[. . .] 5. Professional Players from Coal Camp Teams (4,000): The professional teams of the time did not make very much money, so they supplemented their pay by working in the mines in the off season. There were many players, especially those who played in and around the coal regions who did this.
6. Current Restoration Projects (4,000): Throughout the mountains people are taking pride in the coal communities that once existed and they are rebuilding fields and teams. This is a look at what is being done presently in the region to address the past and the history of the coal camp baseball teams.
The readers of this type of book will be those who have some interest in the history of the coal mines in the Appalachian region first of all, but it is a book of national history that should appeal to any reader of nonfiction. Sports books are frequently published that focus on a single player, season or team. The reason that these books are appealing is that they relate to the sporting public. This book will relate to the sporting public because it will talk about the early careers of players such as Stan Musial, but it will also provide a piece of baseball history that baseball fans know little about. The mystery and discovery will be key parts of this book.
Nonfiction sports books are very common, but few of them take a little known topic and relate it to something a large part of the sports (or at least baseball) nation cares about. The competition will likely be fierce, but it could be said to be in a genre of its own because it discusses a subject that is little known and may be intriguing.
The total word length proposed for the book is approximately 25,000 words. Assuming 175 words a page that is 140 pages. The length of the book and the readability are two important factors in the book. The word length is kept short to give the fan a view of what took place rather than a comprehensive document.
A large part of the book will be pictures of the teams, camps and work the people did. This is a historical as well as sports book, and it is meant to document the times and the players.
This section is for you to fill out. But you could say that you had family members that worked in the mines in Appalachia and have heard stories all your life about the baseball teams, especially those around Birmingham, AL.
Writing a book proposal turned out to be more difficult than previously imagined. It is a detailed piece of work that takes a lot of thought and preparation. It is also not something that can be done quickly. The class helped by piecing together some of the more difficult pieces of the puzzle, but it also allowed me to look at what has to be done prior to writing the book. The most difficult part may have been selecting the right publisher for the work, but it seems that Universal Publishers has handled this type of book before, and they would be perfect for the project.
The book itself is a rite of passage. Having had family members who worked in coal mines, and having heard of the baseball players in the camps in the Appalachian Mountains, it seemed like the perfect way to both research a bit of family history and learn a little more about a great sport. Baseball has always been the Great American Past Time, and it was made so because everyone played, and there were so many different local venues that had local personalities playing on them. It did not matter whether it was in the Western part of the States or in the coal camps, across the country, everybody played and they all had favorite teams.
What is your conclusion about the merits of water markets and private property rights for improving water sustainability?
"Administrative Offices 23331 Water Circle." 7 December 2012. Web. 25 April 2019. <https://www.essaytown.com/subjects/paper/administrative-offices-23331-water/5340030>.
"Administrative Offices 23331 Water Circle." Essaytown.com. December 7, 2012. Accessed April 25, 2019.


This article on preparing for the extended Reality (XR) future was originally published by Torque Magazine, and is reproduced here with permission.
You've probably heard rumblings in the tech industry around the innovations in Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality. These mediums can broadly be defined as Extended Reality or XR.
My first venture into development in XR was in 2010 when I was exploring Flash development. My application was straightforward; show the webcam a Quick Response (QR) code and the program would superimpose a 3D model to the marker. In hindsight, this was such a life-changing moment for me. On top of being my first experience with manipulating digital 3D objects, it was also my first augmented reality experience accessible to the web.
The concept of a screen will likely be an afterthought in the coming years as we start blending the lines between our physical and digital selves. We will likely be surrounded by personalized versions of our environments and all of this personalization will be stored as meta in a database someplace. It is crucial for everyone to be able to have the power to control this meta and I'm optimistic WordPress will have a place in this because that's where it really shines. WordPress allows you to do all of the hard things in content management with little knowledge of how it is working under the hood. I don't need to know how to build a user system from the ground up…I can just use WordPress.
Content and meta will be a constant in our lives and, in my opinion, WordPress has secured a very nice spot in the future with the incorporation of the REST API. Anything that can make a HTTP request is now able to take data from WordPress and make intelligent decisions based on it. Maybe the structure of this approach will change in the coming years as different concepts such as GraphQL progress, but overall, the requirement of restful ways of handling data will likely remain constant for WordPress.
How Would an MVP WordPress Look in XR?
Last year, I sought to build a minimum viable VR WordPress using only the features we have available in a standard WordPress instance. I used Unity3D for my prototype as it was the lowest barrier to entry (FREE). The idea for this prototype was easy; use post data to populate UI elements in the VR world and use the featured 360 image of the post as a skybox around the user. My imagined use case for this was to be a mock travel blog.
This really isn't too rough of a concept. We make a REST call via C# using the WWW function. We take the data returned from WordPress and save it to a variable that the Unity Dev would assign using the simple drag and drop editor tooling. Unity takes the defined UI elements and applies the text stored in the variable to their mapped text object.
For the below code we are looking at the controllerWordPress.cs script in the Assets folder.
The Start function calls for the variables defined by the Unity editor tool script above (see the controller WordPress screenshot) and kicks off the DownloadJsonFile Coroutine as soon as the program is initialized. Pay special attention to the offset value. If we want to change the environment, we can simply add 1 to the variable and set state machines to listen for when to dump the data and move to the next room/post. Fun!
On the update function, we are checking the conditions to be true in order to trigger a re-render of their data. There are much better design patterns to achieve this. Again, this is MVP, and by this point in the hackathon, I was far from the ballmer peak that got me to the navigation side of things.
There are a few requests for things like Gravitar image and author information but overall that is a high-level view of how my MVP VR WordPress parses JSON data. You can see in the last code block, after a bit of tweaking, you start to get to a point where things look more like the objects of data we're used to working with in PHP/JS land. That's where it gets powerful.
How Do We Expand on This?
Let's look at a more real-world example already in practice. I am currently working on a music-based VR game called Broken Place. I'm using WordPress to pull in the song files to the players local game directory. These song files are an open source language called Pure Data. I've set up my WordPress site to accept the .pd MIME type and created a 'songs' custom post type that is exposed to the REST API.
This allows me to keep content fresh in my game without having to do versions or patch releases. This ensures that every one of my users is getting the same latest and greatest content. This also opens up the possibility of adding users to the site to contribute content without some complicated backend. I am not a seasoned game developer. There is no way I am building a user system from scratch. With WordPress, I can granularly create user roles and capabilities. Eventually, it is feasible that I could have a login screen that allows a user to jump into just their own songs.
In my game's current state, I am simply calling for that post type and pulling in the file using the URL stored in meta. The game then downloads the file, stores it locally, and loads the song. You'll notice from the screenshot, this game gives zero indication that it is utilizing WordPress. Magic!
As we move toward a more XR driven world, I am excited to see where WordPress lands in it. The ways we consume content is ever-changing, but with a platform like WordPress, we are able to adapt and create so many new and engaging digital experiences.
Anthony is a WordPress Innovation Developer at WP Engine. He is a core contributor to the WordPress project and spends his free time thinking of new and interesting ways to utilize WordPress. He is also a musician and game dev hobbyist.


J. P. Beaumont mysteries volume 16.
The dead woman was an artist recently arrived from Washington State, cruelly cut down in the early stages of a promising career. Now all that remains of Rochelle Baxter lies on a cold slab in the Cochise County morgue, and Sheriff Joanna Brady knows that murder has once again infected her small desert community. But there is more to this homicide than initially meets the eye--and more to the victim, who died while supposedly under the conscientious protection of the government.
A big-city legal establishment has no faith in the abilities of a small-town Sheriff, let alone a female sheriff. Instructed to swallow her indignation, Joanna awaits the arrival of the "help" Washington's attorney general is sending her: the newest member of the state's Special Homicide Investigation team--a man named Beaumont.
Bisbee, Arizona, is the last place J.P. Beaumont wants to be. The ghosts of a painful past are too numerous there, and his reluctant "partner," Sheriff Brady, resents his intrusion and cannot help but make her feelings known.
But the road they are forced to travel together is taking some unexpected turns, running two dedicated servants of the law headfirst into the impenetrable stone walls of a shocking conspiracy of silence. For Brady and Beaumont's hunt is disturbing a very deadly nest of rattlers, and suddenly trust is the only option they have. On their own in the Arizona desert, they know death can be cold and quick. And nobody is watching their backs here...they'll have to watch each other's.


Previous: Write a PHP script using nested for loop that creates a chess board as shown below. Next: Write a PHP program which iterates the integers from 1 to 100. For multiples of three print "Fizz" instead of the number and for the multiples of five print "Buzz".
In the first for loop, we initialize the variable i to 5 and decrement i by 1, as long as i is greater than or equal to 1. In the second for loop, we use the multiplication operator to update the variable i.


Is 40% to 70% diameter narrowing at the site of previous stenting or directional coronary atherectomy clinically significant?
Dose-response evaluation of once-daily therapy with a new formulation of diltiazem for stable angina pectoris. Diltiazem CD Study Group.


Monochrome and colour blocking on fresh, effortless designs.
Italian fashion brand Penny Black has been making wearable, on-trend clothes since 1978. For Spring Summer 2013 they have hit the mark with this season's black and white colour-blocking trend, geometric 60s inspired prints and clean, lean shapes.
Spring's monochrome moment is every girls woman's best friend; it's chic, it's achievable and it looks great whatever your shape. Penny Black shows you that there are several ways to rock this look, from loose and casual through to strong and powerful.
Elsewhere in the collection, digital print dogstooth pops in pillar box red and thigh-high hemlines channel the swinging 60s, a geometric use of aquamarine adds a preppy edge. These are great pieces, on trend and effortlessly stylish with a timeless charm.


