text:
Chester A. Arthur: Family Life
By Justus Doenecke
Arthur's wife died of pneumonia in 1880, thus he entered the White House as a widower. The marriage was on the verge of dissolution, for she was losing tolerance for late hours and high living. Although never a doting father, Arthur loved his son, Chester Alan Jr., a student at the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) during Arthur's term as President, and his daughter, Ellen "Nell" Herndon Arthur, age ten in 1881. His family competed for his time, however, with his near obsession with fishing, feasting with his cronies, and administrative work. Arthur loved to give grand parties and to showcase his children at such affairs. They were not always as eager to be in the social arena, although Chester Arthur Jr. eventually took to the social life; after attending college, he became a wealthy gentleman playboy with no ambition for politics or work.
Justus Doenecke
Professor Emeritus of History
New College of Florida
Chester A. Arthur Presidency Page
Chester A. Arthur Essays
Life After the Presidency
Family Life (Current Essay)


text:
Painting the Campus Pink
When the announcement that Zeta Tau Alpha would be arriving on campus reached the students last year, the women of Piedmont College were divided. While some were excited at the prospect of a sisterhood, others were apprehensive about negative stereotypes. Zeta Tau Alpha's arrival came without major damaging bumps in the road, much to the delight of the sisters who brought the sorority here.
Abby Carberry and Kenzie Johnson are two leadership consultants for ZTA. They work alongside the members as on-campus mentors. Before they landed on Piedmont's campus, they recognized that the students weren't initially all for the arrival of Greek life, but given some time and a little education, they saw the women warm up to ZTA.
"We feel as though the community was a bit hesitant at first," Carberry and Johnson said in a joint statement. "But after learning more about the foundation of Greek life and what it has to offer, we have seen a strong growth in interest. Even those who are not directly involved have expressed support and interest in our philanthropy and what we stand for, allowing us to partner with the Piedmont College community."
Carberry and Johnson said they aim for a broader sense of community on campus, not just between the sisters.
"Zeta Tau Alpha has been offering sisterhood to the women of our organization for 120 years," Carberry and Johnson said. "But we do not only benefit our members. Zeta takes pride in having a strong presence on all of our collegiate campuses and works towards bettering the local community and impacting the lives of those around us. Our chapter members have made several commitments already with our involvement with the women's soccer team 'Pink Out' event, campus clean up efforts and volunteering at the local food bank."
The "Pink Out" game, an event in which ZTA partnered with the women's soccer team to spread awareness about breast cancer education, was held on Oct. 1st, the first day of breast cancer awareness month. Alyssa Emmett, a junior mass communications major who is currently a member of ZTA, attended the game alongside her sorority sisters.
"It was wonderful," Emmett said. "The Pink Out was our first official event and we raised over $200 that night compared to 100 last year."
Emmett said she did walk into ZTA with some preconceived notions about Greek life that were common among the women at Piedmont. After talking to leadership consultants like Carberry and Johnson, however, she realized that Greek life had a place in her life.
"I believe everyone has their opinions of Greek life that are good or bad," Emmett said. "I always saw the bad side, but after talking to the girls before I joined, I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of. I joined so I could have a positive impact on Piedmont by being a founding member. I can be apart of something that will make Piedmont a better college than it already is."
Zeta leadership consultants Carberry and Johnson stated that they recognize that the cost of becoming a ZTA sister is not exactly the easiest on college students' bank accounts. They said they hope to provide more cost-effective ways to join the sisterhood, however they did not specify how they plan to do this.
"Finances definitely play a factor when it comes to deciding whether or not Greek life is for you," Carberry and Johnson said. "We have overcome a few financial concerns with current members already and will continue to be proactive in helping women with financial concerns who want to be part of our new ZTA chapter at Piedmont."
As the first official sorority featured at Piedmont, Zeta Tau Alpha has gotten many students on campus involved with their breast cancer awareness promotion, which ZTA designed to provide women with a strong sense of unity and empowerment. Although not all of the women at Piedmont have interest, or have been financially able, to officially become a sister, Carberry and Johnson have high hopes for ZTA's road ahead.
"We were thrilled to come to the Piedmont campus," Carberry and Johnson said. "Especially considering we were given the opportunity to be the first National Panhellenic Conference women's group on campus. We want to create an organization here at Piedmont where women can be involved, feel empowered, and contribute to the community around them. We are so excited and looking forward to working with other organizations at Piedmont College while creating a positive atmosphere in regards to Greek life as a whole."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
← News From the House of Slaughter
Coastal Retreat →
The Revolt of Islam in Syria
Posted on December 15, 2012 by jonathanspyer
Jerusalem Post, 14/12
The United States this week became the latest country to recognize the Syrian National Coalition, formed in Qatar a month ago, as the legitimate leadership of the Syrian opposition. The formation of a joint military council aligned with the coalition was also announced in Antalya, Turkey. At the same time, Washington designated Jabhat al-Nusra, the powerful Salafi armed group in Syria, as a terrorist organization.
All of these moves indicate that a coherent US and western policy toward the rebel side in the Syrian civil war is now emerging. This policy is in line with the Obama Administration's broader regional orientation, and meets with the approval of key EU governments. It is also the preferred direction of Turkey and Qatar, the two countries who led the international response to the Syrian rebellion during the long period that the west preferred not to get directly involved.
The intention is to align with and strengthen Muslim Brotherhood-associated elements, while painting Salafi forces as the sole real Islamist danger. At the same time, secular forces are ignored or brushed aside.
This dynamic is plainly visible in the composition of the new military council. The founder of the Free Syrian Army, the secular former Syrian Air Force Colonel Riad Asaad, is notably absent. General Mustafa al-Sheikh, the first of his rank to defect to the rebels, is also not there. Sheikh is known for his fierce opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood. Hussein Haj Ali, the highest ranking officer to defect so far, was similarly absent.
A Reuters report on the new joint military council calculated that the Muslim Brotherhood and their allies account for about two thirds of the 263 men who met in Antaliya and formed the new body. Salafi commanders are also there.
The new council is headed by Brigadier Selim Idriss, who is described as a non-ideological military man. But his deputies, Abdel-basset Tawil of Idleb and Abdel-qader Saleh of Aleppo governate are associated with the Salafi trend.
The domination by the Muslim Brotherhood of the new military council mirrors the movement's leading position in the new civilian leadership body – the Syrian National Coalition. The leader of this coalition is Ahmed Mouaz al-Khatib, former Imam of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
Khatib is closely associated with the Damascus Branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. The leader of the new coalition has a long history of antisemitic, anti-western and anti-Shia remarks (he praised Saddam Hussein, for example, for 'terrifying the Jews' and wrote an article asking if Facebook was an 'American-Israeli intelligence website.') He is also an admirer of the Qatar-based Muslim Brotherhood preacher Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi.
Within the body headed by Khatib, the Muslim Brotherhood dominated Syrian National Council controls around 27 of the 65 seats on the executive body of the new coalition. There are also Islamists and fellow travelers among the non-SNC delegates. The Brotherhood are by far the best organized single body within the coalition. One secular delegate at the first full meeting of the coalition accused the MB of "pushing more of its hawks into the coalition, although it already has half of the seats."
So the emergence of the Syrian National Coalition and the associated Joint Military Council means that the west and its regional Sunni allies are now backing a Muslim Brotherhood-dominated coalition as the preferred replacement for the Assad regime.
The al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusra organization, now designated a terror organization by the US, is a powerful, jihadi force on the ground. The western desire to declare this group off limits is entirely understandable. But the attempt to build it up as a kind of bogeyman to be contrasted with so-called 'moderate' Islamist groups has little basis in reality. The difference between the Salafis and the Muslim Brotherhood affiliated groups is one of degree, not of kind.
Exemplifying this, the US designation has led to a furious response across the board among the Syrian rebels. 29 rebel groups have now issued a statement saying 'we are all Jabhat al-Nusra.'
Their perception is that the US sought to avoid contact with the armed rebels, but now wants to be involved, because it glimpses the possibility of a rebel victory. The jihadis of Jabhat al Nusra, on the other hand, have been there since the start and have proven themselves among the most militarily capable of the rebel units.
This perception largely accords with the facts.
The media focus on Jabhat al Nusra may well be exaggerated. Even those articles claiming it is now playing a dominant role in the fighting admit that it constitutes only a small fraction of the total number of rebel fighters (9% is the number often quoted, though it is difficult to see on what basis this suspiciously precise figure was reached).
The focus on Jabhat al Nusra should not obscure the fact that the better-organized, non-Salafi, home grown, Muslim Brotherhood elements that the US is backing are no less anti-western and no less anti-Jewish.
Could things have been different? As with Egypt, perhaps, if the west had perceived the risks and opportunities clearly at the start. This might have triggered a vigorous policy of support for non-Islamist opposition and fighting elements, which were there.
A counter-argument could also be made according to which in the Arab world in 2012, a non-Islamist popular force able to rival the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis in commitment and organizational capacity would be highly unlikely. In any case, such a policy was never tried, and is not being tried now.
The result is that the force now facing the retreating Assad regime is split between differing brands of Sunni Arab Islamism, some aligned with the west, some directly opposing it, but all holding fast to fundamentally anti-western ideologies.
Given the level of life that has been lost in Syria, and the presence of chemical and biological warfare programs now in the vicinity of Islamist terror groups, it does not seem hyperbolic to recall a stanza from Percy Shelley's famous poem 'The Revolt of Islam': 'their complicating lines did steep the orient sun in shadow…and all around, darkness more dread than night was poured upon the ground.'
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Assad, Islamists, States, Syria. Bookmark the permalink.


