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Home NASCAR Joey Logano and Ford, The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champions
Joey Logano and Ford, The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champions
Ford Performance ends a 14-year drought in NASCAR Cup Series Driver's Championships as Joey Logano and Team Penske deliver the Blue Oval the honor at Homestead.
NASCAR will crown a new Champion today in the Ford EcoBoost 400 from Homestead-Miami Speedway. A victory by Favorites Kyle Busch(18) and Kevin Harvick(4) or last year's Champ Martin Truex Jr.(78) would make each a 2-time winner. Joey Logano(22), he's racing for his first Cup title. As the Championship weekend has proved, any one of the 4 can pull off the victory.
Other Story Lines
The Championship battle is the highlight of the day. However, other stories will play out during the course of the afternoon. Today is the final race for the pairing of Jimmie Johnson(48) and crew chief Chad Knaus. After 16 years Hendrick Motorsports is reassigning Knaus to guide the William Byron(24) crew in 2019.
Matt Kenseth is stepping aside again. After coming out of retirement to help the efforts of Rousch Racing this past season. Matt will hang up the helmet, likely for good, at the end of today's race.
This is the final race for Furniture Row Racing. Last year's Championship winning team is disbanding at the end of the season. Team owner Barney Visser was unable to put together a sponsorship arrangement that would allow the team to compete in 2019. Truex and crew chief Cole Pearn move to Joe Gibbs Racing next year.
The Sport and The Race
For all the dire predictions brought about by the drop in television viewership and empty seats at some tracks, NASCAR appears very healthy. Team Penske and JGR reported multiple new interested parties seeking sponsorship opportunities with their organizations. NASCAR continues to work with teams on the revenue structure that supports the sport.
The grandstands sold out for today's race. Fan anticipation is at a fever pitch. Most of the talking heads are saying this is the best Championship 4 field ever assembled. In a few hours, we will know. Stages are 80, 80, and 107 laps.
The two races already completed this Championship Weekend ran without cautions, other than those scheduled at the end of Stages. Pit stops are critical, Tyler Reddick proved that last night. Race strategy management combined with mistake-free performance could well be the key to victory.
Tyler Reddick 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion / Lasco Press Photo
Finally, unique to NASCAR, the 35 other cars on the track today could help determine the outcome of the Championship. Put an end to the hype. It's time to drop the green flag and settle things on the 1.5 miles of payment in Homestead.
The start of the race was delayed slightly as the track crew received an interesting assignment. Part of the pre-race festivities included a skydiver trailing the American flag aiming to make a landing in the grass off Turn 1. In an epic and embarrassing fail, he missed. Getting tangled in the catch fence at the end of the front stretch. Quick action with a forklift freed the poor guy left dangling in his harness above the pavement.
What happens at a NASCAR race when it gets windy?
Skydivers… stuck in a fence. pic.twitter.com/PexO0NxXU9
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 18, 2018
What was that about the other competitors impacting the Championship race? Regan Smith(95) developed an oil leak on the warm-up laps. He doused the entire speedway with a streak of oil. Track crews were called on again to clean-up the mess. Further delaying the start. Could extra laps prior to the start be a factor in fuel calculations? Smith failed to make the start, taking the car to the garage.
Regan Smith / Lasco Press Photo
When the green flag waved it was the pole sitter, Denny Hamlin, jumping out to a 5 car length lead driving into Turn 1.
Hamlin continued to stretch his lead, 20 laps in he led by over 3 seconds. Behind Hamlin, the Championship 4 filled spots 2 through 5. In order Busch, Logano, Harvick, and Truex. After 25 laps were on the board Regan Smith finally exited the garage to start his race.
Harvick performed poorly during practice and qualifying. He started the race in 12th place. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver had moved to 3rd when leader pit stops began at Lap 37. After green-flag pit stops cycled through the field, Harvick found himself in 2nd. He passed Hamlin and took the lead on Lap 43.
Truex was the last of the Championship 4 to pit. Just like last night, staying out on old tires costs valuable time. He returned to the track in 10th position over 10 seconds behind the leader.
Kyle Larson(42), riding the high-line moved up the leaderboard late in the Stage. He took second away from Kyle Busch on Lap 69. Truex moved back into the top 5 at Lap 75. Joining the other 3 contenders and Larson at the front of the field.
As the green and white checkered flag waved it was Harvick, Larson, Kyle Busch, Logano, and Truex. It was the 7th straight Stage to go caution free with the exception of Stage ending yellow flags.
Kyle Busch restarted in 9th after trouble with the front tire changes on his pit stop. Larson quickly moved his way into the lead after the restart, but could not hold on. Logano took the top spot and established some space between himself and Larson. Harvick and Truex ran 3rd and 4th with Aric Almirola(10) a new entrant into the top 5.
Swapping the lead among the Championship 4, Harvick motored past Logano to try and run down Larson. Showing the importance of clean air. It took Kyle Busch almost half of the Second Stage to move back into the top 5.
Green Flag Pit Stops
All 4 of the contenders pitted within a lap of each other halfway through the Stage. After all the leaders made stops, Larson maintained the lead. Harvick, Truex, and Logano followed. Kyle Busch again lost time in the pits, exiting 8th.
At Lap 135, there were 18 cars on the lead lap. The rest of the field was 2 laps or more down to Larson as he continued to set a blistering pace.
The Caution Flag Waves
The first accident caution of the weekend occurred on lap 138 as Erik Jones(20) contacted the wall. While he kept his car under control, debris on the track caused the yellow flag to wave. The race off pit road was won by Larson. The Championship 4 followed. Harvick, Logano, Truex, and Busch.
Harvick, using the bottom lane, was able to pass Larson on fresh tires. Larson seems to have to wait for a few laps until his tires heat up before he can fully commit to the top groove. With 5 laps to go in the Stage, Larson took to the top of the track and ran Harvick down. Larson passed Harvick exiting Turn 4 and took the green and white checkered flag to win Stage 2.
The Final Stage
Exiting pit road, the 4 contenders take command. Logano, Harvick, Truex, and Busch led the pack to the restart. Larson ran 5th. Sunset settled in over the Speedway, how will the track change at nighttime? Logano appears to benefit as he drives away from his challengers.
It's a dangerous game running inches from the wall. A small mistake and you're in the wall. Kyle Larson could not avoid the potential disaster as he tagged the barrier in Turn 3 on Lap 192. With the caution displayed, pit stops again loomed critical. Logano out first, followed by Truex, and Harvick. Unbelievably, Kyle Busch's team had a miscue. The front tire changer got his air hose caught under the splitter on the front of the car. The delay was enough to cause Busch to drop to 8th place for the restart.
Outside The Fuel Window
With 70 laps to go the field will have to make a return to pit road for fuel in order to complete the race. Kyle Busch quickly responded to the pit miscue and drove back to the 4th spot. Trailing Logano, Truex, and Harvick. As the spots on the track remain consistent will it be a quick pit for fuel that settles the Championship?
With the laps ticking down, Truex' car seemed to come in for the longer runs. On Lap 216 Truex caught Logano. For 2 laps they battled side-by-side. Truex fell victim to Logano at Martinsville on a final lap bump and run. He said repeatedly this weekend, the 22 car would be one he would bump out of the way if it came down to winning the Championship. They raced mostly clean with some slight contact between the 2 contenders. Until Truex moved to the lead at Lap 218.
Final Pit Stops
Harvick was the first to pit at Lap 230. Truex and Logano pitted on Lap 231. An issue with the jack on the Truex car allowed Logano to beat him off pit road. Harvick pitting first put him in the lead. Logano and Harvick now have the advantage. Kyle Busch, struggling all day for speed and track position, opts to stay on the track and hope for a caution.
As the short-run speed of Logano fades, Truex again moves to his bumper. He completes the pass on Lap 246 and sets off after Harvick.
Late Caution
With 21 laps to go, the whole complex of the races changes. Logano's teammate, Brad Keselowski(2) gets into the rear of Daniel Suarez(19) spinning him out. The ensuing caution sets up a competition on pit road. For the first time today, Kyle Busch has a great pitstop and exits with the lead. The first 4 off pit road? The Championship 4, of course. Truex restarts 2nd, Logano 3rd, and Harvick 4th.
The race restarts with 15 laps to go. Truex outraces Busch into Turn 1. Logano passes Busch to get to the rear bumper of Truex. Logano easily moves past Truex and begins to open a slight lead. Will Truex' car come in as the laps wind down? Is Logano's car going to fade before he can get to the checkered flag? Will the finish be a payback opportunity for Truex?
Maybe fearing the consequences of Truex getting to his bumper, Logano maintained a safe distance ahead of the 78 car. Taking the checkered flag not only gave Logano his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship. It set a number of records.
Logano Burns it Down after Winning the Championship / Lasco Press Photo
Ford celebrated their first Driver's Championship since 2004 when Kurt Busch won for Roush Racing. Logano's win also gave Ford the 2018 NASCAR Manufacturers Championship. Ford's first since 2002. The last time Ford won both Championships in the same season was 1999. Dale Jarrett driving for Robert Yates Racing accomplished the driver's share.
Victory Lane Celebration / Lasco Press Photos
The cream rises to the top. With 39 cars running at the finish, the Championship 4 finished in the top 4 spots. The first time that has happened under the current playoff format. Martin Truex Jr. placed 2nd, failing to repeat as Champion. A bittersweet ending to the Furniture Row Racing Team.
For Team Penske the win was the 33rd Championship in all forms of racing for the organization. A remarkable accomplishment for the most successful owner in motorsports.
The odds-on favorite to win, Kevin Harvick, worked with a mishandling race car and almost pulled off the victory. He wound up in 3rd place, 2 seconds between Truex.
Kyle Busch took the best pit stall from his teammate on orders from team owner Joe Gibbs. Then had pit troubles all night long. Finishing last among the Championship 4. Karma?
Here's hoping NASCAR 2019 is as exciting a year as this one. How many days until Daytona?
Results of the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Position Car Driver Behind Laps
1 22 Joey Logano — 267
2 78 Martin Truex Jr. 1.725 267
3 4 Kevin Harvick 3.735 267
4 18 Kyle Busch 5.566 267
5 2 Brad Keselowski 6.174 267
6 6 Matt Kenseth 7.15 267
7 9 Chase Elliott 8.14 267
8 14 Clint Bowyer 8.155 267
9 10 Aric Almirola 9.227 267
10 41 Kurt Busch 9.744 267
11 3 Austin Dillon 11.313 267
12 11 Denny Hamlin 11.983 267
13 42 Kyle Larson 12.223 267
14 48 Jimmie Johnson 12.803 267
15 31 Ryan Newman 13.283 267
16 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 14.241 267
17 12 Ryan Blaney 16.264 267
18 1 Jamie McMurray 18.744 267
19 47 AJ Allmendinger -1 266
20 38 David Ragan -1 266
21 43 Bubba Wallace -1 266
22 13 Ty Dillon -1 266
23 37 Chris Buescher -1 266
24 24 William Byron -1 266
25 21 Paul Menard -2 265
26 32 Matt DiBenedetto -3 264
27 20 Erik Jones -3 264
28 34 Michael McDowell -4 263
29 88 Alex Bowman -4 263
30 19 Daniel Suarez -5 262
31 0 Landon Cassill -5 262
32 23 JJ Yeley -6 261
33 15 Ross Chastain -8 259
34 72 Corey LaJoie -8 259
35 51 BJ McLeod -11 256
36 99 Kyle Weatherman -11 256
37 66 Timmy Hill -13 254
38 97 Tanner Berryhill -13 254
39 95 Regan Smith -27 240
Championship Contenders
Homestead-Miami Speedway
martin truex jr.
NASCAR Playoffs
