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Because idle hands are the devil's workshop!
Each spade is laser engraved with a devilishly cool ornate engraving that has developed quite an occult following.
If the designs shown haven't caught your fancy, we can engrave your design or initials on a brass Devil's Spade (on all three lobes) for $30 – simply choose custom engraving from the drop down.


text:
What is the entryway of a Japanese house called?
What are doors like in Japan?
Should front door swing in or out?
How do shoji doors sliding?
Why do Korean apartment doors open outward?
Why choose our sliding Shoji doors?
Genkan
Genkan (玄関) are traditional Japanese entryway areas for a house, apartment, or building, a combination of a porch and a doormat. It is usually located inside the building directly in front of the door. The primary function of genkan is for the removal of shoes before entering the main part of the house or building.
What do you call Japanese doors?
shoji, Japanese Shōji, in Japanese architecture, sliding outer partition doors and windows made of a latticework wooden frame and covered with a tough, translucent white paper. When closed, they softly diffuse light throughout the house.
Why do Japanese front doors open outward?
The front door usually opens outward, which is opposite of in Western houses. This is because Japanese people do not wear shoes in the house, they take off and line up their shoes at the entrance. If the door opens inward, the shoes will be in the way and could cause you to be not able to open the door.
In traditional Japanese houses, almost all doors were sliding doors. However, in modern Japanese houses, a single door are used more, and you don't see sliding doors as much as before. Sliding doors do not require space to be opened, which is in some cases beneficial.
What is a Japanese Fusuma?
The fusuma is an opaque sliding panel, used to redefine the space in traditional Japanese houses. The fusuma serves to define the space in the washitsu rooms of Japanese houses . It can serve as both a door and a wall. The shoji ( transparent sliding panel ) is used to separate the exterior and interior of the house.
How do shoji doors work?
Two panels on two grooves (Figure 1) slide and pass each other. When open, that means two panels on one side stacking over another, there is 3 feet opening at maximum. When closed, the width of the stile is overlapped in the middle, so you won't see any crack of light in between two doors, covering 6 feet altogether.
The short answer is generally no, building code doesn't specify which way your door should swing. However, this isn't always the case, especially in areas with extreme weather, so you'll want to check your local building codes to make sure you're complying with any variations.
Why do Japanese doors slide?
But walls can be cold in the winter and hot in the summer, which is why many Japanese homes have openings between the walls and the outside to allow air to flow through. This is where the fusuma comes in. It's the sliding door of the house. These days, fusuma are usually made of glass or wooden panels.
What is the difference between Shoji and fusuma?
The primary difference between fusuma and shoji is that fusuma are opaque. Although fusuma may be constructed from paper it is typically a thick course grained paper that isn't translucent. Shoji on the other hand are made from a thin waxed paper that lets light through.
Elements of Shoji There are deep grooves in the top rail and shallow grooves in the bottom. Grooves are slightly narrower than the door stile thickness. The top and bottom of the doors are cut with a matching L-shape tenon, and they slide along the groove smoothly.
What kind of wood are shoji doors made of?
Shoji doors are built on a frame known as a kōshi. Traditionally, these frames are made from either bamboo or a coniferous softwood with a straight grain pattern.
Do French doors open inward or outward?
French doors can open in or out but not both; you'll need to decide which direction before purchasing doors. Inswing (opening in) and outswing (opening out) doors both have pros and cons. As an exterior door, it's preferable to use an outswing door if possible.
It's a safety rule from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) – doors must open in the direction of exit travel – which means OUT. room is a high-hazard area.
What is a traditional Japanese House?
Traditional homes seldom have structural interior walls separating the space into different rooms as they are replaced by sliding doors. You will not see an interior swing door in a traditional Japanese house and when you think of decorating your home in this style, you need to keep that in mind.
What is a Japanese sliding door?
Sliding doors in the Japanese style fully retain all the features of the shoji, which, like everything in the culture of Japan, has a special meaning. The ease of transforming the room, the ability to create an open or a secluded space, depending on the particular needs makes them so unique. Shoji doors – elegance and harmony in your home
Our traditionally styled sliding shoji doors are very unique and create an authentic look and feel of a Japanese home. Their 2×4 frame allows for hassle free installation into existing closet openings and large rooms. Combine multiple unites to create movable walls within larger spaces.
What is a Japanese gate?
and what is expressed is given careful consideration." Traditional Japanese gates for entering a home or garden ( mon) have a gabled ( kirizuma) or hipped gabled ( irimoya) roof structure supported by cedar posts and topped with red cedar shingles or ceramic tiles. The gate doors can vary from simple panels to more complex designs.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Is Halo's Master Chief joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?
Published: {{day}}/{{monthNameShort}}/{{year}} {{hourTwoDigit}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}
Updated: {{day}}/{{monthNameShort}}/{{year}} {{hourTwoDigit}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}
by David Purcell
The majority of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fans will tell you that Nintendo has already assembled possibly one of the deepest and most well-rounded rosters in fighting game history, but not many would object to the idea of adding one of Microsoft's biggest characters to the arena.
Halo's Master Chief is one of the most iconic video game figures of its generation and has not featured in any titles outside of the franchise. Halo content has always been exclusive for Xbox players.
There's a slight chance that this stance might have somewhat shifted in recent times, though, based on an interesting interaction on social media.
Could Master Chief soon battle against Mario, Donkey Kong and others in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?
Twitter's official gaming account, @TwitterGaming, asked its followers which character they would like to see be added to the Smash roster in the future, so they could rate each selection from fans.
Read More: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Is there a problem with Donkey Kong's punch?
However, it wasn't just fans that got involved. In fact, they might have even got a lot more than they bargained for when the official Halo account responded with a Master Chief gif.
pic.twitter.com/wVq4ycEKsa
— Halo (@Halo) April 2, 2019
Now, while it might be merely speculation at this stage, there's no doubt that having Master Chief lock horns with the likes of Super Mario, Donkey Kong and Princess Peach in the popular fighting game would be fun for all involved.
Read More: 10 new characters the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster needs
With data miners having previously leaked that there could be up to 10 more empty roster slots to fill in the future, it's possible that more additions will be made to the game in due course.
There's a very good chance that this was simply a tease and nothing more than that. Yet, it won't stop fans thinking of what it would be like to have such a high profile character - which isn't from a Nintendo exclusive franchise - make a surprise entrance to the fighting arena someday.
Halo: MCC PC flights, cross-play, and cross-progression explained


In 2 Corinthians 5:18–20, the apostle Paul answers a key question that many Christians ask at some point: What's God's will for my life? First, he says we are ambassadors for Christ. We represent Jesus to others. That's our identity. Second, Paul tells us our mission: to proclaim the message of reconciliation.
If that's our identity and that's our mission, how do we fulfill that role when it comes to Islam? I submit the answer is exactly the same way ambassadors fulfill their role. Political ambassadors typically do two things: learn and engage. They learn about the people they are going to visit, and then they engage those people. Ambassadors for Christ should do the same. We need to learn about Islam and then engage Muslims.
The challenge that many Christians face, though, is that they don't know much about Islam, and even when they think they do, they're often misinformed. This can lead to unhelpful stereotypes, prejudice, fear, or syncretism. That's why I've created a tool to equip ambassadors for Christ who are ready to heed the call to learn about Islam and engage Muslims. It's a DVD or downloadable HD resource called A Closer Look at Islam (see a trailer below).
My goal in this resource is to provide believers with an accessible introduction to the most important elements of the Islamic faith. That way they can draw upon this knowledge of Islam to more carefully craft their message when they meet Muslims.
I also wanted to combine this knowledge with practical tactics. For example, I show believers how they can determine which beliefs and practices are truly Islamic and which are not. Also, I explain how to respond to the most common objection that Muslims raise: The Bible has been corrupted.
A Closer Look at Islam will help you better understand, love, and reach out to your Muslim neighbor.


