text:
\section{Introduction}
The Standard Model of particle physics~(SM) has been working beautifully, up to a few hundred GeV so far, yet we know that it must be an effective theory valid up to some energy scale. There are many compelling reasons to believe that the SM in an incomplete theory; we can mention the hierarchy problem, the lack of a dark matter candidate, the unification of gauge couplings, the need for new sources of $C\!P$ violation to explain the dynamical generation of the baryon asymmetry in the universe, the reason for the existence of three generations of quarks and leptons, the origins of mass and CKM hierarchies, etc. The SM has proven to be very solid, well beyond any expectation, but we have powerful tools to go on with the investigations. For example, despite some operational issues, the LHC reached a performance record in 2018, with a peak luminosity steadily at about $2\times10^{34}~\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\mathrm{s}^{-2}$, that is two times larger then the design value.

\section{Higgs physics}
Although it seems with us since ages, we have not to forget that the discovery of the Higgs boson took place only seven years ago. Measurements of Higgs properties with increasing precision are now a formidable tool to look for new-physics manifestations. A framework for cross-section measurements with reduced model dependence targeting Higgs production, namely simplified template cross-sections (STXS), has been developed and deployed. Within this framework, Higgs production is split into the main production modes and further into fine-grain kinematic regions of phase space.

The associated production of $H\to b\bar{b}$ and $W$ or $Z$ bosons decaying into leptons as a function of $p_\mathrm{T}(W/Z)$ with STXS has been measured, using a data sample corresponding to $80~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{arXiv:1903.04618}. Cross-sections are used to constrain parameters in an effective Lagrangian framework. Another relevant measurement is that of the Higgs coupling to the top quark using $H\to \gamma\gamma$ decays. A simultaneous fit in seven signal-enriched event categories is performed, and $t\bar{t}H$ production is observed at $4.9\sigma$, using $140~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 13~TeV~\cite{ATLAS-CONF-2019-004}.

Several new measurements in the four-lepton final state have been performed. All main production modes have been studied, \emph{i.e.} $ggH$, vector-boson fusion, associated production of gauge bosons and $t\bar{t}H$. There is little sensitivity to $b\bar{b}H$ or $tH$, but these processes have been also considered explicitly. Differential cross-sections have been measured as a function of the Higgs $p_\mathrm{T}$ and $y$, the number of associated jets, and the $p_\mathrm{T}$ of the leading associated jet, using $137~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 13~TeV~\cite{CMS-PAS-HIG-19-001}. The distribution of the reconstructed four-lepton invariant mass with 2018 data is shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:higgs_mass}.

\begin{figure}
\begin{minipage}{1\linewidth}
\centerline{\includegraphics[width=0.7\linewidth]{vagnoni_higgs_mass}}
\end{minipage}
\caption[]{Distribution of the reconstructed four-lepton invariant mass with 2018 data~\cite{CMS-PAS-HIG-19-001}.}
\label{fig:higgs_mass}
\end{figure}

With more and more statistics, searches for Higgs rare decays are becoming increasingly important. Exclusive decays of the Higgs boson to mesons, such as $H \to J/\psi J\psi$ or $\Upsilon\Upsilon$, recently measured using  $37.5~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{CMS-PAS-HIG-18-025}, are interesting to study Yukawa couplings to quarks and for beyond-the-SM~(BSM) searches. New physics could affect direct $Hq\bar{q}$ couplings or enter through loops, and modify interference patterns between the various amplitudes. However, SM predictions are very small and uncertain.

We have not yet found evidence for non-SM behaviour of the Higgs particle. But the transition from observation to detailed measurements has only started, and now also in the STXS framework with finer granularity to probe deviations from the SM. Several new Higgs results have been presented at winter conferences, many with partial Run-2 statistics and only a few with full Run-2 statistics. Significant improvements with the full set of analyses and the full Run-2 data set are anticipated.

\section{Top physics}
The LHC is also a powerful top factory. Top quarks are produced predominantly in pairs, with $\sigma(t\bar{t}) \simeq 0.8~\mathrm{nb}$ at 13~TeV. Single-top production via electroweak interactions is rarer, but theoretically very clean. The top quark is the heaviest known fundamental particle by far, with a mass of about 173~GeV. An interesting question is whether the similarity in mass scale to $H$, $W$ and $Z$ is related to electroweak symmetry breaking. Due to the short lifetime, order of $10^{-25}~\mathrm{s}$, the top decays before hadronisation. For this reason it provides a unique opportunity to study a quasi-free quark. Furthermore, spin decorrelation time is much longer, and then one can study spin correlation via decay products~\cite{arXiv:1903.07570}. The top quark decays almost exclusively to $Wb$ in the SM. Events are categorised by the decays of the $W$ boson: all hadronic, lepton plus jets and di-lepton.

The mass of the Higgs at 125 GeV is close to the minimum value that ensures absolute vacuum stability within the SM. Precise top-mass measurements are very relevant, and several different techniques are adopted
\begin{itemize}
\item ideogram method, measured with $35.9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{EPJC 78 (2018) 891};
\item all-jets final state, $35.9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{arXiv:1812.10534};
\item differential cross-section, $35.9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{arXiv:1812.10505};
\item inclusive cross-section, $35.9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{arXiv:1812.10505}.
\end{itemize}

Concerning associated production of $t\bar{t}$ pairs with $W$ and $Z$ bosons, these are rare processes with cross-sections of about $1~\mathrm{pb}$ at 13~TeV. Such measurements are very useful to test QCD predictions, as deviations might indicate the presence of new physics, like vector-like quarks, strongly coupled Higgs bosons, exotic quarks with charge $-4/3$ and anomalous dipole moments of the top quark. Several measurements have been performed recently, \emph{e.g.} by ATLAS with $36.1~\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{arXiv:1901.03584}, and by CMS with $35.9~\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$ and $77.5~\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{JHEP 08 (2018) 011,CMS-PAS-TOP-18-009}. Results are in line with NLO predictions. The CMS result on $t\bar{t}Z$ has better precision than NLO, but resummed calculations are now reaching NNLL+NLO accuracy.

An interesting search is that of four-top production. This is a very rare process, with a cross-section of about $10~\mathrm{fb}$ at 13~TeV. Events are characterised by very large jets, b-jet multiplicities and hadronic activity. The latest search by CMS is for same-sign di-lepton and multi-lepton events using $137~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13 TeV~\cite{CMS PAS TOP-18-003}. A multivariate analysis yields a significance of $2.6~\sigma$ relative to the background-only hypothesis, and a cross-section of $12.6^{5.8}_{-5.2}~\mathrm{fb}$. The results are used to constrain the top Yukawa coupling with respect to the SM value.

The top quark is also a tool to look directly for BSM physics. In FCNC processes the top quark can couple to a light quark (up or charm) and a neutral boson ($\gamma$, $Z$, $H$, $g$). These processes are forbidden at tree-level in the SM, and not observable with present data unless new physics is at play. Observation of FCNC would be indicative of new physics. A recent measurement by ATLAS in $t\to uH$ and $t \to cH$, using $36.1~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{arXiv:1812.11568}, did not find evidence for these processes. Combining the search with other ATLAS searches in di-photon and multi-lepton final states, at 95\% C.L. one gets $BR(t \to uH) < 1.1 \times 10^{-3}$ and $BR(t \to cH) < 1.2 \times 10^{-3}$. There is nothing unexpected in exotic physics with top quarks yet, but the full Run-2 data set has still to be analysed.

To conclude this section, a peculiar measurement of top production that is also worth mentioning is that performed by LHCb, using $1.9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{JHEP 08 (2018) 174}. The forward acceptance of the LHCb detector allows measurements in a phase space inaccessible to ATLAS and CMS. In this analysis, events containing a high-$p_\mathrm{T}$ muon and electron of opposite charge in addition to a high-$p_\mathrm{T}$ jet have been selected. No discrepancy from the SM expectation has been found.

\section{Electroweak physics}
In the SM, three parameters define the electroweak sector, namely U(1) and SU(2) couplings and vacuum expectation value. The electroweak sector of the SM is over-constrained and the strength of global fits can be exploited to predict key observables, such as the $W$ mass and the effective electroweak mixing angle, with a precision exceeding that of direct measurements.

The $W$ mass is sensitive to the Higgs and top masses via radiative corrections. The precise determination of the $W$ mass is of great importance in testing the internal consistency of the SM. The global electroweak fit yields the mass of the $W$ with an uncertainty of 8~MeV, to be compared with the experimental precision of 15~MeV. Therefore there is the need to improve the experimental uncertainty. The only $W$ mass measurement at the LHC to date has been performed by ATLAS: $M_W = 80370 \pm 7\,(\mathrm{stat.}) \pm 11\,(\mathrm{exp. syst.}) \pm 14\,(\mathrm{mod. syst.})$~MeV. The dominating uncertainty stems from theory. This lone ATLAS measurement competes with the Tevatron combination. It is worth reminding that the measurement at the LHC is affected by PDF uncertainties more than at the Tevatron.

In the SM, $ZZ$ production proceeds mainly through quark-antiquark $t$- and $u$-channel scattering diagrams. At higher orders in QCD also $gg$ fusion contributes via box diagrams with quark loops. There has been a recent CMS study of four-lepton production, $pp \to (Z/\gamma^\ast)(Z/\gamma^\ast) \to 4l$, where $l=e~\mathrm{or}~\mu$, using $101~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{CMS-PAS-SMP-19-001}. By combining with the 2016 results, the measured cross-section value is found to be consistent with the SM prediction.

\section{BSM searches}
BSM searches are amongst the most important~(and challenging) analyses at the LHC. As first searches, BSM models predict new resonances decaying to a pair of objects, \emph{i.e.} two-body resonances like di-photons, di-leptons, di-bosons, di-jets. When the multiplicity of the final states gets larger, or one goes for exotic signatures like long-lived particles~(LLPs), analyses become increasingly more complex and model-dependent, requiring better understanding of the underlying physics models being tested and of the detector response. Many signatures have been probed already with full Run-2 statistics. First analyses did not reveal evidence for new physics yet, but a lot of phase space has still to be explored. In the following, a few examples of recent analyses presented during the conference will be highlighted.

