Fellow blogger Kevin Mercadante summarizes the opportunities for local development of renewable energy outside the Big Oil/Big Government, oligarchy-cartel capitalist Status Quo.
As the world's largest energy consumer and importer, the U.S. should be taking the lead in renewable energy. We consume at least 25% of the world's oil, and are the single largest importer as well. The stakes are higher for us than for any other single nation on earth. It could be said that our doom as a great nation will be all but sealed if we don't come up with a permanent solution to our energy needs, yet we seem to have no clear direction.
The Bush Administration may have made a strategic error when it chose a primarily military response to 9/11. We've spent a couple trillion dollars in the decade since with precious little to show for the expense and effort. Would a national effort to develop renewable energy have had a greater impact? Probably not at the time—the slow pace of technological progress could not have competed with the primal thrill of military conquest.
But the tangible benefits of a renewable energy thrust would certainly be evident by now. Lower dependence on foreign oil imports, the rise of new technologies, the creation of new businesses and new jobs and a sense of a hope for a better future might be apparent today had the leadership of the time embraced the long view. And it could have been accomplished for a fraction of what we've paid to date for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Even today, a truly massive investment in renewable energy could reinvigorate and reindustrialize the U.S. Our economy is well past quick fixes and tweaks—we're in desperate need of new systems that can be built from the ground up. Such systems would generate new technology, millions of new jobs and the economic surge that would follow.
Imagine a world in which electric cars—capable of going more then 200 miles between charges—are powered by electricity generated by solar and wind systems? Is it hard to imagine that combination igniting the Second Industrial Revolution? New technology powered by unlimited, clean energy. The possibilities are endless, but if we ever go in that direction it looks like we'll do it kicking and screaming.
The "Land of the Free" has become the home of "We can't"
The U.S. has mostly decided to sit on the sidelines to see what other countries come up with, but this will be unworkable on several fronts. First, as the world's largest economy and energy consumer, we need to get into the game first. It will take longer for energy alternatives to make their way through our system than it will in smaller countries, and hesitation is raising both the cost and the time horizon.
Second, by letting other countries lead we're conceding the technology, implementation and the economic benefits that will come to the nations on the cutting edge. Coming late to the party could mean not coming at all. We're already showing ourselves to be dependent on the foreign production of goods once manufactured here—how much worse will it be with products and technologies we've never made at all?
Denmark as an example, about 20% of electricity comes from wind mills. Brazil has taken the lead on ethanol, while Japan is the clear front runner in electric car technology and implementation. In the U.S. we hear the quasi-patriotic chant of drill-drill-drill as if more oil is the only workable solution to our oil problem—but if it isn't do we have a Plan B?
Our only identifiable energy "policy" is a bad economy driving down consumption.Only when the economy is in decline does our energy consumption recede. As long as the economy is expanding, the U.S. consumes more energy each year. Meanwhile, unofficial government policy is to do what ever it takes to ensure the free flow of cheap oil even at the point of a gun.
This single factor explains our permanent military occupation of the Middle East and offers de facto evidence that the energy situation is far graver than anyone will publicly admit. Why else would the United States commit trillions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of military personnel to maintain the occupation of a region which so clearly doesn't want us there?
The "high cost" of renewables is quickly becoming academic as the cost to produce fossil fuels rises. Not only are we paying an enormous military cost to suppress the price of oil in the Middle East, but the costs to bring new supplies into production outside the region are escalating. We would not even be discussing tar sands, shale oil, coal conversion, heavy oil or drilling in the Artic Ocean if light sweet crude oil were plentiful in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world outside the Middle East.
Onshore light crude production is a pretty simple affair; sink a well and oil blasts out. Cap it, pipe it to an oil refinery and you've got just about the cheapest energy source available. Virtually every other form of oil production involves some sort of conversion process at the site, the risk of significant environmental damage, a large labor force, the burning of a significant amount of energy, and usually takes place in a remote and often hostile environment. Every one of those obstacles adds to the cost of the oil produced. Why would we even bother to go that route if cheap light crude were plentiful?
Renewable energy may be expensive to produce right now, but as processes and technology grow, we should fully expect the cost to come down. But that can only happen if their use becomes more common. Capital, talent, technology, innovation and economies of scale will naturally gravitate to renewables as they become more common in everyday use. So, why the economy-wide aversion to plunging forward?
A narrow gate has been created in the form of a dozen or so big oil companies and maybe a couple hundred power utilities, through which nearly all of the nations energy needs are supplied. We can liken this arrangement to the robber barons of old who, building their fortresses at strategic locations along important European rivers, were able to extract tolls from the ships that passed—no payment, no passage. And so it is with the current energy complex. No one will release that kind of power willingly, neither the conglomerates who control it nor the government authorities who can easily collect billions in tax revenues on the flow.
Until about 100 years ago, most energy that was consumed by the average citizen was produced locally, often by the final consumer himself. Animals, water and wind, timber, coal and even oil (in the days before pipelines and refineries) were used to provide every energy need from transportation to lighting and cooking. But this type of dispersed energy production does not lend itself to automation of revenues and profits the way grand systems do. Thus in a move from the top down, energy production was gradually and systematically institutionalized removing all control over it from the ultimate consumer.
Renewables have the potential to restore consumer control. Because it can be produced with windmills and solar panels—locally and even by individual consumers—renewable energy has the very real potential to cause massive decentralization of energy production. That would have consequences that extend well beyond energy itself. Yes, oil companies and utilities would be greatly diminished in both size and importance, and some even eliminated permanently, but there's more.
A renewable energy revolution could release a surge of human energy not seen since the waning days of the industrial revolution. And that's the problem. As Charles has written again and again, those who control the system are vested in the status quo. They have no interest in the decentralization of energy production, or of anything else in the economy.
I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, but all of that potential is real. If you're an organizational chieftain it could very well mean that the wave you've been riding on for decades is about to crash on the beach. If you're in the upper echelons of government, you know that that type of economy would be infinitely more difficult to collect taxes in because far less money is changing hands.
Solar/wind power means no checks written to power utilities; electric cars running on home grown electricity means no credit cards are swiped at gas stations; home grown food means less money changes hands at grocery store check outs, and so on. The status quo and its supporters want no part of that.
In the current economic conglomeration, we're system-dependent. And we're taught to be that way--take care of the system, and the system will take care of you. This has bred a level of dependency not seen in human history.
But a new energy source, one that we ourselves could produce, and the technology and economic force it would release would empower us to take control of our lives and the future. We'd no longer look to the system, but to ourselves and to the people closest to us, where it should have been all along. Can we imagine the magnitude of such a shift, especially against the constraints of the tightly controlled system we live in now?
There's no reason to believe that the renewable energy revolution will come from the top. There's no serious interest in renewable energy in the ivory towers of America, and for all the reasons stated above we should expect none. Sure, we get the usual machismo speeches from political leaders at election time, or when oil prices spike suddenly or an anti-Western thug comes to power in an oil rich country, but action never follows the bold words. No, this quiet revolution will come from the ground up—from people and small businesses responding to crisis.
There's always a way forward for someone who's determined to chart a new course. For example, an energy system that may be too expensive for one family to implement may be quite practical for a group of households forming a cooperative. Most of the wind power generated in Denmark is from wind mills owned by individuals and cooperatives, not corporations or government. To say that it can't be done is to defy the facts--it IS being done right now.
Gasoline prices will probably be the deciding factor. At $4 a gallon, we're starting to see a slow but visible shift to solar power and electric cars. With real wages in decline, any movement beyond $4 a gallon should accelerate the shift quickly. At $6 or $8 pain will force individuals to take action, even if the Status Quo refuses to cooperate—which we should fully expect to be the case.
Kevin Mercadante is a regular reader of Of Two Minds, a professional blogger and the owner of OutOfYourRut.com, a website about careers, business ideas, money and more.
CHS: Thank you, Kevin, for an excellent "big picture" context of energy and the risk of having no Plan B. As I have often noted here, renewable energy won't "pencil out" as a straight financial investment until it's too late to build a renewable energy infrastructure. At that point we'll be the classic "day late and a dollar short."
As for Kevin's point about the cost of our wars to secure oil vs. the cost of replacing that energy with renewable sources, please read my entry from three years ago: Cost of Iraq War: $3 Trillion; Cost of Solar Plants to Power all 105 million U.S Households: $500 Billion (April 10, 2008).
Order Survival+: Structuring Prosperity for Yourself and the Nation(free bits)(Mobi ebook)(Kindle) or Survival+ The Primer(Kindle) or Weblogs & New Media: Marketing in Crisis(free bits)(Kindle) or from your local bookseller.
Thank you, Robert P. ($100), for your stupendously generous contribution to this site -- I am greatly honored by your ongoing support and readership.Thank you, Margaret G. ($10), for your most-welcome generous contribution to this site-- I am greatly honored by your support and readership.
Read the original article on Of Two Minds. Copyright 2019.


text:
Dans le monde de la tauromachie, le corral est un ensemble de bâtiments spécialement construits pour recevoir les lots de taureaux avant les courses et qui communiquent entre eux par des cours. Ils facilitent les débarquements du camion transporteur en provenance de la ganadería et l'embarquement vers les arènes si les corrals ne sont pas attenants à la plaza. On ne doit pas le confondre avec le corral du Far West américain.

Description

Dans les jours qui précèdent la corrida, les taureaux y sont enfermés par petits groupes. En général, on ne met ensemble que les taureaux provenant d'un même élevage (ganadería). Après le sorteo, les taureaux sont séparés et mis dans le toril où ils attendront l'heure de la corrida.

En général, les corrals ( en espagnol) sont attenants aux arènes, mais ce n'est pas obligatoire. Notamment à Nîmes et Arles, ils se trouvent à l'extérieur de la ville, les taureaux sont donc amenés au toril par camion. À Pampelune, ils sont à 825 mètres de la grande porte des arènes et sont amenés le matin même au cours du célèbre encierro.

