text:
Martha Argerich & Sergei Babayan Prokofiev For Two 180g 2LP
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Martha Argerich & Sergei Babayan
DGLP35262
Decrease Quantity of Martha Argerich & Sergei Babayan Prokofiev For Two 180g 2LP
Increase Quantity of Martha Argerich & Sergei Babayan Prokofiev For Two 180g 2LP
Classical Piano For Two On 180g Double LP!
Pianists and longtime collaborators Martha Argerich and Sergei Babayan team up for Prokofiev for Two, an album of two-piano transcriptions by Babayan of Prokofiev's music for stage and screen. Dedicated to Argerich, Prokofiev for Two features a 12-movement transcription of pieces from the Russian composer's ballet Romeo and Juliet and a seven-movement suite derived from Prokofiev's incidental music for Hamlet and Eugene Onegin, his film score for The Queen of Spades and his opera War and Peace.
• Double LP
• 180g Vinyl
• Gatefold jacket
• Limited time download code
Sergei Babayan, piano
Serge Prokofiev (1891-1953)
12 Movements from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64
2. Dance Of The Knights
3. Morning Dance
4. Quarrel
5. Gavotte
6. Juliet As A Young Girl
7. Folk Dance
1. Dance With Mandolines
2. Morning Serenade
3. Dance Of Five Couples
4. Romeo And Juliet Before Departure
5. Death Of Tybalt
1. The Ghost Of Hamlet's Father - From the Incidental Music to Hamlet, Op. 77
2. Mazurka - From the Incidental Music to Eugene Onegin, Op. 71
3. Polka - From the Incidental Music to Eugene Onegin, Op. 71
4. Polonaise - From the Film Music to The Queen Of Spades, Op. 70
5. Pushkin Waltz In C Sharp Minor, Op. 120 No. 2
6. Natasha And Andrei's Valse - From War And Peace, Op. 91
7. Idée fixe - From the Film Music to The Queen Of Spades, Op. 70
All works transcribed for 2 pianos by Sergei Babayan
Martha Argerich Piano 180g LP
Martha Argerich Chopin & Liszt 180g LP
Martha Argerich Chopin Piano Concertos 180g 2LP
Martha Argerich Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 180g 2LP
Martha Argerich Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 180g Import LP
Martha Argerich, Charles Dutoit & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Tschaikowsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor 180g LP
Martha Argerich Robert Schumann: Kinderszenen & Kreisleriana 180g LP
Martha Argerich Prokofieff & Ravel Piano Concertos 180g LP
Availability: Expected On 02-03-2023
Martha Argerich Chopin: Solo & Concerto Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon Numbered Limited Edition 180g 5LP Box Set
Gidon Kremer & Martha Argerich Beethoven Violin Sonatas No. 9 & 10 180g Import 2LP
Martha Argerich Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 180g LP
Martha Argerich & Mischa Maisky Schubert & Schuman 180g Import LP
Bach Cello Sonatas BMV 1027-1029 180g Import LP
Martha Argerich Tchaikovsky Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 B-Moll 180g LP


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Perfect for newcomers, ex-pats and long-time Detroiters alike. Illustrations adapted from an original 1915 proposal. Shown: Pale grey printing ink on navy and charcoal, dove grey ink on black, black ink on silver. Hand printed in the USA in our Detroit Michigan studio.


text:
Q: How to determine if a complete batch of Async requests have failed? A 3rd party has supplied an interface which allows me to search their database for customers and retrieve their details. Eg. Pictures, date of birth etc.
I imported their WSDL into Visual Studio and am using the Async methods to retrieve the customer details.
MyClient Client = new MyClient();
Client.FindCustomersCompleted += FindCustomersCompleted;
Client.GetCustomerDetailsCompleted += GetCustomerDetailsCompleted;

Client.FindCustomersAsync("Jones");

Below are the two events which deal with the responses.
void FindCustomersCompleted(object sender, FindCustomersCompletedEventArgs e)
{
    foreach(var Cust in e.Customers)
    {
        Client.GetCustomerDetailsAsync(Cust.ID);
    }
}

void GetCustomerDetailsCompleted(object sender, GetCustomerDetailsCompletedEventArgs e)
{
    // Add the customer details to the result box on the Window.
}

So lets assume that my initial search for "Jones" returns no results or causes an error. Its fairly straight forward to tell the user that there was an error or no results found as I will only receive a single response.
However if i say get 50 results for "Jones" then i make 50 GetCustomerDetailsAsync calls and get 50 responses.
Lets say that something goes wrong on the server side and i don't get any valid responses. Each GetCustomerDetailsCompleted event will receive an error/timeout and i can determine that that individual response has failed.
What is the best way to determine that All of my responses have failed and i need to inform the user that there has been a failure?
Alternatively what if 1 out of 50 succeeds?
Should i keep track of my requests and flag them as successful as i receive the response?

A:
Should i keep track of my requests and flag them as successful as i
  receive the response?

This is also how I manage multiple requests. Flag if the returned result is without fault and track the flags, evaluating after each return if you already processed all returns. I do not of another way.

A: I would start by converting Event-based Asynchronous Pattern model to Task based. This would allow to use built in await/async keywords resulting in much easier to use code.
Here is a simple implementation: https://stackoverflow.com/a/15316668/3070052
In your case I would not update UI on each event but gathered all the information in a single variable and only displayed only when I get all the results.
Here is a code to get you going:
public class CustomerDetails
{
    public int Id {get; set;}
    public string Name {get; set;}
}

public class FindCustomersResult
{
    public FindCustomersResult()
    {
        CustomerDetails = new List<CustomerDetails>();
    }
    public List<CustomerDetails> CustomerDetails {get; set;}
}

public class ApiWrapper
{
    public Task<FindCustomersResult> FindCustomers(string customerName)
    {
        var tcs = new TaskCompletionSource<FindCustomersResult>();
        var client = new MyClient();
        client.FindCustomersCompleted += (object sender, FindCustomersCompletedEventArgs e) =>
            {
                var result = new FindCustomersResult();

                foreach(var customer in e.Customers)
                {
                    var customerDetails = await GetCustomerDetails(customer.ID);
                    result.CustomerDetails.Add(customerDetails);
                }
                tcs.SetResult(result);
            }
        client.FindCustomersAsync(customerName);
        return tcs.Task;
    }

    public Task<CustomerDetails> GetCustomerDetails(int customerId)
    {
        var tcs = new TaskCompletionSource<CustomerDetails>();
        var client = new MyClient();
        client.GetCustomerDetailsCompleted += (object sender, GetCustomerDetailsCompletedEventArgs e) =>
            {
                var result = new CustomerDetails();
                result.Name = e.Name;
                tcs.SetResult(result);
            }
        client.GetCustomerDetailsAsync(customerId);
        return tcs.Task;
    }
}

Then you call this by:
var api = new ApiWrapper();
var findCustomersResult = await api.FindCustomers("Jones");

This would fail if any request fails.
PS. I wrote this example in notepad, so bear with me if it does not compiles or contains syntax errors. :)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Posted on March 21, 2019 by William A.
Bohemian style home decor has such a cool laid back vibe. At first glance the look seems to have an anything goes kinda feel. However, if you've ever tried just throwing random bits and pieces into a room, you will know that it's not quite that simple to achieve a chilled earthy eclectic aesthetic. To help you get into your boho groove, we've pulled together this trio of Bohemian style home interiors that are filled with all of the types of accessories that will set the right tone. We also take a look at how to layer up elements to dress modern sofas and cosy beds, plus how to arrange beautiful gallery walls and interesting shelf displays.
Our first bohemian style home interior has a beautiful colour base of pink and coral, interspersed with wooden wall decor and wood grain accent furniture. A good dose of rattan elements make an appearance too, alongside a peppering of indoor plants.
The wooden wall art is hung alongside a butterfly print. The two pieces of art share an affinity in shape, with the wooden piece featuring strips placed in an abstract butterfly arrangement. The display provides an attractive backdrop behind an L-shaped pastel pink sofa in the lounge area, which is dressed with a comfy collection of mismatched bohemian cushions.
A rattan coffee table looks light and airy in the centre of the lounge, on top of a tasselled area rug. A wooden media unit supports a little display of personal belongings beneath the tv, which gives the room a homey feel – a display like this can be tricky to achieve without simply cluttering the space. Here, a few favourite books stand tall at one end, with a framed print and decorative letter balancing out the height at the other side; a landscape frame bridges the middle of the shelf display, with only a few smaller elements creating layering at the front.
A cane swing chair is suspended in front of the window in the bedroom, made inviting with the addition of a warm throw and a soft cushion.
The bed is a deeply layered affair, which can be achieved by placing a casually crumpled throw across a pastel duvet cover, and a plethora of patterned scatter cushions. Limit to cushion fabrics to the palette of the room to achieve a cohesive look.
Note how the statement vanity mirror complements the stunning tile pattern inside the shower cubicle.
Boho home number two is a wide open airy space, with a grey and white base.
Colourful cushions bring new hues to a neutral sofa. The chosen accent shade is emphasised with matching candle holders/decorative vases and beautiful rug.
Whitewashed wooden ceiling beams span this room, which makes the large space feel cosier beneath its containment. Natural wood nesting coffee tables have tabletops cut straight from the tree trunk.
Rope shelves and rattan baskets tie in with the natural vibe.
Vibrant cushions dress pieces of grey sectional sofa in the kitchen, which sit at a small wooden table by the window.
The formal dining area is furnished with a wooden dining set.
A low hanging rattan pendant shade helps visually anchor the dining area to its spot in the spacious open plan. The hems of grey window drapes casually gather at the wooden floor.
Rustic charm is bestowed upon a simple pale wood and white kitchen with a brick feature wall.
The same whitewashed brick effect features on the chimney breast in the lounge to provide continuity. Typographic ornaments spell out 'dream', 'smile' and 'relax' down one side of the fireplace, whilst perfect lines of baskets, vases and greenery create controlled interest on the other side.
A wooden fruit bowl makes a quiet centrepiece on the wooden dining table.
Rattan baskets on open shelves warm the look of the pale kitchen design.
A small rag rug adds cheerful colour to the floor.
The bedroom is a rather minimalist affair to aid relaxation.
A swing arm wall lamp matches the dark bed cover.
Made to measure cabinets form a smooth closet and dressing table ensemble.
A matching unit sits opposite the foot of the bed.
The wood desk chair is the same design as the dining chairs – making it easy to seat one person extra at dinner.
Rattan storage baskets organise bits and bobs.
Living greenery brings in fresh colour.
A teal decorative vase dresses the low storage unit.
Wood and grey bathroom decor creates a clean look.
Flowerheads disguise a reed diffuser.
Lastly, pink & green furniture lift the look of a natural brown and grey living room.
The pink and green interior design is eye-catching, though there is a softness to it too, thanks to fuzzy fabrics and smoothed off edges. A pretty area rug, a large traditional gold framed mirror and an abundance of mature indoor plants bring in the bohemian feel.
The lounge falls into the background of a modern kitchen diner.
Flourishing indoor plants are dotted around the culinary space. The greenery works well with blue kitchen diner accessories and a royal blue accent chair.
Gold stemmed bedroom pendant lights dangle at different lengths, against gorgeous green wallpaper with a leaf motif.
A plush green ottoman and headboard exaggerate the green bedroom decor theme.
A gold tray table serves the bedside.
Bold blue and white geo pattern tiles make a statement in the bathroom.
A gold faucet shines against the striking backdrop.