A recent search for new resonances decaying to electron and muon pairs has been performed by ATLAS using $139~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 13~TeV~\cite{arXiv:1903.06248}. The background fit with a parametric function exhibits an excellent description of the di-lepton spectra up to several TeV. The distributions of the di-electron and di-muon invariant masses are shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:bsm_mass}. No significant excess over the SM expectation is found. Cross-section limits are set for generic resonances with a relative natural width between zero and 10\%.

\begin{figure}
\begin{minipage}{1\linewidth}
\centerline{\includegraphics[width=0.9\linewidth]{vagnoni_bsm_mass}}
\end{minipage}
\caption[]{Distributions of the (left) di-electron and (right) di-muon invariant masses. Zero-width signal shapes, scaled to 20 times the value of the corresponding expected upper limit at 95\% CL on the fiducial cross-section times branching ratio, are superimposed~\cite{arXiv:1903.06248}.}
\label{fig:bsm_mass}
\end{figure}

New heavy particles that decay to partons are predicted in many BSM models. For example, excited quarks are predicted in compositeness models and are a typical benchmark used in many di-jet searches. Partons shower and hadronise, creating collimated jets. BSM phenomena may produce a di-jet signal up to masses that are a significant fraction of the total collision energy. Two recent searches for new resonances in the di-jet invariant mass by ATLAS~(with $139~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13 TeV~\cite{ATLAS-CONF-2019-007}) and CMS~(with $77.8~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13 TeV~\cite{CMS-PAS-EXO-17-026}) show no significant excess from the SM expectation. Moving to a more complex analysis, with three or more electrons and muons in the final state, one looks for non-resonant excesses in the tails of the sum of lepton $p_\mathrm{T}$ plus missing transverse momentum (with $137~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13 TeV~\cite{CMS-PAS-EXO-19-002}). Observed data are consistent with the SM expectation.

While the phase space for an easy discovery is reducing, growing interest is emerging for new-physics searches with unconventional signatures, like emerging jets, heavy charged LLPs, delayed jets, displaced jets, disappearing tracks, displaced muons. A community white paper has been released recently~\cite{arXiv:1903.04497}. At low energy, a search for a spin-0 boson using prompt decays to $\mu^+\mu^-$ has been performed by LHCb, with $3~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 7 and 8 TeV~\cite{JHEP 09 (2018) 147}. The LHCb detector has good sensitivity to light spin-0 particles due to its high-precision spectrometer and its capability of triggering on objects with small transverse momenta. No evidence for a signal is observed and limits are placed.

In conclusion, BSM searches are very challenging as they look for corners and tails of SM physics. The community working in the sector is continuously developing new techniques and adding new models, phase-space regions and correlations with SM backgrounds. Many results are anticipated to come out soon with Run-2 statistics, while preparing for Run 3. The phase space has been narrowed down for some models, but there are many others to study, and the end of the searches is still very far to come.

\section{(Some) hard and soft QCD processes}
Genuine QCD measurements at the LHC are important for the good modelling of hadronic collisions and obviously to test our understanding of QCD: probing PDFs and NLO predictions; studying event topologies in interesting phase space regions, \emph{i.e.} multi-jet production, di-jet decorrelations, and very forward region; studying jet substructure; understanding backgrounds for electroweak analyses, BSM searches, etc.; studying multiple parton interactions, \emph{e.g.} double parton scattering (DPS); etc. In addition, accurate knowledge is crucial for the development of future projects, like ATLAS and CMS phase-2 upgrades. Several recent measurements have been performed by ATLAS and CMS, the latter also using CASTOR to study very forward energy flow and jets.

A measurement of simultaneous Drell-Yan production with four leptons in the final state has been performed using $20.2~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 8 TeV~\cite{Phys. Lett. B 790 (2019) 595}. The process is particularly relevant as a background in the Higgs analysis with four-lepton decays. A simplified model for a DPS cross-section can be written as $\sigma^\mathrm{DPS}_{\mathrm{AB}} \simeq \sigma_\mathrm{A}\sigma_\mathrm{B}/{\sigma_\mathrm{eff}}$, where $\sigma_\mathrm{eff}$ is assumed to be process- and energy-independent. No signal of DPS is observed. The upper limit on the fraction of the DPS contribution to the inclusive four-lepton final state translates into a lower limit of $1.0~\mathrm{mb}$ on the effective cross-section.

Another DPS measurement has been performed by looking for same sign $WW$ production with $77~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 13~TeV~\cite{CMS-PAS-SMP-18-015}. This is an important channel to test DPS predictions. Both hard scatterings lead to the production of a $W$ boson, and particularly interesting is the final state with two same-charge $W$ bosons. The $W$ decay provides a relatively clean signal, with well-understood background processes. In particular, $WZ$ production constitutes the main background. A fit is performed in different flavour-sign categories separately, $\mu^\pm \mu^\pm$ and $e^\pm e^\pm$. This result represents the first experimental evidence of the DPS $WW$ process.

Production of prompt photons in $pp \to \gamma X$ allows pQCD tests with a hard colourless probe. The dominant production mechanism at the LHC is $qg \to q\gamma$. The cross-section is sensitive to the gluon density in the proton. An isolation cut is needed to reduce background from neutral-hadron decays and from fragmentation where the emitted photon is close to a jet. An analysis of $20.2~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ and $3.2~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 8 and 13 TeV  has been performed~\cite{arXiv:1901.10075}. The ratio between cross-sections at 13 and 8~TeV is measured as a function of the energy of the photon in different photon pseudorapidity ranges. Predictions using several PDFs agree well with data.

\section{Heavy ions}
Hard probes are one of the pillars to study hot and dense QCD matter created in heavy ion collisions. Perturbative processes take place before the QGP forms, \emph{e.g.} heavy-quark production. On the other hand, heavy quarks decay weakly such that their lifetime is greater than that of the QGP and so they experience the full system evolution. In addition, quarkonium states have binding energies of the order of a few hundred MeV, and interactions with hard gluons in a QGP can overcome this threshold breaking the quarkonium system. The modification of the jet structures while traversing the hot medium is also another relevant example~(jet quenching).

The production of $J/\psi$ mesons at high $p_\mathrm{T}$ is strongly suppressed in PbPb with respect to $pp$ collisions. The suppression increases as a function of the centrality of the collision. Also strong $\Upsilon$ suppression is observed (see Fig.~\ref{fig:ALICE_plot}), and higher $\Upsilon$ states are even more suppressed: $R_{AA}(\Upsilon(2S)) / R_{AA}(\Upsilon(1S)) = 0.28 \pm 0.12\,(\mathrm{stat.}) \pm 0.06\,(\mathrm{syst.})$, as measured by ALICE~\cite{PLB 790 (2019) 89}. Also CMS observes a similar spectacular behaviour. The $R_{AA}$ of the $\Upsilon(3S)$ state is measured to be below 0.096 at 95\% C.L.~\cite{Phys. Lett. B 790 (2019) 270}. This is the strongest suppression observed for a quarkonium state in heavy ion collisions to date. By contrast, at low $p\mathrm{T}$, smaller $J/\psi$ suppression at the LHC than at RHIC is found, owing to measurements by ALICE, PHENIX and STAR. New regenerated $J/\psi$ mesons are produced by recombination of charm quarks, with larger regeneration occurring at higher $c\bar{c}$ pair density and higher energy density.

\begin{figure}
\begin{minipage}{1\linewidth}
\centerline{\includegraphics[width=0.7\linewidth]{vagnoni_ALICE_plot}}
\end{minipage}
\caption[]{Nuclear modification factor for $\Upsilon$ production as a function of centrality~\cite{PLB 790 (2019) 89}.}
\label{fig:ALICE_plot}
\end{figure}

The ratio of $\Lambda_c$ to $D^0$ production has been measured by ALICE in $pp$, $p$Pb, and PbPb collisions~\cite{arXiv:1809.10922}. A similar ratio in $pp$ and $p$Pb collisions is found, whereas enhanced production of $\Lambda_c$ baryons with respect to $D^0$ mesons is observed in PbPb collisions. The measurement is still limited in precision, but appears to be intriguing. Also STAR seems to observe a larger $\Lambda_c$ to $D^0$  ratio in AuAu collisions. In the forward region, as a dedicated heavy-flavour experiment, LHCb has obvious advantages in measuring $b$-hadron decays~(at pPb event multiplicities). Beauty hadrons are cleanly reconstructed in exclusive decay modes~\cite{arXiv:1902.05599}. First measurements in nuclear collisions are made down to very low $p_\mathrm{T}$ values. The $R_{p\mathrm{Pb}}$ suppression pattern seen in $J/\psi$ from $b$ is confirmed. LHCb can also inject gas into the beampipe to measure cross-sections in fixed-target mode, see e.g. antiproton production in pHe~\cite{PRL 121 (2018) 222001} or charm production in pAr and pHe~\cite{arXiv:1810.07907} collisions.

ATLAS measured the flow of muons from heavy flavour decays in $pp$ and PbPb collisions at 2.76~TeV~\cite{Phys. Rev. C 98 (2018) 044905}. The value of $R_{\mathrm{AA}}$ is found to be less than unity, hence observing suppressed production of heavy-flavour muons in PbPb collisions. In particular, for the 10\% most central PbPb events, $R_{\mathrm{AA}}$ is about 0.35. Furthermore, lower values of the elliptic flow are found for particles with heavy quarks than with the lighter quarks. This is a useful information for the analysis of quark interactions in the medium. Charged hadron production in PbPb and XeXe collisions has been studied at 5.02 and 5.44~TeV by ALICE. The production of (most of) light-flavour hadrons in PbPb at 5.02~TeV is described by the thermal model. The differences between protons and the strangeness sector are confirmed. Hydrodynamic properties are studied with spectral shape and azimuthal anisotropy. Hydrodynamics works at low $p_\mathrm{T}$ for central collisions, with the agreement worsening towards peripheral collisions.

In recent years, momentum anisotropies have been measured in $pp$ and $p$A collisions, despite expectations that the volume and lifetime of the medium would be too small. PHENIX observed elliptic and triangular flow patterns in $p$Au, $d$Au and $^3$HeAu collisions~\cite{Nature Physics 15 (2019) 214}. The three initial geometries and two flow patterns provide powerful model discrimination. In the PHENIX analysis, hydrodynamic models, based on the formation of short-lived QGP droplets, provide the best simultaneous description of the measurements.

\section{Heavy flavours}
The present consistency of global CKM fits is displayed in Fig.~\ref{fig:CKMfits}.
\begin{figure}
\begin{minipage}{1\linewidth}
\centerline{\includegraphics[width=0.9\linewidth]{vagnoni_CKMfits}}
\end{minipage}
\caption[]{Results of global CKM fits from (left)~CKMfitter and (right)~UTfit groups.}
\label{fig:CKMfits}
\end{figure}
Each coloured band defines the allowed region of the apex of the unitarity triangle, according to the measurement of a specific process. Such a consistency represents a tremendous success of the CKM paradigm in the SM: all of the available measurements agree in a highly profound way. In presence of BSM physics affecting the measurements, the various contours would not cross each other into a single point. Hence the quark-flavour sector is generally very well described by the CKM mechanism, and one must look for small discrepancies.