Fonctionnement

Généralement, un couloir mène du quai de débarquement à une première cour d'où les bêtes, lorsqu'elles sont calmées, sont dirigées vers des cours plus grandes où elles seront regroupées selon les lots d'une même ganadería.

Clôturés de hauts murs, les corrals sont équipés de burladeros et d'auges destinées à alimenter les taureaux en attendant le jour de la corrida, où ils seront mis dans des chiqueros pendant l'apartado.

Les bêtes restent huit jours dans ces emplacements avant le sorteo.

Bibliographie

Notes et références

Arènes
Corrida
Expression espagnole

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The hottest thing in online marketing right now is eCommerce, and with it, Shopify stores have soared in popularity too. Just because they look good, are easy to set up, and come with a ton of plugins.
Visit BuzzSumo, and search for viral product list posts related to the product you're selling. Make sure they went viral on Facebook. And by list post, I mean numbered articles.
For example, if you're selling dog collars, here's a viral dog collar list post I found rather easily called, "22 Adorable Dog Collars Every Dog Owner Needs".
Create a similar list post on your Shopify store's blog by using the exact same images and products in your own post. And even a similar title.
Of course, you also add images of one, or a few, of the dog collars you're selling in your store into your new list post. And link to them.
Touch the post up a bit, switch things around, add a few more items, add your own words, etc… just to make it a little more original and unique to you. Maybe even make it better than the original.
Load up a nice little Facebook Ad to promote your newly created blog post. And watch it go viral!


Umag, Croatia, June 23, 2013 – In a rematch of the pool play on Friday Canada's Grant O'Gorman and Aaron Nusbaum will meet Gustavo Carvalhaes and Allison Cittadin from Brazil again on Sunday in the final of the FIVB U21 World Championships in Umag.
O'Gorman and Nusbaum defeated Russia's Viacheslav Kirienko and Dmitry Uraikin in two sets (21-11 21-15) in the semifinal. Brazil was too strong for Poland's Maciej Kosiak and Maciej Rudol (21-19 21-19). O'Gorman and Nusbaum played a quick and energetic game against the Russians.
Both Canadians are defence players, and play together at the U21 because their partners are too old for this event. They showed great agility on centre court. "We have to move fast in the back of the court and when we get a chance we have to score", O'Gorman said about their 'arrangement'.
Brazil's Guto Carvalhaes and Allison had to go a little further against Poland's 2011 U19 world champion Maciej Kosiak and his partner Maciej Rudol. Kosiak had the chance to take the match into a tiebreak at 19-19 but went for a safe shot. On the following match point for Brazil Rudol hit the ball out.


Zensah hefur gjörbylt þrýstisokkum með þeirra nýju Tech+ Compression Socks. Gerðir með 200 nálatækni..
Compression Improves Muscle Recovery and Helps Injury Prevention: Compression provides an important ..
The Zensah Elbow Sleeve helps to treat tennis elbow, elbow tendonitis, and golfers elbow. Innovative..
The Zensah Compression Knee Sleeve provides support to the knee while allowing a full range of motio..
Rakadrægar og Koma í veg fyrir lyktarmyndun: Limitless Running Bikini nærbuxurnar er úr..
Kemur í veg fyrir nærbuxnalínur: G-strengurinn er hannað til að þér líði sem best og að það sjá..
A no-show look with our innovative Invisi Tab® to ensure the running socks stay in place.Invisi Tab(..
The Zensah Minimalist Running Socks have been carefully designed to give runners the comfort of a qu..
The Peek Running Socks from Zensah provide runners with the ultimate blend of comfort and performanc..
Zensah Racey Sports Bra er saumalaus til að koma í veg fyrir núning og veitir því hámarks þægindi. Þ..
Zensah íþróttatoppar veita hámarks þægindi og stuðning í gegnum sína nýstárlegu tækni og sitt eigið ..


text:
Q: Grouped bar plot with multiple bar in R I'm learning to use ggplot to plot my data. I found many examples such as ggplot multiple grouping bar and Grouped bar plot in ggplot. However, I cannot adapt their case with my data at this moment.
This is what the sample looks like:
# A tibble: 10 x 3
   clusterNum Road       period
        <dbl> <chr>      <chr>
 1          2 Hualampong 06.00-06.15
 2          2 Hualampong 06.00-06.15
 3          2 Hualampong 06.16-06.30
 4          2 Hualampong 06.16-06.30
 5          2 Hualampong 06.16-06.30
 6          3 Hualampong 06.16-06.30
 7          2 Hualampong 06.16-06.30
 8          3 Tonglor    17.46-18.00
 9          3 Tonglor    17.46-18.00
10          3 Tonglor    17.46-18.00

data <- structure(list(clusterNum = c(2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3),Road = c("Hualampong", "Hualampong", "Hualampong", "Hualampong","Hualampong", "Hualampong", "Hualampong", "Tonglor", "Tonglor","Tonglor"), period = c("06.00-06.15", "06.00-06.15", "06.16-06.30","06.16-06.30", "06.16-06.30", "06.16-06.30", "06.16-06.30","17.46-18.00", "17.46-18.00", "17.46-18.00")), row.names = c(NA,-10L), class = c("tbl_df", "tbl", "data.frame"))

As you can see from my data, I want to create bar charts. Showing the total number of clusterNum columns with each period separately with the Road column. So, I might have two graphs based on the Road column.
My expected graph may look like this

Thank you for any helps.

A: Maybe something like this:
library(tidyverse)
data1 <- data %>%
  group_by(clusterNum, Road, period) %>%
  count()

ggplot(data1, aes(x=period, y=n, group=clusterNum)) +
  geom_bar(aes(fill = Road),
           position = "dodge",
           stat = "identity")

A: Or if you're looking for separate graphs, you can use facet_wrap:
library(tidyverse)
data2 <- data %>% group_by(period, Road) %>% summarise(clusterNum = sum(clusterNum))
ggplot(data2, aes(x = period, y = clusterNum, fill = period)) +
  geom_bar(position = "dodge", stat = "identity") +
  facet_wrap(~Road)

With an additional breakout by clusterNum:
library(tidyverse)
data3 <- data %>% group_by(period, Road, clusterNum) %>%
                  count() %>%
                  data.frame()
data3$n <- as.factor(data3$n)
data3$clusterNum <- as.factor(data3$clusterNum)

ggplot(data3, aes(x = period, y = n, fill = clusterNum)) +
  geom_bar(position = "dodge", stat = "identity") +
  facet_wrap(~Road) +
  theme_minimal()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Devil May Cry will be out January 15, 2013 for Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.
Getting back into the news groove now, today we have Capcom's latest trailer for Devil May Cry, which is coming out later this month. Enjoy the trailer and scroll down for Capcom's product description.


The music-making software with everything you need to create amazing music.
Reason is easy to get started with, yet as deep as you want it to be. And it comes fully loaded with the instruments, effects and sounds your music making need. Create, compose, mix and finish your music–Reason will help you along the journey, from inspiration to mixdown.
Radical Piano - new in Reason 10!
Klang Tuned Percussion - new in Reason 10!
Humana Choir Ensemble - new in Reason 10!
Synchronous Timed Effect Modulator - new in Reason 10!
VST plugin support: add any instrument or effect plugin to Reason's rack.
Supports the Allihoopa music making and collaboration service, with access to an endless supply of inspiring user-created music, backing tracks and performances.
Support for Ableton Link: effortlessly sync Reason and other link enabled apps over WiFi.
Loop Supply & Drum Supply: 3 GB of cutting edge loops and samples - new in Reason 10!
Self-contained song files make moving projects between computers and collaborator as easy as moving a single file.
4 GB free system disk space required, plus 8 GB for optional content. Additionally, program may use up to 20 GB scratch disk space.


text:
Home Bharat Jodo Yatra: Can Rahul Gandhi Challenge BJP On His Own
Bharat Jodo Yatra: Can Rahul Gandhi Challenge BJP On His Own
Prakash Shrivastava Sunday, November 27, 2022 National, Political,
Khandwa: Film stars, social activists and others have joined Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra so far and extended their support.
Actresses Pooja Bhatt and Riya Sen, actors Amol Palekar and Sushant Singh, Narmada Bachao Andolan's Medha Patkar besides Rohit Vemula's mother Radhika Vemula and journalist Gauri Lankesh's mother Indira Lankesh and sisters Kavita Lankesh and Yogendra Yadav, boxer Vijender Singh have been prominent among them. Then when this yatra entered Madhya Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi along with her husband and son joined it.
Big leader of any regional party has not joined Yatra
However, due to the non-participation of big leaders of any regional party other than the Congress in this yatra, questions have definitely started to arise in the political circles.
When this yatra was passing through Maharashtra, former Shiv Sena minister Aditya Thackeray was definitely seen in it. But he had participated privately, while no other big leader of Shiv Sena participated in it.
People are seen eager to get a glimpse of Rahul
There are definitely queues of people on the way from Burhanpur to Khandwa. People were also seen eager to get a glimpse of Rahul Gandhi.
But the police cordoned off the padayatra from all sides, within which only those who were invited could go. No one else was allowed to meet Rahul Gandhi.
Farmers couldn't even welcome Gandhi
Same was the case with Pragatisheel Kisan Sangh, which had made a separate 'stage' to welcome Rahul Gandhi and wanted to convey their message to him. The farmers were very excited. But Rahul Gandhi's convoy came and left quickly. The farmers could not even welcome him.
Cong should have formed a front with other political parties
Some political observers feel that if other political parties are keeping themselves away from this yatra, then the responsibility is also on the Congress.
They say that if the Congress had formed a front with other political parties even before starting the Bharat Jodo Yatra, this Yatra would have been considered successful.
Today, the Bharatiya Janata Party has strengthened itself so much in different states that it cannot be challenged with just by taking out yatras. The Congress did not take regional parties with it before the yatra.
According to political analysts, Rahul Gandhi's padayatra alone can make some difference. But not so much that he can challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party on his own.
By Prakash Shrivastava at Sunday, November 27, 2022