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Recovery: Mending Point Reyes, a Park Impaired by Invasive Mammals
Trio of tule elk. Photo © Tim Bernot, National Park Service
The National Park Service gets pummeled by the public, politicians and media for all the right and all the wrong reasons. Right reasons include violations of its century-old Organic Act, which requires the agency to "conserve" native wildlife, leaving it "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Wrong reasons include adherence to this law.
The story of how, in the face of intense opposition, the service ensured recovery of the 100-square-mile Point Reyes National Seashore in northern California is an example of wildlife management gone right — a profile in courage.
White Deer: Understanding a Common Animal of Uncommon Color By Matthew L. Miller
Saved by Chance: The Incredibly Strange Story of the Pere David's Deer By Matthew L. Miller
Deer Management Solutions: It Takes a Village. Literally. By Meredith Cornett
The story has gone unreported, largely because the service and its allies have been fearful of reigniting the controversy. But if the story is told in a way that educates rather than mocks the opposition, that's not likely to happen. And if it's not told, there's no hope of reducing such opposition in the future.
Enormous Herds of Invasive Deer
Damage started in 1948 when the San Francisco Zoo sold to a doctor axis and fallow deer (native to India and Asia Minor respectively) which he released on his 5,000-acre hunting club, later to become part of the national seashore.
The aliens multiplied and spread, imperiling or potentially imperiling natives, including 65 mammal species (among them tule elk, eliminated by unregulated hunting circa 1860 but reintroduced in 1998), 470 bird species including three listed under the Endangered Species Act (western snowy plover, northern spotted owl and brown pelican), 28 species of reptiles and amphibians (including the endangered red-legged frog) and ESA-listed races of steelhead trout and coho and Chinook salmon.
Unlike North American ungulates, axis and fallow deer gather in enormous herds, taking over riparian areas, silting aquatic habitat and destroying shade cover. Fallow deer, more aggressive than the park's black-tailed deer or tule elk, use "leks" — mating areas where bucks congregate, vocalizing to attract does. They stamp, roll, wallow, strip bark from trees, rip up vegetation and scrape deep holes in soil. And axis and fallow deer spread paratuberculosis, an incurable wasting disease to which tule elk and blacktails are susceptible.
Axis deer. Courtesy of National Park Service
From 1976 to 1994 rangers culled about 3,000 fallow and axis deer. Then, while the aliens multiplied, the park embarked on long environmental review of threats to the park and strategies to abate them, finally publishing a draft EIS in 2004.
The controversy started in 2006 when the park announced that it would proceed with its "preferred alternative" — eradication of alien deer by 2021 via "long-lasting contraceptives and lethal removal."
Defending the aliens were the Humane Society of the United States, National Humane Education Society, the Marin Humane Society, In Defense of Animals and WildCare. Support for removal came from individuals and agencies who understood and valued native ecosystems, most notably the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Coastal Commission, California Department of Parks and Recreation, Marin Conservation League, National Parks Conservation Association and the Sierra Club.
Fallow deer. Courtesy of National Park Service
The aliens were adored by the public, especially the white variants of fallow deer. "I have to tell you that any creature that comes in white is especially loved by humans," declares biologist Dr. Natalie Gates, who worked at Point Reyes from 1999 till 2014 when she became superintendent of Haleakalā National Park on Maui. "White raises them to mythical status. There were more fallow than axis deer, and the fallows stayed where people were. The public was used to seeing them; and change is hard. We weren't just dealing with an animal-rights issue; we were dealing with a cultural issue."
"The Point Reyes job was the hardest."
Winning the contract for eradication was White Buffalo, Inc., a nonprofit company dedicated to recovering imperiled species by reducing overpopulations of native animals and eliminating aliens. Horrified at the havoc these human-caused disruptions were wreaking on the natural world, Dr. Anthony DeNicola started the company in 1996. The name affirms Gates' point; it derives from the belief of Native Americans that the birth of a white buffalo signified their ties with nature.
Habitat damage done to Point Reyes National Seashore by fallow deer prior to eradication. Courtesy of National Park Service
White Buffalo's work is as difficult as it is essential. DeNicola is generally reviled by the animal-rights community. He has been cursed in person and in print, accused of "thrill killing," threatened, and sued seven times (never successfully). But in 20 years of recovering native ecosystems around the world he says the Point Reyes job has been his hardest.
In his project report DeNicola gives special thanks to Dr. Scott Morrison, The Nature Conservancy in California's director of conservation science "who supported our proposal, facilitated our early relationship with the park, and funded our contraceptive research efforts."
Morrison worked with White Buffalo in the hugely successful eradication of feral pigs from Santa Cruz Island off southern California (for which TNC and the National Park Service were vilified in the media and unsuccessfully sued). He told me this: "What White Buffalo accomplished at Point Reyes is an unbelievable story and such an important contribution. That kind of work requires a highly specialized skill set; and Tony exemplifies what's needed. When you're trying to get to zero you have to be extremely careful not to educate remaining animals. If you're not 100-percent confident that you can get an entire group, the discipline is not to take a shot. The marksmanship of Tony and his team enables another important objective which is to avoid wounding and escape. That's something a lot of people don't appreciate."
White Buffalo's wounding rate at Point Reyes was zero. All animals were killed instantly, as per the American Veterinary Medical Association euthanasia standards for wildlife and with lead-free bullets. Meat was donated to the needy whenever possible.
Protests were sustained and vigorous. A "wailing wall" was set up at park headquarters. Opponents festooned the park with "wanted posters" featuring a circled photo of DeNicola slashed by a line; and they marched around with placards bearing such messages as "I'm white and non-native, too." They worked the media until 80 percent of the people polled in Marin County voiced opposition. A book of verse — "Poems for the Lost Deer" — was published and nationally distributed, even by Amazon. At one hearing a man claiming to be Jesus Christ read a long poem in which he cast Park Service personnel as vampires. The agency's Jobian patience expired after 20 minutes, and he was escorted from the building.
In 2008, with eradication underway, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Representatives George Miller, Anna Eshoo and Lynne Woolsey and Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer demanded a halt. The park refused.
Opponents hired a helicopter to film White Buffalo as it shot from its two helicopters. "One of the hardest decisions I've made professionally was to shut down; but we didn't want to put anybody at risk," says DeNicola. "We couldn't have dueling helicopters over a national park. At the end of day we knew they needed fuel and that it would take them at least an hour and a half to get it and come back. So I made the call to start shooting. We shot till dark. The park wasn't happy because they wanted all animals picked up immediately, but they forgave us because we had no choice."
Inholdings created another daunting challenge. One owner refused to allow lethal removal. But the males occasionally wandered onto park property, and White Buffalo was able to dispatch them all. Today fewer than 40 fallow deer remain in the entire park, all geriatric females. "It was a near miracle that we were able to remove the males, especially with this 3,000-acre inholding serving as a refuge in the middle of our eradication area," says DeNicola.
Black-tailed deer at Point Reyes National Seashore. Photo © Tim Bernot, National Park Service
I asked Gates how the park managed to weather the political firestorm. "We just kept at it and used biological arguments," she replied. "You don't always prevail when it's an emotional issue; but we had to do the best we could. It's easy to make fun of the protesters; but people were serious and upset. That was worth respecting."
Recovery of the park isn't complete, but it's now inevitable. And it will happen sooner than had been expected, maybe even before the original goal of eradicating alien deer by 2021.
Tags: Deer, Invasive Species, Restoration
Ted Williams detests baseball, but is as obsessed with fishing as was the "real" (or, as he much prefers, "late") Ted Williams. What he finds really discouraging is when readers meet him in person and still think he's the frozen ballplayer. The surviving Ted writes full time on fish and wildlife issues. In addition to freelancing for national publications, he serves as national chair of the Native Fish Coalition. More from Ted
By G. Kent Webb | Reply
Here is an article I have just published related to wildlife management in California that may be of interest: Public Management Decisions Related to the Decline of California Deer Populations: A Comparative Management Approach. Here is a link to the summary: http://www.hrpub.org/journals/article_info.php?aid=3427 A link to the full article: http://www.hrpub.org/download/20160229/EER3-14005647.pdf
By Lael Bradshaw | Reply
Thanks for an interesting article. Yes sometimes the public doesn't listen too good.. So glad they were successful in killing the invaders. I do feel sorry for the deer as it wasn't their fault, it was another stupid human messing with nature.
By mark blazis | Reply
Another typically brilliant and insightful Ted Williams wildlife column by the man who's at the top of our field. Always fearless and totally dedicated to fight for the right cause in spite of politicians, irrational environmental radicals, developers, selfish business interests, and fearful editors. Bravo!
By Connie Neff | Reply
By Annie Delyth Stratton | Reply
It's unfortunate that people get so caught up in seeing things from a particular angle that they cannot see the full range of consequences of their actions. In this case, allowing the non-native species to continue means the disruption of a natrual ecosystem and the eventual eradication of native species. Short-sighted human action caused this situation. Deliberate and thoughtful human intervention is needed to change it. Yes, it is sad that many of the animals involved without a voice will die, either directly or though attrition. They had no voice either in being removed from their own natural habitat or in being removed so that the habitat they've been moved to can return to health. But our choice should be to enable the survival of the ecosystem that evolved fitted to the place. It too may well evolve further as climate changes, but to survive, it needs to be intact. To use "animal rights" as an argument to not remove non-native species is a non sequiter.
By George Stephen Harding | Reply
Only tragic consequences for the natural ecosystem will result from the introduction of non-native species PERIOD.
Notwithstanding, a humane manner of dealing with the introduced animals is demanded. Perhaps sterilization of the male alien deer is one of the viable alternatives.
I would hope that this choice offers a respectful means of providing a method to restore natural order that was disrupted by mankind and yet also would exhibit a kind and respectful example for our children. Our actions should reflect the life values that we believe in.
By Marian Whitcomb | Reply
As someone who works with invasive plant issues, it is very encouraging to see this happen…we cannot allow short-sighted people to take away our grandchildren's legacy of an incredibly intricate earth. With the plants, the horse has left the barn in so many ways…they do not get the attention they deserve, and yet they give us ever-y-thing.
Also In Invasive Species
Recovery: A Plague of Bullfrogs
The Iguana Invasion
Recovery: Victories in Galápagos National Park