In the charm sector, using $6~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{arXiv:1903.08726}, LHCb measured the difference $\Delta A_{C\!P}$ of the $C\!P$-violating asymmetries in the decays $D^0 \to K^-K^+$ and $D^0 \to \pi^-\pi^+$. To perform the measurement, the flavour of the $D^0$ meson is tagged either by using the charge of the pion in $D^{\ast +} \to D^0 \pi^+$ decays, or the charge of the muon in $B \to D^0 \mu \nu X$  decays. The invariant-mass distributions are shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:lhcb_charm}. Run-2 results are well compatible with previous LHCb results and the world average. The combination of Run-1 and Run-2 data gives $\Delta A_{C\!P} = (-15.4 \pm 2.9) \times 10^{-4}$, resulting in the first observation of $C\!P$ violation in the charm sector, with a significance of $5.3\sigma$. The result is roughly compatible with the SM, whose prediction however is way more uncertain than data.

\begin{figure}
\begin{minipage}{1\linewidth}
\centerline{\includegraphics[width=0.9\linewidth]{vagnoni_lhcb_charm}}
\end{minipage}
\caption[]{Mass distributions of selected (top) $\pi^\pm$-tagged and (bottom) $\mu^\pm$-tagged candidates for
(left) $K^+K^-$ and (right) $\pi^+\pi^-$ final states of the $D^0$-meson decays, with fit projections overlaid~\cite{arXiv:1903.08726}.}
\label{fig:lhcb_charm}
\end{figure}

The golden mode $B^0_s \to J/\psi \phi$ is the $B^0_s$ analogue of $B^0 \to J/\psi K^0_\mathrm{S}$, and one measures the interference between $B^0_s$ mixing and decay graphs through the phase-difference $\phi_s$ between the two processes, precisely predicted in the SM to be $\phi_s=-37.4 \pm 0.7$~mrad. This is very small, but can receive sizeable contributions from new physics. New measurements by ATLAS (with $80.5~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{ATLAS-CONF-2019-009}) using $B^0_s \to J/\psi \phi$ and LHCb (with $1.9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ at 13~TeV~\cite{LHCb-PAPER-2019-013,arXiv:1903.05530}) using $B^0_s \to J/\psi \phi$ and $B^0_s \to J/\psi \pi\pi$ decays have been performed. The combination of Run-1 and Run-2 data gives $\phi_s = -0.076 \pm 0.034\,(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.019\,(\mathrm{syst})$~rad for ATLAS and $\phi_s = -0.040 \pm 0.025\,(\mathrm{stat+syst})$~rad for LHCb. The new world average provided by HFLAV is $\phi_s = -0.0544 \pm 0.0205$~rad. The experimental precision is quickly approaching the sensitivity to observe a nonzero SM value. For this reason, the ATLAS and LHCb analyses with full Run-2 statistics and Run-2 CMS results are now eagerly awaited.

Another recent measurement is that of the radiative decay $B^0_s \to \phi \gamma$, performed by LHCb with $3~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 7 and 8~TeV~\cite{LHCb-PAPER-2019-015}. The chiral structure of the $W$ boson leads to a photon polarisation mostly left-handed in the SM, with a small right-handed component. New physics might significantly alter the contribution of the right-handed component to the total amplitude. LHCb has measured now for the first time direct and mixing-induced $C\!P$ violation in $B^0_s \to \phi\gamma$ decays, with values compatible with the SM, albeit with large uncertainties.

Moving to rare $B$ decays, $B \to \mu^+ \mu^-$ decays are FCNC- and helicity-suppressed, proceeding via $Z$ penguin and $W$ box diagrams. The value of the branching fraction is particularly sensitive to new-physics scalar contributions, such as extra Higgs doublets. CMS and LHCb performed in 2015 a combined fit to their full Run-1 data sets, observing the $B^0_s \to \mu^+\mu^-$ decay for the first time at $6.2\sigma$~\cite{Nature 522 (2015) 68}. In 2016 ATLAS published with Run-1 data~\cite{Eur. Phys. J. C 76 (2016) 513} and in 2017 LHCb performed the first measurement using Run-2 data~\cite{Phys. Rev. Lett. 118 (2017) 191801}. A new measurement by ATLAS, using $26.3~\mathrm{fb}^-1$ at 13~TeV, has been published recently~\cite{arXiv:1812.03017}. By combining Run-1 and Run-2 results, the branching fractions are found to be compatible with the SM at $2.4\sigma$. The analysis of 2016 and 2017 data by CMS is in preparation. In total, 433 $B^0_s$ and 54 $B^0$ candidates are expected with full Run-2 statistics.

The sector of lepton-flavour universality (LFU) tests has received great attention during the last few years. Focusing on $b\to s l^+l^-$ transitions, one measure the ratios $R_K = \mathrm{BR}(B^+ \to K^+\mu^+\mu^-) / \mathrm{BR}(B^+ \to K^+ e^+ e^-)$ and $R_{K^\ast} = \mathrm{BR}(B^0 \to K^{\ast 0}\mu^+\mu^-) / \mathrm{BR}(B^0 \to K^{\ast 0} e^+ e^-)$. The theoretical predictions of such ratios are very clean, hence an observation of non-LFU would be a clear sign of new physics. The measurements are presently at about $3\sigma$ from the SM, complementing a range of other anomalies in $b \to s l^+l^-$ transitions, namely branching fractions in various decays and the angular analysis of $B \to K^\ast \mu\mu$ decays. A new measurement of $R_K$ has been performed by LHCb, adding $2~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of Run-2 data to $3~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of Run-1 data~\cite{arXiv:1903.09252}. The statistics has been doubled with respect to the previous measurement, and the result is $R_K = 0.846^{+0.060+0.016}_{-0.054-0.014}$. In practice, the significance of the discrepancy from the SM is unchanged after the new measurement, as the uncertainty has been reduced but the central value has moved closer to the SM. The outlook is to include also 2017 and 2018 data, for further doubling the statistics, and to add more channels, first to measure $R_{K^\ast}$ with full Run-2 statistics, but also to provide first measurements with $B^0_s$ and $\Lambda_b$ channels.

LFU tests are also performed with semitauonic $B \to D^{(\ast)}\tau\nu$ decays. Here one measures the ratios $R_{D^{(\ast)}} = \mathrm{BR}(B \to D^{(\ast)} \tau \nu / \mathrm{BR}(B \to D^{(\ast)} \mu \nu$, sensitive to new physics at tree level. Measurements of $R_D$ and $R_{D^\ast}$ have been performed by BaBar, Belle and LHCb. The overall average shows a discrepancy from the SM by about $3.8\sigma$. LHCb can also perform measurements with other $b$ hadrons: \emph{e.g.} $B^0_s$, $B_c$ and $\Lambda_b$ decays will help better understand the global picture. A new measurement from Belle has been performed recently, reporting the most precise determination of $R(D)$ and $R(D^\ast)$ to date, and in particular the first $R(D)$ measurement realised using the semileptonic tag. The new results are compatible with the SM at $1.2\sigma$. The $R(D)-R(D^\ast)$ Belle average is now at $2\sigma$ from the SM prediction, and the overall tension with the SM expectation decreases to about $3.1\sigma$.

Concerning the upcoming future, Belle II has concluded successfully the phase-2 pilot run. The basic detector performance is as good as expected, and the nano-beam scheme of the collision point has been tested with encouraging results. The target for phase 3 is to have a full physics run and collect $20~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of luminosity by summer 2019. These are crucial years to demonstrate the capability of the machine to provide the required luminosity while keeping background under control.

\section{Kaon physics}
While waiting for the measurement of $\mathrm{BR}(K^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \nu)$, NA62 performed a measurement using the kaon beam as a source of $\pi^0$s to search for an invisible massive dark photon, $A^\prime$~\cite{arXiv:1903.08767}. No significant excess is detected, using only 1\% of the available statistics collected in 2016-2018. Upper limits are set at 90\% C.L., compatible with fluctuations from the background-only hypothesis. The analysis improves on previous limits over the mass range 60--110 MeV/$c^2$.

Another new measurement in the kaon sector has been performed by NA48 with the $K^\pm \to \pi^\pm \pi^0 e^+ e^-$ decay~\cite{Phys. Lett. B788 (2019) 552}. This is a rare decay proceeding through virtual photon exchange. The first observation has been achieved, and the branching fraction determined to be $(4.237 \pm 0.063\,(\mathrm{stat.}) \pm 0.033\,(\mathrm{syst.}) \pm 0.126\,(\mathrm{ext.}) \times 10^{-6}$.
Several $C\!P$-violating asymmetries and a long-distance $P$-violating asymmetry have been measured and found to be consistent with zero.

\section{Muon magnetic anomaly}
In the SM, the theoretical uncertainty on $a_\mu$ is dominated by hadron vacuum polarisation and hadronic light-by-light scattering. E821 measured $a_\mu$ with a precision of 550 ppb, observing a (statistically dominated) discrepancy from the SM expectation at $3.7\sigma$. E989 is now taking data to reduce the experimental uncertainty to 140 ppb. With such an experimental precision, the reduction of the hadronic theoretical uncertainties will become mandatory. The contribution of hadron vacuum polarisation to $a_\mu$ is calculated through a dispersion relation using the experimental information on the cross-section $\sigma(e^+e^-)\to \mathrm{hadrons}$, as the relevant energy scale is too low for applying perturbative QCD. A reduction of about 20\% in the uncertainty has been achieved since 2013, mostly owing to results from BaBar and VEPP-2000. By contrast, the hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution remains as an open issue, and can be determined with lattice QCD calculations or via further experimental measurements like the proposed MUonE, which aims at measuring the elastic reaction $\mu e\to\mu e$ to constrain $a_\mu^{\mathrm{HLO}}$ from data. Additional physics motivations for light-resonance spectroscopy are the study of hadronic decays of charmonium, via $e^+e^- \to \gamma \psi (\to \mathrm{hadrons})$, the study of other hadronic resonances, searches for dark-photon decays, etc.