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15 Gorgeous Spiritual Retreats Around the Globe: the Ultimate Meditation Destinations
Emily Monaco
Silhouette of fitness athlete practicing warrior II yoga pose meditating at beach sunset. Woman stretching doing morning meditation against colorful sky background. Zen wellness and wellbeing concept.
You don't need to travel to far-flung places to meditate but why wouldn't you? Beautiful locales around the world inspire you to relax, unwind, and really get in tune with your inner self, for spiritual retreats that leave you refreshed with a whole new outlook on your day-to-day.
We picked the brains of a few seasoned practitioners of meditation to uncover their favorite locales for spiritual retreats.
1. The Grand Canyon
Tiffany Cruikshank (L.A.c., MAOM, RYT) founder of Yoga Medicine and author of "Meditate Your Weight" loves to meditate at one of America's natural wonders: the Grand Canyon.
"The massiveness of it and the spaciousness there is really calming for me," she says.
2. Cabrera, Dominican Republic
Rebecca Weible, founder of Yo Yoga!, loves to meditate at Playa Diamante Beach in Cabrera, Dominican Republic.
"The water is clear, calm and shallow for almost a mile out so you could choose to sit or kneel in the water for your practice," she says. "Petite, gentle waves break right on the shore creating a quiet and soothing soundtrack, perfect for syncing with your breath."
3. Half Moon Bay Beach, California
Lauren Imparato loves meditating anywhere near the sea, from the front of a sailboat sailing through the Mediterranean to the cliffs at Half Moon Bay Beach, near where she grew up.
"There is a rhythmic nature to the waves and tides that not only mimics the breath, but helps me naturally fall into it," says the founder of I.AM.YOU., a lifestyle company and yoga studio in Manhattan and author of "RETOX: Healthy Solutions for Real Life."
"Meditation is simply breathing, And the sea reminds me that that's the only thing I really have to remember to do to be healthy and whole."
4. The River Ganges, Rishikesh
India is a popular locale for meditation given the practice's deep cultural importance in the region.
Constantin Bisanz, the founder of ALOHA, a wellness-driven food company, had the opportunity to travel to the origin of the river Ganges above Rishikesh, which is where the Beatles famously delved into the historical and spiritual practices of mediation.
"I was up in the mountains in the Himalayas, overlooking the valley, seeing the River Ganges, and that was kind of, in a sense, a very special place," says Bisanz.
Dr. Lynn Anderson, Naturopathic Doctor and Certified Yoga Therapist, had a completely different but no less rewarding meditation experience in Rishikesh.
"We think of meditation as something that is done sitting still and away from distractions," she says. "But the true nature of meditation is to be mindful and present. As I took the 16 miles white water rafting expedition down the Ganges I was mindful of the calm water, the turbulent water and the twist and turns of the river bed. Life is like a river. To navigate it you need to be mindful and present."
5. Monson, Maine
This tiny, 686-person town is Anderson's other favorite place to meditate.
"My family owned a farm house which boarded a stream that flowed from the nearby mountains," she says. "Down over the steep bank, hidden by the trees I would sit at the side of the brook and listen to the gentle babbling of the water running over the smooth stones. It was the only sound to be heard.
"Here I was at peace with the world and it is here that I would meditate. Surrounded by the colors, sounds and smells of nature the mind relaxes into a state of peaceful reflection."
Image care of Tomas Castelazo
6. Sedona, AZ
Tracee Dunblazier, spiritual empathy and author of "The Demon Slayer's Handbook" series, shares that her favorite place to meditate is at Bell Rock, in Sedona, Arizona, a veritable meditation destination particularly given the presence of the McLean Meditation Institute.
"The first time I went, I hiked up about 100 ft to the first plateau," says Dunblazier. "Once up there, at the very edge facing the beautiful valley and red rocks, I sat in the chair sized cubby hole in the cliff that fits one. I was immersed in the rich smells of dirt, desert sage--and the connection to other dimensions was off the charts. As I meditated an Eagle flew overhead."
Elisabeth Manning, founder of Fertile Living, also loves to go to Sedona to meditate.
"Meditation is easy and accelerated because of the many vortexes," she notes, citing the region's famous locales where the earth is exceptionally alive with energy. "I love to meditate on Airport Mesa to calm/balance emotions and heighten my awareness."
7. Atalaya, Santa Fe
Kathy Walsh, mindfulness and meditation coach and founder of Joyohboy, loves to meditate while hiking.
"When I go on a hike I often find a space that has an energy to it that feels heightened," she says. "I will sit on the earth and allow the vibration to flow through my body. Specifically, I love the hike called Atalaya in Santa Fe. Half way up the trail turns and faces the mountain. I often meditate there."
8. Kemi, Finland
Debbie Vyskocil, President of Curative Via & CV Performance Institute, ventures away from the typical beaches and mountains to a unique spot in Finland.
"Meditating in Kemi, Finland in the Arctic Circle was my absolute favorite," she says. "The clear, cool air made for the most amazing and kinesthetic breathing meditation. The crystal blue sky set against the pure white snow was an almost entrancing visual to let your eyes soft focus on. The warmth of the sun was penetrating since the air was so clean."
Image care of TravelingOtter
9. Easter Island
One of Kelsey Patel's best meditation experiences was at Easter Island.
"The island is known for it's Moai," explains the meditation coach and owner of Pure Barre Beverly Hills, "But the actual magic of being on this tiny island, where there are more horses than humans, with the Rapa Nui people who almost became extinct due to civil conflict and wars on their own island and then sitting in front of these statues, which represent the actual human beings who populated the land at one point and were leaders of their particular village or tribe and feeling the energy of the land... it feels like you're a tiny dot on the entire planet, which the island somewhat is, and I felt so much aliveness because the island is so far from anything, yet so palpable with life and energy."
Image care of FLJuJitsu
10. Hawaii
It's not surprising that Hawaii is so popular for so many of our meditation enthusiasts: it has a unique energy that draws many to its shores.
Bisanz loves Maui, which he calls a "place that's kind of special for me, with a special energy." It's no wonder he used a Hawaiian word as the name for his company.
Patel loves Hawaii as well, "particularly mama Maui as they call her," she says. "There's so much incredible energy on the island."
Image care of Chensiyuan
11. Machu Picchu, Peru
The historical city of Machu Picchu -- the lost city of the Inca -- is a major draw for psychic Linda Lauren.
"It is a very spiritual, sacred place with a special energy that draws you to awareness and silence," she says. "There are hot springs bubbling up from the caverns at it's core, with waterfalls offering a cleansing experience. If you have a honed intuition, or already meditate regularly, expect to experience visions and feelings on the more intense side."
12. The Sanctuary Belintash, Bulgaria
Yet another ancient locale with an enormous amount of history, this sanctuary in Bulgaria is one of Lauren's favorite places to meditate.
"This ancient sanctuary is a huge rock and part of one of the three point formation of European energy zones," notes Lauren. "The area creates a strong vibrational pull that visitors insist enhances the likelihood of anything paranormal. Visions, spirits, and physical sensations accompany your visit, and it would be fascinating to keep a journal on what your senses experience."
Image care of Mstyslav Chernov
13. Mykonos, Greece
There's no place like home, especially when home is Greece. Dr. Theodoros Kousouli D.C., C.H.t. always makes sure to spend some time meditating in Mykonos when he returns to his homeland.
"Every time I go there I can feel the ancients calling to me, the crystal clear waters inviting me," he says. "Whether it is the break of morning or when the sun sets , by far my favorite place to meditate. My soul vibrates and feels as if it is singing- I feel most connected there."
Image care of Flickr: Byron Hetrick
14. Redwood Forest
It's not only one of the natural wonders of the world -- the Redwood Forest is also a great place for meditation, at least as far as meditation enthusiast and writer Erin Michaela Sweeney is concerned.
"One of my favorite meditation spots in recent months has been the Wellstone Center in the Redwoods, where I was an emerging writer in residency in August," she says. "Situated four miles above the Santa Cruz boardwalk in the morning fog of Soquel, California, the WCR is a retreat where I practiced my meditation and my craft for two weeks. The peaceful environment allowed me to explore my creativity both with meditating and with writing."
Image care of GnomeFilliere
15. The Alps
The beautiful mountains spanning French, Italian, Swiss, and Austrian borders are one of Bisanz's favorite places in the world to meditate.
"Growing up in the Austrian Alps -- my family lives outside of Salzburg in the mountains -- I like to be there, to find some peace there."
Of course, you don't have to travel far to meditate -- there are lots of meditation techniques that you can use to meditate right at home. But when given the choice, wouldn't you love to have a fantastic view?
Have we missed any of your favorite meditation spots? Share them with us via Twitter @organicauthorit!
Related on Organic Authority
The Benefits of Meditation and How to Do it Anywhere
9 Meditation Apps to Get Your Om On
4 Relaxation Techniques for When You Really Suck at Relaxing
meditationtravelvacation spotsretreats
Emily Monaco is a food and culture writer based in Paris.
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Q: delete duplicate rows that have blob text / mediumtext mysql I have seen lots of posts on deleting rows using sql commands but i need to filter out rows which have mediumtext.
I keep getting an error Error Code: 1170. BLOB/TEXT column  used in key specification without a key length from solution such as:
ALTER IGNORE TABLE foobar ADD UNIQUE (title, SID)

My table is simple, i need to check for duplicates in mytext, id is unique and they are AUTO_INCREMENT.
As a note, the table has about a million rows, and all attempts keep timing out. I would need a solution that performs actions in batches such as WHERE id>0 AND id<100
Also I am using MySQL Workbench on amazons RDS
From a table like this
+---+-----+-----+------+-------+
|id |fname|lname|mytext|morevar|
|---|-----|-----|------|-------|
| 1 | joe | min | abc  | 123   |
| 2 | joe | min | abc  | 123   |
| 3 | mar | kam | def  | 789   |
| 4 | kel | smi | ghi  | 456   |
+------------------------------+

I would like to end up with a table like this
+---+-----+-----+------+-------+
|id |fname|lname|mytext|morevar|
|---|-----|-----|------|-------|
| 1 | joe | min | abc  | 123   |
| 3 | mar | kam | def  | 789   |
| 4 | kel | smi | ghi  | 456   |
+------------------------------+

update forgot to mention this is on amazon RDS using mysql workbench
my table is very large and i keep getting an error Error Code: 1205. Lock wait timeout exceeded from this sql command:
DELETE n1 FROM names n1, names n2 WHERE n1.id > n2.id AND n1.name = n2.name

Also, if anyone else is having issues with MySQL workbench timing out the fix is
Go to Preferences -> SQL Editor and set to a bigger value this parameter:
DBMS connection read time out (in seconds)

A: OPTION #1: Delete all duplicates records leaving one of each (e.g. the one with max(id))
DELETE
FROM yourTable
WHERE id NOT IN
(
   SELECT MAX(id)
   FROM yourTable
   GROUP BY mytext
)

You could prefer using min(id).
Depending on the engine used, this won't work and, as it did, give you the Error Code: 1093. You can't specify target table 'yourTable' for update in FROM clause. Why? Because deleting one record may cause something to happen which made the WHERE condition FALSE, i.e. max(id) changes the value.
In this case, you could try using another subquery as a temporary table:
DELETE
FROM yourTable
WHERE id NOT IN
(
    SELECT MAXID FROM
    (
        SELECT MAX(id) as MAXID
        FROM yourTable
        GROUP BY mytext
    ) as temp_table
)

OPTION #2: Use a temporary table like in this example or:
First, create a temp table with the max ids:
   SELECT MAX(id) AS MAXID
   INTO tmpTable
   FROM yourTable
   GROUP BY mytext;

Then execute the delete:
DELETE
FROM yourTable
WHERE id NOT IN
(
    SELECT MAXID FROM tmpTable
);

A: How about this it will delete all the duplicate records from the table
 DELETE t1 FROM foobar t1 , foobar t2 WHERE  t1 .mytext= t2.mytext

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Q: Collision detection using MeshGeometry3D I am creating a CAD like program, creating modelvisual3D objects. How do i do collision detection between my objects(modelvisual3d) using MeshGeometry3D. Do i have to compare every triangle in the moving object against the still standing objects?
What will be my best way to do collision detection?