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


If no __cmp__(), __eq__() or __ne__() operation is defined, class instances are compared by object identity ("address").
However, this isn't entirely accurate. It's accurate for classic classes, but new-style classes (the default in Python 3) are first compared by their type names (and then by their type IDs if their type names are identical). I don't know why this is done, but I noticed this behavior while writing an autograder for the class I'm TAing.
1 if v >  w.
* than == and != to non-related structures are undefined.
Thanks to Szymon for the discussion.
This entry was posted in python, trivia on November 23, 2008 by yang.
we would expect that when this array is sorted we'd get 5 before 100.
this list would aready be in sorted order*. And you would be sorting on this ground presumably because all adjacent types are different. To ensure that the sensible cmp function is called you need all like types together.


The Tasmanian Government has the goal of making Tasmania the healthiest population in Australia by 2025.
This is an ambitious target, since Tasmanians currently experience some of the worst population health outcomes in the country, with high rates of chronic disease and health risk factors like smoking, obesity, poor nutrition, low physical activity levels, and risky alcohol consumption.
Getting a good start to life in developing healthy habits early is critical for a healthy adulthood and healthy ageing. Keeping ourselves healthier for longer and managing our risk of chronic disease is an integral part of living happy, productive and fulfilled lives.
The Healthy Tasmania Five Year Strategic Plan aims to give Tasmanians and their communities the information and tools they need to make positive and healthy changes to their lives.
The plan aims to help people become more aware, interested, engaged and more in control of their own health and wellbeing. It fosters community connectedness by bringing people together to support each other toward better health.
This page was generated on Wednesday 24 April 2019 at 1:32am.


The candidate must be a paralegal with White Collar Crime, Investigations, Regulatory, Fraud or any similar contentious experience.
The candidate role will involve assisting a Partner on various clinical negligence matters with interviewing clients, reviewing medical records, preparing bundles and assisting in court proceedings.
Note: 6 month fixed term contract.
The candidate must be fluent in Mandarin. Must Chinese speaking property paralegal on behalf of one of clients - relevant experience essential.
Owen Reed are recruiting for a Legal Secretary to join a top London law firm. The Legal Secretary will work within the Aviation team.


TRI-TIPS: Helpful information for race day!
Over 300 volunteers are needed to create a successful event for the 1200 participants. Volunteers are stationed from beginning to end along the course to provide a variety of services during the event. Volunteers may be asked to perform the following tasks: count laps at the pool, monitor barricades for vehicle traffic, direct participant traffic on race course and cheer on the participants. Click here to sign up to volunteer.


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Berklee Silent Film Orchestra
Berklee Silent Film Orchestra: The Last Laugh
Monday / May 4, 2015 / 7:00 p.m.
290 Harvard Street
A still shot of a scene from the 1924 F. W. Murnau silent film <i>The Last Laugh</i>
The Coolidge Corner Theatre is proud to welcome back Sheldon Mirowitz, a professor in Berklee's Film Scoring Department, and the Berklee Silent Film Orchestra (BSFO) for a special presentation of its original new score, commissioned for a screening of the F. W. Murnau classic The Last Laugh.
The Last Laugh is a dramatic character study featuring Emil Jannings as the proud doorman of a posh Berlin hotel. Comporting himself like a general in resplendent costume, the main character sees his job and his prestige slip away upon the hiring of a new manager. The Last Laugh was a bold experiment for its time: a film using unique visual techniques to tell a story with no subtitles save for the semi-satirical explanation of the climax.
The BSFO is dedicated to composing original scores for silent feature classics and performing them live to picture. Under the leadership of Mirowitz (Outside Providence, Missing in America), the BSFO has scored and performed for eight iconic silent features (Sunrise, It, Battleship Potemkin, Piccadilly, Faust, Our Hospitality, Safety Last!, and Phantom of the Opera). All of these scores were commissioned by the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, Massachusetts as part of the theater's Sounds of Silents program, which champions silent film music performance.
The recipient of a special commendation from the Boston Society of Film Critics, the BSFO has also performed in the new Nantucket Dreamland Theater and at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The unique collaboration between the Coolidge and Berklee expands on the Sounds of Silents initiative, providing funds to commission the compositions and an opportunity to engage students in the process.
Berklee Celebrates BMI Day with Black Panther Composer Ludwig Göransson
Berklee and Orchestral Tools Announce Partnership
Rescheduled: Louden Swain
Saturday / August 14, 2021 / 7:00 pm


This program starts in the beginning of January. Boys and girls in grades K-8 are eligible to participate. There are typically separate boys and girls teams for the grade 3-5 division. K-2 and 6-8 divisions are co-ed. Players in the beginning level are introduced to the fundamentals of basketball, and as the grade level progresses, the instruction level is adjusted to meet each players needs. Practices are held two evenings a week at either 5:45pm or 7pm, depending on the division. The fee for this program is $35 per player with a discount for families registering three or more players.
Registration details for the year are available at the end of October. Registration opens in the beginning of November.
Another successful basketball season has ended! Thank you to all of our parent volunteers who dedicated their time to coach these teams. Also a huge thanks to the local businesses and community organizations who sponsor our teams. Please visit our sponsor page at http://ballstonarearec.org/sponsor-page/ to learn more about all of these wonderful businesses. Also a shout out to our Program Coordinator, Mike Gatzendorfer for again assisting with coordinating the ins & outs of this program. And lastly to our Technical Coordinator, Randy Hotaling who volunteers his time each year coordinating, coaching and sponsoring, in order to make sure everything goes smoothly and everyone has a good time. We couldn't run this program without all of you!


