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NIYOSSHIC LUXURY BRAND CONSULTANCY
Virtual Press Rack
The Yamasá Line
After months of anticipation the prestigious companies latest launch, "Davidoff Yamasá" stays true to its prolific hysteria. The new line, which debuted at the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, takes inspiration and tobacco from Yamasá, a region in the central Dominican Republic located about 20 miles north of the capital, Santo Domingo.
Total palate invigoration has been Hendrik "Henke" Kelner's doctrine since he first made cigars over 30 years ago. The philosophy holds true with their latest launch, the Davidoff Yamasa, a premium 20 years in the making luxe cigar. Traveling to the ideal climate and mineral-rich land of the Yamasa region in the Dominican Republic coupled with the expertise of the exceptional master blender, Henke, Davidoff Yamasa is one exceptionally fervent experience.
The last three launches from the Davidoff umbrella have showcased tobacco sourced from diverse regions. Starting with the Nicaragua, then the Escurio (Brazil), and now the prestigious Yamasa (Dominican Republic). It took 20 years of Henke Kelner's and his team's expertise, of nurturing and cultivating soil that was reluctant to change. The development of the Yamasá is a classic example of men who confronted the impossible in the pursuit of their dream.
For the Yamasá soil to deliver up to its true potential, Henke Kelner and his team- Eladio and Manuel Perlata, had to first foster nature. To raise the pH levels to those that best suit the growing of tobacco. They worked on the soil by adding calcium carbonate, dolomitic lime and agricultural lime every two months. It was done by trained professionals to every single tobacco plant. Henke Kelner relied only on his own expert intuition, defying the laws of science. Prelimniary seed selection saw the selection of just three out of thirty samples, only the best in terms of colour, shine and lamina were selected. The site in Yamasá covers 100 hectares, but only 21 are currently being used. They would rest the land between each harvest to let nature take its course, and to ensure that the unique quality of the Yamasá leaf is maintained for years to come.
Once the leaves turned pale yellow, Henke and his team selected the point where it could be conditioned that the "wrapper" would live up to its true potential.
Entirely new climate controlled curing facilities were developed to ensure this.
The technical expertise attained over the years by the Davidoff team in refining the wilder predispositions of Nicaraguan Estelí and Condega tobaccos has helped to create a unique Yamasá blend with all the intensity, enhancement and complexity aficionados would expect from Davidoff.
Interview with Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard CEO of Oettinger Davidoff AG
So tell me about yourself. You've been holding very high positions and many varied entities, there's the Timex Watch brand, Guerlain which is cosmetics. We take Davidoff which is cigars and I get the impression that you are doing something you love?
It's a good point. I've always enjoyed what I have been doing, being in the luxury and premium market. But its true that the environment of premium cigars is something that I enjoy even more, because it is extremely personable. It is a luxury, but it's also affordable in the sense that a lot of people can enjoy it. It's something that you could say democratizes a little bit of luxury because there are affordable price ranges.
Were you looking for a challenge?
Absolutely. You know what I like about leadership is being able to make an impact. And if there is a challenge in front of me or a turnaround situation, not necessarily financially but brand wise or equity wise or consumer wise, I find that extremely stimulating. In the first part of your career it's all about me it's all about you. And now it's about everyone else. Now I enjoy putting a team together.
So what is the plan for Davidoff. I mean when you started off you had something in mind. You had a vision, are you coming down that path?
Absolutely and the vision was very clear that we needed to move from products to brand to experience. And then, five and a half years into this journey, we're clearly tapping into the search piece. We have made fantastic progress on establishing the brand on the cigar front. Now we are moving into that experience piece which our consumers are seeking. You must be more than the brand; you must be more than the product; we are part of that movement.
You are working with distributors and lounges.
With Davidoff we have our own set up in all key markets including here in Dubai. Sometimes you need a logistical set up and support, in terms of lounges it's usually operated by the hotel. We get into a partnership with them. We aim at becoming an indispensable business partner because we have a concept. We have an idea. We have a program.
What is the life cycle of something like this? How long does it take for you to conceptualise, design, package and roll it out in the market?
The life cycle depends on the size of the project. We are a luxury product from nature. It's fundamentally an agricultural commodity. So typically, the project takes about eighteen months from idea to execution. But that means that before that you already need to have three, six or ten-year-old aged tobacco that can go into the product. Once you have that blend the concept, packaging and everything takes place within eighteen months.
Is there anything else you want to add into the mix?
I think Yamasa is obviously the most complex project we ever had. And also a very complex blend, we have a Yamasa wrapper, we have a binder, even in the filling tobacco we have five different origins three Dominicans and two Nicaraguans.
In terms of complexity. it's a masterpiece. Which is where we are unique compared to our competitors, we always have this very high degree of blending.
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Nitrome starts converting its Flash catalogue to HTML5
BlogGamingNews
Developer Nitrome, better known in recent years for its mobile games and the upcoming Shovel Knight Dig, has a rather large library of beloved Flash games which are now in danger of being lost to time as most browsers kill off support.
To stop that happening Nitrome has started working with developer Poki. The pair are working to bring the Nitrome catalogue of more than 130 games to HTML5 so that people can keep playing them into the future.
"Time to talk a little more about the HTML5 versions. They are not ports! The games are running off the exact code of the original games pulled directly from the original flash files. What the wizards making this happen have made is more comparable to an emulator…a Nitrome emulator…eek! Being an emulator of sorts some people may see performance differences to these versions but the code is highly optimised and will improve even further as the team continue to work on it," Nitrome notes in the announcement.
The first game to get this treatment is Bad Ice Cream which is available right here. Right now it is the only title in a new section on the developer's website dedicated to the HTML5 games.
The new versions of these games are also made to work well on mobile browsers with control overlays being tailor made for each title. An Easter Egg is also promised for those who look hard enough.
No timeline has been given for the rest of the Flash games to make the transition, but the developer does recommend joining its Discord for news like that.
Clinton Matos
Clinton has been a programmer, engineering student, project manager, asset controller and even a farrier. Now he handles the maker side of htxt.africa.
Tags: GamesHTML5NitromeVideogames

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Cropped trousers with knotted belt at the waist, made of brown leather with welt pockets.
Refined and trendy, cropped trousers with pleats are a must-have clothing that can not miss in your autumn wardrobe.
Ideal to combine with blouses and light-colored shirts, for an extraordinarily chic and sophisticated look.
The trousers have a thin belt that can be tied at the waist, which gives a touch of elegance to the clothing and allows you to obtain an optimal fit.
Two comfortable side welt pockets complete the model.
These cropped trousers are perfect to wear in the evening with high court shoes or leather ankle boots.
During the day, however, they can be combined with French style shoes.