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Posted on February 1, 2019 February 1, 2019 by GameGnome
Overwatch League 2019 Team Preview: Vancouver Titans
By Blizzard Entertainment
Joined Overwatch League: September 2018
Division: Pacific
Meet the Titans
We asked analyst Harsha Bandi and Chief Operating Officer Trent Carroll to tell us more about the team:
What makes your team stand out from other sports/esports teams in your market?
We are most excited about the chemistry and history that players on our team have developed having played, for the most part, together as RunAway. The family mentality this group has developed is something that will separate us from other teams in the Overwatch League. We want to not only be recognized for team performance this season, but equally so for our team values, commitment to our loyal fanbase, and for our never-quit mentality.
What will your team do that's special or original in order to connect with, build, and reach fans in your home market?
While technically a Vancouver-based franchise, we want the Titans to also represent the Pacific Northwest. United not only by geography—but by cultural influences, values, and lifestyles—the Titans will be a team that people from the Pacific Northwest region of Canada and the US can back 100 percent. With this in mind, we plan on conducting fan events and activities not only in Vancouver, but also in other cities in the region during the upcoming season.
What was the philosophy in constructing the team's roster?
We chose to pick up the best team (at that time) in Korea for obvious performance reasons, but also because of the family mentality and loyalty this group has built together. We supplemented the RunAway roster with another flex support in order to be prepared should the metagame change throughout the 2019 season.
What are the specific expectations and goals for the team in the 2019 season?
Due to our lack of experience in the Overwatch League and the incredible skill level of other teams, we want to manage our expectations for immediate success. However, we look forward to growing throughout the season, and our final goal is to find a way to win the championship. Outside of team performance, we are really looking forward to starting this journey with our fans, and our ultimate goal is to make them proud to be part of the #ForceOfNature that will be the Vancouver Titans.
Roster Analysis
Find out what our team thinks about the Titan's lineup.
More: 2019 Roster
Overwatch League analyst Josh "Sideshow" Wilkinson offers his thoughts on what Vancouver needs to focus on this season:
Vancouver signed the most popular Overwatch roster of all time—and arguably the most decorated. RunAway were already a highly successful roster in 2018, when their players declined multiple Overwatch League offers, and now they are entering the league with a Contenders Korea title under their belt. This roster was already at a playoff level during 2018; their primary key to success is maintaining that form.
The Titans' players are meta-resistant and talented, but their biggest strength—and advantage over the competition—is their team chemistry. This roster has played together in some form since 2016, and through multiple role swaps, player changes, and meta shifts, they have learned each other's styles and tendencies. It seems unlikely that their players would be anywhere near as effective outside of this roster, but together they seem to be an unstoppable force. Vancouver must keep that team synergy alive, as it's the element that made them into world-beaters.
Over the last year, these players have been big fish in a small pond. Contenders Korea had its best talent spirited away to Los Angeles to play in the Overwatch League, allowing RunAway to flex their elite strength. This year, they are going to be surrounded by the best players and teams in the world. Adjusting to that huge change of pace could be rough—or it could allow the team to level up even faster. The way the Titans react to the increased competition is up to them, meaning there's a huge weight on the mentality of these players.
Another major component that will affect the Titans' chance of success is their ability to adjust to North American life. Many of these players have spent their entire lives in South Korea, grinding for success and focusing completely on their goals. If moving to Los Angeles this year is a culture shock or a distraction for these players, we could see a totally different team. Coach Yang-Won "Yang1" Kwon has followed the players from RunAway to ensure their team atmosphere carries over, but there is only so much of the hyper-competitive Seoul environment he can preserve.
Catch the Vancouver Titans in action in their season opener against the Shanghai Dragons on Saturday, February 16, at 4:30 p.m. PST. All 2019 season matches will be available live and on demand on overwatchleague.com, the Overwatch League app, our Twitch channel, MLG.com, and the MLG app.
Overwatch League – Each team's probability of making the Stage 1 Finals By Spencer Moran, Blizzard Entertainment On Saturday, Feb. 10, at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles, the top three teams in the standings will battle it out for $125,000 in prize money—and bragging rights—after the conclusion of that day's matches. Stage Finals...
London Spitfire Win First-Ever Overwatch League Stage Finals The first stage of the inaugural season of the Overwatch League is complete, with the London Spitfire defeating the New York Excelsior in a thrilling five-game match at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles in front of a sold-out crowd. The Spitfire...
Overwatch League – Top 5 Plays: Stage 2, Week 3 Blizzard Entertainment – Overwatch League. A big D.Va self-destruct, a devastating Dragon Blade, DPS Zenyatta, a surgical Sleep Dart, and a Tracer player who just won't die: these are your top five plays for Week 3 of Stage 2 of the...
Overwatch League – Buy Tickets to Stage 3 and 4 Now Blizzard Entertainment Can you believe we're almost halfway through the inaugural season of the Overwatch League?! Time flies when you're having fun. But there's still so much more action to come, and we want you to join us to witness...
Overwatch League – Setting the Stage: 2 By Emerald Gao, Blizzard Entertainment Stage Finals Explainer We're in the final week of Stage 2, and that means the Stage 2 Finals are just around the corner. On Sunday, March 25, at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles, the top three...
Overwatch League – Best of Watchpoint: Stage 3, Week 3 By Blizzard Entertainment – Overwatch League This week the Watchpoint gang breaks down the Fuel's decision to part ways with Rascal and KyKy. Then we hear from tank Minseok "OGE" Son on how he's fitting in with his teammates and...
Overwatch League, Grand finals in Brooklyn in July 2018 The Grand Finals for the inaugural season of the Overwatch League, which will determine the champions of the world's first global city-based esports league, will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, over July 27–28, 2018. Following the...
Overwatch Contenders returns 2019 Blizzard Entertainment It's been a historic year for Overwatch Contenders. We've gone from two regions to seven, identified countless standout individuals both in and out of game, and continued to follow the stories of names we've known since the inception...
Overwatch League 2019 Team Preview: Toronto Defiant TORONTO DEFIANT Joined Overwatch League: September 2018 Division: Atlantic MEET THE DEFIANT We asked Toronto general manager Jaesun Won to tell us more about the team: What makes your team stand out from other sports/esports teams in your market? Like...
Overwatch League 2019 Team Preview: Philadelphia Fusion By Blizzard Entertainment PHILADELPHIA FUSION Joined Overwatch League: September 2017 Division: Atlantic Academy Team: Fusion University 2018 RECAP Boasting the league's most diverse roster—with players from nine countries—the Fusion were one of the Overwatch League's most surprising teams throughout the...
CategorieseSports News, Overwatch League
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Many men spend time thinking what color of t-shirts will match the pants that they are wearing when they want to go out for different occasions. Many men like to buy a lot of 420 T-Shirts and keep them in their wardrobes. However, they are not sure whether they have any pants that suitable for matching the 420 T-Shirts. They don't know the best occasion to wear 420 T-Shirts.
Black t-shirt is versatile in that it can be worn on formal or informal occasions. You will look good in black t-shirt when you are going for an interview for a job that you are applying. Some bosses like to wear 420 T-Shirts when they are attending a company meeting. Black t-shirt can add a serious look on you so that people will show respect to you.
Black t-shirt also look great on a person who wants to go on a date. When you are on a date with someone, you want to wear something that is not too formal and black t-shirt fits in this category. You can match it with simple blue jeans or men pants. If your employer allows you to wear a casual t-shirt to the office, black t-shirt will be the perfect choice. Black t-shirt is also suitable for wearing to a friend's party for example birthday party.
Black t-shirt does not look good when matched with a white/brown suit. Similarly, you will also want to avoid wearing a white/brown tie along with a black t-shirt. These two colors when matched with black tend to give a too casual appearance to you.
You will look nice on a khaki pants matched with a black t-shirt. When choosing what khaki pants to wear, make sure it is just a light tan color and now a brown color. You can wear black tie and black belt along with the khaki and black t-shirt.
Light gray pants also match well with a black t-shirt. The lighter the gray color of the pant, the more elegant you will look. If you want to wear belt, it is recommended that you choose a black color belt. As for the necktie, it can be a gray striped tie. If you want to look casual, you can wear a pullover sweater over the black t-shirt.


