold coloured grid pattern easily catches one's eye.


Walking in Grace and Beauty is a fashion blog for women over 40.
I am really enjoying it... reading through the archives has given me several ideas of ways to mix and match what I already have. Also the author, Cyndi, shops at places like Kohls, TJ Maxx, JC Penney's, Old Navy- places that are within reach for many of us.
Right now she is doing 31 days of winter outfits, so she is posting a new outfit every day. Something fun for the new year!
Oh, cool! I need a winter lift. Thank you!


text:
Undated photo of Nepali devotees greeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama. PC - dalailama80.org
DHARAMSHALA, May 13: Three journalists at the English desk of Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), the largest and longest-serving news agency in Nepal faces probe for disseminating a news item on His Holiness the Dalai Lama, reported The Kathmandu Post.
On April 27, 2019, Mohani Risal, Somnath Lamichhanne and Jivan Bhandari translated and disseminated the Asia New International (ANI) report "Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama had returned to Dharamshala after receiving treatment at a private hospital for a chest infection."
Gokul Prasad Baskota, Minister of Information and Communications summoned RSS Chairperson Shyam Prasad Adhikari the next day and ordered a probe, as confirmed by the former in an interview with the Kathmandu Post recently.
"Tibet issue is sensitive for China and dissemination of a report regarding the Dalai Lama by the state-run news agency--particularly during President Bidya Devi Bhandari's state visit to China--was against Nepal's commitment to One-China policy," he reportedly told Post.
RSS Chairperson Adhikari formed a four-member probe committee under Dilliram Bhattarai, a member of the RSS board.
The trio facing the probe had met with Adhikari and expressed reservations about the working environment and the lack of press freedom.
One of the reporters at RSS the Post spoke to, said on the condition of anonymity that an official from the Chinese state-owned news agency, Xinhua had visited the RSS Chairperson the day after the news was published on online outlets.
Baskota, who ordered the probe, admitted to not knowing whether it was politically motivated or lack of judgment while adding, "had that news been published on Gorkhapatra," a vernacular news agency from which he was supposed to have been tipped off, "I would have had to resign."
The three journalists, in their defence, have said, "the Dalai Lama is a global newsmaker and that his health condition made important news for people around the world, including in Nepal" and asserted they did not have any ulterior motive.
Bhattarai said the committee is studying the clarification they have received from the three journalists in question and the RSS chairman is the final authority to take a decision.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Harbour Lights luxury apartment for sale by Belle Property Cairns.
First-home owners and high-end buyers are sparking renewed confidence in the Cairns real estate market.
Analysis of house sale price brackets by Herron Todd White has found the Cairns market is undergoing a "dramatic change" in the proportional mix of sale prices.
The traditionally dominant mid-market category between $350,000 and $600,000 has reduced from 64% of the market to 56% over the past nine months.
On the flipside, sales at the lower and upper ends of the market have increased, with Herron Todd White's Rick Carr saying it "could well be a sign of improved market confidence" in Cairns.
"Sales in the sub-$350,000 category have correspondingly increased from 25% of the market in the quarter ended December 2017 to 32% in the quarter ended June 2018, while sales in the upper category of $600,000 and above have risen from 11% to 13% of the market over the same period," Mr Carr said.
"The shift in the sales mix toward the respective market 'extremes' could well be a sign of improved market confidence influencing first home and high end buyers alike."
Nicholas Slatyer from Belle Property Cairns said his office had recorded three sales over $2 million in recent months.
"For the second half of 2018 I suspect we'll see more of the same - stable and steady mixed with some strong results and fewer distressed sales," Mr Slatyer said.
"The premium end of the market will probably perform the best. I expect an increase in sales over $1 million and we already look like sales at $2 million across greater Cairns to be a record year."
In general, Mr Carr's latest Cairns Watch report said the local economy had "regathered slightly" over the last month, primarily through reduced unemployment.


text:
package org.nschmidt.ldparteditor.composite;

import static org.nschmidt.ldparteditor.helper.WidgetUtility.widgetUtil;

import java.awt.MouseInfo;
import java.awt.PointerInfo;
import java.text.DecimalFormatSymbols;

import org.eclipse.swt.SWT;
import org.eclipse.swt.custom.SashForm;
import org.eclipse.swt.graphics.GC;
import org.eclipse.swt.graphics.Image;
import org.eclipse.swt.graphics.Rectangle;
import org.eclipse.swt.graphics.Transform;
import org.eclipse.swt.layout.FillLayout;
import org.eclipse.swt.layout.GridData;
import org.eclipse.swt.layout.GridLayout;
import org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Canvas;
import org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Composite;
import org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Display;
import org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Listener;
import org.eclipse.wb.swt.SWTResourceManager;
import org.nschmidt.ldparteditor.enumtype.Font;
import org.nschmidt.ldparteditor.enumtype.MyLanguage;
import org.nschmidt.ldparteditor.enumtype.View;
import org.nschmidt.ldparteditor.helper.Cocoa;
import org.nschmidt.ldparteditor.i18n.I18n;
import org.nschmidt.ldparteditor.resource.ResourceManager;
import org.nschmidt.ldparteditor.widget.NButton;

public class CompositeScale extends ScalableComposite {

    private final java.text.DecimalFormat numberFormat2f = new java.text.DecimalFormat(View.NUMBER_FORMAT2F, new DecimalFormatSymbols(MyLanguage.getLocale()));

    private final Canvas canvasHorizontal;
    private final Canvas canvasVertical;

    private int posHorizontal;
    private int posVertical;

    public CompositeScale(Composite parentCompositeContainer, Composite3D composite3D, int style) {
        super(parentCompositeContainer, style);
        final CompositeScale me = this;
        this.setParent(parentCompositeContainer);
        GridLayout glCompositeScale = new GridLayout(2, false);
        glCompositeScale.marginHeight = 0;
        glCompositeScale.marginWidth = 0;
        glCompositeScale.verticalSpacing = 0;
        glCompositeScale.horizontalSpacing = 0;
        this.setLayout(glCompositeScale);

        NButton btnOpenContextMenu = new NButton(this, Cocoa.getStyle());
        GridData gdBtnOpenContextMenu = new GridData(SWT.FILL, SWT.FILL, false, false, 1, 1);
        gdBtnOpenContextMenu.heightHint = 20;
        gdBtnOpenContextMenu.widthHint = 20;
        btnOpenContextMenu.setLayoutData(gdBtnOpenContextMenu);
        btnOpenContextMenu.setImage(ResourceManager.getImage("icon16_contextMenu.png")); //$NON-NLS-1$
        btnOpenContextMenu.setBounds(0, 0, 20, 20);

        widgetUtil(btnOpenContextMenu).addSelectionListener(e -> {
            PointerInfo a = MouseInfo.getPointerInfo();
            java.awt.Point b = a.getLocation();
            int x = (int) b.getX();
            int y = (int) b.getY();
            if (!me.getComposite3D().getMenu().isDisposed()) {
                me.getComposite3D().getMenu().setLocation(x, y);
                me.getComposite3D().getMenu().setVisible(true);
            }
        });

        canvasHorizontal = new Canvas(this, SWT.BORDER | SWT.NO_BACKGROUND);
        canvasHorizontal.setForeground(SWTResourceManager.getColor(SWT.COLOR_WIDGET_FOREGROUND));
        canvasHorizontal.setBackground(SWTResourceManager.getColor(SWT.COLOR_WIDGET_BACKGROUND));
        canvasHorizontal.setLayoutData(new GridData(SWT.FILL, SWT.FILL, true, false, 1, 1));
        canvasHorizontal.setLayout(new FillLayout(SWT.HORIZONTAL));

        Listener paintHorizontalScaleListener = e -> {
            if (e.gc == null)
                return;
            Rectangle rect = canvasHorizontal.getBounds();
            // Create the image to fill the canvas
            Image image = new Image(Display.getCurrent(), rect);
            // Set up the offscreen gc
            GC gc = new GC(image);
            // Draw the background
            gc.setBackground(e.gc.getBackground());
            gc.fillRectangle(image.getBounds());

            Composite3D c3d = me.getComposite3D();

            if (c3d.isClassicPerspective()) {
                float width = rect.width;
                float halfwidth = width / 2f;
                float offset = 0;
                float viewportPixelPerLDU = c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU;
                while (viewportPixelPerLDU > 10) {
                    viewportPixelPerLDU = viewportPixelPerLDU / 10f;
                }
                while (viewportPixelPerLDU < 10) {
                    viewportPixelPerLDU = viewportPixelPerLDU * 10f;
                }
                if (viewportPixelPerLDU > 10) {
                    viewportPixelPerLDU = viewportPixelPerLDU / 2f;
                }
                float step = viewportPixelPerLDU;
                int factor = 1;
                gc.setFont(Font.SMALL);
                gc.drawText(I18n.getCurrentUnit(), 0, 0);