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Entering the world on October 27, 1858, Roosevelt was the second of four children born to parents Theodore, a merchant and banker, and Martha, a housewife. The family maintained a high social status and lived a comfortable lifestyle. But, as a child, Roosevelt required much attention. Asthmatic, often sick, and nearsighted, he spent much of his childhood tutored at home. His father built a home gym for Roosevelt to use, and through this help and encouragement, Roosevelt learned to control his asthma and build strength that his body had been lacking. Boxing, rowing, jogging, and stretching further improved his physical condition, and Roosevelt became very athletic.
Throughout his childhood Roosevelt read voraciously and continued to pursue books as his health improved. Intrigued by natural history as well as American history, Roosevelt worked hard in his studies and learned about the world on his trips abroad with his family. This paid off with his acceptance into Harvard where he would graduate in 1880 Phi Beta Kappa. His education in political economy and zoology served him well, but Harvard lacked the full science courses he needed to become a wildlife biologist as he had dreamed. Nevertheless, the information he had gained through reading and by actively studying birds, animals, and flowers enabled him to pen two books on Upstate New York birds and another on birds in Oyster Bay on Long Island.
Enjoying his ability to put words to effective use, Roosevelt took on the task of writing about the naval war of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States. Patriotic and impressed with the military, Roosevelt wanted to be fair and accurate on the subject that most historians had ignored. Pursuing his research during his European honeymoon with wife Alice, Roosevelt also endeavored to climb the Matterhorn and was successful. His strenuous activities throughout his life marked a significant change from the sickness of his early youth.
Returning from Europe, Roosevelt sent his history to a publisher, and The Naval War of 1812 became famous. Though somewhat dry reading, Roosevelt earned the appreciation of the British for his honest portrayal of events. During this same time, Roosevelt began a term as a New York State legislator. The beginning of a promising career in politics ended abruptly when both Roosevelt's mother and wife died on the same day. His daughter had been born only two days prior to her mother's passing. Shocked and grieving, Roosevelt fled New York and headed west to the Badlands of Medora, North Dakota.
Recovering and healing, Roosevelt learned the ways of the west as he worked side by side men he came to respect. He also discovered a new-found passion for open land, open spaces, and wildlife populations that were decreasing as settlement increased. Roosevelt wrote about what he saw and filled volumes. His biographies of Thomas Hart Benson, Governor Morris, and Oliver Cromwell saw publication between 1886 and 1890 after Roosevelt had returned to New York. Losing a bid for New York City mayor, Roosevelt retired to Oyster Bay, Long Island, married his close friend Edith Carow and raised five children.
Not finished with public service, Roosevelt returned to New York City to work as a civil service commissioner and as the New York City police commissioner. Enthusiastic and zealous, he attacked organized crime, encouraged the use of new technology, uncovered corruption, and designed one of the first police training academies. Called by President William McKinley for other duty, he then accepted the appointment to assistant secretary of the navy in 1897. Anticipating a future war with Spain, Roosevelt requested money from Congress to improve the navy and telegraphed Commodore George Dewey, suggesting that he be prepared to fight.
Fight Dewey did. The fleet engaged the Spanish at the Battle of Manila Bay two months later and won. Roosevelt felt compelled to act further, and gaining a volunteer commission as lieutenant colonel, he brought together a bunch of volunteer cowboys and school friends to form a cavalry regiment. These men became known as Roosevelt's Rough Riders. Fighting in Cuba they faced death, malaria, yellow fever, and dysentery while they fought bravely on San Juan Hill, Kettle Hill, and in the Battle of Las Guasimas. Not regular army, Roosevelt petitioned for his Rough Riders to be sent home to heal and recoup.
Back home Roosevelt entered politics again, winning the governorship of New York. Independent-minded and resolved to make changes, Roosevelt set up a civil service system, formed a tenement house commission, and convinced his legislature to pass a franchise tax on corporations. Not everyone agreed with his ideas, and Roosevelt then found himself on the ticket as potential vice president in President McKinley's bid for re-election. Those who suggested his vice presidential nomination never predicted that McKinley would be assassinated and Roosevelt would become the youngest person to take the presidential office.
At age 42, Roosevelt assumed the presidency and set out to broaden the executive powers. He helped defend the public interest, broke up 40 monopolies, sued the railroads and won, settled the anthracite coal strike, improved the navy, encouraged an independent country of Panama, oversaw the construction of the Panama Canal, and insured that the United States could buy the Panama Canal Zone. Re-elected in 1904 and popular with the nation, Roosevelt regulated the railroads, passed the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act, and set aside 148,000 acres to be added to the national forests. More land was reserved for coal deposits, phosphate beds, and water power sites. Extremely conservation-minded, Roosevelt set up the National Conservation Commission to study natural resources and preserved land for Yellowstone National Park.
Roosevelt lived during a remarkable time in history. He was the first president to ride in an automobile, to go in a submarine underwater, and to fly in an airplane. Roosevelt also called the "Executive Mansion" the "White House", which then became its official name.
In foreign affairs, Roosevelt settled the war between Russia and Japan with the Treaty of Portsmouth, for which he was later awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. Holding the prize money in a trust, Roosevelt later gave it to agencies who helped World War I victims. He also worked with Japan on the issue of immigration. As a show of peace, and probably one of U.S. strength, Roosevelt sent the navy's Great White Fleet battleships on a world tour. Leaving office, Roosevelt believed his friend William Taft would follow his path of reformation.
Though this wasn't to be the case, Roosevelt didn't know much about U.S. affairs because he had traveled to Africa on a safari. Documenting his finds and identifying numerous species, Roosevelt returned home with specimens for the Smithsonian and the American Museum of Natural History. He also penned almost five hundred pages for his book called African Game Trails. A prolific author, Roosevelt would write numerous books on natural science, the west, political essays, a four-volume work on western expansion, on his adventures in the Spanish-American war, and on his later treks through Africa and the Amazon. In total he saw published 35 books, and during his lifetime, he wrote over 150,000 letters.
Frustrated with President Taft, Roosevelt went back into politics to run again for president, forming his own Bull Moose Party. While campaigning, Roosevelt was shot. Though not fatal, Roosevelt would carry that bullet in his body until his death. Defeated and taking many Republicans with him, Roosevelt's election bid enabled Woodrow Wilson to take office in the 1912 presidential election.
By 1914 Roosevelt was searching again for adventure. For a man who had come extremely close to death many times and survived, his trip to the Amazon would ultimately prove to be a factor in his demise. Roosevelt explored an unmapped River of Doubt in Brazil, facing the treacherous jungle, insects, unfriendly natives, and the river itself. Both Roosevelt and his son Kermit almost died, Roosevelt from a leg injury that led to fever, malaria, and dysentery, and Kermit from being swept over a falls. As an author, Roosevelt kept copious notes which resulted in the book Through the Brazilian Wilderness. For the American Museum of Natural Science he brought back almost 2,000 bird and mammal specimens and important information on the area's geography, geology, and zoology.
Roosevelt returned home and encouraged the United States to enter World War I; however, in 1918, his youngest son Quentin was shot down and captured behind enemy lines. This loss greatly affected Roosevelt, though he displayed tremendous support for the military and America's fight in the war. On January 6, 1919, Roosevelt died suddenly of a blood clot that had detached itself from a vein and went into the lungs. His body was riddled with illnesses and stresses from the fever he'd had in the Amazon to the inflammatory rheumatism from which he'd been suffering to the effects of his brushes with death. Roosevelt was only 60 years old. This statesman, historian, explorer, author, soldier, and former President of the United States was mourned deeply.
Biography by Type of Person
American Presidents & First Ladies
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4th grade (Ages 9-10)
Library Binding
Brighty of the Grand Canyon
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from Aladdin Paperbacks
Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$6.79 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt!
by Jean Fritz
from PaperStar Books
Biography for 5th-8th grade
in Biographies (Location: O1A-BIO)
Carry a Big Stick
Uncommon Heroism of Theodore Roosevelt
Leaders in Action Series
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from Cumberland House
Biography for 9th-Adult
in Leaders in Action (Location: N6C-BIO)
Meet Theodore Roosevelt
by Ormonde de Kay
from Random House
in Step Up Books (Location: VIN-STEP)
Mornings on Horseback
The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt
by David McCullough
1st edition from Simon & Schuster Macmillan
National; Book Award
Naval War of 1812
by Theodore Roosevelt
Historical Non-fiction for 10th-Adult
in War of 1812 (Location: G3D-HIS)
One Bad Thing About Father
I Can Read Book Level 4 (Chapter Book)
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for Grades 1-3
in I Can Read Books (Location: O5B-EAR)
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from University of Nebraska
in Gilded Age (1865-1918) (Location: G5E-HIS)
Remarkable Rough-Riding Life of Theodore Roosevelt
and the Rise of Empire America
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from National Geographic
for 3rd-5th grade
from Dover Publications
Historical non-fiction for 9th-Adult
Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders
Landmark #41
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for 5th-9th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAN)
Teddy Roosevelt: Young Rough Rider
Childhood of Famous Americans
by Edd Winfield Parks
in Childhood of Famous Americans (Location: N7D-COFA)
An American Original
by Geoff & Janet Benge
from Emerald Books
in Heroes of History (Location: N7A-BIO)
by Genevieve Foster
from Beautiful Feet Books
Theodore Roosevelt - Audio Book


text:
First Love Crucified retreat at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia.
History plays an important role in Christian culture. "Just as memory anchors each person's individual story, history plays the same role for cultures, nations and communities of faith. History is our shared memory. … A community dies when its memory fails," — Archbishop Chaput
Love Crucified began in 2006 with the Lord's call to Lourdes Pinto in Medugorje: "Will you be My victim soul?" She gives her fiat and the Lord begins to form her as a victim soul, specifically as a Mother of the Cross: a woman united as one with Mary, the Mother of Sorrows at the foot of the Cross. She lives this call in her ordinary hidden life as a wife and mother. Lourdes had been prepared for her call through the writing s of Blessed Conchita Cabrera de Armida since 2004. Fr. Jordi Rivero, her spiritual director, encouraged her to pursue this call and also enters a deeper understanding of his vocation of priest and victim.
In 2007 the Lord tells Lourdes: Bring to Me the Mothers of the Cross from the four corners of the world. She begins to teach women how to live their sufferings united to the love of Jesus Crucified as a source of God's power for their families, Church and world.
For many years Fr. Jordi had the call to community as a way of life for all states of life. His understanding of community life, united with the charism in Lourdes' heart, becomes the foundation for Love Crucified. The first community cenacle (gathering) took place on March 11 of 2008, with the name "Friends of the Cross", inspired by St. Louis Mary de Montfort's passionate love for the Cross and the Blessed Mother. Maria Hickein was among the founding members.
In July, 2008, Love Crucified goes on its first pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. It was there that Lourdes received the mission for the Missionaries of the Cross (the men of the community). Mothers of the Cross and Missionaries of the Cross are consecrated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Fr. Jordi & Lourdes Pinto prostrated before the Tilma at the Basilica.
The first Love Crucified retreat was in February of 2009 at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, Georgia. The first covenant of the community is written and taken by the first members. Our Lady Rosa Mystica was given to us as patroness in relation to the call to raise up a holy priesthood. Pope Benedict XVI declares the year of the priesthood to begin in October, 2009. This becomes a confirmation to the call from Our Lord to raise a holy priesthood through the hidden martyrdom of the heart. We pilgrimaged to Ars, home of St. John Vianney, patron of all priests, then to Notre Dame du Laus Sanctuary in France where we received the vocation to be the Lord's living chalices in the Chapel of the Most Precious Blood. From here came the inspiration for the community's cross which were made in June of 2010.
Chapel of the Most Precious Blood
In 2011 the bishop gives Fr. Jordi permission to serve full time in
the mission of Love Crucified. In December the Hickein family moved to a rural area near Covington, Georgia, which soon became the center of the Community and site of its retreats. In 2012 the Pinto family buys the house next to the Hickein's for Fr. Jordi to live and for priests to experience our charism in the school of the Sacred Heart. The Lord calls this house "Padre Pio's Refuge for Priests in the Sacred Heart of Jesus."
Chapel at P. Pio's Refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus
In 2012, Msgr. Ronald Sciera enters the Missionaries of the Cross. In January of 2013, Daniel Blanchette comes to Padre Pio's Refuge and discovers his vocation as a Missionary of the Cross. He is now a permanent resident involved in the core of the community.
In April of 2013, we gave our first retreat outside of USA. It was in Rome, to the Legionaries of Christ and the Regnum Christ consecrated —men and women.
Fr. Jordi and Lourdes had a private audience with Cardinal Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. He exhorted them to persevere in the vocation of Love Crucified.
Love Crucified's first mission in Rome.
In the same year, on May 31, Feast of the Visitation, the first house of the community, Our Lady of Grace, is purchased next to the Refuge. It becomes the site of Love Crucified retreats in USA. On June 13, Msgr. Ronald Sciera was invited to concelebrate a daily Mass with Pope Francis at Santa Marta Chapel in the Vatican. After the Mass, Pope Francis blessed the Love Crucified mission and cross.
Pope Francis blessing the Love Crucified Cross.
Our Lady of Grace Retreat House
In 2013, after several visits of Fr. Jordi giving priest retreats in Bogota, Love Crucified is founded in Colombia. The first Love Crucified retreat in Colombia was given in June of 2014. On June 7 of 2016, the Community's formation book, The Simple Path to Union with God, was published. A Spanish edition followed.
Establishment of Love Crucified in Bogota with Adriana and Juan Miguel.
The community now (2019) has members in USA, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, England and Switzerland. The Simple Path to Union with God has transformed the lives of many.