If we had been having a party this year I think we would have opted for something along these lies as we have such a lovely big garden now and her August birthday usually means it's nice weather. Setting up a few tables with cake stands and teapots (bought from charity shops and bootsales) would be fairly simple and decorating the garden with bunting would really finish the look well.
OMG Photo Booth Hire is really popular these days and you can completely see why. I reckon Sausage and her friends could have HOURS of fun with a box of dressing up gear and sole use of a photo booth. It's a really unique idea for a party which I absolutely love and could be complimented by a buffet and music for dancing to.
Sausage is getting to the point where she'll be old enough for sleepovers soon (god help us all!) and I think they can be a lovely way to celebrate a birthday. Go old-school with films, popcorn, face-masks and pyjamas and the party more or less makes itself! If you've got kids who aren't keen on sleeping away from their Mum and Dad, you can always offer the option to take them home later on in the evening.
A few weeks ago, we went to my mother-in-law's house for the afternoon and she'd set the garden up with a huge paddling pool for the girls, water toys, a buffet lunch for us and loungers/umbrellas set up for us to use. I remember thinking at the time that this could actually be a really fun party for youngsters – we might not be rich enough for a full swimming pool in the garden but we can do a good job of faking it!
Sausage has actually had two different versions of a cooking party, one in a test kitchen making cakes and another in a pizza restaurant but a way to drag it into the tween era could be to have a sushi making party! If they don't like fish, they could use cucumber, peppers or strips of omelette, and I even saw FRUIT sushi in the supermarket recently!


The first step is in making any infographic is content. You can brainstorm on a notepad, or type notes into a Word document. The key is to focus on how to split your content into sections. Afterwards you have to think about how you can structure your content. In my first infographic I decided to split my whole text up into five parts and in my second one there you will find three sections of content. My advice is to keep the text as short and easy as possible as this is not an elaborate article but rather a short guide. Your users should be able to get a quick idea about your chosen topic right at the first glance.
After you have decided on your content and split it into reasonable blocks you can start to think about your layout. Choose a proper size for the file that gives you enough space to fill in your content and layout. I chose 1080×1920, which is 16:9 in a portrait mode and fits perfectly on most mobile phone screens. Additionally what's very helpful is the extra function in Photoshop called 'grid'. When you turn it on whilst you're working it'll be easier to create symmetry on your infographic. Create border lines, centre lines and lines divide your document into equally sized sections.
First of all I created my four border lines at 5% horizontally and vertically. After your borders and centre lines are in place then divide the document up depending on how many stages there are in your infographic. In this GIF you can see how guidelines can aid your design process.
After your document is set up you can look for some suitable pictures, edit them and integrate those properly into your infographic. You can find a lot of nice and free stock photography at allthefreestock.com if you don't want to pay for stock photography.
It's important that your infographic reminds the user of your brand. To achieve this you can use your company's colours in your layout as I did in mine (green, white and dark grey). But it is also very good to integrate the logo of your brand like I did on top of my infographic. However, the most important thing is that you remain true to your company's philosophy even in your infographic. Your company's perspective will dictate the design style of your graphic. If you're designing for a dynamic and young company, for instance, you have to create the layout differently than you'd do it for a traditional one.
It is very helpful if you create a template with components which you can use in your next infographic again. As you can see in mine, I used, for example, some wavy green connector lines and the circles that outline which step we are on. By having reliable templates and design components you can save a lot of time that you can spend on other things (like scheduling posts with Yatter).
Additionally, a template supports that you stay on Brand because you don't have to change a lot when you create another infographic. It is easier and it saves a lot of time!
Once you've finished with your design then remember to group your layers and name your layers properly. This makes it easier to use the infographic as a template and means other people can understand your how the file is made. As you can see in the GIF above, it looks clearly arranged with all those groups and designations.
Keep it simple, have some discipline and you can create an infographic template you can use over and over again.
In conclusion, the first step is to come up with good content and to split this into convenient components. Use the guidelines in Photoshop to aid your design process and come up with some nice free stock photography. As soon as you got all your separated parts you can start to put them together into a clear infographic. Keep in mind that it's important to stay on Brand, what means to use your company's colours for example. My final advice is to create templates that you can use in the next infographic. That saves a lot of time.
I hope that this guide is helpful and you can read about my internship at Yatter here.
Kathleen interned at Yatter in Summer 2017, coming from Frankfurt, Germany. She specialised in graphic design, creating templates for social media imagery and infographics.
Next PostWhy ignoring the email SPF record may be destroying your email marketing campaign?


JANESVILLE, WI (April 2015) – On April 10, Data Dimensions, an innovative leader in business process automation, was honored by YWCA Rock County with the presentation of the 2015 YWCA Corporate Award of Merit.
Data Dimensions is involved in a number of YWCA projects, including its "Fix the Flats" initiative, which aims to restore and maintain the Jeffris Flats apartment building in Janesville, which serves as transitional housing for women and children escaping domestic violence. In Sept. 2013, Data Dimensions donated $30,000 to renovate the facility, and Data Dimensions continues to give each family entering the Jeffris House a welcome basket of necessities in addition to beds, sheets, pillows, blankets and an inspirational wall hanging. Also, Data Dimensions provides each family a membership to the local YMCA. Thanks in part to the efforts of Data Dimensions, women and children seeking service from the YWCA enter the Jeffris apartments in a state of crisis but leave empowered. Many, in fact, return once they're back on their feet to help other women and children in similar situations.
Also, in June 2014, Data Dimensions donated $50,000 to renovate the CARE House, a child advocacy center that, since 1993, has provided professional and compassionate care to thousands of victims of physical and sexual abuse and neglect.


Reprinted from October 1, 2012.
Reprinted from April 18, 2011.
I ran across an interesting slave narrative recently and thought I'd share it today. Behind the Scenes, or, Thirty Years a Slave, And Four Years in the White House was written by Elizabeth Keckley. She was best known as the personal seamstress and confidante of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Keckley was born a slave in 1818, but purchased her freedom in 1860 and then moved to Washington. She created an independent business in the capital, and her clients included the wives of the government elite.
Keckley not only became Mrs. Lincoln's dressmaker, she was also the first lady's personal dresser and closest companion. She was a White House habitué during the pivotal years of the Abraham Lincoln presidency; the two ladies travelled together, with Keckley present for the Gettysburg address, and they raised money together for the Civil War effort.
Keckley son's died in the war in August 1861, but her mourning was cut short to comfort Mrs. Lincoln, who lost her own son to typhoid the following February. Keckley was also there to provide support following the president's assassination and Mrs. Lincoln's transition out of the White House.
Keckley decided to write her memoir in part to salvage the former first lady's reputation after the war. However, the publication of Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years as a Slave and Four Years in the White House in 1868 had the opposite effect; feeling betrayed by the revelations in the book, Mrs. Lincoln cut off contact with the woman she once called her closest friend.
I just recently learned about Elizabeth Keckley. Were you at all familiar with her? Thanks for visiting and have a great week!
My friend Lisa sent me a link to this fascinating article about Alice Jones and Kip Rhinelander. What an interesting topic to blog about, especially since my soon to be released novel, Revelation, deals with a woman who hides the secret of a black grandparent.
In 1921, Leonard Kip Rhinelander, a member of a socially prominent wealthy New York family, began a romance with Alice Beatrice Jones, a domestic. The two met during Rhinelander's stay at the Orchard School in Stamford, Connecticut, an inpatient clinic where he was seeking treatment for extreme shyness and stuttering.
They had a three-year romance before marrying at the New Rochelle, New York courthouse in October of 1924, not long after Rhinelander turned 21. The couple moved in with Jones' parents in Pelham Manor. Although Rhinelander didn't tell his family about the marriage, he continued to work at Rhinelander Real Estate Company.
The couple tried to keep their marriage secret, but news of it was soon announced by the press. Because of the Rhinelanders' wealth and social position, New Rochelle reporters wanted to learn about Jones' background. After they began investigating, reporters discovered that Jones was the daughter of English immigrants and her father, George, was a "colored man".
At first, Rhinelander stood by his wife during the scathing national coverage of their marriage. But after two weeks, he gave in to his family's demands to leave Jones. He signed an annulment complaint that his father's lawyers had prepared. The document claimed that Jones had deceived Rhinelander by hiding her true race and passing herself off as a white woman. Jones denied this stating that her race was obvious. Rhinelander later said that Jones hadn't deceived him outright but did so by letting him believe she was white.
When One Of New York's Glitterati Married A 'Quadroon'.
I'd read about this case before, had you ever heard about it?
Do you have a favorite Italian meal for the crock pot? Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!
Republished from March 4, 2011.