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The key people behind Stoke City's January transfer plans
Stoke City are out to bolster Michael O'Neill's injury-hit squad in the January transfer window
Stoke City joint-chairmen John Coates and Peter Coates and chief executive Tony Scholes are trying to help the club return to the Premier League. (Image: Leanne Bagnall)
The 2022 January transfer window is just around the corner and Stoke City have an action plan as they try to bolster Michael O'Neill 's squad for the second half of the season.
Stoke are well placed in the Championship as they try to make a real assault on the play-off spots - but have been struck by a wave of long-term injuries to key players which isn't helping matters.
It will be a tricky window to try to get in players who can make an impact - but hopefully not impossible.
The recruitment department has been overhauled in the last couple of years as the club tries to navigate the tight restrictions of Financial Fair Play rules.
But how does Stoke's transfer system work? Here is a look at the club's recruitment chain.
Head coach might be the buzz phrase in modern football but O'Neill is still a manager who is on top of every aspect of the club, from coaching to transfers, finances and player development.
There has been a sense of long-term thinking - on top of the importance of short-term results - ever since he took the job in November 2019 and made it a priority to bring down the size of the squad he inherited.
But January does seem like a window primarily for the short-term, like last year when the arrivals were loanees Jack Clarke, Rabbi Matondo and Rhys Norrington-Davies - as well as Alfie Doughty, who was recovering from injury.
O'Neill said recently: "In the short-term you look at the January window and any business you're going to do in January is either going to be a free agent or a loan.
"You only get a player on loan if he's not in his team or he's young and his parent club feel that it's good for his development. We have tried that. Obviously last January we brought in three younger players with, I think, mixed success. There's always a risk to that.
"Free agents, typically, are free agents who have been out of the game for a while and getting them up to speed can be difficult as well because they've had that period.
"Once a player goes two or three months without regular training or game time and is not part of a club it can be difficult to get back, depending on what age you are as well.
"I think we've just got to look at the squad. We're very, very restricted in what we can do financially and all of those are factors in if we can do anything at all."
What do you think? Have your say in the comments section
Alex Aldridge
Head of first team recruitment, arrived in the late summer of 2020 after holding a similar role at Millwall.
A replacement for Phil Chapple, who was only in the job a short alongside Nathan Jones, but really following in the footsteps of long-serving technical director Mark Cartwright.
"It's a big appointment for us and an important appointment for us," said O'Neill at the time.
"We've essentially had to go through two transfer windows with, I don't think, a real structure in the recruitment department
"With Alex coming in we have a blank page now to be able to build something which we believe will be good enough not only for the short-term but also for the longer term as well.
"He's got really good qualities, he's very ambitious and he wants to do well."
In daily contact with the manager and oversees a recruitment department which is keeping its eye on players at home and abroad.
O'Neill added earlier this year: "When we decided we needed to look at that part of the club, I felt the data approach is very important - and you hear a lot in football about how people recruit - but the data is only a filter.
"The final decision rests with me, ultimately, and Alex is a great help. He brings me options of players, he knows the types of players we're looking for and he knows the age profile of players we'd ideally like to bring.
"The data in that process helps possibly reduce 20 names to two names."
For your latest Stoke City news sign up to our newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page - or click here
John Coates
Joint-chairman desperate to see the side winning and has a much more involved role than just signing the cheques.
But pretty clear he would like to sign bigger cheques if wasn't for the EFL's Financial Fair Play rules which restrict the level of owner investment.
It remains to be seen if or how his day-to-day job will change with the impending exit of chief executive Tony Scholes.
Promotion and Premier League are obviously the key objectives but the most important P word for a club which likes stability is progress.
He said last spring: "Clearly, if you look statistically we've had a 16th and 15th finish before, it's rare that a club will then take a step up to be a top six side, for example.
"What you are wanting to see all the time as a club is that you're making good strong progress towards where you want to get to and I believe that's what we're seeing at the moment.
"Clearly next season we all have aspirations to challenge that top six and I genuinely believe we're making progress towards doing that."
The academy is also a priority and Coates, who also watches Stoke youth games, will be watching with interest at how Brexit has changed investment at younger levels.
Academy recruitment does not come under FFP - even if spending as much as some clubs are now spending on very young players is clearly a gamble.
He said earlier this year: "I think you absolutely always feel pressure to get the key components of the club right and, if I look at that, and the key decisions - you've got to try to get the right manager, close to that you've got to try to get recruitment right and allied to that you want to get your Academy right so that you're bringing players through.
"They are three extremely key areas. You will never get every recruitment decision right but anything you can do to improve the percentage chances of getting those decisions right is hugely beneficial.
"Clearly, the closer the working relationship between that structure, that department and Michael, the better."
Tony Scholes
The chief executive is leaving in January but has remained and will remain a big part of how the club prepares and operates until he heads off for his new job with the Premier League.
Has negotiated hundreds of deals over the past 17 years and it is a big decision for the club to make about who takes on that task in the new era. Will it be someone directly picking up the baton or will the club restructure?
Has also strongly made the case for a change to the EFL's financial rules - and will hopefully continue to fight Stoke's corner, arguing that it is the right thing to do for clubs in the top flight and Championship.
He said: "We don't like the profit and sustainability rules and we don't think it's good for football either. We don't think it's good for the Championship.
"As a club we are as strong as anyone about putting rules in place that guarantee the sustainability of football clubs. When football clubs no longer exist it's damaging for the whole structure of the game, it's damaging for communities.
"As a club we are at one on this. We put in the strongest possible rules so that football clubs are sustainable and remain sustainable for the benefit of all stakeholders in the community.
"What the current rules do is go far beyond that - in fact, some would argue that they don't address sustainability at all because a couple of clubs, Bury being one, Bolton being another, got into the difficulties they did in the case of Bolton, or would have done in the case of Bury, despite passing P and S.
"The issue we've got with the rules is that they impose on all clubs the affordability of other clubs. If our owners were willing, which they are, to support the club in the way they wish to, they are only able to do that to the level that other clubs believe is affordable as well.
"We don't think that's right and it's not the way football has been run until recent years.
"How long will it be here for? Well, it's here now and we have to operate under the rules that are in place.
"It's a subject that is constantly under debate, constantly under review and I would suggest that many people aren't happy with the rules as they currently are. We would like them to be changed sooner rather than later but it's out of our hands."
Peter Coates
Has seen many ups and downs since he became majority shareholder all the way back in 1986 and has long been a steady sounding board and confidante for a manager.
"He is a true football man in an age when football doesn't boast too many of those in positions of power," said Tony Pulis.
Denis Smith said: "As a football chairman, I know he would have been brilliant to work for, the sort you dream about working for.
"Why? Because he would never get too carried away with wins or defeats, he would look at the balance over a season. He understands the game and is in the city, so if you need to sit down and talk with him he'd be there and would give you a decision on whatever.
"It's also important that a chairman understands his manager as a human being and Peter would do that at Stoke City."
Cites promotion in 2008 as one of the best days of his life and is hoping he can see it again sooner rather than later.
Doyle, Davis, Balogun - Potential Premier League loan targets for Stoke City and Championship rivals
Brighton boss not ruling out January loan recalls as Stoke City prepare for difficult market
Tony Pulis
Denis Smith
Transfer deadline day


text:
Q: How can I make a Link to webpage like Facebook page in Alert Dialog? I want to add my (Facebook page) link in an alert dialog like this:
public void visitFAcebook(){
    new AlertDialog.Builder(this)
            .setTitle("Find Us On Facebook")
            .setMessage("www.facebook.com/mypage")

            .show();

}

can I convert the message to clickable link?

A: Do below changes to your code. You can change the color and font as below.
public void visitFacebook(){
        String fbLink = "My Facebook Page";
        String Txt = "Click to visit facebook: "+"
"+""+ fbLink+"
";
        Spanned fbString = Html.fromHtml(Txt);

        AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(this);
        builder.setTitle("Title");
        builder.setMessage(fbString);
        builder.setCancelable(true);
        AlertDialog alertDialog = builder.create();
        alertDialog.show();
        TextView msgTxt = (TextView) alertDialog.findViewById(android.R.id.message);
        msgTxt.setMovementMethod(LinkMovementMethod.getInstance());
    }

Android supports only below tags

<big>

<dfn>

<tt>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This K23 award will allow Dr. Beckman, the first American Indian (AI) adult endocrinologist in the nation, to become an investigator proficient in interdisciplinary research using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the causes of obesity. She has a career interest in the neuropsychology of obesity and diabetes and her focus is on the AI population in Minnesota. Obesity is a major health disparity in AIs, yet litle work is being done to unravel the neurobiology of this problem. The training and research activities will allow her to examine the complexities of computational neuroscience, functional neuroanatomy, and the contribution of opioidergic neurons to brain reward pathways. The application proposes an intensive, 5-year program of mentored research and formal training activities to enhance Dr. Beckman's skills and experience in: 1) clinical research methods and biostatistics, 2) technical aspects of fMRI data acquisition and analysis, and 3) role of opioidergic neurons in the neuroendocrine regulation of appetite. In the long term, Dr. Beckman will apply these translational research skills to study neuromodulation, cognitive restructuring, and opioid antagonists as potentially effective treatments for the public health problem of obesity in her AI patients who may be hyperresponsive to environmentally rewarding food cues. The research component of this career development award targets the neurobiology of behavioral responses to food in 60 AIs.
The specific aims are to: 1) use fMRI to compare brain activation associated with the response to visual food cues in obese versus lean AI women, 2) use fMRI to compare the effects of naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, versus placebo, on brain activation associated with response to palatable food cues, 3) compare the effects of naltrexone versus placebo on food intake in obese and lean AI women, by measuring calories consumed. The University of Minnesota is an exceptional environment for Dr. Beckman to gain the skills needed to achieve her goals. The training component uses academic resources including the Division of Diabetes, Metabolism, and Endocrinology, Minnesota Obesity Center, Center for the Study of Impulsivity in Addiction, Center for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Dr. Beckman's mentors are highly regarded scientists in the areas of obesity, addiction, and neuroimaging.
Despite the disproportionate obesity burden among AIs, this will be the first study using fMRI and an opioid antagonist to focus on this underrepresented population. Our results will provide important data about brain activation in response to high-calorie foods that will inform dietary interventions aimed at preventing and treating obesity and may identify a promising pharmacologic treatment for obesity and overeating in AIs.