\section{Spectroscopy}
A renaissance of QCD in the non-perturbative regime has been taking place during the last decade. A recent measurement with the observation of excited $B_c$ mesons has been performed by CMS, using
$140~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 13~TeV~\cite{arXiv:1902.00571}. Two excited $B_c$ states have been observed in the $B_c \pi\pi$ final state, with $B_c \to J/\psi(\mu\mu)\pi$~(see Fig.~\ref{fig:cms_mass}). The result has been also confirmed by  LHCb, with an analysis on $8.5~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 7, 8 and 13~TeV~\cite{LHCb-PAPER-2019-007}.

\begin{figure}
\begin{minipage}{1\linewidth}
\centerline{\includegraphics[width=0.7\linewidth]{vagnoni_cms_mass}}
\end{minipage}
\caption[]{Invariant $B_c \pi\pi$ mass showing two peaks of excited $B_c$ states~\cite{arXiv:1902.00571}.}
\label{fig:cms_mass}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[ht!]
\begin{minipage}{1\linewidth}
\centerline{\includegraphics[width=0.7\linewidth]{vagnoni_lhcb_mass}}
\end{minipage}
\caption[]{Invariant $J/\psi p$ mass with the three pentaquark states observed by LHCb~\cite{LHCb-PAPER-2019-014}.}
\label{fig:lhcb_mass}
\end{figure}

One of the most active experiments in spectroscopy measurements with charm quarks is BESIII. BESIII is a dedicated $e^+e^-$ open charm and charmonium factory at BEPC. A plethora of spectroscopy measurements have been performed through the years, notably including tetraquark states. For example, the observation of $X(3872) \to \omega J/\psi$ has been recently reported~\cite{arXiv:1903.04695}. Furthermore, the cross-section measurement of $\gamma X(3872)$ suggests a connection between $X(3872)$ and $Y(4260)$. BESIII is also very active in searching for and studying glueball candidates.

Also LHCb is extremely active, with novel spectroscopy measurements being performed at an impressive rate. LHCb has observed recently a new state, likely to be $\psi(1^3D_3)$, \emph{i.e.} achieving the first observation of a spin-3 charmonium state~\cite{LHCb-PAPER-2019-005}. LHCb has also got relevant news on pentaquarks. First pentaquarks were observed by LHCb four years ago using $\Lambda_b \to J/\psi pK$ decays as a proxy. Two charged states were determined: one narrow, dubbed $P_c(4450)$, and one broader, dubbed $P_c(4380)$, both decaying into $J/\psi p$. The measurement triggered great theoretical interest to understand the nature of the new resonances, \emph{i.e.} whether they are tightly bound or molecular states. LHCb has now updated the same pentaquark analysis using $9~\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ of data at 7, 8 and 13~TeV~\cite{LHCb-PAPER-2019-014}. The overall statistics has increased by a factor nine with respect to the the Run-1 analysis. Only a narrow bump-hunting analysis with empirical background shape has been performed so far. As shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:lhcb_mass}, the previously found $P_c(4450)$ reveals a finer structure with two close peaks, and a new peak is found at 4312~MeV.
This constitutes an important novel input to shed light into the nature of pentaquarks. A full amplitude analysis is ongoing, especially needed to confirm the $P_c(4380)$ state.

\section{Conclusions}
Despite the formidable attempts performed so far by high-energy physics experiments, the Standard Model of particle physics still proves to be unbreakable. In the current state of fundamental physics, it is of paramount importance to maintain and further develop a diversified programme, ranging from the high-energy frontier to the intensity frontier, from astrophysics and cosmology to dark matter detection. We know that the Standard Model will capitulate in the end, the only question is when and how. Meanwhile, long live Rencontres de Moriond!

\section*{Acknowledgments}
I wish to express my cordial thanks to the organisers of the conference for the kind invitation and for the pleasant environment.

\section*{References}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
Dolly Parton will prepay $100 million in Bezos' money
November 14, 2022 by Editorial staff
Dolly Parton just got $100 million of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's money to send to the charities of her choice, including her own foundation.
The '9 to 5' singer joins chef José Andrés and political commentator Van Jones, who last year received the Courage and Civility Award from the Bezos Family Foundation for the first time.
"The woman you are about to meet embodies these ideals so thoroughly," Bezos said Saturday at an event when he and his wife Sanchez introduced Parton to those in attendance. "She gives with her heart. What she's done for kids and literacy and so many other things, it's just incredible.
"What? Did you say $100 million?" Parton said with a laugh. Then she got serious.
"If people are able to help, you should help. And I know I've always said, I try to put my money where my heart is, and I think you do the same," she said, referring to Bezos. "I will do my best to do good things with this money. Thank you, Jeff."
Sanchez said the award "recognizes leaders who aim high, find solutions and always do so with courtesy."
Parton is known to have donated $1 million to the effort that resulted in the Moderna vaccine against COVID-19 in 2020, donating the money to Vanderbilt University's Vaccine Research Fund.
"I'm just happy that anything I do can help someone else, and when I donated the money to the COVID fund, I just wanted it to do well, and obviously it does," a surprised Parton told the " Today" show two years ago after learning what helped create her money. "Let's hope we find a cure soon."
But that's just the tip of Parton's philanthropic iceberg, which has been building for decades.
Her Dollywood Foundation—founded in 1988 with the goal of helping children in Sevier County, Tennessee achieve educational success—turned into her Imagination Library in 1995. one month free from birth to the first year of school. It started with a focus on children from Sevier County and has grown to include children in the US, Canada, UK, Republic of Ireland and Australia, shipping over a million books each month.
She has also distributed numerous scholarships to Sevier County students and created the Chasing Rainbows Award to recognize each year a teacher who has overcome personal difficulties in life and is now making a difference in children's lives. Each teacher gets a week's vacation at Parton's Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
In 2007, Parton donated $500,000 from a benefit concert and pledged another $500,000 through two of her companies to build a new hospital and cancer center in her home country. The LeConte Medical Center, which named its women's health surgery after Parton, opened in 2010.
In 2016, she participated in two telethons to help families who lost their homes to wildfires that swept through the Great Smoky Mountains, ultimately donating $10,000 each to approximately 900 displaced families through the Dollywood Foundation's My People Fund.
In 2017, she donated $1 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, and a year later established a butterfly garden at the hospital in honor of a niece who was successfully treated for leukemia at the hospital in 1990.
Parton even established a sanctuary for bald eagles at her Dollywood theme park.
"Jeff and I are so proud to share that we have a new Bezos Courage and Civility Award winner – a woman who gives with her heart and leads with love and compassion in every aspect of her work," Sanchez wrote on Instagram Saturday. "We can't wait to see all the good you're going to do with this $100 million award, @DollyParton."
Prize winners are free to do whatever they want with the "non-binding" money, whether it's all to their own foundations or passing it on to other charities, Bezos previously said.
Categories World News Post navigation
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Computer Science Colleges in Texas
(45) Southwest
Discover and research the 45 colleges with Computer Science majors in Texas with Noodle. Find the right Computer Science colleges for you by entering your GPA, test scores and other preferences.
2100 S Mobberly Ave, Longview, TX 75607
LeTourneau University is a Christian school located two hours from Dallas that offers programs in the technological studies, as well as the arts and sciences. About 4000 students are enrolled. The surrounding town of Longview is home to the Great ... learn more
Master's University, Heavy Focus on Undergraduate Professions, Religiously affiliated
6425 Boaz St, Dallas, TX 75275
"Excellent" professors and tremendous business and management programs make Southern Methodist a great choice. Students here definitely "love SMU" thanks to a "small, interacting student body," a "beautiful campus," and metropolitan Dallas, a "fun town" if there ever was one." learn more
Focus on Undergraduate Professions, Research University, Religiously affiliated, Focus on Undergraduate Arts and Science
500 Speight Ave., Waco, TX 76798
"This Christian school in the Lone Star State has a "huge" Greek system and "tons of Bible studies and Christian activities." The unique Baylor Interdisciplinary Core Program eats up 41 credits in various subjects, emphasizes how they all relate, and ... learn more
Austin College
900 N Grand Ave, Sherman, TX 75090
"Professors at this small liberal arts college in the remote Dallas suburbs are "accessible" and "challenging mentors" who "have a passion for helping their students succeed." The three-course, interdisciplinary Heritage of Western Culture program is a hit; one describes it ... learn more
Heavy Focus on Undergraduate Arts and Science, Liberal Arts College, Religiously affiliated, Offers Baccalaureate Degrees
St Mary's University
One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX 78228
"Saint Mary's University in San Antonio is reportedly dedicated to "integrating liberal studies, professional preparation, and ethical commitment." The 3,900 or so students here can enjoy the annual St. Mary's Fiesta Oyster Bake, a food-filled event sponsored by alumni held ... learn more
Focus on Undergraduate Professions, Master's University, Religiously affiliated, Focus on Undergraduate Arts and Science
1600 Campus Court, Abilene, TX 79699
"The simple statement "Let's build a school in West Texas," led to the founding of this "distinctively Christian" university that boasts a commitment to "teaching and learning." There is a low 16:1 student/faculty ratio, and professors teach nearly every class." learn more
Master's University, Heavy Focus on Undergraduate Professions, Religiously affiliated, Focus on Undergraduate Arts and Science
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
900 College St, Belton, TX 76513
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is Baptist college with 3063 students located in Belton, TX. learn more
3000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211
This private Baptist school on the shores of Mountain Creek Lake is situated between Dallas and Fort Worth. It boasts a prayer room specifically set aside for prayers regarding DBU and many great off-campus programs in Washington, D.C., Hollywood, and ... learn more
Texas Lutheran University
1000 W. Court St, Seguin, TX 78155
About 1300 undergraduate students attend Texas Lutheran University, a Christian-oriented school about 30 miles from San Antonio that offers high quality programs in the arts, sciences, and pre-professional areas. Students at TLU can take mariachi lessons at the nearby Teatro ... learn more
Focus on Undergraduate Professions, Religiously affiliated, Focus on Undergraduate Arts and Science, Offers Baccalaureate Degrees
The University of Texas at Arlington
701 S. Nedderman Dr., Arlington, TX 76013
Obviously the city of Arlington would like a little recognition, what with The Ballpark at Arlington, The Parks at Arlington, and the University of Texas at Arlington. Over 60% of the students here are transfers, and about 100 countries are ... learn more
Focus on Undergraduate Professions, Research University, Focus on Undergraduate Arts and Science
Saint Edward's University
3001 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Saint Edward's University in the cultural hotbed of Austin, TX provides a liberal arts education and a host of pre-professional programs in the context of its Roman Catholic affiliation. Students can take a break from the Texas heat by heading ... learn more
Texas Wesleyan University
1201 Wesleyan St, Fort Worth, TX 76105
"Over 1,800 undergraduate students study at Fort Worth's Texas Wesleyan University, a United Methodist institution that integrates the liberal arts with career and professional preparation. On the first and third Thursday of each month, students assemble for "Thursday in the ... learn more
Facts About Computer Science Colleges in Texas
There are 45 Computer Science Colleges in Texas.
Browse Computer Science Colleges in Texas by Majors
Browse Computer Science Colleges in Texas by City
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Abilene, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Arlington, TX
(3) Computer Science Colleges in Austin, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Beeville, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Belton, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Borger, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Brenham, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Brownwood, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Canyon, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in College Station, TX
(5) Computer Science Colleges in Dallas, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Edinburg, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in El Paso, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Farmers Branch, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Fort Worth, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Houston, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Irving, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Keene, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Levelland, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Longview, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Marshall, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Mcallen, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Mckinney, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Mesquite, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Odessa, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Pasadena, TX
(4) Computer Science Colleges in San Antonio, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Seguin, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Sherman, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Temple, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in The Woodlands, TX
(2) Computer Science Colleges in Tyler, TX
(2) Computer Science Colleges in Waco, TX
(1) Computer Science Colleges in Wharton, TX