                // Draw the ruler
                float twostep = step * 2;
                float tenstep = step * 10;
                // MARK Ruler Perspective Horizontal
                switch (c3d.getPerspectiveIndex()) {
                case FRONT:
                    offset = (int) (c3d.getTranslation().m30 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU) - 2f;
                    break;
                case BACK:
                    offset = (int) -(c3d.getTranslation().m30 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU) - 2f;
                    factor = -1;
                    break;
                case LEFT:
                    offset = (int) -(c3d.getTranslation().m32 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU) - 2f;
                    factor = -1;
                    break;
                case RIGHT:
                    offset = (int) (c3d.getTranslation().m32 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU) - 2f;
                    break;
                case TOP:
                    offset = (int) (c3d.getTranslation().m30 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU) - 2f;
                    break;
                case BOTTOM:
                    offset = (int) (c3d.getTranslation().m30 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU) - 2f;
                    break;
                case TWO_THIRDS:
                    throw new AssertionError();
                }

                float scaleFactor = factor / (View.PIXEL_PER_LDU * c3d.getZoom() * 1000f) * View.unitFactor.floatValue();

                if (offset < -halfwidth) {
                    // "Positive"
                    // Origin
                    float origin1 = (offset + halfwidth) % tenstep;
                    float origin21 = offset + halfwidth;
                    // Big lines
                    for (float x1 = origin1 + tenstep; x1 < width; x1 = x1 + tenstep) {
                        if (x1 > 20) {
                            gc.drawText(numberFormat2f.format((x1 - origin21) * scaleFactor), (int) x1 + 2, -2);
                            gc.drawLine((int) x1, 5, (int) x1, 10);
                        }
                    }
                    // Small lines
                    for (float x2 = origin1 + step; x2 < width; x2 = x2 + twostep) {
                        if (x2 > 20) {
                            gc.drawLine((int) x2, 13, (int) x2, 16);
                        }
                    }
                    // Middle
                    for (float x3 = origin1 + twostep; x3 < width; x3 = x3 + twostep) {
                        if (x3 > 20) {
                            gc.drawLine((int) x3, 10, (int) x3, 16);
                        }
                    }
                } else if (offset > halfwidth) {
                    // "Negative"
                    // Origin
                    float origin3 = width - (halfwidth - offset) % tenstep;
                    float origin22 = offset + halfwidth;
                    // Big lines
                    for (float x4 = origin3 - tenstep; x4 > 20; x4 = x4 - tenstep) {
                        gc.drawText(numberFormat2f.format((x4 - origin22) * scaleFactor), (int) x4 + 2, -2);
                        gc.drawLine((int) x4, 5, (int) x4, 10);
                    }
                    // Small lines
                    for (float x5 = origin3 - step; x5 > 20; x5 = x5 - twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine((int) x5, 13, (int) x5, 16);
                    }
                    // Middle
                    for (float x6 = origin3 - twostep; x6 > 20; x6 = x6 - twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine((int) x6, 10, (int) x6, 16);
                    }
                } else {
                    // Both
                    // Origin
                    float origin4 = offset + halfwidth;
                    if (origin4 > 22) {
                        int originInt = (int) origin4;
                        gc.drawLine(originInt - 1, 0, originInt - 1, 16);
                        gc.drawLine(originInt, 0, originInt, 16);
                        gc.drawLine(originInt + 1, 0, originInt + 1, 16);
                    }
                    // Big lines
                    for (float x7 = origin4 - tenstep; x7 > 20; x7 = x7 - tenstep) {
                        gc.drawText(numberFormat2f.format((x7 - origin4) * scaleFactor), (int) x7 + 2, -2);
                        gc.drawLine((int) x7, 5, (int) x7, 10);
                    }
                    for (float x8 = origin4 + tenstep; x8 < width; x8 = x8 + tenstep) {
                        gc.drawText(numberFormat2f.format((x8 - origin4) * scaleFactor), (int) x8 + 2, -2);
                        gc.drawLine((int) x8, 5, (int) x8, 10);
                    }
                    // Small lines
                    for (float x9 = origin4 - step; x9 > 20; x9 = x9 - twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine((int) x9, 13, (int) x9, 16);
                    }
                    for (float x10 = origin4 + step; x10 < width; x10 = x10 + twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine((int) x10, 13, (int) x10, 16);
                    }
                    // Middle
                    for (float x11 = origin4 - twostep; x11 > 20; x11 = x11 - twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine((int) x11, 10, (int) x11, 16);
                    }
                    for (float x12 = origin4 + twostep; x12 < width; x12 = x12 + twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine((int) x12, 10, (int) x12, 16);
                    }
                }
            }
            // Draw the triangle
            gc.setBackground(SWTResourceManager.getColor(SWT.COLOR_WIDGET_FOREGROUND));
            gc.fillPolygon(new int[] { posHorizontal - 5, 10, posHorizontal, 16, posHorizontal + 5, 10, posHorizontal - 5, 10 });
            // Draw the offscreen buffer to the screen
            e.gc.drawImage(image, 0, 0);
            // Clean up
            image.dispose();
            gc.dispose();
        };
        canvasHorizontal.addListener(SWT.Resize, paintHorizontalScaleListener);
        canvasHorizontal.addListener(SWT.Paint, paintHorizontalScaleListener);

        canvasVertical = new Canvas(this, SWT.BORDER | SWT.NO_BACKGROUND);
        canvasVertical.setForeground(SWTResourceManager.getColor(SWT.COLOR_WIDGET_FOREGROUND));
        canvasVertical.setBackground(SWTResourceManager.getColor(SWT.COLOR_WIDGET_BACKGROUND));
        canvasVertical.setLayoutData(new GridData(SWT.FILL, SWT.FILL, false, true, 1, 1));
        canvasVertical.setLayout(new FillLayout(SWT.HORIZONTAL));

        Listener paintVerticalScaleListener = e -> {
            if (e.gc == null)
                return;
            Rectangle rect = canvasVertical.getBounds();
            // Create the image to fill the canvas
            Image image = new Image(Display.getCurrent(), rect);
            // Set up the offscreen gc
            GC gc = new GC(image);
            // Draw the background
            gc.setBackground(e.gc.getBackground());
            gc.fillRectangle(image.getBounds());

            Composite3D c3d = me.getComposite3D();

            if (c3d.isClassicPerspective()) {
                float height = rect.height;
                float halfheight = height / 2f;
                float offset = 0;
                float viewportPixelPerLDU = c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU;
                while (viewportPixelPerLDU > 10) {
                    viewportPixelPerLDU = viewportPixelPerLDU / 10f;
                }
                while (viewportPixelPerLDU < 10) {
                    viewportPixelPerLDU = viewportPixelPerLDU * 10f;
                }
                if (viewportPixelPerLDU > 10) {
                    viewportPixelPerLDU = viewportPixelPerLDU / 2f;
                }
                float step = viewportPixelPerLDU;
                int factor = 1;
                gc.setFont(Font.SMALL);