Instead, Trump has been clumsy. Immigration was always going to be a tough issue for him because, while Trump has been a politician for just 15 months, he's been a developer, builder and businessman for nearly 50 years. He must know that the U.S. economy would crumble without illegal immigrant labor. No matter what the politician says, the businessman won't be eager to rid the country of all undocumented workers.
Still, if flip-flopping on immigration were an Olympic sport, Trump's performance would only be strong enough for a silver medal.
Hillary Clinton is in a different league.
So Clinton is "adamantly" against illegal immigrants, and yet she wanted to give them a path to citizenship?
Among those of us who cover the immigration beat, and who follow that debate closely, Clinton is not usually described as an outspoken advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. That list includes lawmakers such as Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. She may well support a legislative approach that includes legalizing the undocumented, but she has never stuck her neck out on the issue.
Also, if Clinton really does support comprehensive immigration reform, then why did she later support a worker protection amendment that was meant to kill the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007? Proposed by Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, the amendment added a "sunset" clause to the guest-worker provision in the bill and scared off Republican support.
Then there is Clinton's muddled position on whether the undocumented should get driver's licenses. She said "no." Then "yes." Then "no" again. And by the end of 2007, she had repeatedly flip-flopped – something that Barack Obama pointed out in that debate in January 2008.
"The only point I would make is Senator Clinton gave a number of different answers over the course of six weeks on this issue," Obama said.
But, for Clinton, the most awkward about-face on immigration had to have been during the Central American refugee crisis in the summer of 2014 when – over the course of 24 hours – she flip-flopped over whether to change a human trafficking law that makes it harder for officials to deport child refugees by ensuring that they get an asylum hearing.
What a messy dismount. It is performances like this that show why, in the flip-flop Olympics, Clinton deserves the gold.


text:
package com.plutonium.playtopay.fragments.games;

import android.content.res.Resources;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.CountDownTimer;
import android.os.Handler;
import android.support.annotation.Nullable;
import android.support.v4.app.Fragment;
import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.GridLayout;
import android.widget.TextView;

import com.plutonium.playtopay.AppConstants;
import com.plutonium.playtopay.R;
import com.plutonium.playtopay.models.events.screens.ShowPlayerScoreScreenEvent;
import com.plutonium.playtopay.models.events.screens.StartGameEvent;
import com.plutonium.playtopay.models.games.ControlPanel;
import com.plutonium.playtopay.utils.PropertiesReader;

import java.util.Properties;
import java.util.Random;

import de.greenrobot.event.EventBus;

public class ControlPanelGameFragment extends Fragment{

    private ControlPanel controlPanel;

    private Random gridRandom;

    private Handler handler;
    private int time;
    private Runnable runnable;

    private GridLayout gridLayout;
    private TextView scoreTextView;
    private TextView timerTextView;

    private View.OnClickListener normalButtonListener;
    private View.OnClickListener redButtonListener;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(@Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

        controlPanel = new ControlPanel();
        gridRandom = new Random();

        Properties properties = new PropertiesReader(getActivity()).getProperties("play_to_pay.properties");
        time = Integer.parseInt(properties.getProperty("control_panel_max_time"));

        handler = new Handler();
        runnable = new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                if(time != 0){
                    timerTextView.setText(Integer.toString(time));
                    --time;
                    handler.postDelayed(this, 1000);
                }
                else{
                    EventBus.getDefault().post(new ShowPlayerScoreScreenEvent(controlPanel.getScore()));
                }
            }
        };

        normalButtonListener = new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View v) {
                controlPanel.updateScore(false);
                updateScore();
                setupGrid();
            }
        };
        redButtonListener = new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View v) {
                controlPanel.updateScore(true);
                updateScore();
                setupGrid();
            }
        };
    }

    @Nullable
    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, @Nullable ViewGroup container,
                             @Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        View rootView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_control_panel_game, container, false);
        gridLayout = (GridLayout) rootView.findViewById(R.id.grid);
        timerTextView = (TextView) rootView.findViewById(R.id.timer_text_view);
        scoreTextView = (TextView) rootView.findViewById(R.id.score_text_view);

        updateScore();
        setupGrid();

        return rootView;
    }

    @Override
    public void onStart() {
        super.onStart();
        handler.post(runnable);
    }

    @Override
    public void onStop() {
        super.onStop();
        handler.removeCallbacks(runnable);
    }

    private void setupGrid(){
        gridLayout.removeAllViews();

        GridLayout.LayoutParams gridLayoutParams = new GridLayout.LayoutParams(
                new ViewGroup.LayoutParams(ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
                        ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT)
        );
        gridLayoutParams.setMargins(5, 5, 5, 5);

        int row = gridRandom.nextInt(4);
        int col = gridRandom.nextInt(4);

        for(int i = 0; i < 4; i++){
            for(int j = 0; j < 4; j++){
                int dp = dpToPx(AppConstants.GRID_BUTTON_WIDTH_HEIGHT);

                GridLayout.LayoutParams params = new GridLayout.LayoutParams(
                        new ViewGroup.LayoutParams(dp, dp)
                );
                params.setMargins(5, 5, 5, 5);

                Button button = new Button(getActivity());

                if(i == row && j == col){
                    button.setBackgroundColor(ContextCompat.getColor(getActivity(), R.color.flat_red));
                    button.setOnClickListener(redButtonListener);
                }
                else{
                    updateButtonColor(button);
                    button.setOnClickListener(normalButtonListener);
                }
                gridLayout.addView(button, params);
            }
        }
    }

    private void updateScore(){
        scoreTextView.setText(Integer.toString(controlPanel.getScore()));
    }

    private int dpToPx(int dp)
    {
        return (int) (dp * Resources.getSystem().getDisplayMetrics().density);
    }

    private void updateButtonColor(Button button){
        button.setBackgroundColor(ContextCompat.getColor(getActivity(),
                controlPanel.getRandomColor()));
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
You are here: Home » World » China » Beijing's Olympic Quest: Turn Smoggy Sky Blue
Beijing's Olympic Quest: Turn Smoggy Sky Blue
Written by Diana Thebaud Nicholson // December 29, 2007 // China, Environment & Energy, Government & Governance, Olympics // No comments
China's unsolved riddle is how to reconcile fast economic growth with environmental protection. But Beijing's Olympic deadline means the city needs an immediate answer. The ruling Communist Party envisions the Games as a public relations showcase and is leaving no detail untended. Now Beijing is also going to try to manipulate air quality. For months, scientists have treated the city like a laboratory, testing wind patterns and atmospheric structure, while pinpointing local and regional pollution sources. Olympics contingency plans have been approved for Beijing and surrounding provinces. Details are not public, but officials have discussed shutting down factories and restricting traffic during the Games.
(NYT) BEIJING — Every day, monitoring stations across the city measure air pollution to determine if the skies above this national capital can officially be designated blue. It is not an act of whimsy: with Beijing preparing to play host to the 2008 Olympic Games, the official Blue Sky ratings are the city's own measuring stick for how well it is cleaning up its polluted air.
For the world's Olympians, Beijing's air is a performance issue. The concern is that respiratory problems could impede athletic performance and prevent records from being broken. For the city's estimated 12 million residents, pollution is an inescapable health and quality-of-life issue. Skepticism about the validity of the Blue Sky ratings is common. Moreover, the concern is whether the city can clean itself up long after the Games are over.
Beijing has long ranked as one of the world's most polluted cities. To win the Games, Beijing promised a "Green Olympics" and undertook environmental initiatives now considered models for the rest of the country. But greening Beijing has not meant slowing it down. Officials also have encouraged an astonishing urbanization boom that has made environmental gains seem modest, if not illusory.
Polluting factories have been moved or closed. But auto emissions are rising – an explosion of car ownership has wrought gridlocked traffic and a halo of auto fumes. Beijing now has more than three million vehicles and is adding more than 400,000 new cars and trucks each year. Dirty, coal-burning furnaces have been replaced, lowering the city's sulfur dioxide emissions. But fine-particle pollution has been exacerbated by a staggering citywide construction binge that shows no signs of letting up. Complete article
Canada: Environment policy & national energy strategy


Check your clamps and hoses before they check out.
Hard slams and big bangs are conditions every mariner endures in rough seas—hopefully, it doesn't take long to get to calmer cruising waters. However, while crew and passengers wrestle for stability, it's a war down in the engine room. The constant vibration, high heat, and extremely hard knocks loosen hoses, clamps, belts, and screws, and equipment can fail. That's why you need to check your clamps and hoses often.
Vigilance and repair can keep your boat's engine running at peak performance. Keeping a close eye on your hoses and clamps is a good place to start. By inspecting these important connections on a regular basis—at least twice a year—you'll make sure they are secure and keep the fluids circulating through the system and not into the engine room.
Because many hoses are equipped with a barrier layer that prevents chafing and abrasion of the hose's internal layers, you can spot a potential problem before it starts leaking. Pay close attention to hoses in contact with other pieces of machinery for signs the barrier layer is being worn or damaged.
In general, hoses are considered "flexible" connections between two points. If a hose is rigid and appears to be brittle, it may be time to replace it. Also, most hoses have a date code in the imprinted line identifying the product. Material specifications can vary but pay attention to hoses with date codes older than seven years.
Is this application above or below the water line?
For a fuel hose, what type of fuel is it? Will fuel sit in the hose when not in use, or is this just a fill or tank-venting application?
Are there pressure or vacuum requirements for the application?
Do I need hose made from FDA-approved materials for potable and food applications?
For gasoline applications, are the lines certified to the latest low-permeation requirements?
Does the hose need to be Lloyds of London certified?
Is this a commercial vessel that can have unique hose requirements for U.S. Coast Guard inspection?
For sanitation hose, look at the difficulty in routing the hose and where the hose routing runs, such as under a cabin berth. If it's difficult, spend the money on an ultra-low odor or odor-free hose. It's worth the additional cost and your nose will thank you in the long run.
For clamps, 316-grade stainless steel is a top choice according to the ABYC standards under the P1 Exhaust Systems specification.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Clamps require regular inspection. Check for signs of corrosion, loose clamps or over tightened clamps that could be cutting into the hose and be a future source of a failure or leak.
"Any hose clamp will do." Not true. Most people assume that hose clamps provide a 360-degree seal onto the hose. Some do, but many do not, and because of that, be sure you are utilizing the correct material, size and style of clamp for your application. For example, T-Bolt clamps provide a uniform, even seal and are an excellent choice for high-vibration, large-diameter hose applications like the exhaust system. The common worm-gear style clamp is good for low pressure, general connections, but do not provide 360-degree clamping pressure. Knowing the application and the requirements is key.
"I checked and there was no leak." Many times, a single hose clamp may provide a non-leak seal; however, the USCG, ABYC, NMMA, or SAE may have requirements or recommendations for the use of two hose clamps per connection end. In cases where two hose clamps are required, the tightening point on the clamps should be 180 degrees opposite to provide the best sealing method.


