Export finance is financial assistance given by banks and other financial institutions to businesses looking to export and sell products overseas. Export finance allows businesses cash-flow or working capital, that might otherwise be caught up in invoices that take weeks or months to be paid. It plugs the gap to keep businesses running and growing while payments from abroad are settled – without the need for business owners to dip into their own pockets.
Long payment terms can be a killer, especially when up-front costs – such as raw materials for production and storage facilities – are part and parcel of your export business. Export finance maintains the flow of buying and selling goods abroad and can help your business to thrive.
What exporting costs are there?
Should the seller not deliver the goods or services as stated in the contract, the buyer can 'call' the bond or guarantee. That is, the buyer receives financial compensation courtesy of the seller's bank. Types of bonds and guarantees include: advance payment guarantees, tender guarantees, performance guarantees, retention money guarantees and customs bonds.
Issued by a bank, a letter of credit guarantees that the buyer's payment will be received on time and in full. This assumes that the goods (or services) have been supplied as agreed. In the event the buyer is unable to pay the entire agreed amount, the bank covers the amount remaining. Acting on behalf of the buyer (the holder of the letter of credit), the bank makes sure the supplier is not paid until all goods have been shipped.
Export finance support is available from various sources. In many countries, government schemes are in place to provide grants and loans to help companies with exporting costs. Export finance is also available from banks and financial organisations, some of which specialise in this area.
Where can I get export finance support in the UK?
In the UK, the Export Credits Guarantee Department (UK Export Finance) acts as the UK's export credit agency with a mission "to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance while operating at no net cost to the taxpayer".
UK Export Finance (UKEF) provides the government's financial backing to give credit insurers and lenders the confidence to provide financial support for those wanting to export.
With a total capacity of £50bn to support UK exports and products and services available for over 200 overseas markets, UKEF provided guarantees and insurance totalling £14bn to support over 220 exporting companies between 2013 and 2018.
What are the differences between export finance and trade finance?
Trade finance differs from export finance because it's financial support that helps businesses to trade either domestically or internationally rather than helping businesses to sell goods and services abroad.
According to The World Trade Organization (WTO), around 85% of world trade relies on trade finance of a short-term nature. The WTO sees trade finance as an important link in the process to keep global finance flowing.
Finance is often provided for specific shipments of goods and over specific periods of time. The goods are the asset being funded against and so, until repaid by the borrower, the goods remain the property of the finance provider. Letters of credit, bills of exchange and bank guarantees are used to support the trade finance agreement.
What are the benefits of export finance?
The route to business growth – This is an opportunity for your working capital to be freed up and your business assets to work for you. Perhaps better cash-flow will help you land that next client. Maybe more money in the bank will help you tender for larger projects and then trade new products or services at higher volumes. What if export finance just made a difference in the day-to-day running of your business and employee productivity? In the absence of cash to hand, export finance can help your business develop as it should.
Higher revenue potential – Export finance allows buyers to request higher volumes of stock from suppliers overseas, meaning your business can take advantage of economies of scale as well as discounts for bulk buying. Export finance can also help maintain and cultivate the relationship between buyers and sellers, making everything run more smoothly for all involved.
More trade and supply chain efficiency – Helping to finance the entire supply chain, from the provision of raw materials to payment by the end customer, export finance can facilitate the opportunity for increased trade as well as a transparent process between countries and currencies.
Fewer risks from suppliers – Export finance reduces the risk of being dragged down by suppliers who go out of business by providing insurance against not getting paid. External financing and assurances could be the safest route to avoiding bankruptcy and securing the future of your export business.
Expands the supplier network – Business owners can open up their supplier network to international companies once they gain the means to start trading overseas. This can not only increase competition but also drive efficiency in markets and supply chains for an all-round better business process.
Whether you need to fill the gap between ordering and selling goods overseas or spread your wings and explore new markets, export finance is available from numerous sources and in various forms – from government grants to banks and other financial institutions.
An excellent option for export businesses that want to free up enough working capital to expand their supplier network and increase revenue potential without taking unnecessary risks, export finance is a positive move towards business growth.


There is a place for you to serve here at Fairhill Community Church of God. Choose from one of the ministries we are active with or any of the other service areas listed on this page. You are always welcome.
Note: We are required by law to qualify, with a passing background check, individuals seeking to lead, teach, or assist in any of the children's or youth ministries.
We serve several groups on Sunday mornings. There is a nursery for 0-3 year old children, 3-5 year old class, and Children's Pastor Melissa Vanderwaal leads the K-4th graders. We are always looking for qualified Sunday School leaders.
Each Sunday our Fairhill family recognizes Communion. Communion elements need to be set up prior to Sunday services and removed and cleaned-up after each service.
Love In The Name of Christ (INC) is a unique network of churches and agencies that respond to needs of the hungry, hurting and helpless. Hundreds of volunteers are mobilized to care for people. The Mission of Love INC is to mobilize the Church and transform lives in the names of Christ.
Fairhill has a strong youth ministry led by Dave and Cheryl Mount. We are looking to split the Junior and Senior High into two groups. We are currently seeking out strong leaders for the Junior High youth. Serving the youth is an amazing journey of bringing young women and men to a deeper understanding of God and their responsibilities according to Christ.
Fairhill regularly seeks out individuals skilled in building maintenance to include grounds maintenance, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters, etc.


I don't think I'm going to finish Sunshine by Robin McKinley before midnight on New Year's Eve, so here it is, the list of books I read in 2014 as best I can remember. I did not keep excellent records of books read this year, nor is my Goodreads account any help, since I tend to add books willy-nilly as I remember that I read them, even if I didn't read them this year. Just further evidence of my failure to operate social media according to its design.
There was a lot of comfort reading. Some books found on the shelf at the hostel I stayed at in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica (and thank the lord for hostel bookshelves). A lot of books written by friends (yay! author friends!). Not too much nonfiction. I'm still reading a jazz theory book and The Rural Roots of Bluegrass, but I read those kind of books slowly because of all the talking back I have to do ("Really? ALL you need is 3 chords? What about those songs with that freaky major 7 instead of the 5?" "Honey, are you going to be up fighting music a lot longer?").
I would not normally do one of those Top 10 of the 33 Books I Read This Year things, but Alif the Unseen was spectacular. Although maybe I shouldn't say that with any finality because I really loved As You Like It.


At Garment Quarter, we've got a stunning selection of women's designer coats and jackets, which will keep you feeling warm and looking cool when the temperature drops. Browse our carefully curated collection to discover lots of incredible pieces from some of the world's most-coveted labels, including Balmain, Vivienne Westwood, and Self Portrait.
We've got a style to suit all moods and weather conditions. Leather and bomber jackets are ideal for breezy days when you want an extra layer, or you could zip up in a designer puffer jacket when the weather turns chilly. Need something a little warmer? Our long padded coats for women will keep you cosy while also making a statement.
Looking for more new styles for your winter wardrobe? If you're a big fan of the designer labels you see here, you might also like our ranges of women's jumpers and knitwear, scarves, and hats.
Update your winter wardrobe with something from our collection of designer jackets and coats for women today. We'll even throw in free next-day delivery, 7 days a week.


text:
Q: jqgrid datetime column sorting in 24 hour format I am using a json object as follows from spring MVC to populate the jqgrid by using a json reader.
{
    "rows": [
        {
            "id": 1,
            "startTime": "Mar 4 08:00",
            "projectId": "Proj_001",
            "customerId": "Cust1",
            "divisionId": "Div1"
        },
        {
            "id": 2,
            "startTime": "Mar 5 15:00",
            "projectId": "Proj_001",
            "customerId": "Cust1",
            "divisionId": "Div1"
        },
        {
            "id": 3,
            "startTime": "Apr 14 22:00",
            "projectId": "Proj_001",
            "customerId": "Cust1",
            "divisionId": "Div1"
        }
    ]
}

I need to sort the

startTime

column which comes in 24hour time format (as above in the json object). i tried do some workaround but still unable to succeed.
jqgrid code -
{name:'startTime', index:'startTime', width:90,align:"left",sorttype:'datetime',datefmt:'M d, Y at h:i',sortable: true,editrules:{date:true} },

i will not using AM/PM notation here. i saw in jqgrid.base.js it uses AM/PM notation to sort. can anyone please shed some light on this? i was unable to find any jqgrid example for using date with 24hour time format that will do sort. Thank you in advance.
my jqgrid code -
jq(function(){
    jq("#testgrid").jqGrid({
        url:"/getall.html",
        datatype: 'json',
        mtype: 'GET',
        colNames:['Id','Start Time','Cust.Id','Div.Id','Proj.Id'],
        colModel :[
            {name:'id', index:'id', width:90,align:"left",hidden: true},
            {name:'startTime', index:'startTime', width:90, align:"left",
             sorttype:'datetime', datefmt:'M d h:i',sortable: true,
             editrules:{date:true}},
            {name:'divisionId', index:'divisionId', width:100,align:"left"},
            {name:'departmentId', index:'departmentId', width:120,align:"left"},
            {name:'projectId', index:'projectId', width:100,align:"left"},
        ],
        pager: '#testpager',
        loadonce: true,
        sortname: 'projectId',
        sortorder: 'asc',
        viewrecords: true,
        multiselect: true,
        //to hide pager buttons
        pgbuttons:false,
        recordtext:'',
        pgtext:'',
        gridview: true,
        caption: 'my JQGRID',
        jsonReader : {
            root: "rows",
            page: "page",
            total: "total",
            records: "records",
            repeatitems: false,
            cell: "cell",
            id: "id"
        }
    });
    //toolbar search
    //jq("#testgrid").jqGrid('filterToolbar',
    //                       {stringResult:true,searchOnEnter:false});
});