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He's at the end of his tether.
Put some salt in the soup.
O.K., do it that way.
The stove is burning briskly.
The light is on.; The lamp is lit up.
He falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow.
Did you get to see him?
The wind is blowing gently.
He is having his lunch.
A vast golden stretch of rice was waiting to be cut.
There is a radio on the table.; A radio stands on the table.
The mountains are covered with thick snow.
Please send someone here for it.
I have not applied colours on this drawing.
The above regulations are to be enforced immediately.
But we have to cheer us up!
Yes, we do that all the time.
It suggests that ecstasy is like wine, ; and wine is like an eagle clasping you; it's prey in its claws.
so try to read the lyrics and listening the voice and the sounds and try to play with them.
He says, "Poetry in our own time-- -- such is the complexity of the world we live in-- must be difficult."


Now you can re-post your ad once a day automatically for 7 or 3 days (according to the bundle) by using "Bump up" new paid service, it will make your ad at the first of its category once a day.
This service is activated 24 hours after buying it and the ad will be refreshed at the same time you bought the service.
You may pay through mobile credit, Fawry service, or credit card. Please tap here to know more about payment methods.
It is a premium service from OLX allows your ad to be one of the first four top ads in its category for 7 days. The ad will move around the category pages and alternatively with other featured ads. Tap here to now more about "Featured ads"Both services are available in all categories except for "Services" category. Please tap here to know more about "Payment ways".
Tap here to edit your ad now.
How can I bump up my current ads?


text:
Q: Android, Glide Image Loading Library: NullPointerException, ProviderInfo Just getting into the Glide image loading library for Android. Currently working with some code from here:
https://github.com/bumptech/glide/issues/459
My full project is here is you want to look at it:
https://github.com/mhurwicz/glide02
I'm getting the following exception when I run the app in the emulator in Android Studio:
java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'android.content.res.XmlResourceParser android.content.pm.ProviderInfo.loadXmlMetaData(android.content.pm.PackageManager, java.lang.String)' on a null object reference

This is the key statement in MainActivity:
new ShareTask(this).execute("http://thelink");

(thelink is actually goo.gl/gEgYUd -- couldn't leave that in above because stackoverflow doesn't allow URL shorteners. )
Here is my code for the ShareTask class
class ShareTask extends AsyncTask<String, Void, File> {
    private final Context context;

    public ShareTask(Context context) {
        this.context = context;
    }
    @Override protected File doInBackground(String... params) {
        String url = params[0]; // should be easy to extend to share multiple images at once
        try {
            return Glide
                    .with(context)
                    .load(url)
                    .downloadOnly(Target.SIZE_ORIGINAL, Target.SIZE_ORIGINAL)
                    .get() // needs to be called on background thread
                    ;
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            Log.w("SHARE", "Sharing " + url + " failed", ex);
            return null;
        }
    }
    @Override protected void onPostExecute(File result) {
        if (result == null) { return; }
        Uri uri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(context, context.getPackageName(), result);
        share(uri); // startActivity probably needs UI thread
    }

    private void share(Uri result) {
        Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
        intent.setType("image/jpeg");
        intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, "Shared image");
        intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "Look what I found!");
        intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, result);
        context.startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent, "Share image"));
    }
}

Using debug, it seems I may be running into trouble at the get() statement. For one thing, the width and the height are very large negative numbers. (See the code highlighted in green below.) Then the get() statement returns null. (See the code highlighted in red below.)
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

A: The NPE is coming from FileProvider.getUriForFile because you're passing in the wrong authority. You declared android:authorities="com.example.fileprovider" in the manifest, but you're using the package name at the call. This fails to resolve the info in FileProvider.parsePathStrategy. Match those two strings up and you'll be good to go.
The easiest fix is to use android:authorities="${applicationId}", this leads to 0 hardcoded strings, so you can keep using context.getPackageName().
Regarding your concerns during debug:

*

*Target.SIZE_ORIGINAL is declared to be MIN_VALUE, hence the large number

*it's not returning null, IDEA is just confused about where it is in the method, that return null; shouldn't be executed if it fails in the FileProvider code.

*doGet(null): null is the timeout here, it's guarded properly in code

I've run the app and weirdly I got a log line saying

W/SHARE: Sharing http://... failed

but not a stack trace, which is weird, because ex cannot be null in a catch!