text:
November 1 2018 - January 31 2023
Parma Ham's gone mouldy
nutty nigel
Barham Blitz
keelansgrandad
Parma's State of the Nation
I've thought about this @Taiwan Canary. No there are no weapons really. Though just to re-clarify you can have very good players that are not weapons, and conversely not very good players that are weapons. To explain by using extremes, I could probably argue that Kevin de Bruyne is not technically a weapon, he is 'just' brilliant (that is weaponish of course, I know I'm reaching, humour me), though Andy Carroll - who is now not the greatest footballer - still is a weapon. The weapon can do certain 'special teams' things that you cannot as an opposition coach ignore. You have to change your own preferred tactical blueprint for your own side, to take account of the the opposition's weapon. Carroll gets thrown on in the 80th minute. They go high and long and hit early deep balls to him. He is not mobile, but he'll win the headers. You definitely can't sit deep and let crosses rain in. So you have to get one in front one behind, get your midfielders to be alert to second balls, try to get wide players alert - and quite possibly pressing a little higher - to stop full backs at source. Conversely what exactly are you going to do about Kevin de Bruyne? He's just better than anything you've got (He is a weapon with his set pieces too, so you really can't give free kicks away), you certainly have to go 3 in the middle if you don't already and you have to keep a tight catenaccio 4 with very short spaces between them to prevent slide rule balls. Ok so he is a weapon, but you know what I mean now… Anyhoo, we have nothing like either of them. Only Pukki. I won't be disingenuous to @Petriix and - here's some hope for you and @nutty nigel @Taiwan Canary - will acknowledge that when clumsy Sarge starts driving hard and cutting into spaces, looking to shoot, he can look hard to stop, though I'm afraid he is 'a level' player. With a fraction more time and space, and a fraction less diligent and counter-threatening opposition he can look quite a handful. Take those things away (higher level) and I am afraid he doesn't and won't. Sara and Nunez are interesting additions that represent gambles on a number of levels and have novelty value and some nice moments. We will see whether diligence and positional discipline come to both or either. I am not at all sure I have seen it yet. The good news: Love Nunez' free kicks, that's a weapon actually, as he genuinely strikes them all well and correctly. Sara's corners also please me, they should be more weaponised, though I dislike our attacking of corners. I don't yet see the quality of runs and movement I would expect. I am not knocking Alan Russell, who has good pedigree and valuable ideas, though Gibson and Hanley are simply not good enough at attacking headers (as opposed to defensive headers, two very different techniques). Kenny is the best at getting into good positions, though he is not as good at finishing as he might be either. Sarge is good in the air, though makes poor runs, gives free kicks away cheaply and is too 'noisy' about it all, often getting 'tagged' by referees (and thus treated sharper, to his and our own harm). It's a wasted opportunity from one of our very limited weapon-like things (best phrase I could find). I imagine Alan Russell is a bit frustrated by it and Smith might well want to add someone who can profit from these deliveries better. It's a huge source of cheap goals that we don't get. Aarons can be weaponish when he is really on song. His advantage is his deep position - with often plenty of time and space - and his ability to cut both ways and accelerate past players. Wonderful in full flow. Hard to defend against sometimes, so opposition coaches have worked out not to. They actually overload his side, pump balls high and get him defending. Not a great compliment really. He'll have to overcome that to move on (and not just be distant back up). His sliding last-ditch save was absolutely magnificent yesterday by the way, I thought it got a bit overlooked. Every bit as good as a goal I'd say. That's what's he can do. Cantwell I desperately want to do ….well?…better? It is there, striking cleanly off both sides, magnetising the ball at his best, though - sorry Todd - I do always think of Brian Clough when I watch him play, what he said about how he achieved his success with provincial players: 'They come to me with false confidence, I strip that away and give them real confidence' Onel flatters to deceive, Dowell doesn't run hard enough and gets bypassed too easily, he also isn't nasty enough. Psychologists studied the best players, trying to find out what really made them great. They found all the things you'd expect: drive, determination, will to win, an attitude of continual improvement…but that was just the averagely good ones…they found that the very best had all of that, though equally just hated losing, couldn't bear it. It Pathologically troubled them. One doesn't get any sense of that from Dowell. We have finally woken up - I think Smith totally knew it from the outset to be fair - to the fact that we need the role of CDM desperately. You need 2 good CDMs at least actually. To have none in the Premier was madness. The only way I could forgive it, is if we totally threw everything at getting Skipp and it fell through on us….though a Plan B was surely in a drawer somewhere too?…Quite how that drawer ended up marked 'Gilmour' is far beyond me. The Gunn-Krul axis is far too good - and surely too expensive - for this level. So that is a positive that must surely be fairly short-lived. The Hanley-Ono-Gibson triumvirate is super strong at this level. Though Gibson has been strangely below par, his passing can be quite sweet, with good range and accuracy. Perhaps Omo can start scoring a few more goals too, he has quite a decent presence and eye I think. Giannoulis-McCallum is of course good enough. McCallum has something about him too. I like him. Giannoulis can look dynamic and daft in the same minute. Bit frustrating for coaches that. Ramsey is a good player and it's perfectly ok to have good loan players at 10 - or even 9 - if you don't have them. Assist and scoring players don't need to care much about the team, they can be selfish and just want to look good, get headlines and further their careers. It fits the space in the jigsaw anyway.. Pukki is brilliant. He is and always has been our weapon. The only issue - and anyone (any forward) that has dropped down the leagues from a good level knows this - is that you are reliant on everybody else. And they don't and can't think as fast as you. They make the right pass half a second too late. Lots of what you have doesn't get used. It's frustrating. It can make you snatch at what does come your way. Pukki is better than this, he has a world class temperament and a supreme level of movement. We're just not good enough for him. And we are increasingly not completely set up to serve him either. Whisper it, but the way we are starting to play looks better suited (designed?) more for Sarge. That's where the money went and we probably don't have any more to spend. Strikers are bloody expensive. Personally I dread the day we don't have Pukki anymore, though - as @chicken says - it is the model. Rinse and repeat. We have bet some of the farm on Sargent and we are - again - going to bank on him. If I was feeling a bit Norwich Private Eye, I would say this was fine. He will fit our requirements perfectly. Somewhere between 8th and 4th in the second tier. Parma
The real weapon was the Emi / Teemu combo. It seems neither have hit the same heights since. It was a weapon that fell into place rather than planned. I don't think either was bought with the other in mind. But that's often the way in football. That's why the future is of hopes and dreams as much as plans and the past. A big part of the state of the nation is Colney and the Academy and making sure that pathways are made to the first team. That was the first priority of this board even though originally funded by fans. I wouldn't have stumped up to pay players wages even if those players were Emi and Teemu. But Norwich fans have always supported the academy ever since the events of the mid- nineties. Let's not forget that Ray's Funds was originally Rays Funds for FONCY and we took pride whenever one of our own made the first team. For me playing a small part of the FONCY story was a bit of a dream come true. When premier league riches brought the prospect of Cat One Academy our contributions would make little difference so now we take even more pride in our wonderful DS and pan-disability football teams. However that connection we feel with the club and the youngsters of that time will always be there. Now as well as our own youngsters we buy in young players from other clubs and try to make them better. But that' won't work if there's no pathway to the first team. I remember a post on here from 2018 stating that having sold Maddison and Murphy there was just Lewis left with any value. Within a couple of months Aarons, Godfrey and Cantwell had found their paths. Mistakes are always made when buying players but we mustn't compound those mistakes by having them here blocking the pathways for our youngsters. Calls to sign a journeyman fourth choice centreback would certainly have stopped Tomkinson's games this season. Keeping Rashica and Plachetta would have blocked Rowe and Springett. Of course you have to have a manager who's prepared to use those pathways and it seems Smith is carrying on where Farke left off in that regard. So although I haven't really taken to Smith I do recognise and appreciate that continuation. As for Sarge he is still very young for the type of player he is. He played 50 Bundesliga games before he was 21. He's still young and still one who can improve further and become that weapon for us. I've always liked him and made no secret of that. So as well as Sarge (and we still have Pukki) other reasons to be cheerful include Gunn, Aarons, Omobamidele, Tompkinson. McCallum, Gibbs, Cantwell, Idah, Rowe and Springett. Also Saxon Early and Bali Mumba appear to be having good loans and if that's not enough a young Welsh centre forward called Roberts signed a pro contract last month.
Striving to make sense of the Ukraine war
This is a simple equation for the USA. No American soldiers coming home in body bags. Bleed Russia white by financing the Ukranians. Brutal but in the long term, essential. Encourage other NATO countries to continue their support both militarily and financially. Russia cannot be allowed any sort of propaganda win.
Are we all happy tonight?
A couple of things. First, Parma makes a suggestion that basing our team around Sarge up front will do very well if our aim is to finish between 4th and 8th in the Championship. I am at a stage where I'd be happy with that provided the general quality of play is pretty good and exciting. Even when I watch a Premier League match described as a "poor match between two poor sides" I end up thinking that those teams are way too good for us - maybe I haven't recovered from last season. I don't enjoy watching EPL matches nowadays even if they're really good if I start thinking about how we might compete with them. I prefer to thinking of it almost as another competition which has nothing to do with us - then I can enjoy it. I actually quite enjoyed Saturday's match. I thought it was a good performance and I'm happy watching us play like that even though it may not have been as good as Farkeball at its best - and even though we might lack weapons. A few special moments from Sara in the first half and Max's rejuvenated performance were great to watch. My second point comes from the news that Hasenhuttl has been sacked. The Guardian report from their match yesterday said "their pressing game is gone, replaced with a method that involves bypassing the central areas – criminally underusing James Ward-Prowse – and playing on the break." That sounds as though he/they came to a similar view to Webber that we needed to move away from Farkeball in order to survive/flourish in the Premier League. It doesn't seem to have worked for them so far..
It's a shame because the level of analysis and quality of debate in this thread was on another level to what we often see on here. No need to drag it down into squabbling about opinions on things we simply cannot know one way or the other. Ultimately you need to look at the bigger picture of where the club is now. It's pretty unequivocal that some big mistakes have been made and the excuses are wearing thin. I can understand some of the choices, but others were seriously questionable even without hindsight. Now we know the outcome it's strange that people still want to defend the indefensible. I get wanting to support the club. Me too. I'm even happy with how Dean Smith has responded in the last 3 games. But I won't be leaping to defend Webber's transfers or his performance as 'director of football' - the football has only been going in one direction until very recently.
It all comes down to this central issue doesn't it ? Whether or not you are in the Farke had to go camp or not (I am firmly in the "not" camp btw) Webber tore up the blueprint that he himself had created, binned the concept of incremental progression (the Top 26 metric,) the model regarding playing style (and arguably elements of the recruitment process) and threw the manager who had helped make all that possible under the metaphorical bus in the process. The metaphorical bus that we were still unable to tactically park under the new manager anyway I might add. Was it because he bet the farm on bucking the trend through imposing a new set of tactics and a new set of players - the infamous bazookas and grenades - so that he himself could go out with a bang ? This isn't another lament for Farke per se (although I wish we'd never dismissed him in the first place.) Or even another diatribe against Smith (again, although for various reasons I wish we'd come up with a better alternative.) It's recognising that having established ourselves as a club with an identity and a process and achieving relative success on a relative shoestring whilst playing some great football in the process, we managed to throw all that away in a transfer window and the first dozen games of a season. We have gone from defiantly yellow and green to the same beige of the lower-mid premiership and upper-mid championship because we were chasing the dragon (or perhaps chasing the chicken might be a more apt metaphor) of Premiership survival without the idealistic pragmatism - if you'll forgive the oxymoron - that got us there. Yes, it would be great if we could afford to speculate more money on a higher class of player, or retain the good ones we have. But we don't. And in line with Sam Vimes's 'Boots Theory' of Socioeconomic Unfairness we end up wasting cash on what turn out to be inferior players we can just about afford because we can't afford to spend a little more on better ones. The following quote is an extract from an interview Webber gave to The Athletic after that first relegation. "Now is the time for us to be backing him. Not talking bad of him or putting him under any undue pressure. As far as I'm concerned, he'll be here as long as he wants to be here. If he doesn't, then that's a call he has to make himself [...] We're going to be in the Championship next year. Why do you not have the guy who just won the league with 94 points taking you forward [...] Will Daniel change how he plays? I hope not because that would cause a problem. We've built for three years on this. But do we need better personnel in there and a better profile of personnel? Definitely." Source https://theathletic.com/1925314/2020/07/13/stuart-webber-norwich-city-relegation/ What changed in a year Stuart ?