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Home Community Happy 67th Birthday Sir James Dunn Public School
Happy 67th Birthday Sir James Dunn Public School
History – a word which refers to a record of past events and times. History – a word that has so much meaning to the many staff and students that have walked through the doors of Sir James Dunn Public School in Wawa.
Sir James Dunn Public School was first opened in February of 1950. Back then, it was only a four room school. By 1955, the iron ore boom and the growing population of Wawa expanded the school into a twenty room school.
The school boasts the name Sir James Dunn after an incredible man/figure in Canadian history. A man who is recognized chiefly for his 1935 rescue and 20 year presidency and proprietorship of Algoma Steel.
In April of 1974, Sir James Dunn Public School burnt to the ground. The students and staff then had to share space with the students of all the other schools until September of 1975 when the new school was completed. The official opening of the new Sir James Dunn Public School occurred on December 6th, 1975. The population of Wawa continued to grow and many former students and staff can probably remember having classes in portables or at Carl M. Beck just to accommodate everyone.
From its rebirth, the new Sir James Dunn thrived to offer different types of clubs/activities/awards for the students. Many former students can probably recall participating in choir, band, cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, curling, track and field, pep rallies, the Isabel Paul Handwriting Award, the Canada Fitness Test, the health hustle, the Real Samson French Award, science fairs, learning how to canoe across Wawa Lake, Pioneer Days, Character Club, Safety Patrol, Certificates of Merit and even Winit Awards. With every teacher that has walked through the doors of Sir James Dunn, came a passion for writing, a passion for mathematics, a passion for reading, a passion for sports, a passion for music, a passion for history, a passion for science, a passion for the great outdoors, and a passion for the French language.
Sir James Dunn has seen many changes over the last ten years. The closure of Algoma Steel and Weyerhaeuser caused a decrease in our town's population but it hasn't dampened the spirits of the current staff and students.
Several old traditions continue with the dedication and support of current teachers.
Many of us can remember playing sports at Sir James Dunn. There was always a great rivalry amongst the schools. What you might not know is that the teachers continued to keep a close eye on the many students who still hold Track and Field records. Some records have not been broken since 1978! I wonder if your school record is still on the list. We may canoe on Wawa Lake anymore but we certainly snowshoe in the winter months. To snowshoe up the bluff behind the Lady Dunn Hospital is truly a breathtaking experience for the students. Imagine looking down.
How many of you can remember your Grade 8 Toronto Trip? Well, that tradition still continues every two years. Through the sales of community calendars and the business sponsorships of calendar ads, the Grade 7/8 students continue to enjoy and experience this trip. It truly is five jam-packed days of fun, learning and adventures. We can't thank the community enough for your continued support of the calendars which allows our students to experience this trip.
Every year, Sir James Dunn takes pride in a very active Student Council. This group of dedicated students provides fun activities for the whole school to enjoy. Two of the most popular events are the Halloween Extravaganza (complete with a haunted house) and a Winter Fun Day. This club also gives back to the school. Monies raised through in-school fundraisers are put to good use. Over the years Student Council has purchased a sound system, school jerseys, outdoor benches, and even scooters. Way to go, future leaders.
The staff and students of Sir James Dunn are very community oriented. For example, every year, in partnership with our local Royal Canadian Legion, the students sell poppies and compete in the Remembrance Day Literacy and Poster Contest. We also assemble on Remembrance Day to honour our veterans locally and in our country. Sir James Dunn contributes to our local Food Drives, visits the Long Term Care patients at the Lady Dunn Hospital, collects garbage throughout the town on Earth Day, and helps our local church Thrift Shop.
French as a Second Language has been offered at the school for many years. The primaries grades (K – 3), learn French through a variety of activities such as rhymes, songs, picture stories, role playing, and games. The junior and intermediate grades (Gr. 4 – 8) use a student-centered approach that gives the students the opportunity to develop a basic, usable command of the French language in three strands: oral, reading and writing.
Sir James Dunn has a Cultural Room. Upon visiting this room, you will be immersed in the history and teachings of our First Nations peoples. We also have a Michipicoten First Nation support worker. The school will be offering Ojibway as a Second Language to its students starting in February.
Technology is here to stay. The overhead projector has been replaced with an Elmo, a typewriter with a laptop, a blackboard with a smartboard, VHS tapes and cassettes with CDs, old standalone computers with touchscreen computers and ipads. However, the library at Sir James Dunn remains. It has been considered one of the most inviting, well-stocked libraries within the Board. We love to read!
In conclusion, Happy 67th Birthday Sir James Dunn! You have truly taught all of us that,
"Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and who insists that they become the best that they can be." Rita Pierson
Sir James Dunn Public School
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ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract | May 2005
In vivo Assessment of Retinal Antioxidant Status and the Risk for Age Related Macular Degeneration
J.M. Nolan; O. O' Donovan; H. Kavanagh; K. Neelam; S. Beatty
Author Affiliations & Notes
J.M. Nolan
Chemical & Life Sciences Dept., Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
O. O' Donovan
H. Kavanagh
K. Neelam
Ophthalmology, Waterford Regional Hospital, Waterford, Ireland
S. Beatty
Commercial Relationships J.M. Nolan, None; O. O' Donovan, None; H. Kavanagh, None; K. Neelam, None; S. Beatty, None.
Support Fighting Blindness, Ireland.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2005, Vol.46, 1754. doi:
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J.M. Nolan, O. O' Donovan, H. Kavanagh, K. Neelam, S. Beatty; In vivo Assessment of Retinal Antioxidant Status and the Risk for Age Related Macular Degeneration . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2005;46(13):1754.
© ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)
Abstract: : Purpose: Macular pigment (MP) is composed of the two hydroxycarotenoids, lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), and is entirely of dietary origin. There is a growing body of observational evidence in support of the hypothesis that macular pigment (MP) protects against age–related maculopathy (ARM). This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between MP optical density, serum L and Z, and dietary intake of L and Z in healthy subjects, and to relate these measures to putative risk for ARM. Methods: Four hundred healthy subjects aged between 20 and 60 years volunteered to participate in this study. MP optical density was measured psychophysically using heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP), serum L and Z were quantified using HPLC, and dietary intake of L and Z was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Clinical and personal details were also recorded, with particular attention directed towards putative risk factors for ARM. Results: Subjects with a confirmed family history of ARM had significantly lower MP optical density than subjects with no known family history of the disease [0.307 vs. 0.244; p < 0.05], and smokers also had a relative lack of MP [0.241 versus 0.308; p = 0.056]. Females had significantly lower MP than males [0.269 vs. 0.346; p < 0.01], and age was inversely related to MP optical density [r = – 0.256; p < 0.01]. Conclusions: In the absence of retinal pathology, the relative lack of MP among smokers, females, and subjects with a confirmed family history of ARM supports the hypothesis that the macular carotenoids may be protective for ARM.
Keywords: macular pigment • age-related macular degeneration • antioxidants
© 2005, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.