A: It depends on how precise your collision detection needs to be.
There is no built-in collision detection in WPF's 3D library.  If you need high precision, you'll need to compare every triangle.
That being said, you can start with comparing bounding boxes and/or bounding spheres.  This is always a good first step, since it can quickly eliminate most cases.  If you don't need precision collision detection, this alone may be fine.

A: To add to Reed's answer (based on my answer here):
After you've eliminated most of your objects via the bounding box/sphere to bounding box/sphere test you should test the triangles of your test object(s) against the other object's bounding box/sphere first before checking triangle/triangle collisions. This will eliminate a lot more cases.
To rule out a collision you'll have to check all the triangles in the test object, but to find a case where you'll need to go down to the triangle/triangle case you only need to find the first triangle that interacts with the bounding box/sphere of the other object.

A: Look at the SAT theorem (Separating Axes Theorem), it's the fastest and easiest one out there.
The theory about this is that if you can draw a line which separates the triangles, then they're not colliding.
As is said, first do an AABB earlier detection, and when two objects collide, test each polygon of object A against each polygon of object B.
Starting in 2D, to test if two polygons collide, you get the extents of them in the possible axes (in this case X and Y), if those extents intersect, then the poligons are colliding.
On this page you can find a very good explanation on how it works and how to apply it:
http://www.metanetsoftware.com/technique/tutorialA.html
To apply it to 3D simply use the edges of each polygon as the separating axes.
If the extents on those axes intersect, then the polygons are colliding.
Also, this method resolves collission for moving objects, giving also the momentum of collision (resolve the relative angular velocity, substracting velocity B from velocity A, this way the problem is reduced to a moving object and a static one, and add the velocity in the axis you are testing to the extent of the polygon A, if they intersect, rest the original extent of the polygon and you will get the momentum of collission).

A: Another option would be to use BulletSharp, a C# wrapper of the well-known Bullet Physics Engine. In this case, you would need to write functions to create a (concave) collision shape from a MeshGeometry3D.
In my experience, it works pretty well, even though dynamic collision between concave shapes is not supported. You'll need to use convex decompsition, as a workaround.


This morning we woke to an icy car park & a frosty car & it's icing up again, though it's not as cold as last December.
Everything's gone well with Bebe - although the plumber insisted that she gave him a bonus, so not a lot we can do about that... We have also been out to eat with Grandad Gerry & Nana Stip-Pep, which was lovely & Gerry entertained us with hilarious stories of his time as a hospital porter.
Last night, we spent the evening with our friends Corinne & Graham. We first met them over 23 years ago, as they lived down the road from a cottage we use to rent. They still live in that same house & it delights us that they haven't changed a bit!
But now it's time for curry!
Bet you made a slide. You did didn't you?


Meaningful Use continues to be a driving force in electronic medical record (EMR) and electronic health record (EHR) adoption with the 2015 deadline around the corner. But beyond meeting MU requirements, implementing EMR solutions is the foundation for enabling collaboration amongst caregivers, providers and payers for enhanced patient outcomes.
Orchestrate Healthcare provides Best In KLAS consultative services and solutions to assist healthcare facilities in the planning, design/build, and implementation of systems such as Epic, InterSystems, McKesson and Cerner.
Orchestrate Healthcare's current KLAS Research Technical Services rating.
Learn why KLAS rankings matter to healthcare organizations when looking for EMR solutions that provide best ROI and outcomes.
Electronic health records are fundamental in today's healthcare, but not every healthcare organizations' use of or need for the records is the same. Customization of EMR solutions is often necessary for successful adoption and seamless utilization, it is necessary to understand different user requirements within an organization.
Lead the go-live while minimizing disruptions to patient care, workflow and reimbursement processes.
From onsite deployment to assist with an organization's electronic medical record (EMR) and electronic health record (EHR) needs, to staff augmentation during and after the go-live, Orchestrate Healthcare consultants help organizations deliver quality care.


text:
Why it's wrong to say we sued the NHS because we lost a contract in Surrey
You are here: Home / Blogs / Why it's wrong to say we sued the NHS because we lost a contract in Surrey
Much has been written and said about the procurement process which the NHS in Surrey ran back in 2016 to find the best organisation to deliver vital children's services until 2022. A lot of what has been written is misleading or misinformed, and all of it has lost the key point: a procurement process is meant to be about picking the right provider – a principle we agree with.
Since 2006 we've bid for hundreds of contracts, and although we've years of experience and a strong track record of innovating and delivering positive improvements we also recognise that while you win some, you lose some – and we've lost more bids than we've won.
Whenever we don't win, we ask for feedback – to find out what we could've done better, and what worked well.
When we asked those questions in Surrey, we became seriously concerned there may have been flaws in the process and asked the commissioners to look again at how things had been done to make sure they had picked the right provider.
This isn't unusual in the NHS at all. Over the last two years, seven NHS Trusts (all having lost the contract they were bidding for) have done exactly the same as we did – raising concerns with commissioners that the way the new provider had been picked might have gone wrong.
Our bid was based on five years' experience of running the services, making improvements which would make a real difference for families and taking on up to 20% additional demand each year without any additional funding from the NHS.
The commissioners refused to discuss our concerns with us and signed a contract with their new provider. Although our ideal outcome was that the process was redone properly, and everyone had a fair opportunity to win, signing the contract meant the CCG had turned this into a claim which could only be settled with the payment of damages.
In other words, it was the NHS commissioners who made this dispute about money.
As you'll know from Sir Richard's previous blog about Virgin Care and our role in supporting the NHS, the work we do has to date never made a profit. In fact, Virgin Group and Sir Richard Branson have invested more than £60m of additional funding into the business and have pledged that any profit made in the future (over and above the original investment) will be re-invested into the NHS.
And the same goes for the money we received as a result of the commissioners' decision to pay us damages rather than to re-run the process. That money has been invested into delivering the services we're commissioned to by the NHS – to pay the salaries of doctors, nurses, other health professionals and colleagues delivering healthcare services. Nothing has been paid out to Virgin Group or Sir Richard.
Over the last three years, over and above the funding we've had from the NHS, Virgin Group have invested significantly in our partnerships with the NHS, including:
£5m in rolling out mobile working systems, which free our teams from their desks and gives them 30% more time to spend with the people who rely on our services
£10m in introducing a new procurement system which takes advantage of our national scale to cut the price we pay for common supplies, meaning we can save the NHS money and deliver more frontline services
Over £1m in Care co-ordination services which are making it easier for people to ask for help, reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and improving outcomes by focusing on prevention
£4m in new purpose-designed buildings and spaces to bring colleagues physically closer together, improve services for local people by bringing them within county boundaries and creating comfortable, relaxing and clean spaces for our colleagues and service users
£300,000 in seed funding for frontline colleagues' projects to make a real difference to patients' lives including projects which have helped patients get out of hospital more quickly, help people who have had a stroke to regain their speech and many more
And through those investments we've delivered improvements which have made a real difference to people's lives. Over the past year, we've helped combat social isolation with the innovative Child and Family Wellbeing Service in Essex we're delivering in partnership with Essex County Council and Barnardo's, we've delivered easier access to services in North Kent which the local MP described as "good work… helping people access services more efficiently," and we're among the first to offer a cost-free route into registered nursing with our Nursing Degree Apprenticeship.
Vivienne McVey Chief Executive Officer
https://virgincare.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Viv-Mcvey-professional-head-shot-2019-e1572539831440-250x296.jpg
Vivienne McVey
One of the founders of the business, I qualified in medicine at the University of Cambridge and began my career in 1986 as a GP in London and Beaconsfield. I went on to become chair of the Professional Executive Committee of my PCT, a front runner in developing practice based commissioning and new ways of delivering health services in the community. I have overseen the growth of Virgin Care since it began and have most recently led our national transformation programme. I have been a member of the Virgin Healthcare Holdings board since 2011.
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My Difference Today
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Natalie Jones
Writing Your CV – The basics you need to know
Struggling to structure your CV? Feeling like you have reached a brick wall? Here are some of our top tips on how to write a stand out CV.
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Jaskiran Gill
My experience of working at Virgin Care as part of the NHS Graduate Management Scheme
Jaskiran, who joined us from the NHS Graduate Management Scheme, tells how her time at Virgin Care has given her a greater understanding of the world of health and social care and says she feels this will benefit her now and throughout her career.
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Interview Do's and Dont's!
Maybe you haven't had an interview for years; maybe you have suddenly become nervous and want to pull out? Or maybe you feel calm and collected and know you are going to give it your all. Here is our guide for you on our interview do's and don'ts, aiming to set you up for a brilliant interview.
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Samantha Kane People Director
How we've improved appraisal rates, to help us deliver improved outcomes
A happy team delivers better outcomes. Our people director Samantha writes on our blog today about what we've done to ensure we have a happy team.