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There is no doubt that, almost every good and bad field has developed significantly over the past few decades and it is too visiable in behaviour and actions of young people. As many people have mentioned that, in many cities around the globe rates of crime by teenagers are increasing unexpectedly. The goverment as well as parents are trying to find solution for this international problem. Many people believe that, wisely chosen punishment is the best way to control the number of crimes in society. While, some of them believe that, it is not the only way to reduce the level of crime. They think that, there must be another way.
First of all, no one can deny that, according to the recent figures, there is an increase in violent, robber and even murder crimes among young people. As many scientists have claimed that,the main reason for this is that, nowadays, youth are growing with lack of pay attention by their parents but also teachers. Moreover, children are not getting social and emotional knowledge at their schools.
Second of all, action movies with murder, robber are being popular amongst youth. It is clearly seen that, these sort of movies lead to an increase crime among teenagers as they try to copy what they have seen in the movies. Futhermore, films have an important influence on young people who are influenced both by what they watch and hear.
Third of all, nowadays, no one does amaze, when read on newspapers and watch on the television about in most societies over the planet the number of crime is rising unexpectedly. In fact that, youth are breaking laws especially rights of people with way of violence.
From my point of view, the best way to control as well as reduce the number of crime is replace severe punishments than panleties are such as, financial and and even being in prison. Moreover, lack of social and emotional knowledge is one of the main factor to increase crime among youth due to the government should more pay attention to both education and law systems.
There is no doubt that almost every good and bad field has developed significantly over the past few decades (I don't understand what you have just said here) and it is visible in the behaviour and actions of young people. Many people have mentioned that in many cities around the globe rates of crime by teenagers are increasing unexpectedly. The government as well as parents are trying to find solutions for this international problem. Many people believe that wisely chosen punishment is the best way to control the number of crimes in society, while some believe that this is not the only way to reduce the level of crime. They think that, there must be another way.
figures there has been an increase in violence, theft and even murders among young people. Many scientists have claimed the main reason for this is that nowadays, youth are growing without paying attention to their parents and also teachers. Moreover, children are not getting social and emotional knowledge at their schools.
Secondly, action movies with murders and robberies are popular amongst youth. It can be clearly seen that these sorts of movies lead to an increase in crime among teenagers as they try to copy what they have seen in the movies. Furthermore, films have an important influence on young people who are influenced both by what they watch and hear.
Thirdly, nowadays, no one is amazed when reading in newspapers and watching on the television that in most societies over in the world the number of crimes is rising unexpectedly. In fact, the youth are breaking laws, especially regarding the rights of people by using violence. (this paragraph does not answer the question in any way so it should not be here).
From my point of view, the best way to control as well as reduce the number of crimes is to replace weak sentences with severe punishments such as going to prison. Moreover, lack of social and emotional knowledge is one of the main factors to increase crime among youth so the government should more pay attention to both education and law systems.
On a positive note, you do have some good ideas and content that are answering the question, and at various points you have some good grammar and phrasing.
But at the same time, your grammar control is weak in a lot of places, as is your structure, and you don't write enough about the solutions.
Also, you do not appear to have a conclusion?
You also need to have more about the solutions. This essay will probably be seen as not fully answering the question as there is so little on the solutions. You would have been better taking out the forth paragraph and writing about solutions here instead as this paragraph does not answer the question.
"They think that, there must be another way" = don't use a comma after 'that'. You make this mistake many times.
"recent figures there is an increase in violent" = should be 'there has been…'. Use present perfect for something that started in the past and is still going on now.
Second of all / Third of all = you can't say this, only 'first of all' is possible.
"replace severe punishments than panleties are such as, financial and and even being in prison"
I just guessed what you meant when I tried to correct it.
Thank you so much, I got more information about writing structure and how i should write a conclusion. I try to leave my mistakes. thank you once again.
HI, I am Lenur's teacher from Termez. I am very delighted of your checking his essay . Thanks alot!
That's ok. I know he has another he has submitted but I've not had time to check at the moment.
Thank you so much there is more information which we need to take the IELTS exam.
If you had mentioned the band score for this essay, we could have had a better idea.
In this modern era, it is unfortunate that the the crime rate among the young people around the globe are exceeding the limits than ever before. This essay will deals with some reasons for the increasing crime rate and their solutions to some extend.
Juvenile delinquency. The tendency to commit habitual crime among adolescents, destroys many children who are the promises of the morrow. A number of reasons are there which make young persons turn to crimes and they are familial, financial, social and legal.This essay attempts to delve on some aspects of this serious problem and offers some practical solutions.
One striking feature of the problem is that children from dysfunctional families are under high risk of getting involved in crime. For instance, as they do not get benefits of proper care and guidance from affectionate atmosphere, they develop behavioural disturbances. When others reject them the situation becomes appalling, and they involve in criminal activities.
Another reason is the exploitation of children by adult criminals. Charles Dickens, through his celebrated writings, gives plenty of illustrations of how this happens. Many underprivileged children fall a prey to criminal gangs.As children are impulsive and of vulnerable nature, criminals can change them the way they want.
However, there are ways to tackle such problems. Firstly, one of the ways to combat the problem is to have stricter punishments. Although, as discussed above, it can be outside factors that lead to crime, it is still important to have severe punishments to deter teenagers from crime. All to often, because they are young, courts are too lenient. Parents also have to take more responsibility for their children's actions.They too should be punished if their children commit crime.
How can I leave my essay and you will correct my essay. Please tell me how.
Student unrest is a major social problem which needs urgent addressing. Many people believe that rise in living standards and trying to cope with peer pressure has led our youth to the path of theft, robbery and even murder.
I believe that the lack of proper attention by parents and trend of nuclear families have left the children in their own. In absence of proper guidance and compassion many children take wrong paths and commit crime. Further more lack of attention and proper mentor in the form of trained teachers many youth loose their right track and opt for crime. In addition lack of proper punishment add to their rising crime rates. Furthermore the peer pressure, portraying of robbers as Robin hood by movies, easy way to make money are some of the reasons that today's youth are going on the path of crime.
Youth crime has become a problem of society as a whole. We need to refrain our youth from going astray by imposing strict punishments in the form of serving for a month in old age homes,taking water daily to remote areas, helping in household chores of working women and last but not the least to help preparing the food for children in schools. Higher punishments like sentence in a prison and social outcast can be done for more serious offences. Vocational training should be given in schools for making our children self dependent. From parents to teachers it is our duty to enlighten and support our children so that they are on right track.
To pen down I would like to comment that today's youth is tomorrow's responsible citizens we should protect them from turning to crime at any cost to save our country from doom.
There is no doubt to violence and crime rapidly incresed day by day. Many people believe that violence rises because of low law level but some think that it happened careless of parients in young generation. inn my opinion ,there more reson of increase crime and violence.
At the begining, parents not gives their childern more attention this is most main reason for growing crime in adult.for instead,in this modern and technological time mostly people are busying on thier work .therefore, they dont have time to pay attention for their children.so because lack of priority children feels alone and chose voilence way for throwout lonlyness on their life.
afterthat,lack of the kowledge about rules and laws is that another reason which increse the crime and voilence level in the world.for example, people whose are not educated ,are not knowledge about the laws just because they do crime sometimes. but another hand whose are educated ,those people also have not information about crime which against the rules and laws.
however,there are some ways to resolve the problem of increse crime and voilence in the woorld such as, give more attention to their child,give knowledge about the work which against the laws,increase reading habit like newspapers and most important alwyas give priority ti child by parents and teachers both.
in conclusion ,there are many reason which are increase the level of crime but its opposite their are also some reason which help to reduce the crime slowly.i think that not give care in child with their parents is most strong reson for increase crime and give child knowlede and care ,attention is the most efective solution for reduce the volence.
Unfortunately it would get a very low score are there are a lot of spelling and grammar errors.
how can I improve my mistake easily?
In my perspective, in order to solve this problem, firsly the government should encourage and support big comapanies and corporations build or move larges their factories or industrial sector to country side, to creates jobs and also encorages young people com back their home town, this solution also create a hit for development of local area such as more streets or facilities will be built up and improve quality of life in country side. And secondly pocice department should be inversted in city, to ensure secure for people.


text:
Gun Control from the Los Angeles Times: The Gun Control Loophole.
Written by John Longenecker Published: 23 July 2009
The United States Senate narrowly declined to respect the law of the land in rejecting another affirmation of freedom in this country. Senator John Thune [R -S.D.] put up a bill which would have made reciprocity for concealed carry permits cool among all those states who have some sort of CCW permit. That would be forty-eight states. It's not the first time the will of the people is denied in the name of the will of the people.
Now, the editorials come out. In its op-ed section July 23, 2009, The Los Angeles Times ignores civics, sovereign authority, and present Brady Law in favor of emotionalism and leftist, and State party line politics over safety. The Times writes how the Thune – Vitter Bill would mean that "..today would be Christmas in July for gang members, organized crime syndicates and drug trafficking." The Times alleges that the Bill would have ignored background checks around America, and would have seen guns travel from state to state under the radar due to reciprocity, all as if the Brady requirements already in place don't work!!!
Do they work? Does the Thune – Vitter Bill call for the eradication of background checks, or does it affirm greater freedom for those who have already passed background checks and would pass them in other states as well?
The focus on safety needs to address aggressors in crime and not honest taxpayers who fund officials and law enforcement. It doesn't serve safety to tie the hands of the electorate who is an ally of law enforcement, another fact the Times consistently overlooks in its rush to take guns. I am speaking of prohibited persons who do not spend the waiting time, the fees, and the intrusion when they have the appetite to acquire a handgun. Prohibited persons are not likely to have a CCW permit, in case The Los Angeles Times overlooked that! Most of the paper's circulation would have noticed that.
The Times bashes legitimate gun owners by stating that more guns equals more risk. This is not true, since we already have more than 300 million guns in the hands of some 80 million adult citizens. There are millions of legally carrying adults, only you don't see them. The only people you do see are the criminals who were not stopped by gun control, or any other control for that matter!!
Another paragraph has this: "Consider the price Texas has paid. In 2000, a Los Angeles Times investigation found that more than 400 people with prior criminal convictions, including rapists and armed robbers, had been issued concealed-weapons permits, and thousands of permit holders had been arrested for criminal behavior or found to be mentally unstable. Also, a Violence Policy Center study found that concealed-weapons license holders in Texas were arrested for weapons-related crimes at a rate 81% higher than the state's general population."
Thousands?? Those permit-holders the article cites in bashing the concept of concealed carry I leave to investigative analyst and Examiner colleague Howard Nemerov.
Meanwhile, police shootings prove repeatedly that thugs can get their hands on guns within hours of the urge, and liberty purists have been championing against prohibited persons as part of the liberty movement. It's called enforcing laws already in place, but until one can find a way for gun control to stop persons who are already prohibited from possessing guns, you have a major void in the entire concept of gun control. Let me emphasize this: until you can stop the already prohibited persons from getting guns, the entire theory of gun control is entirely discredited. Since you cannot do it today and never will, the concept of gun control fails. So, why insist on it for those who do not commit crimes?
You might call it the Gun Control Loophole. [Note: The Times featured an editorial called the Gun Control Loophole on April 23, 2007, but compounded the felony, essentially admitting that gun control simply does not work for mental persons. The fact is that gun control doesn't work at all, unless disarming citizens has something else it expects as results. This is the fear of millions as the State grows and grows and begins to ignore the electorate on all sorts of issues.]
Finally, The Times punctuates its error in hoping that "Wednesday's victory stiffens the resolve of legislators who have feared to go toe-to-toe with the National Rifle Assn." How ignorant of our civics. Legislators do not stand up to constituents, constituents stand up to belligerent legislators who oppose the original law with their own foibles and peccadilloes. Gun control is not courage, it is gutless abuse of process. The public servants do not stand up to us, we have to stand up to them when we supervise them and watch them like a hawk, instruct them, prod them and even unseat them. Their own fiat in everything now is what is eating away at the country at this very hour. The Times acts like we do not have to watch our servants, and credits servants with standing up to constituents. Brilliant perspective.
The editorial goes on to spite millions of gun owners within the electorate further by saying that the gun lobby's 'fanatical disregard for public safety' is not going to stop and that it will take courage, etc. etc., and then the last sentence that gun owners think the answer is to arm everyone.
America does not need to arm everyone, but everyone needs the freedom to be armed. It is in the public interest for many reasons, while gun control is against the public interest, whatever the reason.
Gun control has consistently proven to be everything but what it has promised.
John Longenecker is author of Safe Streets In The Nationwide Concealed Carry Of Handguns, now available today as an e-book online. Go to www.NationwideConcealedCarry.com
John Longenecker is an Examiner from Los Angeles.
Copyright 2009 Examiner.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Out-of-state concealed carry recognition fails in U.S. Senate