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Howard County executive says county will acquire, then assess Ellicott City properties
By Jess Nocera
| Baltimore Sun Media Group |
Dec 27, 2018 | 12:35 PM
At a news conference on Main Street in the historic district — which experienced two deadly floods over a 22-month span — Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced a package of flood mitigation efforts he dubbed his "Safe and Sound" initiative. (Ulysses Muñoz / Baltimore Sun video)
Saying Howard County "must make sure we are not using a sledgehammer when only a scalpel is necessary," County Executive Calvin Ball said last week that the county will continue its move to acquire buildings in historic Ellicott City, but has not committed to demolishing them.
At a news conference Dec. 27 on Main Street in the historic district — which experienced two deadly floods over a 22-month span — Ball announced a package of flood mitigation efforts he dubbed his "Safe and Sound" initiative.
Components include continuing construction of infrastructure to improve stormwater retention and stream capacity, more frequent maintenance of tributaries to remove debris, upgrades in the county alert system to warn people of potential flooding and other disasters and a matching grant program to provide $150,000 of funds for private flood mitigation efforts.
Ball, a Democrat who was elected in November, said the measures were all aimed at public safety, which he called "a top priority and my most sacred responsibility as county executive."
On Sunday, May 27, thunderstorms pounded the Baltimore region for hours. The storm morphed Old Ellicott City into a deadly flood zone. Here's how it happened. (Baltimore Sun video)
Ball's predecessor, former executive Allan Kittleman, had advocated acquisition of more than a dozen buildings in the historic district for demolition. Kittleman, a Republican, had said razing buildings was studied following the 2016 flash flood that struck the town and was deemed best way to increase safety and provide for long term viability of the district.
[More Maryland news] Artscape street closures start Monday, and the festival boundaries have changed. Here's what you need to know to get around. »
In the press conference at Tersiguel's Restaurant, Ball said his administration "intends to honor the offers" that have been made to building owners along Main Street, and would continue negotiations in "good faith" for the county to eventually acquire the buildings.
But he stopped short of saying the buildings would be torn down, saying each will be assessed by a structural engineer to determine stability and integrity.
"We have not for sure slated to demolish anything," he said.
Mark DeLuca, deputy director of public works, said Ball's announcement was the "first step" in a plan that will continue to unfold as the new year begins.
"We are looking to try and save as many of the structures on lower Main [Street] as possible," DeLuca added
With Ellicott City flood plan in limbo, a developer lets a business owner go rent-free for the holidays
By Erin B. Logan
Nov 21, 2018 | 6:00 AM
The proposal to raze as many as 13 buildings had been advocated by Kittleman as part of a broader flood mitigation plan that also included building water retention facilities and expanding waterways beneath the streets over five years to help lessen the impacts of future floods. The five-year plan was derived from studies that followed both the 2016 and 2018 floods, as well as feedback from residents and business owners.
Ball has stated previously that while he supports the flood mitigation infrastructure projects, he wanted to further study the demolition plan. In October he voted against partial funding for the $50 million overall plan after he proposed several amendments that failed. The measure passed without his support.
The demolition plan had also drawn opposition from the nonprofit Preservation Maryland. The advocacy group had expressed concern that razing historic buildings in the district could jeopardize Ellicott County's inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
Joy Sung, owner of Lamp & Gift on Main Street, said she does not want to see her building demolished, though she knows a solution to flooding is difficult to achieve.
"I believe most people want to keep the street like before [the flood]," said Sung, who opened her shop on lower Main Street in January 2017. During the May flooding that left one person dead and devastated the district, Sung closed her store while she cleaned up mud, water damage and mold. "I also hope they can keep this street the same but I don't know what the solution is for a flood."
Liz Walsh, a Democrat who represents Ellicott City on the County Council, noted that Ball rolled out a plan less than a month into his administration, and said that indicates he is "clearly laser focused" on making Ellicott City safer.
But Jon Weinstein, a former county councilman who represented Ellicott City but lost his reelection bid, was critical of the Ball proposals. He said some of the initiatives are things "that were already in progress, things to continue going forward."
And he said not taking action to remove some buildings on the lower part of Main Street "is leaving the same problem open."
Howard County officials entering talks on acquisition of Ellicott City buildings
At the press conference, Ball discussed other elements not specifically related to infrastructure — such as business retention, marketing and preservation. He said he wanted to "retain as much of Old Ellicott City's charm and history as possible" and assist Main Street businesses with promotion and tourism.
He said had directed the county's Economic Development Authority to support a full-time ombudsman for Main Street business, and he also wanted to explore creating a Community Development Corporation for Ellicott City that "incorporates all of Ellicott City's diverse stakeholders." He said he would form a committee to examine the feasibility of a CDC in the new year.
[More Maryland news] 'Extremely convenient': First medical cannabis dispensary in Carroll County opens in Westminster »
Ball said the pilot assistance program, another aspect of the Safe and Sound initiative, will provide grants up to $5,000 for flood mitigation projects taken on by individual property owners in Old Ellicott City as well as nearby areas of Valley Meade and Dunloggin. The total program cap will be $150,000, and after a year the effort will be evaluated to determine if it should be expanded to other areas.
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The county executive also said he will work with the county's delegation in the upcoming Maryland General Assembly legislative session on flood mitigation and public safety issues.
"If they keep developing there's nowhere for the water to go," said Kelley Mammarella. (Kevin Richardson / Baltimore Sun video)
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Epic donates two weeks of Fortnite proceeds to Ukraine relief
new season It is an electronic game It is launched today, and Developer Epic will donate all proceeds from the first two weeks to humanitarian efforts related to Ukraine. The action will run from March 20 through April 3, and will include all "real money purchases" in the game, which means buying V-bucks, subscriptions, gifted battle tickets and some cosmetic packages. (Epic notes that "Use V-Bucks in It is an electronic game They will not be included as these are not real money purchases.) They will also include retail gift card purchases as long as they are redeemed within the two-week window.
As part of this effort, Microsoft will also "allocate its net proceeds to It is an electronic game During this time, so that we can provide more help to the people of Ukraine." The money will be donated to a few different organizations, which include Direct Relief, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Food Program. The developer says it will add more of supported organizations "in the coming weeks".
Epic says it will send the money to these organizations "as soon as possible. We are not waiting for the actual money to arrive from our platform and payment partners, which may take some time depending on how the transaction is processed. When the transactions are reported, we will record them and send the money to humanitarian organizations in within days."
This news comes as other gaming-related efforts have successfully raised millions of dollars for humanitarian relief in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A collection of indie games on Itch.io It raised over $6 million earlier this month, and Humble package focused on Ukraine It has already exceeded 9 million dollars.
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NASA Perseverance Rover's autonomous driving capabilities are put to the test in the rush to the Mars delta


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[AMA Recap] The changer of Blockchain Game 2.0
Winners Announced for the"Blockchain Gaming Awards Ceremony 2022"
JUNE, make your WEB3.0 investment safer
[AMA Recap]An in-depth look at For Metas and its first gaming app, Gloryland
More than just Play to Earn, the innovation path of BTCFISH
The metaverse of METAHERO is going to overturn esports industry?
It's a parallel network with the real world that users can access through virtual reality. It is also a huge, collective virtual world that is open to users all over the world, where people can play roles, play games, socialize, communicate, etc. This is the Metaverse.
From the classical phase of literature, art and religion to the neoclassical phase of science fiction and video game forms, the metaverse have transcended what Neal Stephenson set out to mean. It has absorbed information communication (5G/6G), Internet technology (Web 3.0), AI and XR technology, and entered the stage of highly intelligent form with "decentralized" games as the carrier, showing in front of people with a more digital and inclusive attitude.
As a metaverse of immersive experiences, Games are certainly one of the best carriers.
MetaHero is based on the decentralized solution of esports GameFi + entertainment live streaming industry, aiming at an ecosystem jointly created by various GameFi, esports network dramas, all esports players, esports stars, live streaming platforms, esports reality shows and cross-border partners.
Being the first online GameFi, the core of MetaHero is a decentralized game based on blockchain technology. It uses cryptocurrency as settlement Token to create a Token circulating in each project, so as to connect user relations between different levels and form a new blockchain ecosystem.
In order to realize the huge MetaHero ecosystem in the future, in addition to the GameFi itself, it is necessary to establish the most comprehensive centralized game virtual prop trading platform to prepare for the asset circulation in the tribe. With the development of blockchain technology, the new MetaHero decentralized ecosystem will provide ubiquitous liquidity for game items, providing more value to the game market and participants. Here, the participants are primarily game developers, publishers, and game players, as well as game item markets, transaction promoters, and other contributors. In this ecosystem, economic value is distributed among all participants to ensure that they receive their due.
The new MetaHero decentralized world ecosystem will bring huge benefits to game players. With unprecedented flexibility and the ability to buy, sell and hand in game items directly to other gamers, players can get tremendous value from their hard-earned game items. And crucially, they will do so in a fraud-free environment, something that never existed before blockchain technology became available.
This is the first year of metaverse, and esports has become an official event of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. MetaHero will grasp the integration and innovation of the two tracks and continue to explore the development potential of metaverse esports, on the basis of adhering to the strategy of "esports drives games and data flow drives the real economy". Virtual reality technology as the realization path, the formation of innovative digital products, integrated into the practical scene application requirements, to promote the further realization of the current value of the " metaverse ".
March 11, 2022 Leave a Comment on The metaverse of METAHERO is going to overturn esports industry?News
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I'd advise you to just use a list or dictionary instead of dynamic variable names. All the versions below result in lists, lists etc being , which seems close enough to what you want, and will be more readable/maintainable in the long term. (Note: I'm using lists instead of list as a variable name because the latter would overwrite the builtin list function, which you probably don't want).
About dynamic variable names, i.e. variables like list1 instead of lists... Seriously, you probably shouldn't do that. It's unnecessarily complicated and hard to maintain. Think about it - next month you'll want to modify the script, and you'll try to figure out where the variable list1 was defined, and you won't be able to do that with a plain text search. It's a pain.
But if you really want to for some reason, it's possible with exec - here are some reasons not to use it - or with modifying locals() - bad idea according to documentation. Also see comments for more discussion on why these things are a bad idea and how confusing it gets even talking about them.
Do not use list as a variable name - it hides the existing keyword.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged python list variables or ask your own question.
How do I create a variable number of variables?
How would one create variables in a loop?
Is there a method to pull string variables from a list/tuple etc to serve as variable names for other variables?
Python - Can users call variables with only part of its name?


Product code: ES7855 Categories: Sold Items, Sold Jewellery.
Antique jewellery can often be not just beautiful, but also a wonderful window into a time gone by, such as this charming antique nanny brooch dating from the Victorian era.
Dating from the 1880's, this was as the name suggests worn by the nanny as a traditional brooch and when she was out with the children, if they tore a hole or seam in their clothing, could quickly be repaired thanks to the hollow section in the centre that contained needle and thread. This is a wonderful glimpse into the past and one can only imagine the scene of playful boys running and falling over and tearing a hole in their clothing.
Made simply of brass and set with an amethyst, the brooch measures 48.8mm in length by 16mm wide at the centre, and one end cleverly unscrews to allow the needle and thread to be kept securely inside and ready at a moment's notice.
Although not made in gold or platinum, or set with sapphires or diamonds, there is no doubt that this antique nanny brooch is just as charming as any antique brooch and certainly a wonderful talking point.
A nanny brooch was designed to cleverly hold needle and thread to be quickly used when needed.