Malaysia has an abundance of theme parks spread out across the country, and with many more to come. Currently home to 16 theme parks and water parks and with plans to open another 10 in the next few years, Malaysia is fast becoming the theme park capital of Southeast Asia.
They have theme parks to satisfy any taste. Whether it's action and adventure or family-friendly fun you're after, you'll be able to find it here.
Here's my pick of the best the country has to offer.
Located just 40 minutes away from KL city centre, this immense park contains 80 attractions over a 360,000 square meter area. It includes both a water park and a dry park providing non-stop fun for the whole family.
The water park is home to the world's largest water ride, the Vuvuzela, as well as the world's largest man-made surf beach with waves reaching up to 8 feet.
The Extreme Park contains Malaysia's first bungee and thrill seekers will certainly find something for them in the Scream Park. There really is something for everyone.
This is a definite must for all Lego lovers out there (of which there are many!). After opening in 2012, Legoland Malaysia theme park has expanded to include a water park, Lego hotel and the brand new NINJAGO World!
The park is split into themed areas including Lego Kingdoms, the Land of Adventure and Miniland these include interactive rides and shows for all ages.
Even the hotel itself is an experience. It boasts guestrooms in the themes of pirate, kingdom or adventure so you can immerse yourself and get lost in the magic of the place.
Admission: RM180 – Adult, RM144 – Child for the combo park tickets.
The Lost World of Tambun has loads of attractions to keeps you busy for days. Unbelievably it contains an amusement park, water park, adventure park, petting zoo, tiger park and tin-mining experience! Included in this in Malaysia's longest man-made river adventure, clocking in at 660 metres in length.
Lost World by name and lost world by nature, this park is located in the stunning natural rainforest and limestone mountains of Perak, giving visitors the feel of escaping the hustle and bustle of city life.
Admission: Tickets priced separately for individual park areas.
This is one of the earliest of the bunch, opening its doors way back in 1992 as a water park. It has since expanded and is now home to a number of different parks.
Highlights include the Animal Safari World in which animals roam around and perform tricks, the Cowboy Town taking you back to the Wild West with nightly shows, and of course the Water World, home to magnificent water slides and pools.
Another great advantage of A'Famosa is that just outside the doors lies the historic and fascinating town of Melaka to explore.
Escape describes itself as "Low Tech, High Fun", and that's what you get at this back-to-nature adventure park. Here, you get to do some of the work for yourself from climbing trees like a monkey to flying through the forest on a zip wire like a lemur and leaping from the treetops on a safety wire.
They also have downhill tube racing, aerobatics and, for the young ones, the monkey school and tots trail.
This is a great way to get the kids active and out in nature while having the time of their lives.


Mbgclass.net - Web Site Information :.
Description: The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a 4-wheel drive sports utility vehicle produced by German automaker Mercedes-Benz. It is a really durable, and a reliable, rugged off-roader.


1st-, 2nd- and 3rd- Degree Murder, Manslaughter, Aggravated Battery/Assault, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Armed/Strong Arm Robbery, Burglary, Home Invasion, Sexual Battery, Domestic battery, Simple Battery/Assault.
Trafficking (all controlled substances), Sale of a Controlled Substance, Sale within 1,000 ft. of a School, Possession with Intent to Sell, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Prescription Fraud, and Doctor Shopping.
Grand Theft, Fencing, Possession of Stolen Property, Simple Theft, Retail Theft, Damage to Property, Racketeering (RICO), Embezzlement, Bond Fraud, Computer Fraud, Theft of Intellectual Property, Pharmacy Fraud, Medicaid Fraud, Organized Scheme to Defraud.
Vehicular Homicide/Manslaughter, DUI Manslaughter, DUI with Property Damage or Personal Injury, DUI (Breathalyzer, all drugs or no blow), Driving on a Suspended License (DUS), & DUI. Violations of Probation: Probation reinstatement.
A Florida criminal trial attorney for over 33 years, Randy Berman has handled thousands of criminal cases, from first-degree murder and robbery to drug crimes and DUI. Our firm offers clients the wisdom and success accumulated over three decades in the courtroom.
As a former Assistant Public Defender and Assistant State Attorney, including service as chief of the Felony and Capital Crimes Divisions, Florida lawyer Randy Berman fully understands the nuances of the criminal justice system and how to make them work for his clients. He adheres to the highest standards and strives always to ensure his clients' rights are protected. Randy's skills are widely recognized; his cases receive media attention, and he is frequently asked by media representatives to offer legal opinions. Randy is also a certified expert in pharmacologic and other drug matters. His combined experience in these different fields of the legal community contributes to his success as a lawyer in South Florida. He offers representation to clients throughout Palm Beach County, including Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and the surrounding Counties of Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Indian River, Okeechobee & St.Lucie.
Randy chose to be the sole practicing attorney in his law office instead of a Florida lawyer in a large firm because it permits him the opportunity to provide clients the utmost personal attention and an immediate response to their needs. Unlike other Florida lawyers who can't or won't provide you their undivided attention and leave you feeling like you're getting the run around, Randy Berman prides himself on answering his own phone and handles every aspect of a case, giving clients peace of mind with the knowledge that their concerns are being addressed.
Florida lawyer Randy Berman has a reputation in the South Florida legal community among other criminal defense attorneys and with the courts for using novel arguments to win cases. As a diligent and dedicated lawyer, Randy reviews every aspect of a case, looking for avenues of defense. Strategies are tailored to the facts of individual cases. Early intervention has resulted in police choosing not to file charges. He has won acquittals from juries and judges, obtained dismissals, and even achieved conviction reversals on appeal.
He has experience and confidence that shows in his ability to communicate and win over a jury. He got me NOT GUILTY verdict on a DUI charge, the jury was out five minuets.
Mr. Berman is an amazing lawyer!
I had a DUI charge. I was driving with no head lights, I refused the breath test and I failed all the road side test. I was very nervous and scared that I would get convicted of a DUI and it effecting my future. Mr. Berman always answers his phone and that is a definite plus! He knows what he is doing and is amazing at trial!! Because of him the jury found me not guilty… I definitely recommend him to be your lawyer.
After interviewing a couple of attorney's I am very glad we chose Mr. Berman to represent my son. My son had a couple of pending charges and Randy was very knowledgable and competent in handling each one. He always gave my son good advice and was always available to answer any question.
The fact that he picked up his phone immediately and returned messages right away is a definite plus for any lawyer. We are very pleased with the outcome of my sons case and highly recommend him as an attorney.


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Second Home gives homeless students stability, chance to graduate
Second Home, which connects homeless students with stable housing, found Charlotte Becker (left) a family to live with a week before she gave birth to Hannah (right). "It was hard for me to believe that people would open up their homes for kids who had complicated situations," she said. (Photo by Jake Arnold, OSBA)
With his senior year at Beaverton High School winding down, Moses Ochora Okullu suddenly found himself with no place to live and no family nearby.
His mom had struggled to hold the family together in Beaverton, but she had moved to Washington for work and the apartment lease would run out after spring break.
Second Home stepped in, providing a family for Ochora Okullu to live with so he could graduate in June. Now he is working toward a career in criminal justice at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia.
In 2010, the Beaverton School District partnered with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and the city of Beaverton to launch Second Home, an innovative program to anchor homeless students without an adult in their life.
The need for such services in Oregon keeps growing: 22,541 K-12 students were classified as homeless in 2016-17, according to the Oregon Department of Education, up from 18,165 in 2012-13. Oregon has the fourth-highest state student homeless rate, according to the U.S. Department of Education 2014-15 data, but the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness said Oregon was the best at identifying homeless students and enrolling them in school.
Student homelessness creates steep graduation hurdles. The on-time graduation rate for Oregon homeless students is barely 50 percent, and the dropout rate is far higher than for any other group.
Dona Bolt, the ODE's coordinator for homeless student education, called Second Home a model.
"Stabilizing a student in housing is critical to them being stable in school," she said.
The Beaverton School District reports that since the program's inception, 96 percent of its students have earned a degree — nearly double the graduation rate for all homeless Beaverton students.
The program matches families with teens who "rent" home space by agreeing to stay in school and graduate. Signed legal agreements also allow teens to establish a rental history.
Families and students negotiate rental agreements and house rules with the help of city mediators. More importantly, students gain a stable home and someone who is invested in their success.
"Kids need more than a roof over their heads," said Second Home Director Jennifer Pratt Hale. "It's not just housing. It's nurturing."
Second Home, which costs districts little more than staff time already devoted to homeless students, has spread to Gresham-Barlow and Lincoln County school districts. The program has also been awarded grants to partner with districts in Washington and Clackamas counties.
"It's an authentic way of living for kids who have never had any normalcy," said Lisa Mentesana, homeless education and foster care program specialist for the Beaverton School District. The district refers students to Second Home, whose staff coordinate meetings and set up contracts. They meet with students regularly, and mediators help students and families iron out conflicts.
Charlotte Becker, who asked to be identified by her maiden name, graduated from Beaverton's Southridge High School in 2014 with the program's support. She said it taught her to be a good tenant as well as how to resolve conflicts in a shared space.
Becker left home midway through her junior year. In February of her senior year, she had to find a place to live because she was pregnant and the home she was in didn't have room for her and a baby. Second Home matched her about a week before she gave birth.
Becker liked that Second Home allowed her to interview two prospective couples and pick a good fit. She felt safer knowing the families had been vetted as well.
Becker, who is now working and married to her daughter's father, said it was important that she graduate with her class.
"I like to have that to point to, that I graduated, that I walked with them, that I got it all done," she said.
The program seeks students who are motivated to graduate.
"Any kid who says, 'I am willing to go live with a stranger so I can finish high school,' how can you say no to that?" said Kristen Johanson.
She and her husband, Doug, took in Ochora Okullu and continued to help him as he transitioned to college.
The Gresham-Barlow School District program started with two students in 2015 and expects to have 10 this year. Like other programs, Gresham-Barlow has had difficulty finding enough families.
April Olson, the district's director of federal programs and homeless student liaison, said all the teens in their program have graduated or are on track. Some have continued to community college while still living with the family that took them in.
- Jake Arnold, OSBA
jarnold@osba.org