A: As I try to reproduce your problem all seems working correct. See the demo live here. If you will sort by the "Start Time" column all work without any problem which I could see.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace Muscularity.DataAccess.Entities
{
    public partial class TraineeExerciseEntity
    {
        public int TraineeExerciseId { get; set; }
        public int UserAccountId { get; set; }
        public int ExerciseId { get; set; }
        public int? ImplementId { get; set; }
        public decimal ProgressionWeight { get; set; }
        public decimal? OneRepMax { get; set; }
        public decimal? PersonalRecord { get; set; }
        public decimal? MaxWeight { get; set; }
        public decimal? MinWeight { get; set; }
        public decimal? AvgWeight { get; set; }
        public byte? MaxReps { get; set; }
        public byte? MinReps { get; set; }
        public decimal? AvgReps { get; set; }
        public int? Tonnage { get; set; }
        public DateTime? FirstPerformed { get; set; }
        public DateTime? LastPerformed { get; set; }
        public int? WorkoutsPerformed { get; set; }
        public int? SetsPerformed { get; set; }
        public int? RepsPerformed { get; set; }
        public int? MostRecentWorkoutLogId { get; set; }
        public string Notes { get; set; }
        public DateTime CreateDate { get; set; }

        public virtual ExerciseEntity Exercise { get; set; }
        public virtual ImplementEntity Implement { get; set; }
        public virtual WorkoutLogEntity MostRecentWorkoutLog { get; set; }
        public virtual UserAccountEntity UserAccount { get; set; }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Take a look at Euclid Avenue from 1920 through 1970. The book takes a tour through the glory years including many of the department stores, specialty shops, restaurants and theatres. The book also includes 22 recipes.


text:
Marci Robles
Head Coach, Women's Rowing
2012 WCA Graduate, Class #28
Marci Robles was named the head coach of the women's rowing program at the start of the 2018-19 season.
Robles, who grew up in the D.C. area, joins the Colonials from Rutgers University where she served as the assistant coach for the rowing program for the past year. As the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, Robles was responsible for the technical and mental development of athletes and helped lead the team to their best finish of seventh at the BIG 10 Championship in 2018. Under Robles' leadership, the 2nd Varsity 4 took first place at Eastern Sprints and the program earned their first ever sweep of Columbia University in their annual dual race, the Cherry Hill Invitational.
A 2006 graduate at Boston College, Robles was also the head men's rowing coach at Jacksonville University from 2014-2017. While at Jacksonville, her Varsity 8 and 2nd Varsity 8 finished first at the 2015 MAAC Championship and her Varsity 4 went on to finish 18th at IRAs in 2016.
Robels also had assistant coaching stints at Gonzaga and Georgetown. Robles' three seasons as the women's rowing assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Gonzaga were highlighted by the program's 2013 West Coast Conference Championship and inaugural bid to the NCAA Championship. The Varsity 4+, which she coached in 2013, won gold at the WIRA's and WCC's and placed 16th in the nation at the NCAA Championship. Under her coaching the Bulldogs also claimed first in the Varsity 4 at the WCC Championship as well as at the WIRA Championship in 2012.
Prior to Gonzaga she spent two seasons at Georgetown serving as an assistant coach on the Hoyas rowing staff during the 2009-10 season and earned a promotion to varsity lightweight assistant coach in July of 2010. Under Robles leadership as varsity lightweight assistant coach, Robles developed Georgetown's walk-on rowers into athletes that were able to contribute to the program in the EAWRC and IRA Championships.
Robles was a four-year coxswain on the men's rowing team at Boston College. She coxed the men's lightweight 4+ to a first place finish at the Knecht Cup in 2006 and a fourth place finish in the lightweight 4+ at the Dad Vail Regatta, also in 2006.
Robles graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts in art history and theology from Boston College in 2006, earned a Certificate in Museum Studies from Tufts University in 2009, and is working toward finishing a Masters in Sport and Athletic Administration from Gonzaga.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


All equipment facilities installed on Samsung RC420/RC520/RC720 are listed below. In order to facilitate the search for the necessary driver, choose one of the Search methods: either by Device Name (by clicking on a particular item, i.e. Intel(R) C200 Series Management Engine Interface - 1C3A) or by Device ID (i.e. PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1C3A).
Samsung RC420/RC520/RC720 laptop features 80 devices.


text:
Opinion: Free Press
Opinion: Tennessee conservative? You bet! Volunteer State found to be most conservative and among 'most free' in the U.S.
December 7, 2021 | by Clint Cooper | Copyright © 2022
For the third year in a row, Tennessee is fourth in the country in the Cato Institute's new ranking of "Freedom in the 50 States."
Every year since 2000, the libertarian policy institute has released an index of the combined personal and economic freedom in individual states.
Tennessee has been as high as third on the list and as low as seventh but is fourth in 2021 — based on scores as of Jan. 1, 2020 — for the 11th time.
New Hampshire, Florida and Nevada, respectively, are ahead of the Volunteer State in the rankings. New York is No. 50 on the list.
We believe freedom goes hand in hand with smaller government, fewer taxes and less regulation, and Cato's numbers seem to bear that out. Tennessee's fiscal policies (covering taxes, government employment, spending, debt and fiscal decentralization) and economic freedom (including fiscal and regulatory policy) are second in the country behind Florida in both sub-categories of Cato's list.
The state does not have an income tax, and state- and local-level taxes — as of 2020 — were 4.1% and 2.5% of adjusted personal income. Both percentages are below the national average.
Although it seems the size of government is always growing, government employment in Tennessee is only 10.2% of private employment, and government consumption and investment is low at 9.1% of income and has been falling for a decade.
The state is also in the top 10 in the country for labor-market freedom with a right-to-work law (which voters may be given a chance to enshrine in the constitution in the November 2022 election), no minimum wage and relaxed workers' compensation rules.
In other sub-categories, Tennessee is tied with 11 states for the top spot in the country for marriage freedom (the ability for couples to enter into private contracts — both civil unions or marriage), is tied with 17 states for No. 1 in cable and telecom laws (telecommunications deregulation and cable franchising) and is eighth in tobacco laws (including taxes on tobacco, smoking bans, internet bans and vending machine regulations).
The rankings place the state at only 39th (up from 41st in 2019) in personal freedom, which encompasses a variety of categories including victimless crimes, guns, tobacco and education. For instance, it is 43rd (and falling) in asset forfeiture, despite an improvement in that law sponsored and passed in the last several years by the late state Rep. Mike Carter, 47th in gambling restrictions and 46th in cannabis laws.
Tennessee improved from 2019 in regulatory policy (moving from 17th to 16th), occupational freedom (39th to 38th), health insurance (25th to 23rd) and campaign finance (16th to 15th).
The survey's analysis for the state also noted changes in 2021 of the enactment of a very limited medical marijuana law and the passage of permitless handgun carry. It also said the presence of Smith & Wesson (which announced in September it would move its headquarters to Maryville in 2023) might be helpful in the gun control sub-category.
The analysis also details policy recommendations, and for Tennessee it suggests, in fiscal matters, separating spending and tax committees in the legislature, a reform it says has been shown to correspond to lower spending over time, and cutting the state's high sales tax rate. In regulatory matters, it suggests repealing the price-gouging law and all minimum-markup laws, and in personal matters, it suggests deregulating private schools and home schools by removing mandatory approval and teacher licensing for private schools and relaxing annual notification requirements for homeschoolers.
We don't necessarily go along with all those recommendations, sales tax being the state's primary form of income (and keeping the stay solvent during the recession caused by the COVID-19 shutdowns last year), and some regulation needed for private schools and home schools.
Tennessee also finished tops in the country in conservative policy in ratings of state legislatures released recently by the American Conservative Union (ACU) Foundation. In bills rated by the ACU, the legislature scored a 72 in 2021. The Senate had a rating of 78 and the House a 71, both individually also No. 1 in the country. The state's all-time rating of 74 also easily outdistances No. 2 Florida (67) and No. 3 North Carolina (66) for the most conservative in the country.
Among Hamilton County's legislative delegation, Reps. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, and Esther Helton, R-East Ridge, had the most conservative voting records across 42 votes in 2021 with a rating of 86 (the two voting the same on every issue). Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, had a rating of 85 across 39 votes, followed by Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, 82 across 39 votes, Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, 73 across 37 votes, and Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga, 33 across 42 votes.
Gardenhire had the lowest ACU score among Republicans in the legislature and even ranked below one Democrat.
Lifetime, though, Gardenhire had an 82 rating, higher than Hazlewood's 80 and Hakeem's 36, but below Smith's and Helton's 85s and Watson's 87.
The ratings did not include Mike Carter, who died in May.
Opinion: Raise, not equalize, salaries of board of education members where needed across the state
Opinion: Commission Chairman Smedley creates new dynamic in Hamilton County mayor's race


HOGGS Driving school is a reputed driver training school in the area with the most comprehensive training services in the Northern Suburbs.
HOGGS Driving school provides a vast range of lessons to suit all individuals needs and each designed to help you achieve your goals in the quickest possible time, we make you ready for driving safely which is what you need to demonstrate in your driving test and ultimately you will know when you are ready and have the confidence and skills required to drive.
We are dedicated to make our drivers safe on the roads .