Do you know what? I think this post brings us full circle. Webber - whether club-wise or personal ambition-wise - couldn't bear to accept we had reached a sporting ceiling, so sacked Farke. The glossy 2022 Annual Report could not be clearer that the driving goal behind every decision, every investment, every forecaster meeting, is to retain top level Premier status. That is the sole economic and sporting driver, benchmark and focus. And yet, and yet….. @Rottingdean canary doesn't really want it, the football you have to play is attritional, you cannot be 'the protagonist' and almost none of your players are good enough upon promotion. Any that are, the self-sustaining model can't afford to keep. And certainly not for long enough to crack the strategic ice to the next level. Farke's positional play methodology was demonstrably too good for the Championship, though only the preserve of the superior at the top level. In fact as @Rottingdean canary painfully - and sadly fairly - says, even the lower-mid table scrappers are miles better than us. So you you keep solving yesterday's problems. You bring a pragmatic lower Prem style coach in to manage a team that doesn't have the coherent swarming flair to be special in tier 2, though you do develop a team that looks a diluted version of low prem scrappers that just sees you embroiled in a lower league me-too bunfight. Now of course with no weapons and nobody at all good enough to compete at the top level. Nor do you have the money to 'do a Fulham-Forest' - and almost certainly nor should you - so how central really is that Annual Report driving ambition? Strangely, Webber did demonstrate the centrality of the ambition by sacking Farke. In many ways that was coherent with the stated objective. Though as @Barham Blitz and now @Rottingdean canary have shown, other plans, decisions and sporting approaches do not seem to adhere quite so stringently. I'm afraid We simply wouldn't have made many of the decisions we have made if we had more money. A bit more access to cash, a little bit more wiggle room for weapons and ephemeral nexus point opportunities. We have got used to them coming around reasonably often. They don't have to, do they @nutty nigel @ricardo? Parma
Liverpool up for sale!
It will be a fan buyout so watch the shoplifting hit new heights in Liverpool.
10 red cards in one game!
Do you actually go down POW Road on a Friday night?
What is there to negotiate? Russia has no entitlement to any Ukrainian territory whatsoever as basically if they did get any, it teaches that might makes right!
Saints sack Ralf
A club like Saints have been even more keen on selling their best players than us. Van Dijk, Mane, Bale, Shaw, Walcott etc. And they have had a very good youth system. So there will be periods when they suffer, understandably, and the directors need to accept that. The wealthy Liebherrs didn't exactly throw money at the club. So I don't see that he has done a bad job. Just one that was only going to end in tears.
Hooliganism at Norwich
Oh, it was carnage. There was tutting, fists being shook, raised voices and once there was a bin knocked over. Dark days my friend. Ones we don't want to return to.
When will the UK rejoin the EU?
We've all agreed that anyone that can keep a straight face while claiming MBB is remotely funny needs to be removed from the forum
Exactly this. The parallels between not helping Poland in WW2 and this look very similar. That wasn't one of Western Europe's finest moments of judgement, that one.
Buendia had 3 years left on his contract at the time of his sale. Sold to Villa in summer 2021. Signed deal with us until summer 2024.
Between the pair of you, I think that nails our State of the Nation. I do sense a corner has turned this season, ditching Webber's "we need to prepare for EPL and only use 4-3-3" with a false assumption that it would get us promoted, to a more pragmatic "let's just get promoted first" then try again over the close season to make minor amendments to the plan. And I do mean it that Webber has been driving the 4-3-3. Smith strikes me as a pragmatic bloke, I'm grateful he has finally had words with Stu and cleared the decks!
100% would take Ralf over Smith. Quality head coach. Natural leader. Good football. Lost his way a bit this season but that's what happens when a club consistently sells their best assets.
You can't deny it's peak PinkUn that a thread asking if fans are happy with the result on Saturday has led to an argument on the European Court of Human Rights view on smacking children.
Yesterday's "penalties"
I think it's because theirs would have changed the game and levelled things so was more of a dramatic moment. Plus the fact the player was carded and the ref got some player/supporter stick all makes some lovely TV drama. I wouldn't read to much into it, it's TV, if our missed penalty opportunity is what stopped us winning the game or even losing it I suspect it would have been featured on the short highlights, especially if our players had reacted similarly. edit: Unless I'm mistaken our club highlights is missing their penalty shout isn't it? In which case hilarious
Aaron Ramsey- Not just Smith's mate?
The first and third are, but the second and fourth make valid points.
Smith's Drive to Carrow Rd
I thought last week was half term
NODGE City- EP. 1
This is Episode 1 of alternate reality Norwich City- a Fifa story- the unrealistic re-rebuild! Set at the start of last season. This is a comedy for Norwich City fans, so I hope you can get a few laughs. EDIT: If you enjoy this please share with friends and/or subscribe to the channel.
Kenny is in of course!
I lost count of the amount of interceptions he made and movement off the ball to create room for other players, not to mention the goal he scored. I can see why people slate him but sometimes got to look at the bigger picture, two managers have regularly picked him now
Buendia is a key figure in the the State of the Nation, though some of the key elements are lost If we are not careful. Good players move on. Weapons are always desirable. Anybody any good always wants to move to Real Madrid and earn more money. Everyone. Every day. All the time. In modern football, with eye-watering sums of money available in the Premier League, nobody - literally nobody - sells their key weapon at the point of promotion. It doesn't happen. It's suicide for a number of reasons. Momentum is utterly, fundamentally important in football. There is huge collateral damage in the morale and belief of all of the remaining players. I can assure you that this was the case post-Buendia sale. It is very difficult to attract weapons and really good players to Norwich. Football is funny though, it only takes Guardiola to say 'I love watching Norwich' and your chances might go up 25%. Players across all clubs are forever talking about which clubs 'are on the up'. We really were. Then we sold Buendia. And then we really weren't. The narrative spins on a dime and the 'feelings vultures' circle. 'Brave, fluid, highly-technical… positional play adherents'…outside bet'…..becomes 'not trying'….'they don't deserve promotion'…'Norwich never give it a go'….'whipping boys' I can tell you now that players do not ignore that noise. It is the water cooler currency of footballers, and it was ever thus. Statutory accounts are generally about 18 months out of date (versus Live-feed Management Accounts). This is quite handy here because we don't now have to guess, we can read the book. We have taken out advanced monies of around £66m, which has allowed us to remain within our financial limits-covenants-overdraft-access to cash. This means that we needed somebody to advance us cash to cover what we wanted to spend - were obliged to pay. This means we needed cash to conduct our affairs and - as an extension - to fund our purchases of Rashica-Tzolis-Sargent. Aston Villa not only paid a good price for Buendia, they structured the payments so we received a good amount of cash early on. So even to buy what we did-will now do, took a large £66m loan and the sale of Buendia and the cash from the deal weighted up front. But we did it because a player threw a tantrum? Like they all do, every day, and have done since time immemorial? They are 22 year old boys earning £50k per week (they get double upon promotion upon bonuses), they have had to bite and scratch every minute of every day since they were 7 to get here. They have girls throwing themselves at them at every night club and bus stop. And what? They are a bit of an **** sometimes?… Oh no, Quick get rid! ….you'd have a squad of about 3 (and they'd all be crap)…. Any star player loves limelight, attention, a bit of drama, some success, the headlines. A bit like you get every week in the Premier League really. One goal, one assist, a bit of attention and the world is full of Buendia-tinted rainbows. At the point of maximum excitement and positivity for all. It is the timing that is so exceptional, not the event per se. Some context. I have seen really serious fights so often in training so many times. And been involved in several. In nearly every single case it was almost completely forgotten by all the next day. There are players who hate each other. There are players who are not at all 'team'. Buendia was not like that. Other Players love weapons too. It is professional football. It is about success. And more money. And a big move. But not at the point of promotion. Ever. Smith would have made it a back-me-or-sack-me-moment. It's a no win for a head coach. You'll be gone in 12 games if you're not careful. It would take £66m reasons for a club to do something like that. Parma
What is the biggest mistake Norwich City ever made?
Not if you read/believe some of the stuff from Sheff U and Rotherham fans recently.
In Ipswich, no one can hear you scream.
We used to, twice a season.
Doing what they are doing is fine - money and appropriate weapons.
I'm getting confused now. Are you arguing that Buendia did or didn't want out or that we could or couldn't have kept him if we'd wanted to ?
From Luton to the South Coast..
He probably has to get away to ease his mind.
To quote an old Hagar the Horrible cartoon - "Why is the world full of old cynics ? Because cynics live longer ..."
Have said before that positionally he is just what we need even if physically he's not quite up to speed yet. I think/hope the World Cup break comes at a good time for him. Only a little thing but what I liked a lot on Saturday was the way he read and intercepted opposition players trying to break away after our corners had been cleared on two or three occasions. He intercepted and stopped them in their own third of the pitch rather than them being allowed to run unchallenged for 50 yards as so often has happened in the recent past. It makes a big difference.
Cor! There's a lot of words on this page.
Agreed, that is down to poor recruitment, as you say, Rashica and Tzolis were supposed to be the solution, why however they persisted with 4-3-3 nearly 20 odd games without the personnel can only be down to dogma!
New Board Director Confirmed - Mark Attanasio
Tbh Essex this gets more tedious by the day. It's like this forum is your very own complaints desk. I get that you feel hard done by about the shares you bought in 2002. But you were not alone. And as far as I'm aware the associate directors have the means to get together to air their grievances. If the other associate directors aren't really bothered can I suggest the Football Ombudsman as a way forward?
Putin is looking for a Stalingrad mk2. Hopefully the Ukrainians don't fall into the trap.
It's probable that UAF might ignore Kherson and make a drive for the coast instead
Bit early in the week to be drinking at 10 in the morning?
Did you ?
This forum is just not an enjoyable place at the moment. Win, lose, draw it is the same arguments being gone through by the same posters with very little actual discussion about the football or relitigating old issues around Farke or Webber.
Pipe of pringles will suffice.
He never wanted to leave Everton and is very much on record as saying so. We just threw enough money at him to convince him eventually. I agree that he was excellent in that game but I suspect the opposition is what motivated him there.
I'm no Smith fan but if you are able to read the article linked in the OP - or more pertinently to one of those linked from it - there is quite a detailed account of how Hasenhuttl reacts when things go against him which would hardly be unexpected managing us in the Premiership. If you aren't an Athletic subscriber and can't or haven't read the articles then, as I stated in my response, I had thought Hasenhuttl had been doing a reasonable job in difficult circumstances with the implication that had he been interested (although I am with those suggesting that such a link isn't one that I remember and would be unlikely in the extreme) then he would have been an interesting candidate. However - and this is the key point here - having read some new information I would be potentially changing my opinion. Which I realise is an alien concept to some on here. If you both still think the same afterwards having read them both then fair enough. We can agree to disagree. Otherwise you are basically responding to half the post with Pavlovian Smith out responses. I might even agree with that, but it isn't really the point.
Coventry Takeover
Yeah but Ashley kept getting hammered at matches. Oh wait....
Bullet dodged?! I'd have him over Smith in a heartbeat.
Would you buy Ramsey
Ramsey is doing well for us, but I think comparisons with other players, e.g. Cantwell (no goals, no assists) are unfair. Cantwell is being asked to do a lot defensively, to pick up the ball and carry it forward, and also to create chances up front from midfield. Ramsey is playing much further forward, with fewer defensive duties, asked to do little of the 'water-carrying', and allowed to stay mostly near the opposition's penalty area to sniff around for scoring opportunities. It is not surprising that he is getting better figures than Cantwell in terms of goals and assists. This is not an anti-Ramsey post. He's doing well, but we should compare him with what other players might do in his role rather than those in completely different roles.
Suited and designed. That has been the way since we were last promoted. Sargent was surely signed to replace Pukki in the short to mid-term in that 4-3-3 because surely nobody could think that approach would get the best out of Teemu or indeed that Teemu would represent the optimum focal point for that approach. That he did as well as he managed is bordering on the miraculous. That he got the opportunity to is probably a testament to the collective failings of the new signings up front last season. My only surprise is that nobody has really come in for him in the last few years. He'd be a great signing for a Brighton or similar. I would actually be intrigued to know if Teemu could coach that sort of movement and decision making into a younger player like Sargent or if it is something more instinctive.
100% Pretty much live my life by that. Established early on that to be "normal" you had to "follow" some group at school etc. Why should what other people think determine my own path? Especially when the main choices always seemed to be "the cool kids" who went off in a big group to smoke out of sight or the "yes sir" kids who just got on with what they were told never questioning, never really having much curiosity. Make your own choices, don't be normal, be a floating voter, don't staple colours to a mast and refuse to move them. Constantly question, challenge if needed, listen to all, make your own mind up given the information available.
He brings egg on the face of short sighted "fans" like you.