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


2000-01-21 Assigned to MICROSTRATEGY, INC. reassignment MICROSTRATEGY, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: LANGSETH, JUSTIN, FISHMAN, PHILLIPPA J., TALWAR, AJAY, OROLIN, NICOLAS J.
A system and method for generating revenue from a personalized intelligence network which outputs personalized and timely informational and transactional content from an OLAP-based system to individuals through use of a high-speed processing and output delivery system to email, Excel, pager, mobile phone, fax, telephone, personal digital assistants and other output devices. Affiliates may enlist subscribers and receive a share of revenues generated from subscription fees, advertising fees, bundling fees and transaction fees.
This invention relates to a system and method for generating revenue from a personalized intelligence network which outputs personalized and timely informational and transactional content from an OLAP-based system to individuals through use of a high-speed processing and output delivery system to email, Excel, pager, mobile phone, fax, telephone, personal digital assistants and other output devices. Affiliates may enlist subscribers and receive a share of revenues generated from subscription fees, advertising fees, bundling fees and transaction fees.
In addition, customer loyalty has been growing more and more scarce as new business models, such as e-commerce applications, open up new avenues of competition. Companies of all types are in need of products or services to maintain existing customers and attract new customers. Indeed, one of the great challenges faces by Internet-based companies has been providing content and functionality that keeps users coming back. Although many functions and different content is available, there is an almost continuous need for new and meaningful content for users.
This invention provides a system and method for providing personal intelligence content that may be provided to affiliates, thereby enabling affiliates to provide useful, meaningful content to its users and/or subscribers with little or no effort in creating, maintaining, charging or dealing with other administrative issues. Specifically, the present invention provides a personalized network that actively broadcasts highly personalized and timely information to individuals via email, spreadsheet programs (over e-mail), pager, telephone, mobile phone, fax, personal digital assistant, HTML e-mail and other formats to generate revenues from subscription fees, transactional fees and advertising fees. Revenue generated may be shared between system participants including the personal intelligence network and affiliates.
In this system, informational and transactional data may be loaded and formatted into a database system. The database system may then provide a plurality of "channels" wherein each channel may comprise information and transactional data about a particular field of interest, such as business, weather, sports, news, investments, traffic and others. Subscribers may then sign up to receive output from one or more services from one or more of the channels of information. A service should be understood to be formatted content that is sent to certain subscribers at a certain frequency or based on the occurrence of a predetermined event, such as an update to a database. For example, a service for an investments channel may be called "Market Update" that sends an email to subscribers every day at 5 p.m. with a summary of the market results for the day. That same service may be scheduled to run periodically throughout the day when new market information is loaded into the investor channel database. These are only two examples of the many types of services that may be processed by the system of the present invention.
A subscriber is any individual or entity that signs up to receive a service and then begins receiving that service on a given schedule that may be set by the subscriber or the system. A schedule is the frequency for which a service is sent to be processed (e.g., end-of-day (after 5 p.m.), intra-day (every hour between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.), end-of-week (5 p.m. on Friday)). A style refers to the kind of look a service has (e.g., a different style exists for a pager versus an email output due to the device constraints). Each subscriber may also select to personalize the service content. Personalization may include preferences for types of content, information, etc. that the user desires to receive within the scope of a particular service. For example, for a service that sends an end-of-market report, the user may only want to see the portions of the report that deal with stocks in her individual portfolio. The service output may also include non-personalized content such as in the previous example, the Dow Jones Average for the day.
Affiliates may simply create opportunities for its users and subscribers or individuals that contact the affiliate to become subscribers of a personalized intelligence network of the present invention that is maintained and created by another entity. For example, as discussed below, an affiliate may be a financial institution that enables its customers to subscribe to an investment and/or personal finance channel that outputs personalized content related to that user's finances with that financial institution and also to present other opportunities to enable the financial institution to leverage its relationship with the user. In another example, communications entities may provide subscriptions to one or more channels to increase the use of an output device that they provide. More specifically, a pager company may enable its users to subscribe to a weather channel that sends alerts over the pager so that its users get increased value from the device. An Internet entity may enable its users to subscribe to provide channel output related to the content from the site. For example, an Internet site related to sports may enable its users to subscribe to a sports output channel.
Accordingly, an entity may become an affiliate of a personalized intelligence network system as described in detail below that generates personalized content to the subscribers through the affiliate. Affiliates may enable their subscribers to subscribe to channel database services to provide personalized intelligence network access.
FIG. 18 depicts a flow diagram of a method of affiliate subscriptions to a personalized intelligence network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19 depicts a flow diagram of a method of affiliate content provision to a personalized intelligence network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
To make better decisions, people need the right information at the right time. With the proliferation of new means of communication like alphanumeric pages, alphanumeric phones, fax machines and email, communications with people anywhere at anytime have been enhanced. The system of the present invention uses these communication mediums to enable people to make the right decisions, be delivering the information right into their hands through the use of a plurality of subject-based channel of information to which individuals may subscribe. Within each channel, a subscriber may elect from a plurality of services related to that subject-matter.
As part of this process, a personalized intelligence network (PIN) may be provided as detailed below. As part of that network, affiliates may be used to provide subscribers to the channels provided by the PIN. In addition, affiliates may be part of the overall system. Each affiliate may enable persons to subscribe to one or more channels and one or more services within each channel. In such case, affiliates may select which of a plurality of channels of information to make available through that affiliate. Also, affiliates may be content providers. In such case, an affiliate may provide its own channel of information, as detailed below.
An embodiment of a method practiced between an affiliate and a personalized intelligence network is depicted in FIG. 18. Method 900 involves an affiliate establishing a relationship with a personalized intelligence network and then enlisting subscribers in step 902.
Step 902 may involve the affiliate providing an advertisement for the PIN wherein the subscribers to the network input a code or some other indicator where they learned of the personalized intelligence network. Through use of the code or other indicator, the PIN may then share fees with the affiliate as discussed below in step 914. Step 902 may also involve providing a link to the subscription interface system for the PIN. If the subscription interface for the PIN is an Internet subscription interface, then the affiliate may display a link to the subscription interface web site. The link may be tracked for later attribution to the affiliate. Also, the subscription interface may be hosted on the server for the affiliate system. Also, the affiliate web site may provide the pages from the subscription interface within the look and feel of the affiliate web site so that the user believes that the subscription is being done directly with the affiliate rather than through another entity. Also, step 902 may be performed through bundling a service or product provided by the affiliate with a subscription. For example, a pager entity may sell a pager service with a weather alert service as an additional option as a package. Other methods and steps for enabling the affiliate to enlist a subscriber may be used. Ideally, the subscription through the affiliate may be tracked for fee sharing as described below.
Next, in step 904, the subscription information is recorded by the subscription interface of the PIN. From this point on, the PIN may perform all handling of the subscription. In this way, the affiliate is provided with content for its customers/users with only requiring the enlistment step of step 902.
After the user is passed to the subscription interface, in step 906, the PIN enables the subscriber to subscribe to one or more channels and to one or services for each of the one or more channels. The channels to which the subscriber may enlist may be related to the affiliate in some manner. For example, a sports web site may only desire to have subscribers that subscribe to the PIN through that site be able to sign up for a sports channel. Additionally, as described below, an affiliate may have its own channel that is only available to users that subscribe through that affiliate. Affiliates may also be able to specify which services are available from each channel for its subscribers.
Next, step 908 may be performed. In step 908, subscribers may be charged a fee for subscribing to PIN services. A plurality of subscription charging methods may be employed in step 908 including a fee per service, a fee per channel, an annual fee, a monthly fee, a fee per alert, multi-tiered billing etc. Different fees may be charged depending on the output device to which the user desires output. For example, fees for wired devices such as telephones may be greater than to a wireless device. Also, if monthly fees are charged, the fees may be pro rated depending on when the user subscribes or terminates a subscription in the monthly billing cycle for the service. Many billing methodologies exist for services today and any such methodologies may be used with the present invention. As described below, the subscription interface may comprise a subscription transaction processing module that performs initial charging and periodic billing as well.
Once subscriptions have been established and the subscribers have paid fees (if any), then in step 912, the PIN outputs content to the subscriber from the services that the subscriber requested. Service processing is detailed below. Then in step 914, the PIN may share revenues with affiliates.
Step 914 may comprise a number of revenue sharing methods. Specifically, the affiliate may have earned revenue through bundling or another process in the enlistment step 902. Also, in step 910, the PIN may have earned revenues from fees for subscriptions. These revenues may be shared in order to give both participants incentives to provide this system. For example, an affiliate may receive a percentage of revenues, profits, etc. generated from subscriptions through that affiliate. Alternatively, the affiliate may receive a flat fee per subscription (e.g., a one time fee, a monthly fee or a per transaction fee).
An affiliate may also desire to have some input as to the output that is generated to the subscribers to the PIN through that affiliate. As discussed below, the channel databases provided by the PIN may include local, national and international data to enable users to receive a wide variety of information and data. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the PIN system enables affiliates to include affiliate-specific information in the outputs generated from the system and/or limit the information available to subscribers from that affiliate.
A method 925 is depicted in FIG. 19 relating a method for affiliates to provide input into the output generated by a PIN. In step 916, an affiliate may provide content to one or more of the channel databases. Methods for loading content into a channel database are described below and any of those methods or any other method of loading data may be provided. The affiliate content provided in step 916 may comprise transactional data, informational data, subscriber data, or any other data. That data may comprise continuous stream data from the affiliate, such as instant stock trades or current purchases as a retail store or may include periodically updated information. Also, the data may comprise data from the affiliate's data warehouse or other archival database that may describe subscriber's historical relationship with the affiliate. For example, if the affiliate is a bank, the data may comprise a complete transactional history of the subscriber with that bank so that the channel database is enriched with a broader base of data from which to generate reports. The data from step 916 may be loaded either into a pre-existing channel database with other informational and/or transactional data at the PIN (step 920) or may be used to create a specific channel for that affiliate (step 918). If an affiliate-specific channel is created, that channel may be limited in availability to only the affiliate's subscribers or may also be shared with other affiliate's subscribers.
Once the affiliate data has been loaded into a channel database, then in step 922, the PIN processes services based on the channel database content as detailed below. Next, in step 924, the PIN determines whether there is an affiliate advertisement to include in the service output. If so, then in step 926, a charge for including the advertisement may be generated (although it is also within the scope of the present invention to do so as part of the arrangement between the affiliate and the PIN).
In step 928, affiliate advertisements may be included in the service outputs. Affiliate advertisements may be advertisements about the affiliate or advertisements sold by the affiliate to a third party entity. For example, a newspaper may be an affiliate to enable its subscribers to subscribe to a news channel on the PIN. The newspaper may either run an advertisement in a service output for that newspaper or may sell a spot to a third party, such as a restaurant, hotel, etc. In either event, the affiliate may select an advertisement and supply the advertisements to the PIN to be included in service output. The advertisement selected may also be personalized based on predetermined criteria including the subscriber information, the type of service or channel being run, the time of day, the time of year, and the like. After step 928, then the PIN executes step 930 and step 934.
In step 930, the output is sent to the subscriber from the PIN using the system and method as detailed below, for example. After step 932, it is determined whether the service output triggers a transaction with the affiliate or another entity. If so, then step 934 is performed.
In step 934, as in step 914, revenues generated from advertising and/or transactional fees may be shared between the PIN and the affiliate. As described with respect to step 914, any method of revenue sharing and allocation may be provided. For example, the affiliate may receive all revenue from advertising, but the PIN may receive all revenue from transactional fees generated. The two may share all revenues evenly or according to a predetermined percentage. Revenue allocation may be determined also on a case-by-case basis.
In any event, through methods 900 and 925, the affiliate and PIN present content to subscribers and provide a system and method for generating revenue that may provide mutual benefits to all participants.
The PIN and affiliate may be connected over a network or the PIN may be installed with affiliate hardware. It is also possible to network affiliates together so that one affiliate may enable its subscribers to access content from one or more other affiliates. Affiliates may then enter into revenue sharing arrangements (e.g., based on relative usage of the content). For example, a travel web site affiliate may provide a travel channel to its subscribers and may also desire to enable its subscribers to access a weather channel provided by another affiliate.
It may also be desirable for the affiliate to be the source of the service output. Accordingly, the PIN may connect to an output server at the affiliate and pass the messages to be sent to the affiliate to send. For example, as detailed below the PIN has a mail server that sends mail messages generated from the PIN. In this embodiment, the mail server may be maintained by the affiliate.
As described below a number of different channels may be provided. Further, an embodiment of a PIN that may be used is detailed below. It should be understood that other channels and PIN systems may also be employed according to the present invention.
In addition to load balancing and fault tolerance, however, splitting also allows data distribution control system 60 to scale to many more than five data distribution servers 62 as shown in an example relationship described above. Data distribution control system 60 is flexible enough to handle different numbers of data distribution servers 62. Given the rapid speed increases in processors, it is possible that fewer numbers of data distribution servers 62 may be provided as well, especially as processors start breaking the IGHz mark, and off-the shelf systems can scale beyond four processors.
2. The information is not complete, e.g., all stock symbols from S–Z are not contained in the data feed.
Switch 100 may comprise a Cisco 5509 switch with redundant power supplies, supervisor modules and 100 MB port cards. A spare 100 MB port card may be provided in the switch 100 pre-racked in case of catastrophic switch failure. For security, the network may utilize redundant Cisco PIX firewalls between the Exodus network and the internal channel/subscription processing network. The PIX is a hardware based, stateful inspection firewall which is capable of providing filtering for two fully saturated T3 connections with no delay in processing and in lab tests has been rated with a throughput as high as 150 Mbps. In addition, the PIX provides great flexibility in configuring outside access network interfaces or even specific IP addresses and ports. The PIX firewall uses a series of rules to determine access to specific network interfaces, IP addresses and ports. Other networks and security measures may also be used to prevent infiltration of system as one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize.
Output from this system may be provided to a plurality of different devices. FIG. 9 depicts an example of an output 202 that may be provided to a mobile phone system that has limited screen space. This message: "2:34 pm alert IBM+4 ¾ to 131⅛: rec. strong buy" might be a response generated by the system from a stock monitoring channel. In this system, a particular stock has gone up several points and an analysis has recommended a strong buy. The user may then act on that information responsively because the information has been automatically generated without the user having to call in and periodically check the status of a particular stock.
It should be understood that other hardware and software implementations may also be provided within the spirit of the invention. Other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification and examples should be considered exemplary only.
revenue collecting means that collects revenue as a result of the output of services to subscribers.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the revenue collecting means comprising a subscription transaction processing means that charges subscribers fees.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the fee charged to the subscriber is a periodic charge.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein the fee charged to the subscriber is based on the services to which the subscriber subscribes.
5. The system of claim 2 wherein the fee charged is based on the usage by the subscriber of personalized intelligence network system.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the revenue collecting means comprises advertising collection means for collecting fees for advertisements included in the service outputs.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the revenue collecting means comprises transactional means that performs transactions with subscribers resulting from service output and allocates revenues from the transactions to the personalized intelligence network system and one or more affiliate systems.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the revenue collecting means comprises bundling fee generating means for generating bundling fees for bundling service subscriptions with another product or service and allocating revenues from the bundling to the personalized intelligence network system.
9. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more affiliate systems that inform users about subscribing to one or more services from the personalized intelligence network.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one of the affiliate systems comprises an accessible network site that provides content to its users and wherein the accessible network enables user to connect to the subscription means.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the accessible network site provides an executable link to a network-based subscription interface system that enables the user to subscribe to one or more services.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the accessible network site comprises a web site.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein the affiliate system and personal intelligence network share revenues generated from subscriptions.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the shared revenues are based on the revenues generated by the subscribers that subscribe as a result of the affiliate system.
15. The system of claim 9 wherein subscribers are charged a fee and wherein the revenue from the fees charged to subscribers is shared between the affiliate system and the personal intelligence network system.
16. The system of claim 9 wherein the revenue collecting means attributes a revenue value to advertisements included in the service outputs.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the revenue shared between the affiliate system and the personalized intelligence network includes advertising revenue.
18. The system of claim 9 wherein the revenue collecting means collects an advertising revenue from the affiliate system.
19. The system of claim 9 wherein the revenue collecting means collects an advertising revenue from a third party entity.
20. The system of claim 9 wherein the revenue collecting means comprises transactional means that performs transactions with subscribers resulting from the service output and allocates revenues from the transactions to the personalized intelligence network system.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the revenue shared between affiliate systems and the personalized intelligence network includes transactional related revenues.
22. The system of claim 9 wherein the affiliate system bundles a service subscription with another product or service for a fee and the revenue collecting means allocates a revenue value for a subscription portion from the bundled fee.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the revenue shared between affiliate systems and the personalized intelligence network includes bundling fee allocations.
24. The system of claim 9 comprising at least two affiliates and wherein revenue collected is shared between at least two affiliates.
25. The system of claim 9 wherein the affiliate system comprises content provision means for providing content to one or more channel databases.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein the content provided by the affiliate system is provided to an affiliate channel for that affiliate system.
27. The system of claim 9 wherein the affiliate system comprises content filtering means for specifying filters to be applied to service output prior to sending service output to subscribers from that affiliate system.
"System and Method for a Subject-Based Channel Distribution of Automatic, Real Time Delivery of Personalized Informational and Transactional Data," U.S. Appl. No. 09/488,920.
"System and Method for Automated, Real Time Delivery of Personalized Informational and Transactional Data to Users Via Content Delivery Device," U.S. Appl. No. 09/488,919.
"System and Method for Automatic, Real-Time Delivery of Personalized Informational and Transactional Data Including Graphical Object to Users Via Content Delivery Device," U.S. Appl. No. 09/488,567, each filed Jan. 21, 2000.
"System and Method for Automatic, Real-Time Delivery of Personalized Informational and Transactional Data to Users Via E-Mail Delivery," U.S. Appl. No. 09/488,566; and.
"System and Method for Automatic, Real-Time Delivery of Personalized Informational and Transactional Data to Users Via High Throughput Content Delivery Device," U.S. Appl. No. 09/488,923.
"System and Method for Automatic, Real-Time Delivery of Personalized Newspaper," U.S. Appl. No. 09/488,922.
"System and Method for Information Warehousing Supporting Automatic, Real-Time Delivery of Personalized, Informational and Transactional Data to Users Via Content Delivery Device," U.S. Appl. No. 09/488,565.
"System and Method for Monitoring the Automatic, Real-Time Delivery of Personalized Informational and Transactional Data to Users Via Content Delivery Device," U.S. Appl. No. 09/488,921.
"System and Method for Revenue Generation in an Automatic, Real Time Delivery of Personalized Informational and Transactional Data," U.S. Appl. No. 09/488,924.
Golfarelli et al., "Conceptual Design of Data Warehouses from E/R Schemes," published in the Proceedings of the Hawaii International Conference On System Sciences, Jan. 6-9, 1998, Kona, Hawal, 10 pages.
Sarawagi et al., "Discovery-driven Exploration of OLAP Data Cubes," 15 pages.
Yan et al., "Toolkits for a Distributed, Agent-based Web Commerce System," published in the Proceedings of the International IFIP Working Conference on Trends in Distributed Systems for Electronic Commerce (TrEC '98), Hamburg, Germany, Jun. 3-5, 1998, pp. 1-12.


