text:
Q: Inputstream is null, while loading a file from a file path in windows service Im trying to read a file from a path.
This is my sample code;
String path = "repository"+ File.separator +"resources"+ File.separator +"api_templates";

        String fileName = path + TEMPLATE_FILE_PREFIX + type + ".xml";
        InputStream in = null;
        try {
           log.info("##############File path#############"+fileName);
            in = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader().getResourceAsStream(fileName);

Here i get inputstream as null. I suspect the system could not load the file. But when i print my filepath, it correctly prints my file path.
This problem occurs only when i try to run my server as windows service, using "yajsw".
What might be the issue?
Edit:
My Sample wrapper-conf file;
#********************************************************************
 # working directory
 #********************************************************************

wrapper.working.dir=${my_home}
 ............

 wrapper.java.additional.2 = -Xms256m
 wrapper.java.additional.3 = -Xmx1024m
 wrapper.java.additional.4 = -XX:MaxPermSize=256m
 wrapper.java.additional.5 = -XX:+HeapDumpOnOutOfMemoryError
 wrapper.java.additional.6 = -XX:HeapDumpPath=${my_home}\\repository\\logs\\heap-dump.hprof
 wrapper.java.additional.7 = -Djava.endorsed.dirs=${my_home}\\lib\\endorsed;${java_home}\\jre\\lib\\endorsed

A: This is because of a classpath issue between resources and files. We can not use classloaders to access files. For that we need to use File, filereader, file input stream. After changing like this everything works fine;

InputStream in = new FileInputStream(filePath);


text:
arrow-left An arrow pointing left. News
washingtonpost.com's view
THE SUZUKI Sidekick is a rolling paradox. It can ford streams and climb mountains. It can pull farm loads and plow through snow. But on the highway, where it's used most in America, it's as vulnerable as a baby 'midst charging bulls.
Like other trucks in the sport utility vehicle category, the Sidekick and its General Motors version, the Geo Tracker, have no side-impact barrier protection. Nor rollover roof-crush protection, especially in the tested two-door, soft-top, four-wheel-drive Sidekick JX.
Air bags? None. Seatbelts? Yeah, and you'd better use them in this subcompact, relatively lightweight sport-utility vehicle.
Is the Sidekick dangerous? Hell, walking across the street is dangerous. Life is a matter of accumulated and calculated risks. Fewer risks, longer life, less fun, which raises a philosophical question about the Sidekick JX.
The vehicle very definitely is a whole lot of fun, especially in the rough, where it does its funky stuff. Question is, how do you wanna live your life?
Background: There is nothing more fascinating than automotive marketing when the manufacturer in question is struggling to regain lost ground. That is where we find American Suzuki Motor Corp., which opened for business in 1985 with the introduction of its mini-sport-utility vehicle, the Suzuki Samurai, a beast of a little runner that, considering the way it beat up your body, should've been named the Thug Bug.
Anyway, the Samurai ran into lots of trouble because of allegations that it tended to tilt. The upshot was that Suzuki's U.S. sales took a hit, and the company now finds itself chugging along at 30,000 units — 12 percent more than the 24,935 cars and trucks it sold in this country in 1992. To make sense of that miniscule amount, Suzuki is positioning itself as a niche marketer, targeting mostly young folks on tight budgets with a yen for adventure. Suzuki's Sidekick line is a key part of that strategy.
There are two basic Sidekicks, hardtop four-door and soft-top two-door. Both are available in two-wheel and four-wheel drive. Both feature standard five-speed manual transmissions and optional three-speed automatics.
Rear anti-lock brakes are standard on the Sidekicks, but keep in mind that these brakes operate only in the two-wheel-drive mode.
The base engine for the two-door Sidekick is a 1.6-liter, inline four-cylinder, single-overhead-cam job rated 80 horsepower at 5,400 rpm. Maximum torque is 94 foot-pounds at 3,000 rpm. The four-door Sidekick runs with a 16-valve version of that engine, rated 95 horsepower at 5,600 rpm with a maximum torque of 98 foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm.
Complaints: The Sidekick JX's thin, weak doors bother me, putting me on edge in heavy highway traffic.
Praise: Viewed in the context of its original design intent — to be an affordable, fun, nimble, durable off-road machine — the Sidekick JX is a wonderful vehicle. I have frie nds in Latin America and in the bayou parishes of Louisiana who swear by the thing, and who'd pop you in the nose if you said one unkind word about their Suzuki.
The two-door Suzuki can pull 1,000 pounds. The four-door model can pull trailers weighing up to 1,500 pounds. The two-door Suzuki has a decent 32.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded. Comparable cargo capacity in the four-door model measures 45 cubic feet.
Head-turning quotient: In the city, the Suzuki JX has the same effect on police as does the Nissan Pathfinder. The uniformed types tend to follow it. In the country, it brings smiles and comments like "Nice little truck."
Ride, acceleration and handling: Surprisingly good ride for a short-wheelbase sport-utility model. Acceleration is decent — you'll have no trouble hitting 55 mph. Braking is very good.
Mileage: Excellent for a sport-utility vehicle, about 27 miles per gallon in the tested five-speed manual Sidekick JX (11 1-gallon tank, estimated 290-mile range on usable volume of unleaded), running mostly highway and driver only with light cargo.
Sound system: Four-speaker, AM/FM stereo radio and cassette, installed by Suzuki. Good boogie that all but disappears as soon as you turn on the engine and start rolling. The Sidekick JX is noisy.
Price: Base price is $13,149. Dealer's invoice is $12,097. Price as tested is $13,479, including a $330 destination charge. (All Suzuki options are dealer-installed; prices and availability vary.)
Purse-strings note: High risk, high fun. It's a judgment call. If you buy it, use good judgment and drive it with common sense.
How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2022 Cadillac XT5?
2021 Audi Q5 Vs. 2021 Lincoln Corsair: Which Plug-in Hybrid Luxury SUV Should You Buy?
Which SUVs, Minivans and Sedans Have the Most Cargo Space?
See all latest news
Shop cars for sale near you Research cars Compare vehicles

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Lucas A. Anderson
Startups and Venture Capital
Vanderbilt University, J.D., 2016; Managing Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review; Order of the Coif
Austin Peay State University, B.S., magna cum laude, 2012
Lucas Anderson represents clients in a broad range of general corporate and transactional matters, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, health care law, equity and convertible debt financings, intellectual property and technology-related matters, joint ventures and general corporate law. He represents clients in many industries and has experience negotiating and drafting a wide variety of contractual arrangements, including organizational and governance documents, purchase and sale agreements and related documentation, software licensing agreements, SaaS subscription agreements and other material commercial contracts.
Prior to joining the firm, Lucas served as a law clerk for the Honorable Julia Smith Gibbons of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The Best Lawyers in America, One to Watch, corporate, 2023
Law Clerk, The Honorable Julia Smith Gibbons, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2016-17
Represents a national health care corporation in its acquisitions of a wide range of business operations, including dialysis clinics, vascular access centers and physician practice management services.
Represents a national health care corporation in the negotiation and development of joint venture operations with other physician and hospital partners.
Represents an SBIC mezzanine fund in various mezzanine debt and equity investments.
Represents and counsels various technology and software providers in connection with licensing and subscription matters and issues related to development and protection of proprietary technologies.
Represents various companies in supply chain and distributorship arrangements, technology development agreements, services agreements and other contracting matters.
Represents a publicly traded company in connection with its strategic venture capital investments in various startup technology companies.
Counsels and advises several companies in a general counsel capacity to manage and address general commercial legal needs.
Robinson Bradshaw Wins Second Consecutive Softball Championship
Robinson Bradshaw Secures Favorable Ruling in Matter of First Impression
Ten Attorneys Join Robinson Bradshaw
Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Developments in the First Quarter of 2021
Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Developments in Q4 of 2020