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Hello Robert Crow, Fort Collins and Northern Colorado Realtor here, and welcome to 7860 Eagle Ranch Rd., Fort Collins CO.
Located in Eagle Ranch Estates, one of Fort Collins' premier, private and peaceful neighborhoods.
Home owners love this neighborhood for its incredible views, walking trails, open space, spacious lots, highly sought after schools and two private lakes to fish, kayak and canoe on.


text:
JERSEY CITY | Sixth Street Embankment | FT | 45 + 35 FLOORS
Posted Oct 26, 2019, 12:51 AM
Fulop: Agreement reached to develop part of 6th Street Embankment, build park on rest
The 15-year legal battle for the Sixth Street Embankment in Downtown Jersey City could come to an end under a proposed settlement that would allow the city to build an elevated park on the former rail line, Mayor Steve Fulop said.
The settlement, which has been agreed upon in principle but not finalized, would allow New York developer Albanese Organization to build two residential towers at the eastern end of the six-block embankment. The city, in turn, would gain control of the rest of the land and build an eight-acre elevated park, similar to New York's High Line, Fulop said.
Fulop said Albanese will make a payment to Victoria Hyman for the property under the terms of the settlement. The developer will not receive any tax abatements and will be required to use union labor to build its two residential towers – 45- and 35-story buildings – with a total of 875 residential units.
Victoria Hyman declined to comment on the proposed settlement. Albanese did not return a message seeking comment.
The city will receive the rest of the land for its elevated park, which will be deeded over as a conservation easement to an entity so it will remain a park, Fulop said. It will stretch from Brunswick Street to Marin Boulevard, passing through the land that will be transferred to Albanese.
Fulop said the developer will build stairs and an elevator on the first two blocks of the park. The city will pay nothing to acquire its portion of the property, he added.
"We have been in negotiations and regular meetings for the better part of the last year plus," Fulop said. "It has been an ongoing conversation … there was a lot of times we thought it would breakdown."
The Embankment Preservation Coalition, a nonprofit group that has sought a public use for the property for over 20 years, wants a staircase and ramp at both ends of the proposed park, and a wooded area in the middle.
https://www.nj.com/hudson/2019/10/fu...source=twitter