Roger displays the wonderful, white blooms of the wisteria. The nearby linden tree is beginning to overshadow the vine. He pots up annuals that will last until the frost (trailing snapdragons, surfina petunias and verbena). He stakes the delphiniums to protect them from harsh winds.
Holly Shimizu is at Rip Van Winkle Gardens in Louisiana with operations manager, Charles Toups. They tour the gardens that once were destroyed by a local mining disaster. Highlights: bamboo grove, wishing well, koi pond, bald cypress, oaks, magnolias, rhododendrons, banana plant, jasmine, narcissus, palms, dovecote, roses and veg. garden.
Roger Swain discusses the benefits of Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT). He plants peppers 'La Parie" deeply in a bed covered in black plastic for warmth. He plants tomatoes 'Ultra Boy' at the trellis.
Chef Marian prepares a radish salad (see below).
Roger closes in a bed of poppies combined with purple alliums.
Chicago: "Victory Garden; Victory Garden 2409," 04/27/1999, WGBH Media Library & Archives, accessed April 22, 2019, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_142DA847DCE34CC0B77A42F0E1BE098D.
MLA: "Victory Garden; Victory Garden 2409." 04/27/1999. WGBH Media Library & Archives. Web. April 22, 2019. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_142DA847DCE34CC0B77A42F0E1BE098D>.