text:
EvoEcoLab
Penises Shaped By Waves (In Barnacles)
By Kevin Zelnio on October 26, 2011
[caption id="attachment_239" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Semibalanus balanoides, Photo from Wikimedia Commons"][/caption]
The following is edited from a post I published in 2008.
It's the dead of winter and you must start to think about finding a lover and getting your gametes in the water in time for the Spring algal bloom! But wait a second, you're a permanent fixture on a rock. Can't move. What is a young, love-struck sessile hermaphrodite to do? Well, if you are hung like a barnacle you don't really have to move that far.
Barnacles are known as one of the more 'hung' of the invertebrate world with penises reaching up to 10 times their body size. Not all barnacles are equally endowed though. To make the situation more complicated, barnacles are simultaneous hermaphrodites - they carry both male and female reproductive parts at the same time. Famous evolutionary biologist and theorist Eric Charnov proposed an extension of his Sex Allocation Theory to simultaneous hermaphrodites. It is this theory that makes predictions for how much resources should be allocated in being male or female based upon how competitive your local environment is.
How much does a penis cost?
Barnacles tend to flock to one another, their larvae exhibiting what researchers refer to as gregarious (="live in a flock", not unlike Gregorian monks) settlement. This results in dense mats of barnacles upon barnacles on rocky shores. For the sessile, once you choose your "build site", there is no chance to move house! Since barnacles are unable to move, being packed like sardines must be a good thing, right? One would think the closer your neighbors are, the less effort you need to "reach out" to them.
Biologist Matt Hoch (2008) tested the effects of overcrowding and wave exposure on the penis morphology of the acorn barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides. As males from many species might tell you, bigger is not necessarily always better. Hoch explains:
"Variation in barnacle penis traits may be important when comparing sex allocation of barnacles for several reasons. As the number of individuals in the mating group increases, mate competition intensifies, which is predicted to lead to greater relative allocation to male function. The penis itself represents a significant investment into male function, in terms of construction, maintenance and performance costs. For example, the presence of the penis, located between the feeding cirri on the terminal body segment, may reduce feeding efficiency. As penises grow larger, interference with feeding is expected to increase."
For most of the year, the barnacle's penis is rather languid. The vernal season for this little fellow is September to October where it rapidly grows until ready to spring into action come November. Unfortunately, the excitement of it all is short lived and the penis is cast off with the next moult upon mating. Because the growth and decay of the penis happens so quickly, Hoch hypothesized that it must be costly to maintain this single-use appendage. If the closest neighbor is far away, it will need to invest more energy into maleness, resulting in a longer penis. Such a trade-off might occur at the expense of the femaleness necessary to make and nurture the barnacle babies until they are spawned.
Hoch compared barnacles found in a crowd, when their shells were touching their neighbors (see photo above for example), to those in uncrowded situations. Studying barnacles in scenic Shinnecock Bay in Long Island, NY, Hoch found that crowded barnacles had significantly shorter penises than its uncrowded brethren. Yet, the thickness at the base remained unchanged and there was no difference in the relationship between penis length and body volume between the living arrangements. Additionally, as the distance between neighbor's increased, there were fewer fertilized egg masses.
[caption id="attachment_253" align="aligncenter" width="415" caption="Proportion of fertilized broods as a function of distance from nearest neighbor on exposed or protected coastlines."][/caption]
Take a lickin' and keep on kickin'
The rocky intertidal is no place for a wuss. Tides and wave forces make it an intensely dynamic environment, not to mention stress from heat and drying out. One needs a thick skin in order to take the constant, rhythmic pressure of wave exposure so Hoch studied his phenomenon at two sites. The first was exposed to a higher frequency of waves, facing the Atlantic (exposed). The second faced into the bay where it was more tranquil (protected). Perhaps unsurprisingly, fertilization was more successful in the protected area. Additionally, the disparity in fertilization success between protected and exposed areas grows as the distance between neighbors increase.
So, exposure to waves appears to hinder fertilization success, but why? Is it because waves break off the barnacle's penis, or sweep it away from its intended target? While there is no difference in penis length between exposed and protected areas, the basal diameter was thicker in exposed barnacles. The penis seems to adapt to take a pounding by buffing up at the base. Yet, its not enough to fertilize at the same rate as in protected areas.
Hoch provides an interesting hypothesis that, at least in barnacles, the physical environment plays a strong role in molding morphology. Such characteristics are said to be plastic. In order to understand how evolution of novel morphology arises, the degree of plasticity in the trait should be assessed. Reproductive morphology is typically considered to be under a high degree of selection, because it is directly associated with producing the next generation, among other reasons.
What is the take home message here if you are a barnacle? If a barnacle's goal is to be the "John Holmes" of sea world, live in uncrowded areas in wave-exposed environments. If the barnacle's goal is to fertilize as many eggs as possible, live in close quarters at areas protected from wave exposure. I'm not quite sure which goal barnacle's are seeking. They are cunning creatures with a knack for keeping their cirri to themselves.
HOCH, J. (2008). Variation in penis morphology and mating ability in the acorn barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 359(2), 126-130. DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2008.03.002
Kevin Zelnio
Kevin has a M.Sc. degree in biology from Penn State, a B.Sc. in Evolution and Ecology from University of California, Davis, and has worked at as a researcher at several major marine science institutions. His broad academic research interests have encompassed population genetics, biodiversity, community ecology, food webs and systematics of invertebrates at deep-sea chemosynthetic environments and elsewhere. Kevin has described several new species of anemones and shrimp. He is now a freelance writer, independent scientist and science communications consultant living near the Baltic coast of Sweden in a small, idyllic village.
Kevin is also the assistant editor and webmaster for Deep Sea News, where he contributes articles on marine science. His award-winning writing has been appeared in Seed Magazine, The Open Lab: Best Writing on Science Blogs (2007, 2009, 2010), Discovery Channel, ScienceBlogs, and Environmental Law Review among others. He spends most of his time enjoying the company of his wife and two kids, hiking, supporting local breweries, raising awareness for open access, playing guitar and songwriting. You can read up more about Kevin and listen to his music at his homepage, where you can also view his CV and Résumé, and follow him twitter and Google +.
ResearchBlogging.org Editor's Selection Posts on EvoEcoLab!
Wild Sex Matters
Sweden Journal: Tragedies at the Zoos
Evolutionary Biology Needs Viral Marketing
Baba Brinkman's Rap Guide to Evolution
By Kevin Zelnio on November 1, 2011


text:
Sky Rabbit Set To Launch Debut Album
Mumbai based indie/post-punk band Sky Rabbit, otherwise known as Medusa have recently announced details of their debut album due out for release on 10 January 2012. To celebrate its release on EMI Virgin Records the band will be setting off on a multi-city tour kicking off tonight in Hyderabad. They will also be giving their fans an opportunity to purchase the album at their various launch gigs across the coming month, weeks before its official release.
The band consists of Raxit (Vocals/Samples), Rahul (Guitar/Samples), Siddharth (Bass) and Harsh (Drums). Their latest offering has been in the making for over a year with co-producer Ashish Manchanda of Flying Carpet Productions, a renowned sound mixing and recording engineer for various Bollywood and Hollywood films including The Chronicles of Narnia. This new album will symbolise the beginning of a new direction for the band, completely separate from their progressive metal days as Medusa.
In 2008, Sky Rabbit was selected as one of the four bands in India to be part of British Council Soundpad, where they got a chance to record two tracks with legendary producer John Leckie (Radiohead, Pink Floyd, The Verve) at Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai. They then went on to perform at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton continuing their UK tour to Cardiff, Oxford, Liverpool and London.
This is what John thought:
"Medusa struck me as being true and their music is contemporary and in some ways reflects what's happening in the UK. I chose them for their attitude as well as their honesty.... they are living for their music and are honest to what they are doing."
Tour dates are as follows:
15 December: Hard Rock Café, Hyderabad
17 December: B Flat, Bangalore
04 January: Blue Frog, Mumbai
06 January: High Spirits, Pune
**Other January dates in Delhi, Kolkata and Northeast India yet to be confirmed. More info on Sky Rabbit shows can be found on our event page here**


text:
package com.amazonaws.services.ec2.model;

import java.io.Serializable;
import javax.annotation.Generated;

/**
 *

 * Indicates whether your instance is configured for hibernation. This parameter is valid only if the instance meets the
 * hibernation
 * prerequisites. For more information, see Hibernate your instance in the
 * Amazon EC2 User Guide.
 *

 *
 * @see AWS API
 *      Documentation
 */
@Generated("com.amazonaws:aws-java-sdk-code-generator")
public class HibernationOptions implements Serializable, Cloneable {

    /**
     *

     * If this parameter is set to true, your instance is enabled for hibernation; otherwise, it is not
     * enabled for hibernation.
     *

     */
    private Boolean configured;

    /**
     *

     * If this parameter is set to true, your instance is enabled for hibernation; otherwise, it is not
     * enabled for hibernation.
     *

     *
     * @param configured
     *        If this parameter is set to true, your instance is enabled for hibernation; otherwise, it is
     *        not enabled for hibernation.
     */

    public void setConfigured(Boolean configured) {
        this.configured = configured;
    }

    /**
     *

     * If this parameter is set to true, your instance is enabled for hibernation; otherwise, it is not
     * enabled for hibernation.
     *

     *
     * @return If this parameter is set to true, your instance is enabled for hibernation; otherwise, it is
     *         not enabled for hibernation.
     */

    public Boolean getConfigured() {
        return this.configured;
    }

    /**
     *

     * If this parameter is set to true, your instance is enabled for hibernation; otherwise, it is not
     * enabled for hibernation.
     *

     *
     * @param configured
     *        If this parameter is set to true, your instance is enabled for hibernation; otherwise, it is
     *        not enabled for hibernation.
     * @return Returns a reference to this object so that method calls can be chained together.
     */

    public HibernationOptions withConfigured(Boolean configured) {
        setConfigured(configured);
        return this;
    }

    /**
     *

     * If this parameter is set to true, your instance is enabled for hibernation; otherwise, it is not
     * enabled for hibernation.
     *