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Fitness Model Profile Dawn Rochelle
View Fitness Model Gallery Pics
Dawn Rochelle
Hot Fitness Model
With her sun-kissed beauty, piercing blue eyes, irresistible smile and amazing body, it's no wonder why she was recently named as one of the "Top Ten Sexiest Vegetarians Alive" by PETA, one of the "Top Fashion Models" by Fashion Television, and one of "Maxim Magazine's 101 Hottest".
She became a top model for Catalina Swimwear, Cole of California Swimwear and Coors Light. More recently this hot fitness model has found success by working in Milan, Paris, London and the US appearing in campaigns for Adrienne Vittidini, Anne Cole, Bell Fitness, Dodge, Rodeo Rose, Modern Bride Magazine, Focus Magazine and South Beach Magazine. She has won titles like Miss Texas Lonestar, Miss Hawaiian Tropics National Finalist, Miss US Glamour Girl, Miss Summer Nationals, and top ten semi-finalist in the Miss Kansas USA Pageant, official preliminary to the Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants.
Website: DawnRochelle.com
dawn@dawnrochelle.com


It's as if they know no other narrative. No other way of leading. Within the sins of wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony the GOP leadership has included the sin of satire. In ancient Ireland any one of these satires would be cause for immediate and permanent removal from leadership. And with the penalty of paying a sum to anyone subjected to their satire, we would all be rich.


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Free from All Rules
1980s Artists
Magdalena Abakanowicz, the subject of a 1982 MCA exhibition, talks about the inspiration for her work.
I wanted to know what art is and what it has to do with me and with this necessity I always had. It was a very difficult period of brutally imposed socialistic realism. But not only this was a disappointment, I learned about fashion in art. I learned about different direction tendencies and philosophies in art. And I understood that my imagination doesn't fit in any of the existing directions and that I must absolutely build my own way. I wanted to go as far as possible from all what in art existed. Because I wanted to be completely free from all the rules and prescriptions, from all the categories.
Magdalena Abakanowicz, Cage, 1981. Burlap, glue, and wood; cage: 66 × 46 × 61 in. (167.6 × 116.8 × 155 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Ralph I. and Helyn D. Goldenberg, 1982.37.a–b. Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago.
On Magdalena Abakanowicz
King Harris
King Harris buys five charcoal drawings from Abakanowicz's 1983 exhibition.
1980s Artists Collection Exhibitions
The Avant-Garde Lives
Former curator Mary Jane Jacob sells the board on a show by Magdalena Abakanowicz, an unknown artist whose name they couldn't pronounce.
1980s Artists Board Exhibitions
Kounellis's Chicago Narrative
With the Kounellis show, too—even more than the [Magdalena] Abakanowicz, which was using an exhibition space—Kounellis used industrial buildings at the turn of the 19th and 20th century. So this. . . more
1980s Artists Chicago Exhibitions


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2021 Nissan Note E-Power in Singapore: What to expect
If you ever searched for 'affordable brand-new cars in Singapore', the Nissan Note will definitely be one of the top few due to its affordability, practicality and relatively decent exterior looks.
Just recently, Nissan released the new 2021 Nissan Note E-Power. And boy does it look good – a world of difference compared to my previous family car which was also an earlier version of the Nissan Note (which we sold it away, but that's a story for another day).
The design of the new Nissan Note is revolutionary but clean, elegant, and humble. While many new cars now are designed with overflowing "dynamic lines", it keeps it minimalistic and non-pretentious with a single line from the front all the way to the back.
Some interesting features that enhance its overall outlook are like a roof spoiler, short sloping roofline and the dual colour tone.
As stated from the launch announcement, this design expresses a futuristic design beyond a compact car and also implies the beginning of the era of electric vehicles.
The front of the Nissan Note is really eye-catching and futuristic with its new generation signature V-motion grille which displays a bold V-line integrated with the new thin LED headlamps.
The front is also similar to the current Nissan Kicks e-Power, in addition to that, the new Nissan Note is one of the first Nissan cars to have their latest redesigned NISSAN logo donned on it.
On to the back, the two main things you will notice are the new rear lights which run across the width of the vehicle and a humble wide-spaced "Nissan" word blending across it.
Tail lights running across the entire width of the back of the car has been the design language for many new cars, from the likes of the Audi A6 and A7, Porsche Cayenne, Panamera, 911, the new Kia Optima and even the Hyundai Elantra.
Glad to see Nissan stepping up their game to improve the designs in their new cars, which we believe has the potential to be one of the most attractive hatchbacks in Singapore.
Measuring in at 4045mm long, 1695mm wide and 1505mm tall, it is 55mm shorter than the previous Nissan Note in terms of overall length, 20mm shorter in height, and has 30mm lower ground clearance.
Although it is a hatchback, if you look closely it does resemble a bit of the subcompact crossovers like the Mazda CX-3 and the Audi Q2.
No? Ok maybe it's just me.
Engine/Motor
The new Nissan Note comes with an improved second-generation e-POWER petrol/electric system where a 1.2-litre 3 cylinder engine is primarily used to charge the electric motor which then powers the wheels.
It produces 85kW of power (equivalent to 116 bhp) and 280Nm of torque.
That's a decent amount of power for a hatchback but because it is still run by an electric motor, you get better fuel efficiency as compared to a conventional ICE setup.
Benefits of the 2021 Nissan Note E-Power at a glance – it gives you convenience with no range anxiety seeing we do not have many electric charging stations locally as of now, improved fuel efficiency and you get to enjoy the full benefits and the experience of an electric vehicle such as seamless acceleration, instant torque and a close to silent cabin.
Great news for buyers who are looking for a quiet drive in a Japanese car.
What's even more impressive is the interior of the Nissan Note.
I'm not exaggerating – just take a look at the interior of its predecessor :
It's a world of difference.
According to Nissan, this next generation design language opens a 'futuristic space which makes it user-friendly and gives an enjoyable driving experience at the same time.'
It's not crazily luxurious per say, but it is modern, trendy and looks even better than some of the competitors out there.
Some features worth mentioning are the 9-inch infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a 7-inch digital dashboard display, digital climate control, electric gear shift lever with electric parking brake and auto brake hold, a bridge shaped center console with a lower box and pocket with wireless charging.
These new features keep it attractive in this segment, and I believe it will appeal to our local market, especially considering how the Honda Jazz/Fit has been the dominant car in this segment for a while now.
Other cool features
The petrol engine will turn off when the electric motor is sufficiently charged without the users knowing to provide comfortable and quiet rides for the driver and passengers
On rough roads where usual road noise can be heard, it then detects and automatically starts the engine quietly again to charge the electric motor again
Something new to us – a ProPilot system with new features that detects location and map information to automatically decelerate the vehicle during cornering and bends, and adjusting vehicle speed to match speed limits.
Better cruising in congestions where the vehicle automatically brakes when the vehicle in front is doing the same (auto brake assist)
I'm guessing that the new Nissan Note will arrive to Singapore soon as its predecessor is not featured anymore on the AD's (Tan Chong Motors) website, and furthermore Nissan is also strongly promoting on their e-POWER vehicles like the Serena and the Kicks locally which we are starting to see more of on the roads.
However – with those useful features we mentioned earlier, an updated and better presented interior, the e-POWER engine, it's unlikely that this new Nissan Note will stay at a similar price range as its predecessor (It's a bonus if it does!)
Nevertheless, I think the main concern with Singaporeans is the e-POWER system which will have many people questioning the drive, power, and overall reliability.
I can't say much on the reliability, but I have personally test-driven a Nissan e-POWER vehicle before, and I would say the e-POWER did really well in terms of the quietness, responsive acceleration and a really positive overall driving experience.
Fun fact : Nissan has more than 20 years of experience in developing electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology and now with the release of the second generation Nissan e-POWER vehicles, we shouldn't have to be too wary of major issues with this car.
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As the leader of space exploration, NASA has a unique perspective on the world. The key for us, as regular folk, is to gain some of that perspective. And NASA has some ways to do that.
The geeks at NASA made some educational and entertaining sites with interactive features 10 Cool Online Apps and Interactive Features Offered by NASA 10 Cool Online Apps and Interactive Features Offered by NASA Read More . The aim of these is to tell people what's happening on the earth and in the great beyond.
Importantly, many of these try to spark a love for space in children. Who knows, your child might become an astronaut Your Child Can Become an Astronaut -- A Brief Guide to Launch the Dream Your Child Can Become an Astronaut -- A Brief Guide to Launch the Dream Ask any child what they want to be when they grow up, and the chances are that "astronaut" will be on the the list. Help them escape Earth's gravity with an inspirational push. Read More for real.
How would you like to view the real-time simulations that NASA engineers see? What about getting access to all the video and animation that NASA makes? Take a look at a whole new world through NASA's Eyes.
There are three aspects of Eyes: Earth, solar system, and exoplanets. You can scroll through the solar system Scroll Though The Solar System, and 4 More Amazing Space Websites Scroll Though The Solar System, and 4 More Amazing Space Websites Space is wondrous and vast. Today Cool Websites and Apps gives you a chance to travel the solar system by launching your browser. Read More and follow along live with the Juno probe as it checks out Saturn. Or take a bird's-eye-look at raging wildfires in India and Pakistan. I'd highly recommend the immersive journey they created for Voyager's 40th anniversary.
From visualizations of data to animations of outer space, NASA Eyes is as important for space explorers as Google Earth is for those bound to gravity.
NASA has several satellites flying around the globe, and these periodically relay images of the Earth. The Climate Change unit of NASA uses this data to show how natural events cause massive change.
The images are presented as before and after some event. For example, the Virgin Islands before and after Hurricane Irma hit. Or the fascinating color-changing lake Urmia in Iran, which turns from green to red. Each photo has a caption explaining the phenomenon. You can also see the before-after pictures in multiple ways: as a curtain, a toggle, or a side-by-side comparison.
Images of Change isn't about the fight against global warming Can We Engineer the Planet to Fight Global Warming? Can We Engineer the Planet to Fight Global Warming? If we can reverse global warming by engineering the planet... should we? Read More or other hot-button issues. It's about seeing the evolution of our planet like you've never seen it before.
NASA captures some of the most jaw-dropping photos you'll ever see. They're inspirational, they're gorgeous, and they're frustratingly hard to find. Because NASA is a massive organization, its smaller arms often run independently of other arms. This led to everyone creating their own image libraries and no one place to find them all. Until now.
NASA has finally brought all those image libraries under one place. You can find any photo or video at NASA's Image and Video Library with a simple search. Newest uploads are shown by default, and the Most Popular section is even better to browse a gallery of iconic NASA images. Some of the photos from the Hubble telescope have to be seen to be believed.
Historically, APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day) and NASA's Image of the Day always feature on collections of sites to find great wallpapers Top 7 Sites to View and Download Space Images Top 7 Sites to View and Download Space Images Read More . Now you can just pick what you want from the Most Popular section, or search for anything specific you want.
Some people think we shouldn't spend money on NASA when there are so many problems in the world. Direct such people to WTF NASA, a site that shows how NASA has made the world a better place.
Over the course of its years of innovation, NASA has helped the world advance in ways you never knew. WTF NASA highlights how NASA benefitted mankind practically, with a single line. If you want to know more, there's a longer description as well as a link to find more details.
Click "That Rockets" or "Fail To Launch" if you like or dislike the factoid, respectively. There's a whole bunch of cool NASA stuff Cool NASA Stuff: International Space Station Viewing, NASA TV, Videos and More Cool NASA Stuff: International Space Station Viewing, NASA TV, Videos and More Read More on offer here. And yeah, there's some harsh language here as the site's name would suggest.
For a kid-friendly version, try the iPad app NASA Spinoff. An official NASA app, it shows all the ways that technology from the space agency is used in our daily lives.
Like we said, NASA tries hard to get kids interested in space and astronomy Inspire Your Child To Become An Astronaut With NASA's Fun Tools For Kids Inspire Your Child To Become An Astronaut With NASA's Fun Tools For Kids Read More . Prospect is one such tool, developed by a group of student designers.
It is the interactive story of a planet "prospector" named Nicholas. After a global disaster, Nicholas is trying to retrieve golden audio records left behind from Earth. Along the way, Nicholas meets the planet jumper robot Ema, who takes him through the solar system quickly.
Press the down arrow to take the story forward, and click any golden records you spot on the way. Nicolas and Ema will explore new planets, overcome great odds, and make unexpected friends along the way.
Should NASA Get More Funding?
NASA has some good news with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence announcing that the administration will send astronauts back to the moon by 2020. It's part of a larger effort to build a base to eventually explore Mars Google Maps Now Lets You Explore the Solar System Google Maps Now Lets You Explore the Solar System You can now explore space using Google Maps, allowing us all to become virtual astronauts. Read More .
But that means more funding, which takes us back to that ages-old raging debate: do you think we should be spending money on space exploration? Is that money better spent elsewhere?
Explore more about: Cool Web Apps, Geeky Science, Space.
"Should NASA Get More Funding?"
What the "don't waste money on space" crowd does not, or will not, realize is that many of the technological by-products of the NASA space programs benefit the entire world, not just the objector's local pet social engineering projects. Ex.: The need to miniaturize everything to save weight being boosted into space has led to implantable micro-miniature medical devices.