text:
package org.apache.beam.sdk.io.gcp.spanner;

import static org.junit.Assert.assertThat;
import static org.mockito.Matchers.any;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.times;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.verify;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;

import com.google.cloud.Timestamp;
import com.google.cloud.spanner.KeySet;
import com.google.cloud.spanner.ReadOnlyTransaction;
import com.google.cloud.spanner.ResultSets;
import com.google.cloud.spanner.Statement;
import com.google.cloud.spanner.Struct;
import com.google.cloud.spanner.TimestampBound;
import com.google.cloud.spanner.Type;
import com.google.cloud.spanner.Value;
import java.io.Serializable;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.List;
import org.apache.beam.sdk.testing.NeedsRunner;
import org.apache.beam.sdk.testing.PAssert;
import org.apache.beam.sdk.testing.TestPipeline;
import org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.Create;
import org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.DoFnTester;
import org.apache.beam.sdk.values.PCollection;
import org.apache.beam.sdk.values.PCollectionView;
import org.hamcrest.Matchers;
import org.junit.Before;
import org.junit.Rule;
import org.junit.Test;
import org.junit.experimental.categories.Category;
import org.junit.rules.ExpectedException;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import org.junit.runners.JUnit4;
import org.mockito.Mockito;

/** Unit tests for {@link SpannerIO}. */
@RunWith(JUnit4.class)
public class SpannerIOReadTest implements Serializable {

  @Rule
  public final transient TestPipeline pipeline = TestPipeline.create();
  @Rule
  public final transient ExpectedException thrown = ExpectedException.none();

  private FakeServiceFactory serviceFactory;
  private ReadOnlyTransaction mockTx;

  private static final Type FAKE_TYPE =
      Type.struct(
          Type.StructField.of("id", Type.int64()), Type.StructField.of("name", Type.string()));

  private static final List<Struct> FAKE_ROWS =
      Arrays.asList(
          Struct.newBuilder().add("id", Value.int64(1)).add("name", Value.string("Alice")).build(),
          Struct.newBuilder().add("id", Value.int64(2)).add("name", Value.string("Bob")).build(),
          Struct.newBuilder().add("id", Value.int64(3)).add("name", Value.string("Carl")).build(),
          Struct.newBuilder().add("id", Value.int64(4)).add("name", Value.string("Dan")).build());

  @Before
  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
  public void setUp() throws Exception {
    serviceFactory = new FakeServiceFactory();
    mockTx = Mockito.mock(ReadOnlyTransaction.class);
  }

  @Test
  public void emptyTransform() throws Exception {
    SpannerIO.Read read = SpannerIO.read();
    thrown.expect(NullPointerException.class);
    thrown.expectMessage("requires instance id to be set with");
    read.validate(null);
  }

  @Test
  public void emptyInstanceId() throws Exception {
    SpannerIO.Read read = SpannerIO.read().withDatabaseId("123");
    thrown.expect(NullPointerException.class);
    thrown.expectMessage("requires instance id to be set with");
    read.validate(null);
  }

  @Test
  public void emptyDatabaseId() throws Exception {
    SpannerIO.Read read = SpannerIO.read().withInstanceId("123");
    thrown.expect(NullPointerException.class);
    thrown.expectMessage("requires database id to be set with");
    read.validate(null);
  }

  @Test
  public void emptyQuery() throws Exception {
    SpannerIO.Read read =
        SpannerIO.read().withInstanceId("123").withDatabaseId("aaa").withTimestamp(Timestamp.now());
    thrown.expect(IllegalArgumentException.class);
    thrown.expectMessage("requires configuring query or read operation");
    read.validate(null);
  }

  @Test
  public void emptyColumns() throws Exception {
    SpannerIO.Read read =
        SpannerIO.read()
            .withInstanceId("123")
            .withDatabaseId("aaa")
            .withTimestamp(Timestamp.now())
            .withTable("users");
    thrown.expect(NullPointerException.class);
    thrown.expectMessage("requires a list of columns");
    read.validate(null);
  }

  @Test
  public void validRead() throws Exception {
    SpannerIO.Read read =
        SpannerIO.read()
            .withInstanceId("123")
            .withDatabaseId("aaa")
            .withTimestamp(Timestamp.now())
            .withTable("users")
            .withColumns("id", "name", "email");
    read.validate(null);
  }

  @Test
  public void validQuery() throws Exception {
    SpannerIO.Read read =
        SpannerIO.read()
            .withInstanceId("123")
            .withDatabaseId("aaa")
            .withTimestamp(Timestamp.now())
            .withQuery("SELECT * FROM users");
    read.validate(null);
  }

  @Test
  public void runQuery() throws Exception {
    SpannerIO.Read read =
        SpannerIO.read()
            .withProjectId("test")
            .withInstanceId("123")
            .withDatabaseId("aaa")
            .withQuery("SELECT * FROM users")
            .withServiceFactory(serviceFactory);

    NaiveSpannerReadFn readFn = new NaiveSpannerReadFn(read.getSpannerConfig());
    DoFnTester<ReadOperation, Struct> fnTester = DoFnTester.of(readFn);

    when(serviceFactory.mockDatabaseClient().readOnlyTransaction(any(TimestampBound.class)))
        .thenReturn(mockTx);
    when(mockTx.executeQuery(any(Statement.class)))
        .thenReturn(ResultSets.forRows(FAKE_TYPE, FAKE_ROWS));

    List<Struct> result = fnTester.processBundle(read.getReadOperation());
    assertThat(result, Matchers.containsInAnyOrder(FAKE_ROWS.toArray()));

    verify(serviceFactory.mockDatabaseClient()).readOnlyTransaction(TimestampBound
        .strong());
    verify(mockTx).executeQuery(Statement.of("SELECT * FROM users"));
  }

  @Test
  public void runRead() throws Exception {
    SpannerIO.Read read =
        SpannerIO.read()
            .withProjectId("test")
            .withInstanceId("123")
            .withDatabaseId("aaa")
            .withTable("users")
            .withColumns("id", "name")
            .withServiceFactory(serviceFactory);

    NaiveSpannerReadFn readFn = new NaiveSpannerReadFn(read.getSpannerConfig());
    DoFnTester<ReadOperation, Struct> fnTester = DoFnTester.of(readFn);

    when(serviceFactory.mockDatabaseClient().readOnlyTransaction(any(TimestampBound.class)))
        .thenReturn(mockTx);
    when(mockTx.read("users", KeySet.all(), Arrays.asList("id", "name")))
        .thenReturn(ResultSets.forRows(FAKE_TYPE, FAKE_ROWS));

    List<Struct> result = fnTester.processBundle(read.getReadOperation());
    assertThat(result, Matchers.containsInAnyOrder(FAKE_ROWS.toArray()));

    verify(serviceFactory.mockDatabaseClient()).readOnlyTransaction(TimestampBound.strong());
    verify(mockTx).read("users", KeySet.all(), Arrays.asList("id", "name"));
  }

  @Test
  public void runReadUsingIndex() throws Exception {
    SpannerIO.Read read =
        SpannerIO.read()
            .withProjectId("test")
            .withInstanceId("123")
            .withDatabaseId("aaa")
            .withTimestamp(Timestamp.now())
            .withTable("users")
            .withColumns("id", "name")
            .withIndex("theindex")
            .withServiceFactory(serviceFactory);

    NaiveSpannerReadFn readFn = new NaiveSpannerReadFn(read.getSpannerConfig());
    DoFnTester<ReadOperation, Struct> fnTester = DoFnTester.of(readFn);

    when(serviceFactory.mockDatabaseClient().readOnlyTransaction(any(TimestampBound.class)))
        .thenReturn(mockTx);
    when(mockTx.readUsingIndex("users", "theindex", KeySet.all(), Arrays.asList("id", "name")))
        .thenReturn(ResultSets.forRows(FAKE_TYPE, FAKE_ROWS));

    List<Struct> result = fnTester.processBundle(read.getReadOperation());
    assertThat(result, Matchers.containsInAnyOrder(FAKE_ROWS.toArray()));

    verify(serviceFactory.mockDatabaseClient()).readOnlyTransaction(TimestampBound.strong());
    verify(mockTx).readUsingIndex("users", "theindex", KeySet.all(), Arrays.asList("id", "name"));
  }