     *
     * @return If this parameter is set to true, your instance is enabled for hibernation; otherwise, it is
     *         not enabled for hibernation.
     */

    public Boolean isConfigured() {
        return this.configured;
    }

    /**
     * Returns a string representation of this object. This is useful for testing and debugging. Sensitive data will be
     * redacted from this string using a placeholder value.
     *
     * @return A string representation of this object.
     *
     * @see java.lang.Object#toString()
     */
    @Override
    public String toString() {
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
        sb.append("{");
        if (getConfigured() != null)
            sb.append("Configured: ").append(getConfigured());
        sb.append("}");
        return sb.toString();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
        if (this == obj)
            return true;
        if (obj == null)
            return false;

        if (obj instanceof HibernationOptions == false)
            return false;
        HibernationOptions other = (HibernationOptions) obj;
        if (other.getConfigured() == null ^ this.getConfigured() == null)
            return false;
        if (other.getConfigured() != null && other.getConfigured().equals(this.getConfigured()) == false)
            return false;
        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public int hashCode() {
        final int prime = 31;
        int hashCode = 1;

        hashCode = prime * hashCode + ((getConfigured() == null) ? 0 : getConfigured().hashCode());
        return hashCode;
    }

    @Override
    public HibernationOptions clone() {
        try {
            return (HibernationOptions) super.clone();
        } catch (CloneNotSupportedException e) {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Got a CloneNotSupportedException from Object.clone() " + "even though we're Cloneable!", e);
        }
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Renowned globally, Sergio Bustamante was encouraged by his aunt to explore his creative gifts. While an architecture junior at the University of Guadalajara, he began creating and selling artworks.
Bustamante's graphic work is known to be magical. Forms are born in paper and pencil, his artistic sensibility successfully combining familiar, popular and surreal imagery in his graphic drawings. He continues to explore uncharted paths in the New Millennium, and is considered one of the greatest Mexican artists of our time.
Sergio Bustamante | Sun Player, 48"x24"x24"
Sergio Bustamante | Sun Family in Sailing Boat, 30"x18"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Summer Cross, 48"x24"x12"
Sergio Bustamante | Eclipse, 36"x24"x24"
Sergio Bustamante | Rustic Mermaid with Snail, 68"x44"x21"
Sergio Bustamante | Rustic Mermaid with a Guitar, 21"x12"x7"
Sergio Bustamante | Mermaid with Her Kid, 52"x18"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Mermaid with Seahorse, 25"x16"x6"
Sergio Bustamante | Pink Mermaid, 27.5"x11"x5"
Sergio Bustamante | Mermaid Sofia with Water Spout, 14"x7"x6"
Sergio Bustamante | Rooster Nahul, 54"x36"x36"
Sergio Bustamante | Reptile Boy, 12"x7"x8"
Sergio Bustamante | Pork in Bath, 9"x7.5"x6"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon on Chair, 19"x10"x10"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon in Car, 16"x8"x14"
Sergio Bustamante | Untitled, 48"x13"x13"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon Head, Small orange rock, 11"x11"x13"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon Head, Small rustic rock, 11"x11"x13"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon Head, Medium white rock, 17"x17"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon Head, Medium grey rock, 17"x17"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon Head, Medium green rock, 17"x17"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon Head, Medium blue rock, 17"x17"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon Head, Big orange rock, 24"x21"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon Head, Big grey rock, 24"x21"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon Head, Big green rock, 24"x21"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Moon Head, Big blue rock, 24"x21"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Magician, 42"x15"x15"
Sergio Bustamante | Equilibrist Rabbit, 26"x11.5"x7"
Sergio Bustamante | Magician Rabbit, 22.5"x9"x8"
Sergio Bustamante | Insect, 24"x18"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Ghost, 12"x7"x4"
Sergio Bustamante | Ghost with Face in the Stomach, 72"x24"x24"
Sergio Bustamante | Fish Boy Green, 14"x24"x5.5"
Sergio Bustamante | Equilibrist Hippopotamus, 15"x7"x5"
Sergio Bustamante | Fighting Cook, 52"x40"x20"
Sergio Bustamante | Egg with Lizards, 12"x10"x8"
Sergio Bustamante | Egg with Frogs, 12"x10"x8"
Sergio Bustamante | Egg Cat and Dog, 36"x20"x20"
Sergio Bustamante | Egg Cat and Dog with Gun, 36"x20"x20"
Sergio Bustamante | Egg Cat and Dog Rustic, 24"x20"x20"
Sergio Bustamante | Cow Bride, 21"x8"x11"
Sergio Bustamante | Cat Tom, 24"x24"x24"
Sergio Bustamante | Cat in Love, 15"x10"x10"
Sergio Bustamante | Cat with Frak, 60"x36"x36"
Sergio Bustamante | Del Jardin DE Las Delicias Leon, 36"x34"x16"
Sergio Bustamante | Big Fish Blue, 56"x45"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Big Cat, 36"x36"x20"
Sergio Bustamante | Big Cat, 30"x36"x15"
Sergio Bustamante | Snail with Boys, 24"x22"x12"
Sergio Bustamante | Cricket, 36"x20"x12"
Sergio Bustamante | Beetle, 30"x24"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Ant, 24"x20"x18"
Sergio Bustamante | Twin Mermaid, 23"x22"x11"
Sergio Bustamante | Untitled, Etching, 16"x12"


To view the final course programme including speakers please click here.
Following the successful Masterclass on Pancreatic Cancer, which was held on November, 10-11, 2017, at the Hilton Athens Hotel, in Greece, kindly find here the videos of the lectures.
Register (by pressing the orange Register button on the top of the screen).
Choose the "Congress on Demand" tab from the menu and select the Congress they are interested in watching.


FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami/AP) — The South Florida man who killed two women with a hammer and set them on fire now has an execution date set for March 20.
Gov. Rick Scott signed a death warrant Thursday for 55-year-old Robert L. Henry. He was convicted of the November 1987 slayings of Phyllis Harris and Janet Thermidor in Broward County.
Henry worked with the victims at a fabric store. According to the governor's office, Henry told Harris the store was being robbed and he had been told to blindfold her and lock her in the men's room. Then Henry attacked Thermidor with the hammer and robbed the store himself.
Later he came back, used flammable liquid to set Thermidor on fire, then attacked Harris with the hammer and set her on fire.


text:
Climate Matters•June 8, 2022
Coastal Wetlands at Risk
Coastal wetlands provide immense value to humans and nature—from flood protection and erosion control, to critical habitat for wildlife, recreation, and carbon storage.
Sea level rise threatens to destroy coastal wetlands, which can survive either by migrating into undeveloped areas or by growing vertically due to sediment buildup.
A new peer-reviewed Climate Central study explores how the choices we make could define the future of coastal wetlands. If we reduce heat-trapping emissions and conserve land, coastal wetlands could expand by 25% this century. But if we don't take these steps, coastal wetlands could decline by 97% by 2100.
Humans can help preserve coastal wetlands even in the face of sea level rise, by conserving land for wetlands to migrate into, converting developed areas for reclaimed wetlands, and supporting or enhancing sediment supply to existing wetlands.
READ FULL REPORT HERE
Wetlands Infographic
Change in Wetland Area by 2100
Coastal Wetlands Matter
June 8, World Oceans Day, is a time to celebrate the oceans that cover more than 70% of our blue planet.
Most of us experience the vast global oceans only along the coasts—on beaches or in coastal cities. About 30% of the U.S. population lives in coastal counties. And wetlands are vital to these coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems. Despite occupying a small land area, coastal wetlands provide an estimated $746 billion of ecosystem services in the U.S.
Coastal wetlands provide flood and storm surge protection and erosion control for inland communities, habitat for ecologically and commercially important species, as well as water filtration, and recreation areas. Wetlands also store lots of carbon in their waterlogged soils, keeping it out of the atmosphere and thereby mitigating the effects of climate change.
In our warming climate, sea level rise threatens to accelerate the loss of coastal wetlands and their associated benefits. Coastal wetlands have natural defenses against rising waters: they can either migrate inland into undeveloped areas or grow vertically through sediment buildup and organic matter accumulation.
A new peer-reviewed Climate Central study explores an array of possible futures for America's coastal wetlands. The study demonstrates that the future of America's coastal wetlands depends on the choices people make—especially regarding future land conservation and emissions of heat-trapping gases.
In the most optimistic scenario, coastal wetlands could increase in area by 25% by 2100 and provide an additional $222 billion in ecosystem services—if we conserve all land available for wetland migration and cut heat-trapping emissions rapidly, and if wetlands grow upwards quickly.
But in a contrasting scenario, 97% of coastal wetlands and $732 billion in ecosystem services could be lost by 2100—if heat-trapping emissions grow unchecked, seas rise faster than expected, wetlands grow at a moderate rate, and no land is conserved for wetlands migration.
Other scenarios chart a course between the best- and worst-case extremes. But even with moderate emissions cuts and moderate wetlands growth, we could still lose 17% to 63% of coastal wetland area by 2100, depending on whether land is either fully developed or fully conserved.
Mapping the Future of Coastal Wetlands
Climate Central has also developed new interactive online mappingtools to help coastal communities understand the factors that impact wetland preservation or loss at the local level.
The tools show where wetlands could survive, expand, or recede each decade—depending on coastal development, pollution/sea level rise scenarios, and wetland growth rate.
These maps reveal the uneven distribution of coastal wetlands and their vulnerability to sea level rise.
The southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts are particularly at risk of wetlands loss.
Louisiana, home to a third of America's coastal wetlands, is the state most at risk of wetlands loss, followed by North Carolina and Texas.
California and Florida face the added challenge of having little undeveloped dryland to accommodate wetlands migration.
Climate Central's new study and mappingtools highlight where and how we can ensure the future resilience of our valuable coastal wetlands. As we face a warming future and rising sea levels, the ability of wetlands to store carbon—not only along the coasts but also in freshwater inland wetlands across the country—will be an increasingly valuable function to preserve and expand.
POTENTIAL LOCAL STORY ANGLES
What are the primary coastal resources in your local area, and what future risks do they face?
The NOAA Office for Coastal Management maintains the Digital Coast hub for data and tools relevant to coastal communities. Digital Coast includes coastal flood exposure mapping tools, reports on coastal economies across the U.S., and county-level snapshots of sea level rise impacts and flood resilience. For long-term demographic context, NOAA's National Coastal Population Report summarizes coastal population trends from 1970 to 2020.
What wetlands conservation measures are (or could be) in place locally?
The EPA's Wetlands Protection and Restoration website includes helpful resources about wetlands science, conservation, and policy as well as contact information for regional wetlands program managers. The National Association of Wetland Managers monitors state and tribal wetland programs, publishes reports, and may be able to connect you with local wetland management officials. The National Environmental Education Foundation maintains a list of resources to learn more about wetlands in all 50 states.
The SciLine service, 500 Women Scientists or the press offices of local universities may be able to connect you with local scientists who have expertise on wetlands and climate change. The National Association of Wetland Managers may be able to connect you with local wetland managers.
Benjamin Strauss, PhD
CEO and Chief Scientist
Contact: bstrauss@climatecentral.org
Related expertise: sea level rise, coastal flood risk, climate change impacts
Siddharth Narayan, PhD
Assistant Professor, Integrated Coastal Programs
Contact: narayans19@ecu.edu
Related expertise: nature-based coastal adaptation
Hilary Stevens
Coastal Resilience Manager
Restore America's Estuaries
Contact: hstevens@estuaries.org
Related expertise: coastal resilience and resource management
Mary-Carson Stiff
Policy Director
Wetlands Watch
Contact: mc.stiff@wetlandswatch.org
Related expertise: floodplain management, land use policy, land conservation
We define coastal wetlands as undeveloped areas with elevations between the average local sea level (Mean Tide Level) and the mean peak water height during spring tides (Mean High Water Springs; MHWS). Starting in 2000, we model the upper bound of the wetlands elevation band tracking the rate of sea level rise, allowing migration to adjacent undeveloped land that becomes lower than MHWS. We model the movement of the lower bound of the wetlands elevation band as a function of the rate of sea level rise minus the surface elevation change of the wetland, which is bounded by the lesser of the maximum surface elevation change rate and the sea level rise rate. We then calculate the extent of coastal wetlands from 2000 to 2100 under two bounding coastal development scenarios (all refugia are conserved or all are developed), three sea level rise scenarios (low emissions, high emissions, and high emissions with rapid ice sheet collapse), and eight maximum surface elevation change rates (-1, 0, 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, and 15 mm/yr).
Land elevation data comes from NOAA's coastal topographic lidar and land cover data comes from NOAA's Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) Land Cover Atlas. The sea level rise models used are described in Kopp et al. 2014 and Kopp et al. 2017.
For more detail, see Climate Central's peer-reviewed paper.