                // Draw the ruler
                float twostep = step * 2;
                float tenstep = step * 10;
                // MARK Ruler Perspective Vertical
                switch (c3d.getPerspectiveIndex()) {
                case FRONT:
                    offset = (int) (c3d.getTranslation().m31 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU);
                    break;
                case BACK:
                    offset = (int) (c3d.getTranslation().m31 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU);
                    break;
                case LEFT:
                    offset = (int) (c3d.getTranslation().m31 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU);
                    break;
                case RIGHT:
                    offset = (int) (c3d.getTranslation().m31 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU);
                    break;
                case TOP:
                    offset = (int) -(c3d.getTranslation().m32 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU);
                    factor = -1;
                    break;
                case BOTTOM:
                    offset = (int) (c3d.getTranslation().m32 * c3d.getZoom() * View.PIXEL_PER_LDU);
                    break;
                case TWO_THIRDS:
                    throw new AssertionError();
                }

                float scaleFactor = factor / (View.PIXEL_PER_LDU * c3d.getZoom() * 1000f) * View.unitFactor.floatValue();

                if (offset < -halfheight) {
                    // "Positive"
                    // Origin
                    float origin1 = (offset + halfheight) % tenstep;
                    float origin21 = offset + halfheight;
                    // Big lines
                    for (float y1 = origin1 + tenstep; y1 < height; y1 = y1 + tenstep) {
                        Transform tr1 = new Transform(Display.getCurrent());
                        tr1.translate(0, (int) y1);
                        tr1.rotate(-90);
                        gc.setTransform(tr1);
                        gc.drawText(numberFormat2f.format((y1 - origin21) * scaleFactor), 0, 0);
                        gc.setTransform(null);
                        gc.drawLine(5, (int) y1, 10, (int) y1);
                    }
                    // Small lines
                    for (float y2 = origin1 + step; y2 < height; y2 = y2 + twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine(13, (int) y2, 16, (int) y2);
                    }
                    // Middle
                    for (float y3 = origin1 + twostep; y3 < height; y3 = y3 + twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine(10, (int) y3, 16, (int) y3);
                    }
                } else if (offset > halfheight) {
                    // "Negative"
                    // Origin
                    float origin3 = height - (halfheight - offset) % tenstep;
                    float origin22 = offset + halfheight;
                    // Big lines
                    for (float y4 = origin3 - tenstep; y4 > 0; y4 = y4 - tenstep) {
                        Transform tr2 = new Transform(Display.getCurrent());
                        tr2.translate(0, (int) y4);
                        tr2.rotate(-90);
                        gc.setTransform(tr2);
                        gc.drawText(numberFormat2f.format((y4 - origin22) * scaleFactor), 0, 0);
                        gc.setTransform(null);
                        gc.drawLine(5, (int) y4, 10, (int) y4);
                    }
                    // Small lines
                    for (float y5 = origin3 - step; y5 > 0; y5 = y5 - twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine(13, (int) y5, 16, (int) y5);
                    }
                    // Middle
                    for (float y6 = origin3 - twostep; y6 > 0; y6 = y6 - twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine(10, (int) y6, 16, (int) y6);
                    }
                } else {
                    // Both
                    // Origin
                    float origin4 = offset + halfheight;
                    int originInt = (int) origin4;
                    gc.drawLine(0, originInt - 1, 16, originInt - 1);
                    gc.drawLine(0, originInt, 16, originInt);
                    gc.drawLine(0, originInt + 1, 16, originInt + 1);
                    // Big lines
                    for (float y7 = origin4 - tenstep; y7 > 0; y7 = y7 - tenstep) {
                        Transform tr3 = new Transform(Display.getCurrent());
                        tr3.translate(0, (int) y7);
                        tr3.rotate(-90);
                        gc.setTransform(tr3);
                        gc.drawText(numberFormat2f.format((y7 - origin4) * scaleFactor), 0, 0);
                        gc.setTransform(null);
                        gc.drawLine(5, (int) y7, 10, (int) y7);
                    }
                    for (float y8 = origin4 + tenstep; y8 < height; y8 = y8 + tenstep) {
                        Transform tr4 = new Transform(Display.getCurrent());
                        tr4.translate(0, (int) y8);
                        tr4.rotate(-90);
                        gc.setTransform(tr4);
                        gc.drawText(numberFormat2f.format((y8 - origin4) * scaleFactor), 0, 0);
                        gc.setTransform(null);
                        gc.drawLine(5, (int) y8, 10, (int) y8);
                    }
                    // Small lines
                    for (float y9 = origin4 - step; y9 > 0; y9 = y9 - twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine(13, (int) y9, 16, (int) y9);
                    }
                    for (float y10 = origin4 + step; y10 < height; y10 = y10 + twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine(13, (int) y10, 16, (int) y10);
                    }
                    // Middle
                    for (float y11 = origin4 - twostep; y11 > 0; y11 = y11 - twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine(10, (int) y11, 16, (int) y11);
                    }
                    for (float y12 = origin4 + twostep; y12 < height; y12 = y12 + twostep) {
                        gc.drawLine(10, (int) y12, 16, (int) y12);
                    }
                }
            }
            // Draw the triangle
            gc.setBackground(SWTResourceManager.getColor(SWT.COLOR_WIDGET_FOREGROUND));
            gc.fillPolygon(new int[] { 10, posVertical - 5, 16, posVertical, 10, posVertical + 5, 10, posVertical - 5 });
            // Draw the offscreen buffer to the screen
            e.gc.drawImage(image, 0, 0);
            // Clean up
            image.dispose();
            gc.dispose();
        };
        canvasVertical.addListener(SWT.Resize, paintVerticalScaleListener);
        canvasVertical.addListener(SWT.Paint, paintVerticalScaleListener);

        composite3D.setParent(this);
        composite3D.setLayoutData(new GridData(SWT.FILL, SWT.FILL, false, false, 1, 1));
    }

    @Override
    public SashForm getSashForm() {
        return (SashForm) this.getParent().getParent();
    }

    @Override
    public Composite3D getComposite3D() {
        return (Composite3D) this.getChildren()[3];
    }

    @Override
    public CompositeContainer getCompositeContainer() {
        return ((ScalableComposite) this.getParent()).getCompositeContainer();
    }

    @Override
    public void redrawScales(int x, int y) {
        posHorizontal = x - 2;
        posVertical = y - 2;
        canvasHorizontal.redraw();
        canvasHorizontal.update();
        canvasVertical.redraw();
        canvasVertical.update();
    }