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
/*
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY ANDREW TRICE "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO
EVENT SHALL ANDREW TRICE OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE
OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
*/

package com.rjfun.cordova.plugin;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.HashMap;

import org.json.JSONArray;
import org.json.JSONException;

import android.content.Context;
import android.content.res.AssetFileDescriptor;
import android.content.res.AssetManager;
import android.media.AudioManager;
import android.media.SoundPool;
import android.util.Log;

import org.apache.cordova.CallbackContext;
import org.apache.cordova.CordovaPlugin;
import org.apache.cordova.PluginResult;
import org.apache.cordova.PluginResult.Status;

/**
 * @author triceam
 *
 */
public class LowLatencyAudio extends CordovaPlugin {

	public static final String ERROR_NO_AUDIOID="A reference does not exist for the specified audio id.";
	public static final String ERROR_AUDIOID_EXISTS="A reference already exists for the specified audio id.";

	public static final String PRELOAD_FX="preloadFX";
	public static final String PRELOAD_AUDIO="preloadAudio";
	public static final String PLAY="play";
	public static final String STOP="stop";
	public static final String LOOP="loop";
	public static final String UNLOAD="unload";

	public static final int DEFAULT_POLYPHONY_VOICES = 15;

	private static final String LOGTAG = "LowLatencyAudio";

	private static SoundPool soundPool;
	private static HashMap<String, LowLatencyAudioAsset> assetMap;
	private static HashMap<String, Integer> soundMap;
	private static HashMap<String, ArrayList<Integer>> streamMap;

	private PluginResult executePreloadFX(JSONArray data) {
		String audioID;
		try {
			audioID = data.getString(0);
			if (!soundMap.containsKey(audioID)) {
				String assetPath = data.getString(1);
				String fullPath = "www/".concat(assetPath);

				Log.d(LOGTAG, "preloadFX - " + audioID + ": " + assetPath);

				Context ctx = cordova.getActivity().getApplicationContext();
				AssetManager am = ctx.getResources().getAssets();
				AssetFileDescriptor afd = am.openFd(fullPath);
				int assetIntID = soundPool.load(afd, 1);
				soundMap.put(audioID, assetIntID);
			} else {
				return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, ERROR_AUDIOID_EXISTS);
			}
		} catch (JSONException e) {
			return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, e.toString());
		} catch (IOException e) {
			return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, e.toString());
		}

		return new PluginResult(Status.OK);
	}

	private PluginResult executePreloadAudio(JSONArray data) {
		String audioID;
		try {
			audioID = data.getString(0);
			if (!assetMap.containsKey(audioID)) {
				String assetPath = data.getString(1);
				Log.d(LOGTAG, "preloadAudio - " + audioID + ": " + assetPath);

				int voices;
				if (data.length() < 2) {
					voices = 0;
				} else {
					voices = data.getInt(2);
				}

				String fullPath = "www/".concat(assetPath);

				Context ctx = cordova.getActivity().getApplicationContext();
				AssetManager am = ctx.getResources().getAssets();
				AssetFileDescriptor afd = am.openFd(fullPath);

				LowLatencyAudioAsset asset = new LowLatencyAudioAsset(
						afd, voices);
				assetMap.put(audioID, asset);

				return new PluginResult(Status.OK);
			} else {
				return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, ERROR_AUDIOID_EXISTS);
			}
		} catch (JSONException e) {
			return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, e.toString());
		} catch (IOException e) {
			return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, e.toString());
		}
	}

	private PluginResult executePlayOrLoop(String action, JSONArray data) {
		String audioID;
		try {
			audioID = data.getString(0);
			//Log.d( LOGTAG, "play - " + audioID );

			if (assetMap.containsKey(audioID)) {
				LowLatencyAudioAsset asset = assetMap.get(audioID);
				if (LOOP.equals(action))
					asset.loop();
				else
					asset.play();
			} else if (soundMap.containsKey(audioID)) {
				int loops = 0;
				if (LOOP.equals(action)) {
					loops = -1;
				}

				ArrayList<Integer> streams = streamMap.get(audioID);
				if (streams == null)
					streams = new ArrayList<Integer>();

				int assetIntID = soundMap.get(audioID);
				int streamID = soundPool
						.play(assetIntID, 1, 1, 1, loops, 1);
				streams.add(streamID);
				streamMap.put(audioID, streams);
			} else {
				return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, ERROR_NO_AUDIOID);
			}
		} catch (JSONException e) {
			return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, e.toString());
		} catch (IOException e) {
			return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, e.toString());
		}

		return new PluginResult(Status.OK);
	}

	private PluginResult executeStop(JSONArray data) {
		String audioID;
		try {
			audioID = data.getString(0);
			//Log.d( LOGTAG, "stop - " + audioID );

			if (assetMap.containsKey(audioID)) {
				LowLatencyAudioAsset asset = assetMap.get(audioID);
				asset.stop();
			} else if (soundMap.containsKey(audioID)) {
				ArrayList<Integer> streams = streamMap.get(audioID);
				if (streams != null) {
					for (int x = 0; x < streams.size(); x++)
						soundPool.stop(streams.get(x));
				}
				streamMap.remove(audioID);
			} else {
				return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, ERROR_NO_AUDIOID);
			}
		} catch (JSONException e) {
			return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, e.toString());
		} catch (IOException e) {
			return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, e.toString());
		}

		return new PluginResult(Status.OK);
	}

	private PluginResult executeUnload(JSONArray data) {
		String audioID;
		try {
			audioID = data.getString(0);
			Log.d( LOGTAG, "unload - " + audioID );

			if (assetMap.containsKey(audioID)) {
				LowLatencyAudioAsset asset = assetMap.get(audioID);
				asset.unload();
				assetMap.remove(audioID);
			} else if (soundMap.containsKey(audioID)) {
				// streams unloaded and stopped above
				int assetIntID = soundMap.get(audioID);
				soundMap.remove(audioID);
				soundPool.unload(assetIntID);
			} else {
				return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, ERROR_NO_AUDIOID);
			}
		} catch (JSONException e) {
			return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, e.toString());
		} catch (IOException e) {
			return new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, e.toString());
		}

		return new PluginResult(Status.OK);
	}

	@Override
	public boolean execute(final String action, final JSONArray data, final CallbackContext callbackContext) {
		Log.d(LOGTAG, "Plugin Called: " + action);

		PluginResult result = null;
		initSoundPool();

		try {
			if (PRELOAD_FX.equals(action)) {
				cordova.getThreadPool().execute(new Runnable() {
		            public void run() {
		            	callbackContext.sendPluginResult( executePreloadFX(data) );
		            }
		        });

			} else if (PRELOAD_AUDIO.equals(action)) {
				cordova.getThreadPool().execute(new Runnable() {
		            public void run() {
		            	callbackContext.sendPluginResult( executePreloadAudio(data) );
		            }
		        });

			} else if (PLAY.equals(action) || LOOP.equals(action)) {
				cordova.getThreadPool().execute(new Runnable() {
		            public void run() {
		            	callbackContext.sendPluginResult( executePlayOrLoop(action, data) );
		            }
		        });

			} else if (STOP.equals(action)) {
				cordova.getThreadPool().execute(new Runnable() {
		            public void run() {
		            	callbackContext.sendPluginResult( executeStop(data) );
		            }
		        });

			} else if (UNLOAD.equals(action)) {
				cordova.getThreadPool().execute(new Runnable() {
		            public void run() {
		        		executeStop(data);
						callbackContext.sendPluginResult( executeUnload(data) );
		            }
		        });

			} else {
				result = new PluginResult(Status.OK);
			}
		} catch (Exception ex) {
			result = new PluginResult(Status.ERROR, ex.toString());
		}

		if(result != null) callbackContext.sendPluginResult( result );
		return true;
	}

	private void initSoundPool() {
		if (soundPool == null) {
			soundPool = new SoundPool(DEFAULT_POLYPHONY_VOICES,
					AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC, 1);
		}

		if (soundMap == null) {
			soundMap = new HashMap<String, Integer>();
		}

		if (streamMap == null) {
			streamMap = new HashMap<String, ArrayList<Integer>>();
		}

		if (assetMap == null) {
			assetMap = new HashMap<String, LowLatencyAudioAsset>();
		}
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Last week's list of question types went down so well that I got motivated to do you another list, this time of 'task' types. 'Task' is Yacapaca-speak for what is also known as Subjective Asessment, or free-text. I have covered the principles of these already; this is a handy list of the actual settings for each type.
Create tasks in any of these formats, by starting from the homepage of any author group of which you are a member.
Students enter plain text only, file uploads are disallowed and students may not add their own cards. Students answer one question per card, and the expectation is that the answer will be fairly short. As teacher, you can view all answers on a single page and mark each against a pre-written mark scheme.
Entry is HTML via the WYSIWYG editor, students can upload files and both add and delete cards from the original task you design. Marking is for the whole task. Teacher comments are enabled on each card, and the expectation is that you will use these to minute your conversation with the student as the ePortfolio develops.
Similar to the short-text test, except that marking and commenting are all switched off. You can download the responses to an Excel file so student can analyse the results.
Similar settings to the ePortfolio, except that the only file types that may be uploaded are those that can be embedded in a web page. You should require students to ensure that any uploaded file is actually visible on the page.
Finally, a note for advanced users. You can manually change the task parameters to create the exact assessment type that you want. I have yet to document exactly how it all works, but don't be afraid to experiment in the sandpit.
This entry was posted in ePortfolio, Yacapaca. Bookmark the permalink.


text: Q: If the universe is expanding then why does the distance between Sun and the Earth is not expanding? It has been proved that universe is expanding in the accelerating way. If that is true than the space between the Sun and the Earth must also be expanding. But it is not so, why?


text:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!--
     Copyright (C) 2013 The Android Open Source Project

     Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
     you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
     You may obtain a copy of the License at

          http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

     Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
     distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
     WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
     See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
     limitations under the License.
-->
<resources>