text:
Q: How to get the next month in Robotframework I am trying to print the next month in roboframework and wrote something like this:
${actual_current_date_t}=        Get Current Date    result_format=%b %Y
${actual_next_date}=    Add Time To Date  ${actual_current_date_t}  31 days    result_format=%b %Y
log to console    ${actual_next_date}
But not able to print it. Desired Output : Feb 2023

A: Adding time to date can be dangerous in this case because some months are shorter than 31 days and this would cause the code to skip a month. This question has some excellent answers, and it's easy to convert it to RF: How can I get the first day of the next month in Python?
*** Settings ***
Library    DateTime

Next Month
    ${new_date}=  Evaluate    (datetime.datetime.now().replace(day=1)+datetime.timedelta(days=32))
    ${next_m}=    Convert Date   ${x}    result_format=%b %Y

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Majority of Cantrell recall money came from notable GOP donor, report says
The Breakdown: Have State Farm and Progressive blacklisted theft-vulnerable Kias and Hyundais in Louisiana?
10-Day and Hourly
Marine and Boating
Drop in temperatures Wednesday, but warmer Thursday
2022 hurricane season ends
New Orleans, LA »
WWL+
Parade Tracker
A+ Athletes
Popular Houma bowling alley, destroyed by Ida, finds new life
Bowl South of Louisiana grew from a family that is deeply woven into the fabric of Terrebonne's Cajun culture.
Katie Moore / Eyewitness News
Bowl South History
Woven into Cajun Culture
Beyond destruction
Hurricane Lanes
Help arrives
Back in Houma
Published: 10:09 PM CDT October 31, 2022
Updated: 5:12 AM CDT November 1, 2022
HOUMA, La.
This story is part one of Katie Moore's two-part series on Bowl South of Louisiana in Houma, La. Part two of this series airs 10 PM on Tuesday on WWL-TV.
When Hurricane Ida churned over Terrebonne Parish for hours, the storm's high winds, rain, and storm surge pummeled homes and businesses that had been hurricane-tested but stood strong for decades.
The storm ripped apart landmarks for the people of Houma, including a bowling center named Bowl South of Louisiana that sat off to the right on Grand Caillou Road if you were headed down the bayou.
It was a cream-colored, cinderblock building with a corrugated metal roof that housed perfect games and good times for hundreds of bowlers, and the hopes and dreams of its owner, Marie Lirette.
Ida took a bite out of the back wall of Bowl South and peeled the metal roof off like an orange.
"It took my breath away. It was literally a punch without getting punched. It was a punch," Marie said about how hard it hit to see her business in shambles the day after the storm.
The business she had built with her late husband, Terry, over the decades was gone and her life would never be the same.
Bowl South History: Woven into Cajun Culture
Bowl South of Louisiana grew from a family that is deeply woven into the fabric of Terrebonne's Cajun culture. Marie is the youngest of twelve children and while they didn't quite form a rock band, as the saying goes, the Dusenberry family formed a troupe of folk singers who used to perform at their Chauvin family restaurant, La Trouvaille.
The restaurant became a tourist attraction over the years, with the Dusenberrys assuming the role of cultural ambassadors. Marie remembers the moment her life started down a different path when her sister hired her to work at the bowling center at age 16 (it had a different name then).
"I remember Mama going, 'You're not going to work at the bowling alley with Veronica' and I'm like, Mom," Marie said, adding an extra syllable to the word 'Mom' in feigned protest, chuckling about the memory of her mom's disapproval.
Credit: WWL
Veronica did hire her in 1976 and Marie says she never left. Bowling was in her blood and she would work her way up to buying the center in 1992.
The local newspaper even wrote a story about it at the time. It was big news for small-town Houma.
She and her husband, Terry, dedicated their lives to building the business. They hosted Professional Bowling Association tournaments, formed high school leagues, hosted community fundraisers and put their bowling center on the map.
"My husband and I didn't have children. You know, I say that I think maybe we forgot, but we were so in love with what we were doing. And we focused all our attention on the bowling center," Marie said.
From the fun times to the tough times, like when Marie lost her hair from a condition called alopecia areata, the couple tackled life together and their bowling center centered them as a couple.
Bowl South also meant a lot to Marie's family and the regulars who bowled there, many of whom counted on seeing the couple every week either for leagues or on a weekend with their kids, perhaps.
"It was O'Neill and Melinda Bonvillain that actually married on in the bowling center on Lanes nine and ten," Marie said.
Others caught the bowling bug at the center, leading them to grow up year after year throwing balls down those 24 lanes, including R.J. Ugas.
"I spent more time over there than I did at home," Ugas said.
He scored his first perfect game at Bowl South.
Now in his 40's, Ugas is self-admittedly obsessed with bowling. His game room and garage are full of bowling memorabilia, including tables made from the wood of bowling lanes, pins signed by celebrities, such as players for the New Orleans Saints football team, and balls with special meaning.
"Bringing my children there when they can barely walk and crawl, put them up on a lane and hold the ball and push it. And for them to do that on the same lines that I played on as a ten-year-old, same spot, that's what was special to me," Ugas said.
The business gave the Lirettes a bigger bowling family than they could have imagined.
But when Ida struck on August 29, 2021, and the power went out on surveillance cameras at 12:21 pm, that was the beginning of the end the Lirettes' home away from home.
The Aftermath: Beyond destruction
When the hurricane chewed up Bowl South, it spit out pieces of Marie's business blocks away. A month after the storm, additional rain fell freely through the steel beams where sections of the roof were ripped off.
Bricks littered the back lot behind the building and you could see couches and a pool table soaking wet, but still standing like Ida hadn't even touched them.
Photos: Hurricane Ida destroys Bowl South of Louisiana in Houma, La.
WWL
"Insulation was blown throughout the entire building like cotton candy somebody had just blown everywhere. And it was a huge mess. Like it was almost like, just give up hope and just walk away," Ugas said.
Marie went from living most nights at the bowling center with the noise and excitement the balls rolling, pins crashing, machines clunking and music playing to silence.
"I went from one extreme to the other," Marie said.
For her, it was a lot like the feeling she had the day after her husband, Terry died a few years prior.
"That moment of knowing things will never be the same of the life you knew," she said, adding it was hard.
The decision not to rebuild was made for her, both by the declining popularity of the sport in recent years, and a pandemic that left many bowling centers looking for a lifeline.
"I really couldn't. Financially, I couldn't. Insurance-wise, we had enough to pay off the debt that I had, and I'm grateful for that. But there was no way financially that I could start over," Marie said.
But even in the condition Bowl South was in, Ugas couldn't quite let it all go.
"I kind of kept sending Marie hints. I'm like, hey, let's try to save the equipment list. I think the lanes are still good," he said.
Photos: New life to Bowl South of Louisiana after Hurricane Ida
So, Marie ended up posting the parts and pieces of her Bowling Center for sale in a Facebook group for bowling equipment sales.
"We had people contact me and they were telling me that they needed synthetic lanes or pin setters or ball returns or a lane oiling machine," Marie said.
Some got the gear for a fraction of the cost while Marie let others come get whatever they could salvage for free. Pieces of Bowl South of Louisiana would ultimately end up in eight other states.
"It's making a difference for those small bowling centers that gave me so much peace," Marie said.
Hurricane Lanes: Help arrives
The first bowling center to make the journey down to Houma to get some gear was aptly named Hurricane Lanes. Marie said she couldn't believe it when one of the owners, Michelle Noland, had reached out to her, "I said what? Wyoming? Hurricane Lanes?"
A bowling center in a town that deals with sub-zero snowstorms in the winter instead of tropical storm systems in the summer had a bowling center named for them.
Michelle's ex-husband and co-owner, John, named it when they bought the center in 1992 and John had hit the jackpot twice in one night on a hurricane-themed slot machine.
They needed the synthetic covers that add years onto the life of his wooden bowling lanes.
"Really cool stuff happened from these us getting these lanes," John said.
Bowl South gave Hurricane Lanes new life.
"And it's growing. It didn't go boom, it's really cool, and like a firework and then it's done. No, it's still growing," John said.
When the Nolands' bowling family worked long hours to install the lanes in the first week of 2022, they made sure to put them in exactly as they were at Bowl South in Houma. So, lanes nine and ten where the Bonvillains tied the knot, remain lanes nine and ten.
"I would love to take a trip to every center. That's, that's a goal for me, is to go and visit all the places that have a piece of Bowl South and it's still living on," Marie said in August. By October, she would make the journey and fulfill a life-long dream.
Back in Houma: The road home
For Ugas, it seems the idea of bowling on Bowl South's lanes outside Louisiana is a lot like eating Cajun food outside of Cajun country. It can still be really good, but there's just something about experiencing it at home.
So, Ugas made part of his home a piece of Bowl South. He built a single lane with Bowl South's wood in his garage with center's banner up above it, Terry Lirette's banner from his time with the PBA hangs off to the side.
It makes Marie emotional to see how much more Ugas has added to the spot each time she visits.
"To see my husband's banner from the PBA, this is incredible. You know, all of the just, memories in it. When I look at all this, it kind of takes me back to those moments," Marie said.
Ugas loves having a piece of a place that has meant so much to him in his home.
"I grew up my whole childhood living 3 blocks away. I could look at the building through my front room window," he continued, "When I have a day where I really miss the place, I go sit in my Bowling room, and give a long look at everything and be grateful of what I saved. That's how I keep the place alive in my heart."
Marie had a tough time dealing with the quiet. John said he imagines how difficult can be.
"The empty and the quiet got to be a hole that's hard to fill," he said.
I kept Marie from bowling, from even putting her fingers in the holes of a ball for over a year because of all she lost. It was just too hard, she said, "And then knowing that I wasn't home doing it. You know what I mean?"
Nursing home residents crammed in to warehouse during Ida close to settlement with owner
As Nanette Krentel is remembered by loved ones, her death still remains a mystery
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text:
<?php
// Test prepared statement with NULL string parameter.
try {
  $db = new PDO("nuodb:database=test@localhost;schema=Hockey", "dba", "goalie") or die;
  $db->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
  $position = NULL;
  $sql = "select count(*) from hockey where POSITION = :position";
  $stmt = $db->prepare($sql);
  $stmt->bindParam(':position', $position, PDO::PARAM_STR);
  $stmt->execute();
  $result = $stmt->fetchAll();
  foreach ($result as $row) {
     print_r ($row);
  }
  $db = NULL;
} catch(PDOException $e) {
  echo $e->getMessage();
}
$db = NULL;
echo "done\n";
?>