YouTube is launching a new skippable offering, called TrueView for Reach, that prioritizes reaching large audiences over completed views of a commercial.
YouTube's new ad product will cost advertisers even if the viewer presses skip. Kind of like TV. It is a variation of YouTube's five-second skippable ads, and is designed for brands that are comfortable with the TV-way of buying.
Here's how it works: The advertiser runs its video ad, typically 10- or 15-seconds long if made for mobile. The advertiser pays for each impression on a cost per 1,000 impression basis – and impressions count after two seconds, the industry standard, even if the user winds up skipping at the five-second mark, an option YouTube offers.
The traditional skippable ad is still available, too, where the advertiser only pays when ads are completed.
TrueView for Reach is an offspring of YouTube's standard TrueView ad, skippable after five seconds, so named because advertisers were only paying for what were seen as "true full views".
Google declined to comment beyond a blog post announcing the new ad product. And it did not say what the new way of buying would do for pricing.
It's likely that buying on an impression basis means individual views cost the advertiser less than completed views under the standard way of buying.
YouTube does offer similar ad formats that tie to those other more direct goals, too, of course.
ALSO READ: Is "attention" the new language for TV ads?
Google has never revealed how often people hit "skip" on video ads. This new way of buying – going for the largest possible audience – could be seen as a clever way to tap new revenue sources.
"It looks like they made the calculation that with so many people skipping the ads, they'll make more revenue charging on a cost-per-impression basis rather than giving away five seconds of free branding," says Jim Nail, principal analyst of marketing at Forrester.
The digital industry has been trying to prove to advertisers that even the shortest views of their ads can impact brand affinity and sales.
"This format can help you to raise awareness among a broad set of customers," Google says in its blog post, which shows results from two early test partners, Pepsi France and Samsung Electronics America.
Television will still be the first option for most major brands, but YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and others are trying to siphon some of that spending their way with residual reach, the runoff from TV.


Over half of all primary schools in England are serving food that is ethical, sustainable, free from controversial additives and meets School Food Standards – thanks to the Soil Association's Food for Life Catering Mark. It's a huge step towards improving children's diets and laying the foundations for a healthy life.
The Soil Association's Food for Life Catering Mark provides an independent endorsement that caterers are taking steps to improve the food they serve, using more fresh, sustainable ingredients which are free from harmful additives and better for animal welfare. The Catering Mark now serves over 1.6 million meals to schools, nurseries, hospitals, universities, workplaces and other venues. Schools make up around 90% of this figure.
Sunderland City Council and North Yorkshire County Caterers are the most recent school caterers to receive their bronze Catering Mark and boost the number of primary school Catering Mark standard meals to over 50%. North Yorkshire County Caterers achieved the award for their 'in house' catering in schools. They serve 22,063 meals primary school meals and 11,934 secondary school meals per day, across a total of 296 sites.
The Food for Life Catering Mark provides a springboard for many schools to go on to achieve a wider Food for Life Schools Award, which looks not only at the quality of food served, but also dining experience and food education for pupils, parents and the wider community.
Schools can work towards the gold, silver and bronze Catering Mark. They are rewarded for every percentage of their ingredient spend on ethical, environmentally friendly food and locally sourced ingredients.


Manfeild is 'the most diverse events centre in New Zealand'. Known for its world-class motor racing circuit, the longest with uninterrupted views in the Southern Hemisphere. Manfeild is also currently home to the New Zealand Grand Prix.
If you are travelling to Palmerston North for the race; Distinction Coachman Hotel is the perfect solution for your accommodation needs. Located within a 25 minute drive of Manfeild Speedway, Distinction Coachman offers both motel and hotel accommodation in the heart of Palmerston North city. Book your Palmerston North accommodation now.


text:
Weekend therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection
Antonio Tucci, Loris Poli, G. Francesco Paparo, Paolo Bocus, Thomas Togliani, Claudia Mazzoni, Giulio Fraternali Orcioni, Roberto Agosti, Walter F. Grigioni, Sara Sottili, Giancarlo Caletti
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of a short-term regimen (weekend therapy) in the cure of Helicobacter pylori infection and to analyze the factors that may influence the success of the treatment. Methods: Seventy-one patients with gastric colonization by a tinidazole sensitive H. pylori strain (34 duodenal ulcer and 37 nonulcer dyspepsia) received omeprazole 40 mg o.m. for 7 days (from Monday to Sunday) and bismuth 240 mg q.i.d. + amoxicillin 1000 mg/q.i.d. + tinidazole 500 mg q.i.d. for only 2 days (Saturday and Sunday). Endoscopy, histology, culture, urease test, and susceptibility studies were done at entry and 30 days after treatment. Results: Successful eradication was obtained in 84% of patients. The percentage of eradication was higher in duodenal ulcer patients (94%) than in those with nonulcer dyspepsia (74%; p <0.05), and in patients who received the treatment during hot weather (94%) than in those who received the treatment during cold weather (74%; p <0.05). Side-effects were induced by the treatment in 17% of patients, and these were all not severe, self-limiting, short-lasting, and did not require specific treatment. Conclusions: These data suggested that weekend therapy with high doses of drugs represents an effective, safe, and inexpensive therapeutic approach for the treatment of H. pylori infection, particularly in patients with duodenal ulcer. Furthermore, they also confirm the relevant role that short-term treatments may play in the therapeutic approach to H. pylori infection, and highlight some important aspects influencing short-term schedules.
American Journal of Gastroenterology
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.216_a.x
10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.216_a.x
Dive into the research topics of 'Weekend therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Helicobacter Infections Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Helicobacter pylori Medicine & Life Sciences 90%
Duodenal Ulcer Medicine & Life Sciences 25%
Tinidazole Medicine & Life Sciences 23%
Weather Medicine & Life Sciences 19%
Dyspepsia Medicine & Life Sciences 18%
Bismuth Medicine & Life Sciences 10%
Tucci, A., Poli, L., Paparo, G. F., Bocus, P., Togliani, T., Mazzoni, C., Orcioni, G. F., Agosti, R., Grigioni, W. F., Sottili, S., & Caletti, G. (1998). Weekend therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 93(5), 737-742. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.216_a.x
Weekend therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. / Tucci, Antonio; Poli, Loris; Paparo, G. Francesco et al.
In: American Journal of Gastroenterology, Vol. 93, No. 5, 05.1998, p. 737-742.
Tucci, A, Poli, L, Paparo, GF, Bocus, P, Togliani, T, Mazzoni, C, Orcioni, GF, Agosti, R, Grigioni, WF, Sottili, S & Caletti, G 1998, 'Weekend therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection', American Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 93, no. 5, pp. 737-742. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.216_a.x
Tucci A, Poli L, Paparo GF, Bocus P, Togliani T, Mazzoni C et al. Weekend therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 1998 May;93(5):737-742. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.216_a.x
Tucci, Antonio ; Poli, Loris ; Paparo, G. Francesco et al. / Weekend therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. In: American Journal of Gastroenterology. 1998 ; Vol. 93, No. 5. pp. 737-742.
@article{43f7c84e85174e95ae1045e5c14f5e52,
title = "Weekend therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection",
abstract = "Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of a short-term regimen (weekend therapy) in the cure of Helicobacter pylori infection and to analyze the factors that may influence the success of the treatment. Methods: Seventy-one patients with gastric colonization by a tinidazole sensitive H. pylori strain (34 duodenal ulcer and 37 nonulcer dyspepsia) received omeprazole 40 mg o.m. for 7 days (from Monday to Sunday) and bismuth 240 mg q.i.d. + amoxicillin 1000 mg/q.i.d. + tinidazole 500 mg q.i.d. for only 2 days (Saturday and Sunday). Endoscopy, histology, culture, urease test, and susceptibility studies were done at entry and 30 days after treatment. Results: Successful eradication was obtained in 84% of patients. The percentage of eradication was higher in duodenal ulcer patients (94%) than in those with nonulcer dyspepsia (74%; p <0.05), and in patients who received the treatment during hot weather (94%) than in those who received the treatment during cold weather (74%; p <0.05). Side-effects were induced by the treatment in 17% of patients, and these were all not severe, self-limiting, short-lasting, and did not require specific treatment. Conclusions: These data suggested that weekend therapy with high doses of drugs represents an effective, safe, and inexpensive therapeutic approach for the treatment of H. pylori infection, particularly in patients with duodenal ulcer. Furthermore, they also confirm the relevant role that short-term treatments may play in the therapeutic approach to H. pylori infection, and highlight some important aspects influencing short-term schedules.",
author = "Antonio Tucci and Loris Poli and Paparo, {G. Francesco} and Paolo Bocus and Thomas Togliani and Claudia Mazzoni and Orcioni, {Giulio Fraternali} and Roberto Agosti and Grigioni, {Walter F.} and Sara Sottili and Giancarlo Caletti",
doi = "10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.216_a.x",
journal = "American Journal of Gastroenterology",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
T1 - Weekend therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection
AU - Tucci, Antonio
AU - Poli, Loris
AU - Paparo, G. Francesco
AU - Bocus, Paolo
AU - Togliani, Thomas
AU - Mazzoni, Claudia
AU - Orcioni, Giulio Fraternali
AU - Agosti, Roberto
AU - Grigioni, Walter F.
AU - Sottili, Sara
AU - Caletti, Giancarlo
N2 - Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of a short-term regimen (weekend therapy) in the cure of Helicobacter pylori infection and to analyze the factors that may influence the success of the treatment. Methods: Seventy-one patients with gastric colonization by a tinidazole sensitive H. pylori strain (34 duodenal ulcer and 37 nonulcer dyspepsia) received omeprazole 40 mg o.m. for 7 days (from Monday to Sunday) and bismuth 240 mg q.i.d. + amoxicillin 1000 mg/q.i.d. + tinidazole 500 mg q.i.d. for only 2 days (Saturday and Sunday). Endoscopy, histology, culture, urease test, and susceptibility studies were done at entry and 30 days after treatment. Results: Successful eradication was obtained in 84% of patients. The percentage of eradication was higher in duodenal ulcer patients (94%) than in those with nonulcer dyspepsia (74%; p <0.05), and in patients who received the treatment during hot weather (94%) than in those who received the treatment during cold weather (74%; p <0.05). Side-effects were induced by the treatment in 17% of patients, and these were all not severe, self-limiting, short-lasting, and did not require specific treatment. Conclusions: These data suggested that weekend therapy with high doses of drugs represents an effective, safe, and inexpensive therapeutic approach for the treatment of H. pylori infection, particularly in patients with duodenal ulcer. Furthermore, they also confirm the relevant role that short-term treatments may play in the therapeutic approach to H. pylori infection, and highlight some important aspects influencing short-term schedules.
AB - Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of a short-term regimen (weekend therapy) in the cure of Helicobacter pylori infection and to analyze the factors that may influence the success of the treatment. Methods: Seventy-one patients with gastric colonization by a tinidazole sensitive H. pylori strain (34 duodenal ulcer and 37 nonulcer dyspepsia) received omeprazole 40 mg o.m. for 7 days (from Monday to Sunday) and bismuth 240 mg q.i.d. + amoxicillin 1000 mg/q.i.d. + tinidazole 500 mg q.i.d. for only 2 days (Saturday and Sunday). Endoscopy, histology, culture, urease test, and susceptibility studies were done at entry and 30 days after treatment. Results: Successful eradication was obtained in 84% of patients. The percentage of eradication was higher in duodenal ulcer patients (94%) than in those with nonulcer dyspepsia (74%; p <0.05), and in patients who received the treatment during hot weather (94%) than in those who received the treatment during cold weather (74%; p <0.05). Side-effects were induced by the treatment in 17% of patients, and these were all not severe, self-limiting, short-lasting, and did not require specific treatment. Conclusions: These data suggested that weekend therapy with high doses of drugs represents an effective, safe, and inexpensive therapeutic approach for the treatment of H. pylori infection, particularly in patients with duodenal ulcer. Furthermore, they also confirm the relevant role that short-term treatments may play in the therapeutic approach to H. pylori infection, and highlight some important aspects influencing short-term schedules.
U2 - 10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.216_a.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.216_a.x
JO - American Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - American Journal of Gastroenterology