    <!--
        Timezone IDs for the time zones that we want to override the display strings.
        ALWAYS ADD NEW ENTRIES AT THE END. Othewise the entries after the insertion point will
        not match for languages that didn't get the translations.
    -->
    <string-array name="timezone_rename_ids" translatable="false">

        <!-- Australia -->
        <item>"Australia/Darwin"</item>
        <item>"Australia/Adelaide"</item>
        <item>"Australia/Brisbane"</item>
        <item>"Australia/Sydney"</item>

        <!-- Canada -->
        <!-- Non DST version -->
        <item>"America/Dawson_Creek"</item>
        <!-- Non DST version -->
        <item>"America/Regina"</item>
        <!-- Non DST version -->
        <item>"America/Atikokan"</item>
        <!-- Non DST version -->
        <item>"America/Blanc-Sablon"</item>

        <!-- US -->
        <!-- Non DST version -->
        <item>"Pacific/Honolulu"</item>
        <!-- DST version -->
        <item>"America/Adak"</item>
        <!-- Non DST version -->
        <item>"America/Metlakatla"</item>
        <!-- Non DST version -->
        <item>"America/Phoenix"</item>

        <!-- Mexico -->
        <!-- DST version with post-2006 US rule -->
        <item>"America/Tijuana"</item>
        <!-- DST version with post-2006 US rule -->
        <item>"America/Ojinaga"</item>
        <!-- DST version with post-2006 US rule -->
        <item>"America/Matamoros"</item>
        <!-- Non DST version -->
        <item>"America/Hermosillo"</item>

        <!-- Other time zones with missing labels from the framework -->
        <!-- Missing string in ICS -->
        <item>"Africa/Juba"</item>
        <!-- Missing string in ICS -->
        <item>"America/Kralendijk"</item>
        <!-- Missing string in ICS -->
        <item>"America/Lower_Princes"</item>
        <!-- Only had GMT as the display string -->
        <item>"Europe/Minsk"</item>
        <!-- Only had GMT as the display string -->
        <item>"Europe/Kaliningrad"</item>

        <!-- Brazil -->
        <!-- Non DST version -->
        <item>"America/Porto_Velho"</item>
        <!-- Non DST version -->
        <item>"America/Belem"</item>
</string-array>

    <!--
        Replacement display strings for time zones. The order should match the entries in
        timezone_rename_ids
        ALWAYS ADD NEW ENTRIES AT THE END. Othewise the array will not be the same size until
        all the translations are available. [CHAR LIMIT=32]
    -->
    <string-array name="timezone_rename_labels">

        <!-- Australia -->
        <item>"Australian Central - NT"</item>
        <item>"Australian Central - SA"</item>
        <item>"Australian Eastern - QLD"</item>
        <item>"Australian Eastern - NSW"</item>

        <!-- Canada -->
        <item>"Mountain Standard - Dawson Creek"</item>
        <item>"Central Standard - Saskatchewan"</item>
        <item>"Eastern Standard - Atikokan"</item>
        <item>"Atlantic Standard - Quebec"</item>

        <!-- US -->
        <item>"Hawaii-Aleutian - Hawaii"</item>
        <item>"Hawaii-Aleutian - Alaska"</item>
        <item>"Pacific Standard - Metlakatla"</item>
        <item>"Mountain Standard - Arizona"</item>

        <!-- Mexico -->
        <item>"Pacific - Baja California"</item>
        <item>"Mountain - Chihuahua"</item>
        <item>"Central - Tamaulipas"</item>
        <item>"Mountain - Sonora"</item>

        <!-- Other countries with missing or undesirable labels from the framework -->
        <item>"East Africa Time"</item>
        <item>"Atlantic Standard Time"</item>
        <item>"Atlantic Standard Time"</item>
        <item>"Eastern European Time"</item>
        <item>"Kaliningrad Time"</item>

        <!-- Brazil -->
        <!-- Non DST version of Amazon Standard Time -->
        <item>"Amazon - Rondônia"</item>
        <!-- Non DST version of Brasilia Standard Time -->
        <item>"Brasilia - Pará"</item>
        </string-array>

    <!--
        Country codes
        The order should match the entries in backup_country_names
        ALWAYS ADD NEW ENTRIES AT THE END. Othewise the entries after the insertion point will
        not match for languages that didn't get the translations.
    -->
    <string-array name="backup_country_codes" translatable="false">
        <item>"SX"</item>
        <item>"BQ"</item>
        <item>"CW"</item>
        <item>"SS"</item>
    </string-array>

    <!--
        Display strings for country names. Used only if framework doesn't have translated
        country names. The order should match the entries in backup_country_codes
        ALWAYS ADD NEW ENTRIES AT THE END. Othewise the array will not be the same size until
        all the translations are available. [CHAR LIMIT=32]
    -->
    <string-array name="backup_country_names">
        <item>"Sint Maarten"</item>
        <item>"Caribbean Netherlands"</item>
        <item>"Curaçao"</item>
        <item>"South Sudan"</item>
    </string-array>
</resources>


text:
Nate Hagens
Home > Staff > Fellows, Speakers > Nate Hagens
Fellow, the Human Predicament
Fellows, Speakers
Nate is a well-known speaker on the big picture issues facing human society and currently teaches a systems synthesis Honors seminar at the University of Minnesota 'Reality 101 – A Survey of the Human Predicament' Nate is on the Boards of Post Carbon Institute, Bottleneck Foundation, IIER and Institute for the Study of Energy and the Future. Previously, he was lead editor of The Oil Drum, one of the most popular and respected websites for analysis and discussion of global energy supplies and the future implications of the upcoming energy transition.
Nate's presentations address the opportunities and constraints we face after the coming peak of global economic growth. On the supply side, Nate focuses on the interrelationship between debt-based financial markets and natural resources, particularly energy with and the unique (and so far unplanned for) risks from the coming 'Great Simplification'. On the demand side, Nate addresses the evolutionarily-derived underpinnings to status, addiction, and our aversion to acting about the future and offers suggestions on how individuals and society might better adapt to the coming decades. Ultimately, Nate's talks attempt to provide a framework for people who would like to participate in shaping the future.
Nate has appeared on PBS, BBC, ABC and NPR, and has lectured around the world. He holds a Masters Degree in Finance with Honors from the University of Chicago and a PhD in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont. Previously Nate was President of Sanctuary Asset Management and a Vice President at the investment firms Salomon Brothers and Lehman Brothers.
Articles / Blogs
An Overview of the Systemic Implications of the Coronavirus
Uncharted Territory: Nate Hagens on coronavirus and the economy
The Human Predicament
Energy, Money and Technology – From the Lens of the Superorganism
Nate Hagens: Reality 101 – A Survey of the Human Predicament
Turning 21 in the Anthropocene
The Converging Environmental and Economic Crises
Helicopter Money and a Game of Kick the Can (Episode 12 of Crazy Town)
Limits to Growth: Where We Are and What to Do About It
Peak Oil and the socio-economic impact of depleting fossil fuel resources


text:
Today's Daily Observer
Salmon: Clubs Must Do More For Women's Football
Aug 17, 2020 | The Big Scores | 0 comments
Opening of the 2020 women's football league at the ABFA's training and technical centre in Paynters
By Neto Baptiste
Football clubs must play a significant role in the development of female football in Antigua but must first understand that the task is not solely that of the national association.
This is according to Vice President of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) and head of the organisation's Competitions Committee, Gwen Salmon, who said she is not satisfied with the strides made by women's football in the twin-island state.
"I think individuals view the [development] of female football as solely the role of the association, and it is not the role of the association. I've been to many workshops with FIFA and CONCACAF around the region and they always teach us that the development comes from the clubs, so I am not satisfied because I think our clubs need to play a more significant role in the development of women's football," she said.
Salmon, who is also president of the Hoppers Football Club, said most clubs are of the opinion that they must field a women's team in the FA's competition but clarified that such is not the case.
"They [FIFA and CONCACAF] don't say that you must have a team to play in the league, but let's say you get five players and we have 62 registered clubs. If they take up the task to say they are developing five or four players, when it's time for national training or the call up for national training then we as administrators should not have an issue that when the girls come there you are now teaching them to kick a ball. When they come to us they should be elite players coming from the clubs," the VP said.
"I think that's a dialogue the ABFA needs to have with the clubs, if it is that it's funding they need to make this happen but that is how I see it," Salmon added.
Salmon, however, expressed satisfaction in seeing the revival of the ABFA's women's league this year which saw a number of teams competing against each other for the first time in years.
The VP added that they failed to capitalise on what she thought was a boom in female football some years ago.
"During the years 2014 through 2017, we had about 300 young girls training for football on Saturday morning at the ARG and those players turned out to be the top players that were in our football league and I saw them shine in the last football league we had," she said.
"I should have done more to highlight what the girls were doing and to show where the girls came from and to show their dedication and hard work in the sport; I believe that we, myself and the association, could have done more, and so that's one of my regrets," she added.
The ABFA's Women's Invitational League was cut short in March after the government stopped all sporting activities following the announcement that the country had recorded its first case of the coronavirus. At that time, Cutting Edge and Ottos Tigers were both on 12 points with Cutting Edge holding a slight advantage at the top, based on goal difference. Lady Hoppers are third with 10 points while Trendsetters (six points), Fort Road (five points), Wadadli United (four points) and Lady Grenades (one point) were fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.
NewsCo Observer is your number one source for local, regional and international news. Our team of reporters and writers are second to none at bringing you the most accurate and timely information by shedding light on the stories that matter most to you.
Meet the Antigua Observer
About the Antigua Observer
Explore our Ecosystem
© 2021 Newsco Inc. All rights reserved.
error: Content is protected!!