    @Override
    public void redrawScales() {
        canvasHorizontal.redraw();
        canvasHorizontal.update();
        canvasVertical.redraw();
        canvasVertical.update();
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
How about making your own original wagashi at this warm-hearted Japanese confectionery?
Wagashi Confectionery sweets Yokohama Sweets
A 91-year-old maker of Japanese sweets
Mr. Murofushi, who underwent a glorious transformation from railwayman to to artisan Japanese sweet-maker.
A chopping board, spatula and damp dishcloth are prepared on the table.
The sweet-maker "Japanese Confectionery Mirakuan", famous for their "Mikan Monaka" sweets, offers visitors the chance to experience making wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets.
The company founder and chairman Noboru Murofushi came to greet me (photo 1). In his smart, cool white confectioner's apron, he looks like a typical wagashi artisan.
Mr. Murofushi was born in 1921 in the town of Yugawara, and entered the Ministry of Railways after graduating from the electric engineering course of railway training school, normal division. In 1942, he enlisted in the former Imperial Japanese Army and experienced the Second World War. When the war ended, he returned to work at the Ministry of Railways, but retired in 1947 to take his first steps on the path of the confectionary business. Thus, Mr. Murofushi underwent a transformation from a railwayman to an artisan wagashi maker.
As he began making sweets, he graduated from the Ecole de Pâtisserie de Tokyo and established this shop, "Japanese Confectionery Mirakuan". The shop is currently celebrating more than 60 years since its opening, and the second-generation company president is continuing the business.
Before starting the hands-on wagashi making, Mr. Murofushi spoke the following words.
"Everyone, please let us observe a moment of silence for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake."
It seems that Mr. Murofushi has conducted a prayer in this way each time since the hands-on wagashi making was resumed after the 2011 earthquake. He has said that although he wants to do something extra for the victims in addition to making financial donations, the circumstances and environment have made it difficult; so, the least he can do is to continue praying for them.
It looks like a glove? A charming original creation
It doesn't look like the one made by the expert Mr. Murofushi, but I feel fondness for my own creation.
The shape of the "Mikan Monaka" is cute, like a tangerine cut in half.
So, the wagashi making finally begins. This time, the participants will make nerikiri, seasonally themed decorative cakes made from sweet bean paste, with the designs of "camellia" and "Japanese maple". The theme of the designs changes each month.
Laid on the table are a small chopping board, a damp dishcloth, and a bamboo spatula. First, pink bean paste, azuki bean paste and white bean paste are distributed. The pink bean paste is made by steaming and straining white kidney beans, mixing kneaded gyuhi (a paste made from soft glutinous rice flour), and adding red food coloring. The azuki bean paste is made using azuki beans from Tokachi in Hokkaido.
We start by shaping the pink bean paste into a ball.
This is rather like playing with modeling clay, but the paste is not as hard as clay, and if you grasp it too strongly it soon loses its shape, so I shape it gently with both hands. Afterwards, we put the paste on the chopping board, and flatten it to a thickness of around 5mm (photo 2). Then, we shape the azuki bean paste into a ball too, and wrap it in the pink bean paste.
Next, we stick the white bean paste onto one side only, and stretch it thinly with our fingers. This technique is called bokashi (meaning "gradation"), and is used to make flower petals appear more lifelike. Then, we make the petal tips by slightly pressing the white part, using a triangular spatula to craft the shape. Finally, after attaching some yellow-toned bean paste to look like pollen and green bean paste as leaves, the nerikiri is complete.
Trying to make such delicate wagashi sounds difficult, but the expert Mr. Murofushi kindly makes them right in front of us, so just watching and imitating him is enough. Don't worry. Having said that, just copying the way he makes wagashi doesn't necessarily yield the same results. However I look at it, the thing in my hands looks completely different from Mr. Murofushi's creation… Well of course, an expert is an expert, after all. By trying out the process for myself, I really understand what an amazing skill these artisans have, and I'm sure I'll look at wagashi in a different way from now on.
Next, we start to make the Japanese maple nerikiri. No matter how hard I tried to copy the master's skillful handiwork, mine just looks like a baseball glove… (photo 3). But, all through the process, Mr. Murofushi was kind to praise to me, saying, "you're doing a good job" with a smile, so I undertook the experience with gratitude. Wow, making wagashi has a great amount of depth. The original works of art (?) that participants create are put in a pack for us to take home.
Green tea and "Mikan Monaka" sweets were brought out in time for the end of the wagashi-making (photo 4).
Mr. Murofushi told me the secret story behind this sweet's conception. "I wanted to make a sweet that felt typical of Yugawara, so I'm glad I thought of using mikan (tangerines). But making the sourness of the tangerines fit with the white bean paste was a repeated process of trial and error". Eventually, they made the tangerines into marmalade and put it inside. Of course, details like the allocation of the marmalade are a trade secret.
The appearance of the sweets is cute, like a tangerine cut into slices. On tasting, the invigorating scent of tangerines and the refined flavor of the white bean paste mix beautifully for a delicious result. The fragrance, in particular, is beyond words; the crispy texture is also refreshing.
"We brought these out from the factory because we wanted you all to try the freshly-made ones", says Tomokazu Kosuge, the second-generation company president. I am told that the crispy shells of the sweets are even more enjoyable to taste when freshly-baked. Ah, I'm so glad I came!
Admiring the skillful technique
You can take a look at the factory through the glass.
There is a gallery of confectionary artworks on the second floor. They look just like sculptures.
At Mirakuan, both the factory and a gallery can be viewed by visitors, so I lost no time in going to see them.
The factory is at the back of the first floor, and the wagashi manufacturing process can be observed through glass (photo 5). The shop's products, as well as being on sale here, can also be purchased at special fairs at department stores and online.
The gallery is on the second floor. It was overflowing with confectionary artworks that look like sculptures. When I heard that all this sweet-art is edible, as it is made with candy and bean paste, I found myself gazing at it once more with a renewed interest… Additionally, there is an exhibition of seasonal sweets. There were sweets that I rarely nowadays, and some very interesting items. Even if you do not take part in the hands-on wagashi making, you can buy sweets or visit the factory. But, if you do take part, you might experience everything in a different way.
>> Kanagawa Travel Info
http://kanagawa-travel-info.com/english/special_report/1157
Kanagawa P.G.T.D.
Kanagawa P.G.T.D.'s other advice
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Yokohama Port Museum and the Training Ship Nippon Maru Learn all about the Port of Yokohama
Yokohama and its port have an inseparable relationshipMost people immediately associate the words of "harbor" and "ocean" with Yokohama. The "Yokohama Port Museum" and the "Training Ship Nippon Mar…
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The port of Yokohama has developed dramatically together with raw silk, and at the same time the silk thread industry has supported the Japanese economy. The Silk Museum was established in 1959 as pa…
Ningyo-yaki: Little Baked Doll Cakes
Ningyo-yaki (人形焼) is very popular in Tokyo Asakusa where you can watch them being baked. This is one of my favorite Japanese sweets and a very good omiyage gift. Ningyo is the Japanese word …
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Kintsuba - Japanese Sweets in Asakusa
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Thinking of You – Greeting Cards. Sweet and sentimental. Each Card is blank inside for your personal message, supplied with a pure white envelope and packaged in a clear sleeve. Standard Card size 10×15.5cm.


A study by the U.S. Geological Survey finds the largest earthquake ever recorded in Kansas was linked to wastewater injection into deep underground wells — a process known as fracking. The November 12, 2014 earthquake, occurred 40 miles southwest of Wichita near the town of Milan. It registered 4.9 on the Richter scale and was felt as far away as Memphis. According to the USGS, the epicenter of the quake was located in an area were seismic activity is extremely rare but was adjacent to known fracking operations.


Which Python Should I Use?
Why Do People Use Python?
Is Python a "Scripting Language"?
OK, but What's the Downside?
What Can I Do with Python?
How Is Python Developed and Supported?
What Are Python's Technical Strengths?
How Does Python Stack Up to Language X?
But 3.X's __index__ Is Not Indexing!
Just How New Is New-Style?
The super Built-in Function: For Better or Worse?
String Exceptions Are Right Out!
Encore: Print Your Own Completion Certificate!


The Irrefutable Proof Communication skills training and other soft skills have become essential for every job in the past few years. In this article, we give you stats from some of the latest surveys and researches are done in the field. The numbers prove indisputably that leadership skills are vital.
• 1 out of 3 skills listed in a job posting is a soft skill. This is true for even the most technical positions like IT and engineering. On an average, one-fourth of all skill requirements is baseline. A research was done by Harvard professor that additionally attested these digits. Over the years, social skills jobs have risen over technical ones.
• A study conducted by an assessment company said that priority when hiring managers were soft skills. More than ninety percent of employers emphasized that baseline skills were essential when making hiring decisions. The most crucial skills they looked for was leadership and capability to work in a team. The next set of skills that are needed were quantitative, analytical thinking and problem-solving.
• With these factors becoming so important when employing individuals, almost 60 % of managers in the US found that there were just not enough candidates. In simpler words, talent with the right set of soft skill is scarce in the market.
When it comes to conflict management, business writing, collaboration, and presentation skills, it is not just the companies who are stressing the importance. College students, first job lookers and working professionals are also looking for avenues to enhance their soft skills. Workers at all stages of occupation are developing an interest in increasing subtle skills. Surveys have coughed up two groups that are particularly invested – millennials and women. Both groups of people are searching for ways to get training in leadership either from their employees or other people.
Millennials are aware that their guidance skills have a long way to go. Deloitte says that 63% of this generation believed they lacked leadership abilities. And the majority of women point out that employers are not providing adequate support and resources to drive their careers through skill training.
The number of researches done on soft skills stands testament to their value. People, employers, and workers who believe them to be 'fuzzy' are ignoring a vital factor. Yes, aspects like communication ability and the capability to lead are hard to quantify. Judging how great a person is at them can be an arduous task, but it doesn't mean they are unneeded. They weigh as much as technical skills in importance.
Companies and teams who work together, communicate properly and solve conflicts tend to rise further and further. This gives evidence to the tremendous value of soft skills and the need to invest in enhancing them.
Which Countries Have The Best Education?
© 2018 EAC MN | All Rights Reserved.