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text:
Daygan
Growing up between Liverpool and Manchester Daygan felt the influence of the local live music scene from an early age. Finding an abandoned mandolin at the age of 9 had a profound effect, and he started his first band at the age of 14 playing Indie Rock music.
Having been in several bands since then, Daygan has slowly moved from Indie Rock to Folk Rock, through rediscovering the sweet sounds of the mandolin and also developing a love for the bouzouki.
Daygan started Dragonsfly with Maya in 1998, and continues to be a strong, driving force behind it's development. Musically, he creates a bridge between the bass and drums and the melodic instruments. Moving between crisp lead lines, to strong, driven rhythms, he juxtaposes Eastern Reggae with Rock, creating a depth of textures and adding colour to the music. He also adds his own songs in to the mix, with his characterful, broad, northern, dulcet tones.
Godney Gathering 2015
Sunrise Celebration 2012


text:
Russian Air Force resumes airstrikes over Syria
9 people injured, 44 arrested in Charlotte night riots – police chief
David Icke - We think we are Humans.
Famed biologist: Religion 'is dragging us down' and must be eliminated 'for the sake of human progress'
The Most Astounding Fact - Neil deGrasse Tyson
Russian Operation in Syria Has Changed the Outlook in Washington
Russia's operation in Syria has weakened the position of US-backed Islamic militants, changed opinions in the US and brought a resolution to the conflict closer, Northeastern University professor and terrorism expert Max Abrahms told Sputnik.
Washington and the Syrian rebels who are backed by the White House are coming to terms with the impact of Russia's involvement in the Syrian conflict, a "game-changer" which has strengthened the government's position and brought a resolution to the conflict closer, Northeastern University professor and terrorism expert Max Abrahms told Radio Sputnik.
"It looked from the perspective of the rebels in Syria but also from Washington DC that 'Assad's days were numbered,' because the rebels were increasingly winning territory, getting closer and closer to taking over Damascus," Abrahms said of the situation before Russia's air operation.
Predictions in the US were that Russia would make the same mistakes the US did and "get bogged down in Syria much like the US got bogged down in its own counter-insurgency campaigns in Vietnam and Afghanistan and Iraq."
Others presumed that Russian involvement would be ineffectual, or that Russian support for Assad was weak.
"There's no question that Islamic State (Daesh) has been weakened in Syria, as well as the position of the other terrorist, or rebel groups, whatever you want to call them," Abrahms said. He cited their loss of territory and oil revenue as well as waning budgets for fighters and propaganda as proof of their growing weakness.
"More and more the leadership of the Islamic State (Daesh) is saying to foreign jihadis, don't even come here, go to Libya."
Another consequence of Russia's air operation is a change in the US political outlook towards Syria, Abrahms said. The White House has changed its rhetoric on regime change, and the fortunes of US presidential candidates with differing policies regarding the future of Assad is indicative of changing public perceptions.
"A lot of Americans think that they're stuck between a rock and hard place: do they want to see Islamic State and al-Qaeda and groups like that gain strength or do they want to see the growing influence of Russia and Iran and Assad? So I think a lot of Americans aren't very clear on whether they think Russian involvement has been a good thing or a bad thing."
Abrahms said the victory of Bernie Sanders, who is not in favor of removing Assad, over the more hawkish Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire Primary, is an example of reluctance among Democrats to back regime change.In the Republican primary, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz took first and third place, respectively, and they currently have attracted more delegates than the other candidates vying for their party's nomination. They have both said that Syria is more stable with Assad in power, as he is preventing the spread of Daesh and other terrorist groups, Abrahms said.
"Marco Rubio who is much more neo-conservative, he finished fifth. So there does seem to be a growing view among not just the American public but also among American leaders, both Democrats and Republicans alike, that regime change in Syria is probably not the best idea right now."
Islamic StateRussiaSyriaUS
Erdogan Using al-Qaeda, Nusra Front to Encircle Kurds – Lawmaker
US A-10s bomb Aleppo, blame Moscow – Russian Defense Ministry


At the time I was deep in the throes of training for a half-ironman triathlon. How much harder could a marathon be, right? Wrong.
So I started training (and stopped drinking) after New Years' Eve 2015. At times the training was exhilarating and rewarding and at times monotonous, draining and just plain boring.
The day itself was unforgettable. My alarm was set for 7:00am but I woke up at 4:45am and knew I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. It could be worse I thought – this way I'd have time for two breakfasts! I bumped into some of the MQ-team in Greenwich before the race and I was a bundle of nerves. They were very reassuring but I doubt I made a brilliant impression!
Within the first mile something terrible happened - I was overtaken by a heavily bearded man dressed as Wonder-Woman. Thankfully things improved and by mile 17 I knew I could do it. I was feeling great, the weather was perfect and the crowds were like nothing I'd ever experienced before. They were just so loud, so relentless, so full of energy. By mile 20 though, my outlook had gone full-circle. I was no longer sure that I could do it and I definitely knew I didn't want to! I kept telling myself that I wasn't going to let all the training go to waste, so I was going to have to push on... 5 miles to go.. 4 miles to go.. I'm on to the embankment.. I can see Big Ben..!
It was surreal to finish. It clicked that I had done it when I had my photo taken with my medal. I looked down at it and saw the word 'finisher'. I had finally done it in my target time and it felt awesome. Raising over £3,250 for MQ by running my first marathon made every single one of the 366.3 miles I have run since 1 January 2016 absolutely, totally, 110% worth it.
Put "marathon training tips" into Google and you'll find thousands of helpful articles, but they're all the same. So here are some tips you won't find on the standard lists.
On day one, write down on a piece of paper why you're doing what you're doing. Be brutally honest about it. No-one else ever needs to see it. Refer back to it in times of doubt and before all your major runs.
Tell all your friends and family what your goals are. Explain why it's important to you, that you won't be training forever, and that you're really grateful for their support. They will understand and it will be a lot easier to explain why you're doing all sorts of eccentric things (running along the canals in East London at 6:30am in the pitch-black and rain three days a week in early January was mine!).
Make a plan. Have fixed goals of where you want to get to by certain dates.
Make sure your plan fits in with your daily life. For instance, it sounds obvious, but if you're not a morning person don't suddenly make plans to do all your training in the mornings!
Stick to your plan (this is a totally different thing to having a plan!).
Have a finite number of nights off from all healthy eating and training responsibilities. On day one, pick a number and stick to it. You can plan these – friends will be over the moon if you pick their birthday as the night you allow yourself to earn a hangover! If you're really dedicated to your training you will need to release the pressure every month or so.
Celebrate the 'little victories'. If you're training for a 10km but you've never run a 5km before, do allow yourself to feel pride in achieving the smaller personal milestones.
If you hit a lull in your training or motivation then remember, a change is as good as a rest. Find a new running route, do your normal route backwards, get some new kit, try a parkrun you've never tried before, run with some different friends, etc.
Learn how to rest properly. I confess this is not a skill I have mastered, but I am told that training is much more effective if you're not knackered when you start it!
Most importantly – believe in yourself. I bet you you're stronger than you realise.
Knowing that I could go through this amazing personal journey and in the process help really smart people to undertake incredibly complex and well-needed research into mental health conditions that affect so many people made it that much better and helped no end with my motivation. I am immensely grateful to all my friends, family and colleagues who supported me and MQ through the encouraging words, their understanding of my need to go running and take early nights, and of course through their incredibly generous donations.
Looking back though when I wrote I was 'experienced' on my application form, I was kidding myself. There is no experience in the world that can prepare you for running the London Marathon, other than getting out there and doing it!
Make lifelong memories at a race that needs no introduction.
Swim, cycle, run or get muddy to show you believe in better mental health.
It takes a good reason to run 26.2 miles. Ed Belam shares his for our guest blog.