Image Title: Wonderful Battery Powered Spot Light Name Battery Operated Led Spot Light Throughout Battery Operated Spotlights Popular. Filename: wonderful-battery-powered-spot-light-name-battery-operated-led-spot-light-throughout-battery-operated-spotlights-popular.jpg. Image Dimension: 436 x 600 pixels. Images Format: jpg/jpeg. Publisher/Author: Monserrat Conn. Uploaded Date: Saturday - February 09th. 2019 02:46:02 AM. Category: Home Design. Image Source: hgtv.com.
Tap The Thumbnail Bellow to See Related Gallery of "Wonderful Battery Powered Spot Light Name Battery Operated Led Spot Light Throughout Battery Operated Spotlights Popular"


text:
How to Manage Multiple Development Tracks
Multitasking is a way of life, not only for individuals but for companies as well. Most organizations create, nurture, and sell a portfolio of offerings. Part of this is natural segmentation. Not every type of customer needs or wants the same thing. The other driving factor is diversification. Just like we shouldn't invest all our money in a single stock, companies often can't afford to stake their entire futures on a single product, niche, or capability. That's why many pursue multiple development tracks.
The MuST Framework
To probe potential paths to success, many companies create parallel initiatives. They do this to see what's possible. This approach acknowledges upfront that some, likely most, of these journeys may not pan out. It's the willingness to fail that allows innovative companies to succeed.
This mindset is why you're reading this article on an iPad while ignoring your Gmail. These organizations didn't know exactly what they were setting out to build. Nor were they sure which would find market traction… or even work at all! But it is the appetite for experimentation on a grand scale that significantly increases the odds of discovering a gamechanger.
Unlike a single-track strategy, MuST embraces the unknown and welcomes the unexpected. Different tracks intentionally pursue unique paths, learning as they go, pivoting, and rerouting based on the successes and failures they encounter. There's no overarching grand vision. There is a belief that these various avenues must be explored.
The final results may be presented to the public as a "fait accompli." That the accomplishment was the inevitable realization of an inspiring leader's vision, but behind the scenes lay the abandoned relics of the projects that didn't have a happy ending. This only works when upfront plans aren't too defined. The path was not overly prescriptive, and the budgets have the freedom to shrink and grow over each initiative's life.
Organizations that buy into MuST aren't just leaving room for rapid iteration on known winners. They're providing space, resources, and frameworks for spectacular failures as well.
5 Tips for Managing Multiple Development Tracks
Managing one roadmap is tough enough. Often product managers and their colleagues working in project and program management have multiple development tracks. This is a major increase in difficulty and can throw the most organized individuals for a loop.
These tracks represent lots of completely different products or asynchronous development streams working on independent initiatives. It's easy to feel overwhelmed. But using a few smart strategies can make managing multiple development tracks much easier than it sounds.
1. Break teams into strategic units.
Spotify popularized the concept of product squads. These are cross-functional teams. Usually of developers and a product manager—set up as autonomous units. Each is responsible for a specific functional area of the Spotify platform (search, player, etc.). Releasing new functionality directly to the public, independent of what the other squads are up to.
The popular fantasy sports platform FanDuel takes a similar approach. Product Design Director Chris Leckie described how they use streams. These cross-disciplinary teams include product designers, developers, a business analyst, and a project manager. Each stream works together in a functional area. One such as the platform for a specific sport or the company's social-media component. (Listen to the full interview.)
These squad and stream methodologies offer many benefits. Each team develops deep domain expertise. They do this while intelligently managing their time and resources. They can do this because hoping they understand their own functional area of the product.
The alternative is a continual reshuffling of resources to whichever tracks need extra bodies. But what you gain in person-hours, you lose in efficiency. Developers hoping from one track to the next do not build up expertise, which begets increased productivity.
There may not always be enough personnel to go around, and a UX professional or architect may need to help out on multiple development tracks. But whenever possible, letting the implementation teams focus on one area pays dividends over time.
2. Mix it up now and then.
While the previous tip is a sound suggestion, occasionally switching things up is also important. If staff never move around, you risk burnout and informational silos forming.
By periodically rotating individuals through different teams, a natural cross-pollination of learned wisdom, techniques, and information is inevitable. That's a huge benefit for the organization, as different teams share and borrow from each other.
With this two-part strategy, you and your product team will first produce dynamic, expert teams across each area of your product. Then, by regularly rotating staff, you'll introduce a fresh set of eyes—and a related but different area of domain expertise—to each team.
3. Manage it all in a roadmap.
With so much happening simultaneously, a single source of truth is critical for oversight and communication. Roadmaps provide the perfect blend of clear, concise communication with strategic intent and direction.
Using a purpose-built roadmapping tool, these tracks can be managed and visualized in different ways. One alternative is creating a separate roadmap for each track. These could be based on products, teams, different aspects of the same product, or strategic themes. For example, you could create roadmaps for the iOS, Android, and web versions of the product.
Individual Roadmaps
Another option is producing individual roadmaps for filling the funnel, converting trials, and increasing average revenue per user with dedicated teams for each. These track-specific roadmaps are primarily for those implementation teams themselves to guide their work and measure their progress. They'll include a detailed level of detail for them to plan their work and allocate resources appropriately. The time horizons can also be adjusted. These roadmaps provide sprint-level granularity when appropriate for Agile teams.
Roadmaps for Executive Reporting
But for executives and other stakeholders, those track-specific roadmaps are far too detailed. They also lack the broader context of how all these independent efforts fit together. This is where roadmapping software really shines.
Portfolio Views
Individual roadmaps can be automatically rolled up into a portfolio view. The portfolio views display each track as a swimlane on the master roadmap. In one glance, all the various initiatives are visible. They connect the dots and illustrate how the different streams line up.
This master view is not only great for communicating the larger vision to key decision-makers and other interested parties; it's also instrumental from a management perspective.
With everything on a single screen, any out-of-sync milestones or deliverables jump out immediately. With that visibility, you can reshuffle resources, adjust priorities, and properly set expectations for key initiatives. Since this portfolio view is generated directly from the individual roadmaps, everything is up to date. Best of all, these views can be generated from within the software without any redundant extra work. So there's no excuse when it comes to presenting an accurate, comprehensive picture of everything in the works.
4. User stories and themes versus features.
Many roadmaps' fatal flaw is the obsession with including particular features accompanied by precise release dates.
These roadmaps may help answer questions about when a particular piece of functionality might be available. However, they do a great disservice to the benefits of Agile development.
Feature-based roadmaps are high-level project plans. They talk about "what" and "when," but completely ignoring the "why." Organizations are also continually learning from user feedback and analytics. Thus tweaking their thinking and priorities as they go.
Given this reality, plotting out six, 12, or 24 months' worth of exact deliverables doesn't make much sense. You're either locking the company into a path they may soon want to abandon, or you're stifling the creativity and flexibility Agile can offer.
Planning around themes sets a well-defined strategic direction. There are also set expectations for individual streams and squads. But it does this without eir hands-on on which functionality they introduce or improve to achieve strategic goals. Within a given theme, assigning user stories versus fully-specified features focus on desired outcomes versus specific implementation.
As Pivotal Tracker's Dan Podsedly explained in our webinar—How Product Managers and Agile Development Teams Can See Eye to Eye—user stories are the best way to break out work. User stories, he explained, are vertical. They allow developers to focus their efforts on building a complete functionality (even a small one) for the user.
Unlike features, Dan added, user stories capture intent and desired outcome. Leaving the details to the developers themselves.
5. Release when ready
Back in the old days, software companies relied on physical media for primary distribution. Eventually, they move to push out minor updates and patches via the Internet. In that scenario, it made sense to wait until everything was done. They could package it all up into one big shipment. It was easier for the user and cheaper for the company.
Although most computers don't even include a CD-ROM drive, some organizations are still stuck in that monolithic mindset. They wait until everything's done to slap a ".0" version label on it and ship the whole enchilada in one go.
This leaves a lot of opportunity for growth, learning, and customer satisfaction collecting virtual dust on a shelf, instead of getting new capabilities and improvements into their users' hands. Whether it's continuous delivery or adopting a strategy of frequent asynchronous updates, users can realize the value and the hard work teams have put in sees the light of day much sooner.
This is another benefit of structuring implementation and delivery around multiple tracks and individual user stories versus features.
Features represent large functional areas of a product. While a user story often represents a relatively small bit of functionality.
With development broken into user stories, you'll be able to push out each new piece of functionality more quickly. If each track represents a self-contained entity, treat that track as its own standalone product ready for launch—one independent of wherever your other tracks are in their development schedules.
Part of Agile development's genius is the ability to deliver new functionality to users faster and more often. Teams can then leverage that user feedback to improve both that specific aspect of the solution and the rest of the product.
Ready to revolutionize your approach to roadmapping multiple development tracks? Check out these helpful templates for managing multiple products.
The Definition of Done: What Product Managers Need to Know
Are we there yet? This is a difficult question to answer when no one agrees on where exactly "there" is....
How Do You Know Your R&D Spend is Appropriate?
There is no more measurable part of an organization than the sales team. They have targets and quotas, and they...
Agile vs. Waterfall
There's no shortage of processes, frameworks, and philosophies when it comes to project management, but they ultimately fall into one...
You can search or explore specific categories
Try typing "How to become a better Product Manager"
Product Leadership
Prioritization and Backlog
Product Strategy Example
Product Metrics and Analytics
Remote Product Management
Templates and Workbooks
Roadmap and Roadmap Management
Agile & Product Development
Career and Interviews