text:
Alexander distance to Benton
How far is Alexander from Benton?
Shortest distance between Alexander and Benton is 9.42 miles (15.16 km).
Flight distance from Alexander, AR to Benton, AR is 9.42 miles. Estimated flight time is 00 hours 01 minutes.
The driving distance from Alexander, Arkansas to Benton, Arkansas is: 11.87 miles (19.11 km) by car.
Driving from Alexander to Benton will take approximately 00 hours 15 minutes.
#1 Alexander
City in Arkansas
#2 Benton
City in Arkansas, USA
Starting point in Alexander: Alexander Street (-92.441203,34.6296)
Ending point in Benton: North Main Street (-92.58684,34.56454)
Estimated Travel Time Between Alexander and Benton
The distance between Alexander and Benton is 19 km if you choose to drive by road. You can go 00 hours 12 minutes if you drive your car at an average speed of 90 kilometers / hour. For different choices, please review the avg. speed travel time table on the below.
There is no time difference between Alexander and Benton. The current time is 17:48:36.
A car with a fuel efficiency of 8.3 l/100 km will need 1.59 liters (0.42 gallon) of gas to cover the route between Alexander and Benton.
The estimated cost of gas to go from Alexander to Benton is $1.38 (diesel $1.53).
The place names are translated into coordinates to approximate the distance between Alexander and Benton (latitude and longitude). Cities, states, and countries each have their own regional center. The Haversine formula is used to measure the radius.
Driving distance from Bentonville, AR to Alexander 221.27 miles (356 km)
Conway, AR
Driving distance from Conway, AR to Alexander 38.95 miles (63 km)
Driving distance from Fayetteville, AR to Alexander 196.34 miles (316 km)
Driving distance from Fort Smith, AR to Alexander 165.29 miles (266 km)
Hot Springs, AR
Driving distance from Hot Springs, AR to Alexander 40.96 miles (66 km)
Jonesboro, AR
Driving distance from Jonesboro, AR to Alexander 144.36 miles (232 km)
Driving distance from Little Rock, AR to Alexander 16.17 miles (26 km)
New Caledonia, AR
Driving distance from New Caledonia, AR to Alexander 128.88 miles (207 km)
North Little Rock, AR
Driving distance from North Little Rock, AR to Alexander 17.02 miles (27 km)
Pine Bluff, AR
Driving distance from Pine Bluff, AR to Alexander 52.88 miles (85 km)
Driving distance from Rogers, AR to Alexander 216.95 miles (349 km)
Driving distance from Springdale, AR to Alexander 206.05 miles (332 km)


thoughts, rants and art!: Bad Customer Service= Complaints. Complaints. Complaints.
Bad Customer Service= Complaints. Complaints. Complaints.
If you haven't already noticed Blogging isn't always about Sunshine and Rainbows.
Sometimes many bloggers have things they want to get off their chests or just out into the Blogosphere.
...A hope, a rant, a full on vent over something possibly typical.
The past couple of days, I have been trying to get my Bank accounts fixed.
You see, the bank screwed up and spelled my legal name wrong on my accounts and for my new cards soon to be in my mailbox.
I then received another phone call that my Credit Card also through this bank was deactivated, which was extremely fishy.
As the ridiculous human being I am, I have paranoia that my cards won't work and I won't be able to access my accounts.
Then, I'll be stuck somewhere because I won't be able to get gas because my cards are all declined.
However, I still try to tell my mind to be rational that this will not happen.
Meanwhile, the customer service I experienced was absolutely horrendous.
I wasn't disclosed information about my accounts that I should have been.
On top of that, the bank was not apologetic for their screw up or for wasting my time.
I'm always that person...you know the one who says "I'll write a letter about this or I'm going to complain," but I never actually do either of those things.
I'm not the type of girl that wants to give people a slap on the wrist or get them fired.
Well today, I finally did it. I wrote a complaint and sent it off.
I wrote a very long complaint explaining my experience with the bank Saturday, Monday and today and how bad Customer Service makes me reconsider being their customer.
I highly doubt it will even be read as they're a big bank but I feel better.
I feel better in my own head, like I stuck it to the man.
Whatever business you run, if you screw up either admit it or at least be apologetic about the situation.
I'm not a big fan of the phrase "the customer is always right," but I was right. Bad Customer Service gets you nowhere in the long run and if anything you will lose your customers.
Now I'm done and will think back to my happy place above in the photo, where I was this morning.


The leader of online roulette tables live from land based casinos is definitely not resting on its laurels. Authentic Gaming has just launched Duo roulette tables at which players have two gaming tables and can play them simultaneously. So in one window, you'll be sitting at two roulette tables filmed live in real casinos. Nothing like playing games one after the other without losing any time. The developer Authentic Gaming has launched 3 Duo gaming tables: Duo Auto Roulette (30s and 60s), Duo Authentic Roulette Saint- Vincent and Duo Authentic Roulette International from the Batumi Casino, Georgia.
Live Dealers Casino tells you more about these innovations from Authentic Gaming.
Firstly, these roulette tables from the Saint-Vincent Casino, the International Casino Batumi and the 30s and 60s Automatic Roulette tables aren't new. They are accessible in single format, which is without having two tables in front of one. Authentic Gaming's new family of tables called "DUO" simply allow one to play more quickly on two roulette tables from the same casino. For example, the Saint-Vincent Casino in Italy has several live roulette tables. The Saint-Vincent Duo Authentic Roulette incorporates the Original and Professional tables. So online players can play in a single window at two tables filmed simultaneously, you can play more quickly as if you were present at two real gaming tables. The same is true for the Duo International Batumi where online players can play International Roulette and Turbo Roulette at the same time.
This idea is interesting in so far as the player is at two roulette tables and doesn't waste any time between games. Live roulette table games from real casinos are slower because the dealers have to pay out to the players actually present there. Authentic Gaming had the ingenious idea of offering two gaming tables to solve this "problem". Authentic Gaming is one of the best developers of live roulette from real casinos.
>> See also: "Authentic Gaming launches two live automatic roulette tables".
We have made a video so that you can get an idea of what awaits you at these live roulette tables. We've made a video of the Duo Auto Roulette table (30s and 60s). In this 4 minute long video, you'll see the Live Auto Roulette 30s table on your left and the Live Auto Roulette 60s table on your right. In front of you are two real automatic roulette tables and two virtual mats with chips from 20 cents to 10 euros. The images are HD and as you'll see in the video, the streaming is perfect. The images appear fluidly and one can see the technological strength of Authentic Gaming.
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Letter to the Community in Support of Ruth Walter
Oct. 27, 2021: The Bronxville Village Democratic Committee is urging all residents of Legislative District 15, which includes the Village of Bronxville, to vote to re-elect County Legislator Ruth Walter on November 2. Ruth is our first Bronxville resident to serve as County legislator.
The work of the County Legislature often goes unseen, but its decisions can have a dramatic impact on the lives of people in our district. The Legislature modifies and approves the County budget which includes, in part, expenditures on roads, parks, various policing services, environmental work, and social services. The proposed capital budget for 2022 is composed of an extensive list of investments totaling $476.4 million in new appropriations laid out in a 707-page document. The operating budget will be even larger, funding a wide range of services and departments.
Clearly, our District needs a Legislator who has the ability, tenacity, and motivation to work through these budgets. Allocations for flood control, parks improvements, and other vital services for our district depend on responsible, detailed review. Ruth Walter is the candidate best equipped for this challenge.
District 15 extends from North Yonkers, through East Yonkers, to the Village of Bronxville. Ruth has done a great job at representing all the people in our sprawling district. She has ensured that County funds go to worthy organizations throughout our area. A summary of her committee positions and accomplishments is on the County website at https://www.westchesterlegislators.com/district-15
Notably, she is Chair of the Environment and Health Committee and Vice-Chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee.
It takes maturity and patience to work with other County Legislators, the executive branch, and numerous state and federal elected officials. Ruth has these qualities. At the same time, Ruth responds to constituents, addressing their concerns with sensitivity and knowledge. For clarification on issues or to contact Ruth directly, please go to her campaign website: https://www.electruthwalter.com/.
Let's capitalize on the experience Ruth has gained in her first term and re-elect her as our County Legislator. Vote on November 2 for Ruth Walter.
The Bronxville Village Democratic Committee:
Jennifer Colao – Chair
Niamh Hartnett Merluccio – Vice Chair
Betsy Harding – Chair Emeritus
Kerry Acocella
Caroline Colao
Bill Gaston
Dina Grant
Andrew Langhoff
Jeff Minich
Priscilla Newman
Bill O'Connell
Thea Stokes
Susan Tapper
Editor's note: MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements in letters to the editor, and the opinions do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff. Its objective in publishing letters to the editor is to give air to diverse thoughts and opinions of residents in the community.
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