  @Test
  @Category(NeedsRunner.class)
  public void readPipeline() throws Exception {
    Timestamp timestamp = Timestamp.ofTimeMicroseconds(12345);

    SpannerConfig spannerConfig =
        SpannerConfig.create()
            .withProjectId("test")
            .withInstanceId("123")
            .withDatabaseId("aaa")
            .withServiceFactory(serviceFactory);

    PCollectionView<Transaction> tx =
        pipeline.apply("tx", SpannerIO.createTransaction().withSpannerConfig(spannerConfig));

    PCollection<Struct> one =
        pipeline.apply(
            "read q",
            SpannerIO.read()
                .withSpannerConfig(spannerConfig)
                .withQuery("SELECT * FROM users")
                .withTransaction(tx));
    PCollection<Struct> two =
        pipeline.apply(
            "read r",
            SpannerIO.read()
                .withSpannerConfig(spannerConfig)
                .withTimestamp(Timestamp.now())
                .withTable("users")
                .withColumns("id", "name")
                .withTransaction(tx));

    when(serviceFactory.mockDatabaseClient().readOnlyTransaction(any(TimestampBound.class)))
        .thenReturn(mockTx);

    when(mockTx.executeQuery(Statement.of("SELECT 1"))).thenReturn(ResultSets.forRows(Type.struct(),
        Collections.<Struct>emptyList()));

    when(mockTx.executeQuery(Statement.of("SELECT * FROM users")))
        .thenReturn(ResultSets.forRows(FAKE_TYPE, FAKE_ROWS));
    when(mockTx.read("users", KeySet.all(), Arrays.asList("id", "name")))
        .thenReturn(ResultSets.forRows(FAKE_TYPE, FAKE_ROWS));
    when(mockTx.getReadTimestamp()).thenReturn(timestamp);

    PAssert.that(one).containsInAnyOrder(FAKE_ROWS);
    PAssert.that(two).containsInAnyOrder(FAKE_ROWS);

    pipeline.run();

    verify(serviceFactory.mockDatabaseClient(), times(2))
        .readOnlyTransaction(TimestampBound.ofReadTimestamp(timestamp));
  }

  @Test
  @Category(NeedsRunner.class)
  public void readAllPipeline() throws Exception {
    Timestamp timestamp = Timestamp.ofTimeMicroseconds(12345);

    SpannerConfig spannerConfig =
        SpannerConfig.create()
            .withProjectId("test")
            .withInstanceId("123")
            .withDatabaseId("aaa")
            .withServiceFactory(serviceFactory);

    PCollectionView<Transaction> tx =
        pipeline.apply("tx", SpannerIO.createTransaction().withSpannerConfig(spannerConfig));

    PCollection<ReadOperation> reads =
        pipeline.apply(
            Create.of(
                ReadOperation.create().withQuery("SELECT * FROM users"),
                ReadOperation.create().withTable("users").withColumns("id", "name")));

    PCollection<Struct> one =
        reads.apply(
            "read all", SpannerIO.readAll().withSpannerConfig(spannerConfig).withTransaction(tx));

    when(serviceFactory.mockDatabaseClient().readOnlyTransaction(any(TimestampBound.class)))
        .thenReturn(mockTx);

    when(mockTx.executeQuery(Statement.of("SELECT 1")))
        .thenReturn(ResultSets.forRows(Type.struct(), Collections.<Struct>emptyList()));

    when(mockTx.executeQuery(Statement.of("SELECT * FROM users")))
        .thenReturn(ResultSets.forRows(FAKE_TYPE, FAKE_ROWS.subList(0, 2)));
    when(mockTx.read("users", KeySet.all(), Arrays.asList("id", "name")))
        .thenReturn(ResultSets.forRows(FAKE_TYPE, FAKE_ROWS.subList(2, 4)));
    when(mockTx.getReadTimestamp()).thenReturn(timestamp);

    PAssert.that(one).containsInAnyOrder(FAKE_ROWS);

    pipeline.run();

    verify(serviceFactory.mockDatabaseClient(), times(2))
        .readOnlyTransaction(TimestampBound.ofReadTimestamp(timestamp));
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Film Festivals & Events
Florida Film Festivals
Can't make it to Cannes or Sundance? Don't worry, Florida has plenty of its own film festivals to showcase the newest movies. Grab some popcorn and join us for the newest films hitting the silver screen.
Dozens of Annual film festivals take place in Florida each year. You can find film festivals in every corner of the state. Some festivals highlight local talent or the best that international independent filmmakers have to offer, while others highlight films around a certain group of filmmakers such as LGBT, women, Latino, or Jewish talent.
Subscribe to Film Festivals & Events
Fort Myers Beach Film Festival
Location: Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Independent film fans, filmmakers, and distributors come together for this fun five day film event.
Miami Web Fest
In the modern internet age, the film industry is changing. These days, many of the best independent filmmakers in this time are making web series' instead of films. This is a modern film festival that celebrates the web series!
Vero Beach Wine & Film Festival
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
4 day event with the theme "A Life Worth Living", features filmmakers and industry talent from all over the world, young filmmakers competition, multi-award winning films and premieres, 30+ exclusive wine tasting experiences and Hollywood and WINE celebrity winemakers showcase, and more!
American Black Film Festival
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event held each year in June in Miami, Florida. Festivals began in 1997 dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent, and supporting emerging artists to diversify the images and storytellers working in the entertainment industry.
Central Florida Film Festival
Location: Epic Theatres, Mount Dora, Florida
The Central Florida Film Festival is an opportunity for Floridians to celebrate the art of film. It gives filmmakers a chance to enjoy each others works and interact with their audience.
Global Peace Film Festival
Films can have a powerful effects on viewers. This festival celebrates films that use that power to promote peace around the world!
Miami New Media Festival
October - December, 2019
This celebration of public art promotes video, film, and performance in urban spaces every year!
Named one of the top "25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World" by Moviemaker Magazine, this festival brings many amazing filmmakers together to showcase their films.
Freak Show Film Fest
Calling all Horror Freaks, Fans, and Filmmakers! Kickstart your Halloween festivities at the original FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival.
Florida Surf Film Festival
Location: New Smyrna Beach, Florida
This is a festival to celebrate new and independent surf documentary films.
March 6 - 15, 2020
The mission of Miami Film Festival is to bridge cultural understanding and encourage artistic development by provoking thought through film. By bringing the best of world cinema to Miami, the Festival presents the city and the film industry with a singular platform that fosters creative and technical talent.


For security reasons, we provide the full CEFF video only for those who register here. Thank you for your understanding. We will send you a link to the full video within 24 hours.
Yes, please sign me up for full access to the video.


Two ways to make amazing homemade limoncello. We explore both ways so you can be confident that you know which way makes the best limoncello!
Peel the lemons with a vegetable peeler. Take a sharp knife and remove any pith from the lemon peels.
Fill a big bottle (with a lid) with the vodka and throw the lemon peels into the vodka. Screw the lid on.
Place in a cool dark place for 4 weeks.
When the vodka tastes real lemonny, remove the lemon peels and add in the simple syrup 1/2 cup at a time until you are happy with the taste of the liqueur.