Do you know what shits me most about the end of Google+? Aside from losing a really terrific forum, and an introduction to some awesome people? It's the way "tech journalism" has maintained a "campaign" against this platform over a number of years.
This article describes Google+ as having a "few loyal fans". WTF? What's the definition of "a few"? By any reasonable definition, Google+ had many, many, more readers than Wired.
Sadly, "tech journalism" consists of many, many people on little more than a "public relations gravy train" of free lunches and mobile phones in exchange for positive reviews. On top of that, lots of people with limited understanding of engagement beyond "numbers", have under-estimated the impact of this platform. All of this has added up to a common view that Google+ is a "waste of time" because "nobody is there". And when you say "nobody is there", nobody goes there. And yet, I've had heaps of active engagement with a lot of terrific people.
Sadly, Alphabet has spent too much time reading the views of the "technorati", and not enough time keeping an eye on the lots of wonderful, passionate people on this platform.
It's also much deeper issue about Google's relationship with the audience. A friend, who is an active user of Gmail and Google Photos, who has been receiving the updates said to me the other day, "But aren't they closing down Google Photos?" She's smart, but she couldn't differentiate. It's reputational damage that's broader than the "technorati" estimates, I think.
In Lady Windemere's Fan, Oscar Wilde had Lord Darlington quip that a cynic was 'a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.' This is surely the case which applies to this awesome platform. Best wishes to everyone I've met there.
They definitely have form in killing beloved products – google reader for eg.
I used to be such a google fan, now I try to avoid them as much as possible – they've gone from "don't be evil" in the early days to pretty much All Evil All The Time.
I think it is the first time I have heard something positive about Google+. I think it got off to a bad start by Google trying too hard to force it onto people. The few times I did look at it, I found it difficult to use and things seemed too buried.
Agree with you about Google trying to force people onto it early in the piece. The interface improved over time.


text:
Q: Time efficient way to skip no of line from very large text file (16gb) using python I have a very large text file of 16gb . I need to skip no of line .I want to skip those line in time efficient manner. I am using python for code.how to do that ?

A: Just read the number of lines you want to skip and throw them away:
with open(your_file) as f_in:
    for i in range(number_of_lines_to_skip):
        f_in.readline()
    # your file is now at the line you want...

You can also use enumerate to have a generator that only yields lines once you have skipped the lines you want to:
with open(your_file) as f_in:
    for line in (line for i, line in enumerate(f_in) if i>lines_to_skip):
        # here only when you have skipped the first lines

The second there is likely faster.

A: beware, calling next on a file object will raise StopIteration if the end of file is reached.
go_to_line_number = some_line_number

with open(very_large_file) as fp:

    for _ in range(go_to_line_number):
        next(fp)