text:
You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Debate
25 Nov 2002 : Column 40—continued
The Prime Minister: I simply go back to what I said a moment or two ago. It will all depend on the circumstances. As my hon. Friend knows and as was pointed out at the time of Labour party conference, in Kosovo, for example, we took action outside the UN because there was an unreasonable blockage against action being taken. I do not believe, however, that we will get to that point. The countries that signed up to the deal at the United Nations know that if there is a breach by Saddam we have to act. At the heart of the agreement, and throughout all the negotiations at the United Nations, America, ourselves and some countries agreed to go the multilateral route and others agreed that that route should work. The inspectors are put back in and, if they find that there is a breach, we act. That is a fair and reasonable way to proceed.
Mr. Julian Brazier (Canterbury): The Prime Minister has faced up to the challenges confronting NATO and ourselves, but he has not faced up to overstretch in our armed forces, which will have to help to implement those challenges. Will he confirm that at the Downing street press conference, the Chief of Defence Staff did not just say that the 19,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen involved in firefighting duties were not available at present—a very obvious point—but that they are not able to train for the vital war fighting duties that they may face in the next month or two, which, by inference, could put their lives and missions at risk?
The Prime Minister: He did not say that, with respect—the hon. Gentleman himself made all the remaining points. He said that if 19,000 are tied up they are not available for other duties. That is obviously right. However, he went on to say—if necessary, I shall send the hon. Gentleman a copy of what he actually said—that they would have full operational cover for any requirement placed on them, including Iraq. That is the position.
Rachel Squire (Dunfermline, West): Does my right hon. Friend agree that the alliance formed through NATO 53 years ago has played a key role in bringing security and in making war between individual nation states unthinkable in the European continent? Does he further agree that when the decisions of the Prague summit are implemented, as they undoubtedly will be
25 Nov 2002 : Column 41
under the strong leadership of the NATO Secretary-General, NATO will become an alliance providing security not just in Europe, but across the global stage?
The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is right. It was a Labour Government Foreign Secretary who played such an enormous part in bringing NATO about all those years ago, and it is the present Foreign Secretary who is engaged in the work of making sure that we expand the NATO membership and, equally important, making sure that we have a new relationship with Russia, in which Russia sees itself as a partner of NATO, and not in a position of hostility to NATO. That is a huge change that has come about in the past year.
Mr. Mark Prisk (Hertford and Stortford): Is the Prime Minister aware of increasing reports in Le Figaro and other European newspapers that at the Prague summit France and Germany discussed and signed a four-page document on European security? How does that square with what he has just told the House?
The Prime Minister: Whatever the French and Germans may agree or not agree, anything that is agreed will have to be agreed by all 15 members at the Copenhagen summit. However, I do not think the hon. Gentleman is right in what he says. Everyone wants to see European defence conducted consistently with NATO. The difficulty has been the disagreement between Turkey and Greece. That has held up progress for a couple of years or more. The only way that we can get over that is by reaching agreement. I saw the leader of the party that won the election in Turkey recently, Mr. Erdogan. I also saw President Cezer of Turkey at the Prague summit. They told me that they thought it would be possible very shortly to reach an agreement on European defence. I very much hope that that is true, as it would push matters forward enormously, not merely for European defence, but for Turkey. We should not be in the least fussed about what the French and the Germans may agree together. I am sure that the agreement will be considered carefully by others at the Prague summit, but we take our own position.
Mr. Kevin Barron (Rother Valley): The inclusion of Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia is good news for the stability of the Balkans. Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that he will keep working towards other countries in the Balkans joining NATO and further enhancing stability and security in that region?
The Prime Minister: I certainly will. It is precisely the pull of European Union membership and NATO membership that means that those countries in the Balkans, which, after all, have given us in the rest of Europe the most terrible headache for the past 100 years, are making extraordinary strides and improvements. They are doing so because of the magnet of European Union and NATO membership. The point that my hon. Friend makes is absolutely right.
Mr. David Heath (Somerton and Frome): In the context of the accession of the Baltic states to NATO and, hopefully, their accession to the European Union in future, are all the outstanding issues to do with Kaliningrad now resolved?
The Prime Minister: I think that they are basically resolved. There is still a discussion that needs to take place finally between the European Union, Lithuania and Russia, but I believe that, in principle, that agreement is now there.
Mr. John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan): I welcome the summit and the expansion of NATO membership. Will my right hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to the key role played by British military advisers in helping those countries qualify? Finally, given the wider membership, does he agree that we need to speed up the reform and the streamlining of the NATO command structure?
The Prime Minister: Yes, I do. My hon. Friend is right. One of the things that we agreed was to refocus, reduce and streamline the NATO command structure. As my hon. Friend says, that should happen as quickly as possible.
Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham): Given that NATO is setting up a rapid reaction force, including the United States, to tackle international terrorism and other wide-ranging threats to our security, why does not the Prime Minister accept that, in practice, the EU rapid reaction force will wither on the vine as the concept of rapid reaction becomes enshrined in the NATO structure, where it should have remained all along?
The Prime Minister: For that very reason—the hon. Gentleman puts his finger on exactly the point that must be confronted. With respect, the United States does not want its forces to be involved in every single bit of peacekeeping or every humanitarian mission. That is simply not the case. We now have an agreement on Macedonia and it is generally considered best that European forces take that on. In circumstances in which NATO decides that it does not want to be involved, it is sensible to have the arrangement in reserve. That is what has been said about European defence and it has been properly done. Incidentally, that is why every other country in NATO is supporting the concept of getting the agreement. The British Conservative party may have set its face against it, but that is not the position of the American Republican party, never mind any other Conservative party in Europe. The agreement is simply that, in circumstances in which NATO does not want to be involved—[Hon. Members: XWhere does it say that?"] If hon. Members go back and look at every single thing that has been said about the agreement from the beginning, they will see that it has always been the case that if NATO does not want to be involved, those are the circumstances in which European defence comes into play. As I said a moment ago, if hon. Members set their faces against European defence in any set of circumstances, we will not have the opportunity to produce a defence force in circumstances in which NATO does not want to be involved. We will be the only country in Europe not playing our part in the debate about European defence.
Donald Anderson (Swansea, East): Does my right hon. Friend agree that while we should welcome the historic enlargement, many problems remain? For example, last week, I think, the Hungarian Defence Minister made a candid confession that after having been invited to join
NATO in 1997 and formally joining in 1999, his country had fulfilled less than one third of the commitments that had been made. Would it not now be prudent for future enlargements—I am glad that the door remains open—to involve a two-stage process, in which invitations are issued, but are contingent on fulfilment of the commitments before formal membership is granted?
The Prime Minister: The point that my right hon. Friend makes is right. It was always anticipated that some countries would have a catch-up period even after they became members of NATO, but in each case a process is in place to try to track what happens and ensure that it is done properly. He will accept that some countries have made enormous changes to get as far as they have.
Alan Simpson (Nottingham, South): My right hon. Friend will know that a large number of members of NATO and the international community regard UN resolution 1441 as carrying no specific mandate for a war against Iraq. Will he give the House an assurance that before he commits any British troops or support to such a war, he will seek, first, a specific mandate for a war through the UN, and secondly, a specific vote in advance from the House of Commons?


text:
Six people flee from OSP in Middletown
2 arrested after fleeing stolen car in Middletown
Breaking News Staff
Rick McCrabb
MIDDLETOWN —
An 18-year-old Dayton man was charged with receiving stolen property, fleeing and eluding police and child endangering after he allegedly fled from a stolen car Tuesday morning in Middletown.
MORE: 4 arrests made in connection to 2016 Pike County murders
Andre Durr ran from the car that quit running on Ohio 122, just off Interstate 75, said Lt. Clint Arnold, commander of the Hamilton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Durr and another man in the car were located a short time later near the wood-line by Middletown police officers, Arnold said.
Andre Durr, 18, of Dayton, was charged with receiving stolen property, fleeing and eluding police and child endangering after he allegedly fled from a stolen car Tuesday morning in Middletown.
Arnold didn't know the man's name but said he was charged with drug abuse/marijuana.
A trooper, sitting in his cruiser just north of Middletown, reported seeing a Ford Fusion driving recklessly at a high rate of speed at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday and attempted to make a traffic stop, Arnold said. The trooper wasn't able to get directly behind the vehicle before it exited the highway onto Ohio 122 in Middletown, Arnold said.
MORE: Gun pulled with the threat 'I'll kill you, old man,' police say
That's when the car, reported stolen Monday morning from Moraine, stopped running, Arnold said. When asked why the car stopped, he said it may have run out of gas or needed repairs.
Four other people in the car, including a young child, stayed with the car after it stopped, Arnold said. The child was found sitting on the lap of one of the occupants and was not in a car seat. He said all six people were transported to the highway patrol where they were interviewed by troopers, Arnold said.
Durr was transported to the Middletown City Jail. He will be arraigned Wednesday morning in Middletown Municipal Court, according to court records.
Staff writer Marshall Gorby contributed to this report.


EBC Group provided education recruitment specialist, TeacherActive with a dedicated private cloud infrastructure, and a new virtual desktop environment. Previous performance issues were tackled by providing state of the art hardware to cope with increasing resources to their virtual desktops for better performance.
When EBC Group were first approached by TeacherActive, we found their IT environment had minimal visibility into their core infrastructure.
As fast growing business with multiple outlets they required a solution that would work across numerous sites and allow for future growth.
TeacherActive were running on a shared multi-tenanted system, which meant they were sharing their resources with other companies.
With internet speeds that were failing to keep pace, and a previous IT company that were slow to respond to support issues, TeacherActive were in desperate need of a high performance system that would support future expansion and growth.
After consulting with TeacherActive, EBC Group conducted an in-depth analysis into their current infrastructure to understand where the system bottlenecked and affected performance.
EBC Group operated outside of TeacherActive's business hours to minimise downtime for a seamless migration.
EBC Group handled all communication with previous third party to successfully migrate current virtual servers to EBC Group's in house data centre.
"We have sourced a partner that has the capabilities and skill set to address our IT issues."
Migrating all of TeacherActive's servers, EBC Group provided a dedicated private cloud infrastructure, and a new virtual desktop environment.
Previous performance issues were tackled by providing state of the art hardware to cope with increasing resources to their virtual desktops for better performance.
Virtual desktops for all employees could be accessed on the move from multiple devices such as smartphones, laptops and HTML access.
Dedicated fibre leased lines were installed for inter-site connectivity and increased internet speeds.
"From our first contact with EBC Group we were confident that we had sourced a partner that would have the capabilities and skill set to deliver a state- of- the art IT function.
Understanding the core issues we had with our previous infrastructure, the EBC Group team really took the time to understand our current business processes, whilst considering the possibility of future growth and expansion.
Our solution not only provides TeacherActive with a new level of visibility and flexibility, but also the assurance that a highly qualified team of specialists securely maintain our systems."