About : Cake or death?
whole new levelon Pac-Man released now!includes aspiderweb anda pipe smoking fly,wait is that weed!
"Pac Man is whack, man.", said the spider to the fly.
over night, searing neck pain turned into shearing neck pain.
Find the missing limb of this Giraffe...On steroids.
Steroids are bad news. Even a giraffe could lose a leg!


text:
Senate panel to record statements of Sahiwal incident victim families
Amir Wasim Published January 27, 2019
Senate Standing Committee on Interior chairman Rehman Malik addresses a press conference on Saturday.—Online
ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior Rehman Malik has said that members of the victim families of the Jan 19 Sahiwal incident will soon be called for recording of their statements and seeking their viewpoints.
Speaking at a news conference here on Saturday, Mr Malik said the family members of those killed by the personnel of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in the controversial encounter in Sahiwal would be issued proper notices to attend the meeting and they would be brought to Islamabad from Lahore by official transport to be provided by the Senate Secretariat.
The media on Saturday reported that the members of the bereaved families had been brought to Islamabad for their meetings with President Arif Alvi, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and Rehman Malik.
Rehman Malik says families had not been issued notice for Friday's meeting
However, both the President House and the Senate secretariat one after the other denied that any such meeting had been arranged with the victim families.
Mr Malik said the family members of the deceased Khalil, who was killed in the alleged encounter with his wife and a teenage daughter, and Zeeshan had been asked to bring with them their written statements so that these could be made part of the official record of the investigations.
The senator said he had already talked to Mr Jalil, a brother of Khalil.
Mr Malik refuted the media reports that the committee had called the family members of the Sahiwal tragedy victims for its meeting which was held on Friday.
When his attention was drawn to the presence of the family members in Islamabad on Friday, he said it was not in his knowledge, otherwise the family would have been brought to the meeting even without notices.
"I want to clarify it that the victim families had not been issued any notice for the Friday meeting," he said, while showing a copy of the notice which was issued to the federal interior secretary, the Punjab home secretary, the inspector-general of police (IGP) Punjab, DIGs and DPOs of Sahiwal and Lahore.
He said he had written a comprehensive letter to the interior secretary on January 22 which carried 42 specific questions related to the Sahiwal incident. He said through the letter he had sought details of the family members of the Sahiwal victims for issuing notices seeking their point of view and written statements in the next meeting of the committee.
He said it was important to know the point of view of the bereaved families as they were the main complainants. Besides them, he said, the committee was also issuing notices to local councillors, MNAs and MPAs from Lahore and Sahiwal to seek their input on the incident. The committee, he said, would also invite the shopkeepers of the area where the alleged encounter took place.
Mr Malik said that the committee in its earlier report had called for setting up a judicial commission to probe the incident. He said that he had talked to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar who had assured him of full cooperation. He said that it was appreciable that within 24 hours after presentation of the committee's report in the Senate, six persons were arrested. He, however, said his committee would not consider reports of the Punjab government or the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) as final.
Mr Malik said the Sahiwal tragedy seemed to be a "target killing incident".
He said the committee was monitoring the investigation process and waiting for the JIT's final report. He said that after confession by the police that Khalil, his wife and daughter were innocent, the committee now wanted to know if Zeeshan was really a terrorist, as claimed by the police. He regretted that so far the police had only shown his selfie (picture) with one of the alleged terrorists, adding that he had categorically told the police that Zeeshan could not be considered a terrorist merely on the basis of a photograph.
Mr Malik said the Pakistan Army, police and other law enforcement agencies had rendered countless sacrifices in the war on terror. He added that the Sahiwal-like acts could be aimed at weakening institutions and creating a wedge between them.
Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2019
Sahiwal encounter
Incident like Sahiwal encounter should not occur again, LHC warns Punjab police chief
PM Khan promises 'swift action' after JIT report on Sahiwal 'encounter'
Police go back on initial version in Sahiwal killing case
Comments (6) Closed
Gordon D. Walker
A good initiative to hear and feel the pain of those so tragically impacted... Gordon D. Walker Canada
Osman Karim Khara
The position would like to make this look as though it were all Imran Khan's fault.
Rehman Malick is trying to milk political mileage out of the sad incident which is a shame. He should realise that country has moved forwards and such activities are not going to result in any political benefit to his leaders.
Why is Rehman getting so much publicity? Is he trying to t score political points? He is a "has been". why is he being given so much importance. He should be bracketed with Zardari and others in that category.
I was wondering as to whether any of these politicians who shed tears had the decency to attend the namaz janaza of the deceased if they actually know how to read it in the first place?
Actions speak louder than words. There is nothing to hear about. Everything is crystal clear at least in the case of the family.


text:
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Art, photography and all things visual
Show up, Speak up, Stand up: How protest art is leading our movements
A mother's story, a year after the second Karabakh War
IFE NKILI, the arts festival centring Black women
Music, podcasts, and all things audio
Meet the musician making Mariachi a feminist issue
Finding community and coping through spoken word
shado x Instagram present: a pride prom – bringing LGBTQI+ youth the party they've been denied
Actions on the ground
How Indigenous land defenders are leading the fight against extraction in Ecuador
Cómo defensores de territorios Indígenas están liderando la lucha contra la extracción en Ecuador
How Indigenous communities in the Caatinga are battling a legacy of colonialism
COP26 failed us, but we need to win
'Representation has an incalculable impact on young people': In conversation with Bisha K. Ali and Nish Kumar
Chronicling Colitis: Navigating dating, mental health and a career in publishing – all with a stoma bag
How COVID-19 helped me navigate sex with a disability
Nigeria's shrinking civic space in a post ENDSARS climate
Obedience, Oppression and Capitalism: why we need to address the legacy of schools
"I am glad about the renewed gratitude for healthcare professionals…I just hope that it continues long after this crisis is over."
Illustration by Javie Huxley @javhux
Isabella Pearce, Hannah Robathan and Javie Huxley·
With the UK's death toll rapidly rising and NHS healthcare workers speaking out against working conditions and the lack of PPE in hospitals over the UK, it is more important than ever to hear from those putting their lives on the line within the structure of a massively overstretched and underfunded NHS.
Below is a piece from a student mental health nurse working in London, who speaks about the context within which she is dealing with COVID-19; the early call-up before her nursing graduation, and the systemic underappreciation of NHS workers, particularly nurses and healthcare workers.
Before the pandemic began, I was a student mental health nurse. The end was in sight – I thought the most difficult thing I would face in the few months before qualification was an essay deadline or two. This all changed with Matt Hancock's announcement in the daily briefing on March 24th. I learned, along with the rest of the population, that as a student nurse I would be moved "to the frontline" to meet the rising demand for NHS staff as more and more people fell ill.
Cue 48 hours of hundreds of emails filling my inbox – from university, nursing unions, fellow student nurses – everyone trying to get on top of a rapidly evolving situation which no one seemed to properly understand.
By March 27th, we were given four days to make a pivotal decision. Did we want to "opt-in" as an NHS employee, and be sent 'somewhere' to do 'something'? Or did we want to "opt-out", and pause our studies for 'some time'? This really was all of the information we were given, not because of poor communication or incompetence, but because decisions were having to be made so fast that no one had planned that far yet.
A little over a month ago, I made the decision to opt-in. It wasn't an easy decision in any way, but for me, it was the only one that felt 'right'. Expecting to be 'rapidly deployed' as had been promised, the fortnight of radio silence that followed was anticlimactic to say the least. I was full of anxieties: Might I be sent to one of the new Nightingale Hospitals? And if so, will I be given the training and support to look after people who are physically ill, given that my current training is for psychiatric illness?
For me, the hardest part of my role in the pandemic has been the 'not knowing'. Even though I've only worked in the NHS for a couple of years, I am already used to working in extremely challenging and unpredictable environments. It's not the degree of illness that worries me, or even the lack of resources (sadly, we are also used to this), but not knowing where, when, or with whom I will be working makes me incredibly anxious. I wish that student nurses had been 'in' on the decision-making instead of finding out information on the news, or second-hand through teachers and friends.
Thankfully, I've now been given a placement and deployment date in late May. I'll be working in a service I know well and am looking forward to starting! I will only be a month or two late in graduating, and what with everything that's going on I count myself very lucky.
There have been obvious failures by our government to protect our NHS, its workers, and members of the public throughout this pandemic. It pains me to hear our country's leaders speak of 'NHS Heroes' when they are responsible for those same people going to work each day without proper equipment, adequate training, or sufficient emotional and practical support. Sadly, it seems typical of politicians to pay lip service to something that they have no intent of practically or financially supporting.
Navigating between a rock and a high place: Highlighting the resilience of women farmers in the Jamaican Blue Mountains
I keep trying (sometimes successfully, sometimes not) to remember that the 'clap for the NHS' was started by an individual and not by the government.
The first time I stuck my head out of the window to listen to the applause and cheers for the NHS, I cried – I didn't think that so many people would care, and I felt so proud of the profession I have chosen.
I've found the innovative ways that people are supporting each other so moving and hopeful. Although I wish rainbows hadn't been chosen as the symbol to show support to NHS staff – because, for me, the rainbow is so tied to the LGBTQI+ community – I have enjoyed seeing all the support on social media and outside houses for NHS staff, and know that this has put a smile on the face of so many of my colleagues.
When you work in the NHS, there is definitely always that sense of being unappreciated, especially for nurses and support workers as you feel that lack of appreciation even from other professionals you're working with. It's easy to forget that working in healthcare, our everyday reality is being faced with constant crisis, constant danger, a constant need to make quick, complex decisions in challenging situations – this didn't begin, and won't end, with the current pandemic. I'm glad that the government, and the public at large, appear to have discovered a renewed gratitude for healthcare professionals… I just hope that it continues long after this crisis is over.
Isabella Pearce
Co-founder of shado @isabellapearce1
Hannah Robathan
Co-founder of shado @hrobz_
Javie Huxley
Javie Huxley is a British-Chilean illustrator based in London, and the co-chair for the Save Latin Village campaign. Following Javie's MA in Children's Literature & Illustration, her main focus has been on socially engaged editorial illustration for magazines such as Shado and gal-dem. Javie strongly believes in the importance of art as advocacy, her work focuses on themes such as identity and current social issues. Javie also uses her art to celebrate and platform Latinx voices in the UK. See her instagram for more work or get in touch via javierahuxley@gmail.com
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B[L]ackground: an exploration of existence and non-existence


Bop, to drop to one's haunches or squat, as in 'bop down'.
Bop (glass), a standing glass.
"Bop" is a song written by Paul Davis and Jennifer Kimball, and recorded by American country music artist Dan Seals. It was released in October 1985 as the second single from the album Won't Be Blue Anymore. It reached #1 on the Country singles chart in early 1986. "Bop" was his second number one hit, but his first as a solo artist. It was a major crossover hit as well, peaking at #42 on the US Hot 100, and at #10 on the US Adult Contemporary Chart.
The music video was directed by George Bloom. It shows an older couple preparing to travel to an armory. It concurrently shows flashbacks of the couple 30 years earlier. One of the highlights in the video is the 30-year flashback of the couple in a 1955 Ford Thunderbird that transforms 30 years later into the 1985 Ford Thunderbird. Towards the end of the video, it shows the couple in their elderly stages dancing at the armory along with many others with Seals performing the song onstage.
The video has also been included in Seals' 1991 video compilation, A Portrait, which also included the video for "They Rage On," plus three other videos for Seals' "God Must Be a Cowboy," "Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)" and "Big Wheels in the Moonlight" that were filmed especially for the compilation.