A nosy waitress asks a customer if she knows who her baby's father is.
For more comebacks to: Who's the baby's father click here.
A friend tells a woman that she is not a very giving wife because she asked her husband to help around the house.


text:
#ifdef OS_WINCE
#include <stdlib.h>
#endif
#if defined(_MSC_VER)
#pragma warning ( disable: 4231 4251 4275 4786 )
#endif

#include <log4cxx/logstring.h>
#include <log4cxx/pattern/threadpatternconverter.h>
#include <log4cxx/spi/loggingevent.h>
#include <log4cxx/spi/location/locationinfo.h>

 using namespace log4cxx;
 using namespace log4cxx::pattern;
 using namespace log4cxx::spi;
 using namespace log4cxx::helpers;

 IMPLEMENT_LOG4CXX_OBJECT(ThreadPatternConverter)

 ThreadPatternConverter::ThreadPatternConverter() :
    LoggingEventPatternConverter(LOG4CXX_STR("Thread"),
       LOG4CXX_STR("Thread")) {
 }

 PatternConverterPtr ThreadPatternConverter::newInstance(
    const std::vector<LogString>& /* options */) {
      static PatternConverterPtr def(new ThreadPatternConverter());
      return def;
 }

 void ThreadPatternConverter::format(
   const LoggingEventPtr& event,
   LogString& toAppendTo,
   Pool& /* p */) const {
    toAppendTo.append(event->getThreadName());
  }


Simon Greenall is the co-Editor-in-Chief of New Standard English for Chinese schools and the New Standard College English and Lower Level College Englishfor Chinese universities published by Foreign Languages Teaching and Research Press, Beijing, and Macmillan Publishing (China) Hong Kong. He has published many books including exam material, adult and secondary courses, as well as radio and television programmes for the BBC. Two of his best-known publications are the Reward series (Macmillan ELT, 1998) and People Like Us (Macmillan Education UK, 2002), which explore cultural values, attitudes, beliefs, customs, and traditions around the world. He has given workshops and conference presentations in 45 countries around the world. In this interview, Simon shares with ETAS Journal his thoughts about social media, cross cultural awareness, his inspirations, advice for professionals, and the future of ELT.
Thinking back to the beginning of your career, can you remember why you chose to become an educator?
Sorry to shock you, but I didn't choose to become an educator. Since the age of 10, I've only ever wanted to be a writer. But when I left university, I was given a teaching post in France which was meant to allow me time to write. And I then discovered I liked teaching, I liked my friends and colleagues, and I also liked the students.
Nevertheless, the people I worked with were ELT authors themselves, and they helped me combine my job at the time with my original ambition, and so I became an ELT writer.
What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to the beginning of your career?
At all costs, avoid writing multiple-choice questions unless you really have to. Life is too short.
What do you enjoy the most about language teaching? And the least?
Travelling, meeting people, feeling I'm working at the top of my game. The least? Deadlines and stress, as one leads to the other.
What advice would you give to teaching professionals just starting out? What about those professionals with years of experience?
To the teaching professionals who are starting work, try to enjoy your work because it will show in your teaching, and in turn will make you a better teacher. But I'd also advise them to take their work seriously. Our students have a right to expect top quality teaching from a top quality professional, and the days of backpacker teachers is long gone.
To professionals with years of experience, please remember that however well you've mastered your own teaching context, there are other contexts which demand skills and materials which you may otherwise feel are irrelevant to your own circumstances, or even despise. For every one Dogme-style teacher, there'll be 99 around the world who like, need, and respect their coursebooks. Because I work in China and in Palestine, I'm acutely aware that sometimes methodological evolution occurs in countries in the 'rich west', and other teachers are discovering appropriate approaches to their own social, educational, political, and economic circumstances.
What studies would you advise professionals to pursue, in order to further their career in education?
I'm not sure I'm the right person to advise on this, partly because my generation of ELT educators didn't always need to get the diplomas and degrees which are required these days. But a practical teaching diploma is one which I'd respect very much, Cert or Dip TEFL, or something similar.
Given your broad portfolio, what professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
This sounds like an invitation to boast, and I'm uncomfortable with that… However, I guess you're interviewing for some insights! Sorry, I can't say which single accomplishment I'm most proud of, because I'm getting too old to have survived in ELT with only one! I was proud of the success of the Reward series and being President of IATEFL was an incredible honour. The 10 years of work as co-Editor-in-Chief of three series of textbooks in China has been outstanding, with over half a billion units (books, cassettes, DVDs, etc.) being used by teachers and students. Oh, I've just been invited onto the Board of Trustees for International House… And maybe one more…? My first book, On Course for First Certificate, published in 1983. There's nothing like getting a copy of your first book.
You are an inspiration to many ELT professionals. Who inspires you?
I got to know Michael Swan in France, and later, when we both came back to the UK, he invited me to write Effective Reading (Cambridge University Press, 1986) with him. Working with a friend is always wonderful, but working with Michael was like having a tutorial in textbook writing, ELT methodology, and Applied Linguistics. He's always been consistently down-to-earth in his observations about ELT, and is ready to debunk anything which he feels is not as rigorous as it should be. I'm also a huge fan of Scott Thornbury. We obviously disagree on some issues to do with textbooks and other matters, but he's consistently helpful, insightful, and constructive about ELT, explaining issues which are complex in a simple and accessible way. Technically, he's also a brilliant writer. Just read that prose – it's weighty, rhythmic, and he knows where to put a comma and a full stop.
On a personal note, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
We have family homes in Oxford and in the French Alps, and after so many years of travelling, it's nice to get back home and see how the garden is coming along. I suppose gardening has become a bit of a hobby. Travel is still important, and I get itchy feet if I'm at home for too long. I spend a lot of time reading about places and planning trips. I also enjoy architectural history so I visit lots of stately homes and interesting cities. Although I'm a Londoner, my UK home is in Oxford, so I'm spoilt for choice here, and the Cotswolds are also very close. Oh, and I enjoy cooking very much.
Out of curiosity, what pops into your head when you think of Switzerland?
Rösti? No, seriously, since it was the first country where I spent a holiday outside the UK (also at the age of 10), it's been an inspiration for all the travelling I've done as an adult. I so enjoyed the years when I came to ETAS conferences regularly, because it allowed me to explore new parts of the country. And since I've got the 2012 vignette on my car windscreen, I think about Switzerland every time I drive anywhere.
Let's switch gears and talk about social media. You are quite an active user. When did you start? Which ones do you use and for what purpose?
No, not terribly active. I started nearly three years ago, when I stopped travelling to China, and when I realized I'd been missing out on the rise of tweeting, blogging, and Facebook. I check the twitter feed two or three times most days, and really enjoy new initiatives such as #ELTchat and #ELTpics. But I don't blog … I should, although I'm not sure what I could contribute that has not already been said. Facebook, hmm. I find it quite intrusive, and after my account was hacked and I 'sent' Happy Earth Day cards to everyone (something my friends know is far too touchy-feely and serious for me), I closed it down. I do respect personal privacy, not least my own, and I'm concerned that there will become more and more abuse of this.
What are your predictions on social media and the ELT classroom? Are there any drawbacks to using these media in this setting?
We need to watch how handheld learning will take off in developing countries, especially where most students don't have smartphones. There's a risk of further atomization of language analysis and language learning, because the more holistic experience of language use is less manageable on a handheld/non-smartphone device. Actually, this is also true for smartphones.
But I think there's a greater potential in classrooms for both smart and old-style SMS devices and, of course, iPads rather than cumbersome and expensive IWBs (interactive whiteboards). In wealthy contexts these attract funding more easily than, say, teacher training, which should always be at the top of any school owner or administrator's list of priorities. I suppose it's because you can fix an IWB to a classroom wall, but you can't do that to a good teacher.
You have an interesting book called People Like Us that was published in 2002 by Macmillan Educationand aims to build cultural awareness. Why is building cross-cultural awareness important to learners of English?
Because cultural misunderstanding can seriously impede communicative competence, and no amount of grammatically correct sentences will explain why a non-native speaker doesn't say please and thank you in exactly the same places as a native speaker would. Even structurally simple utterances such as 'What's your name?' and 'How much do you earn?' are socio-culturally complex. So it seems essential to develop intercultural competence, which will allow people to be aware of the possibility of differences in beliefs, attitudes, customs, and traditions. At the heart of all conflict on a local, national, regional, or international scale is cultural misunderstanding, and language teachers could be more successful than diplomats, soldiers, and politicians if we incorporated cultural awareness in our language class.
People Like Us aims to help learners explore their own culture and that of others. How does this avoid cultural stereotyping?
Stereotyping is not so much of a problem until it becomes prejudice. In fact, some of our greatest sources of pleasure in travel will come from experiences we have in a foreign culture which lead us to make sweeping generalizations.
Of course, the problem may be that many ELT classes are monocultural, and opening a window onto the world comes from the coursebook and not the students. But the key to developing intercultural awareness will always be developing an awareness of one's own culture. It should lead to the enjoyment of recognising similarities between cultures, and to the celebration of difference.
How has this material changed in the past decade?
In the past decade, probably not so much. In the past twenty or thirty years…? Well, the period leading up to the mid-seventies was characterized by studying English where the USA, UK, Australia, and so on were target cultures, probably because people wanted to go and work or study there. This was the 'English by double-decker bus and bowler hat' period. Then my generation of native-speaker teachers tried to downplay or ignore the cultural origins of the language we were teaching. But in the nineties, we realized that with the rise in demand for English and with the increase in the numbers of English teachers who had studied the high cultural aspects of English literature, and Landeskunde/civiltà/civilisation, the link between language and culture was recognised and re-established, and sample cultures other than native English-speaking contexts are explored, to be used as a device to allow students to reflect on their own cultural background.
Speaking of cross-cultural awareness, you have worked in China and Palestine. How has your own personal awareness expanded? Do you have any interesting anecdotes to share with our readers?
Anecdotes … hmm. I'm trying to remember something useful. Personal awareness… People sometimes ask me if I'm coming back to mainstream ELT after twelve years' working in China. Believe me, with 300 million learners of English, roughly 23% of all English language learners in the world, ELT is a huge business in China, and it feels pretty mainstream when I'm there.
As for Palestine… When the pages of your passport are being turned over with the barrel of a rifle by a 19-year-old conscript at a checkpoint, I feel a long way from the comfortable world of publishing, teaching, and conferences which I've known for so long. But we're fortunate that English is seen as a contributing factor in achieving greater understanding in that part of the world, and an essential tool for the integration of the Palestinians into the everyday business of a globalized economy.
Have you got any other books in the pipeline? What can you tell us about them?
I wish! What do you suggest, Vicky? I'm still working in China and Palestine, but I'd like to do another international textbook series, because I'd enjoy the research, the planning, and the writing very much. But nothing in the pipeline. So if there's a publisher reading this who has got any suggestions…?
What are some emerging themes to guide the future of ELT?
That's a tricky question. I've just returned from the IATEFL conference in Glasgow, and some of us were talking about how there were no obvious themes emerging from the presentations… Of course, we may not have been looking in the right direction, but all the same. Certainly, the rising use of technology is very significant, and it's easy to overlook the fact that this is still all relatively new. But 10 years ago, we had insights into lexis and the use of corpora as a consistent theme, which have radically changed our thinking. Before that, it was skills and needs analysis, and even earlier, notions and functions.
And all through the period is the presence of grammar teaching. But where do we go next? A lot of the methodology which today use digital resources such as YouTube and so on, was first developed 30 years ago by the creative, fluency-focused work of Alan Maley and Alan Duff.
So, you ask a good question, and I'd love to engage in a discussion with anyone who has some ideas or who can prompt me to think of something really new, and with the potential to change our work and our lives.
There is a growing tension that exists between traditional language learning (i.e. using a coursebook) and non-traditional language learning (i.e. Dogme, social media). What are your thoughts on this dichotomy?
Dogme deserves to be taken seriously, but not as seriously as some people take it. I'd argue that a lot of the methodology has been around in learner-centred classrooms for some time, although it's true that coursebooks are guilty as charged for some of the crimes they're accused of – teaching grammar McNuggets, and by definition, not being materials-light.
But I think of the teachers I've seen in village schools in China and Palestine, and remember the times I've been limited by writing for a ministry-prescribed curriculum and to meet the requirements of state exams. And actually, there are teachers who need the support of the textbook, even if it's not – in Dogme terms – the ideal device to encourage language learning. I'm concerned that despite the undertones of anti-establishment education in Dogme, and apart from its rejection of technology, it's another 'rich western' methodology which is valid for teachers who have been well-trained and manage to get to conferences or even read ETAS publications.
I'm also uncomfortable about any proselytizing about methodology. The 'vow of chastity' and the 'X pillars of Dogme belief' make me extremely uncomfortable, not least because it makes a thought-provoking set of coherent ideas exclusive rather than inclusive to teachers who don't have the opportunities, for whatever reason, to adopt them. I should add that this is a long way from the more modest intention of Scott Thornbury and Luke Meddings, whom I admire without reservation. But if you detect in this reply a socio-political rather than an exclusively pedagogical objection to Dogme, then you'd be right.
Actually, I'd like to establish a new movement in ELT called Pragme. Here are my eight pillars of Pragme.
As far as social media is concerned, I've seen wonderful presentations and read exceptional papers about what teachers are doing with blogs, apps, and so on. As long as all this methodology can be integrated successfully not just into innovative programmes of learning but also into existing courses without detracting from the primary purpose, which is to learn English, then I see nothing to stop us using the new technology. But go back and think about the atomization of language analysis and learning which I mentioned earlier, and remember that we should not lose sight of the holistic benefits of an earlier communicative methodology which has brought us, as ELT teachers, success, motivation … and employment!
As a coursebook writer, how do you see your job changing/modernizing, if at all?
I've always felt my responsibility as a coursebook writer is to enable language learning through motivating material and through making complex ideas about language simple to understand. It also includes making people want to learn English. There's also another responsibility, which is to help teachers teach better. I sometimes think the textbook's role as a TT device is overlooked. But some of us take it very seriously. In China, Palestine, and other ministry projects, it's our job to interpret a complex theoretical curriculum document and turn it into something creative, effective, and practical. Textbook writing is an art as much as a science.
So, of course, textbook writers change and modernize all the time. We respond to trends and endless feedback, we learn what to include and what to ignore, and we respect our teachers and students.
But the change we promote is evolutionary and not revolutionary. So please don't accuse us of not coming up with astonishingly new ideas. They simply wouldn't get very far through the consultative process of writing and publishing materials.
Thank you so much, Simon, for your candid thoughts on such a variety of hot ELT topics, as well as for giving us a glimpse into the man behind the accolades. Thanks especially for sharing with us thought-provoking insights into language teaching that address the strengths, opportunities, and future of our profession.