MORE than 125 mature willow trees have been poisoned by Hepburn Shire Council at Daylesford's Jubilee Lake in the first stage of the council's environmental management program. Minor works were initially carried out on the spillway on the dam wall, where it was discovered willow roots had caused the water level to rise by half a metre, so the decision was made to remove a hectare of willow trees around the lake. Internationally renowned ecological land manager, Dr David Holmgren, said the poisoning of the willows was a disaster given they are the largest natural air conditioner in the region. He said the cooling effect of a deciduous tree with an 80 metre square surface area, exposed to sun and growing in moist soil, was comparable to more than 10 air conditioning units. Dr Holmgren wrote a report to the council about the state of the trees and their environmental impact in August 2018, but says it was not taken into account. He said the nativist approach of willow removal programs hold the view introduced species are bad for the environment, but this had been refuted by new scientific evidence discovered by leading willow researcher Michael Wilson. Read more One piece of evidence is that willows shade out the pervasive blackberry species to form an everglade ecology, while acting as a long term sustainable and low cost management solution as opposed to herbicides, which degrade soils. Another is that willows capture 40 times more sediment and 10 per cent more phosphorous than eucalyptus trees. "The willows create a swamp land that slows the water down, purifies it and prevents turbidity and blue green algae blooms," he said. "While this prejudice against naturalised species, commonly demonised as weeds, enjoys some passionate support in the community and is considered best practice by our bureaucracies with the public money and poison, the promoters and instigators of these practices consistently refuse invitations to formal public debates on the merits or otherwise of willow destruction," he said. Though there is no saving the trees which have been injected, Dr Holmgren wants a debate so the community has an opportunity to hear the opposing views about a willow's place in the eco system. The council did not respond by time of print. Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
MORE than 125 mature willow trees have been poisoned by Hepburn Shire Council at Daylesford's Jubilee Lake in the first stage of the council's environmental management program.
Minor works were initially carried out on the spillway on the dam wall, where it was discovered willow roots had caused the water level to rise by half a metre, so the decision was made to remove a hectare of willow trees around the lake.
Internationally renowned ecological land manager, Dr David Holmgren, said the poisoning of the willows was a disaster given they are the largest natural air conditioner in the region.
He said the cooling effect of a deciduous tree with an 80 metre square surface area, exposed to sun and growing in moist soil, was comparable to more than 10 air conditioning units.
Dr Holmgren wrote a report to the council about the state of the trees and their environmental impact in August 2018, but says it was not taken into account.
He said the nativist approach of willow removal programs hold the view introduced species are bad for the environment, but this had been refuted by new scientific evidence discovered by leading willow researcher Michael Wilson.
One piece of evidence is that willows shade out the pervasive blackberry species to form an everglade ecology, while acting as a long term sustainable and low cost management solution as opposed to herbicides, which degrade soils. Another is that willows capture 40 times more sediment and 10 per cent more phosphorous than eucalyptus trees.
"The willows create a swamp land that slows the water down, purifies it and prevents turbidity and blue green algae blooms," he said.
Though there is no saving the trees which have been injected, Dr Holmgren wants a debate so the community has an opportunity to hear the opposing views about a willow's place in the eco system.
The council did not respond by time of print.


text:
Bose Speaker - Stereo - Dolby - Sound Format
Going Wireless With Your Headphones
If you're looking for the latest in wireless headphones for your enjoyment and private listening, whether to TV, stereo, home entertainment such as theater, iTunes or Ipod, you might do well to look at the highly recommended Sennheiser RS 130 wireless headphones. These state of the art wireless headphones provide an advanced communication via FM radio frequency. The result is clear sound with no background noise or static and nearly 500 feet of free movement. The headphones have terrific surround sound effects and weigh less than ten ounces. They are ergonomically designed to provide hours of comfort. The features of the Sennheiser RS130 wireless headphones include a base station for the headphones that is attractive and stores the headphones whre they are not in use and also charges the batteries.
Batteries are NiMH type, and their single charge keeps them going for 22 hours of your listening enjoyment. The wireless headphones base station has a 900 MHz high performance transmission, also wireless, that delivers a playback that is very impressive in its high fidelity capability. Its transmitters use Sennheiser's customized system of intelligent automated tuning. This seeks and then chooses the best of three channels from base to headset that are available for delivery of sound to the wireless headphones. A music professional and online consumer music advocate reviewed the Sennheiser wireless headphones.
He noted the worldwide acclaim of all Sennheiser audio products as well as its firm's state of the art designs and manufacture. He said that the Sennheiser RS 130 wireless headphones lived up to the Sennheiser quality reputation by delivering a high performance sound, as well as top notch value and ergonomically designed comfort. He said that he tested the Sennheiser wireless headphones both inside and outside, in conjunction with his speaker system - a ZVOX 315 - and his iPod. The ZVOX 315, by the way, is a surround sound single box speaker system that uses a single cable to connect to an mp3, an iPos, portable music instrument or equipment, or a computer, TV, CD player, DVD, satellite or clock radio, game console or any other device that has a jack for headphones or an audio output of some sort. He also used his iTunes from his laptop. What he found was that the Sennheiser RS 130 wireless headphones gave him unparalleled listening without any disruptive noise. His recommendation was that anyone who was looking for a set of wireless headphones for less than $200 to be used with their iPod, their iTunes, their TV, stereo, or home theater, didn't need to look anywhere else.
Surround Sound Sound Advice Headphone Sound
Bose Speaker Stereo Dolby Sound Format


1.) Power off the NAS.
2.) Remove all hard disks.
3.) Power on the NAS and no a BIOS ready beep since power up in 10 second, and still stuck even without HDD, the unit should be need to RMA.
4.) If the NAS could boot completely without HDD, please boot up the NAS, install all HDD and then download the NAS configuration file and submit a ticket (http://esupport.thecus.com/support/index.php?_m=tickets&_a=submit). Please refer to the following [Download NAS Configuration file] session.
A.) DOM was missing or corrupted.
D.) No CPU or CPU was defected.
E.) No memory module or memory module was defected.
For situation (A), please report this issue to us or submit ticket on our ticket system (http://esupport.thecus.com/support/index.php?_m=tickets&_a=submit).
For situation (B)~(E), please contact our local distributor for RMA.
2. Thecus NAS is similar structure as normal x86 PC, therefore we are able to identify this status via normal PC diagnostic method. We just need to confirm the BIOS ready beep sound since NAS is power on in 10~20 seconds. If everything (CPU, DOM, RAM etc.) is installed correctly, but no BIOS ready beep sound and we suspect the motherboard has some issues and need to swap or require RMA Service.
Furthermore, some of Thecus NAS are with video output (VGA or HDMI). User could confirm the BIOS ready beep sound first. In addition, user is able to connect the rear video output port with a monitor, too. If the output shows system successfully operation, then perhaps the NAS LCD display defect and require RMA Service.
Which Thecus model is suitable for the video output procedure, such as N2800, N4800 series, N4510U series, N5550, N7510, TopTower series, N7710 & N8810 series, N8900 series, N12000V, N12000PRO, N16000V, N16000PRO.


The kitchen is normally the centrepiece of every home. This is where you meet to talk, learn and play. So the requirements for lighting are ever so widely varied.
Lighting in the kitchen must be bright enough and not blinding. So select the right ceiling lights from our wide range of ceiling lights the one that is right for you. Spotlights will not only provide extra lights, but they will also provide extra impulse in the kitchen.
For simple and efficient working in the kitchen it is essential that there are no shadows on the work surface. The kitchen lights mounted below cabinets are important for this purpose. And even if there are shadows you will soon be convinced by our ideas for mounted down-light systems.
Perform magic by creating an atmosphere of enjoyment and cosiness at your dining table, by lighting it with suspended or pendulum light! Bright and blind-free light from above will let the delicacies served look especially appetizing.