Today I'm blogging on PFHT with an encore of a blog originally posted here, but which I loved enough to give it more exposure. Can you guess which one? Check it out and see if you're correct.
This entry was posted in Annie Rayburn, Carol Burnside, Going Places and tagged blogging, family, Love, memories, PFHT, prize. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Q: subprocess for non-default shell command i have a problem with using subprocess. Here is what i wanna do: use python to open a shell, and call" bluetoothctl"(from bluez), then send/read other command, like"help",  under the 'bluez' program. However, the questions is that system does not know the 'help' command since its not supported by shell by default. It is supported by 'bluez'.

my code:
import subprocess as sub
cmd_line = 'bluetoothctl'
cmd2 = 'help'

open_blue = sub.Popen(cmd_line, shell=True, stdout=sub.PIPE, stderr=sub.STDOUT)
out = open_blue.communicate()[0]
print (out)

open_blue = sub.Popen(cmd2, stdout=sub.PIPE, stderr=sub.STDOUT)
out = open_blue.communicate()[0]
print (out)

error said: No such file or directory: 'help'
im wondering what is wrong here.
Thanks.

A: I don't have the BlueZ stack at hand atm. to test, but provided that it works with regular STDOUT/STDIN, you can pipe STDIN, too, and use Popen.communicate() to send your command:
import subprocess

open_blue = subprocess.Popen(["bluetoothctl"], shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                             stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
out, err = open_blue.communicate("help")
print(out)

But if the bluetoothctl expects continuous stream (i.e. acts as a sub-shell) then communicate() might not be the right approach as it essentially waits for the subprocess to finish sending data to STDOUT, then sends your command to STDIN and closes it, and then waits for the STDOUT/STDERR and closes them as well - effectively making it useful for sending a single command to your subprocess. If you're going to be issuing various commands to the bluetoothctl process you might have to write your own handler for it. Something to the tune of:
    import subprocess
open_blue = subprocess.Popen(["bluetoothctl"], shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                             stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)

while True:  # lets wait for 'user' prompt
    line = open_blue.stdout.readline().rstrip()
    if line.endswith("#"):  # this is the prompt, presumably, so stop reading STDOUT
        break
    print(line + "\n")  # print the subprocesses STDOUT

open_blue.stdin.write("help\n")  # send the `help` command

while True:  # lets repeat the above process
    line = open_blue.stdout.readline().rstrip()
    if line.endswith("#"):  # this is the prompt, presumably, so stop reading STDOUT
        break
    print(line + "\n")  # print the subprocesses STDOUT

# now you can issue another command... and so on.

A: bluetoothctl reads commands and writes responses. Instead of creating a new process that tries to execute help, you should therefore write it to stdin of your bluetoothctl process.
I don't have this command available, but here's a complete, self-contained example with python itself, which also accepts a "help" command:
import subprocess as sub

p = sub.Popen(["python", "-i"], stdin=sub.PIPE, stdout=sub.PIPE);
print("The process said: " + p.communicate("help")[0])

When executed, you will get the python prompt and then this:
The process said: Type help() for interactive help, or help(object) for help about object.

This is exactly what you'd get if you typed help in a python -i prompt.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Large palm tree-like fronds are a characteristic of Black kale. They grow from a sturdy central stalk, and are smallest at the top gradually growing in size towards the base. The crinkly leaves are deeply veined and a dark greenish-purple, almost black color. With a blade-like shape, Black kale leaves are narrower than most other varieties and have a thin tender stem. The chewy texture easily softens when cooked, and offers subtle green cabbage flavor that has a tangy bite with a sweet earthy finish.
Black kale is available year-round with peak season in the winter.
Black kale is botanically classified as Brassica oleracea and may also be commonly referred to as Lacinato kale, Dinosaur kale, Tuscan kale, Italian Black Cabbage or Cavalo Nero. Black kale is a hardy green that is prized as one of the most delicious of all kale varieties, developing a nutty sweetness even when lightly sautéed. It is one of the four types of kale in the species, including: Scotch, Siberian/Russian, Collards and of course Lacinato or Black.
Black kale is especially tender when young and often used as a salad green in mesclun mixes. The fully mature leaves are best when cooked, but require minimal cooking when compared to other kale varieties as the central rib not as as fibrous. Black kale may be steamed, braised, stewed, fried, sautéed, juiced and even baked like a chip. It is well complemented by combination of garlic, sesame, soy sauce and ginger. It is also great in hardy soups which contain smoked meats, potatoes, beans or barley. Other flavor affinities include, bay leaf, oregano, thyme, red pepper flake, nutmeg, shallots, onion, tomato, sweet potatoes, cheddar cheese, Parmesan, cream, roasted meats, chorizo sausage, pancetta and chicken.
In some herbal and folk medicine practices, the entire kale and Cabbage family is esteemed for its scar-healing, disinfectant, anti-rheumatic, decongestant and anti-diabetic powers. The blanched leaves of kale can be applied topically to burns or irritated skin for relief.
Black kale is an international hybrid and a prized Tuscan specialty native to the Mediterranean region. Rarely found growing in the wild, today it is cultivated world-wide and yields the sweetest of crops after the first frost. It tolerates full sun, but is best when grown in partial shade in fertile soils with good drainage.
Recipes that include Black Kale. One is easiest, three is harder.
People have shared Black Kale using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Sharer's comments : Black Kale spotted at Little Italy Mercato.
Sharer's comments : Black Kale spotted at First Alternative Natural Foods Co-Op.


text:
Cultivation partnerships worldwide
Shea butter from Burkina Faso
The shea butter for Dr. Hauschka Skin Care comes from Burkino Faso. In 2001, we provided the stimulus for an organically certified project in the region around Diarabakoko in the south-west of the country. Since 2019, this project is not only certified organic, but also fair trade. The company pays a correspondingly higher price for the shea butter. This benefits 4,000 families in 21 villages in Burkina Faso. The additional amount is invested in initiatives such as training, health programs, and drinking water treatment as well as in the development of the villages. Last year, for example, schools received better equipment, drinking water analyses were carried out, and first aid kits were made available.
Women's gold: Shea butter
The approximately 4,000 collectors in the project village of Diarabakoko independently organize themselves in a producer association. This is a women-only association, as is common and natural in Africa. Shea butter has always been a women's thing and only they are authorized to harvest the nuts. Their earnings from the shea nut sales enable them to pay for their children's school fees – so that all of them, rather than just the lucky few can go to school. They are also able to pay for basic essentials like food and medicines.
Process within the country
WALA's approach to cultivation partnerships is to ensure that as much of the value chain as possible remains within the country, and to make the suppliers independent of WALA so they can better develop a sound economic base. With this in mind, the WALA shea butter cultivation partnership has established the necessary conditions to allow the nuts to be almost completely processed in the region: after harvesting the nuts within the scope of the project, the women shell, dry and place them into interim storage in warehouses that are co-financed by WALA. The nearby organic and fair-certified company Agrifaso, with its head office in Bobo-Dioulasso, purchases the nuts and uses transporters to move them straight from the villages to its small processing unit. There, the shelled nuts are pressed under warm conditions and turned into shea butter. Agrifaso has 50 permanent employees, who ensure the continual production of the shea butter in consistently good quality. Only refining takes place in Europe.
Fruits from the shea tree
Crushed shea nuts
Herrmann Schopferer supervises the shea butter project in Diarabakoko.
The additional earnings from processing the shea nuts go to the children. The extra money enables them all to go to fee-charging schools.
Cultivating shea butter is women's business. WALA employee Christine Ellinger on a visit.
Zerkleinerte Sheanüsse
Moor Lavender Calming Body Oil 75 ml
Conditioner 150 ml
Rose Nurturing Body Cream 145 ml
Foundation 01 macadamia
Firming Mask 30 ml
Regenerating Eye Cream 15 ml
A selection of Dr. Hauschka products that contain valuable shea butter


Dating is hard in 2019.
Nobody wants to 'couple up'. Catch flights, not feelings, Am I right?
Look it is hard to find time to date with the busy schedules we have and need to binge on Netflix.
Everything new to Netflix this month.
Well, now you may have to catch flights if you want the time to catch them feels.
Two companies in China are giving their single, female employees over the age of 30 the option to take 'dating leave' to find themselves a hubby.
According to the South China Morning Post, Hangzhou Songcheng Performance & Hangzhou Songcheng Tourism Management are giving the single woman, who are over 30 and who are in a "non-frontline" role an extra eight days of dating leave during the Lunar New Year.
Our question is what happens when you (sorry hun.. if) come back without a ring?


If you are looking for a Landscaper or Landscaping Company in Hensley ,you are in the right place. The FindLocal-Landscapers Directory displays Hensley,AR Landscapers & Landscaping Companies. We also display Landscapers & Landscaping Contractors throughout the United States.
Our goal is to provide a great experience for consumers looking for a Landscaper or Landscaping Companies in Hensley, AR. We keep our directory free of clutter and unnecessary links and ads. Consumers can quickly locate Hensley Landscapers & Landscaping Companies using the FindLocal-Landscapers Directory.
Please use our zip code search function at the top of the page to search for Landscapers & Landscaping Companies in your area if Hensley is not the city where you are trying to find a Landscaper or Landscaping Company.