    for line in fp:
        # start your work from desired line number
        pass

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Chris Christie, Mike Francesa and WFAN
Broadcasting, Politics, Uncategorized
The idea of WFAN in New York replacing Mike Francesa with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie sparked the inevitable jokes about the weight of the two men; Christie's dystopian political future; and the station's desperation to find a recognizable name with sufficient girth to fit into the groove of Francesa's chair as well as the one he legitimately created as an innovator in sports talk radio.
On the surface, the response is a justifiable "Chris Christie?!?"
But it does make sense.
First, it must be considered whether Francesa is simply rattling the coins in his empty can of Diet Coke for a better deal when the reality sets in that he's serious about leaving.
That might make sense were it 10 years ago and his former partner Chris Russo had just departed. He had the station's financial future in his hands and he easily could have raked them to get exactly what he wanted. Now? Maybe not. The arguments for it being real are obvious. He's 63-years old; he's been doing this for 30 years; he has young children; and, for the past decade, has been working alone for up to six days a week – a grueling 30 hours – on the radio.
It's not easy.
He's often ridiculed for his frequent vacations, especially over the summer, but with the above factors, he does have the right to take some time off and not have to explain himself to anyone, nor to be unjustly lambasted for it.
On the flipside, this might be a negotiation with him seeking a reduced schedule at the same or more money.
It might be a combination.
Every utterance of Francesa must be judged within the context of an ego-driven agenda. For him to say that Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts are even under consideration to replace him is more of a threat with the between-the-lines statement of "This is what you're relegated to if and when I leave" attached to it. Of course it's possible that WFAN would replace Francesa with Beningo and Roberts to predictably disastrous results, but the idea of Christie, with that alternative of Joe and Evan, gets better and better.
Is this a contract negotiation that Francesa is pushing to the hilt? He notoriously serves as his own representative which, after his parting with the YES Network, led to an ill-advised, terribly implemented union for his radio show to be simulcast on Fox Sports 1. He was preempted seemingly more often that he was on with complaints from fans in the Metropolitan area who see the preemptor – European Football – in the following way:
The negativity with Francesa for his arrogance, ignorance, sudden entry into political prognostication and more is justified. However, if the criticism goes beyond a pointed critique of tangible content and it enters a realm of mean-spiritedness for its own sake, then the target can express displeasure and have something done about it. This is where the WFAN morning show of Boomer and Carton steps over the line.
Francesa is certainly not above being criticized, but when the morning show is going into professional wrestling mode and generating "heat" when Francesa has no interest in taking part in the gag, Francesa has the right to protest. Francesa is one of the main reasons that sports talk radio in general and WFAN in particular has become as big as it has. It's difficult to envision the station having achieved its level of success and relevance without Mike and the Mad Dog, his former show with Russo.
Mentioning Russo is vital because once the pair split, Francesa looked at several options to replace him and then chose to do the show alone. Perhaps that was the intent all along. But that hardly matters. To claim that Francesa is "lazy" or that his threats at retirement are a financial ploy is a mistake.
And for it to come from Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton?
Esiason's ego is Betelgeuse next to Francesa's Pluto only with fractional foundation for it. He's little more than a retired jock broadcasting hack who received every opportunity to be a media star, failed, and ended up having to get up at 4 a.m. to have a job in radio and is another replaceable, faceless, ignorable entity on dull NFL pregame shows and weekly roundups.
Would anyone notice if he was dispatched into obscurity?
Carton is the "me tough" testimony to faux outrageousness.
So yes, Francesa can react when he's mocked by that entity and expect the station bosses to stop it. Could the failure to step in with workable sanctions to make it stop be, in part, why he's walking?
Flaws aside, when he's on his game and motivated, he still has the power to create compelling radio that few others can.
This is why Francesa still matters.
About how many broadcasters can it be said, "I wonder what 'X' will say about this?"
Francesa works alone. In the past, he has gone on crafted rants and tailored his positions to suit an end (see this absurd 2012 rant about the New York Mets). He has also backtracked on things he's repeatedly said without so much as an acknowledgement, let alone a mea culpa. But the disappointment at Francesa being off this week and missing out on his take of the Randy Levine-Dellin Betances back and forth is legitimate because he still has "it" and we can't help wondering what his position would be. This goes beyond the deflation when tuning in to WFAN at 1 p.m., not knowing that Joe and Evan are on in his stead, and hearing their moronic singalong with Francesa's theme song that functions as an allegory to their vapid show.
WFAN will not get away with finding a "star" radio host from Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and expect him or her to seamlessly slide in to take over for Francesa. It won't work. Nor will the concept of Joe and Evan being moved to Francesa's slot – the show is unlistenable. Evan and Kim Jones? They could have sex on the air and not get a fraction of the attention or ratings Francesa does. Moving Boomer and Carton to the afternoon? Maybe they could get away with that, but their listeners and Francesa's listeners are of a different breed making it a risk to ruin two different time slots instead of one.
The selection of Christie is so far outside the box and, apart from his appearances at Dallas Cowboys games as a guest of owner Jerry Jones and his known status as a Mets fan, there's a limited amount of sports content linked to him so he's not walking into the studio with any baggage – in that realm anyway. He's guest hosted on Boomer and Carton with promising results.
The replacement must be based in the Metro area with a feisty combativeness and an interesting potential to say interesting stuff. Christie certainly has the voice, the personality and the interest in sports to make it work.
Francesa leaving can create a gaping chasm in the middle of the afternoon that literally and figuratively could only be replaced by someone as big as Francesa. Christie certainly fits in every aspect for it to work.
February 23, 2017 February 23, 2017 Paul Lebowitz Tagged Chris Christie, Mike Francesa, WFAN 1 Comment
Joe Torre's five-word method for dealing with Randy Levine
MLB, Uncategorized
"Randy, shut the fuck up."
This statement, related on page 203 of The Yankee Years by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci, undoubtedly echoes what those inside and outside the New York Yankees organization feel today about team president Randy Levine after his combination monologue and touchdown dance following the Yankees prevailing in their arbitration hearing with relief pitcher Dellin Betances sparking an angry response from Betances.
Much like the intricacies of the arbitration hearing itself and the Yankees' position compared to Betances's position, there's no reason to relate exactly why Torre colorfully told Levine to shut up. These details are secondary to Levine himself, his undefined role, and his constant and clumsy attempts to insert himself into baseball operations for which he's more qualified to be a lunatic caller to WFAN seeking to trade a package led by Chase Headley to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Mike Trout than an actual key decision maker in club construction.
Looking more like a midlevel functionary who should be nowhere near either a camera or a microphone and behaving like a professional wrestling manager when he does, calling Levine's statement ill-advised neither does it justice nor encompasses the full scope of his egocentric attempt to insinuate himself into the story. His behavior took a tone indicative of the entire process being a personal affront to him. Judging by Levine's reaction even after winning the case, there's an unsaid expectation for Betances to fall to his knees and thank the Yankees for making the offer they did, even going so far as tell the club that he'd take less like the petrified tenement owner Don Roberto in The Godfather, Part II when he garnered information as to whom Vito Corleone actually was and the consequences for not acquiescing to Don Corleone's offer he couldn't refuse.
Who is Randy Levine?
George Steinbrenner hired Levine due to Levine's well-connected political position and that he was going to help the Yankees with the establishment of the YES Network and guide them through the labyrinth-like process of building a new Yankee Stadium. As far as baseball goes, he's the epitome of "some guy" who happened to parlay various connections to place himself in a circumstance in which he had a forum to express these views without any understanding in a business or baseball sense as to what he's talking about.
As evidenced by his statements related to Betances's on-field performance, Levine remains suspended in the simplified statistics of two decades ago, equating the discredited save stat with a relief pitcher's value. Since establishing himself as a big leaguer, few if any relief pitchers have been as dominant or valuable as Betances. Levine, with a blatantly vague understanding of how relief pitchers should be judged, takes the role at which the Yankees predominately deployed Betances and that he was not placed in situations that he would accrue negligible stats like saves and used it to denigrate one of the most valuable commodities that Yankees have.
This goes beyond Betances implying that he might rethink doing whatever manager Joe Girardi asks him to do for the sake of winning and his clear anger at what was said. Betances cannot be a free agent until after 2019, so the Yankees can shrug at any anger on the part of the pitcher. He's essentially at their mercy. That said, if Betances was pitching when he wasn't 100 percent to help the team and he's being treated like an indentured servant, he's more likely to take his own interests into consideration and save his bullets for the time at which he can get his lucrative long-term contract. Since he was such a late bloomer who was a starting pitcher in the minor leagues and didn't establish himself as a big leaguer until he was moved to the bullpen at age 26, his window to make big money is limited. That foray into free agency after 2019 might be his one chance to get paid. Taking that into account was well within his rights before this. Now? He's perfectly entitled to go all-in with being an independent contractor who is seeking to maximize his financial station.
To a man in the Yankees clubhouse and including the coaches and manager, you will be hard pressed to find one person who will disagree with one word that Betances said in response to Levine's idiotic rant. For him to pitch on back-to-back days and do so for multiple innings after the Yankees had essentially punted the 2016 season by trading away Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Carlos Beltran, he made a sacrifice that directly opposes his self-interest.
The question to ask is this: How much would Betances get on the open market if he was a 28-year-old free agent?
With his résumé and the combined contracts that lesser pitchers Brett Cecil, Mike Dunn and Brad Ziegler received (a combined $65.5 million over nine years), Levine is either ignorant of the reality of the market for relief pitchers or he is twisting reality to suit his position.
Betances isn't trying to change any market. The market is what it is.
For Levine to again place himself at the center of a matter that has nothing whatsoever to do with him not only hurts the organization, but the cost could end up being far greater than that $2 million disparity with what Betances asked for and what the Yankees wanted to pay. Given his history and inexplicable arrogance, even if Levine understands this, it won't matter. This is aggravation and attention the Yankees do not need, but to satisfy the craving Levine obviously has to be at the center of these stories, they're getting it and will continue to do so until someone above him – the Steinbrenners – do as Torre did more than a decade ago and tell him to shut the fuck up with the power to make him do it and consequences if he doesn't.
February 19, 2017 February 19, 2017 Paul Lebowitz Tagged Dellin Betances, New York Yankees, Randy Levine, Yankees Leave a comment
Knicks, Oakley and organizational estrangement
Basketball, MLB, NFL, Uncategorized
The incident at Madison Square Garden in which former New York Knicks player and longtime fan favorite Charles Oakley was arrested for a confrontation with arena security has yielded a visceral reaction from fans and media members who see Oakley as the epitome of what the current Knicks are missing. As a player, he did the dirty work, protected his teammates and was the "lunch pail" guy – the ones no team or business in general can function successfully without and whose work is largely appreciated in every context but the stat sheet. Long since retired, Oakley does not have an official role with the organization.
Given their current plight with team president Phil Jackson viewed as a disinterested observer of a team he was tasked – and received a contract for close to $12 million annually – to rebuild and owner Jim Dolan's perceived ineptitude, it's no wonder that the anger is reaching explosive proportions.
Regardless of the negative views of Jackson and his commitment and Dolan and his competence, is Oakley to be granted the benefit of the doubt for his behavior when no one seems to know what the dispute was even about? There must be a separation between what a player might have represented to the organization in the past and what is good for business in the future.
Every sport has these uncomfortable situations of trying to respect the past, granting deference to those who played an integral role in it and doing what's right for the organization in the present and future. Not all reach the level of embarrassment as Oakley and the Knicks, but they're everywhere. Legacy jobs are often harmless as long as there's no actual decision making involved with them, but when a person is given a role without the ability to function in it effectively, it's like a virus.
Sandy Alderson's New York Mets regime has faced passive aggressive criticism from former Mets stars Howard Johnson and Mookie Wilson among others for their abandonment of the team's past, but the biggest name that has elicited an over the top reaction is Wally Backman. This in spite of the Mets giving Backman a job as a minor league manager when no one else would; in spite of him repeatedly angering Alderson and his lieutenants for going off the reservation, for self-promoting, and for being the last thing anyone wants in a minor league manager: visible. In September of 2016, Backman either left the organization of his own accord or was fired – it's still fuzzy – smothering his supporters' lingering hopes that he would be given a chance as, at a minimum, a coach on Terry Collins's staff.
By now, it's clear to anyone who can read between even the flimsiest of lines that Backman only lasted as long as he did with the Mets because of his popularity with the fans and that the Wilpons were protecting him from Alderson's axe. There are still conspiracy theories speculating about the real genesis of Alderson's issues with Backman and whether Backman has been blackballed or not.
The only thing we have to go on is what's happened. With that, if Backman truly is the managerial genius his fans purport him to be, it only worsens the practical reality that no affiliated club will hire him in any capacity. That Backman, for lack of big league opportunities, needed to take a job in the Mexican League is conveniently ignored in the narrative of negativity that still surrounds the Mets even as they've won a pennant, made the playoffs as a wild card and are a favorite to contend for a World Series in 2017, all under Alderson and Collins.
Ozzie Smith was angry with the way Tony La Russa reduced his role in 1996 and basically forced him out when Smith wanted to keep playing after that season.
Smith is royalty with the Cardinals and was treated as such by Whitey Herzog and his successor Joe Torre. By the time La Russa arrived, he was unattached to the Cardinals' past. The club had been declining for several years, sparking the hiring of La Russa to begin with. Was La Russa supposed to enter the 1996 season relying on a 41-year-old Smith who had batted .199 the previous year? Or should he have pinned his hopes on what Smith had been five years before to keep from angering fans who want to have a winning team but also want to continue treating their stars with blind loyalty?
In his lone year playing for La Russa, Smith had a solid comeback season showing a portion of his fielding genius and batting .282 in 82 games, sharing the job with Royce Clayton. Could he have maintained that over the course of the season at that age? Could La Russa bank on that? Deferring to the past has its place, but when there are substantive changes made, collateral damage is unavoidable. La Russa didn't go to St. Louis to mess around with what was already there and had finished 19 games below .500 in 1995. Caught in the crossfire was Smith. He's still bitter about it, but who can argue with the success the Cardinals had under La Russa? Now had the club been worse under La Russa than it was under the prior, old-school Cardinals front office or Clayton fallen flat on his face, then there would have been a larger contingent of angry fans and media members standing behind Smith just as Knicks fans are doing with Oakley.
Tom Landry was unceremoniously fired by Jerry Jones in 1989 when Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys. When Jones made the clumsy and necessary decision and subsequently walked face first into a public relations buzz saw, no one on this or any other planet could have envisioned that less than three decades later, Jones would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame to take his place among the sport's luminaries along with Landry.
In retrospect, the same fans and media members who were outraged at the crude dispatching of Landry had been privately saying that the coach needed to go and a full overhaul was needed. Jones, in telling his predecessor Bum Bright that he was not buying the team unless he was able to replace Landry with Jimmy Johnson, was setting the conditions that many advocated but few had the guts to follow through upon. By the time the Cowboys' rebuild was completed four years later and culminated with a Super Bowl (and two more in the next three years), no one cared whether Landry would acknowledge Jones or still felt embittered about his dismissal.
The insular nature of sports front offices is exactly what owners sought to get away from when they hired outsiders from other industries to take charge. Before that, a large percentage of former players who rose to upper level positions in a front office did so not because of competence or skill at the job they were hired to do, but as a form of patronage. That is no longer the case and invites a backlash. When Jeff Luhnow was hired to run the Houston Astros and gutted the place down to its exoskeleton, the on-field product was so hideous and former Astros stars so callously discarded that the response was inevitable: he had abandoned luminaries and made the product worse. The Astros are contenders now and the groundswell is largely muted even if the anger is still there.
Giving former star performers a ceremonial title is not done to grant them sway with the club. It's a placating measure to engender goodwill with the fans and media. When that comes undone, incidents like the Knicks and Oakley exacerbate current problems and provide evidence of ongoing and unstoppable turmoil.
The issue for the Knicks is that they're in such disarray that this type of incident involving a player who was a key component of their glory years will be magnified.
The Oakley incident can be viewed as the nadir of the Knicks under Jackson and Dolan based on nothing more than Oakley having been a favorite of the fans and the media during his playing career and representing a past that is so far in the rearview mirror that a large bulk of younger fans are unlikely to believe it even existed in the first place. It occurred directly on the heels of a typically cryptic Jackson tweet that seemed to disparage Carmelo Anthony and sent the team president and "Zen master" into familiar spin control only contributes to their perceived dysfunction. If the Knicks were riding high and this happened, the reaction would have been that Oakley needs to know his place. Since they're not, it's symbolic of that which ails the club.
Adhering to the past might be palatable, particularly when Oakley-type incidents take place, but there needs to be a separation between what's happening within the organization and its outskirts even if they appear to be inextricably connected.
February 13, 2017 February 13, 2017 Paul Lebowitz Tagged Cardinals, Charles Oakley, Cowboys, James Dolan, Jerry Jones, Knicks, Mets, Ozzie Smith, Tom Landry, Tony La Russa 1 Comment