London-based brand, Lazy Oaf teams up with Vans to release their latest women's exclusive collection.
"Vans and Lazy Oaf fans are very similar" says Gemma Shiel, Lazy Oaf's Founder and Creative Director. "Everyone that wears both Lazy Oaf and Vans are nonconventional and "keep it weird" in an irreverent and playful way." The collection consists of the Vans Authentic, Old Skool Platform, Slip-On and a Style 29 with matching apparel for each silhouette.
The Vans x Lazy Oaf Collection is now available at Vans.com with the retail price tag range of $65 to $90 USD.


AUSTIN, TX (Sept 18, 2012) – The 19th annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced today this year's full feature-length film lineup. This list excludes the Closing Night Film, which will be announced along with additional films and guests soon. AFF will take place Oct 18-25, 2012 in Austin, TX.
Included in the lineup of anticipated independent and big-budget Oscar®-bound productions is a list of over 60 titles, with many world and U.S. premieres spanning across genres from drama and documentary to horror and comedy. This year's films include David Chase's Not Fade Away (Opening Night Film) with Chase in attendance; the previously announced Centerpiece Film Flight; the new film by David O. Russell Silver Linings Playbook, fresh off its Audience Award-winning premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival; The Sessions starring John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, and William H. Macy; Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut Quartet; The Sapphires; Shadow Dancer starring Clive Owen; Edward Burns' The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, with Burns in attendance, and the world premieres of Spinning Plates, To Kill a Memory, The Rep, Ex-Girlfriends, and Mar Del Plata.
AFF will host more than 180 film screenings and includes a Conference lineup with over 100 panelists participating in 90 plus panels and roundtable discussions. You can find information on panelists and special events already announced at austinfilmfestival.com.
Below is a listing of AFF's film lineup which includes Marquee Screenings; the new Guest Programmers series, featuring films selected and presented by panelists and filmmakers like Paul Feig, Phil Rosenthal, and Chris Carter; Comedy Vanguard; Dark Matters; Family Films; Passport to Africa, comprised of four documentary stories about this endlessly fascinating continent; and Texas Independents, a showcase for Texas filmmakers.
The 19th annual Austin Film Festival & Conference will be held Oct 18 25, 2012 in Austin, TX. For more information on films, panels and awardees, visit www.austinfilmfestival.com or call 1-800-310-FEST (3378). Festival Badges and Film Passes are now on sale and can be purchased online or by phone. All Badges and Passes grant admission to films.


text:
US far-right blogger's South China Sea 'explosion' claims dismissed
25-Nov-2019 Intellasia | South China Morning Post | 6:02 AM
A United States defence official has rebuffed online reports by a far-right American radio host and blogger of an explosion involving a US submarine in the South China Sea.
"We have seen no indication that the reports were credible," the official told the South China Morning Post in response to claims by the Hal Turner Radio Show a far-right American political site which has previously been accused of spreading fake news and conspiracy theories that oceanographic instruments monitoring the South China Sea had registered a significant undersea explosion.
Quoting unnamed military sources, the Turner website also said there were significant radiation readings around the area of the alleged explosion, and even posted questions on whether China had detonated a nuclear device to warn Washington following the passage of legislation in support of the ongoing anti-government protests in Hong Kong.
A Russian website vpk-news.ru also reported on the alleged explosion and increase in radiation levels.
(South China Morning Post)
The claims were quickly picked up and spread on social media platforms such as Twitter, with some users urging people to be aware of the radiation risks. A mainland Chinese news website also carried the report on Friday, but later deleted it.
Mainland online users reacted calmly. "No mainstream media reported about it. It should be unconfirmed rumours," said one user on China's Twitter-like Weibo social media platform. Some other Weibo users checked an official Chinese government website, and found there was no significant change in radiation level around the area.
Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative under the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said the explosion could be treated as a rumour, given it was reported by a far-right political site.
"Think you can safely disregard this unless some reputable source corroborates," he said.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/us-far-blogger-south-china-052257255.html
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Included in this package are zombie animations for the Unity3D game engine. The animation works with Unity's Mecanim system. The package includes 27 different animations. Most of them were created using a Motion Capture system. You get 8 different standing or idle animations to choose from or cycle through.
Even though the animation list shows more runs and walks, some are duplicates of the animations without forward movement, incase you want to use it in that way. There are 3 different walk animations, and 2 different run animations.
Here is a quick video showing all the animations.
The characters and figures displayed in these images and videos are not all owned by Medhue Animations, or Medhue Studios. Some are free characters rigged to skeletons that can be animated with Medhue animations. They are used to display the animations on characters and figures that you might be using and can be found on the Unity Asset Store.


Downloadable driving in Europe checklist. For a comprehensive list of what you need to take with you when driving in Europe with a UK car, our downloadable.
The process for paying road tax when buying a used car in the UK changed two years ago, yet it still causes confusion among motorists today. We've.
Apply for a driving licence, tax your vehicle, book your driving test, and find out the legal requirements for buying, owning, importing or scrapping a car.
V5C, V5 document, Log book – all these are the names of one and the same paper – document on the registration of the vehicle in the UK. This document.
If you're driving in the Netherlands, your checklist requirements are: A valid UK driving licence. A GB sticker on the back of your car – unless your car.
Bon voyage. make sure you take your car ownership, or V5, document, as well as your driving licence and an insurance cover note. Photograph: Bob Edme/AP.


US senator John McCain, a celebrated war hero known for reaching across the aisle in an increasingly divided America, died Saturday after losing a battle to brain cancer, his office said. He was 81.
"My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years," Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. "He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best."
After a long-standing rivalry and numerous public clashes between the pair, following the announcement of his death Donald Trump offered his "deepest sympathies and respect" to McCain's family on Twitter.
He wrote: "Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own.
The vacancy created by McCain's death narrowed the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate to 50 seats in the 100-member upper chamber, with Democrats controlling 49 seats. But Republican Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is expected to appoint a member of his own party to succeed McCain.
He was edged out by George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, but became his party's White House candidate eight years later. After gambling on political neophyte Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, McCain lost in 2008 to Democrat Barack Obama, who became the first black US president.
McCain denounced Trump for among other things his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders the senator described as foreign "tyrants."
"Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity," McCain said of Trump in his memoir, "The Restless Wave," which was released in May.
McCain in July had castigated Trump for his summit with Putin, issuing a statement that called their joint news conference in Helsinki "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory."
He said Trump was "not only unable but unwilling to stand up to Putin."
Sources close to McCain have said Trump would not be invited to the funeral.
He was the central figure in one of the most dramatic moments in Congress of Trump's presidency when he returned to Washington shortly after his brain cancer diagnosis for a middle-of-the-night Senate vote in July 2017.


Thank you to all who have sent me congratulations on joining the Board of Directors of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
As I join the board, I am honored to be joining others in the food allergy community who you may know as well, including Heidi Bayer (board chair), Paul Antico (we all know him from Allergy Eats), and Dr. Dave Stukus. You can find the entire board leadership here.
And... I hope you are as thrilled as I am to see that Lynda Mitchell has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of AAFA and Melanie Carver has been promoted to VP of Community Services. So please congratulate them as well!!
Thank you, Colette! I'm really looking forward to this year and am excited by all of the extraordinary talent and expertise on AAFA's board. Thank you for joining us!
An impressive group indeed! Congratulations Colette and thank you for all you do to help the food allergy community.


text:
/**
 * Autogenerated by Thrift Compiler (0.9.3)
 *
 * DO NOT EDIT UNLESS YOU ARE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING
 *  @generated
 */
package org.apache.hive.service.rpc.thrift;

import org.apache.thrift.scheme.IScheme;
import org.apache.thrift.scheme.SchemeFactory;
import org.apache.thrift.scheme.StandardScheme;

import org.apache.thrift.scheme.TupleScheme;
import org.apache.thrift.protocol.TTupleProtocol;
import org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocolException;
import org.apache.thrift.EncodingUtils;
import org.apache.thrift.TException;
import org.apache.thrift.async.AsyncMethodCallback;
import org.apache.thrift.server.AbstractNonblockingServer.*;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.EnumMap;
import java.util.Set;
import java.util.HashSet;
import java.util.EnumSet;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.BitSet;
import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
import java.util.Arrays;
import javax.annotation.Generated;
import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;

@SuppressWarnings({"cast", "rawtypes", "serial", "unchecked"})
@Generated(value = "Autogenerated by Thrift Compiler (0.9.3)")
@org.apache.hadoop.hive.common.classification.InterfaceAudience.Public @org.apache.hadoop.hive.common.classification.InterfaceStability.Stable public class TExecuteStatementReq implements org.apache.thrift.TBase<TExecuteStatementReq, TExecuteStatementReq._Fields>, java.io.Serializable, Cloneable, Comparable<TExecuteStatementReq> {
  private static final org.apache.thrift.protocol.TStruct STRUCT_DESC = new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TStruct("TExecuteStatementReq");

  private static final org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField SESSION_HANDLE_FIELD_DESC = new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField("sessionHandle", org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRUCT, (short)1);
  private static final org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField STATEMENT_FIELD_DESC = new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField("statement", org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRING, (short)2);
  private static final org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField CONF_OVERLAY_FIELD_DESC = new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField("confOverlay", org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.MAP, (short)3);
  private static final org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField RUN_ASYNC_FIELD_DESC = new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField("runAsync", org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.BOOL, (short)4);
  private static final org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField QUERY_TIMEOUT_FIELD_DESC = new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField("queryTimeout", org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.I64, (short)5);

  private static final Map<Class<? extends IScheme>, SchemeFactory> schemes = new HashMap<Class<? extends IScheme>, SchemeFactory>();
  static {
    schemes.put(StandardScheme.class, new TExecuteStatementReqStandardSchemeFactory());
    schemes.put(TupleScheme.class, new TExecuteStatementReqTupleSchemeFactory());
  }

  private TSessionHandle sessionHandle; // required
  private String statement; // required
  private Map<String,String> confOverlay; // optional
  private boolean runAsync; // optional
  private long queryTimeout; // optional