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Death's Shadow is a strategy that can quite literally span any combination of Magic's colors (so long as one of them is black). Last week I covered Grixis Death's Shadow. But since a major goal of this article series is to find the best ways to use the best cards in Modern, it would be negligent to stop at just one of the Death's Shadow color combinations.
Today I'm going to cover the archetype I call Traverse Shadow. I use this name as a way of grouping together all of the G/B/x Death's Shadow decks that feature Traverse the Ulvenwald and Tarmogoyf. This includes the decks that you might know as Jund Death's Shadow, 4-Color Death's Shadow, and 5-Color Death's Shadow. But again, if you're the type of player who is willing to break the mold, there's no reason to feel limited to these configurations. I played Abzan Death's Shadow at GP San Antonio last year. Sultai Death's Shadow is an intriguing deck that's had some success, and "4-Color" Shadow could mean G/B/w/u, G/B/w/r, or G/B/u/r.
Before moving further, I'll offer you my recommended deck list, which is by no means the only way to build Traverse Shadow.
My current build of choice is 4 colors of the G/B/w/r variety. My interesting card choices include a Grim Flayer and a Lingering Souls to increase the threat density, a seventh fetchable land (and second basic land), and Liliana of the Veil because… just because she's one of my favorite cards to have access to in Modern.
But discussing individual cards is skipping ahead a few steps. If you're like me and you're struggling to choose a deck for your next Modern tournament, the first thing you'll want to decide is what combination of colors to play.
Black need not be discussed because you can't play Death's Shadow without it. It offers Thoughtseize and Fatal Push, and is the focus of this entire article series.
Green is what distinguishes Traverse Shadow from the U/B/x Snapcaster Mage-based Death's Shadow decks. What you give up in the staying power of Snapcaster Mage, you make up for in your ability to be clean and consistent. Traverse Shadow does largely the same thing every game, and your opening hand often gives you all of the tools you need to win.
Tarmogoyf and Death's Shadow are by far the two best threats this archetype has access to. The deck won't function with only 8 creatures, but there's a steep drop-off in power level once you get past Shadow and 'Goyf. That's where Traverse the Ulvenwald comes in. It represents extra copies of your most important cards, and Death's Shadow is still significantly better with an extra mana tacked onto it than whatever threat you'd choose instead. As a bonus, Traverse leads to great post-sideboard configurations where you can search up silver-bullet creatures that excel in whatever matchup you happen to be playing.
Red offers Temur Battle Rage, which contributes to the archetype's most powerful draws. It allows you to race non-interactive decks like Storm or Tron. Equally important, it allows you to win the game through annoying blockers such as Lingering Souls, Bitterblossom, Kitchen Finks, and Etched Champion—these are otherwise the most problematic cards for the archetype.
Terminate is a marginal upgrade over Dismember, Murderous Cut, Victim of Night, or whatever removal spell you'd be playing in a nonred version.
Personally, the card that most excites me about red is Ancient Grudge out of the sideboard. I prefer it to Stony Silence in part because it doesn't hurt your own Mishra's Baubles. Grudge has also skyrocketed in value as Lantern Control has become a more popular and successful deck. Unlike other artifact destruction, you need not actually draw Ancient Grudge for it to be potent in the matchup.
Blue's greatest offering is permission to diversify the disruption suite against combo decks. Like Temur Battle Rage, Stubborn Denial is a powerful card that fits well in the archetype, and makes your good draws even harder to beat. It, alongside Disdainful Stroke or whatever other permission spells you might choose for the sideboard, helps you lock up the game against combo and ramp decks.
White is the color that I'm personally most loath to go without. This may seem strange as white offers the least (typically nothing at all) for the main deck. Instead, its function is to improve your chances against fair decks after sideboarding. Lingering Souls and Ranger of Eos (one of those spicy Traverse targets alluded to above) dramatically improve your ability to win a long game, and combat the spot removal spells that your opponents pack their decks with in order to beat you.
Without white, fair decks would be horrible matchups for Traverse Shadow. With white, you have a totally fine (if not good) chance to win pseudo-mirrors after sideboarding. I don't like the feeling of going into a Modern tournament as a big underdog against opposing midrange decks. But the stock of midrange decks might be at an all-time low right now. So if there's ever a time to make the calculated risk of gunning for the unfair matchups, this might be it.
How Many Colors Should You Play?
No matter how many colors you choose, a Death's Shadow deck is going to be built around a fetchland-plus-shockland mana base. You won't be interested in colorless lands or creature lands (except for maybe one as a Traverse target if you're that type of player). This makes splashing easy.
It makes splashing easy, but not free. An important point to remember is that Traverse Shadow is designed to operate on a very small number of lands, and that most of those lands need to produce black mana.
First, imagine yourself with a hand that has one fetchland and a Traverse the Ulvenwald. This ought to be a completely functional hand if you build your deck for it. But you'll likely have to choose an Overgrown Tomb with your fetchland. There's no way you're going to have a Plains, Island, or Mountain in your deck, so the Traverse won't help you color fix. So if your deck (more specifically the cards in your hand) is centered around green and black, you'll be perfectly fine. If your hand has multiple off-color cards in a variety of colors, you might not be so fine.
Another pitfall comes from the fact that these decks will usually play only a few cards of each of the peripheral colors. If you draw a Terminate you can fetch for a Blood Crypt, if you draw a Stubborn Denial you can fetch for a Watery Grave—no problem, right? The problem arises when you have to make these fetch decisions before you draw the spell. It will only take a couple of games where you topdeck Terminate, look down at a board without red mana, and can't kill the opponent's Champion of the Parish before you'll begin to value more conservative mana bases. Along these lines, I believe that each progressive splash color has an increasing cost.
I do believe that playing only 2 colors is going too far. It's nice to be able to fetch for Overgrown Tomb every time with no worries. But your sideboard options simply become too limited when you play straight G/B.
On the other extreme, I feel that 5 colors is unnecessarily greedy. Don't get me wrong—the deck still functions, and your mana will probably be fine in about 80% of your games. But you need to ask yourself if you're really getting the right benefits to pay even those modest costs. You can beat combo decks without Stubborn Denial. Temur Battle Rage is a strong, but also high variance card. Can't you choose between them? After all, opening hands that have both can be very awkward.
Realistically, 4 colors is probably a sweet spot for Traverse Shadow. I'll continue toying around with 3-color builds because I'm a lover of basic lands and conservative mana bases. But I can promise that 4 colors work just fine, while giving you access to more tools and great sideboard options. Choose the colors that you believe are the most useful.
Traverse Shadow is faster and more consistent in the early turns (Note: Only in the early turns) than Grixis Shadow. It can rip apart the opponent's hand and produce a hard-hitting threat in the first three turns of the game, while Grixis often has to spend an extra turn cantripping before it can do so.
Due to this speed and power, I believe that Traverse Shadow has the best game 1 win rate of all the black midrange decks. I also like it's positioned best in the matchups that are primarily about racing.
On the flip side, it has the least card advantage, and is the most vulnerable to spot removal, Leyline of Sanctity, and graveyard hate. This makes it a bit more like a glass cannon, and worse in midrange mirrors. You can make up for some, but not all of these weaknesses after sideboarding.
Storm. The fastest clock of the black midrange decks improves your chances here. If you have both Stubborn Denial and Temur Battle Rage, then you're as prepared as possible.
Hatebears and Infect. Giant creatures and efficient removal will always prey on these decks.
Affinity and Lantern. These matchups are conditional on your sideboard, but there's no reason why they can't be favorable. Ancient Grudge is best against Lantern, and I would consider playing a third. My recommended deck list is weak to Etched Champion, so you can consider Kozilek's Return, Drown in Sorrow, or Flaying Tendrils to round things out. If you choose Stony Silence, pair it with a tutorable Kataki, War's Wage to really punish them.
Humans and Collected Company Decks. A classic matchup where your cards are more efficient and individually powerful, but your opponent has more synergy and the ability to snowball in the midgame. Try to cut their resources and get them into chump-block mode quickly.
Tron and Valakut. These traditionally bad matchups for black midrange decks become passable when you speed up your clock to this extent. These decks tend to hit their stride around turn 4, and Traverse Shadow can win the game on turn 4, often with a Thoughtseize mixed in for good measure. One tool that I like to have (which many players omit) is tutorable Fulminator Mages.
Burn. A bad matchup for Grixis Shadow, but a fine one for Traverse Shadow. Tarmogoyf is one of the best cards in the format against Burn. You have the ability to block and to race, and you can make them walk a tightrope regarding your life total and the size of your Death's Shadows.
Dredge. Another traditionally bad matchup where Tarmogoyf, a faster clock, and Temur Battle Rage give you a fighting chance.
Celestial Colonnade Decks. These decks prey on Death's Shadow, and you lack the staying power to beat them in a long game.
Other Black Midrange Decks. They can typically kill your threats more easily than you can kill theirs, and you have very little card advantage in game 1.
Traverse Shadow gets my seal of approval. It has a high power level, gets great opening hands, and earns more easy wins than other black midrange decks. My experience was better with this archetype than with Grixis Shadow. I still like Classic Abzan, but the increased speed and power of Traverse Shadow make it my favorite of the decks I've covered so far.
More generally, I think it's a good time to gun for the non-interactive matchups rather than focusing on having an edge in midrange mirrors.
I'm still intimidated by Traverse Shadow for two reasons. First, the sequencing of the early turns is the most challenging of any deck in Modern. What land should you fetch? How should you manage your life total and graveyard size? What card should you Thoughtseize? How should you use your Mishra's Bauble? How in the world will you remember the Bauble trigger next turn?!
The second is that there's an almost limitless number of ways to build the deck. I've already emphasized how difficult it is to choose your color combination. But even once you've done that, the individual card choices are subtle and challenging. The shell of the deck is easy, but what flex cards do you want to choose, and which should be in the main deck and which in the sideboard?
If you start with the list I posted in this article, you won't be disappointed. But if you're looking to become a master of the archetype, you'll also want to try a version with Stubborn Denial—your experience might be a little different than mine and you could wind up loving the card.
A piece of general advice is to err on the side of being conservative with your spicy Traverse the Ulvenwald targets. Ranger of Eos is an example of a good one because it comes in for a lot of matchups, it's fine to draw naturally, and you don't need it until the late game. I had mediocre experiences with cards like Yixlid Jailer and Ethersworn Canonist because the matchups where you want them go so fast that you sometimes don't have time to achieve delirium, fetch for the right color of mana, find a Traverse, and get your creature into play. Besides, your plan A game plan is good enough for these matchups that you might be equally well served to just kill them!
Time flies, and this article series is moving along quickly. With time enough to cover only a few more decks, now's the time to speak up in the comments if there's a particular black midrange deck that you really want to read about. So far I've seen the most requests for Jund, G/B Rock, Sultai, and W/B Eldrazi. I'll be trying my best to make the last couple of installments as fun and valuable as possible!