Contemporary Information Systems (IS) research defines and measures IT use simply by the amount of time spent and the frequency of IT use, despite the fact that it has long been observed that individuals frequently modify their IT use behavior: they purposely switch and selectively combine IT features to cope with new task needs and changing environments. In my dissertation research, I challenge the existing static view of individual IT use and propose to study a new construct called adaptive IT use (AITU) whereby people revise their features in use adaptively over time to cope with changes in internal and external environments. Using Adaptive Sructuration Theory as a frame, five dimensions of adaptive IT use were conceptualized: feature set expanding, feature set decreasing, feature substitution, feature recombining, and feature repurposing. An instrument for these dimensions was developed using Moore and Benbasat's method. From an Activity Theory perspective, a process model of adaptive IT use was developed by introducing three types of antecedents of adaptive IT use: Triggers, Internal Factors, and External Factors. The internal and external factors also serve as moderating factors. The major outcomes of my dissertation include a new construct of AITU, an instrument to measure it, and a nomological model of AITU. Findings from this dissertation can help in designing systems and organizational training to facilitate IT use that generates positive outcomes. Also, the instrument of AITU can help us make sound judgments regarding the "depth" of employees' use of existing systems.
Sun, Heshan, "Towards a better understanding of dynamics of IT use: A new concept of adaptive IT use" (2007). School of Information Studies - Dissertations. 16.


text:
TikTok Users In China Temporarily Banned For Speaking Their Own Cantonese Language Instead Of Using The Official Mandarin
Texas Court Says City, PD Must Answer Questions About Botched Drug Raid Led By A Crooked Cop
Those Ex-Theranos Patents Look Really Bad; Contest Opened To Find Prior Art To Get Them Invalidated
from the you'd-think-it-should-be-the-other-way-around dept
Fri, Apr 3rd 2020 01:36pm - Mike Masnick
A few weeks back we wrote about how Fortress Investment Group — a massive patent trolling operation funded by Softbank — was using old Theranos patents to shake down BioFire, a company that actually makes medical diagnostics tests, including one for COVID-19. Fortress had scooped up the patents as collateral after it issued a loan to Theranos, which Theranos (a complete scam company, whose founders are still facing fraud charges…) could not repay. Fortress then set up a shell company, Labrador Diagnostics, which did not exist until days before it sued BioFire. After it (and the law firm Irell & Manella) got a ton of bad press for suing BioFire over these patents — including the COVID-19 test — Fortress rushed out a press release promising that it would issue royalty-free licenses for COVID-19 tests. However, it has still refused to reveal the terms of that offer, nor has it shared the letter it sent to BioFire with that offer.
And while some have argued that after issuing this "royalty-free license" offer, the whole thing was now a non-story, that's not true. It appears that the offer only covers half of the test: the pouches that have the test-specific reagents, but not the test device that is used to analyze the tests. And so while the COVID-19 test pouches may get a "free" license, the machines to test them are still subject to this lawsuit.
In the meantime, tons of people have been asking how Theranos — who appeared to never have a working product, despite publicly claiming it did (and convincing Walgreens that it did) — could possibly have received patents on technology that never actually existed. Tragically, the answer is that our patent system (for reasons that make no sense) does not require a working prototype, which results in all sorts of nonsense getting a patent. That said, the good folks at Unified Patents have launched a crowdsourcing contest for prior art about the two Theranos patents in question.
We kindly ask our crowdsourcing community of thousands of prior art searchers to take a few minutes to help identify prior art on these patents that never should have issued and help rid the world of them, in the process improving the world's chances of testing for and containing COVID-19 and other dangerous public health concerns.
The contest will expire on April 30, 2020. Please visit PATROLL for more information or to submit an entry for this contest.
If you're looking to help out and would like a place to start, the good folks at M-CAM, who analyze patents for prior art and obviousness, have a fairly remarkable analysis of the Theranos patents, and refers to Fortress/Softbank/Labrador as "graverobbers." The analysis is worth reading, including this analysis of the 1st claim in the patent for "a two-way communication system for detecting an analyte in a bodily fluid from a subject…":
No shit. My tongue is part of a system which detects various 'analytes' in food such as salt, sugar, and acids. Don't tell
anyone, but I'm starting to worry that I might be the next target for an infringement lawsuit.
But on a more serious level, the analysis explains why the patents are pretty much exactly as sketchy as you would expect from a company of Theranos' reputation:
… the claims of the patent they state are being infringed are incredibly mundane and obvious (patents
must be non-obvious to be granted). They include gems such as "a) a reader assembly comprising a programmable
processor that is operably linked to a communication assembly;" where they point out that Biofire's machine uses, of all
things, an ETHERNET CABLE to export data from its processor. Heathens!
It then notes that M-CAM found at least 416 other patents that appear to be significantly similar to the patents at issue, which makes you wonder why the hell the USPTO approved these patents in the first place…
Filed Under: covid-19, crowdsourcing, diagnostics, patent troll, patents, prior art, testing
Companies: fortress investment group, irell & manella, labrador diagnostics, softbank, theranos
US Courts Realizing They Have A Judge Alan Albright Sized Problem In Waco
The US Gov't Paid For Moderna To Develop Its Vaccine; But Moderna Wants To Keep The Patent All To Itself
Judge Albright Names Lawyer For Patent Trolls As New Magistrate Judge For Waco
Patent Awarded To Clearview AI For Its Innovative, Web-Scraping Fuckery
CBP Proudly Announces Its Facial Recognition Program Has Successfully Nailed A COVID Scofflaw
Comments on "Those Ex-Theranos Patents Look Really Bad; Contest Opened To Find Prior Art To Get Them Invalidated"
a two-way communication system for
Along with with 'on a computer system' and 'using two way communication' should be recognized by the patent office as generic. While getting to and from the electronic domain at the sensor and activator level may involve patentable technology, using a computer or communication system is nothing new once you have your sensor or actuator.
Bobvioussays:
I look forward to the day when
Machine learning "on a computer" is used to invalidate "on a computer" patents. ???? ?? ????
Pixelationsays:
Leeches gonna leech
It sure would be nice to find a (legal) way to make these scumbags lives miserable. (beyond invalidating the patents) Perhaps start investigating them closely to see what other nefarious shit they are up to.
Norahcsays:
Re: Leeches gonna leech
I'd be satisfied if in a patent suit, they started out the case assuming the patent was invalid and making the plaintiff prove otherwise first (beyond the fact a patent was issued).
Given how lackadaisical the USPTO has been in issuing these types of patents, it seems like a way to streamline this whole process.
That sound you hear is Hamilton, Tero Pulkinnen and Slonecker grinding their teeth in righteous anger.
"Why was this truth censored?" moaned Richard Bennett.
That One Guysays:
Why yes, you ARE the bad guys
You know that you have really reached the peak of being a disgusting person/company when people put together contests to undermine you by pointing out that your 'inventions' are anything but.
ECAsays:
Taking Advantage of CR
Isnt it strange, that for some reason If someone pays attention to an Stupid CR, that it gains credibility.
Its also a great way to Fake the Whole process.
Create a ?? CR, then sell it around, even to other fake companies. It gains a reputation as being REAL. Then Add to it, different alternatives/concepts and make it bigger then it is. Start suing as a 3rd party with little access to the original, and win a few court cases from Judges not paying attention. And you have a CR thats bullet proof.
Coyne Tibbetssays:
Why PTO approves this crap
PTO approves this crap because it's what the job requires.
Let's say someone files for "A device for conversion of a solid fuel to light by self-heated melting of the fuel and conduction of the melted fuel to a point of vaporization by capillary action." (Clue: It's a candle.)
The examiner, dumber (yes, dumber) than most, suffers a momentary fit of laughter and rejects the filing. What will ensue is called a challenge, and the examiner will spend hundreds of hours filling out paperwork, answering questions, and running to court…with the end result that the filing will get approved anyway, in all likelihood.
Is the examiner to paid do this? The real answer is, "No." The examiner is paid to review filings; his productivity is measured by the number of filings he reviews.
And while he's involved in the challenge, he's not reviewing filings. So his productivity sucks and — assuming he doesn't get fired for bad productivity — he will miss pay increments, which means he gets poorer.
Poorer…does he get wiser? If he does, he becomes one of the smarter examiners: when he gets a crap filing he shakes his head and soldiers — approved.
USPTO makes money by approving patents. Approve more patents, make more money.