In this article, several members of the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives, offer their advice on how to start a new IoT project.
As a member of the Forbes Technology Council, Andres shared his insights, discussing the importance of maintaining a long-term view.
Other Council tips include focus on research and development, start with a clear proof of concept, and stay within your core competency. For the full article, click here.


text:
package workloads

import (
	"regexp"

	"github.com/cilium/cilium/pkg/defaults"
	"github.com/cilium/cilium/pkg/k8s"
	k8sConst "github.com/cilium/cilium/pkg/k8s/apis/cilium.io"
	"github.com/cilium/cilium/pkg/logging/logfields"
	"github.com/cilium/cilium/pkg/option"
	"github.com/cilium/cilium/pkg/policy"

	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
	k8sDockerLbls "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/types"
)

const (
	// AnnotationIstioSidecarStatus is the annotation added by Istio into a pod
	// when it is injected with a sidecar proxy.
	// Since Istio 0.5.0, the value of this annotation is a serialized JSON object
	// with the following structure ("imagePullSecrets" was added in Istio 0.8.0):
	//
	//     {
	//         "version": "0213afe1274259d2f23feb4820ad2f8eb8609b84a5538e5f51f711545b6bde88",
	//         "initContainers": ["sleep", "istio-init"],
	//         "containers": ["istio-proxy"],
	//         "volumes": ["cilium-unix-sock-dir", "istio-envoy", "istio-certs"],
	//         "imagePullSecrets": null
	//     }
	AnnotationIstioSidecarStatus = "sidecar.istio.io/status"

	// DefaultSidecarIstioProxyImageRegexp is the default regexp compiled into
	// SidecarIstioProxyImageRegexp.
	DefaultSidecarIstioProxyImageRegexp = "cilium/istio_proxy"
)

var (
	// SidecarIstioProxyImageRegexp is the regular expression matching
	// compatible Istio sidecar istio-proxy container image names.
	// This is set by the "sidecar-istio-proxy-image" configuration flag.
	SidecarIstioProxyImageRegexp = regexp.MustCompile(DefaultSidecarIstioProxyImageRegexp)
)

// fetchK8sLabels returns the kubernetes labels from the given container labels
func fetchK8sLabels(containerID string, containerLbls map[string]string) (map[string]string, error) {
	if !k8s.IsEnabled() {
		return nil, nil
	}
	podName := k8sDockerLbls.GetPodName(containerLbls)
	if podName == "" {
		return nil, nil
	}
	ns := k8sDockerLbls.GetPodNamespace(containerLbls)
	if ns == "" {
		ns = "default"
	}
	log.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
		logfields.K8sNamespace: ns,
		logfields.K8sPodName:   podName,
	}).Debug("Connecting to k8s to retrieve labels for pod in ns")

	result, err := k8s.Client().CoreV1().Pods(ns).Get(podName, metav1.GetOptions{})
	if err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}

	// Also get all labels from the namespace where the pod is running
	k8sNs, err := k8s.Client().CoreV1().Namespaces().Get(ns, metav1.GetOptions{})
	if err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}

	k8sLabels := result.GetLabels()
	if k8sLabels == nil {
		k8sLabels = map[string]string{}
	}
	for k, v := range k8sNs.GetLabels() {
		k8sLabels[policy.JoinPath(k8sConst.PodNamespaceMetaLabels, k)] = v
	}
	k8sLabels[k8sConst.PodNamespaceLabel] = ns

	if result.Spec.ServiceAccountName != "" {
		k8sLabels[k8sConst.PolicyLabelServiceAccount] = result.Spec.ServiceAccountName
	} else {
		delete(k8sLabels, k8sConst.PolicyLabelServiceAccount)
	}

	// If the pod has been injected with an Istio sidecar proxy compatible with
	// Cilium, add a label to notify that.
	// If the pod already contains that label to explicitly enable or disable
	// the sidecar proxy mode, keep it as is.
	if _, ok := k8sLabels[k8sConst.PolicyLabelIstioSidecarProxy]; !ok &&
		isInjectedWithIstioSidecarProxy(containerID, result) {
		k8sLabels[k8sConst.PolicyLabelIstioSidecarProxy] = "true"
	}

	if option.Config.ClusterName != defaults.ClusterName {
		k8sLabels[k8sConst.PolicyLabelCluster] = option.Config.ClusterName
	}

	return k8sLabels, nil
}

// isInjectedWithIstioSidecarProxy returns whether the given pod has been
// injected by Istio with a sidecar proxy that is compatible with Cilium.
func isInjectedWithIstioSidecarProxy(containerID string, pod *corev1.Pod) bool {
	scopedLog := log.WithField(logfields.ContainerID, shortContainerID(containerID))

	istioStatusString, ok := pod.GetAnnotations()[AnnotationIstioSidecarStatus]
	if !ok {
		// Istio's injection annotation was not found.
		scopedLog.Debugf("No %s annotation", AnnotationIstioSidecarStatus)
		return false
	}

	scopedLog.Debugf("Found %s annotation with value: %s",
		AnnotationIstioSidecarStatus, istioStatusString)

	// Check that there's an "istio-proxy" container that uses an image
	// compatible with Cilium.
	for _, container := range pod.Spec.Containers {
		if container.Name != "istio-proxy" {
			continue
		}
		scopedLog.Debug("Found istio-proxy container in pod")

		if !SidecarIstioProxyImageRegexp.MatchString(container.Image) {
			continue
		}
		scopedLog.Debugf("istio-proxy container runs Cilium-compatible image: %s", container.Image)

		for _, mount := range container.VolumeMounts {
			if mount.MountPath != "/var/run/cilium" {
				continue
			}
			scopedLog.Debug("istio-proxy container has volume mounted into /var/run/cilium")

			return true
		}
	}

	scopedLog.Debug("No Cilium-compatible istio-proxy container found")
	return false
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Discuss.io Pulse is a repeatable workflow to operationalize consumer closeness and build consumer empathy through frequent, informal and direct conversations with consumers.
Each project within a Pulse program requires a minimum of 15 sessions. These 15+ sessions will use the same screener, which must have an incidence rate of 30% or higher.
All Pulse program sessions must be self-moderated. This means no professional moderation. The purpose of Pulse is to build empathy – an activity that cannot be outsourced. Simultaneous translation is permitted and can be added to the session, as need.
If you'd like to define your own parameters, we will help you to design a Connects program that works for you.


High velocity vacuum trucks are used by Ziron Environmental Services, Inc. to take on specific types of jobs. These trucks are capable of general cleaning and hauling needs for companies that have storage tanks containing hazardous materials or chemicals that might need to be removed so normal operations can resume for our clients. High velocity vacuum trucks Illinois can be used to collect liquids, solid waste materials and sludge. It is important to maintain your storage tanks and to have them cleaned out to prevent backups that can lead to big time problems.
Ziron Environmental Services, Inc. not only used high velocity vacuum trucks take on different kinds of environmental work but we have a wide range of other highly advanced equipment used for particular jobs. High vac/high dump trucks are sometimes used along with waterblast pumps in order to clean out tanks and underground storage facilities. Our company also performs confined space rescue rig operations. Sadly emergencies come up that involve a person or individuals getting trapped in a confined space. Time is of the essence to perform confined space rescue rig jobs in order to pull the person out to safety. High velocity vacuum trucks Illinois are helping industrial companies maintain their storage tanks and keep them functioning at a high level.
We also perform gas station services, emergency response services, pipeline services, spill response services, pipeline ruptures Indiana and drug lab services. Our ability to go into a dangerous situation and respond quickly gives people the peace of mind they deserve from Ziron Environmental Services, Inc. Using high velocity vacuum trucks Illinois is just one part of our company's responsibility to your environmental, industrial and petrochemical needs. Feel free to view this website to find out more about the other types of equipment that our company uses to tackle dangerous jobs.
You can always rely on Ziron Environmental Services, Inc. to take care of your hazardous waste material and transportation needs. We can clean up the harmful material and transport it to a safe spot out of harm's way. Please contact us regarding specific services that you company may require. We can tell you more about our high velocity vacuum trucks Illinois and more about the level of training that our professionals have received to take on such kind of work. Ziron Environmental Services, Inc. is ready to act when you need us the most. Contact us for more information.


text:
Industrifastighet är en fastighet som används för industriändamål. Den kan vara bebyggd eller obebyggd. Den kan vara placerad i ett industriområde eller på en annan plats. I Sverige regleras om fastigheten kan vara en industrifastighet eller inte av detaljplanen för området.

Samhällsplanering
Industri
Byggnadstyper

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


To experience the magic of Philips Hue follow this simple guide. No need to rewire your home or require any electrician to get things going.
Available in many different socket types and light effect ranges. From dimmable whites to adjustable white and color.
Go to the App Store or Google Play Store and download the app. Make sure your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the Bridge. Find your Hue lights in the app and enjoy Philips Hue!
Make sure that your light switches stay on to keep the connection with your Philips Hue lights. You can also place the Dimmer Switch next to or over your existing switch, so that you never turn the power off.
Whether it's for your living room, your bathroom, or your backyard, Philips Hue has the perfect light.