This open at the top AP3010B from Aquaplus, is a good sized, 900mm shower enclosure, designed for corner fitting. This comes with a white acrylic tray, a white coated aluminium frame, a gleaming white acrylic interior and will compliment any bathroom or en suite. The AP3010's two main features are the mixer valve controlled hand shower and 10 hydro massage back jets. But there are also three handy shelves/racks for toiletries and a mirror too. Glass is 5mm tempered safety glass. All in all, excellent value and our lowest priced, 900mm "open top" shower model.


The Butterfly (now age 9) has been interested in learning French for the past three years.
We tried a couple of different programs, including computer based games and audio / CDs, but they didn't keep her engaged, excited and actively learning French. Both approaches felt like a chore after a few lessons. The joy of learning a new language was – temporarily – lost.
This summer we had the pleasure of trying out the new homeschooling language site italki. Using the iPad and Skype, we connected with a teacher in France.
We received 6 free lessons in order to evaluate this program. I was compensated for my time writing, but I was not required to post a positive review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Italki is an online learning tool that connects students with professional language teachers all over the world. During my daughter's first lesson, her instructor Lea showed her what late afternoon in Paris looked like through her window!
The process is pretty simple: register at italki, purchase lesson credits (called itc) and schedule a lesson with the instructor of your choice. To help you choose the perfect instructor for your needs, italki provides recommendations and up to date evaluations from students. Next, you "meet" the instructor via Skype (a free service) at a set lesson time. If you're not happy with your instructor, you can easily find another teacher to suit your child's needs and personality. You can find out more about the italki teachers here.
The best way to learn a new language is through one on one instruction with a professional instructor and native speaker. Typically, this is also the most expensive route. SO, before I tell you anything else about the program, I want you to know that it's quite affordable in comparison to local options. Teacher fees at italki vary, but you can expect to pay between $7- $12 per 30 minute lesson. In our area, language tutors charge $35 and up for a 30 minute lesson or per 45 minute class (with other students). Additionally, purchasing a package of lessons will save you money long term.
And then there is the convenience of online learning. I don't have to load all the kids in the car, speed across town (because we are always running late) then attempt to find a way to entertain my younger daughter during her sister's lesson! That's a huge plus for me!
Complete lessons anywhere with internet access.
Flexible schedules. You can design it around your families schedule and priorities and can change lesson times from week to week. You are not locked in to a particular day/time.
It's fun and engaging! Individual attention is terrific for students who lose interest in traditional book learning or get distracted in a classroom environment.
Provides a safe, protected online environment for homeschool students.
Works for all student levels, from beginning to advanced.
Teachers can teach from structured lesson plans or work on conversation skills, depending on the needs of the student.
Offers lessons in dozens of languages. Take your pick!
Lessons can be customized to your child's needs.
In our situation, my daughter wants to learn a language that I don't know. Okay, I took a year of french in middle school and don't remember much beyond bonjour. Although we could choose to struggle through it together, italki takes this challenge off my shoulders. Truthfully? I cannot match the skill and knowledge of a native French teacher.
The Butterfly was a little nervous going into her first lesson. I stayed with her while she got to know her instructor Lea. During the next 5 lessons I stayed close by, but my daughter rarely needed my assistance. Lea made the lessons fun by adding games and activities to introduce and then reinforce vocabulary words. She was always patient and encouraging.
My daughter loves learning French with Lea. I love it. She's looking forward to continuing her French lessons this fall. Can you guess her favorite French word? Le papillon, of course! It means the butterfly. See, I'm learning too!
I'm a proud mama. Mon petit papillon est étudie français.
When you register with italki and make a purchase, italki will give you an additional $10 worth of language credits to be used to take lessons with any teacher on italki.
Be sure to enter your italki user info on this page before September 15, 2013. This offer is available to new italki users only.
Keep up with the latest from italki online by following them on Facebook, Google + and twitter. If you have any questions, send an email to the italki support staff at support@italki.com.


Wow! What a Holiday season!
Wow! What a holiday season it was! Casino Nights Live! hosted casino events in six states in December alone. From Manhattan to Leesburg, Virginia, our professional dealers, pit bosses and DJs spread holiday cheer all over the place.


For more information on identifying and reporting European wasps.
You can prevent flies breeding in and around your home by taking some basic steps.
Although midges may be pests, they're not disease carriers. A brochure about midges is available.
Aside from their nasty bites, mosquitoes can be serious pests and transmit diseases. Find out what you can do to minimise their occurrence.
Portuguese millepedes can be a major nuisance when they invade homes. This page provides information and tips to control them.
Some helpful tips on how to control and eradicate rodents.


text:
UN welcomes removal of Russia's troops from border with Ukraine
23 Apr 2021 5:35 pm GMT+0000 Date Time
UN welcomes the decision of the Russian Federation to return troops from the border with Ukraine to the place of permanent deployment. This was announced on Friday at the briefing The official representative of the UN Secretary-General Stefan Duzharrick, reports TASS.
"We welcome any steps that help de essay in this region. We expressed concern about its growth. Those measures that reduce tensions, as in this case, we welcome," he said, answering a request to comment on the relevant decision of the Russian Federation .
On Thursday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu decided to complete the test activities in the Southern and West Military Districts, since all goals have been achieved. He ordered until May 1st this year to return to the places of permanent dislocation of troops, which were involved in the course of exercises in the south of Russia.


text:
RESULTS PUT SCHOOLS IN THE TOP 25 PER CENT IN THE COUNTRY
WOKINGHAM schools The Holt and Maiden Erlegh have topped UK lists for pupil progress in the latest secondary school league tables published last Thursday (January 23).
The local education authority (LEA) schools are in the top 25 per cent of schools in the country for 'value added' results, which show progress in pupil's achievements from the time they join to the time they take their GCSEs.
The LEA performance tables were released by the Department for Education and Skills and also show Wokingham District Council as coming fifth in the country for GCSE results.
The tables — showing the percentage of 15-year-olds gaining five or more A* to C grades at GCSE or GNVQ in 2002 — put the council among the top education authorities in the country.
With 62.6 per cent of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades, the district was 11.1 percentage points higher than the national average of 51.5 per cent.
Only Sutton with 64.8 per cent, Buckinghamshire on 64.4 per cent, Redbridge on 63.7 per cent and the Isles of Scilly on 63 per cent achieved higher than the district.
Cllr Tim Charlesworth, the council's executive member for education and cultural services, said: "I am absolutely delighted that our pupils have once again proved themselves to be among the highest achieving in the country.
"These rankings are a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our students and teachers, who are well supported by other staff in schools.
"As a local education authority, we are committed to working together with schools to raise standards even higher and ensure that all pupils achieve their full potential."
The Holt School and Maiden Erlegh were two of the highest achieving comprehensives with, respectively, 81 per cent and 76 per cent of pupils getting five or more GCSE grades at A* to C.
Holt School headteacher Philippa Nunn said: "I'm pleased that the Value Added information has been included to give us a measure of how well our girls do.
"We're pleased with the commitment of the staff, and the achievement of the girls is down to the very hard-working staff and also the girls.
"We're always looking to improve and as it's difficult to compare year on year, that's where the Value Added information comes in.
"Our results are recognition that we do well whatever the pupils' ability."
Ninety-eight per cent of pupils at both independent schools Luckley Oakfield and Reading Blue Coat gained five or more A* to C grades, a nine per cent improvement for Luckley Oakfield compared with 2001 figures.
Bearwood College in Winnersh achieved 59 per cent.
Reading & Berkshire NewsRecap as crash closes two lanes on M4Two lanes have been closed


text:
Distichophyllidium är ett släkte av bladmossor. Distichophyllidium ingår i familjen Daltoniaceae.