text:
https://deloitte.wsj.com/articles/new-sec-disclosure-rule-executive-pay-versus-performance-01664228711
ACCOUNTING & FINANCIAL REPORTING
New SEC Disclosure Rule: Executive Pay Versus Performance
Calendar-year-end reporting companies have six-to-nine months to provide the disclosures, but management would be wise to tackle many activities on a far earlier timeline
Last month the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a final rule1 that requires certain registrants to provide disclosures about executive pay and company performance within any proxy statement or information statement for which executive compensation disclosures are required. According to SEC Chair Gary Gensler, the final rule, which adds Item 402(v) to SEC Regulation S-K, is intended to "help investors receive the consistent, comparable, and decision-useful information they need to evaluate executive compensation policies. That serves investors and our markets."
The final rule implements a mandate under the Dodd-Frank Act2 that requires a registrant to disclose the relationship between executive compensation actually paid and the financial performance of the registrant. It also reflects public comment on the SEC's April 2015 proposed rule, which was reopened for comment in January 2022. Under the final rule, both prescribed and free-form disclosures are required for the registrant's principal executive officer (PEO) as well as other named executive officers (NEOs) besides the PEO (see below).
The disclosure requirements are effective for registrants beginning with fiscal years ending on or after December 16, 2022 and apply to all registrants other than emerging growth companies, registered investment companies, and foreign private issuers. Smaller reporting companies (SRCs) are exempt from certain of the requirements.
Source: "SEC Issues Final Rule Related to Pay Versus Performance," "Heads Up" newsletter, September 2, 2022; Volume 29, Issue 9© 2022 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.
Below is a summary of requirements for each column in the tabular disclosure:
Year. Reflects information for the five most recently completed fiscal years (three for SRCs), subject to transition provisions.
Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO. Calculate total compensation in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 402(c)(2)(x) or Item 402(n)(2)(x) for SRCs (that is, the Summary Compensation Table values under existing SEC executive compensation disclosure requirements).
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO. Calculate starting with the amount listed in column (b), subject to adjustments related to defined benefit and actuarial pension plans and stock-based compensation.
Note: Diligent recordkeeping will be required for the equity portion of compensation actually paid. Companies would do well to quickly develop a process for accommodating and tracking changes in NEOs and all corresponding outstanding equity information. Year-end fair value calculations would need to be completed by using the same method the company uses for share-based payments reflected in the financial statements under GAAP.
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs: Calculate average total compensation in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 402(c)(2)(x) or Item 402(n)(2)(x) for SRCs, for the NEOs, excluding the PEO, in each fiscal year. Disclose in a footnote the list of individual NEOs whose compensation is represented in each year.
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs. Determine amounts in a manner consistent with the instructions for column (c) by averaging the NEOs, excluding the PEO, in each fiscal year.
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return. Calculate this amount on the same cumulative basis as that used in preparing the performance graph required by Regulation S-K, Item 201(e). Measure from the market close on the last trading day before the registrant's earliest fiscal year in the table. This should be through and including the end of the fiscal year for which total shareholder return (TSR) is being calculated. The TSR for the first year in the table will represent the TSR over that first year. The TSR for the second year will represent the cumulative TSR over the first and the second years, and so forth.
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Peer Group Shareholder Return. In addition to instructions for column (f) above, registrants may use either the peer group identified for the performance graph or, if applicable, a peer group used in the compensation discussion and analysis (CD&A) to disclose their compensation benchmarking practices.
Net Income. This is GAAP net income.
Company-Selected Measure. The selected measure must be a financial performance measure, which is a measure that is "determined and presented in accordance with [GAAP,]" or any measure that is "derived wholly or in part from such measures, and stock price and total shareholder return."
The measure must be part of the "Tabular List" (described in the next section).
The measure should represent the most important financial performance measure (other than net income or TSR) used by the registrant to link compensation for the most recent fiscal year to company performance.
Measures may include GAAP financial measures such as revenue, operating profit, or segment profit as well as non-GAAP financial measures such as EBITDA or adjusted net income.
Describing the Pay Versus Performance Relationship and Other Key Measures
In addition to presenting tabular disclosures, a registrant must provide clear descriptions of the relationships between compensation actually paid to the PEO and average compensation actually paid to Non-PEO NEOs and each of the registrant's TSR, net income, and "company-selected measure(s)" as well as between the registrant's TSR and peer-group TSR. A registrant may describe relationships graphically, narratively, or a combination of both. For any additional supplemental measure presented, registrants must similarly discuss the relationship between compensation and that measure.
A non-SRC registrant must provide an unranked list (the "Tabular List") of three to seven of the most important measures it links to executive compensation paid to company performance during the most recently completed fiscal year, as follows:
If the registrant considers fewer than three measures, it will only need to disclose that number.
The registrant may present the Tabular List as one list of the most important performance measures related to compensation paid to all NEOs, including the PEO(s), separate lists for non-PEO NEOs and PEOs, or one list for the PEO and one list for each NEO, with each list including three to seven measures.
The Tabular List does not need to be ranked in order of importance nor does it need to be included if no measures are used.
The measures may be nonfinancial performance measures, such as the number of customers, shipments, or users or other operational measures, if at least three financial measures are also included in the Tabular List.
The Tabular List should be based on the most important financial performance measures used to link compensation for the most recently completed fiscal year, not for all five years being disclosed. This gives registrants the flexibility to change measures as the strategy and objectives of the company change, along with compensation programs. Any changes to the measure(s) should be clearly explained.
Many registrants already disclose several measures that form the basis of their short- or long-term incentive compensation plans. This disclosure is likely to be a good starting point for consideration; however, the final rules do not require the Tabular List to be completely aligned to disclosures in CD&A. If seven or fewer measures are used among the various incentive plans, it is expected that all would be disclosed given their direct impact on executive compensation.
Mind the Transition and Requirement Checklist
Under the final rule's transition relief, a non-SRC registrant may provide the required tabular disclosure for "three years, instead of five years, in the first filing in which it provides this disclosure," beginning with the fiscal year beginning on or after December 16, 2022. The SEC rule says it may provide disclosure for an additional year "in each of the two subsequent annual filings in which this disclosure is required."
The final rule's requirements give calendar-year-end companies approximately six to nine months to provide the disclosures, and many activities need to be performed before that deadline. Consider this sample timeline for addressing the new requirements:
Now—Management reviews the final rule and develops an approach for tackling the disclosure requirements, including selecting the peer group, the company-selected measure, and the measures to be included in the Tabular List. In addition, management needs to determine the ongoing annual process, including identifying stakeholders, dependencies, and data requirements as well as establishing a timeline for meeting the requirements.
October compensation committee meeting—The compensation committee reviews management's approach.
November to December—Management performs preliminary calculations and develops the disclosure controls and procedures to be used for live calculations. As part of this step, management needs to ensure that information is available for prior years related to adjustments to defined benefit and actuarial pension plans and stock-based compensation, for which additional actuarial or fair value calculations may be required.
December compensation committee meeting—Management shares initial calculation, including the shape, form, and location of the new disclosures. The compensation committee reviews the preliminary calculations and provides feedback.
January to February—Management uses the final numbers to perform calculations (for fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020 [if not an SRC]). Management develops language and graphics (as needed) to describe the pay versus performance relationship. The compensation committee reviews and approves the executive compensation disclosures, including the new pay versus performance requirements.
March or April—The new disclosures are included in the proxy statement.
Click here to read the full "Heads Up" newsletter, including an example, guidance for smaller reporting companies, newly public registrants, location of disclosures, and tagging.
By Ian Dawson, principal, and Edward Sim, senior manager, both Deloitte Tax LLP; Katy Rossino, senior manager, and Doug Rand, managing director, both Deloitte & Touche LLP
1. SEC Final Rule Release No. 34-95607, Pay Versus Performance.
2. The final rule implements Section 14(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as added by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
PUBLISHED ON: Sept. 29, 2022 3:00 pm ET
This publication contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this publication The services described herein are illustrative in nature and are intended to demonstrate our experience and capabilities in these areas; however, due to independence restrictions that may apply to audit clients (including affiliates) of Deloitte & Touche LLP, we may be unable to provide certain services based on individual facts and circumstances. As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte & Touche LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Copyright © 2022 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.
Get Ready for an Active Regulatory Agenda
Tech Companies Can Build Trust With Compliance by Design
SOX at 20. Time for Tune-Up?
Identify Potential SWIFT Cybersecurity Gaps


all levels of players who enjoy instruments made to consistently high standards.
potential. Bent head section, for ease of playing.
Next: DANELECTRO '59 O ORIGINAL ELECTRIC GUITAR ALLIGATOR RED RETRO MAGIC! FREE P+H!


This body of work interprets the botanical through various lenses. I am fascinated with the botanical, whether it is representations of the botanical (refer to the series The Botanical Papers, a series exploring graphic interpretations of the botanical) or formal studies of botanical forms (The Botanical Portraits) it continues to be a subject that I will never tire of exploring, transforming, manipulating.
This series began as my thesis work at the Rochester Institute of Technology. I have continued this series in the following years, exploring its implications and potential.
My work is an exploration of my dual desires of creation/ destruction and manipulation/transformation as realized through the remediation of botanical specimens gathered from my domestic environment and transformed into works of art.
Each image questions and presents an understanding of the history of botanical representation, within Western art history, as symbols of nature and femininity and the domestic skill of needlework, a traditional skill learned by women as part of the feminine. I created a conceptual dialogue with those who preceded me, intrinsically linking the acts of sewing and botany as re-interpreted feminist acts.
I also explore the botanical specimen in a purely formal manner, focused on elements of design and the play of light to transform the everyday plant into poetic instances.


The PIRANHA BYTE Gaming chair carries all the features you need on a Gaming Chair, able to support you for the longest of gaming sessions. Featuring Height Adjustable armrests, full tilt support from our Butterfly mechanism under the seat. The base holding everything up is made from heavy nylon and insures a stability without losing form over time.
Keeping you sitting up high is the Class 4 gas lift, providing a max seat Hight of 510mm and lowest of 430mm.
Extended head support allows taller users to also be fully relaxed.
The BYTE Chair comes with PU Leather on all fabric surfaces. With a dotted air hole seat for maximum breathability.


text:
Home » Our People » Postdoctoral Fellows » Oliver Wilder-Smith, Ph.D.
Oliver Wilder-Smith, Ph.D.
Quantitative Assessment of Socio-Affective Dynamics in Autism Using Interpersonal Physiology
Rosalind Picard, Sc.D.
Oliver Wilder-Smith's research focuses on leveraging innovative technology for psychological and neuroscience research, with a focus on socio-affective development, co-regulation, bio-behavioral synchrony, and autism spectrum disorders. In addition to his academic work, Oliver has more than five years' experience working clinically with children with developmental disabilities as an assistant counselor in a therapeutic after school program, and is an inventor on over twelve US and international patents. Oliver received his A.L.B. from Harvard University in 2009, where he majored in Psychology and minored in Engineering. During that time he began working with Professor Rosalind Picard and Dr. Matthew Goodwin at the MIT Media Lab, and co-developed and patented wearable ambulatory autonomic sensing technology which lead to an MIT spinout company, Affectiva Inc. Oliver spent three years at Affectiva where he oversaw their wearable ambulatory autonomic sensing product line before leaving to pursue his interdisciplinary doctoral studies at Northeastern University in 2011 as part of a new joint Ph.D. program offered by the Bouvé College of Health Science and the College of Computer and Information Science. As a Simons Fellow Oliver aims to further develop, validate, and disseminate tools and methods to enable the use of interpersonal physiological synchrony measures by researchers conducting both basic and translational research into social and affective functioning in ASD.