A HST390 paper, covering women students issues ranging from athletics to dormitory curfews.
Wheeler, Brianne, "Women in the 1960's at SUNY Brockport" (2003). Papers on the History of the College at Brockport. 22.


text:
Lost Panel News From The TCA Press Tour - January 14, 2010
The TCA press tour hosted the Lost panel this week with the cast and crew on hand for it. Taking part in the panel were Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof giving answers on the writing side of the show. The cast on hand was Josh Holloway, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O'Quinn, Jorge Garcia, Michael Emerson, Emilie de Ravin, and Daniel Dae Kim. Some interesting notes in it. The writers are still keeping it very quiet on what will be happening this season and whether the end of the finale changed anything history wise. Josh Holloway and Emile de Ravin both hyped up the premiere saying that there were a lot of big things happening on it. Emilie commented saying that she had to actually read the script three times to even understand it. Wow. What about the ending of the show? I liked this quote from Lindelof saying "the worst ending we could provide is the safe ending". Cuse also added that we won't get all of our questions answered this season so expect that. One good question asked was whether we have seen the ending in any of the flash stuff and the answer was no. This is definitely spoilerish but they did break some casting news adding that Libby and Michael would be back for the final season. That really is nothing new as there are a lot of cast members coming back and rumored to be coming back. We don't have answers on how, why, or when time wise that we will be seeing them. They were asked about the news last week on almost being bumped for the state of the union address and Lindelof answered saying that he was a life long democrat but was furious when February 2 was being discussed as the date for it. If you missed it, the show is not going to be effected and another date is being set for it. I also liked that Lost was even mentioned by The White House saying that fans would not have to worry about the show getting moved back. Lindelof responded to the news on Twitter saying" OBAMA BACKED DOWN!! Groundhog Day is OURS!!!". I thought that was hilarious. So, it looks like the show won't be effected with the premiere. Look at the calendar. We are not far off from it and I can't wait!!


text:
Tag Archives: film review
Morgan (2016)
Minor spoilers ahead, but still a lot less revealing than the trailer.
I'm feeling a little lonely here. Few people seem to like Morgan, the 2016 sci fi thriller written by Seth Owen and directed by newcomer Luke Scott. Among its producers is Luke's rather more famous father, Ridley Scott, which I guess explains why Luke got such a stellar cast for his feature-length directorial debut.
Morgan (Anya Taylor-Joy, who looks like she might be Hollywood's new It-Girl) is a genetically engineered child – the 'L-9 prototype' – with advanced, accelerated emotional and physical development. Something is clearly wrong with her design however; when Dr Kathy Grieff (Jennifer Jason Leigh) tells Morgan that she won't be allowed to go outside for a while, Morgan stabs her repeatedly in the eye.
Morgan, missing the outdoors
A corporate risk management consultant, Lee Weathers (Kate Mara) is sent to assess the viability of the project, as explained by a voiceover from her superior, played by Brian Cox. Lee is a stone-cold professional whose ruthless manner doesn't go down well with most members of the team of specialists who designed, created and care for Morgan, because they've come to see her as their child, and formed a kind of family unit around her. Instead of lab tests and training sessions, video footage of the L-9 project shows the team playing with Morgan outside and throwing her a birthday party. They speak of her with pride and love, and Lee crisply tells them that Morgan is not a 'she' but an 'it' who has no rights whatsoever.
Lee Weathers
Because it concerns a young, artificial creature whose humanity is called into question, considers the difficulty of humans having close or intimate relationships with artificial beings, and features an isolated research facility in the woods, Morgan gets compared to movies like Splice (2009) and Ex Machina (2014), and it doesn't fare well. The other two are genuinely interested in the methods and ethics of creating artificial life. In Scott's movie, it's not long before you stop asking whether Morgan can truly feel human emotion and settle down to see if she can beat Lee in brutal hand-to-hand combat or not.
The house. Surely nothing bad could happen here
Morgan gleams with potential but remains determinedly superficial. For example, when Dr Alan Shapiro (Paul Giamatti!) conducts a psych evaluation, he interrogates Morgan about the fact that she calls the team her friends. She may consider them friends, he says, but do they consider her as such? Would a friend keep you locked in a cage? It's a good question. Can the scientists be her friends in any meaningful way? Can you be friends with a person or creature you created to be a weapon, a 'potential product line'? What responsibilities do Morgan's creators have towards her? Well, think about that on your own time; this film just gets violent.
The psych evaluation
Similarly, there's the troubling question of Morgan's relationship with behaviourist Amy (Rose Leslie) who has 'boundary issues'. Amy is clearly attracted to Morgan and the feeling may be mutual. There's no evidence that their relationship has become intimate, but it could, if given the opportunity. The thing is, Morgan is five years old. What the fuck is Amy doing? Then again, Morgan develops at an accelerated rate, so she already looks like a teenager, and she has enhanced emotional development. She's a new kind of life form, so we can't necessarily judge their relationship according to the usual standards. If this sounds complicated, well, you need not worry because the movie doesn't have the guts to take it any further anyway.
I wondered though, if Morgan is manipulating Amy and the other characters, perhaps to ensure her own survival or just because that's how she's learned to be around people. We know that she has some level of precognition, as demonstrated when she gets under Dr Shapiro's skin by revealing that he has a daughter who he doesn't get to see very often. How much of her behaviour involves her 'reading' people and behaving in whatever way they want or expect her to behave? Not that that's especially disturbing; isn't it just an enhanced version of how most people behave? Nevermind – skip to action sequence.
Amy and Morgan, crossing boundaries
Despite its commitment issues, I like Morgan. A lot. It isn't the cerebral sf thriller that it might look like, or that its cast seems to suggest it is but it's way better than most of the commercial sf out there, especially the superhero movies that get much more attention. I'm comparing them because Morgan gave me the entertainment I want but seldom find in the latest blockbusters. I don't expect them to be brilliant; I just want them to be fun, but they're way too long and they generate such little interest in the characters and plots that even the action scenes bore me. They waste my time.
Morgan didn't. It's fast-paced and efficient, stylish, and exceptionally beautiful to look at. I like the colour palettes and the way they shift with the narrative. Most of the major characters are female and the film doesn't objectify them.
It successfully occupies an interstitial space that's thoughtful enough to engage my intellectual interests, then indulge my mindless ones. It blooms with ideas, but avoids the risks of dealing with them. Yes, that's cowardly. It starts out smart and geek-chic, then goes mainstream. That can be seen as a good thing, not because martial arts are more exciting than moral debates, but because the latter requires a deft touch. Of course, I have no idea if Seth Owen and Luke Scott were up to the task; I'm saying it might have been worse if they'd tried and performed poorly. As it is, I found plenty to think about, to enjoy, and I can't argue with my own satisfaction.
Posted in Movie Reviews	| Tagged anya taylor-joy, film review, genetic engineering, jennifer jason leigh, kate mara, luke scott, movies, paul giamatti, rose leslie, science fiction, seth owen	| 3 Replies
Crumbs: post-apocalyptic Ethiopian sci fi
Posted on April 7, 2016 by Lauren
Crumbs wandered onto my radar as a post-apocalyptic Ethiopian sci fi movie. It's actually written and directed by Spaniard Miguel Llansó, but it's set in Ethiopia (where Llansó lives for half the year and does most of his filming), with an Ethiopian cast, and it's in Amharic with subtitles. It's an experimental take on the genre and a completely new film experience for me, so my interest was piqued. Luckily, it was screened in Cape Town at That Film Focus, the film component That Art Fair, which took place in February this year.
In a far-flung future, humanity has lost its will to survive. There are no children, which immediately brings to mind the despondent, violent chaos of Children of Men, but the wars that this world has suffered are now over. Society has become the quiet, demented realm of the elderly, with a distorted sense of history and culture. Ethiopia, once densely populated, is depicted with vast, empty landscapes and abandoned settlements. People idolise the toys of a lost world and trade them for cash in a mysterious, cluttered pawn shop, although nothing is nearly as valuable as it used to be. They're just cycling through old routines, perhaps. Nor is it clear why there are Nazis in masks wandering around. Not that "Nazi" necessarily means anything here; they could just be men in uniform wearing the swastikas they found somewhere. A spaceship hovers inexplicably in the sky and we're barely told anything about that either.
The tiny, hunchbacked Candy and his beautiful young lover, Birdy, live in an old bowling alley and watch the ship closely. They're scavengers who have quietly scraped together an artistic, spiritual life, although the objects of their devotion are unique to this plodding world. Birdy creates art from discarded plastic and scrap metal, and the couple worship at a shrine built around a picture of Michael Jordan and a bottle of Coke. Their most prized possessions include an orange plastic sword (manufactured by "the last pure artist") and a Michael Jackson record (although no one knows who he is any more).
The couple believe that they are from another world, and when the spaceship above them comes to life, switching on the bowling machinery to eerie effect, Candy leaves on a mission to find a way on board so they can go home. His goal is to find Santa Claus, because Santa can make your wishes come true. He takes the plastic sword for protection and the Michael Jackson record to barter with a witch whose help he needs.
This sounds comic, but it's all deadly serious to the characters, and although the movie has some humour, it's mostly quite earnest, which just makes it even weirder. And Crumbs is really weird. Have you seen the trailer? I suggest you watch it so you have an idea of what to expect, although it's more intense than the actual movie. Most viewers will be stumped, and many might find it too alien to enjoy.
For me, it's strange in the kind of way I could (sort of) enjoy without fully understanding, even though I tend to be quite pedantic about these things. The crunch of Birdy's footsteps over gravel (one of my favourite sounds) provides a gently hypnotic soundtrack as he traverses arid landscapes and abandoned buildings. It reminds me of Tarkovsky's Stalker (1979), although in this case the surreal quality of the film comes from the people rather than the landscape. Candy's journey is slow, occasionally interrupted by bizarre and sometimes hostile encounters. It works, I think, because its confusing and unnerving qualities are countered by its calm tone and Birdy's solemn determination. Now that I think about it, some of the movies I dislike for their weirdness were those whose absurdities are amplified by humour or intense energy in the form of action, pacing and/or emotional drama: it's too jarring, too much to take in when I want room for contemplation.
Also, having lived in Ethiopia, Crumbs doesn't feel entirely opaque to me; I see traces of the country's contemporary urban life in the movie's loony world. All the toys make sense: Addis Ababa, for some reason, has tons of toyshops. The shopping centre down the road from my house had about five or six, which was a crazy number in relation to the size of the shopping centre and the limited variety of stores.
My guess is that toys and other kids' paraphernalia are among the easiest things to import, along with clothing and electronics. I say 'import', which implies a planned process, but it looks more like Ethiopia is a dumping ground for retail leftovers, made-in-China junk or whatever random merchandise shop owners are able to bring back in their suitcases from trips to more affluent countries. The result is that you'll find clusters of teeny shops shops selling mostly indistinguishable assortments of mostly crappy stuff.
Of course, this is all western-world merchandise, and I imagine its ubiquity feeds the general anxiety about the effects of that world on tradition. Ethiopia has a robust culture and the majority of its people are deeply religious, but it's nevertheless a poor country invaded by rich expats, so there's every reason to worry about its unique and age-old qualities drowning in tat.
In Crumbs this fear has been realised: Abrahamic religion has been replaced with toy worship and western icons. Candy isn't looking for Jesus but for Santa Claus. At the bowling alley, with its Michael Jordan shrine, Birdy prays to the saints Einstein, Hawking, Bieber and McCartney. The only enterprise we see people engage in involves pawning toys and other bits and bobs that are revered but simultaneously decreasing in value. A voiceover by the pawn-shop owner about the history of each artefact reveals how completely garbled the past has become, while also suggesting that we might be equally deluded about our own contemporary cultural practices.
Insights aside, I didn't leave feeling like I had a good grasp of the movie, and I'm not sure I'd watch it again, except to share the experience with someone else and discuss it. But it is certainly a movie worth talking about.
Posted in Movie Reviews	| Tagged Ethiopia, film, film review, Miguel Llansó, Movie Reviews, movies, post-apocalyptic, science fiction	| 3 Replies