For the batter place all ingredients in a blender and mix for 30 second until smooth, and set aside. For the filling slice the strawberries and combine the blueberries in a bowl and set aside. Heat a 9-inch non-stick pan on medium heat, coat lightly with cooking spray. Ladle a small amount (1/4 Cup or 2 ounces) of the batter onto the pan and then immediately tilt and swirl so the bottom is coated evenly with a thin layer of batter. Cook the crepe for about one minute, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other for another minute. Stack finished crepes on a plate, Continue until all batter is gone. To assemble the crepes, spread about 1 tablespoon of Nutella on the crepe, add about 1/3 cup of fruit mixture, roll up like a burrito and serve.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and mushrooms and sauté about 8 minutes until tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Let the mushroom and onions cool. Spray a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cut the English muffins in half, Line the bottom of the baking dish with 1 layer of bread (6 halves), Arrange half of ham evenly over bread. Sprinkle half of the goat cheese, Swiss cheese, parmesan cheese, basil, and mushrooms on top of the ham. Next add a second layer of English muffins. Layer remaining ham, goat cheese, Swiss cheese, parmesan cheese, basil, mushrooms and onions on top of bread. Whisk eggs, milk, mustard, and salt in bowl and a pinch of pepper. Pour egg mixture over bread and press down on the bread with a spatula allowing the bread to soak up egg mixture.
Bake about 1 hour until center is set and golden brown. Remove from oven and cut into squares to serve.
Preheat the oven to 450°. First you must wash, peel and dice both the russet potatoes and kabocha squash, place them into a pot with a touch of salt, cover with a lid, and bring to a boil and cook until tender. Drawn the water out and then add the butter, salt & pepper and mash together well. Set the potatoes aside. Next take the meat and place it into a pot on the stove on medium to high heat. Cook the meat until its brown and then remove from the heat and pour out excess grease. Then add the onion, mushrooms, garlic, ginger, beef base, salt and pepper and mix together. Next add the Campbell's soup along with ½ a can of water, stir the ingredients well. Finally take a 13" x 9" Pyrex dish and pour the meat mixture inside on the bottom. Then grab your mashed potatoes and smear evenly on top of the meat mixture. Top with shredded Parmesan cheese and then bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Let the cool whip defrost to room temperature and then put it into a large mixing bowl along with the Greek yogurt and peppermint oil. Next take a food processor and pulverize all the peppermints. Put half of the peppermints to the side for the pie topping and add the rest to the mixture. Now break up the York patties into small pieces. Set half aside for the topping and mix the rest into the bowl with the other ingredients. Pour the mixture into the Oreo Pie crust and top it with the remainder of the York Patties and Peppermints. Place into freezer overnight and enjoy for a holiday dessert.
Place a medium saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil, onions, garlic, kosher salt and cook for 5 minute or until the onions are soft and translucent. Meanwhile, chop the apricots and candy ginger into small pieces and place into the saucepan, add orange juice. Cook the mixture until the juice is adsorbed completely into the mixture (about 5 more minutes). Once the orange juice is cooked down add in Chinese 5 spice and cranberry sauce. Remove from heat, and transfer to a bowl and let cool down. Once the cranberry sauce is cool to the touch, add in chopped cilantro and orange zest. Great for the holiday – serve with Turkey, Chicken, or Lamb.


Take command of the road in the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. With just over 35,000 miles on the odometer, this 4 door sport utility vehicle prioritizes comfort, safety and convenience. Smooth gearshifts are achieved thanks to the refined 6 cylinder engine, and for added security, dynamic Stability Control supplements the drivetrain. Four wheel drive allows you to go places you've only imagined. Top features include power windows, power front seats, front fog lights, a power liftgate, cruise control, a roof rack, rear wipers, and seat memory. Features such as automatic climate control and leather upholstery prove that economical transportation does not need to be sparsely equipped. Rear passengers enjoy the seat heating functionality, keeping them warm during the winter months. Jeep ensures the safety and security of its passengers with equipment such as: dual front impact airbags, front side impact airbags, traction control, brake assist, anti-whiplash front head restraints, a security system, an emergency communication system, and 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS. This vehicle has achieved Certified Pre-Owned status, by passing Jeep's rigorous certification process. Our sales reps are extremely helpful & knowledgeable. They'll work with you to find the right vehicle at a price you can afford. Please don't hesitate to give us a call.


Is there a way to organize the files in the Originals folders?
As we are currently considering how to organize our workflow and structure this is quite important for us that you can browse the source files without Wwise and still have an idea where each file belongs to.
By organizing your files manually inside of subfolders of the Originals/SFX and Originals/[Language] paths prior to importing in Wwise: the import step will then skip the copy, and link to the file at its location.
By selecting a target folder in the Audio File Importer dialog ('Audio file destination').
By moving the files after import using the File Manager (Shift-F1).


text:
New Service Seeks Old Metal Items and Cardboard In Exchange For Cash
Here's another reason Las Vegas is renowned for making winners out of people dropping "heavy coin." A new service has just made its debut that makes cash out of old appliances, steel drums, BBQ sets, dilapidated cars and other metal items. SA Recycling, parent company of 1-800-GOT-SCRAP, has announced the debut of a revolutionary new recycling center at 2780 North Nellis Boulevard in Las Vegas. Those bringing in any old metal objects will receive cash right on the spot, announced Cristi Rossi, executive vice president of operations for SA Recycling.
"Las Vegas has a reputation for taking things to new levels and, indeed, this new service takes recycling to the extreme. Forget about merely collecting aluminum cans as we are looking for major metal objects that we can recycle into new products," said Rossi. "We hope to inspire local residents to take a look around their homes and property for any old scrap metal items as doing so may earn them big dollars."
Rossi said that the process is simple. Gather all of the items you wish to discard and take them to the center where SA Recycling personnel will unload the items, weigh them and for most items we will pay you cash on the spot.
"You might have an old brass lamp, a refrigerator on the blink or malfunctioning tools laying around the garage just taking up space," Rossi continued. "Those items may be worthless to you, but not for us. We encourage those living in or around Las Vegas to take a look around the house as they may be sitting on a treasure trove."
For those who are unable to transport their discarded items, SA Recycling recently introduced a new service, 1-800-GOT-SCRAP. For a $50 fee, 1-800-GOT-SCRAP will pick up the items. The metal is sent to a facility where it is then shredded, sorted into various pure metals (e.g., steel, aluminum, copper, iron) and shipped overseas to be re-purposed into new appliances and automobiles. Up until now, many of these massive items have been dumped in city landfills greatly increasing our carbon footprint. 1-800-GOT-SCRAP ensures that the materials are re-purposed thus preserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gases.
For more information, visit www.gotscrap.com.
CONTACT: FGI (562) 491-1000


text:
9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650
Phone: 317-846-6601 Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org
Blake Ress, Commissioner
DECATUR CENTRAL WINS FIRST STATE TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Decatur Central scored six runs across the second and third innings and went on to defeat Homestead, 7-3, to win the Class 4A state championship at Victory Field in Indianapolis.
It was the 10th straight win and the very first state title for the school located in the southwestern corner of Indianapolis and came in the school's first trip to the baseball state finals.
The unranked Hawks (29-7) banged out six runs on eight hits in the first three innings to take a 6-2 advantage.
In the second inning, they jumped out to early 2-0 lead behind RBI singles from second baseman Adam Kirk and catcher Isaac Pruitt.
Homestead (26-6), also unranked coming in, rallied in the top of the third to tie the score 2-2. Ryan Trieglaff and Ryan Wright each singled with one out and Logan Bultemeier followed with another to score Trieglaff. Patrick Veerkamp then sacrificed to right field scoring Wright who had moved over to third on Bultemeier's single.
Decatur then added four runs in the bottom half of the third.
With one gone, Nick Stoia singled to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kirk followed with a hit to right and advanced to third on a throwing error scoring Stoia for a 3-2 advantage. Andrew Kinnaird then singled through the left side scoring Kirk. Jeff Pace then walked and Aaron Gregory doubled to bring home Kinnaird for a 5-2 lead and Isaac Pruitt's sacrifice to centerfield scored Pace for a 6-2 margin.
In the fourth inning, Homestead cut the deficit to 6-3 when Bob Glover tripled to left center scoring Derek Kinzer from first. Kinzer had bunted to get aboard.
The Hawks added the seventh run in the fifth inning when Gregory singled to right scoring Pace who had reached on a throwing error and advanced to second.
Decatur Central was coached by Phil Webster, who was finishing his 24th year on the job. Homestead, had come into the game having beaten four top 10 teams during its tournament run but fell short in the school's initial appearance in the state finals. The Spartans were led by first year coach Steve Sotir.
Ryan Trieglaff named Mental Attitude Award winner
Ryan Trieglaff of Homestead High School was recognized by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year's recipient of the L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A baseball.
Ryan has been a role model in the community both on and off the field throughout his high school career. Homestead principal Rick Smith commented, "As a result of his father's illness and death earlier this year, Ryan's maturity and positive attitude have helped his mother and two younger brothers through this difficult time in their lives." His commitment to his family, teammates, classmates and community are not the exception but rather the rule.
Ryan has volunteered as a Sunday School Teacher, worked for the Huntington County Clinic, and has helped out as a volunteer Little League coach. He is an academic honors diploma recipient and has received the JP & Justin Fund Scholarship.
Ryan plans to attend Indiana University as a pre-medicine student in the hopes of helping to find a cure for cancer.
He is the son of Kelly Trieglaff of Fort Wayne.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Homestead High School in the name of Ryan Trieglaff.
VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY
Visit our friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA's official photographer for all state championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the Midwest. VSN, which was on site Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year's State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.
CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE STILL AVAILABLE
For t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year's tournament or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.
STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
Couldn't be there for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EST).