text:
Home > All Merchandise GOB Rewards Login New Arrivals Comic Subscriptions Pre-Order Plus Clearance Monthly Newsletter
Phone: 248-430-4980 Gift Registry Stocked Last 7 days Community Resources Event Calendar BuyList Jobs at GOB
Free Dice Set, Free Comics
Pre-register Theros Beyond Death Pre-release
Order Theros Early Release Box Deals
D&D Pre-order PLUS
Sell your Used Games
- New Releases
- Stocked Last 7 Days
Board Games Rental
Extra $30 Magic The Gathering Points with Booster Box
Card Singles (Low as FREE)
Comics (Low as $4)
If you have Gift Cards or Pre-order Plus products in your shopping cart, please use button below to check out.
Role-Playing Books & Box Sets
Board Games Consingment
Magic Singles & Bulk Collections
Minis (D&D, Clix, Warmachine, etc)
Visit our stores to sell or trade your used games & entertainment items.
Shipping Rates & Policy
GOB Retail is located in Clawson, along the border between Oakland and Maccomb counties in the state of Michigan. A near northern suburb of Detroit. The store is in near proximity to the cities of Royal Oak, Warren, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Troy, Sterling Heights, Ferndale, Detroit and Berkley and reasonable drive from numerouns other communities, including Southfield, Rochester Hills, Rochester, St. Clair Shores, Roseville, Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Clinton Township, Shelby Township, Utica, East Pointe, Beverly Hills, Birmingham,Pontiac, Oak Park and Waterford. The store is just 1 mile east off of I-75, which makes it easily accessible from further out via connections with I-696, I-96 and M59.
GOB Retail carries all the major brands and likely a bunch you have never heard of as well. Here are just a few:
All Only In Stock
GOB Weekly and Special Events
Weekly New Arrivals
Warhamer Starter Box Set Promotion
GOB-Gamers Looking for Gamers
Found : 2,768 item(s)
Delta of Venus Erotica
Type : Used Book - Fantasy
By : Used Book
Our Price :$3.99
Buy Online with Local Pickup
Dragonshadow
Out of stock !!
From Prussia With Love
Guardsman of Gor
Industrial Magic
Lightnings Daughter
Medusa Children
Messenger of Zhuvastou
Murphys Lore
Myth Alliances
Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections
Single White Vampire Seeks Same
Sorcerers Stone
Spell Bound - Fantasy
The Chick is in the Mail
The Chronicles of Scar
Pages Previous 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | Next
Copyright © 2019 Guild of Blades Retail Group. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Analysis 10 Jan 2013 10 Nov 2017
No Good Way Out China-Japan Island Dispute
There's no good way to solve the security dilemma around the Diaoyu Islands dispute.
Meng Zhang
Student at Cleveland State University
Since the Diaoyu or Senkaku Islands dispute between China and Japan reemerged last year, there's been a tendency to identify the United States as the main beneficiary of it. The thinking is as follows: the dispute strengthens the alliance between Japan and the United States at the expense of the Sino-Japanese bilateral relationship, worsens China's external security outlook and provides an excuse for the deployment of American armed forces to East Asia which help encircle China. As a result, China's economic development is hampered and the stability of Communist Party rule may be threatened.
However, if the Sino-American relationship is studied at large, the impact of the islands dispute put in a global perspective and the rise of Japan's nationalist right taken into account, the odds may not be in the United States' favor at all.
The United States have so far played something of a doubled faced role in the islands dispute. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was dispatched to China last year to declare that the United States would rather the two countries resolve the issue diplomatically. But the United States have also declared that the dispute is covered under their security treaty with the Japanese and expanded their military presence in East Asia to deter possible Chinese aggression. This prompted unexpected countermeasures from China's side.
The American strategy seems to be one of carrots and sticks. On the one hand, it claims that it will not take sides and urges a peaceful resolution. The intent may be to suppress a Chinese belligerent attitude and give Japan some breathing space. On the other, the United States continue to increase their military deployments in the region and seek to contain China.
When China sends a coast guard ship into waters adjacent to the Diaoyu Islands and Japan is unable to respond, the United States send an aircraft carrier to the area and exercise naval tactics with the neighboring Philippines. The message to China is clear: stop using force to back up your territorial claims. Which only makes China question the United States' motives more and respond with military actions of its own. It reads American interference as provocation.
China's perception of American aims in East Asia is not unambiguous. There are those who favor a closer Sino-American relationship on the one extreme with others suspecting a plot to connive China and encircle it on the other. The United States' two faced strategy in the Diaoyu Islands dispute hasn't improved the former's credibility in China. Anti-American sentiments are on the rise.
Even if the present American strategy in the dispute between China and Japan serves its interests in the short term, the mistrust it generates in China negatively affects the prospects for a peaceful and stable Sino-American relationship in the long term.
The United States are tied to their security obligations to Japan and for the sake of its larger Pacific strategy, cannot afford to renegade on those obligations without jeopardizing the trust of other allies in the region. Nor can it tolerate Chinese posturing in maritime disputes if it is to prevent the country from emerging as a regional hegemon in East Asia able to challenge the American position.
The Japanese right is aware of both imperatives and welcomes the increased American engagement. While the return to power of more conservative forces in Japan should help facilitate the American "pivot" to the region, it can backfire when Japanese nationalists, emboldened by America's treaty support, are willing to risk confrontation and confront China.
The best strategy in the Diaoyu Islands dispute for now is to prevent escalation. The stalemate has already affected the economic relationship between China and Japan, however. As the second- and third largest economies in the world, a deterioration in relations between them could have global repercussions. The yet lackluster American recovery could be impacted. This bilateral rivalry is turning into a three cornered fight. Who will be the ultimate benefactor, if there is one, remains to be seen.
This article was published as the winning entry in an internship competition at Wikistrat, the world's first massively multiplayer online consultancy.
Ticked off Mainlander says:
11 Jan 2013 at 01:07
As a younger generation Chinese, I will refuse to participate in a war started by the ancient politicans who should have retired long ago. I say the military stay put and let those old crones just confront each other and be done with it. Simple message: if hot heads like Ishihara, Abe want to fight it out, just leave both countries out of it. Dont try to ruin the future that belongs to the younger generations.
Grin Olsson says:
I believe this article is misleading with respect to Chinese intentions. China is look back on its historical past and triumphs, while applying its new found military power that Peace since 1945 has allowed it to acquire. In mankind's history, nations come, and nations go. Boundaries change ever so often with the victors writing history as they saw it. This does not mean that just because China had a claim in the 1300's that this boundary claim is valid in the 21st Century. Otherwise, the Great Wall of China would become China's northern border.
At this moment in time, China is attempting to extend it sea boundaries at the expense of all nations that border the South China Sea, which is making all of the nations uncomfortable because China is attempting to seize what is not China's to seize. The bottom line is that the United States has treaties with Taiwan, Japan, and its naturally ally, the Philippines which used to be American territory.
Japan is not a natural ally to the United States like the Philippines is, but rather is in an alliance based upon the outcome of World War 2 that decreed that the United States defend this World War 2 "rouge nation" as part of their surrender terms.
In effect, with China fully aware of this defense treaty and fully aware that the United States returned jurisdiction of these islands after World War 2 is literally attempting to attack the United States by proxy – ie: the use of a third nation – either Japan or the Philippines. China must feel that it can take on the United States and prevail at this time.
China should heed my warning as an American veteran, who has met Communist Chinese back in the early 1970's and envisioned this day of confrontation. Don't do it – because your nation is making the biggest mistake of its history to take on the United States military and its alliance. May you hear my words as if the sound of thunder in the sky and know the power of the word called, Peace.
Wikistrat
Little Chance of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Deal
Hollande Doctrine? France Leads from Behind in Mali


text:
GINGQI FEELS GOOD AFTER CAPTURING SA TITLE
By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Asanda Gingqi has experienced the sweet taste of victory and the feeling of being a South African champion even though he's only been a titlist since Sunday evening.
Gingqi fought his way to South African featherweight glory after he scored a split decision victory over Cape Town boxer Abdul-Aziz Kunert at the Booysens Boxing Gym in Johannesburg.
"That was a fight. I'm very happy that at last I have become a South African champion. This is a very good feeling," the newly-crowned SA champion said.
The unbeaten Gingqi, who is trained by former boxer Velile Damoyi in Mdantsane, admitted that he faced a tough opponent in Kunert.
"The altitude nearly had a negative effect on me. It was hot and it was clear that I was not fighting at home," Gingqi remarked.
"This was definitely not an easy fight for me. Kunert can fight, he knows what he was doing inside the ring, but he had no power. I wouldn't like to fight him so soon as I want to go further in my career. However, I won't run away should I be compelled to face him again."
Gingqi has, as a result of the win, stretched his record to seven wins with five stoppages while Kunert, who lost for the first time, has two knockouts in 10 wins.
DLOMO'S DOMINANCE OVER EASTERN CAPE BOXERS CARRIES ON
DLOMO CREDITS MAKELENI FOR GIVING HIM A GOOD FIGHT
SMITH HAPPY WITH MCHUNU'S PREPARATIONS
GONG GOES FOR THE LAST TIME FOR XAMLASHE


Eels are capable of bone-chilling, howlin'-at-the-moon, terrifyin' rock and roll, and when they are in that mode, they are at their very best. But Eels also have a tender side too, as exemplified by this superb ballad from the 2009 album Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs Of Desire.
As the album's subtitle says, Lobo is a study of desire, and was seen as somewhat of a follow up to the song "Dogfaced Boy" from the Eels album Souljacker. In this album, the Dogfaced Boy has grown up and metamorphosed into a hairy beast of a guy, as personified by a werewolf, who comes into contact and has to deal with all kinds of desire. The werewolf angle of the album's protagonist was brought to life by the ultra-bushy beard E has been sporting since the record's release. Hence, today's Song Of The Day finds our protagonist longing for the loving look that is being bestowed upon another guy.
It's always a cause for celebration when Eels come to town, and they will be coming back to the Chicago area next month, hot on the heels of a brand new album called Wonderful Glorious!
Listen to the album in its entirety below.