  /** The set of fields this struct contains, along with convenience methods for finding and manipulating them. */
  public enum _Fields implements org.apache.thrift.TFieldIdEnum {
    SESSION_HANDLE((short)1, "sessionHandle"),
    STATEMENT((short)2, "statement"),
    CONF_OVERLAY((short)3, "confOverlay"),
    RUN_ASYNC((short)4, "runAsync"),
    QUERY_TIMEOUT((short)5, "queryTimeout");

    private static final Map<String, _Fields> byName = new HashMap<String, _Fields>();

    static {
      for (_Fields field : EnumSet.allOf(_Fields.class)) {
        byName.put(field.getFieldName(), field);
      }
    }

    /**
     * Find the _Fields constant that matches fieldId, or null if its not found.
     */
    public static _Fields findByThriftId(int fieldId) {
      switch(fieldId) {
        case 1: // SESSION_HANDLE
          return SESSION_HANDLE;
        case 2: // STATEMENT
          return STATEMENT;
        case 3: // CONF_OVERLAY
          return CONF_OVERLAY;
        case 4: // RUN_ASYNC
          return RUN_ASYNC;
        case 5: // QUERY_TIMEOUT
          return QUERY_TIMEOUT;
        default:
          return null;
      }
    }

    /**
     * Find the _Fields constant that matches fieldId, throwing an exception
     * if it is not found.
     */
    public static _Fields findByThriftIdOrThrow(int fieldId) {
      _Fields fields = findByThriftId(fieldId);
      if (fields == null) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Field " + fieldId + " doesn't exist!");
      return fields;
    }

    /**
     * Find the _Fields constant that matches name, or null if its not found.
     */
    public static _Fields findByName(String name) {
      return byName.get(name);
    }

    private final short _thriftId;
    private final String _fieldName;

    _Fields(short thriftId, String fieldName) {
      _thriftId = thriftId;
      _fieldName = fieldName;
    }

    public short getThriftFieldId() {
      return _thriftId;
    }

    public String getFieldName() {
      return _fieldName;
    }
  }

  // isset id assignments
  private static final int __RUNASYNC_ISSET_ID = 0;
  private static final int __QUERYTIMEOUT_ISSET_ID = 1;
  private byte __isset_bitfield = 0;
  private static final _Fields optionals[] = {_Fields.CONF_OVERLAY,_Fields.RUN_ASYNC,_Fields.QUERY_TIMEOUT};
  public static final Map<_Fields, org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldMetaData> metaDataMap;
  static {
    Map<_Fields, org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldMetaData> tmpMap = new EnumMap<_Fields, org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldMetaData>(_Fields.class);
    tmpMap.put(_Fields.SESSION_HANDLE, new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldMetaData("sessionHandle", org.apache.thrift.TFieldRequirementType.REQUIRED,
        new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.StructMetaData(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRUCT, TSessionHandle.class)));
    tmpMap.put(_Fields.STATEMENT, new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldMetaData("statement", org.apache.thrift.TFieldRequirementType.REQUIRED,
        new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldValueMetaData(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRING)));
    tmpMap.put(_Fields.CONF_OVERLAY, new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldMetaData("confOverlay", org.apache.thrift.TFieldRequirementType.OPTIONAL,
        new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.MapMetaData(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.MAP,
            new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldValueMetaData(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRING),
            new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldValueMetaData(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRING))));
    tmpMap.put(_Fields.RUN_ASYNC, new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldMetaData("runAsync", org.apache.thrift.TFieldRequirementType.OPTIONAL,
        new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldValueMetaData(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.BOOL)));
    tmpMap.put(_Fields.QUERY_TIMEOUT, new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldMetaData("queryTimeout", org.apache.thrift.TFieldRequirementType.OPTIONAL,
        new org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldValueMetaData(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.I64)));
    metaDataMap = Collections.unmodifiableMap(tmpMap);
    org.apache.thrift.meta_data.FieldMetaData.addStructMetaDataMap(TExecuteStatementReq.class, metaDataMap);
  }

  public TExecuteStatementReq() {
    this.runAsync = false;

    this.queryTimeout = 0L;

  }

  public TExecuteStatementReq(
    TSessionHandle sessionHandle,
    String statement)
  {
    this();
    this.sessionHandle = sessionHandle;
    this.statement = statement;
  }

  /**
   * Performs a deep copy on <i>other</i>.
   */
  public TExecuteStatementReq(TExecuteStatementReq other) {
    __isset_bitfield = other.__isset_bitfield;
    if (other.isSetSessionHandle()) {
      this.sessionHandle = new TSessionHandle(other.sessionHandle);
    }
    if (other.isSetStatement()) {
      this.statement = other.statement;
    }
    if (other.isSetConfOverlay()) {
      Map<String,String> __this__confOverlay = new HashMap<String,String>(other.confOverlay);
      this.confOverlay = __this__confOverlay;
    }
    this.runAsync = other.runAsync;
    this.queryTimeout = other.queryTimeout;
  }

  public TExecuteStatementReq deepCopy() {
    return new TExecuteStatementReq(this);
  }

  @Override
  public void clear() {
    this.sessionHandle = null;
    this.statement = null;
    this.confOverlay = null;
    this.runAsync = false;

    this.queryTimeout = 0L;

  }

  public TSessionHandle getSessionHandle() {
    return this.sessionHandle;
  }

  public void setSessionHandle(TSessionHandle sessionHandle) {
    this.sessionHandle = sessionHandle;
  }

  public void unsetSessionHandle() {
    this.sessionHandle = null;
  }

  /** Returns true if field sessionHandle is set (has been assigned a value) and false otherwise */
  public boolean isSetSessionHandle() {
    return this.sessionHandle != null;
  }

  public void setSessionHandleIsSet(boolean value) {
    if (!value) {
      this.sessionHandle = null;
    }
  }

  public String getStatement() {
    return this.statement;
  }

  public void setStatement(String statement) {
    this.statement = statement;
  }

  public void unsetStatement() {
    this.statement = null;
  }

  /** Returns true if field statement is set (has been assigned a value) and false otherwise */
  public boolean isSetStatement() {
    return this.statement != null;
  }

  public void setStatementIsSet(boolean value) {
    if (!value) {
      this.statement = null;
    }
  }

  public int getConfOverlaySize() {
    return (this.confOverlay == null) ? 0 : this.confOverlay.size();
  }

  public void putToConfOverlay(String key, String val) {
    if (this.confOverlay == null) {
      this.confOverlay = new HashMap<String,String>();
    }
    this.confOverlay.put(key, val);
  }

  public Map<String,String> getConfOverlay() {
    return this.confOverlay;
  }

  public void setConfOverlay(Map<String,String> confOverlay) {
    this.confOverlay = confOverlay;
  }

  public void unsetConfOverlay() {
    this.confOverlay = null;
  }

  /** Returns true if field confOverlay is set (has been assigned a value) and false otherwise */
  public boolean isSetConfOverlay() {
    return this.confOverlay != null;
  }

  public void setConfOverlayIsSet(boolean value) {
    if (!value) {
      this.confOverlay = null;
    }
  }

  public boolean isRunAsync() {
    return this.runAsync;
  }

  public void setRunAsync(boolean runAsync) {
    this.runAsync = runAsync;
    setRunAsyncIsSet(true);
  }

  public void unsetRunAsync() {
    __isset_bitfield = EncodingUtils.clearBit(__isset_bitfield, __RUNASYNC_ISSET_ID);
  }

  /** Returns true if field runAsync is set (has been assigned a value) and false otherwise */
  public boolean isSetRunAsync() {
    return EncodingUtils.testBit(__isset_bitfield, __RUNASYNC_ISSET_ID);
  }

  public void setRunAsyncIsSet(boolean value) {
    __isset_bitfield = EncodingUtils.setBit(__isset_bitfield, __RUNASYNC_ISSET_ID, value);
  }

  public long getQueryTimeout() {
    return this.queryTimeout;
  }

  public void setQueryTimeout(long queryTimeout) {
    this.queryTimeout = queryTimeout;
    setQueryTimeoutIsSet(true);
  }

  public void unsetQueryTimeout() {
    __isset_bitfield = EncodingUtils.clearBit(__isset_bitfield, __QUERYTIMEOUT_ISSET_ID);
  }

  /** Returns true if field queryTimeout is set (has been assigned a value) and false otherwise */
  public boolean isSetQueryTimeout() {
    return EncodingUtils.testBit(__isset_bitfield, __QUERYTIMEOUT_ISSET_ID);
  }

  public void setQueryTimeoutIsSet(boolean value) {
    __isset_bitfield = EncodingUtils.setBit(__isset_bitfield, __QUERYTIMEOUT_ISSET_ID, value);
  }

  public void setFieldValue(_Fields field, Object value) {
    switch (field) {
    case SESSION_HANDLE:
      if (value == null) {
        unsetSessionHandle();
      } else {
        setSessionHandle((TSessionHandle)value);
      }
      break;

    case STATEMENT:
      if (value == null) {
        unsetStatement();
      } else {
        setStatement((String)value);
      }
      break;

    case CONF_OVERLAY:
      if (value == null) {
        unsetConfOverlay();
      } else {
        setConfOverlay((Map<String,String>)value);
      }
      break;

    case RUN_ASYNC:
      if (value == null) {
        unsetRunAsync();
      } else {
        setRunAsync((Boolean)value);
      }
      break;

    case QUERY_TIMEOUT:
      if (value == null) {
        unsetQueryTimeout();
      } else {
        setQueryTimeout((Long)value);
      }
      break;

    }
  }

  public Object getFieldValue(_Fields field) {
    switch (field) {
    case SESSION_HANDLE:
      return getSessionHandle();

    case STATEMENT:
      return getStatement();

    case CONF_OVERLAY:
      return getConfOverlay();

    case RUN_ASYNC:
      return isRunAsync();

    case QUERY_TIMEOUT:
      return getQueryTimeout();

    }
    throw new IllegalStateException();
  }

  /** Returns true if field corresponding to fieldID is set (has been assigned a value) and false otherwise */
  public boolean isSet(_Fields field) {
    if (field == null) {
      throw new IllegalArgumentException();
    }

    switch (field) {
    case SESSION_HANDLE:
      return isSetSessionHandle();
    case STATEMENT:
      return isSetStatement();
    case CONF_OVERLAY:
      return isSetConfOverlay();
    case RUN_ASYNC:
      return isSetRunAsync();
    case QUERY_TIMEOUT:
      return isSetQueryTimeout();
    }
    throw new IllegalStateException();
  }