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text:
Send2Press › Wire › western bar News
western bar News
News items related to western bar as issued by the Send2Press Newswire service on behalf of the noted news source.
The Old Saloon of Emigrant, Montana celebrates its 120th Anniversary
Tue, 24 May 2022, 07:00:38 EDT | From: The Old Saloon
EMIGRANT, Mont., May 24, 2022 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Old Saloon, just 25 miles north of the entrance to Yellowstone National Park, is celebrating its 120th anniversary. The historic and legendary establishment has been serving outlaws and cowgirls since 1902.


Hard Rock International can't wait to rid the Trump Taj Mahal of everything that reminds people of the current occupant of the White House. Hard Rock International purchased Trump Taj Mahal of Atlantic City in March for $50 million.
According to casino.org news, Hard Rock officials say it's going to cost a pretty penny to refresh the 2,010-room hotel and gaming space, and rid it of an India-themed décor.
"The amount of money we're going to have to spend to remove all those minarets and all that purple, Jesus! What were we thinking?" Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen told the Associated Press this week.
The minarets Allen refers to are the spire and onion-shaped crowns and ornaments found around the Trump Taj Mahal.
Though the company owned by the Seminole Tribe in Florida got a premiere spot on the Atlantic City Boardwalk for a rock-bottom price, Hard Rock executives say the initial budget of $350 million won't be nearly enough to trnsform the space into a proper Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Allen estimated that the project's cost will increase to at least $500 million.
"It does us no good to put some guitars on the wall and new carpets, and say, 'I can take five or 10 percent of the business from Resorts or Harrah's,'" Allen said.
Anyone who traveled to the Taj Mahal before its October closing understands the serious work that lies ahead. A dark gaming floor and outdated eating spaces left the casino feeling musty and unclean. Atlantic City is in the process of finding a new norm in terms of gaming and hospitality revenue. Five casinos closed since 2014, but the economy is showing signs of recovery and turning the corner to a more prosperous time. For the first quarter of 2017, the remaining casino licensees generated $816.7 million in revenue from their casinos, hotel rooms, food and beverage services, and entertainment. That represents an 8.6 percent gain on the same period a year earlier.


text:
Q: HtmlGenericControl gives me an error "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" I am trying to change the css of the content page which inherits its css from the master page.
I tried the below but for some reason I am getting the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error.
Below is my cs code:
 protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
 {
    HtmlGenericControl mycontrol = (HtmlGenericControl)this.Page.Master.FindControl("ul1").FindControl("li1") as HtmlGenericControl;

      mycontrol.Attributes.Add("class", "newCSS");
 }

Find the masterpage content here:

                <asp:HyperLink ID="HyperLink1" runat="server" NavigateUrl ="home.aspx">Home</asp:HyperLink>

                <asp:HyperLink ID="HyperLink2" runat="server" NavigateUrl ="AboutUs.aspx">About Us</asp:HyperLink>

                <asp:HyperLink ID="HyperLink3" runat="server" NavigateUrl="~/courses.aspx" >Courses</asp:HyperLink>

                <asp:HyperLink ID="HyperLink4" runat="server" NavigateUrl="~/News.aspx" >News</asp:HyperLink>

                <asp:HyperLink ID="HyperLink5" runat="server" NavigateUrl="ContactInfo.aspx" >Contact Us</asp:HyperLink>

The css as below:
 #menu a:hover
{
    background-color: white;
    color: #bee2f1;
}

 .newCSS
{
    background-color: black;
    color: #fff;

}

I tried giving the .FindControl ID as the HyperLink ID instead of the ul, li Id as shown above but that did not work either.
Edit:
Tried the following in the cs page:
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
        HtmlGenericControl mycontrol = (HtmlGenericControl)Master.FindControl("ul1").FindControl("li1");
        mycontrol.Attributes.Add("class", "newCSS");
}

No compiler error but the code does not function.

A: There is a recursive function I use for situations like this.  When you need to find/edit content on the master page from a content page, it's always tricky.  This function helped me out a lot.  In the example, I am using it to find the return button of my Menu on my master page called Menu2 by passing it the ID of the button.
*Method
public static Control FindControlRecursive(Control root, string id)
    {
        if (id == string.Empty)
            return null;

        if (root.ID == id)
            return root;

        foreach (Control c in root.Controls)
        {
            Control t = FindControlRecursive(c, id);
            if (t != null)
            {
                return t;
            }
        }
        return null;
    }

*Usage
Menu menu2 = (Menu)FindControlRecursive(Master.Page, "ReturnButton");

Using this method, I can now access the Menu of my master page from the content page.
I hope this helps!


text:
Q: Weird response JAX-RS when producing XML I've currently having some problems unmarshalling XML that I marshalled myself. It took me some time to figure it out, because I thought the marshalling went nicely (no exceptions etc.). The method that produces my XML returns:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"
    <TestClass>
        <testValue>banaan</testValue>
    </TestClass>

But suddenly I had the very obvious realization (much too late), that the XML produced isn't correct at all. It should obviously be:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
    <TestClass>
        <testValue>banaan</testValue>
    </TestClass>

How is it possible that this very simple code:
@Path("test")
@GET
@Produces(MediaType.APPLICATION_XML)
public TestClass getTestClass() {
    TestClass test = new TestClass();
    test.setTestValue("banaan");
    return test;
}

And the TestClass:
@XmlRootElement(name = "TestClass")
public class TestClass {

private String testValue;

@XmlElement(name = "testValue")
public String getTestValue() {
    return testValue;
}

public void setTestValue(String testValue) {
    this.testValue = testValue;
}

public TestClass() {

}

}
produces invalid XML? And more importantly, how can I fix it?

A: You are using the default attempt to create a JAXBContext which should function correctly, however it seems to be messing up somehow. Try adding a custom context resolver to your application.
@Provider
public class XmlContextProvider implements ContextResolver<JAXBContext> {
    private JAXBContext context = null;

    public JAXBContext getContext(Class<?> type) {
        if (type != TestClass.class) {
            return null; // we don't support nothing else than TestClass
        }

        if (context == null) {
            try {
                context = JAXBContext.newInstance(TestClass.class);
            } catch (JAXBException e) {
                e.printStackTrace();
            }
        }
        return context;
    }
}

You will also have to add XmlContextProvider to your Application class.