Resilience is an organisation, team, or individual's ability to perform effectively, and sustainably, through times of change or pressure. It is not 'enduring' or 'toughing it out' at the cost of wellbeing, engagement and productivity. Rather, it is the ability to recognise and proactively manage Resilience challenges to remain engaged and responsive to business and market requirements with agility and focus.
Why Consider a Resilience Audit?
A core element of an organisation's sustainability is the Resilience and wellbeing of its workforce. Any Leadership team that recognises this should be considering Resilience audits. Our audits enable you to be clear about where and how you need to develop your people's Resilience capability so you take action where it is most needed.
What is a Resilience Audit?
Conducted by Organisational Consultants and Psychologists who are experts in Resilience within the workplace, the team form a comprehensive view of your organisation's culture based on qualitative and quantative research methods that identify how culture impacts your people's ability to perform within it.
One of the biggest challenges Leaders face is that of understanding and managing their culture – the interface between people and the business needs. A Resilience and wellbeing audit can be pivotal in enhancing individual and organisational performance.
Identifying the systemic factors affecting workforce Resilience will help dynamic, smart businesses that know there's more they can do to be their best, step up and make their environment a better place.
If you want to create a high-performance mind-set whilst maintaining health and wellbeing, then commissioning a Resilience audit with us will help you do that.
Please contact Julie Courtney on julie@theresilienceformula.co.uk to discuss your needs further.


Overview: Interested in improving fine motor skills in your kids? Use these tips to help them improve their ability, making it easier for them to learn how to write.
Are you a parent who wants to know how to improve the fine motor skills of your child? Are you concerned that your kids won't have the finger strength to hold a pencil correctly due to their use of electronic devices? Rest assured, there are many activities you can do with your child to help them in this area.
Fine motor skills are small muscle movements of the fingers in coordination with the eyes. When teaching fine motor skills, try to be patient and understanding with your child. Fine motor skills take more time and practice to develop than we adults might think. Sometimes we forget just how many of these skills need to be learned – thinking instead that our child should automatically know how to do these tasks.
It's definitely worth taking the time to practice these skills with our children. The more developed our children's fine motor skills become, the easier they will be able to learn to write.
Like gross motor skills, fine motor skills develop in a consistent manner but at an uneven pace. At times, your child will pick up skills rapidly, and at other times their skill development will be delayed. Most children who struggle with mastering certain fine motor skills do not have a serious problem. If your child is significantly behind his peers in multiple aspects of fine motor development or if he regresses, losing previously acquired skills, then you should seek medical advice.
It is more fun for your child to learn while they play. Try to incorporate activities like dress-up to teach zipping and buttoning; making cards to practice writing or tracing skills; cutting and pasting to make a project other than just a writing on a plain piece of paper, etc. Be creative and have fun!
Have the child do repetitious strokes (with an increasingly smaller writing tool) similar to those found in manuscript or cursive letters. Emphasize accuracy, spacing and flow or rhythm. Sometimes doing it to music helps.
When a writing tool is introduced, letters which involve similar strokes should be taught first (moving simple to complex). Next, combinations of letters in short words, sentences and finally spontaneous writing. (Remember to use words your child can read).
Now that you know how to improve fine motor skills in your child, go ahead and get started. Incorporating a few of these activities into your child's day will go a long way in building their strength and improving their skills.
Question: Do you have any other suggestions for improving fine motor skills in children? Please leave a comment below.
My almost 5 year old has no interest in coloring or writing letters. He can't seem to hold the pencil right, so I ordered claw pencil grips on ebay. Basically they hold the fingers in the correct position. I also am going to let him write while standing at a white board rather than sitting at his desk all the time. He is very smart, but doesn't want to write. I hope that using kinesthetic and tactile learning strategies will enable me to successfully home school him!
Good idea. The other thing is that at age 5 he might just not be ready to write. Continue working with him slowly in this area – but you might want to do most of his learning through hands-on projects and with him orally answering questions rather than with him having to write them down. Have fun with it!
Yes, it sounds like you're on the right track! Good job meeting your son where he's at. I've got tons of other posts you will also find helpful. One which comes to mind immediately is How to Teach Your Son When He Won't Sit Still.
My son just scored low in kindergarten on cutting and pasting. So nervous. Thanks for the tips.
How about using the manual alphabet. Have fun learning to write (as it were) in the air. This is also great for spelling and reading skills!!


🇺🇸 we use the term pants to describe pretty much any clothing that goes on your legs: jeans, slacks, leggings, etc.
🇬🇧 the term pants is reserved for what Americans call underwear.
New one for you to learn, pissed means drunk in England not mad or angry.


Find out more about my life, my team and my values.
A beautiful animated tale which charts my rise from pot washer to two Michelin-starred chef.
Find out more about what I believe in and the catchphrases that sum me up!
Your chance to find out more about the core team who work with me every day at The Raymond Blanc Consultancy.


This might seem like a ridiculous thing to say for a company that spends so much time on Online Marketing, but please bear with us.
Over the years when sitting down with hotels to discuss marketing it generally starts with an embarassing silence, at which point the Online Marketing Expert jumps in and says 'why dont you try this new widget..../Adwords Remarketing/TripConnect/Pinterest/Instagram etc etc, and all the jargon of the day.
The bamboozled Hotel manager says ' Thats sounds good, give it a go!'.
But all Sales and Marketing can effectively be stripped back to these basics; A MESSAGE (ie What are you offering) and a MEANS (How are you getting it out there ie E Mail/Post Cards/NewsPapers etc).
He who sends out the most attractive 'MESSAGE' with the most efficient MEANS wins, and this basic tenent of Sales and Marketing has been the same since the Romans sold Chariots on the Appian Way.
However Online Marketing is really just the 'MEANS' part of getting the message out there, via Adwords or E Mail Marketing, or SMS etc. These people still need the MESSAGE, ie What does the hotel want to promote? Gift Vouchers in December?, Wedding Venue offers in January?, Romantic Breaks in February?, Family Easter Packages in March? etc etc. Only the hotel can really know what their core market is or what new markets they wish to target.
If the hotel does not provide the MESSAGE then what exactly are the Online Marketing people promoting with the MEANS at their disposal? The Tail is Wagging the Dog. These people (we) really should be used as the hotels 'monkeys' or 'goafers', we use the tools at our disposal to distribute the hotels MESSAGE. Employing endless amounts of wonderful technology without knowing what we want to use it to say is pointless.
In simple terms to get the maximum benefit from any Online Marketing effort the hotel really needs to know what markets they want to target when. Below is a sample plan (just a 3 month section). Ideally a Hotel would construct something like this, pass it on to the various marketing people INCLUDING the Online Marketing People and say' Get on with it!.
AND BY THE WAY - Good old fashioned Offline Marketing is NOT dead. Hotels get confused because they see so much of their business come through their website or Online Travel Agents, but very often this business is driven by OFFLINE marketing. Recently we constructed a website for a small hotel chain to sell one type of package (lets say 'Spa Packages'). In fact one particular hotel only in the group garnered the majority of the bookings, causing the management to wonder 'Is there something wrong with the website that it only favoured 1 hotel?'. After much debate and soul searching it transpired that Post Cards had been created for all the hotels to distribute, but only the one that had received most of the bookings had actually bothered putting them in the post).
This was a good example of a bit of old fashioned offline marketing generating online bookings.


Sofie Dossi trained in gymnastics and dance as a kid, but soon realized she had a different calling.
https://onlyfans.com/flexiblealesya #contortion #stretching #flexible #contortionist #handstand #flexibility.
https://onlyfans.com/flexiblealesya #flexible #contortionist #flexibility #backbend #triplefold #contortion.


text:
Q: R Keeping the top 10 rows for each date in my data frame I have a data set of stock data ordered by date and then ordered by magnitude of return from largest to smallest on that date. Each day has about 800 stocks in it.
How would I create a new data frame with only the top 10 stocks from each day with the largest return?
So I need the top 10 from each date, the others I don't care about.

A: dplyr is your friend. something like:
new_df <- df %>% group_by(date) %>% top_n(10, stock)

A: data.table has a quick way to do this too.
library(data.table)

# here are 20 random values on each of two dates
fake_data <-
  data.table(date=rep(Sys.Date()-1:2, each=20),
             stock=rnorm(20*2))

# subset data by date, then order the SD by stock
# return (descending) and take first 10 rows
fake_data[, .SD[order(-stock)][1:10,], by=date]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Consistently reliable product performance, exceptional service and support before and after becoming a customer. Selling direct to give you the perfect combination of quality, price and value.
Our products are made by us and sold directly to you The perfect combination of quality, price and value.
We enjoy supporting you both before and after your purchase. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.
Our focus is on manufacturing great robotic tips at a reasonable cost. Contact us for any custom projects.


So, last night was my first Photography competition. It was in the Non-Advanced section of the Dundalk Photography Society, which is a club I joined last week, spurred on by my friend Enda. I put a lot of effort into it and had some ups and downs. I learned more about photography in this week than I did in the last two months since I got my camera. I am so glad I entered it and pushed through all the moments where I felt I should just give up. I could have made any number of really "valid" excuses to 1, not join the club in the first place, or 2, not enter the competition. I am glad I pushed through.