  @Override
  public boolean equals(Object that) {
    if (that == null)
      return false;
    if (that instanceof TExecuteStatementReq)
      return this.equals((TExecuteStatementReq)that);
    return false;
  }

  public boolean equals(TExecuteStatementReq that) {
    if (that == null)
      return false;

    boolean this_present_sessionHandle = true && this.isSetSessionHandle();
    boolean that_present_sessionHandle = true && that.isSetSessionHandle();
    if (this_present_sessionHandle || that_present_sessionHandle) {
      if (!(this_present_sessionHandle && that_present_sessionHandle))
        return false;
      if (!this.sessionHandle.equals(that.sessionHandle))
        return false;
    }

    boolean this_present_statement = true && this.isSetStatement();
    boolean that_present_statement = true && that.isSetStatement();
    if (this_present_statement || that_present_statement) {
      if (!(this_present_statement && that_present_statement))
        return false;
      if (!this.statement.equals(that.statement))
        return false;
    }

    boolean this_present_confOverlay = true && this.isSetConfOverlay();
    boolean that_present_confOverlay = true && that.isSetConfOverlay();
    if (this_present_confOverlay || that_present_confOverlay) {
      if (!(this_present_confOverlay && that_present_confOverlay))
        return false;
      if (!this.confOverlay.equals(that.confOverlay))
        return false;
    }

    boolean this_present_runAsync = true && this.isSetRunAsync();
    boolean that_present_runAsync = true && that.isSetRunAsync();
    if (this_present_runAsync || that_present_runAsync) {
      if (!(this_present_runAsync && that_present_runAsync))
        return false;
      if (this.runAsync != that.runAsync)
        return false;
    }

    boolean this_present_queryTimeout = true && this.isSetQueryTimeout();
    boolean that_present_queryTimeout = true && that.isSetQueryTimeout();
    if (this_present_queryTimeout || that_present_queryTimeout) {
      if (!(this_present_queryTimeout && that_present_queryTimeout))
        return false;
      if (this.queryTimeout != that.queryTimeout)
        return false;
    }

    return true;
  }

  @Override
  public int hashCode() {
    List<Object> list = new ArrayList<Object>();

    boolean present_sessionHandle = true && (isSetSessionHandle());
    list.add(present_sessionHandle);
    if (present_sessionHandle)
      list.add(sessionHandle);

    boolean present_statement = true && (isSetStatement());
    list.add(present_statement);
    if (present_statement)
      list.add(statement);

    boolean present_confOverlay = true && (isSetConfOverlay());
    list.add(present_confOverlay);
    if (present_confOverlay)
      list.add(confOverlay);

    boolean present_runAsync = true && (isSetRunAsync());
    list.add(present_runAsync);
    if (present_runAsync)
      list.add(runAsync);

    boolean present_queryTimeout = true && (isSetQueryTimeout());
    list.add(present_queryTimeout);
    if (present_queryTimeout)
      list.add(queryTimeout);

    return list.hashCode();
  }

  @Override
  public int compareTo(TExecuteStatementReq other) {
    if (!getClass().equals(other.getClass())) {
      return getClass().getName().compareTo(other.getClass().getName());
    }

    int lastComparison = 0;

    lastComparison = Boolean.valueOf(isSetSessionHandle()).compareTo(other.isSetSessionHandle());
    if (lastComparison != 0) {
      return lastComparison;
    }
    if (isSetSessionHandle()) {
      lastComparison = org.apache.thrift.TBaseHelper.compareTo(this.sessionHandle, other.sessionHandle);
      if (lastComparison != 0) {
        return lastComparison;
      }
    }
    lastComparison = Boolean.valueOf(isSetStatement()).compareTo(other.isSetStatement());
    if (lastComparison != 0) {
      return lastComparison;
    }
    if (isSetStatement()) {
      lastComparison = org.apache.thrift.TBaseHelper.compareTo(this.statement, other.statement);
      if (lastComparison != 0) {
        return lastComparison;
      }
    }
    lastComparison = Boolean.valueOf(isSetConfOverlay()).compareTo(other.isSetConfOverlay());
    if (lastComparison != 0) {
      return lastComparison;
    }
    if (isSetConfOverlay()) {
      lastComparison = org.apache.thrift.TBaseHelper.compareTo(this.confOverlay, other.confOverlay);
      if (lastComparison != 0) {
        return lastComparison;
      }
    }
    lastComparison = Boolean.valueOf(isSetRunAsync()).compareTo(other.isSetRunAsync());
    if (lastComparison != 0) {
      return lastComparison;
    }
    if (isSetRunAsync()) {
      lastComparison = org.apache.thrift.TBaseHelper.compareTo(this.runAsync, other.runAsync);
      if (lastComparison != 0) {
        return lastComparison;
      }
    }
    lastComparison = Boolean.valueOf(isSetQueryTimeout()).compareTo(other.isSetQueryTimeout());
    if (lastComparison != 0) {
      return lastComparison;
    }
    if (isSetQueryTimeout()) {
      lastComparison = org.apache.thrift.TBaseHelper.compareTo(this.queryTimeout, other.queryTimeout);
      if (lastComparison != 0) {
        return lastComparison;
      }
    }
    return 0;
  }

  public _Fields fieldForId(int fieldId) {
    return _Fields.findByThriftId(fieldId);
  }

  public void read(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocol iprot) throws org.apache.thrift.TException {
    schemes.get(iprot.getScheme()).getScheme().read(iprot, this);
  }

  public void write(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocol oprot) throws org.apache.thrift.TException {
    schemes.get(oprot.getScheme()).getScheme().write(oprot, this);
  }

  @Override
  public String toString() {
    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder("TExecuteStatementReq(");
    boolean first = true;

    sb.append("sessionHandle:");
    if (this.sessionHandle == null) {
      sb.append("null");
    } else {
      sb.append(this.sessionHandle);
    }
    first = false;
    if (!first) sb.append(", ");
    sb.append("statement:");
    if (this.statement == null) {
      sb.append("null");
    } else {
      sb.append(this.statement);
    }
    first = false;
    if (isSetConfOverlay()) {
      if (!first) sb.append(", ");
      sb.append("confOverlay:");
      if (this.confOverlay == null) {
        sb.append("null");
      } else {
        sb.append(this.confOverlay);
      }
      first = false;
    }
    if (isSetRunAsync()) {
      if (!first) sb.append(", ");
      sb.append("runAsync:");
      sb.append(this.runAsync);
      first = false;
    }
    if (isSetQueryTimeout()) {
      if (!first) sb.append(", ");
      sb.append("queryTimeout:");
      sb.append(this.queryTimeout);
      first = false;
    }
    sb.append(")");
    return sb.toString();
  }

  public void validate() throws org.apache.thrift.TException {
    // check for required fields
    if (!isSetSessionHandle()) {
      throw new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocolException("Required field 'sessionHandle' is unset! Struct:" + toString());
    }

    if (!isSetStatement()) {
      throw new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocolException("Required field 'statement' is unset! Struct:" + toString());
    }

    // check for sub-struct validity
    if (sessionHandle != null) {
      sessionHandle.validate();
    }
  }

  private void writeObject(java.io.ObjectOutputStream out) throws java.io.IOException {
    try {
      write(new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TCompactProtocol(new org.apache.thrift.transport.TIOStreamTransport(out)));
    } catch (org.apache.thrift.TException te) {
      throw new java.io.IOException(te);
    }
  }

  private void readObject(java.io.ObjectInputStream in) throws java.io.IOException, ClassNotFoundException {
    try {
      // it doesn't seem like you should have to do this, but java serialization is wacky, and doesn't call the default constructor.
      __isset_bitfield = 0;
      read(new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TCompactProtocol(new org.apache.thrift.transport.TIOStreamTransport(in)));
    } catch (org.apache.thrift.TException te) {
      throw new java.io.IOException(te);
    }
  }

  private static class TExecuteStatementReqStandardSchemeFactory implements SchemeFactory {
    public TExecuteStatementReqStandardScheme getScheme() {
      return new TExecuteStatementReqStandardScheme();
    }
  }

  private static class TExecuteStatementReqStandardScheme extends StandardScheme<TExecuteStatementReq> {

    public void read(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocol iprot, TExecuteStatementReq struct) throws org.apache.thrift.TException {
      org.apache.thrift.protocol.TField schemeField;
      iprot.readStructBegin();
      while (true)
      {
        schemeField = iprot.readFieldBegin();
        if (schemeField.type == org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STOP) {
          break;
        }
        switch (schemeField.id) {
          case 1: // SESSION_HANDLE
            if (schemeField.type == org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRUCT) {
              struct.sessionHandle = new TSessionHandle();
              struct.sessionHandle.read(iprot);
              struct.setSessionHandleIsSet(true);
            } else {
              org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocolUtil.skip(iprot, schemeField.type);
            }
            break;
          case 2: // STATEMENT
            if (schemeField.type == org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRING) {
              struct.statement = iprot.readString();
              struct.setStatementIsSet(true);
            } else {
              org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocolUtil.skip(iprot, schemeField.type);
            }
            break;
          case 3: // CONF_OVERLAY
            if (schemeField.type == org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.MAP) {
              {
                org.apache.thrift.protocol.TMap _map172 = iprot.readMapBegin();
                struct.confOverlay = new HashMap<String,String>(2*_map172.size);
                String _key173;
                String _val174;
                for (int _i175 = 0; _i175 < _map172.size; ++_i175)
                {
                  _key173 = iprot.readString();
                  _val174 = iprot.readString();
                  struct.confOverlay.put(_key173, _val174);
                }
                iprot.readMapEnd();
              }
              struct.setConfOverlayIsSet(true);
            } else {
              org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocolUtil.skip(iprot, schemeField.type);
            }
            break;
          case 4: // RUN_ASYNC
            if (schemeField.type == org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.BOOL) {
              struct.runAsync = iprot.readBool();
              struct.setRunAsyncIsSet(true);
            } else {
              org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocolUtil.skip(iprot, schemeField.type);
            }
            break;
          case 5: // QUERY_TIMEOUT
            if (schemeField.type == org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.I64) {
              struct.queryTimeout = iprot.readI64();
              struct.setQueryTimeoutIsSet(true);
            } else {
              org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocolUtil.skip(iprot, schemeField.type);
            }
            break;
          default:
            org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocolUtil.skip(iprot, schemeField.type);
        }
        iprot.readFieldEnd();
      }
      iprot.readStructEnd();
      struct.validate();
    }