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Freshwater sustainability challenges shared by southwest and southeast US
Terra Daily: Water scarcity in the western U.S. has long been an issue of concern. Now, a team of researchers studying freshwater sustainability in the U.S. have found that the Southeast, with the exception of Florida, does not have enough water capacity to meet its own needs.
Twenty-five years ago, environmentalist Marc Reisner published Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, which predicted that water resources in the West would be unable to support the growing demand of cities, agriculture and industry.
A paper co-authored by a University of Georgia researcher and just published in a special issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences offers new support for most of Reisner's conclusions, using data and methods unavailable to him in 1986.
Although the paper focuses on freshwater sustainability in the Southwest, co-authors Tushar Sinha, a postdoctoral scientist at North Carolina State University; John Kominoski, a postdoctoral associate at the UGA Odum School of Ecology; and William Graf, a professor of geography at the University of South Carolina, said that the findings have important implications for the Southeast as well. "It turns out that the Southeast has a relatively low capacity for water storage," said Graf….
Labels: drought, US, water


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What Powers Michael Phelps :: Kore Exclusive
LOVE & HIPHOP Cast Shows Out at NEW YORK Premiere
Verse Simmonds Listening Party
TLC's Chilli the Circus Tiger for PETA
DO [Dough]: New Restuarant Launch
Author Kore Magazine
Mavado – Me Alright Music Video BTS
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Marvel has finally graced fans with a solo Venom franchise. Known as the super villain in the Spiderman Universe, Venom has had a special place in many Marvel Comic readers for decades. Tom Hardy will play...
Marvel's BLACK PANTHER – WORLD PREMIER
The most anticipated film of the season, Marvel's Black Panther hosted its World Premier screening in LA over the weekend and boy did the stars come out for this one. Some of Hollywood's elite came to show...
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Marvel Studios isn't letting up on the films they prepare for the release of the third installment of the Wolverine series, LOGAN. The latest film in the X-men saga, Hugh Jackman plays Old Man Logan, set in...
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Deep Water Horizon
Mark Wahlberg stars in a story set on the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, which exploded during April 2010, which created the worst oil spill in American history. The movie shows audiences an...
Sneak Peek – Porsche Design presents The 2017 Panamera
Porsche Design held a private preview of the all new 2017 Panamera along with exclusive look at some of the new Design products they are releasing soon. Porsche Design featured the 1919 Datetimer Eternity...
DC's Suicide Squad is Called to Action
Are they Bad Guys or are they Good Guys? As Superheros come to power in the film industry, it's only fair to include the Villains and give them a chance they deserve on the big screen. DC comics teamed up...


The first egg robot was hatched when Bruce Shapiro in 1990 dreamed up the Eggbot™. Bruce published it as an open-source design for both software and hardware however the name is trademarked. While it is available for purchase as a whole machine, I wanted to see if I could 3D print one myself since the initial cost was large.
… and that was about it. Most of those I had, the rest I could order easily (for example, I had Nema-17 steppers and this only required 28byj-48 ones, either 5V or 12V). So, in a fit of decision I launched into building it and surprised myself with how quickly it came together.
The base and cover are easy to print with the sides of the cover bending into a living hinge. The ends are bolted shut and there is a sliding swing arm and end stanchion. The living hinge is an interesting design choice which leads me to believe that the designers were very familiar with 3D printing as it avoids overhangs in the upright sections of the print. It does make a very neat and attractive package when finished.
The 'tail stock' – if this were a lathe – is based on a printed part with a 308zz bearing inside. The 308zz are a very common type of bearing, sometimes called 'skateboard bearings' as they are ubiquitously used for skateboard wheels.
Once completed the whole machine is connected to a computer by USB cord and you use Inkscape to create and print the eggs.
I have this collection of ties hanging behind my study door. A couple of observations: I don't use them much anymore, and secondly – it doesn't matter.
Long before I left regular work I had noticed that men's 'uniform' for business was changing. Gone were the suited-and-booted approach with winged-tipped oxfords, gone were the vests and suspenders, gone were the extensive range of ties worn every day to work (matched against colour, or themed to fit the sort of environment – oh, and always try to slightly outdress the customer since going the other way was a cardinal crime). Even one of the account execs with whom I worked remarked that they hardly ever put on a tie to visit a customer now, and they would have mixed with CEOs and financial industry heavyweights much of the time.
So one of the things which I grew up understanding was needed to move into the world of work, then changed rapidly when the time came.
Men's 'costumes' always seemed out of kilter with working women's ability to chose between a range of appropriate attire. While they could chose dresses and blouses, we chose suits. While they could include slacks or skirts, we chose suits. While they could wear cardigans or sweaters, we chose suits.
Ties now seem limited to christenings, funerals and weddings. The "hatch them, match them, and dispatch them" mantra of the modern approach to ritual and ceremony. Beyond that, they seem consigned to the grave.
I've started masking the base PCB of my WiFi doorbell and I am using both masking tape and Blutack. I discovered the Blutack while going through my stationery drawer looking for something similar to the latex masking fluid which is used in real electronic waterproofing. I had thought of using an eraser which would be soft and pressed onto the micro-USB port would mostly seal against the conformal spray. The Blutack is now my best friend for masking, even if the spray dissolves it some and leaves it sticky – but the easiest way to remove Blutack is using more Blutack, which worked very well on the PCB board.
I decided to leave the camera alone as it was already in a unit, and previous experience has taught me that getting near lenses with any type of fluid or compound invariably means that you leave smears, no matter how careful. As it is a single unit I'll seal around its seating and hope that that helps prevent major water ingress into the rest of the mechanism. If the video feed fails, I'll know better next time!
The speaker at the bottom is also hard to waterproof: cover it in conformal fluid or seal it in somehow would mean that it likely could not be heard, and similarly for the microphone which needs to vibrate to detect speaking. I'll simply seal around the edges of those components and hope that their internals are okay with a little moisture.
The door-press button is difficult, as it needs to move to trigger the micro-switch, but isn't sealed around its edge – I assume that rain against the front of the unit seeps through capillary action around the edges and into the major internal space, and thence via condensation onto other surfaces. That's bad, as it possibly means I cannot seal one of the areas of major ingress.
Experimenting is fun, so I am going to try a thin film of plastic wrap (sometimes called 'cling film' here – other names elsewhere!) glued to the rear of the face plate to see if that works. The plastic film should bend enough to allow depressing the micro-switch, but the real challenge will be getting it sealed against the back of the face plate. I will try a rim of silicone sealant to which I will press a square of plastic film.
Overall the task took me the whole day. While that seems a little crazy (and you may prefer watching box sets on television), I saw it as a learning exercise and bit of a challenge! I've thought through how to waterproof a very difficult piece of equipment and although the proof that it's successful still remains, I am overall pleased with the result and would attempt something similar with greater skill.
The doorbell does work now and I have tested it both via pressing the push button and the mobile app. Bring on the rain!
I've been interested in getting a WiFi doorbell for my house. Having looked at the issues surrounding the two market-leading brands, decided to go the cheaper route and purchased a no-name brand from China.
The doorbell and separate chime are excellent, but are not waterproof.
I experienced this after having had the doorbell working for a week or so – England is anything but dry and before Christmas a downpour lashed our front elevation for around 18 hours, thoroughly wetting the outside of the unit. While the camera still worked and I could connect to it from my phone app, I did not suspect that water had entered the compartment. When it did occur to me was after one door press by the post delivery worker that left a lingering 'ding dong' in the air after it should have stopped.
The next day the lingering 'ding dong' did not stop at all and I had to remove power from the chime unit. I opened the unit and saw moisture inside and dried it out, but realised several days later that I could not connect to the unit from the mobile app and so have taken it off the wall to fully waterproof it. Thankfully the ringing had stopped but I worried that it could re-occur in the middle of the night or while we were away.
I will use electronic conformal liquid in a spray form to coat the PCB and internals, and will try to either glue non-moving parts in place with silicone sealant as well as putting a bead around the external rim of the back-plate. My challenge is that there is several holes where ingress is needed for the microphone and the speaker! How to waterproof those? And the press button will still have to move inwards to depress the micro-switch and if glued solid it could not do this.
In the UK the major shopping district is colloquially called 'the high street'. Other countries may call it the CBD (central business district – but more generally this is the office and skyscraper part of a city), downtown, or simply 'the shops'. My local town here in the UK has one named The High Street and this isn't unusual for England as it is the most common street name. With the advent of online shopping in the early 2000's and the rise of Amazon there was much consternation at the plight of bricks-and-mortar shops on the high street. TV programmes that aimed to remedy the flight away (notably ones featuring Mary Portas – 'queen of shops!') were common, there were government grants and industry worked with academia to study the issues – I know, because in my professional life I took part in one such study.
But the shoppers continued to flock to the online retailers and everyone was puzzled. Discounts, robo-shoppers (research online, shop in store without browsing), price matching and all manner of techniques were put forward. Card networks offered to analyse patterns and events were held in target towns. Yet, from my personal and anecdotal experience I'd have to point at one major reason why people are turning away from shopping in person especially at the larger out-of-town warehouses.
I've just come back from picking up some items from one of the large chain store brands here in the UK and my experience was infuriating. I struggled to the checkout with a large TV and no-one offered to help, whilst the store was mainly empty with assistants wandering the aisles. We had a gaming console plus assorted other items and our purchases were a sizeable part of £1000 – so not insignificant. At the checkout the assistant immediately started up-selling product insurance and when I declined insisted on asking why? He also wanted to know my street address and email, and when I also refused those insisted that the purchase would not go through without them. Actually, the store already had them as I have an account in their online shopping system and had reserved the console earlier. But what shook me was the general abusive approach taken to the sale; countering my every decline, challenging my refusal to take insurance, insisting on more personal detail and so on. As we struggled to lift the items from the counter he stepped back and turned away – not even offering to hold them while I took some to the car. Perhaps it was just me, or a latent racism on their behalf – but this retailer as a whole has a 'bad' rating on Trustpilot with five-figure negative ratings. I felt unwanted and used.
Recently another large out-of-town shopping warehouse has gone bankrupt and when I read forums on Toys-R-Us and their decline many people mentioned the shambolic store layouts and disinterested assistants. If shopping is all about experience, as many retail consultants believe, then it is important that shoppers feel great about what happens to them, not abused. I've spent long enough in the cut and thrust world of business and even time in retail as a IT consultant, so I understand the pressures and analytics which drive certain behaviours. Scanning time for checkout operators, forced meet-and-greet, up-sell and cross-sell all sound good on PowerPoint but in reality shoppers are looking to feel good and have an enjoyable experience, not just acquire goods out of necessity.
I'd have to identify rudeness as a major reason why the in-store experience puts off many shoppers in England in the larger chain stores. Contrast this to a recent bookstore – surely an endangered breed if ever there was! – and the utterly other experience of an assistant looking people in the eye, asking how they were and did they enjoy that type of genre, wishing them well with their purchases and offering to go the extra mile and lookup stock if needed. You felt warm and appreciated and even though I seldom purchase physical books now, I have repeatedly gone to that store simply to browse. I felt good, I felt human, I felt wanted.
I've started printing 3D vases which look really nice in metal filaments.
3D prints are prepared by making the shape in software and then 'slicing' it into layers which can be understood by the printer. Usually this means that several layers are placed on the bottom, the side walls are built up by multiple passes of the print head, the top is a repeat of the bottom and the middle bits which are not seen are filled by 'infill' in special patterns. All this makes for strong objects.
There is a special mode of slicing which ensures that the print head never lifts off the work being printed, and never 'retracts' the filament nor moves backwards. This is sometimes called 'vase' mode and makes the print into a long spiral all the way to the top. There are few objects for which this works properly since it makes the sides only one layer thick and there is no infill. On vases or drinking glasses, cups this is ideal however and with the proper sized nozzle and good filament the results are great.
… or general spray paint coatings.
Of these, the conformal coating sounds good but is very expensive. I'm going to try some of the other ones first to see if they are effective and attractive, starting with the cheapest which seems to be the wood glue and liquid latex. I wouldn't want to mar the appearance of a beautiful vase by having a thick visible coating, but I also don't want that vase to leak.
I wish power cords and wall warts came with labels showing which things they were meant for; it'd save everyone a whole lot of headache!
The roots of the word 'mortgage' mean something which is paid until complete. Some macabre definitions float around the internet including those which take the old French or Latin and read them in English, which is always a dodgy way to interpret languages. I saw 'death-pledge' being touted as one due to 'mort'=death and 'gage'=pledge, which sounds too simplistic.
Different countries also have other expectations about how to finance buying a house – I was surprised to learn in Turkey that colleagues of mine there would take a loan from the property developer, and repay in a matter of years rather than decades. I've always lived in countries where the loans are taken through financial organisations and paid over decades with low interest rates that compound because of the extreme length of time involved.
The process of removing this debt is called 'redemption' and is removal of the pledge-until-payment and release of the deeds which show title in ownership. While that is nice, it feels a little medieval and reminds me of the long history of land title and ownership. Real land reform is quite rare and has mixed outcomes, not always helping either the rural poor nor the lower classes. I do admire the land reforms in Scotland which include returning tracts of land to common or community ownership.
It is nice as I redeem my own house to learn of the different ways that governments and rulers – some quite surprising – have redistributed land and tried to encourage greater wealth and ownership.
I left work almost to the very day when I had lived equal time on two different continents. The first half was spent growing up in different parts of Australia, while the second half has been spent getting married, raising a family and working in England. Is this my half-time, or do I have another third still to come?
I can look back at my early life with nostalgia, regrets, fond memories and laughter. The second seems to have been more of a grind, due perhaps to the efforts of raising a family and "doing time in the big city". I didn't enjoy work – not in the sense that I hated every minute of it and I had great colleagues and fun times, but the sense of purposefulness was missing. I really couldn't see the point of it and the repetitiveness became a grind.
It was remarkable to realise that my life changed radically at exactly the same amount of time from when the first had occurred, and it was a moment of serendipity for me. Personally I don't have great ambitions nor aims for what happens next; perhaps it will be the the third season of my life, the autumn before the winter or perhaps it will be a new era of discovery.
Whatever comes, it will examine it with interest.