Hyderabad's Human Resource consultants are the major resource to help you find jobs in this city of new jobs. This section of Naukri Hub provides information on HR consultants in Hyderabad. Human Resource agents of Hyderabad are contributing creatively to the jobs and career needs of the people as well as recruitment function of the companies. Human Resource consultants in Hyderabad serve companies and other employers of Hyderabad as their corporate placement & Human Resource associates. These Hyderabad Human Resource agencies provide expert consulting, HR assistance, employee orientation and training services. These Human Resource agents serve the job seekers by short-listing of resume, finding suitable jobs and giving career advice to the candidates who are looking for placement in this Andhra Pradesh city.
Channel 4 Solutions provides efficient, on-time HR services to the Information Technology, Software development companies. Channel4 services include specialized HR placements in Software development, ERP solutions, Global Infrastructure Services, IT Enabled Services and other domains. They also provide training facilities to human resources in leading ERP packages such as Oracle, SAP, Peoplesoft etc.
Convergent is a Manpower recruitment company providing services to IT, Engineering, manufacturing, banking and Insurance industries.
Career First Consulting is a Human Resource Solutions providing company serving primarily clients in emerging technologies and services related industries. They focuses on providing Recruitment, HR Training and Temporary Staffing services to client organizations.
Somajiguda Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh 500 082 India.
Everest Consulting Group India P Ltd.
Genius Consultant Ltd is diversified in to Manpower Consulting and outsourcing, HR Consulting, Quality and Environment Consulting. Its services including Executive Search, Online Recruitment, Staffing Solutions, Quality Consulting and HR Consulting.
HR-One Management Consultants Limited is the leading HR Services company in India offering customers a series of services to meet their Human Resource needs throughout their business cycle. HR-One specialize in Recruitments, Flexi Staffing, Training, HR Services, Institutional Services and Assessment Centre.
HRCapitol is an Executive Search organization specialized in sourcing human capital in Information Technology and all other disciplines. It is one of the fastest growing Human Resource Consulting Firm, specialized in sourcing technology talent for Information Technology, ITES and BPO industries.
We are a rapidly growing Executive Search and Job Placement Company specializing in the search and selection of human capital that will add sustainable value to your business.
Ma Foi Management Consultants Ltd.
Ma Foi Management Consultants Ltd is the largest Staffing and Manpower Consultancy company in India providing services including permanent staffing, flexi staffing, vendor management services and human resource assessment.
Options provide services to companies to build long-term relationship with their human resource and clients providing quality manpower search. Options has been specialising in hiring 'Returning Indians', primarily software professionals from USA as well as hiring of 'mature middle management professionalsÂ' at home.
Polaris Management Services Pvt. Ltd.
Polaris is a human resource management organization operating in areas of executive search/Job placements, Training & Development and consulting.
Address:Polaris Management services Pvt. ltd.
Reach Management Consultants (P) Ltd.
Reach Management has been providing recruitment services to the industry. It has also mastered the domains of Strategic Human Resource services, HR process outsourcing, Staffing services to the industries such as Consumer products and FMCG, consumer durables, retailing, Media, entertainment, Logistics, Supply Chain, Information Technology, Telecom, Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, Finance management, Audit and accounting.
Rite Choice Consultants Pvt. Ltd is a premier Manpower Recruitment, Executive Search & Selection organization providing to its clients Full-Service, Multi-Dimensional HR Management & Consulting services.
Spectrum Placement & Marketing Services Pvt. Ltd.
Topplanet is a staffing and recruiting organization providing to its clients according to the their hiring needs. We offer permanent staffing solutions, temporary recruitments and Executive Search to our clients who look at hiring professionals on a permanent and temporary basis to meet their complex project requirements.
These Manpower agents of Western Maharashtra region serve the job seekers by short-listing of resume, finding suitable jobs and giving career advice to the candidate. In this section you will find Manpower consultants of Hyderabad & Maharashtra with various specialization, i.e., IT Manpower consultants, BPO Manpower consultant, Manpower consultants for the service industry, Manpower consultants serving hotel and tourism industry, etc. These Manpower agencies help you find suitable jobs in Hyderabad as you seek to build your career in India.
I am a post graduate I want a job in Australia, how to get the job in Australia I want u r valuable answer and guidelines.
I am a post graduate I want job in Australia how to get the job I want u r valuable answer and guidelines.


text:
Q: Installing flex on fresh Debian 9 TL;DR: The error is, "Package 'flex' has no installation candidate."
I can't seem to install flex on fresh, new Debian 9 install (on a VM, if that makes a difference).  I have installed it on Ubuntu 14, 16, and Raspbian, but have not had success on Debian.  I've only tried Debian 9, and not earlier versions.
wmeitzen@debianos:~$ su
Password:

root@debianos:/home/wmeitzen# apt-get update

Ign:1 cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 9.1.0 _Stretch_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20170722-12:45] stretch InRelease
Ign:2 cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 9.1.0 _Stretch_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20170722-12:45] stretch Release
Hit:3 cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 9.1.0 _Stretch_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20170722-12:45] stretch/contrib i386 Packages
Ign:4 cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 9.1.0 _Stretch_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20170722-12:45] stretch/contrib all Packages
... (snip) ...
Hit:10 cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 9.1.0 _Stretch_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20170722-12:45] stretch/main i386 Packages
Hit:13 cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 9.1.0 _Stretch_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20170722-12:45] stretch/main Translation-en
Get:17 http://security.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates InRelease [62.9 kB]
Get:18 http://security.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates/main Sources [71.4 kB]
Get:19 http://security.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates/main i386 Packages [180 kB]
Get:20 http://security.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates/main Translation-en [82.9 kB]
Fetched 397 kB in 0s (421 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done
W: The repository 'cdrom://[Debian GNU/Linux 9.1.0 _Stretch_ - Official i386 DVD Binary-1 20170722-12:45] stretch Release' does not have a Release file.
N: Data from such a repository can't be authenticated and is therefore potentially dangerous to use.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.

root@debianos:/home/wmeitzen# apt-get upgrade

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following packages will be upgraded:
  libnautilus-extension1a nautilus nautilus-data
3 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 2,581 kB of archives.
After this operation, 1,024 B disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]
Get:1 http://security.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates/main i386 nautilus i386 3.22.3-1+deb9u1 [837 kB]
Get:2 http://security.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates/main i386 nautilus-data all 3.22.3-1+deb9u1 [1,710 kB]
Get:3 http://security.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates/main i386 libnautilus-extension1a i386 3.22.3-1+deb9u1 [34.7 kB]
Fetched 2,581 kB in 1s (1,471 kB/s)
Reading changelogs... Done
(Reading database ... 129033 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../nautilus_3.22.3-1+deb9u1_i386.deb ...
Unpacking nautilus (3.22.3-1+deb9u1) over (3.22.3-1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../nautilus-data_3.22.3-1+deb9u1_all.deb ...
Unpacking nautilus-data (3.22.3-1+deb9u1) over (3.22.3-1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../libnautilus-extension1a_3.22.3-1+deb9u1_i386.deb ...
Unpacking libnautilus-extension1a:i386 (3.22.3-1+deb9u1) over (3.22.3-1) ...
Setting up nautilus-data (3.22.3-1+deb9u1) ...
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.60) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.23-1) ...
Processing triggers for libglib2.0-0:i386 (2.50.3-2) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.24-11+deb9u1) ...
Setting up libnautilus-extension1a:i386 (3.22.3-1+deb9u1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.6.1-2) ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.13.3-9) ...
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.15-1) ...
Setting up nautilus (3.22.3-1+deb9u1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.24-11+deb9u1) ...

root@debianos:/home/wmeitzen# apt-get install flex

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Package flex is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source

E: Package 'flex' has no installation candidate

root@debianos:/home/wmeitzen#

A: There certainly is a flex package in Debian, as can be seen on the official package list
However, your sources.list (5) only contains the security upgrades (and obviously flex hasn't had the need for a security upgrade in Stretch yet) and your installation DVD (which for space reasons doesn't have the flex package included; flex is on DVD#2; also see below for my ranting on DVDs).
So to fix the problem, you need to use an apt-source that contains the required package (ideally, all official packages).
To do so, add the following line to your /etc/apt/sources.list (or, if you - like me - prefer to keep various sources in different files, use /etc/apt/sources.list.d/stretch.list):
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ stretch main

Then run apt update && apt install flex and enjoy.
installation from DVD
You are using an installation DVD? really?
I haven't seen these in use for...years; I think the normal/recommended use is to install the system via the netinst image, and then install all the packages from the wide wide internet.


text:
Paulianiobia hirsuta är en insektsart som först beskrevs av Vitaly Michailovitsh Dirsh 1962.  Paulianiobia hirsuta ingår i släktet Paulianiobia och familjen gräshoppor. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Gräshoppor
hirsuta