Cheetah tattoos are not as common as one would think. Cheetah tattoos symbolize raw power, agility, speed, the hunter, and momentary freedom. For more tattoo inspiration beyond the cheetah tattoo gallery below, check out our other featured tattoo categories.


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The Info List - Trump
Trump most commonly refers to:
Donald Trump (born 1946), 45th President of the United States, businessman, and television personality
Trump (card games), any playing card given an ad-hoc high rank
Trump may also refer to:
3 Arts, entertainment, and media
3.1 Fictional characters
3.2 Games and cards
3.3 Literature
6.1 Other lists similar to this page
Trump (surname), any of several persons with that name
Trump family, the ancestral history of the family from 17th-century Germany
Family of Donald Trump, the immediate family of the US president
Trump (video gamer) (born 1987), pseudonym of Jeffrey Shih, Hearthstone streamer and competitor
Trump, Colorado
Trump, Maryland
Trump, Ohio
Trump Islands, Antarctica
Trump Street, City of London, United Kingdom
Thumptown, Pennsylvania, United States (also known as "Trumptown")
Arts, entertainment, and media
Carlton Sanders, who goes by the name Trump in the Marvel Comics universe
Warden Trump, a character in the 2006 video game Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
Top Trumps, a card game series
Trump: The Game, a board game
Trumps (Tarot cards), or Major Arcana, special cards in the Tarot pack
Trumps, or court piece, a trick-taking card game related to whist
Trump (magazine), 1957, a humor magazine
"The Last Trump", a fantasy story by Isaac Asimov referring to the eponymous trumpet call
Trump: The Deals and the Downfall, a 1992 biography by Wayne Barrett
Jew's harp, a small musical instrument played in the mouth
"The last trump", a trumpet call signaling the resurrection of the dead in 1 Corinthians 15
Trumpet or trumpeting
HMS Trump (P333), a British submarine, 1944–1969
USCGC William Trump (WPC-1111), a US Coast Guard cutter
Trump, an act of flatulence
The Trump (horse), an Australian racehorse born 1932
The Trump Organization, a business conglomerate owned by Donald Trump
Tromp (other)
Donald Trump (other)
Trump card (other)
Trumped (other)
Trumpf, a machine tool company
Trumpy (other)
Van Trump (other)
Other lists similar to this page
List of things named after Donald Trump
All pages beginning with "Trump"
All pages with a title containing Trump
This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Trump.
Consider donating to Wikimedia


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Richardson: Egypt and the logic of revolution
The sheer experience of tens of thousands of people on the streets together builds confidence in what they can do, far beyond the point where they can be bought off by half-measures or controlled by any ordinary police operation.
Charles Richardson,
The sheer experience of tens of thousands of people on the streets together builds confidence in what they can do, far beyond the point where they can be bought off by half-measures or controlled by any ordinary police operation, writes Charles Richardson.
Revolutions go in and out of fashion. The mid-20th century was a lean period — the bad experience of the Russian Revolution of 1917 discredited the idea for a while — but revolutionary fervor returned in Portugal in 1975, the Philippines in 1986 and, of course, the springtime of eastern Europe in 1989.
Now another wave seems to be under way, with first Tunisia and now Egypt showing that the people of the Arab world, when conditions are ripe, are equally capable of taking matters into their own hands.
Every country, and therefore every revolution, is different, but nonetheless there are similarities in how they work. And all of our experience suggests that Egypt has now reached the point of no return: that the only remaining options are total regime change or massive repression.
Once popular discontent reaches this scale, it is incredibly powerful.
Revolutionary movements can be stopped, but only by a leadership that is ruthless about using armed force and willing to kill large numbers of its citizens. The Burmese generals did it in 1988, as did Deng Xiaoping in 1989 and the theocrats of Iran in 2009. The decision Hosni Mubarak has to make — and soon — is whether or not to try to emulate them.
His record suggests that Mubarak would have few moral qualms about attempting a "Chinese solution". But that is not his only consideration; repression doesn't always work, and if it fails the consequences are likely to be much more serious. Ferdinand Marcos, who blinked under pressure, ended his days in tranquil exile in Hawaii; Nicolae Ceausescu, who tried to fight it out, ended up in front of a firing squad.
Crucially, repression depends on the loyalty of the armed forces. The army in Egypt is still popular, and the opposition has expressed confidence that it will not turn its guns on them. Overnight a statement from the army made that official, promising "The armed forces will not resort to use of force against our great people" and affirming "that freedom of expression through peaceful means is guaranteed to everybody".
Pessimists will recall a similar confidence shown by the revolutionaries in the weeks before Tiananmen Square, which turned out to be fatally mistaken. But there is a key difference between Egypt and the recent cases of countries that have successfully crushed a popular uprising: none of them were American allies.
Egypt's armed forces have been bankrolled by the US for 30 years, and its commanders are used to the idea that their interests are closely tied up with American approval. Even if Mubarak is willing to defy his paymasters, it seems unlikely that his generals will go along – at the best of times, professional soldiers dislike the idea of firing on unarmed civilians.
For the Obama administration, this is a delicate task to manage. No government anywhere likes to be seen to be pulling the rug out from under an ally, and Obama will particularly have in mind the example of Jimmy Carter, who was vilified by his political opponents for "losing" both Iran and Nicaragua, after belatedly withdrawing American support from their threatened autocrats.
The American response to Egypt has given the impression of scrambling to keep up, and sending mixed messages as a result, but this may be partly due to the fear of being too explicit. Privately, Obama probably realises that Mubarak is doomed, but to convey that message openly would risk being counter-productive. And even relatively subtle American pressure can be effective, as was the Reagan administration in inducing Marcos to leave quietly.
Whatever its hesitations, American policy has at least been commendably clear in warning against the use of force. But without force, and plenty of it, the Mubarak regime is doomed.
Charles Richardson
Psephologist and writer
Charles Richardson has contributed to Crikey since 2002, and was a ministerial adviser in the Kennett government and a former editorial manager at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney.
Ten's Celebrity bounces back against Nine's tennis coverage
Coalition 'hypocrisy': bang on about academic freedom and then block research it doesn't like
The Games no one wants to play
Sorry, 1974 in Portugal, not 1975 – my mistake. Don't rely on Crikey's fact-checkers.
Let's not be too Pollyannaish about this interregnum – normal service will shortly be resumed, with the usual courtesy details of secret police, rigged elections and …nothing to see here, move along.
Norman Hanscombe
The trivial slip you mention, Charles, didn't spoil an article which (although it mightn't please any of the usual True Believer Battalions) has drawn no flak. Well done.
@AR – that's possible, but that's not what happened in eastern Europe or a number of other places. World progress towards democracy has been erratic but nonetheless clear, & I don't see any particular reason why Egypt should be different.
@Norman – thanks; much appreciated.
JonoMatt
Very good, balanced article. Lets hope the army and the government maintain a reasonable level of restrant, the already unfortunate loss of life notwithstanding.