Kladogram enligt Catalogue of Life:

Källor

Externa länkar

Egentliga bladmossor
Distichophyllidium

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Current view of the front of the home.
The main entry. The home was designed with a zero-step entry for wheelchair accessibility.
The beginning of Kitchen cabinet installation.
Hallway to the Garage, Laundry, Bathroom, and Master Bedroom.


text:
How Cuomo Closes Budget Gaps and May Approach Largest Deficit Since His First Year
January 16, 2020 | by Samar Khurshid
(photo: Governor's Office)
When Governor Andrew Cuomo took office in 2011, the state faced a $10 billion budget gap that necessitated massive cuts in spending for the next fiscal year. The state's Medicaid program was redesigned to cut $2.7 billion in spending. School aid was also cut by about $2.7 billion. There were cuts to state agency spending and redesigns that reduced another $1.5 billion. The rest was covered with new resources, revenue enhancements (though, no new taxes, the governor emphasized at the time), and one-time funding streams including debt management and reestimates of spending.
The governor received widespread praise at the time, including from leaders of both major political parties, for that budget and for leading the state through particularly challenging fiscal times.
Fast forward to 2020 and the state is yet again grappling with a huge projected gap for the coming fiscal year -- $6.1 billion -- and the governor has indicated he believes state education aid and Medicaid spending need to be revisited, and that he will not support raising taxes or creating new ones. It's the largest gap the governor has had to deal with since his first budget and, to the particular concern of fiscal watchdogs, comes amid a period of sustained economic growth rather than in the tumultuous years after a global recession like the last time around.
In other words, the state currently faces more of a spending problem than a revenue problem. And it also bodes ill that state reserves are far from robust, particularly relative to the $177 billion annual budget (of which, $102 billion is state operating funds), and that the governor continues to push spending down the line rather than dealing with it immediately.
Next week, Cuomo will present his executive budget for fiscal year 2021, which begins April 1, and he's expected to rely on some tried and true methods, some of which have been questioned as fiscal gimmickry, but he'll likely have to expand the toolkit given the size of the projected deficit.
Most of the gaps in past years have been far lower than $6.1 billion, requiring minimal maneuvering by the state. In fiscal year 2013, the gap was $3.5 billion; in FY 2014, it fell to $1.35 billion; in FY 2015, it was $1.7 billion; in FY 2016, $1.8 billion; in FY 2017, $1.78 billion; in FY 2018, however, it jumped to $3.5 billion; and in FY 2019, it hit $4.44 billion.
Cuomo Restrains Spending and Closes Budget Gaps, with Risks
After the 2011-2012 budget, the governor was successful in passing eight on-time, or nearly on-time, budgets that kept within, or close to within, his self-imposed cap of 2% annual growth in state spending. But he's used various maneuvers for which the governor has become infamous and which in part led to the budget problem the state must now contend with.
Year after year, the state has managed gaps through, among other measures, cutting hundreds of millions in projected costs of agency operations and reduced spending on aid to localities (including cuts to education, social services and housing, public health and mental hygiene services). That approach would have likely worked again for the 2021 fiscal year, for which the projected gap was expected to be about $3.9 billion when the current year's budget was enacted.
But, in the mid-year financial update published by the state Division of Budget in November, that number was modified to $6.1 billion, taking into account an additional $3 billion in increased Medicaid costs, driven by several factors, and setting off a flurry of concern and finger-pointing about the state's fiscal picture. The out-year budget gaps are projected to be even larger, given current trends, with a $9 billion gap in 2023 if nothing significant changes.
The state has taken at least one step to rein in the Medicaid cost uptick, cutting payments by 1% starting earlier this month – affecting hospitals, doctors, nursing homes, home care providers, and others – while also looking to find $1.8 billion in savings in the program.
Cuomo's budget director, Robert Mujica, has also stressed that the budget gap is nothing to worry about. "There is no doubt it will be a challenge, but it is a challenge that is manageable. The Governor has closed gaps much larger than this," he wrote in a Medium post in December.
The governor contended in his January 8 State of the State speech that the overall increase came from the state covering the costs of Medicaid that is capped for localities, which to some sounded as if he may call on municipalities to pay more. In a gaggle with reporters on Monday, however, he sought to provide reassurances that such a proposal was not forthcoming. "I've not yet proposed how we believe we should resolve it," he said of the budget gap. He added, "Nobody should worry. Life is good. Be optimistic."
That may be a stretch for budget monitors, who say that the budget gap is manageable but also preventable. They warn that the governor's budget tactics, though restrained, may be unsustainable and prove disastrous if a recession hits and urge him to look elsewhere for long-term savings and budget cuts, particularly areas such as economic development spending where the governor has been reluctant to pull back.
Closing the Gap: Dos and Don'ts and Surprises
"It's a gap that's closeable. Revenues are coming in at or above projections," said Dave Friedfel, director of state studies at nonprofit watchdog Citizens Budget Commission, in a phone interview. But he emphasized that the gap was one that the state should have expected and prepared for, particularly owing to deferred Medicaid payments.
The 2019 fiscal year pushed $1.7 billion in Medicaid payments to the 2020 fiscal year, and the current budget pushed another $2.2 billion in Medicaid payments to next fiscal year. The governor's mid-year budget update says that the Department of Budget plans to make such deferred payments "permanent," setting up what some watchdogs call a dangerous practice.
"Deferring that payment was really damaging because it pushed the costs from last year into this year, and it also undermined this year's financial plan because they didn't account for that," Friedfel said. Though in the short term, it may not affect the state's fiscal health, it would complicate the state's choices in a recession, where, according to CBC estimates, the state would face as much as a $35 billion shortfall over three years.
"It's never a good fiscal practice, but it's even worse when the revenues are coming in and the economy is doing well," Friedfel said. "This was completely preventable and it wasn't the result of any type of an outside shock. The federal government didn't suddenly change reimbursement rates. There was no surge in Medicaid enrollment...So this was definitely a preventable budget gap." (New York does have a significant population enrolled in Medicaid, about 6.27 million individuals, and the Cuomo-driven minimum wage increase to $15 has significantly increased costs for health care providers).
Friedfel has several prescriptions for state officials: cut economic development spending and find long-term savings in retiree health insurance benefits. He also said the state could save $800 million with a more focused approach to Foundation Aid, the supplemental funding given to schools to provide a "sound basic education" under a State Supreme Court ruling. He cautioned against any effort to force localities to absorb Medicaid costs.
"It really is a progressive thing that the state did, that Governor Cuomo did by capping out the local share [of Medicaid]," he said. "If you reverse that, you're saying to localities because you have a lot of poor people, people on Medicaid, that you therefore have to contribute more to the state which is the opposite of progressive. That would be regressive."
E.J. McMahon, founder and research director of the Empire Center for Public Policy, a nonprofit fiscal watchdog, is hoping against but expecting that the governor will use "cash flow timing maneuvers" again to balance the budget. "He's rescheduling a hunk of the payments to [Medicaid] providers and basically making his cash flow issue their cash flow issue," he said in a phone interview. "It's not the most prudent approach because it is basically meant to hide the problem rather than deal with it."
Based on past experience, McMahon said the governor may also tap reserve funds on a one-shot basis. "He can't possibly actually save $2 billion in what's left of the fiscal year so there will be a lot of gimmickry related to timing and reserve funds that will, I think, largely paper over the problem," he said.
The most striking part of the problem, he said, echoing Friedfel, is that the state has not seen in more than 40 years a budget deficit of this size at a time when the economy is expanding and revenues are on target. "Usually our problems occur when there's an economic downturn and our revenues fall short. This is purely, totally due to excess spending in a category [Cuomo] manages and has more control over than any previous governor has had," he said.
McMahon noted in a blog post on Wednesday, based on state tax receipts through December, there's an additional $1.3 billion above revenue projections at the state's disposal. But that does not solve what is an over-spending problem, he said.
He did give the governor some credit for his fiscal moderation in earlier years, however.
"If you adjust for the bookkeeping tricks that he's used to make it appear like 2% [annual growth rate]...still adjusting for inflation, his nine years as governor have been on the whole the most restrained nine years of any governor in modern history," McMahon said.
"Cuomo showed considerable fiscal discipline during his first years in office, especially in his first budget in 2011, and he still has considerable power to shape a budget that basically reboots his first-term approach and lowers the spending trend going forward," McMahon also said. He noted that the Legislature has little power to add spending other than separate line items which the governor could veto. To override those vetoes, the Legislature would need votes from the entire Senate Republican conference and from eight upstate Assembly Democrats, he said.
"Now, as recently as Pataki's last term, gubernatorial vetoes were repeatedly overridden by a Republican-controlled Senate in partnership with the Assembly's Democratic super-majority," he wrote. "But that could only happen now if Cuomo goes (further) out of his way to alienate Senate [Republicans], assuming he also can't retain the loyalty of suburban Senate Dems. In short, it's unlikely."
Both McMahon and Friedfel pointed to the pitiful amount of reserve funding the state has put aside, barely $2 billion relative to the more than $102 billion in state operating funds budgeted for this year. Cuomo has, McMahon pointed out, relied on $12 billion in monetary settlements from financial institutions following the recession as a stand in for reserves, of which about $6 to 8 billion has already gone out the door.
"His whole attitude with the now $12 billion windfall settlement is a classic have your cake and eat it too," he said. "The actual statutory reserves are puny by national standards...but he also gets the cite that money as part of his reserves...I'm not gonna be too speculative [but] he'll tap some of it and help solve his budget problem for next year in some fashion," McMahon said.
"Without wanting it to happen, I anticipate gimmicks," he said, "but we'll see."
by Samar Khurshid, senior reporter, Gotham Gazette
@samarkhurshid @GothamGazette
Tags: Andrew Cuomo • Citizens Budget Commission • State Budget • Medicaid • Empire Center • education funding