A: How are you marshalling the code? It seems like you are setting the class and its values properly, but it may be an issue with how you are creating the marshall object and the context/formatted output you are using
Here is an example
 JAXBContext context = JAXBContext.newInstance(TestClass.class);
        Marshaller m = context.createMarshaller();
        m.setProperty(Marshaller.JAXB_FORMATTED_OUTPUT, Boolean.TRUE);
        StringWriter stringWriter = new StringWriter();
        m.marshal(test, stringWriter);
        return stringWriter.toString();
Did you do something along these lines?


text:
Beni Suef Combined Cycle Power Plant
Combined-cycle natural gas plant
Egyptian Government
4.8GW
Expected Completion
Beni Suef is a natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant being built by Siemens, as a part of the Egypt Megaproject. Image: courtesy of Siemens S.A.E.
The plant will be equipped with Siemens SGT5-8000H gas turbines. Image: courtesy of www.siemens.com/press.
The installation of the first two gas turbines marked a milestone in the commissioning ceremony of the Beni Suef plant. Image: courtesy of Siemens S.A.E.
The first H-class turbine for Beni Suef power plant was shipped in March 2016. Image: courtesy of www.siemens.com/press.
Beni Suef is a new combined-cycle natural gas power plant being built by Siemens for the Egyptian Government, as a part of the Egypt Megaproject. The 4.8GW power plant will be located in Beni Suef in the southern part of the country, approximately 110km south of Cairo.
It will be the world's biggest gas-fired combined-cycle power plant complex when fully operational in 2017, capable of providing electricity to approximately 15 million Egyptians.
Beni Suef combined-cycle power plant details
Spread across an area of 500,000m², the plant will use innovative technology from Siemens that combines a gas turbine with a steam turbine to achieve high fuel-efficiency and low production costs. The exhaust heat from the gas turbines will be used to power the steam turbine, resulting in efficient working of the power plant with lower fuel consumption levels.
The plant will initially be operated in simple cycle mode, while heat exchangers and steam turbines will be gradually added to the plant to convert it into a combined-cycle plant, generating a total output of 4.8GW.
The power plant will be built in four modules, with each module including two H-class gas turbines, two heat recovery steam generators, a steam turbine, and three 500kV generator transformers.
Turbine details
The Beni Suef power plant will feature a Siemens SGT5-8000H, which is considered to be the world's most powerful gas turbine.
Each turbine measures 12.6m-long, 5.5m-wide and 5.5m-high, has a base power output of 400MW, and operates at a speed of 3,000rpm. It is equipped with an enhanced sealing system to minimise loss of cooling air during operations.
The first two gar turbines were placed on the site in May 2016.
Financing for Beni Suef power plant
The Beni Suef power project is being funded by a consortium of 17 international banks under Hermes-covered export credit agency (ECA) loan arranged by Deutsche Bank, HSBC and KfW IPEX-Bank.
The loan agreement for the project was signed in November 2015.
Key players involved
Siemens is responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction services of the plant, under an agreement signed with the Government of Egypt in May 2014.
The Elsewedy consortium, led by Siemens, signed a $2.2bn contract with the Government of Egypt for the construction of the plant in June 2015.
"The plant will initially be operated in simple cycle mode, while heat exchangers and steam turbines will be gradually added."
Elsewedy Electric is responsible for the engineering, procurement and installation of balance of plants, along with erection and installation of the Siemens turbines. The company also manages the site preparation, levelling, civil works and construction, as well as site utilities of the plant.
Roward Modern Engineering played a vital role in all the civil works of the power blocks and architectural works for the plant's utilities and facilities.
Details of the Egypt Megaproject
The Egypt Megaproject, which is being developed by a partnership between Siemens and the Government of Egypt, will involve the development of power generation facilities with a combined capacity of 16.4GW. It is expected to boost the country's power generation by approximately 50%.
The megaproject includes building three 4.8GW turnkey combined-cycle power plants, namely Beni Suef, Burullus and New Capital, and 12 wind parks, including approximately 600 wind turbines.
The project also involves the installation of gas insulated switchgear substations, and the expansion of transmission networks in Egypt.
The wind parks are expected to generate 2GW of energy and will generate first power in 2017.
C*Blade Forging & Manufacturing
C*Blade Forging & Manufacturing specialises in the manufacturing of forged...
C*Blade Forging & Manufacturing specialises in the manufacturing of forged blades for thermal / nuclear steam turbines and forged compressor blades for gas turbines, for the power generation market.
Wamar International
Western Services Corporation
Western Services Corporation (WSC) is a global simulation and services...
Western Services Corporation (WSC) is a global simulation and services provider, specialising in the design, development, delivery, commissioning and training of safe and reliable operations of power generating assets.
WEIDMANN Electrical Technology
WEIDMANN invents electrical insulation for transformer manufacturers and companies operating...
WEIDMANN invents electrical insulation for transformer manufacturers and companies operating transformers.
WEIDMANN delivers the best-fit insulation solutions, ranging from board and paper to customised components, regardless of the degree of complexity your applications require.
Diagnostic laboratory services
WEIDMANN is a leading supplier of diagnostic laboratory services, strategic locations, prompt service, efficient operations, web-based reporting and data management services.


text:
Everything You Need to Know About Rising TikTok Star Abby Rao
She's co-founder of the Clubhouse and a social media star in the making.
By Kori Williams
Abby RaoInstagram
You may not have heard of Abby Rao, but chances are, you'll see a lot more of her name soon. The twenty-two-year-old has connections to some big social media names like TikTok star Daisy Keech and YouTube rapper RiceGum. And now that she's joined TikTok's newest content house, this under-the-radar influencer is bound to make a big name for herself. Here's everything you need to know about rising star Abby Rao.
She's co-founder of the Clubhouse
The Clubhouse is a new creator collective co-founded by Abby and former Hype House member Daisy Keech. After all the Hype House drama, Daisy left the group and asked Abby to join the project. With already over a million followers on TikTok and almost two million on IG, it's no wonder Abby was Daisy's top pick for The Clubhouse!
She and Daisy Keech are BFFs
You can almost always spot Daisy and Abby on social media together. When the two made the Clubhouse announcement this April, Abby gushed about their friendship, saying in part, "The love I have for this girl is beyond. Bestfriend doesn't even explain what we have!!"
A post shared by Abby (@abbyrao)
She used to date YouTuber RiceGum
Abby dated Bryan Quang Le—aka RiceGum— throughout most of 2019, but the pair split in November that same year.
In a post-breakup interview with Hollywood Life, Abby said, "I still love him, but I think that we just wanted different things, and I think that we cared about different things."
RiceGum dished on their split in a recent Twitch Stream saying, "The main thing is, like, she just didn't support me..." When Abby heard about the comments, she made a reaction video expressing how hurt she was by his actions. In the video, she went into new details of their relationship saying, "I never once said anything f*cked up that he's done to me or any of the f*cked up ways he treated me and beat me down mentally and just made me feel constantly like he just made me."
Daisy also made a video defending Abby, saying in part, "[Abby] is the most supportive friend I have ever had my entire life, and I know for a fact she was like that with Bryan as well."
In a YouTube Q&A with the rest of the Clubhouse women posted this month, Abby said she's single.
She was a child actress
Her IMDb page page says she's been in movies like The Jack of Spades and Enemies Among Us. Her most recent role on the page is a movie called Kung Fu Yoga that was released in 2017.
She was living a much simpler life before she moved to LA
According to Famous Birthdays, Abby is from Louisiana, and her life was much different than what you now see online. In that interview about RiceGum, she told Hollywood Life that she used to work at Texas Roadhouse and that she paid for school out of pocket.
She's a makeup pro
Abby's face always looks flawless, so it's no surprise her Famous Birthdays page says she used to be a cosmetologist.
She's got a bunch of tattoos
Abby has several tattoos, including scripts on her forearm and ribs. When she was dating RiceGum she got the word "RICE" tattooed inside her bottom lip.
She might start a YouTube channel
In her interview with Hollywood Life, she mentioned she might start a YouTube channel of her own. At the 11:02 mark, she talks about possibly saying she'd never considered it before but had learned so much from RiceGum. "I was never was like, 'Hey, when I grow up, I want to do YouTube.' So I guess that's kind of why I waited 'cause I was kind of like, 'Well, you know, that's not really my thing,' but really, in reality, it's anyone's thing."
That interview was posted back in November 2019, so it doesn't look like Abby is aiming to be a YouTube star just yet. She's in videos for the Clubhouse and on Daisy's channel, but Abby is the only member of the house without a channel of her own. She might want to work on that ASAP, because we need a few of her makeup tutorials.
Kori Williams Kori Williams is the Editorial Fellow at Seventeen and covers celebrities, pop culture, music and what's interesting on the internet.
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text:
Hachette Go
Don't miss news from Hachette Books
A Novel of Vivaldi's Venice
by Laurel Corona
In glittering 18th-century Venice, music and love are prized above all else–and for two sisters coming of age, the city's passions blend in intoxicating ways. Chiaretta and Maddalena are as different as night and day. The two sisters were abandoned as babies on the steps of the Ospedale della Pietß, Venice's world-famous foundling hospital and musical academy. High-spirited and rebellious, Chiaretta marries into a great aristocratic Venetian family and eventually becomes one of the most powerful women in Venice. Maddalena becomes a violin virtuoso and Antonio Vivaldi's muse. The Four Seasons is a rich, literary imagination of the world of 18th-century Venice and the lives and loves of two extraordinary women.
Genre: Fiction / Fiction / Historical
On Sale: November 4th 2008
Price: $21.99 / $27.99 (CAD)
Hachette Books Logo
Trade Paperback Arrow Icon
"Corona's The Four Seasons is historical fiction as it is meant to be written--a gripping exploration of the twisting byways of both 18th century Venice and the human heart. Pop Vivaldi's masterpiece into the CD player, brew a pot of tea, and prepare to relinquish the rest of your afternoon. Corona brings Venice and Vivaldi to life, delivering a stirring story of love, ambition, and music that will keep you reading long after the last note of the concerto has ended."—Lauren Willig, author of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
"Laurel Corona's The Four Seasons is a poignant tale of two sisters layered exquisitely over the exotic world of brilliant priest/composer Vivaldi and his 18th century Venice. The result: a vibrant crescendo of hearts and history."—Karen Harper, author of The Last Boleyn and The First Princess of Wales
"I've never been to Venice, played a violin, or for that matter carried a tune, but after reading The Four Seasons I feel that I've experienced all three, and through them come to a better understanding of the many forms love takes. Brava, Laurel Corona."—Sally Gunning, author of The Widow's War and Bound
"Corona does a magnificent job of showing us the violent contradictions of life in 18th-century Venice, through the eyes of two musically gifted orphan sisters. Their relationships with music and particularly with the complex, enigmatic figure of Antonio Vivaldi are sensitively explored. This novel resists the easy clich and really succeeds in drawing a world that is both panoramic and intimate."—Susanne Dunlap, author of Liszt's Kiss
"Music and the dangerous, exquisite world of eighteenth-century Venice form the setting of this poetic, sensual story of two orphaned sisters. The older is a shy, brilliant violinist, the younger a singer who will not be stopped in what she wants in life. One will cling to the chaste, unrequited love of a lifetime while the other will lose herself in the world of masks, lovers, gondolas, canals, and theaters. In all of this, they never lose their devotion to each other. The Four Seasons is a beautifully-written addition to the handful of fascinating novels about women and the arts in this most intriguing of cities."—Stephanie Cowell, author of Marrying Mozart