text:
Manga Review – Captive Hearts of Oz
adventure, completed, drama, fantasy, fujimaru mamenosuke, maruya ryo, reverse harem, review copy/copies, romance, seven seas, shoujo
Captive Hearts of Oz
MARUYA Ryo (story); FUJIMARU Mamenosuke (art)
Shoujo – Adventure, drama, fantasy, reverse harem, romance
Review copy/copies
Dorothy is an orphan, but she's happily living with her aunt, uncle, and little dog Toto. But when a tornado tears through their farm, Dorothy finds herself in a strange land. Told to go see the Wizard of Oz in order to return home, Dorothy can't help but have a nagging feeling there's something oddly familiar about all this…
♫We're off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Hottie of Oz.♫
Like many of you, my familiarity of The Wizard of Oz comes from the classic movie. I've never read the book. I know a little bit about some of the changes in the silver screen adaptation (silver slippers to ruby, aging Dorothy up), but that's about it. While it's not essential, there were a few points I though the manga was going off in its own direction, but it's all related back to the original story.
Literally. The whole idea of Captive Hearts of Oz revolves around following the story. Not Dorothy and company, of course, but other characters discuss and worry about following the plot and keeping the flow on track.
Dorothy lives with her aunt, uncle, and dog Toto. Although at first Captive Hearts of Oz feels like it's an adaptation of the classic tale, there are hints right from the first chapter that things aren't always what they appear to be on the surface. Yes, Dorothy has braids and a small black dog named Toto, but it's "Auntie", not "Auntie Em". Scarecrow and company have names. She meets and travels with a guy named Zero. Since readers know the witches are concerned about keeping Dorothy on the journey, the real mystery is who is behind this world: is there going to be a L. Frank Baum character, or did some powerful sorcerer just copy the book for their own benefits? It's a puzzle to keep readers hanging on.
Unlike most series I review, Captive Hearts of Oz was created for an English audience. So while the author and artist are Japanese, it's a bit of a different flavor than traditional manga. Seven Seas said the manga was to have an otome game vibe to it, and I agree it's probably closer to that. Surprisingly enough, the story isn't about all the traveling companions falling in love with Dorothy. Only one out of the scarecrow, tin man, and lion likes her romantically. It reminds me a bit of Code: Realize, as while all of her friends were fond of the heroine, it was, overall, very much a story of friendship even though it's technically a romance. Also, it's very clear early one who's the romantic lead of the story, and you can even tell just by looking at the cover of the fourth and final volume.
In addition, the two main love interests are undoubtedly the best characters. Dorothy has her moments, but she often operates on autopilot. Not that she's only to blame considering there's magic involved. Otherwise, while Captive Hearts of Oz is about the journey, it's the mystery that is more addicting than the characters, story, or even the art.
Speaking of volumes, the story does drag a bit. Part of it is the fact that characters keep operating with their own motivations, hiding things behind secrets and vague comments. That's fairly typical of dramas, but the art is also quite large. There were quite a few times where I wished the panels were half their size in order to pick up the pace. Four volumes isn't long, but it could have been done in three or added a little more of the adventure in the middle. Another disadvantage to this series is that, in the grand scheme of things, the first two volumes are wholly unnecessary. This series is too short and too familiar to make the Dorothy and friends' journey feel like a full adventure or that they've grown and changed a lot. Heck, I think you could even jump to the final volume and still have a solid grasp of the story. I think perhaps it would have been better for the truth behind the Land of Oz to be revealed in the third volume and save the last for resolving everything. It would add some much-needed tension to the final volume instead of the ending being mostly explanations.
If Captive Hearts of Oz is supposed to be like a game, it's like sitting through a bunch of explanatory cutscenes before getting to the actual ending. And as for the ending… it's okay. I can't say I would have ever guessed the truth, but that's not because it's a twist that blows my mind. The creation of Oz and Dorothy's odd melancholy is just kind of odd. At least the loose ends are tied up, but there's also a sense of, "Why?" I guess it goes back to the manga's drama roots, which is better than the comedy here, like a friend of Nicholas' making an oil can shaped like a spiky shell.
The artist is behind most of the Alice in the Country of manga. So if you're a big fan of all the various Alice in the Country of releases, Captive Hearts of Oz feels like a natural addition to your collection. Some of the character designs do look as if they are twins of characters of Alice manga, which is to be expected. Between that and the otome game atmosphere, if you've played a lot of those types of visual novels, chances are you can "hear" certain seiyuu as the characters. This helps make the story come alive. (Hayward, the short, tough, and somewhat idiotic scarecrow is clearly a role for Shimono Hiro.) As I mentioned earlier, sometimes, the layout feels large at points, and the story feels like it is taking longer than it should. Alice also appears older at times, but Oz in particular is quite handsome. Except for Toto, animals are actually human-like (so the monkeys are people with wings), and I thought this was a nice twist on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The manga opens with a color insert with the cover and another image, so that was nice. Otherwise, not much to say about this shoujo-style art.
While Captive Hearts of Oz can get readers hooked in regards to its mystery, the rest of the story is kind of lackluster. It just is missing a certain spark, and this is only exasperated by the fact that the last volume's explanations make it the only necessary volume of the series.
Fujimaru's art can be found in most of Seven Seas' Alice in the Country of manga.
karin February 22, 2019 at 5:54 pm
I don't think I've ever seen a manga inspired in the Wizard of Oz (only games). Cool! It's a shame that the story drags, though. I wish mangakas didn't feel the need to do that to their stories. When a creator tries to stretch a story too much, it starts having a lot of problems. On another note, the scarecrow looks so cute, I can totally see Shimono Hiro voicing him 😆 .
Yeah, it's weird Wizard of Oz isn't more popular, but I guess it's because Japan loves Alice in Wonderland.
I know Shimono isn't in any of the Alice in the Country of games (so you'd think I'd hear some of those voices instead), but the scarecrow just felt like a character made for him.
Gosh, tell me about it! I also love Alice in Wonderland but Japan uses waaaaaay to much. Actually, there is an Alice in Wonderland otome game where Shimono plays the role of the king. It's called ALICE=ALICE but, sadly, it hasn't been localized 🙁 . Yeah! I'd love to see him voice a character like the scarecrow, hehe.
dreager1 February 23, 2019 at 2:39 pm
Sounds pretty interesting. I'm always up for a good mystery angle although the characters always being vague needs to be handled carefully. I feel like sometimes the author is so focused on building up the drama that the characters hide things for no real reason. Still, it's Wizard of Oz inspired which is nice and from the pictures you attached the art looks pretty pleasant. I haven't really seen this manga at my library before, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for it
Wizard of Oz is underused in stories. Weird since Japan is so obsessed with Alice in Wonderland.
Hopefully you can find or request this series at your library. Be interesting to see what you think of it.
KamenCJ September 2, 2020 at 10:17 pm
while i agree with most of what you say i have never heard of otome games and just liked how everyone was a human. I do however hope they actually continue with the rest of the oz books one day(yes i know only the first book ever gets adapted but the others are still worth reading) and if im being honest i would love to have this series be an anime. like a proper anime adaption of the wizard of oz.
Krystallina (Post author) September 3, 2020 at 3:15 pm
There is an anime adaptation of the books called The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and I think it goes beyond the first book. But I doubt Captive Hearts of Oz will ever get an anime or even a follow-up, but the second one is mainly because of what happens in this story.
Otome games are visual novels geared toward females and have a heavy emphasis on romance. Think reverse harem manga as a video game.
Charles Jackson Gregory September 2, 2020 at 10:18 pm


New York: SoHo Playhouse (Darren Lee Cole, Producing Artistic Director), is proud to announce that the winner of the 2018 Fringe Encore Series Outstanding Production Award, Blanket Fort Entertainments' Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, will get a six-week run at the SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street) beginning April 17 through May 26, 2019; Opening night is set for Sunday, April 28, 2019. Written and performed by Burt Grinstead and Anna Stromberg, tickets for Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde are $49 and are available at www.sohoplayhouse.com or by calling 212 691-1555. Based on the classic novella, this original adaptation takes you to the dismal streets of London in the 1860s, where societal pressures silence a gentle doctor's questions about the nature of morality. As the pressure intensifies, Dr. Jekyll takes matters into his own hands. However, things take an eerie turn when his experiment takes on a life of its own. Will his efforts save the world, or will they destroy all that he holds dear? After all, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.