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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.
We gravitate to "happily ever after/riding off into the sunset" stories, don't we? Rahab has a new home and a new life and we are satisfied that her tale has been told. That is, I think, because our fallen nature renders us incapable of comprehending eternal things.
For God, however, there is only one happy ending, and it will be at the end of the age when time is swallowed up into eternity. His plan for us does not necessarily end when our life is over or our problem has seemingly been solved.
First, Scripture tells us that Rahab married Salmon, a prince of Israel who, some believe, was one of the two spies that she saved (how romantic). They had a son named Boaz who became the husband of Ruth. These facts are found in the lineage of Jesus Christ in the Book of Matthew. Absent from the same history are the names of generations of godly, but anonymous Hebrew women. Rahab is one of only three women honored by being included by name in Christ's genealogy.
Secondly, her story was celebrated in faith's hall of fame in Hebrews 11.
By faith, the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient (Hebrews 11:31).
You see, that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? (James 2:24-25).
Easter faith holds fast when plans fail, dreams die and we can see no resolution in our lifetime. But Easter faith is not a faith that thinks of God as "good" only when He follows orders because the goodness of our God is the kind that will last for all eternity.


safe to be soft on the outside.
an impenetrable hard outer shell.
allowing my feelings to slip in and out.
lurking in my lunchtime bowl.
worked on repeatedly in therapy.
clumsily lumping my hard-won smoothness.
The poems on this website remain the property of Alison Chippindale.
You are welcome to share these poems, but I would appreciate acknowledgement of my authorship.


Has anyone had any success tryign to send/receive images over NFC between Android and Lumia 920?
I tried with a Co-worker sending him a picture and he received windows.com/sd. I haven't really tried any other testing with it.
IIRC from reading a review you can't transfer certain media types (yet) between different OS's. I believe it's just contacts for now.
Contacts, web pages you have opened, and... maybe one other thing... you can transfer via NFC between OS's.
If you want to share media such as pictures and media with Android phones, you'll have to use Bluetooth file sharing... I really hope that one day NFC media sharing will be possible regardless of device.


Plesk uses various external components, for example, Apache web server, mail service, antivirus, and so on. When interacting with these components, Plesk gets the information on their locations from the configuration file /etc/psa/psa.conf.
Plesk configuration file provides an easy way of reconfiguring Plesk if a service is installed into another directory or migrated from the current partition to another. Note that you can only modify paths present in this file; other paths are hard-coded in Plesk components.
A sample part of the psa.conf file is displayed below. To change a path to a service, utility, or package, specify the new path as a value of a corresponding variable.
Important: Be very careful when changing the contents of psa.conf. Mistakes in paths specified in this file may lead to Plesk malfunctioning.


Since our 2013 conference, we have formed a small consortium of supplementary schools, called MEaP to explore how supplementary school provision could be strengthened as a driving force of community regeneration.
MEaP has also worked with the Faculty of Education (MMU) to develop a PG Cert in Teaching and Learning that has been specially developed for teaching and leadership in community (supplementary) education. Hosted by the Critical Race and Ethnicity Research Cluster, MEaP also runs a Twilight School in the Brooks Building where it offers placements for QTLS (qualified teaching status for post 16 education).


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Dramatic temperature swings heading to Midwest
Loop News Created : 31 January 2019 World News
The painfully cold weather system holding much of the Midwest in a historic deep freeze sent temperatures plunging to a record low in northern Illinois on Thursday, but a dramatic swing of as much as 80 degrees is expected by early next week.
Disruptions caused by the cold will also persist, including power outages and canceled flights and trains. Crews in Detroit will need days to repair water mains that burst Wednesday.
But cities across the Midwest will see a warm up by this weekend, including a temperature yo-yo of around 70 degrees in Minneapolis. The jump will be even larger in Rockford, Illinois, a city northwest of Chicago, that awoke Thursday to a record-breaking temperature of negative 30 degrees (negative 34 Celsius). The forecast Monday in Rockford calls for a high of 51 degrees (10.5 Celsius).
In western New York, a storm that dumped up to 20 inches of snow (51 centimetres) was over by Thursday but gave way to subzero temperatures and dangerous wind chills. The arctic conditions caused problems from Buffalo to Brooklyn, where about 200 firefighters battling an early morning blaze in a commercial building took turns getting warm on buses amid the frigid conditions.
Schools in parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa remained closed Thursday. But students headed back to school Thursday in eastern North Dakota, where the weather was forecast to crawl out of double-digit subzero temperatures.
The blast of polar air also strained infrastructure with some of the lowest temperatures in a generation. The deep freeze snapped rail lines, canceled hundreds of flights and strained utilities. As of Thursday morning, about 1,700 flights in and out of Chicago's airports had been canceled over the previous 24 hours.
Chicago's temperature dropped to a low of around minus 23 degrees (minus 30 Celsius), slightly above the city's lowest-ever reading in January 1985 of minus 27 degrees (minus 32 Celsius). Milwaukee had similar conditions.
Minneapolis recorded minus 27 degrees (minus 32 Celsius), while Sioux Falls, South Dakota, saw minus 25 degrees (minus 31 Celsius). Wind chills reportedly made it feel like minus 50 degrees (minus 45 Celsius) or worse.
Arctic cold in the Midwest
Trains and buses in Chicago operated with few passengers. The hardiest commuters ventured out only after covering nearly every square inch of flesh against the extreme chill, which froze ice crystals on eyelashes and eyebrows in minutes. The U.S. Postal Service even took the rare step of suspending mail delivery in many places.
The bitter cold was the result of a split in the polar vortex, a mass of cold air that normally stays bottled up in the Arctic. The split allowed the air to spill much farther south than usual.
At least eight deaths have been linked to the system, including an elderly Illinois man who was found several hours after he fell trying to get into his home. A University of Iowa student was found dead behind an academic hall several hours before dawn.
In Michigan, state and utility officials warned residents that they risked brief interruptions of natural gas service if they didn't help reduce energy. The warning followed a fire at a utility's suburban Detroit facility that affected natural gas supplies. By Thursday, Consumers Energy said it was "cautiously optimistic" its requests to curb natural gas use were "having a positive effect."
The system's icy grip also took a heavy toll on infrastructure, halting transportation, knocking out electricity and interrupting water service. In Detroit, more than two dozen water mains froze.
Amtrak canceled scores of trains to and from Chicago, one of the nation's busiest rail hubs. Several families who intended to leave for Pennsylvania stood in ticket lines at Chicago's Union Station only to be told all trains were canceled until Friday.
"Had I known we'd be stranded here, we would have stayed in Mexico longer — where it was warmer," said Anna Ebersol, who was traveling with her two sons.
arctic cold
extreme cold
Atlanta preps for possible snow, ice ahead of Super Bowl
Deep freeze grips Upper Midwest; more bitter cold to come
Snowstorm batters parts of Midwest, 100s of flights cancelled


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Russian Science & Technology
Astronauts and the Russian Language
by Alexey | Dec 8, 2015 | Space | 0 comments
Do you dream of becoming an astronaut? If so, you had better start learning Russian!
Russian is the first human language that had been spoken in outer space. Many people are currently studying the Russian language to pay tribute to the world-first cosmonaut/astronaut Yuri Gagarin who left the Earth.
Later astronauts from other countries, including the USA, had to learn the Russian language to come to the Russian space station "Mir".
It is not only about the history of space exploration, though…
The launching of the manned spacecraft "Soyuz TMA-18M" to the International Space Station on 2 September 2015 / By Roscosmos (CC BY-NC 2.0)
The ISS
Nowadays the International Space Station is often "inhabited" by the crew from Russia, the USA and other countries. The cosmonauts from the so-called "other countries" constantly change, while the astronauts from Russia and the USA always stay on the orbit.
The official language of the International Space Station is English, but many astronauts can speak Russian as well. We think the explanation is quite easy. The prevailing Russian equipment is not exactly the point. It is the Russian astronauts who play a crucial role in ensuring security on the ISS. Imagine that there has been an emergency and the Russian astronauts are eliminating the problem. In this case, every split second counts let alone a second. There is simply no time for repeating the message into English. You have probably got the idea.
(I will knock on wood three times. If you do not get what I am talking about, you should check out the article on the superstitions of cosmonauts).
By the way it is not the main reason why all astronaut candidates pass the Russian exam.
The launcher with the manned spacecraft "Soyuz TMA-18M" is almost ready to go / By Roscosmos (CC BY-NC 2.0)
"Poekhali!" ("Let's go!") is the word uttered by Yuri Gagarin during the launch of the Soviet carrier rocket. This event marked the first step of human race into outer space (you can get even more information on these "first steps" here).
Today cargo is delivered to the ISS by carrier rockets belonging to different countries, but astronauts are brought to the orbit only by the Russian launchers. This tendency is likely to remain in the nearest future (the main criteria in choosing the right launcher is its safety). Other carrier rockets still cannot ensure a similar level of security as the Russian ones.
(I am going to knock on wood three times again. Yeah, even a science-based and technologically advanced sphere can be full of superstitions)
Nowadays any astronaut who gets into the launcher controlled by the Russian space center must be proficient in the Russian language. It is not Russia's requirement; it is the request of NASA.
Astronauts try practicing foreign languages before launching to the ISS. For example, the Russian astronauts speak English, while their U.S. counterparts use only Russian. International crew shows its ability for team working on the Earth. There is no indulgency. All mistakes are carefully analyzed. If necessary, the crew does the same tests again, but it can be replaced with a double team.
Countries can get into troubles or file notes of protest, but astronauts cannot survive in space on their own. They can make it only as a team! We should not forget that we are also astronauts on the space ship called "Earth" that revolves around the Sun with a speed of 30 km/s (more than 100,000 km/h).
Today there are two official on-board languages on the ISS, which are English and Russian. In fact, astronauts us their mix, called Runglish. Runglish is a special slang made of Russian and English words. This space language is probably studied by modern linguists.