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
For 25 years New World Symphony alums are making beautiful music in different ways
By David Fleshler
Elizabeth Hainen is principal harp of the Philadelphia Orchestra and has started a community program to provide harp lessons to public school students.
As an alumnus of the New World Symphony, Zeneba Bowers has established a successful traditional career as assistant principal second violin of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.
Not content to serve as lieutenant in a regiment of violins under the command of a conductor, Bowers has also struck out on her own. She founded the ensemble ALIAS, a venture in which musicians donate their services and profits go to charities. Lest one think that the group is once treated more n good intentions than quality music-making, ALIAS performances have reached such a high level that a recent recording has been nominated for a Grammy.
The young violinist promotes the ensemble relentlessly.
"We're really heavy on the press, and when I say heavy I mean I call them until they get restraining orders," she said. "There's still kind of a pull away in the classical field from advertising yourself or marketing. There's an attitude that you're dumbing it down, and I just could not disagree with that more."
Her dual role, her aggressiveness as a promoter and lack of concern for maintaining the often stiffly formal protocols of classical music represents an ideal promoted by the New World Symphony, the Miami Beach ensemble for young conservatory graduates, as it tries to turn out musicians who can make classical music thrive in the 21st century.
The 86-member orchestra, founded in an old movie theater on Lincoln Road, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season with an opening concert of Russian music led by Michael Tilson Thomas Saturday night [Oct. 6]. Yet the South Beach educational institution is also marking its quarter-century with renewed efforts to retool the traditional classical music format as well as helping young musicians find employment during a difficult, quickly changing period for symphony orchestras.
In the past decade, the Florida Philharmonic folded, as did orchestras in Honolulu, Syracuse and other cities. Opera companies in Boston, Baltimore, Orlando and elsewhere closed their doors. The Philadelphia Orchestra, one of the world's great symphonic ensembles, declared bankruptcy. Audiences continue to grow grayer.
As for the younger generation, they pull music off the web and expect it to be free. The career path of the orchestral musician, never among the easiest ways to make a living in this country, was starting to look as promising as that of newspaper reporter or Blockbuster video store manager.
"That's very much on everybody's mind here," said Howard Herring, the New World Symphony's president and chief executive officer. "We've seen orchestras go out of business. We've seen orchestras step back in terms of number of weeks and we've certainly seen salary decreases. We actually think that the New World Symphony is guiding our fellows to a place where instead of taking a negative approach to why it isn't working, assess your talents, look to your responsibilities and then be prepared to represent the art form both as a great player and as a member of your community."
With its high-tech new hall, the orchestra is experimenting with alternatives to the traditional full-length concert. It trains its young musicians in how to engage with audiences in a more informal, contemporary manner. They are coached in how to speak to audiences, how to talk to second-grade classes, how to be interviewed on the radio and mingle with donors.
"I think in the whole music profession there's this idea that this is such a great tradition, and the future of the tradition depends on reimagining it and revivifying it," said Tilson Thomas, the orchestra's founder, artistic director and dominant personality, who is also music director of the San Francisco Symphony.
"This has to come from giving young people the opportunity to be part of that process. Not only are people focusing on the training that gives them the maximum competitive edge to go after these big orchestral jobs, but also they're thinking of other opportunities of working in music. I think making people realize that if you really love music and you want to create an interesting life for yourself that there are a number of ways of doing that, not necessarily the traditional paths, and that New World enables you to explore some of those."
Katie Wyatt
Among those choosing a non-traditional path is violist Katie Wyatt, who labored for years at her instrument in order to play in an orchestra. But after traveling to South America and seeing Venezuela's famous El Sistema classical music program for poor children, she returned for her second season at New World with new ideas of what she wanted to do. "My mind was made up that I was going to do more than take orchestra auditions, that I wanted to shape the way that people care about music in their community," she said.
She called her teacher, Robert Vernon, principal viola of the Cleveland Orchestra, in tears. "I thought I was failing him," she said. "I called him and said 'I'm so sorry. You've invested so much in me as a viola player, so much time preparing all this repertoire for the auditions, and now I really think that what I want to do is be a leader in music and social change,'" she said.
"He said, 'Katie, knock it off. Everything that we've been preparing you for has led you to this day. All of the passion that you have for music and the way that it has changed your life you will share with others and inspire others and be excellent on the job.'"
Wyatt went on to found KidZNotes, an organization that provides free instruments, music lessons and ensemble training to poor children in Durham, North Carolina. This school year, the program will enroll 200 children. "I wanted to shape how music could build a community for the good," she said.
Tilson Thomas founded New World in 1987 at the old Lincoln Theater—home at the time to a colony of feral cats—with the backing of the late Carnival Cruise Lines founder Ted Arison. Aided by Arison's generous financial backing, Tilson Thomas' prestige and the abundance of conservatory graduates chasing a tiny number of jobs, the orchestra quickly established itself as one of Florida's top performing arts organizations.
Since that time, South Beach lost some of the edgy allure that had originally inspired fashion photographers to pose models against decaying Art Deco hotels. And as Lincoln Road settled into a comfortable existence as a place for dining, strolling and shopping, the New World Symphony left its drab hall, with its rabbit warren of practice rooms and offices, for a futuristic symphonic Taj Mahal designed by the architect Frank Gehry, with the latest in sound and video systems, auxiliary stages and Internet-connected practice rooms.
Among the traditional elements of the classical music experience that New World has sought to change is the stuffy formality of orchestral performances, which begin at a set point in the evening, require a ticket purchased in advance and consist of a pretty standard format of overtures, concertos and symphonies that would have been familiar to anyone attending a concert in the 1920s.
Since moving into its new hall, the orchestra has experimented with shorter, alternative concert formats intended to attract casual strollers in the Lincoln Road neighborhood in the manner of an art gallery. By the hard data collected so far, the innovative formats did exactly what they were intended to do: Bring in newcomers to the New World Symphony.
Herring reels off the numbers: For 30-minute concerts performed a few times a night, 60 percent of the audience was new to New World (or "new to the database," as he puts it). For the Pulse concerts, in which lights are lowered and the orchestra performs a mix of club music and classical, it's 40 percent. For short-but-substantial 60-minute concerts, it's 25 percent. The concerts projected on the hall's outdoor wall in front of picnickers in the adjacent city park attract an average of 1,500 people per concert, of which about half are new.
These newcomers are now targets of the orchestra's marketing machine, starting with mail and email pitches, with possible follow-up phone calls. "We want to bring those people back," he said.
Of New World's 900 or so alumni, the largest number have taken positions in American orchestras. Among these are the Boston Symphony with six alumni, the Chicago Symphony with three, the Metropolitan Opera with three, the San Francisco Symphony with 10 and the Cleveland Orchestra with 11. Employing the largest number is the Kansas City Symphony – dubbed "New World Symphony West"—-with a whopping 23, more than one fourth of its roster.
New World wouldn't be successful in placing alumni in major orchestras if it just turned out PR-minded musical entrepreneurs. Achieving mastery of the horn, cello or clarinet to the level demanded by a top orchestra requires a level of commitment and discipline seen in few professional fields. At the Cleveland Orchestra, for example, everything depends on an audition of difficult solo works and excerpts from the orchestral literature, with the first round conducted behind a screen. There are no interviews. Such soft skills as the ability to speak to an elementary school class count for exactly zero.
"We have a very rigorous audition process," said Gary Ginstling, the Cleveland Orchestra's general manager and a clarinet alumnus of New World. "It's very traditional as far as orchestras go. There's no doubt in Cleveland that we're looking for musicians that are absolutely at the top of their field on their instrument."
Yet once they're in, he said, the Cleveland Orchestra can certainly utilize their community relations skills. "We're in a city that's challenging economically, and the population is declining, so we're trying to find ways to connect the orchestra with a larger group of people from northeast Ohio," he said. "We've really worked to connect our musicians with our audiences closer and giving them a chance to speak from the stage and engage with our donors and members of the public, humanizing and personalizing the members of the orchestra."
The desire to make orchestral musicians an active part of their community has long been an essential part of the New World Symphony's DNA. The harpist Elizabeth Hainen joined New World in its second year, 1988. Her memories include working on Mahler's Symphony No. 5 (and hanging out at the pool) with Leonard Bernstein, whose advocacy of Mahler helped raise the composer's work to the leading position it holds today. She went on to what for most New World members would be a dream job: principal harp of the Philadelphia Orchestra, which despite its financial troubles, continues to make great music as one of the nation's great ensembles.
But in addition to her orchestral work, solo career and teaching responsibilities as chair of harp studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, she has established a non-profit group that provides harp lessons and access to harps for public school students.
"At the New World Symphony they gave us a lot of seminars and coaching, and it always made you very aware of where you came from," she said. "So you really feel, when you're given such a gift as a big position like Philly, that I need to do something, I need to give back. It's probably the most rewarding thing that I do."
This season 31 new fellows, selected from more than 1,200 graduates of music conservatories, arrived in South Beach. They moved into small furnished apartments in two renovated hotels. Each receives a weekly stipend of $450. During the year they will receive private lessons from visiting members of leading orchestras, undergo training in dealing with the public, learn from psychologists how to handle auditions and work with contemporary composers.
The heart of the program is a full concert schedule, a fast-paced series of concerts that will throw many of them into the world of performing orchestral musician for the first time in music spanning the early Baroque to contemporary premieres. The musicians will perform under Tilson Thomas as well as a variety of well-known conductors from around the world this season, including Stéphane Denève, Susanna Mälkki, Matthias Pintscher and composer John Adams.
In addition to the value and excitement of working with such top rank conductors, the typical New World fellow today is faced with two roles and an array of choices: the thrill of being part of the massed forces of a superb orchestra along with somehow carving out a career and achieving one's personal career goals.
Amos Fayette
"I would love to play in an orchestra, but I'd like to do a little bit of everything," said violinist Amos Fayette, who is now entering his second season with New World. Among the highlights of his first season, Fayette mentioned both the late-night Pulse concerts, and the performance of Mahler's Ninth Symphony with Tilson Thomas.
"For me this was a very meaningful experience, exploring Mahler with someone who's a real expert," he said. "That piece was kind of the culmination of everything we worked on through the year to gel the orchestra and treat the orchestra like a big chamber group."
Yet Fayette also coached a gifted young violinist through the works of Bach, Mendelssohn and Paganini to the point that she could study with the concert violinist Elmar Oliveira at Lynn University. And he even managed a concert series, coordinating the Musicians' Forum series, which includes solo, chamber, jazz and pop performances.
"The definition of what it means to be an orchestral player is changing," he said.
The New World Symphony opens its season 7:30 p.m. Saturday at New World Center in Miami Beach with Stravinsky's Circus Polka and Petrushka and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. nws.edu; 800-597-3331.