3D printers and drones are quickly becoming intermingled technologies. Here at STEM Drones, we often integrate 3D printed objects with our kits and build projects. From drone frames to custom camera mounts to myriad accessories, 3D printed parts are handier than we ever expected!
After a few years of working with 3D printers, we've come to like a particular manufacturer – LulzBot. STEM Drones is now an authorized reseller of LulzBot printers and accessories and we offer all of their products to you through our website. We like to share what we like and are happy to support you and your endeavors to enter the world of 3D printing yourself.


text:
#ifndef CALACS_INCL
#define CALACS_INCL

#include "trlbuf.h"
#include "hstcal.h"

/* calacs -- integrated calacs reduction
Warren Hack, 1998 May 12: Initial version.
Pey Lian Lim, 2013 Aug 9: Separated PCTECORR from ACSCCD.
*/

typedef struct {
    /* name of association table exposure comes from */
    char asn_table[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];
    char crj_root[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];

    /* input, outroot, and temporary file names */
    char rawfile[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* uncalibrated science data */
    char outroot[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* file name _raw for output product */
    char crjfile[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* CR rejected, flat fielded science */
    char crcfile[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* crjfile + CTE correction */
    char fltfile[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* flat fielded science */
    char flcfile[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* fltfile + CTE correction */
    char blv_tmp[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* blevcorr, then CR flagged */
    char blc_tmp[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* blv_tmp + CTE correction */
    char crj_tmp[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* CR rejected, summed */
    char crc_tmp[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* crj_tmp + CTE correction */
    char dthfile[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* dither combined science data */
    char mtype[SZ_STRKWVAL+1];  /* Role of exposure in association */

    char rootname[CHAR_LINE_LENGTH];  /* root name for set of obs */

    /* info about input science file */
    int detector;  /* integer code for detector */
    int nchips;    /* number of IMSETs in file */
    int nimages;   /* number of images in this set */

    /* Info on the binning and gain of the science file. */
    int scibin[2];  /* binning factors */
    int scigain;    /* ccdgain values */
    int samebin;
    int readnoise_only;

    /* calibration switches */
    int sci_basic_ccd;  /* do acsccd? (dqicorr or blevcorr) */
    int sci_basic_cte;  /* do acscte? (PCTECORR) */
    int sci_basic_2d;   /* do acs2d for science file? */
    int sci_crcorr;     /* do cosmic-ray rejection for science file? */
    int sci_rptcorr;    /* combine repeatobs science data? */
    int sci_dthcorr;    /* dither combine science data? */

} ACSInfo;

#endif


text:
package debug

import (
	"github.com/rande/goapp"
	"github.com/rande/gonode/core/config"
	"github.com/rande/gonode/modules/base"
)

func Configure(l *goapp.Lifecycle, conf *config.Config) {
	l.Prepare(func(app *goapp.App) error {
		c := app.Get("gonode.handler_collection").(base.HandlerCollection)
		c.Add("default", &DefaultHandler{})

		cv := app.Get("gonode.view_handler_collection").(base.ViewHandlerCollection)
		cv.Add("default", &DefaultViewHandler{})

		return nil
	})
}


Dambulla is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and located in the Cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. It provides the traveler an experience into Sri Lanka's history, culture, and religious practices as well as architecture. Here are the top 4 sites in Dambulla you must visit while on holiday in Sri Lanka.
Namal Uyana called is known to be the oldest garden in the country and has the largest pink quartz mountain range in South Asia. While you are traveling, you can see Iron Wood forest with beautiful small lizards, butterflies and nice birds on the rose quartz mountains. In fact, it's a part of the biodiversity of the site and also a geologically important place in the country. Moreover, if you want to trek, you can take the opportunity to climb all the way up to the Statue and you can see magnificent and amazing views in there.
This is located south of the temple caves and it's a very small museum. You can see the re – creation art with the mural painting of the cave temple. These all paintings show the history and uniqueness of Sri Lanka. And it is also known as the painting museum.
Dambulla Produce Market supplies many fresh vegetables and fruits to consumers and businesses in the area. If you like to experience the life of the locals you can see sailors and porters at work there. An interesting sight is how the local businesses people carry stocks of food to sell in other surrounding areas.


The number of electrons revolving around the nucleus of an atom is equal to its atomic number. An atom of oxygen, for instance, which has an atomic number of 8, has eight electrons in orbit around the nucleus in a manner similar to the planets revolving around the sun in our solar system.
Electrons greatly influence the behavior of an atom toward other atoms. The combination of various elements to form compounds is brought about by the losing or gaining of electrons; the process is sometimes called "sharing" of electrons. For example, the combination of the elements sodium and chlorine produce the compound sodium chloride (table salt). This is accomplished by the transfer of one electron from the outer electron shell of the sodium atom to the outer electron shell of the chlorine atom. This combining of elements by the loss or gain of electrons is called electrovalence.
One of the negatively charged subatomic particles that orbit the positive nucleus, in one of several energy levels called shells; in mass they are estimated to be 1/1836.15 of a proton; when emitted from inside the nucleus of a radioactive substance, electrons are called β particles. A nucleus and its electrons constitute an atom.
1 a negatively charged elementary particle that has a specific charge, mass, and spin. The number of electrons associated with the nucleus of an atom is equal to the atomic number of the substance.
2 a negative beta particle emitted from a radioactive substance. See also atom, element, ion, neutron, proton.
One of the negatively charged subatomic particles that are distributed about the positive nucleus and with it constitute the atom; in mass they are estimated to be 1/1836.15 of a proton; when emitted from inside the nucleus of a radioactive substance, electrons are called beta particles.
One of the small particles that make up an atom. An electron has the same mass and amount of charge as a positron, but the electron has a negative charge.
n the negatively charged particle that orbits around the nucleus of an atom.
Negatively charged subatomic particles that orbit the positive nucleus, in one of several energy levels called shells. A nucleus and its electrons constitute an atom.
n (electron beam, cathode ray, cathode stream), a stream of electrons emitted from the negative electrode (cathode) in a roentgen-ray tube; their bombardment of the anode gives rise to the roentgen rays.
any of the negatively charged particles arranged in orbits around the nucleus of an atom and determining all of the atom's physical and chemical properties except mass and radioactivity. Electrons flowing in a conductor constitute an electric current; when ejected from a radioactive substance, they constitute the beta particles.
the stream of electrons that flows from the anode to the cathode in the x-ray tube and then interacts with the tungsten target to produce x-rays.
a molecule associated with membrane-bound proteins that accepts and transfers electrons.
photographic images of electron microscopic fields.
technology of using an electron microscope.