text:
Environmental and Energy Law Blog
Mineral Owners, Oil and Gas Industry Vying Over Property Rights
While shale drilling has caused a boom in the production of natural gas and oil, it has raised a number of concerns, not the least of which is a struggle over property rights between mineral owners and the oil and gas industry. In fact, some observers believe this fight is headed to the floor of the Texas legislature in its 2017 session.
Proposed Balmorhea Drilling Faces Scrutiny
What affect will oil drilling have on San Solomon Springs?
In September, Houston-based Apache Corp. announced the discovery of 15 billion barrels of oil in the Permian Basin near Balmorhea State Park. The park, a popular tourist destination, is home to a famous spring-fed pool. Based on its discovery, Apache intends to digs as many as 3,000 wells over the next 20 years.
Once the company began leasing land and testing wells, however, residents began to air their concerns that the drilling would contaminate San Salomon Springs, and
A Look at Groundwater Contamination in Texas
What is TCEQ doing to reduce groundwater contamination?
While cases of groundwater contamination in Texas have been on the decline over the last two decades, a recently published report showed that these incidents rose in 2015 compared to the previous year. In its annual "Joint Groundwater Monitoring and Contamination Report," the Texas Groundwater Projection Committee (TGPC) documented 276 new cases last year. This is slightly higher than in 2014, when the group reported 272 new cases of groundwater contamination.
Sources of Groundwater Contamination
While there are numerous sources of groundwater contamination, the leading culprits are oil and gas drillers, chemical manufacturers, gas stations, and even laundry and dry cleaning services. Moreover, the most common pollutants found were gasoline, diesel and petro-products.
The San Jacinto Waste Pits Revisited
What has the EPA proposed for remediating toxic waste near the San Jacinto River?
Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposal to remove over 200,000 cubic yards of dioxins and other pollutants from a site near the San Jacinto River in Harris County. At an estimated cost of $97 million, cleaning up the site may allay the longstanding environmental and health concerns of community members. At the same time, the proposed remediation plan is also stirring controversy.
Pros and Cons of the Cleanup
Since 2011, the site has been contained to some extent by way of a temporary cap that was installed by companies responsible for dumping the waste. However, the cap has needed repairs over the years, the most recent of which was for a 20 foot hole discovered by divers in December 2015.
The TCEQ Was Busy Last Year
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is our state's version of the federal level Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is in charge of regulating more than 571,300 public and private facilities and/or individuals in Texas that affect, or have the potential to significantly affect, the environment.
The TCEQ has the authority to levy penalties of up to $25,000/day/violation in 26 environmental program areas. Each year hundreds of businesses across the state end up tangling with the TCEQ, facing off with regulators who claim they are violating our state's myriad environmental protection rules.
Report States that Not All Oil Spills in Texas Are Investigated by Regulators
Are all oil spills in Texas investigated?
Newly released documents give evidence that The Railroad Commission of Texas, charged with the task of investigating every report of an oil spill in the state, has not been following protocol. This information came to light as Sen. José Rodríguez (D-El Paso), concerned about potential catastrophic floods, requested government records on the matter.
Being in full compliance with the regulations of the state of Texas is not optional, nor is it simple. If you have concerns about your company's environmental impact and whether you are meeting all necessary requirements, it is essential that you consult with
Colorado Fines Texas Company Over Illegal Wells
What are the penalties for not complying with a state energy regulator?
In July, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission fined Texas-based Atom Petroleum for continuing to operate an oil and gas well after being issued a Cease and Desist order. The commission slapped Atom with a $239, 496 fine, and is requiring the company to take a number of corrective actions.
Atom partnered with Hoshi Energy, LLC in the purchase of 40 wells in bankruptcy proceedings of the previous owner, Red Mesa Holdings in 2015. Prior to beginning operations, Atom and Hoshi also failed to pay Colorado $360,000 in financial assurances. Inspectors found drilling had begun in January, however, and the state determined the drilling activities posed a severe risk to public health and the environment.
The Billion Dollar Oil Lawsuit: An Example of Why Venue Matters
The location where a trial takes place matters. There is no better example of this in the gas and oil context than the ongoing legal battle over Chevron's operations in the Ecuadorean jungle.
In February 2011, a court in Lago Agrio, Ecuador determined Chevron was liable for decades of pollution and social ills related to its oil business in the country. It awarded the villagers who had brought the case $18 billion in damages. Chevron appealed the decision, and the judgement was reduced to $9.
TransCanada Sues U.S. for Rejecting Keystone XL Pipeline
Why did The US reject the Keystone XL pipeline project?
In November 2015, President Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline proposal, claiming it would not help the U.S. economy or enhance the Nation's energy security and that the project would expand carbon emissions. Now, TransCanada has filed a $15 billion arbitration claim under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to recoup costs and damages the company allegedly suffered.
TransCanada contends that denying the Keystone XL permit was politically motivated and that the decision lacked validity.
Is Oil the Next Target for Tobacco Like Litigation?
In 1998, after years of legal skirmishes, the attorneys general from 46 states won a landmark, $200 billion settlement from the tobacco industry. The huge pot of money was divided up between the states, and used to fund tobacco cessation programs, fill budget gaps, and line the pockets of private attorneys that had assisted the attorneys general. States and attorneys viewed the settlement as such a success that ever since then there has been constant chatter in the legal community speculating about what industry will be the next Big Tobacco? Who can the states sue to get their next windfall?
Over the past few months, it has become clear that the new target is the oil industry. Fortunately, it is not at all clear that the oil industry will be as easy of a target as the tobacco industry was.
The past decade has seen many unsuccessful lawsuits filed by plaintiffs against oil and gas producers arguing that the industry is responsible for climate change.
EPA Unveils New Methane Emissions Rules
What is the extent of methane emissions in the U.S. oil and gas industry?
In May, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new rule designed to curb methane emissions in the oil and gas industry. The goal is to prevent 11 million tons of "carbon dioxide equivalent" emissions by 2025 from new or modified oil and gas wells. The EPA also plans to regulate existing oil rigs, well pads and auxiliary equipment after further study of emissions from these sources.
← Newer1 2 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 Older →
An Overview of U.S. Environmental Law
Who Is Responsible for the Enforcement of Environmental Law?
Property Rights and Oil/Gas Exploration in Texas
About the Rule of Capture and the Correlative Rights Doctrine
Immunity Under the Texas Environmental, Health, and Safety Audit Privilege Act
An Overview of CERCLA Enforcement and Penalties
An Overview of Submissions Under the Texas Environmental, Health, and Safety Audit Privilege Act
What is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act?
The Timely Payment of Oil and Gas Royalties in Texas
About Oil and Gas Survey Permits in Texas
Avoid These Common Oil and Gas Lease Mistakes
What is a Choice of Law Provision in a Texas Oil or Gas Contract?
What is a Farmout Agreement?
Recent Oil Contract Case Provides Important Lessons
About Joint Operating Agreements
The Unintended Consequences of the Shale Oil Boom
How to Choose an Environmental Lawyer in Texas
What is the Railroad Commission of Texas?
The ABCs of Seismic Surveys: Part Two
The ABCs of Seismic Surveys: Part One
How to Choose an Energy, Oil, and Gas Attorney in Texas
What You Need to Know about Environmental Audits
Permit by Rule Authorizations and New Source Review Permits in Texas
What is the Texas Environmental, Health, and Safety Audit Privilege Act?
Can Corporate Officers be Held Personally Liability for Environmental Violations in Texas?
What is the Texas Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act?
Seismic and Technical Data Licensing Agreements in Texas
Texas Oil and Gas Drilling Surface Use Agreements
Surface and Mineral Estates in Texas
Oil and Gas Law Basics
Oil Prices Continue to Advance
Texas Oil and Gas Economy on the Rise
Texas Leads the Nation in Clean Water Act Violations
Texas Supreme Court ruled on March 23 that coating manufacturer should proceed with its appeal of TCEQ Emission Credits decision
TCEQ Nearing Decision on Dripping Springs' Wastewater Discharge Permit
In Focus: Mineral Rights and Property Rights
Why Texas is a Leader in Wind Power
T. Boone Pickens Closes Energy Hedge Fund
Energy Transfer Partners Brings Defamation Claim Against Environmental Groups
EPA Sued Over Ozone Levels
Natural Gas Flares on the Rise in West Texas
In Focus: Measuring the Seismic Activity of Oil Field–Linked Quakes
ExxonMobil and PDC Energy Settle Clean Air Act Claims
$100 Million in Damages Awarded in Eagle Ford Shale Dispute
Texas Supreme Court Reviews Emission Credit Suit v TCEQ, October 11, 2017
Homeowners Join Lawsuit Against Arkema
Harvey Triggers Major Gasoline Spill in Texas
Texas Oil Sector Bounces Back from Harvey
Texas Conservation Plan for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Under Pressure
Solar Power Rising in West Texas
Interior Secretary Signs Order to Expedite Oil and Gas Drilling on Federal Lands
EPA Finalizes TSCA Inventory "Reset" Rule
Texas Railroad Commission Gets Funding Boost
Shale Oil and Gas Development in Texas: Pros and Cons
Trump Administration Intends to Unveil Plan to Trim Regulations
Comparison of Executive Orders 13771 and 13777 to Texas H.B. 1290
The Effects of Unconventional Oil and Gas Production on Groundwater Quality
Sun Not Setting on Texas Railroad Commission
ExxonMobil Ordered to Pay $20 Million for Excess Air Pollution in Houston
Texas Supreme Court to Review Emission Credit Suit v TCEQ
TCEQ Approves Camelot Landfill Expansion
Trump Rescinds Controversial Water Rule
Texas Railroad Commission Rolls Back Oil and Gas Regulations
The NAAQS as a Metric for the Veil of Cooperative Federalism
Taking the Clean Air Act Into the 21st Century and Beyond: A Proposal to Streamline Regulation to Improve U.S. Economic Competiveness
Texas Supreme Court Set to Hear Mineral Trespass Case
Congress Rescinds Rules Requiring Energy Companies to Disclose Foreign Government Payments
Prospects Look Good for Texas Oil Patch in 2017
Energy Protestors Coming to West Texas
Trump Taps Rex Tillerson to Head State Department
EPA Issues Report on Fracking's Impact on Groundwater
Texas Supreme Court Limits Cities' Role in Emissions
Record Breaking Settlement in BP Oil Spill Case Approved
States Push Back Against BLM
Number of Energy Leases on Federal Land Continues to Fall
Dallas Coal Power Plants Targeted by the EPA
Energy Company Contract Lawsuits Could Have Huge Impact on $500 Billion Pipeline Sector
Emissions Rules Blocked by U.S. Supreme Court
Opponents of Christie's Exxon Mobil Deal Return to Court
The New York Times Takes a Look at Texas Land Deals
Paris Climate Talks May Result in Boom for Texas Oil and Gas Industries
Vitol Said to Plan U.S. Oil Export to Europe after Ban Lift
City Refuses to Renew Waste Management Contract With Austin Energy
Obama Rejects Keystone XL Project, Citing U.S. Climate Leadership
Ethanol Mandates are Outdated, says Environmental Group


text:
Q: How to execute for loop between two numbers? I want to execute reverse for loop between two numbers.
for($m = 5 - 1; $m >= 0; $m--){

    echo $m . '
';
}

Output
4
3
2
1
0

Now how can i get below out put
9
8
7
6
5

I would like to appreciate if someone help me.

A: how about +5 in the echo?
it maybe looks like:
echo $m + 5 . '
';


If there's every a time to indulge in some delicious food, sitting in a pompous restaurant – it is now.
Or rather, it is this Friday, when Toronto's Winterlicious starts.
For those who don't know, Winterlicious happens twice each year (though the other is called Summerlicious, because it takes place in the summer), offering foodies a chance to eat at a place that the otherwise couldn't dream of affording. Some of the city's top restaurants offer a three-course set menu for between $25 and $45. But, reservations are hard to come by, so make yours early.
So, I urge you – take advantage! It's a great opportunity to find some hidden gems, and try out some menus that you otherwise couldn't dream of tasting.
Now, if you can't think of a place to eat at – fear not! Here's my list of the places that I can't wait to try!
For a few reasons: first, it's got a pretty relaxed name, but looks rather posh in the photos; second, who doesn't love canoeing?
And third, everywhere I turn, every message board I read, and every passerby I ask tells me I need to eat at Canoe.
It's located on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower on Wellington, offering diners a spectacular view of the city.
It's menu is critically acclaimed, and the restaurant is frequently found in lists of the city's best.
This is Canoe's $45 Winterlicious dinner menu.
As its name suggests, this restaurant is wine-centric.
During the Winterlicious period, it will be offering a delicious menu chalk full of food that begs to be paired with a nine ounce glass of wine (go on, treat yourself to the nine – you deserve it!).
What's unusual about Eight Wine Bar is that it's actually the house bar for the Cosmopolitan Hotel, which means that it'll be putting its best foot forward.
It also means that if you're going to meet a bello Italian, a hotel in the heart of the city is likely your best bet.
This is Eight Wine Bar's $25 Winterlicious dinner menu.
Located in one of the hippest, trendiest, and chic-est parts of the city, Banu plays on the pre-revolutionary Iranian feel, with its uber-mod, ultra-contemporary decor.
Oh, right, and its Middle Eastern menu and extensive vodka list.
Its menu is quite ethnic, and its among the more cost-effective restaurants at Winterlicious this year, which intrigues me even more than the really great music playing through the website. . .
This is Banu's $25 Winterlicious dinner menu.
What really attracts me to Luma is the fact that it's located inside the Bell TIFF Lightbox theatre, giving diners an excuse to wander through the building and take in some of the history of one of Toronto's most famous festivals.
The restaurant's menu also tries to pay homage to the contemporary, yet multinational nature of the city.
Luma has also been known to modify its menu to flatter exhibits at the theatre, so even if you can't make it out during the Winterlicious season, it's definitely worth a shot any other time of year.
This is Luma's $35 Winterlicious dinner menu.
The reason this is number one choice for Winterlicious, is because I didn't even know that the Bier Markt could qualify for Winterlicious.
The yuppie-centric bar is known for having every single beer every created on tap (in reality, its over 100 kinds of beer from 24 different countries, which is still a heck of a lot), but they're not necessarily known for their food.
But, the few people that I know who have eaten there have said its surprisingly good. And I can't wait to be surprised.
This is The Bier Markt's $35 Winterlicious dinner menu.