    public void write(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocol oprot, TExecuteStatementReq struct) throws org.apache.thrift.TException {
      struct.validate();

      oprot.writeStructBegin(STRUCT_DESC);
      if (struct.sessionHandle != null) {
        oprot.writeFieldBegin(SESSION_HANDLE_FIELD_DESC);
        struct.sessionHandle.write(oprot);
        oprot.writeFieldEnd();
      }
      if (struct.statement != null) {
        oprot.writeFieldBegin(STATEMENT_FIELD_DESC);
        oprot.writeString(struct.statement);
        oprot.writeFieldEnd();
      }
      if (struct.confOverlay != null) {
        if (struct.isSetConfOverlay()) {
          oprot.writeFieldBegin(CONF_OVERLAY_FIELD_DESC);
          {
            oprot.writeMapBegin(new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TMap(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRING, org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRING, struct.confOverlay.size()));
            for (Map.Entry<String, String> _iter176 : struct.confOverlay.entrySet())
            {
              oprot.writeString(_iter176.getKey());
              oprot.writeString(_iter176.getValue());
            }
            oprot.writeMapEnd();
          }
          oprot.writeFieldEnd();
        }
      }
      if (struct.isSetRunAsync()) {
        oprot.writeFieldBegin(RUN_ASYNC_FIELD_DESC);
        oprot.writeBool(struct.runAsync);
        oprot.writeFieldEnd();
      }
      if (struct.isSetQueryTimeout()) {
        oprot.writeFieldBegin(QUERY_TIMEOUT_FIELD_DESC);
        oprot.writeI64(struct.queryTimeout);
        oprot.writeFieldEnd();
      }
      oprot.writeFieldStop();
      oprot.writeStructEnd();
    }

  }

  private static class TExecuteStatementReqTupleSchemeFactory implements SchemeFactory {
    public TExecuteStatementReqTupleScheme getScheme() {
      return new TExecuteStatementReqTupleScheme();
    }
  }

  private static class TExecuteStatementReqTupleScheme extends TupleScheme<TExecuteStatementReq> {

    @Override
    public void write(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocol prot, TExecuteStatementReq struct) throws org.apache.thrift.TException {
      TTupleProtocol oprot = (TTupleProtocol) prot;
      struct.sessionHandle.write(oprot);
      oprot.writeString(struct.statement);
      BitSet optionals = new BitSet();
      if (struct.isSetConfOverlay()) {
        optionals.set(0);
      }
      if (struct.isSetRunAsync()) {
        optionals.set(1);
      }
      if (struct.isSetQueryTimeout()) {
        optionals.set(2);
      }
      oprot.writeBitSet(optionals, 3);
      if (struct.isSetConfOverlay()) {
        {
          oprot.writeI32(struct.confOverlay.size());
          for (Map.Entry<String, String> _iter177 : struct.confOverlay.entrySet())
          {
            oprot.writeString(_iter177.getKey());
            oprot.writeString(_iter177.getValue());
          }
        }
      }
      if (struct.isSetRunAsync()) {
        oprot.writeBool(struct.runAsync);
      }
      if (struct.isSetQueryTimeout()) {
        oprot.writeI64(struct.queryTimeout);
      }
    }

    @Override
    public void read(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TProtocol prot, TExecuteStatementReq struct) throws org.apache.thrift.TException {
      TTupleProtocol iprot = (TTupleProtocol) prot;
      struct.sessionHandle = new TSessionHandle();
      struct.sessionHandle.read(iprot);
      struct.setSessionHandleIsSet(true);
      struct.statement = iprot.readString();
      struct.setStatementIsSet(true);
      BitSet incoming = iprot.readBitSet(3);
      if (incoming.get(0)) {
        {
          org.apache.thrift.protocol.TMap _map178 = new org.apache.thrift.protocol.TMap(org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRING, org.apache.thrift.protocol.TType.STRING, iprot.readI32());
          struct.confOverlay = new HashMap<String,String>(2*_map178.size);
          String _key179;
          String _val180;
          for (int _i181 = 0; _i181 < _map178.size; ++_i181)
          {
            _key179 = iprot.readString();
            _val180 = iprot.readString();
            struct.confOverlay.put(_key179, _val180);
          }
        }
        struct.setConfOverlayIsSet(true);
      }
      if (incoming.get(1)) {
        struct.runAsync = iprot.readBool();
        struct.setRunAsyncIsSet(true);
      }
      if (incoming.get(2)) {
        struct.queryTimeout = iprot.readI64();
        struct.setQueryTimeoutIsSet(true);
      }
    }
  }

}


Breakfast time with freshly toasted granola.
Only 2 more days until Christmas Eve! This morning the smell of Christmas entered our house… It is snowing outside and the kitchen smells of sweet cinnamon and vanilla as the granola cools down. The granola smells as delicious as it tastes so I'm making cute gifts from them decorated in beautiful maison jars. I have a serious weak spot for all kinds of nutty granola and this freshly toasted deliciousness made our breakfast rather spectacular. Even though they are tasty just like that, I added the granola in natural yogurt with coconut, chia and kiwi.
Preheat your oven to 180 C. In a saucepan, gently heat the oil, honey and syrup so they combine. It is important to use a mild oil otherwise it gives too much flavour to the oats. Add in the spices (cinnamon, cardamom, seeds for vanilla pod, pinch of salt) and stir around with a wooden spoon. Place all the oats/nuts/seeds into a bowl and mix in the syrup so everything coats. Spread the granola on an oven tray that is lined with greaseproof paper and place into the oven for about 15 minutes. Let it cool before serving.
Yum! What amazing photos you take, they are beautiful!
Thank you Jasmine! 🙂 Merry christmas!


text:
"""Code to generate hparam-metric pairs for the hyperparameter optimization experiments."""

from __future__ import absolute_import
from __future__ import division
from __future__ import print_function

import random
from absl import app
from absl import flags
import numpy as np
import tensorflow as tf
import tensorflow_datasets as tfds

_DATASET = flags.DEFINE_string(
    "dataset", "mnist",
    "cifar10 / cifar100 / mnist / fashion_mnist / svhn_cropped")
_HPARAMS = flags.DEFINE_string(
    "hparams", "",
    "use the following format: conv_units1;conv_units2;conv_units3;dense_units1;dense_units2;kernel_width;pool_width;epochs;method"
)

def normalize_img(image, label):
  """Normalizes images: `uint8` -> `float32`."""
  return tf.cast(image, tf.float32) / 255., label

def main(_):
  tfds.disable_progress_bar()

  if _DATASET == "mnist" or _DATASET == "fashion_mnist":
    input_shape = (28, 28, 1)
    output_size = 10
  elif _DATASET == "cifar10" or _DATASET == "svhn_cropped":
    input_shape = (32, 32, 3)
    output_size = 10
  elif _DATASET == "cifar100":
    input_shape = (32, 32, 3)
    output_size = 100

  if _HPARAMS:
    ds_train, ds_test = tfds.load(
        _DATASET,
        split=["train", "test"],
        shuffle_files=True,
        as_supervised=True)
  else:
    ds_train, ds_test = tfds.load(
        _DATASET,
        split=["train[0%:90%]", "train[90%:100%]"],
        shuffle_files=True,
        as_supervised=True)
  ds_train = ds_train.map(
      normalize_img, num_parallel_calls=tf.data.experimental.AUTOTUNE)
  ds_train = ds_train.cache()
  ds_train = ds_train.batch(128)
  ds_train = ds_train.prefetch(tf.data.experimental.AUTOTUNE)
  ds_test = ds_test.map(
      normalize_img, num_parallel_calls=tf.data.experimental.AUTOTUNE)
  ds_test = ds_test.batch(128)
  ds_test = ds_test.cache()
  ds_test = ds_test.prefetch(tf.data.experimental.AUTOTUNE)

  if _HPARAMS:
    hparams = _HPARAMS.split(";")
    conv_units1 = int(hparams[0])
    conv_units2 = int(hparams[1])
    conv_units3 = int(hparams[2])
    dense_units1 = int(hparams[3])
    dense_units2 = int(hparams[4])
    kernel_width = int(hparams[5])
    pool_width = int(hparams[6])
    epochs = int(hparams[7])
  else:
    conv_units1 = int(np.round(random.uniform(8, 512)))
    conv_units2 = int(np.round(random.uniform(8, 512)))
    conv_units3 = int(np.round(random.uniform(8, 512)))
    dense_units1 = int(np.round(random.uniform(8, 512)))
    dense_units2 = int(np.round(random.uniform(8, 512)))
    kernel_width = int(np.round(random.uniform(2, 6)))
    pool_width = int(np.round(random.uniform(2, 6)))
    epochs = int(np.round(random.uniform(1, 25)))

  model = tf.keras.models.Sequential()
  model.add(
      tf.keras.layers.Conv2D(
          conv_units1, (kernel_width, kernel_width),
          activation="relu",
          padding="same",
          input_shape=input_shape))
  model.add(
      tf.keras.layers.MaxPooling2D((pool_width, pool_width), padding="same"))
  model.add(
      tf.keras.layers.Conv2D(
          conv_units2, (kernel_width, kernel_width),
          padding="same",
          activation="relu"))
  model.add(
      tf.keras.layers.MaxPooling2D((pool_width, pool_width), padding="same"))
  model.add(
      tf.keras.layers.Conv2D(
          conv_units3, (kernel_width, kernel_width),
          padding="same",
          activation="relu"))
  model.add(tf.keras.layers.Flatten())
  model.add(tf.keras.layers.Dense(dense_units1, activation="relu"))
  model.add(tf.keras.layers.Dense(dense_units2, activation="relu"))
  model.add(tf.keras.layers.Dense(output_size, activation="softmax"))

  model.compile(
      loss="sparse_categorical_crossentropy",
      optimizer=tf.keras.optimizers.Adam(),
      metrics=["accuracy"],
  )
  history = model.fit(
      ds_train, epochs=epochs, validation_data=ds_test, verbose=0)

  print("[metric] conv_units1=" + str(conv_units1))
  print("[metric] conv_units2=" + str(conv_units2))
  print("[metric] conv_units3=" + str(conv_units3))
  print("[metric] dense_units1=" + str(dense_units1))
  print("[metric] dense_units2=" + str(dense_units2))
  print("[metric] kernel_width=" + str(kernel_width))
  print("[metric] pool_width=" + str(pool_width))
  print("[metric] epochs=" + str(epochs))
  print("[metric] val_accuracy=" + str(history.history["val_accuracy"][-1]))
  print(history.history)

if __name__ == "__main__":
  app.run(main)


Inspire your healthy eater with this orange, blackberry, and peach mandala. This healthy eating mandala is fun to color and might inspire your child to have a healthy snack too! Kids can add the bright oranges, deep purples, and the warm pinks that these fruits deserve with colored pencils and crayons.