text:
In Person With : Datuk Dr Anis Yusal Yusoff
by | Datuk Dr Anis Yusal Yusoff Deputy Director-General, National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC)
Datuk Dr Anis Yusal Yusoff is currently the Deputy Director General of the National Centre for Governance, Integrity & Anti-Corruption (GIACC) at the Prime Minister's Department. Prior to this he was the Director General of the National Integrity and Good Governance Department, Malaysia and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (INTEGRITI). He has served over years at The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as well as at the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Headquarters in Bonn, Germany. Before joining INTEGRITI, he was a Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies, the National University of Malaysia. He was recently appointed as an Adjunct Professor by University Malaya and has served since January 2018 as Adjunt Proffesor at Tun Hussein Onn University (UTHM). Datuk Dr. Anis Yusal has also served on a number of national advisory councils in the past. To name a few, he was a member of the Advisory Panel for The Consultation and Prevention of Corruption under the Malaysian Anti-‐Corruption Commission and until August 2018, he was the Deputy Chairman of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).
New behaviours need to be ingrained and we must take pains to understand these expectations that at the moment revolve around integrity and austerity.
A dedicated fight against corruption
We have been fighting corruption and promoting integrity even before independence. This is nothing new and it's something we have been doing for a long time. In fact, in 1955 the British government had introduced a special commission to look into the integrity of the civil service. It is an ongoing thing, in order for us to make a society better, you obviously need a continuous monitoring effort.
Let's go back about just a little more than a decade ago, in 2004, during former Prime Minister, Tun Dato' Seri Haji Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi's tenure, The Malaysian Institute of Integrity (INTEGRITI) was established. Nonetheless, even prior to the inception, we've had an anti-corruption agency that was established earlier in 1967. Put simply, the government at that time was of the opinion that it needed to educate the society. We cannot just go on detaining the perpetrators to no end without any means of educating to put a halt to the problem. Had it been the case, we would be playing catching up forever. There needs to be a plan to embed moral values and social causes in our society, and this was the basis of the National Integrity Plan. Following this, the Malaysian Institute of Integrity was established to oversee the implementation of this plan. Although we see educating efforts are being carried out, after so many years, many still endeavour to go above the law committing wrongdoings in so many creative ways, trying to fend off or dilute the law.
Recently, a major deterrent to the public service was the breakdown in the rule of integrity. Unfortunately, enforcement too has degraded over time and at the height of recent crisis, the impact was traumatic when although for a short spell, the world looked down at us as a kleptocrat nation. That was an alarming signal. These are the problems that we need to deal with where the solution requires measures that go beyond prevention. If one was diagnosed with cancer, as does the current context, considering the magnitude of the problem, the narrative requires an aggressive action to deal with the problem head on to be able to put a stop to it.
Differences in fighting corruption in the past, today and in the future
I come from an IT background. All too often, there are positives and negatives of technology. When I was doing my master's degree, one of the things we were developing at the time was virtual reality (VR). In the early 90s, it was a novelty. We were thinking about how VR could be used to solve a host of problems. When we started, we had to reduce the size of the computer monitor, designed a simple glove and programmed the system to simulate a variety of actions such as playing volleyball.
Initially, the idea was to allow medical students to virtually dissect the human body. One of our research partners later teamed up with another university to further the research. To profit from the research, he sold the technology to a toy making company. Using the glove, the company subsequently produced a boxing game with Mike Tyson. Virtually, by playing the game, you go up against the great Mike Tyson. It wasn't as perfect as what we have today, but it had already started back then. While a toy company used it to create an immersive boxing game, other iterations of VR have unfortunately challenged our moral conscience. Some of the ideas are so misguided that they have induced something like virtual sex for example.
In today's climate, technology development is a great asset waiting to be tapped. Take bribery for example, the use of drone to supervise certain high risk sites such as the country's borders or territorial waters for illegal barter trading activities can be a great surveillance tool. If we could have a drone hovering over and monitoring more frequently, it would be a deterrent to the people to commit such crime when they know there is someone watching. However, we need to weigh the decisions thoroughly and align the objectives with our national causes. In the wake of this, every year, the smuggling of illegal cigarettes and alcoholic beverages is a huge loss to the country said to be somewhere in the region of RM8billion a year. That money should have been tax money collected and returned to the people of Malaysia. Therefore, we need to seek greater influence over the supervision of these incidences because they take place in the middle of the sea, and currently, there are limitations in some areas that we are yet to bridge and soon we need to turn to technology to improve our service delivery.
At present, we are in the midst of formalising an anti-corruption national plan that will outline Malaysia's fight against corruption. We should take advantage of our expertise in foresight to aid the cause. Maybe in the past, it was described as "duit kopi" (underthe-counter-money), but now since we are moving toward a cashless society, we need to be ahead of these possible scenarios to overcome those who are likely suspects to commit bribery. Perhaps to educate the future generation about bribery and red tape, there will no longer be a need to conduct seminars. With social media, you can do so many things, people are reading WhatsApp messages more than books these days. These are the changes that foresight activities can inform to help society planners make better decisions and making sure we are well aware of the challenges that lie ahead. You don't want to look at it just on the bright side, but you also need to dive into the worst possible scenario. All this can help us pay close attention to the issue to devise a clear strategic narrative and condense it to a critical few imperatives to take action.
4IR technology development and potential disruption
First, there must be a buy-in of any new technology being introduced. Mapping the context, we need to know where we are. Whether to adapt or adopt the technology, in 1992, I wrote a paper about the importance of adapting and adopting technology with a local wisdom. Case in point, the technology is already there, we are not just adopting it, we are also adapting it to our environment and surrounding. We need to come to terms that cultural immersion is also a part of the whole exercise.
I have a bit of a reservation when it comes to adopting a technology without adapting it to our culture. We sometimes forget that those who design these new technologies, they may come from a different place. We can't just be adopting technology just for the sake of adopting it to the extent where we are jeopardising our culture and the good things about it.
With technology, sometimes, some are going to argue, why are we defending things that by modern standards are obsolete. However, behind them are the wisdom and ingenuity that have helped us carry out basic tasks very well right to this day. Let me explain. If you only know how to cook rice using a rice cooker, you have abandoned the simple way to cook rice the way it was done before the technology was ever-present. This is the type of wisdom that is very important for us to preserve. When there comes a time electricity gets cut off, you wouldn't know how to cook rice. Again, I would like to stress, embracing the new is important, but not for its own sake.
Public service navigating 4IR challenges
At one point in the 90s, everyone was talking about one stop centre. When I was staying in Bukit Bandaraya, the Bangsar post office was telling us consumers that we could pay all of our utility bills at the post office. So I went there and it was a long queue. When my turn was up, the lady at the counter told me the system was down. I asked her why couldn't I pay? I had waited 45 minutes in the queue and I certainly didn't want my time to just go up in smoke. At that time, I just came back from the U.S with a master's degree in IT. So it occurred to me, why couldn't we do it the old way? In the parameters of what we are discussing, lest we forget, we cannot be totally dependent on technology. I probed further, before there was the system, how was the payment done? They said we would take your bill, record it in the logbook, take your payment, return your balance and issue you a receipt. So why couldn't we do it now I asked them. I exasperatingly lamented and pointed out that when the system would eventually get up and running again, you could update my payment. And the lady looked at me puzzled. The point is, if we don't prepare ahead of time and simply adopt technology just for the sake of adopting it, technology is going to weigh us down and cripple us.
This is the real issue, in the context of technology adoption for the improvement of the public service, it boils down to our preparation. We need to understand where we are, and how technology can move us forward. Otherwise, we could even adopt a monumental technology, but it would not be used to its full capacity and sadly we would still be producing the same results and repeating the way we do things but with just a different device. If not thought through, it is going to dictate how we do things, like walking with a crutch, it would hinder our ability to do things better without really focusing on improvement in results delivery. Therefore, we need to figure out how we can gain from technology and wean ourselves from its ills. Both of these considerations are equally important and they act as counterweights for one another.
Public service in the next 10 years
The public needs to understand that the public service sector is made up of people. In relation, it is very important for us to comprehend human behaviour. What's more important is this, we need to prepare the people who are going to be joining the public service in the coming years. In the face of current challenges, we need socially-conscious candidates who uphold integrity and honesty to fill the jobs that will be offered in the future. Significantly, we must upgrade our talent base. This is why we need to apply simple psychology and mental-health metrics to assess the integrity of the candidates beforehand to sift through the selection. For future public service hiring, for example, if the person being interviewed is showing signs of being curtly quarrelsome which makes him a poor fit for the job, similarly, it is like hiring a Dracula who could become the CEO of a blood bank, it is fraught with potential implications. Therefore, we need to understand the compatibility factors for every job offered, and gather a sense of what the public is expecting from the public service sector. New behaviours need to be ingrained and we must take pains to understand these expectations that at the moment revolve around integrity and austerity.
On a similar note, one of the things we want to encourage is to get anti bribery management system,
standard ISO 37000/1 introduced. At the same time, we need to educate and advocate vast members of the public. Now though, the current climate is calling for a drastic action. However, for the future, we have to nurture a new group of society. Our society needs credible thought leaders. And we need to make sure, the public service sector has the right leaders in every section. Unfortunately, while there are many bosses, there are very few leaders and we need true leaders to emerge, ones who lead by example and champion integrity. Together, everyone has to act with integrity and when we are confronted with any illegal or dishonest behaviour, we need to practice the whistle blowing act. In any case, we must put the larger mission before our individual goals. All these are important measures to be able to muster the courage to stand up to wrongdoings. Our stance on the consolidation needs to bring about a shift in thinking to promote a sense of collective responsibility among public officials.
Plus, we need to be prepared. Future preparedness is what's going to determine our future. Hence, foresight gives us this advantage. It's good that we have this special window to peek into the future. When opening it, I get some views about possibilities and probabilities of what might happen, then I say ok, now let me plan, how can I do this and deal with it in the right way. There are now so many opportunities—each with its own costs and complications —that it can be difficult to cut through the noise and find the best way forward. The risk of making the wrong decision is of course, huge, but the risk of not acting at all may be even worse. This is one old wisdom that will never get old. Preparedness.
Putting Values And Integrity At The Forefront Of The 4IR
Data Brokerage: When trust Is Abused : Lawmakers Weighing Tighter Legislation
The Future of Work in Malaysia
In Person with Datuk Zainal Abidin Bin Abu Hassan: LEVERAGING FORESIGHT TO DRIVE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
From the Desk of Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman: Designing Workplace and Workspace of the Future
The Future of Work. Are We Prepared?
Why Can't I Change Your Mind?
MALAYSIA'S DEFENCE INDUSTRY – DEVELOPING A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS WITH STRONGER LOCAL COMPETENCIES
THE MALAYSIAN DEFENCE WHITE PAPER: GROWING THE LOCAL DEFENCE AND DEFENCE RELATED INDUSTRY AGAINST ALL ODDS