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Male, Peter Seymour (1943–2012)
by Peter Holzworth
Peter Male, n.d.
Peter, like many of us Queenslanders was a 1963 intake at Canberra's Australian Forestry School. He was there on a Commonwealth Scholarship, like Phil Telford and Ian MacLeod. Ian recalls one of Peter's stories: 'Chooks and chokos mate—the chooks eat the chokos and the chokos thrive on the chook shit, more money in this than forestry.' This is probably true as Ian tells of Peter having a brand new Vauxhall when in Canberra, courtesy of his parents, while the rest of us had to make do with clapped-out old 'bombs'. Ian recalls the 'lots of grog at the Wello and great parties at the AFS.
Peter [Seymour] Male, forester and friend to most in the profession was a very sincere man and one with a very Christian outlook on life. He had a positive attitude to the world around him and was not averse to voicing his principles some of which were rather old-fashioned, even patriarchal, but to his credit he believed in them strongly and lived by them. He disliked cant and was disdainful of the humbug that went with a lot of the 'new management' jargon, like many of us, and would sit at the back of the room, according to his friend Ian Lynch, and read the Courier Mail, rustling the pages scornfully.
His forthright manner and his tendency to say what he thought was sometimes seen as abrupt and his candid manner could be annoying to senior forestry officers and the milder mannered of his staff, but others admired his ability to stand up and 'tell it like it is'. He was never one to leave you guessing what his position was on life and its vagaries.
He was an innovative man. When in charge of the Gambubal region in the Warwick District, he was keen to cut costs in the plantations there by using regrowth stems after clear fall, so he implemented the idea and was justifiably proud of it, despite some tut-tutting by the Conservator of the day. Nevertheless, it worked and is now understood to be a regime of some interest to the new owners of all our plantations.
Peter was far-sighted enough to try to persuade his father to buy Gambubal plantations when it came onto the market in the 1960s. He wanted to manage the area full time as a family business. It never came to pass, but ironically he eventually got to manage it anyway.
Ian Lynch told me that he thought it was Peter who designed a 'very peculiar compartment at Toolara with a shape that would gladden the ancient Britons who inscribed the chalk down in southern England'. The design made Peter quite famous and was notoriously known as the 'Dickhead Block'. Unfortunately, it has disappeared in the new second rotation design.
He was a very competent wood worker in cypress pine, specialising in squatter chairs and children's' toys. I once visited him at his family home on the outskirts of Toowoomba. His work shed was enormous, reminiscent of Cloudland Ballroom (well, not quite). It was packed with machines and electric leads hanging from the rafter. You had to duck and dive to avoid them and nudge your way along to find a pathway. It was efficient in output but Workplace Health and Safety guys would have had fits. Nevertheless, Peter loved his shed and his work and meeting buyers at the markets and chatting to buyers who came to his shed. He loved meeting people!
Like many District Foresters he would invite forestry visitors to his home after work for dinner with the family. That's how a lot of friendships began in those days. Interestingly though, at the end of every dinner and when attending other people's places he would make a short formal speech of thank you or whatever.
Peter was often away a lot in his time out west. This was due to the tyranny of distance and the long drives to the reserves. He even rented at times and seemed to live out of a cardboard box of comestibles that his wife Loretta packed for him on Monday mornings. These arrangements must have been hard on the family.
Sally and John Simpson remember Peter with affection. As John says, 'Although our professional careers had taken us in somewhat different directions, the strong bond of friendship that flourished at the Australian Forestry School in Canberra has remained with me. It is with fond memories that I recall some of the moments of our youth and the sincerity of our friendship as we matured. We will always count Peter as a true mate and wonderful person.'
Peter Male was a very good forester. He was also a very charitable man. He would sell the produce from his flower and vegetable garden at his front gate and donate all the proceeds to favoured charities. Let us hope he is so favoured in his own Christian afterlife.
Peter's family comprised beloved wife Loretta and children Martin, Monica, Marguerite, Luke and James.
Forester , vol 55, no 3 , September 2012 , p 11
Peter Holzworth, 'Male, Peter Seymour (1943–2012)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/male-peter-seymour-18371/text30011, accessed 20 January 2022.
Downlands College (Toowoomba, Qld)
woodcarver
Forestry Service (Qld)


Our philosophy gives us direction, purpose, and is a commitment to citizen participation, to expand and enhance police services which are provided to the citizens of Kinston.
By joining forces with the citizens of Kinston, and other law enforcement agencies, we will form a chain of public safety and awareness. Our volunteers raise the level of quality service and life for the citizens in the City of Kinston.


Is your head on the chopping block? Look up!
Stuck eating lunch at your desk? Add a chill pill to your plate: Being paranoid at work causes your coworkers to dislike you, according to a study in the Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.
Have you landed in your boss's dog house? Here are a few ways to know if the big cheese thinks you're a block of limburger.
1) He doesn't move his coffee cup when you sit down.
If your boss respects you, he won't want anything between you when sitting across the table. He will unconsciously move his cell phone, coffee cup, or pen to the side so there is no blockade. "If something else is more important than you, or if they don't want to engage with you, they'll put up a barrier," says body language expert Patti Wood, author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma.
2) He stands facing you.
When a male boss likes you, he'll stand at your side to talk with you. Standing side-to-side rather than face-to-face means he trusts you. "That's where guys feel the most comfortable, the safest, and disclose the most," says Wood.
3) She aims her body away from you.
Next time you step in your boss's office, pay attention to how she moves. A person's body windows are their toes, knees, pelvis, stomach, heart, throat, mouth, eyes, and palms of hands, Wood says. If she trusts you, she'll be more likely to aim her body at you, keep her hands on the desk, and let her mouth slightly open.
4) He only emails you.
If your boss calls, texts, and stops by your cube, that's a good sign. An employer who likes you is more likely to communicate through all media platforms. It means he's interested in what you have to say—unlike the guy who only wants to email.


Juan Delgado sets the standard for personal attention, professionalism, integrity and customer service. Our mission is to elevate the luxury real estate investment process by going the extra mile. We have the knowledge and resources to help you sell or buy an exceptional property that is perfect for you and your family.
As an affiliate of Rosa International Realty, Juan Delgado is prepared to distinguish himself with foreign investors. We know what it takes to move your family to another country. We offer our knowledge, advice, and experience to make your transition as smooth as possible.
We have purchased over 14 investment properties and a private residence in one of Orlando's most exclusive communities. The personal touch Juan has given us each and every time has been outstanding. We will continue to do business with Five Star Real Estate Group.
No podríamos estar más contentos con el profesionalismo, el conocimiento privilegiado y la atención personalizada que recibimos durante nuestro proceso de compra de la casa. Juan fue capaz de informarnos sobre el barrio perfecto para nuestra casa, las mejores escuelas para nuestros hijos, e incluso dónde comprar nuestro automóvil. ¡Gracias!