Our best friend, VR2PM became silent key early this morning.
He was one of the active six meter Dxers in the past years, achieved 6M DXCC in 2004.
Six meter propagation going well to the south direction from my QTH. Worked VK8MS, DU7/PA0HIP and 9V1TT last evening in between 12:00z to 13:30z. Also heard YC1MH, 9M6XRO and VK4ADC but not making QSOs. With the increase of sunspots, look forward to have more DX activities through the magic band.


Michel van der Aa (1970) developed a fifteen minute solo composition Hysteresis especially for the Clarinet Concerto program of London Sinfonietta. Michel van der Aa is an internationally renowned composer who combines music, technology and film in musical theatre productions. This composition was a co-production with musikFabrik (Germany) and Avanti Chamber Orchestra (Finland). Ammodo supported the Clarinet Concerto in order to stimulate the further development of Michel van Aa.


text:
ROAD DISTRICT NUMBER 1, OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS v. GROVER SELLERS, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS, LINCOLN LIBERTY LIFE INSURANCE, ET AL.
Petition for Writ of Mandamus
ROAD DISTRICT NUMBER 1, OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS
GROVER SELLERS, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS, LINCOLN LIBERTY LIFE INSURANCE, ET AL.
05/03/1944 Amicus Curiae Brief received Amicus Curiae
05/03/1944 Brief on the Merits Respondent
03/29/1944 Exhibits in case/cause filed Relator
03/29/1944 Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed Relator
03/29/1944 Letter brief
05/03/1944 Amicus Curiae Brief received
05/03/1944 Brief on the Merits
04/29/1944 Motion to dismiss Filing granted
04/11/1944 sheriff's return
04/10/1944 Submission reset
03/29/1944 Notice of rehearing, etc.
03/29/1944 Exhibits in case/cause filed
03/29/1944 Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed
03/24/1944 Motion to dismiss
03/18/1944 Motion/leave to file petition for writ of mandamus Filing granted
C. T. Gettys Amicus Curiae
Road District Number 1, of Jefferson County, Texas Relator
Pat Dougherty Amicus Curiae
Black, Graves and Stayton Amicus Curiae
Grover Sellers, Attorney General of Texas Respondent
Lincoln Liberty Life Insurance, et al. Respondent
Robert Harrison, et al. Amicus Curiae
Fulbright, Crooker, Freeman and Bates, et al. Amicus Curiae
Rosser J. Coke and George Waverly Briggs Amicus Curiae
Great National Life Insurance Company Amicus Curiae
Southwestern Life Insurance Company Amicus Curiae
Vinson, Elkins, Weems and Francis, et al. Amicus Curiae
R. F. Chapman Amicus Curiae
Eugene de Bogory Amicus Curiae


This guide covers sediment retention ponds. These ponds allow coarse to moderately fine particles to settle out of water before it is discharged. They are used in extreme situations to minimise the discharge of sediment laden stormwater into highly sensitive receiving environments. These controls are used when other methods of control are inadequate for the site.


text:
Start a Company > Entrepreneur Interviews > Entrepreneur Interviews - All Business Owners
Interview with Sondra Lowell, Founder of Film Sleepy
Starting a Film Company
Are you over stimulated? Read about Film Sleepy prior to napping.
Sondra Lowell, founder of Film Sleepy, began making movies in 1999.
Tell me about your current business. What are you doing exactly?
At Film Sleepy, I am making movies that put the audience to sleep. In this age of instant information, constant chatter and resulting emotional and physical breakdowns, there should be no need to explain why the world needs movies to sleep through. And yet I find myself having to explain over and over why my movies are so boring.
My first feature, WEBCAMMURDER.COM, is the slow-moving tale of four lifecasters with webcams turned on 24/7. They read, they sleep, they play Solitaire and they dream of overtaking eBay and Amazon's ratings.
Who would want to watch that, you wonder? No one. That's the point.You have no qualms about sleeping through it because you know you'renot missing anything. And you wake up healthier and more refreshed than you've felt in years.
But don't take my word for it. As a viewer said, "It just sits there." And the Los Angeles Times, bless its soul, called WEBCAMMURDER.COM "the most boring talky ever made."
My second feature, SUBLIME CRIME: A SUBLIMINAL MYSTERY, takes sleeping through movies to a level I could not have conceived of had I not already gone through the process of bringing WEBCAMMURDER.COM to fruition.
As the first entirely subliminal mystery in history, SUBLIME CRIME is mostly a pure blank screen with an unintelligible soundtrack of affirmations such as, "I am really, really charismatic" and "I am going to buy DVDs of this movie for everyone I know." The occasional onscreen flashes of the plot spur the viewer/sleeper to solve the mystery in their dream.
Did you operate your business from your home? What were the challenges and benefits to this strategy?
Editing at home is perfect, because you edit when you can and take care of everything else in your life between cuts. You've got your refrigerator, shower and, if you need clean clothes, you can wash those without leaving work, too.
With the current economy in a slump, what cost saving tips would you have for a new entrepreneur?
For beginning filmmakers, the Film Sleepy genre is without a doubt the most cost effective route to a motion picture career. A lot of first timers go for horror because it's popular in both domestic and foreign markets. But horror are all those special effects. Film Sleepy? None.
Movie making gurus say you'll do much better if you hire a household name for the lead, even if their last gig was as a neighbor on Ozzie and Harriet. Film Sleepy? Your audience will be asleep. Period. End of problem.
Finding employees to work in a new and growing business can be a challenge. How did you find your employees?
I belonged to several actors' groups, so almost all the cast members were either people I'd known a long time or members of those groups. When I couldn't fill a role that way, I looked up people on Internet acting sites and asked a few whose videos looked right to come in. Since WebcamMurder.com was my first feature, I was overwhelmed by just about every part of the process and choosing from a bunch of strangers at an open call worried me. What if I hired someone and they didn't show up?
Luckily, in 2001, the Screen Actors Guild Experimental Agreement allowed low budget filmmakers to make a film without paying the actors until it was shown. And by the time I finished editing five years later...uh, I kept finding flaws and Adobe Premiere 6 kept crashing...there was a new contract. The Ultra Low Budget Agreement let producers pay the union actors $100 a day, a big savings over the regular minimum, which was very helpful.
Finding the crew was harder than finding actors. I wanted a crew that came in one package. One guy talked like he and a friend could do it all at a very reasonable price. Best of all, he sounded excited about getting involved. But by the time I got all the other details worked out, his price was a lot higher and not all-inclusive. He had also lost his enthusiasm.
I finally found a man who put the crew together for me for a reasonable price--although I noticed myself screaming every time we spoke and he didn't come through on a prior agreement to replace a non-working microphone. It was too late to back out, and renting the lavalier mics that replaced the boom mic increased the budget of the eight day shoot quite a bit.
On Sublime Crime, shot in 2008, I was the crew. I spent $3.00 on tape and about $100 on my salary. The non-union clip art characters worked for free. Way to go.
[Note: I became a SAG signatory because, as a member, I wanted to follow their rules. Filmmakers who won't be using union talent can make any agreements with the actors that both parties agree to.]
How has your experience in running the business been different from what you expected?
When I realized that making WebcamMurder.com would mean I was a filmmaker, I was filled with dread. I didn't see myself as a filmmaker. I couldn't imagine directing actors and technicians and thereby turning into a filmmaker without dying in the process. The biggest difference between what I expected and what happened is that I came out alive.
Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
In retrospect, I should have been less optimistic about the process of changing people's artistic habits. I expected the public to welcome movies that put them to sleep with open arms and closed eyes. You only have to look at evening news horror stories, grocery shoppers taking phone calls, drivers texting in intersections, couples tweeting as they dine and audiences facebooking while they watch movies that don't put them to sleep, to see that we all need to s--l--o--w d--o--w--n.
And yet, we are so brainwashed by Big Pharma and Big Cinema that we resist the very thing that can save us--dozing in a situation where nothing more is required of us.
We only have to look at Tiger Woods to see how sleeping pills can destroy our endorsement deals. And movie stars we vote for because of their super powers onscreen turn out to be incapable of running a state government. Getting caught up in their magic does not serve us in the end.
I do not regret starting on this path. It's just a longer, more winding one than I anticipated. Then again, WEBCAMMURDER.COM'S standing at #294,373 in DVDs isn't that bad, considering the advertising budgets of "wakies" turned out by Hollywood moguls. Perhaps next week it will be #294,372.
What advice would you give to somebody else who wanted to start a similar business?
While most films made even now follow the same tired rules as shoot'em ups like The Great Train Robbery (1903), the Film Sleepy genre offers an opportunity for growth as this new industry expands, and I recommend it. My downloadable manual, How to Make a Movie That Puts the Audience to Sleep: A Home Study Course, will give you a head start against the competition.
The hardest part of the business currently is finding an audience that knows they want to sleep through movies. However, I am paving the way, and the more filmmakers who join the cause, the greater our chances to educate the public about the benefits of the genre to society as a whole.
In keeping with this educational process, WebcamMurder.com can now be seen for free on YouTube, in nap-sized one minute segments.
Oh, is the interview over, I dozed off. Thank you for your time, Sondra.
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