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text:
Cross Market
Self Ordering
Kitchen & Table Automation
E-commerce & Online Ordering
#GrowYourCore
About TCPOS
Why TCPOS
Demo - Web Applications
Web Meal Reservation
TCPOS Web Meal Reservation module allows the customer registered in the system to reserve articles they will consume on specific restaurants, in order to be prepared and ready for delivery on the expected date.
TCPOS Web Meal Reservation module allows the customer registered in the system to reserve articles they will consume on specific restaurants, in order to be prepared and ready for delivery on the expected date. Restaurants introducing this system will benefit of great advantages, like:
Possibility to know in advance how many customers and which meals will have to be delivered on a specific date, planning the raw materials purchase with extreme precision (reducing therefore the waste due to over-ordering)
Improve fidelization of the customers themselves, allowing them to know in advance the possible dish choices, and possibly receiving discounts in case the reserve in advance
For canteens, it is also possible to have the reservations automatically booked on the customers' accounts, so that no more interaction with a till is needed for the ones who made a reservation. A huge improvement in service quickness is therefore possible
Configuration is at the same timeextremely simple and flexible. Through some configuration forms, directly integrated within TCPOS Admin, it is possible to define all the needed parameters, such as
which meals are available in a day and the timeframe defining them (e.g. "Lunch" from 11:00 to 14:00), as well as how many hours before the meal starts the order can still be modified (e.g. the luch starting at 11:00 can have new reservations, or modifications, until 9:00, after this threshold, the orders are considered fixed and cannot be modified any more)
the closing days and holidays for each restaurant
how many days to show in the web reservations module
fully flexible meal plannings; they can be on a weekday basis or on a specific date, the articles between which the customers are allowed to choose, the number of articles that can be reserved by a single user on a specific meal, etc.
Web Module Usage
When opening the page, the browser will check if the Silverlight client is already installed. In case it is not, a button will appear to perform the installation.
Once the main page is opened, the login screen is displayed. The user will perform the login using his personal code and password. In case these are forgotten, and an e-mail address is associated with the code, the password can be automatically re-sent to the user's email.
After the login, the main reservation screen will allow the user to choose in which restaurant to perform his reservation (if more than one is configured) and to review what has already been reserved. To make a reservation, simply click on the day / meal combination of interest and a new screen will open to choose the articles to reserve.
In the articles detail window, clicking on an article on the left will add it to the reservation, clicking on an article on the right (i.e. a reserved article), will remove it from the reservation.
It is also possible for the user to autonomously modify his email address, PIN, or even lock his account (in case, for example, he lost his personal card). Please note that locking an account will require an administrator to un-lock it.
The sample application
The sample application on this demo server is configured with four customer accounts:
Name Code Password
Jack Black 1 1
John White 2 2
Jim Pink 3 3
Luke Brown 4 4
Login with any of these users, and feel free to try to make reservations or change the user data. The database is reset to its initial state every day at 2 am.
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With an enrolment of more than 50,000 students, UNSW is one of Australia's largest universities.
The School of Mathematics and Statistics (School of Maths and Stats) has more than 60 academic staff and postdoctoral fellows, with over 3000 students is larger than most University Faculties.
The School of Maths and Stats online needs had grown as a consequence the limitations of the current web system had begun to limit the online activities of the School.
In particular, the School wanted to allow staff in different areas of the School to have more or less freedom to make changes depending on their role. The solution had to be easy to use without extensive training.
Drupal is a highly reliable and flexible tool for websites having a function. Drupal is now the preferred solution for the Commonwealth of Australia. The particular needs of the School were implemented to allow simplicity, requiring less training, with automation, requiring less staff time. A specialist search facility was implemented to work with the Drupal. SEO was built into the way Drupal managed pages, saving staff time. Simple forms allowed different staff to carry out their different needs in a simple way.
By using a flexible CMS, in this case, Drupal, a permission system fitting the requirements of the School of Mathematics and Statistics was developed. Using a "form-based" user experience allowed the system to be intuitive. Linking to Apache Solr allowed a sophisticated search facility executed in a simple way.
The School has had very positive feed back from staff and users of the site. The needs of the School were addressed. The School invited Didymo designs to carry out more work. This Project led to the Science Faculty Project.