Difference between revisions of "RPM Installation"
Packages that pass the automated test suite are made available to the world for better testing. These packages are built for CentOS 7, and are built both from the 6.0 branch and from the master branch. Be careful if you use these packages, especially those from master!
RPMs for FusionForge+dependencies can be built using a simple script, see Installing/FromSource.


Biotechs Allergan and MannKind could make big moves this week. Here's what you need to know.
Allergan (UNKNOWN:AGN.DL) and MannKind (NASDAQ:56400P706) both released pivotal news Friday that could have a major impact on their respective share prices in the coming week.
On Friday, Allergan said it had agreed with Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management that a special meeting of shareholders would not trigger a "poison pill" measure that would have allowed shareholders to buy company stock at a discount in order to drive the price of a takeover up markedly. This agreement settles a lawsuit launched by Pershing Square earlier this month.
Pershing Square, and now Paulson, have purchased large interests in Allergan in hopes of forcing the company to accept a merger with Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:BHC).
Although Valeant has reportedly offered up to $53 billion for the Irvine, Calif.-based Botox maker, Allergan's management has stated that such an offer grossly undervalues the company.
Valeant's initial offer would have come at roughly a 50% premium to Allergan's share price before this news hit the Street, making it one of the richer tender offers seen so far this year. After failing to convince management that this deal was in its best interest, Pershing Square plans to take the issue directly to Allergan's shareholders.
Allergan's chances of remaining independent appear to be fading. I think it's unlikely shareholders will vote down a merger given that Allergan's current share price has clearly cooked in this offer, as illustrated by the chart below.
A vote against the merger would likely result in a major downturn in Allergan's share price, akin to what happened to AstraZeneca after the British company last month rebuffed Pfizer's buyout attempt.
MannKind's long regulatory path for its inhaled insulin product Afrezza and delivery apparatus Dreamboat has finally come to an end, with the FDA approving the product on Friday. That's the good news.
The bad news is that the product will carry a warning on the box regarding the risk of acute bronchospasm in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MannKind -- or any potential marketing partner -- is also required to carry out four post-marketing studies: one to examine Afrezza's safety and efficacy in children, another on the potential risk for lung cancer and heart problems, and two of the drug's pharmacokinetics and dosing.
After the news of the approval hit the Street, MannKind shares first plunged and subsequently shot upward by 10% in after-hours trading. My take on this erratic trading is that some investors decided to sell the news, while the furious after-hours activity reflects the strong belief of some MannKind longs that the best is yet to come.
Keep in mind that MannKind hasn't inked a partnership yet, but its market cap is rapidly closing in on the $4 billion mark. Moreover, MannKind shares have skyrocketed by 92% this quarter, suggesting that at least some of this approval has been baked into the share price.
Although I don't want to sound like a broken record, I think the details of any partnership are going to be crucial to MannKind's valuation moving forward. As such, you may want to take a cautious approach with this volatile biopharma for the time being.


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Go-kart races to honor late Detroit auto critic
Mike Brudenell
A message to Bud Denker, chairman of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix:
"Watch out!"
Last year, Denker, a Team Penske executive, stole the inaugural Doug Guthrie Memorial Media Karting Challenge presented by Quicken Loans.
In the final, Denker checked out on this writer and the field of local and international media on the challenging Kart2Kart indoor race track in Sterling Heights.
We were racing in honor of the late Detroit auto critic Doug Guthrie, who passed away suddenly at his home in Grosse Pointe Woods Oct. 16, 2013.
Doug, who was 60 at the time of his death, was a go-kart racer and a car guy to the max.
On Tuesday, we'll do it all again at Kart2Kart, with Doug's family and friends either competing against us or rooting on the combatants from the sidelines.
Denker, who found a burst of speed in the final he didn't have in qualifying, will be hard-pressed to run away with the race this year.
Verizon IndyCar Series driver Luca Filippi (CFH Racing) and Traxxas Trucks frontrunner Arie Luyendyk Jr will join in at Kart2Kart in the fight for the Quicken Loans Cup.
Myself – well, after claiming pole, I was disposed of unceremoniously last year by Henry Payne, now the Detroit News automotive writer and a fine racer of historic cars.
Bud and Henry – bring your best race game to Kart2Kart on Tuesday evening.
You're going to have to dig deep this time.