text:
KDDI plans USD797m bond sale to help fund 5G rollout
The Nikkei Asian Review writes that KDDI (au) aims to raise up to JPY90 billion (USD797 million) via a medium- to long-term bond sale to help raise funding for future network investment – including its 5G rollout. The bond sale will likely mark one of the largest undertaken by the Japanese carrier to date, with the paper noting that the coupon rate and other terms and conditions are expected to be set in November. KDDI will not only use the funds raised for CAPEX, a portion will go to debt repayment it says, noting that with global interest rates increasing, it intends to take advantage of lower-interest fundraising opportunities while it can.
The telco is in the middle of a three-year JPY500 billion investment programme, including areas outside its traditional domestic wireless business. With the Japanese mobile network operator market set to receive fresh competition in the shape of e-commerce group Rakuten sometime in 2019, KDDI has diversified of late, with recent acquisitions of the KidZania learning chain and Tokyo-based English conversation school owner Aeon.
In June this year, KDDI and Korean equipment manufacturer Samsung, working in partnership with KDDI Research Okinawa Cellular Telephone Company and Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), announced the successful completion of a real-time free-viewpoint video streaming test using 5G-supporting devices. Samsung confirmed that the test was carried out during a professional baseball game held in Okinawa Cellular Stadium in Naha and used Samsung's 5G end-to-end solution comprised of virtualised core, virtualised RAN, one of the smallest 5G access units and ten sets of 5G tablet devices. A total of 16 cameras were used to shoot the hitter from different angles and produce free-viewpoint video in real-time for successful transmission towards Samsung's 5G tablets. Going forward, the Korean vendors have suggested that KDDI plans to use its 5G equipment to introduce a wide range of immersive viewing experiences for its users.
Japan, KDDI (au), Wireless, 5G


#1. Beverly Oliver, the Babushka lady, and Abraham Zapruder discuss their burgeoning relationship's inevitable growing pains.
#3. Carlos Marcello and Fidel Castro plan the bank heists.
#4. Meanwhile, on the craggy shore of the Potomac, our exhausted heroes are met with a festive welcome.
#5. Relaxing at the villagers' elaborate feast.
#7. …and Bobby is to be the next sacrifice.
#8. Held as prisoners in the abandoned diamond mine.
#9. Lee Harvey Oswald and arch-nemesis, Vaughn Meader, prepare for the Championship Karate fight.
#10. The top-secret legal brief.
#11. The car chase between Richard Nixon and Governor Connally continues through the crowded and hilly streets of San Francisco.
#12. Mr. Nixon—standing next to his stalled green pickup truck—attempts to flag down a van full of attractive stewardesses.
#14. Bar fight at Ruby's Place, where Nixon nurses a black eye… and new friend J. Edgar Hoover can only laugh.
#16. After making love to Beverly by the Union Terminal Tower, Abraham pops the question.
#18. Musical montage: From one bank to the next, Carlos and Fidel make their presence felt.
#19. Baboo, the talking orangutan, plays it straight.
#21. …that leads to freedom!
#25. Round 7… Oswald inflicts a karate chop to Vaughn's torso. How can Vaughn stand the punishment? But what's this? Is the possum act working?
#26. The car chase wends its way back to Texas, as Nixon and Connally step on it!
#27. The pine-wood outdoor accent by Pottery Barn.
#29. A smiling J. Edgard Hoover finds it difficult to remain steamed! A good sport, to the end.
#31. Beverly and Abraham prepare for their elaborate wedding in the grand foyer of the Children's Community Center.
#33. Perfection… but where are Bobby and Jack?
#34. Arrival… in the nick of time!
#36. …by crashing through the reception!


text:
from umqtt.simple import MQTTClient
from machine import Pin
import ubinascii
import machine
import time
import network

# Default MQTT server to connect to
SERVER = "m11.cloudmqtt.com"
PORT = 15034
CLIENT_ID = ubinascii.hexlify(machine.unique_id())
TOPIC = b"hello/world"

USER = "oyqmvonl"
PASSWORD = "eCPIJkxVFWBU"

led = Pin(5, Pin.OUT, value=1)

def do_connect_wifi():
    sta_if = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
    if not sta_if.isconnected():
        print('connecting to network...')
        sta_if.active(True)
        sta_if.connect('SSID_GO_HERE', 'PASS_HERE')
        while not sta_if.isconnected():
            pass
    print('network config:', sta_if.ifconfig())

def sub_cb(topic, msg):
    print((topic, msg))
    if msg == b"0":
        led.value(0)
    elif msg == b"1":
        led.value(1)

def main():

    do_connect_wifi()

    c = MQTTClient(CLIENT_ID, SERVER, PORT, USER, PASSWORD)
    # Subscribed messages will be delivered to this callback
    c.set_callback(sub_cb)
    c.connect(clean_session=False)
    c.subscribe(TOPIC,qos=1)
    print("Connected to %s, subscribed to %s topic" % (SERVER, TOPIC))

    try:
        while 1:

            if not network.WLAN(network.STA_IF).isconnected():
                do_connect_wifi()

            try:
                print('check mensage...')
                c.check_msg()
            except:
                print('error on check mensage...')
                while 1:
                    try:
                        print('try reconnect...')
                        c.connect(False)
                        break
                    except:
                        print('error on reconnect...')

                    time.sleep(2)

            time.sleep(2)
    finally:
        c.disconnect()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The finding that emerges is that we are basically an indoor species. In a modern society, total time outdoors is the most insignificant part of the day, often so small that it barely shows up in the total.
Every green environment improved both self-esteem and mood; the presence of water generated greater effects. Both men and women had similar improvements in self-esteem after green exercise, though men showed a difference for mood. Age groups: for self-esteem, the greatest change was in the youngest, with diminishing effects with age; for mood, the least change was in the young and old.
After that, I am off for a short walk outside.
American study shows that we mostly never go outdoors.


Modern photon and electron beam sources make it possible to probe excitation spectra in many systems, ranging from atoms and molecules to bulk materials and complex interfaces. The interpretation of the experimental data is, however, problematic without an adequate theoretical support. To address this, we develop theories for predicting and analyzing spectra measured in different experiments, as e.g. (angle-resolved) photoemission spectroscopy, magneto-optical spectroscopy, X-ray emission and X-ray absorption, electron energy loss spectra, as well as resonant inelastic X-ray scattering.
The topics of our interest are fundamental theory of spectroscopy, method development, as well as understanding of functional materials, for energy conversion and molecular electronics, or where complex interactions play a role. Examples are Li based batteries and Ru based catalysts for the productions of solar fuels and correlated oxides such as high-temperature superconductors. The theoretical tools we employ involve density functional theory (DFT), linear-response theory, dynamical mean field theory (DMFT), Mahan-Nozieres-De Dominicis theory, and multi-configurational methods used in quantum chemistry.


Jamie T brought his unique style of Brit-hop slash folk punk to West Hollywood's Troubadour. Listening to his likable debut album Panic Prevention is a revelation of how far the lines can be blurred between genres. Hints of Alex Turner and Mike Skinner can be found in the lyricism. Jamie T's performance was also full of the defiant attitude contained on the album. He walked out into the crowd several times. At one point he knocked off the stage an English flag that a few well-meaning expats had brought to the show. In keeping with this rebellious spirit he played a cover of Billy Bragg's "A New England" at the start of the encore. Both the band and Jamie did not fare as well musically as the recordings however. Some numbers like "Brand New Bass Guitar" get stranded acapella mid-song, when they sound much better with the album's jangly guitar bits. What am I driving at? Guess I'm saying go and listen to the album. It's heavy.