This genus is accepted, and its native range is Cameroon, Ethiopia to S. Africa, Madagascar, SW. Arabian Peninsula, Amsterdam & St. Paul Islands.
Annual (10), or perennial (73). Rhizomes absent (78), or short (2), or elongated (2). Stolons absent (65), or present (19). Culms erect (12/26), or geniculately ascending (7/26), or decumbent (7/26), or rambling (3/26); 3-46.19-400 cm long; firm (80), or woody (2). Lateral branches lacking (44/63), or sparse (9/63), or ample (14/63). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (81), or erect (1). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform (26), or linear (57); herbaceous (73), or coriaceous (9); stiff (42), or firm (19), or flaccid (23). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1). Leaf-blade apex muticous (80), or pungent (7).
Inflorescence a panicle (80), or composed of racemes (2), or comprising only a few spikelets (1). Panicle open (62/80), or contracted (20/80), or spiciform (3/80). Racemes single (2/2); unilateral (2/2). Rhachis flattened (1/2), or subterete (1/2). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis (2/2); 2 -rowed (2/2). Spikelets appressed (3/4), or deflexed (1/4); solitary (81), or in pairs (1). Fertile spikelets sessile (3), or pedicelled (80); 2 in the cluster (1/1). Pedicels filiform (64/64).
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets (4), or 2 fertile florets (78); without rhachilla extension (71), or with a barren rhachilla extension (19). Spikelets lanceolate (10), or oblong (3), or ovate (1), or cuneate (68); laterally compressed; 2-8.152-26 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief (17), or evident (64), or elongated (1); pubescent (70/72), or pilose (1/72), or bearded (1/72); truncate (1), or obtuse (80), or pungent (1).
Glumes persistent; reaching apex of florets (2), or exceeding apex of florets (81); thinner than fertile lemma (1), or similar to fertile lemma in texture (78), or firmer than fertile lemma (3); parallel to lemmas (14), or gaping (68). Lower glume linear (1), or lanceolate (11), or elliptic (68), or oblong (3); 1 length of upper glume; hyaline (1), or membranous (77), or scarious (1), or coriaceous (3); 1-keeled (77/77); 1 -veined (71/77), or 2 -veined (1/77), or 3 -veined (3/77), or 5 -veined (4/77), or 6-8 -veined (1/77). Lower glume lateral veins absent (70), or obscure (1), or distinct (11); without ribs (11/12), or ribbed (1/12). Lower glume surface smooth (73), or asperulous (18); glabrous (75), or puberulous (6), or pubescent (4), or pilose (4), or hirsute (3), or villous (3). Lower glume apex obtuse (6), or acute (24), or acuminate (51), or attenuate (6), or setaceously attenuate (3). Upper glume linear (1), or lanceolate (11), or elliptic (68), or oblong (3); 1-2.11-5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline (1), or membranous (77), or scarious (1), or coriaceous (3); with undifferentiated margins (81), or membranous margins (1); 1-keeled (77/77); 1 -veined (71/77), or 2 -veined (1/77), or 3 -veined (4/77), or 5 -veined (3/77), or 6-8 -veined (2/77). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (11/12), or ribbed (1/12). Upper glume surface smooth (74), or asperulous (17); glabrous (75), or puberulous (5), or pubescent (5), or pilose (4), or hirsute (3), or villous (3); with simple hairs (10/12), or tubercle-based hairs (2/12). Upper glume apex obtuse (6), or acute (23), or acuminate (51), or attenuate (6), or setaceously attenuate (3).
Fertile lemma elliptic (1), or oblong (81); membranous (81), or chartaceous (1); without keel (78), or keeled (4); 3 -veined (3/77), or 5 -veined (64/77), or 6 -veined (63/77), or 7 -veined (71/77), or 8 -veined (67/77), or 9 -veined (68/77), or 11 -veined (1/77). Lemma midvein eciliate (75), or ciliate (7), or pubescent (1). Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous (1); glabrous (20), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (9), or pilose (13), or hirsute (1), or villous (48); hairy on back (56/68), or on veins (9/68), or between veins (1/68), or between veins but central interspaces glabrous (1/68), or in lines (1/68); with simple hairs (66/68), or clavate hairs (2/68). Lemma margins eciliate (74), or ciliate (10). Lemma apex entire (11), or erose (1), or dentate (11), or lobed (62); 2 -fid (70/73), or 3 -fid (3/73); incised 0.1-0.3329-0.5 of lemma length; truncate (6/23), or obtuse (3/23), or acute (10/23), or acuminate (4/23); muticous (14), or awned (69); 1 -awned (1/69), or 3 -awned (68/69), or 4-5 -awned (1/69). Principal lemma awn from a sinus (69/69); straight (2/69), or curved (1/69), or geniculate (66/69). Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal (67/67). Palea 0.8-0.9875-1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined (13/13). Palea keels separated (79), or approximate (3); eciliate (78), or puberulous (3), or ciliate (1). Palea surface glabrous (54), or pubescent (26), or pilose (3), or villous (7). Palea apex dentate (2/2); muticous (80), or with excurrent keel veins (1), or awned (1).
Lodicules 2 (80/80); fleshy (66/66); glabrous (78/80), or ciliate (3/80). Anthers 3 (75/75). Ovary glabrous (1/2), or pubescent on apex (1/2).
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (68/78), or free brittle pericarp (10/78); fusiform (3/4), or orbicular (1/4); isodiametric (1/1).
Africa (81), or Temperate Asia (1), or Australasia (2), or Antarctica (1).
Inflorescence a panicle, open or contracted to spiciform.
Spikelets 2-flowered with rhachilla extended as a minute bristle; glumes subequal, as long as the spikelet; floret callus short, obtuse; lemmas dorsally rounded, finely 5–9(11)-nerved, pilose on the back, 2-lobed at the apex, awned from the sinus and also with a fine straight bristle from the inner side of each lobe, rarely awnless; palea about as long as the body of the lemma, the keels glabrous, wingless.


text:
A spark of hope in predicting bushfire behaviour
By Mary-Lou ConsidineDecember 15th, 2016
The pressure is on to predict where bushfires will start, how fast they'll spread and which path they'll take. CSIRO's 'Spark' simulation toolkit could be a game-changer.
Spark has the potential to be used operationally for real-time fire spread modelling of bushfires.
A lightning strike, an arsonist, a planned burn that gets out of control, a few sparks from farm machinery. We know how a bushfire can start—but there's no telling where and when it will start.
Even when we've detected a bushfire, on the ground or by satellite, there's no guarantee what path it will take.
Conventional bushfire modelling tells us it will slow as it travels down a slope, and that it will burn at a particular rate in eucalypt forest or grassland.
But what if the fuel type or the terrain changes, or the wind speeds up or shifts direction? What if the fire leaps into the treetops and starts 'crowning, or a burning tree falls across a road or a creek and establishes a new fire? What about spot fires ignited by embers spat out kilometres ahead of the fire front?
Dealing with the unpredictable has always been a challenge for Australia's state and territory bushfire agencies.
And thanks to climate change, their job just got harder. In southern Australia, the fire season is now longer, extending from October to March, and much of the country has become drier and hotter in recent decades.
More than ever, the pressure is on to better predict where, and how fast, bushfires will start and spread.
To deal with the unpredictability and scale of bushfire in Australia, fire analysts at the NSW Rural Fire Service and its counterparts in other states have been investing more time, effort and resources in the relatively new science of bushfire-behaviour analysis.
Where once they predicted fires using manual calculations based on mathematical fire-behaviour models, fire analysts are now exploring the use of computerised simulation systems, made possible by huge leaps in computing power and some very large datasets, especially the real-time, detailed weather data provided by the Bureau of Meteorology.
With established fire-behaviour models at their heart, computer-based simulators enable experienced analysts to run multiple 'what-if' scenarios on their desktop to map out a fire's many possible paths and rates of spread.
It's the sort of real-time information needed by state fire services to decide where local bushfire risk is highest, where fire-fighting resources should be directed once a fire has taken hold, and along which routes people can be safely evacuated.
Spark – a game-changer?
For Stuart Matthews, Senior Fire Behaviour Analyst with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS), running hundreds or even thousands of what-if simulations in parallel—a feature known as 'ensemble analysis'—and being able to see the results within seconds, is the main attraction of CSIRO's new fire-simulation package, known as Spark.
Spark can utilise a variey of data to model the spread of a fire based on specific location and current environmental conditions.
When conditions are uncertain, Stuart explains, one simulation is not enough. But being able to instantly see maps and data showing all possible combinations of wind, temperature, fuel, terrain, fire-breaks and humidity is potentially a game-changer.
Spark is not the first simulator being considered by the NSW RFS—they are already using Phoenix RapidFire, a system developed in Victoria. However, they see value in considering more than one simulator, a practice that is common in weather forecasting.
Plugging in to Spark
Stuart Matthews is awaiting the outcome of the Bureau of Meteorology's evaluation of the four main fire simulators in use across Australia:
Aurora-Australis (WA)
Prometheus (developed in Canada, now also used in Tasmania and NZ)
Spark.
And, while the NSW RFS is not planning to use Spark this fire season, says Stuart Matthews, he can see its potential advantages.
One advantage is that Spark is designed as a framework of plug-in modules that can be easily configured for different users, landscape types and applications such as planning controlled burns, real-time fire response operations, and evacuation planning. Any bushfire spread model can be added to Spark which means that, as new fire models come along, the older parts of the system can simply be replaced.
Spark takes current knowledge of fire behaviour and combines it with state-of-the-art simulation science to predict bushfire spread.
"Fire researchers targeting a particular aspect of fire behaviour, say, a new spotting model, will be able to put it in to see if it works," says Matthews.
"And, because it's been built to be easily reconfigured, you can do a lot of things, including prescribed burning as well as normal operational wildfire prediction.
"You can also do risk-planning studies – you could do a simulation with a proposed fuel treatment, or changes to how a development is laid out. What effects do those changes have on a fire, and on the risk to those assets?
"It's not just that you can configure the model—it's also quite omnivorous. You can feed all types of different inputs into it, and you get outputs in a variety of formats, which is really useful for us as we move towards doing ensemble simulations rather than just doing single incident runs."
Assessing risk is paying dividends
Spark project manager Dr Mahesh Prakash is looking forward to running a second Spark workshop in February 2017 aimed at risk-assessment consultants and other potential commercial users.
Eco Logical Australia is already using Spark to assess risk for the Australian Government Department of Defence and for parks agencies. Spark is helping them work out when and where the risk of bushfire might be too high for bushwalkers or military personnel, and the best routes for safely evacuating a fire-threatened area.
"Every year in Australia, bushfires and other natural hazards cause loss of life along with billions of dollars worth of property, livestock and environmental damage," says Dr Prakash.
"If risk assessment consultants can use Spark to pre-emptively save lives or reduce property losses, the product will be paying dividends."
Wetlands reborn a reward in sustainability
Homeward Bound takes off
eKnight
very well written-good research
Eric Gunderson
Interesting, but fire is so unpredictable I wonder how well it works. Clearly it is designed to provide that predictability. Will be interested in real world experience. Wonder if the States are looking for similar solutions?
Julie Newman
Wonderful to see that they are utilising technology to help predict fires. Will save lives, livestock and infrastructure. Great article. Hope more of these type of articles in the future.
Three practical ways to support Indigenous landscape burning in Australia
How can we support cross-cultural Indigenous fire partnerships to manage Australia's landscape?
Building a one-stop-shop for all our energy data needs
Australians go through more than 6,000 petajoules of energy every year to keep everything from their phones to their factories running. It's a nice number for pub trivia, but if you're a policy maker, researcher, or investor in our nation's future energy demands, you'll need something better than a back-of-the-envelope calculation. CSIRO's Energy Use Data Model could soon come in handy.
What Wye River can teach us about building for bushfires
The devastating bushfire that tore through Wye River in 2015 has shown us that resilience to bushfires is about more than just building regulations.


This past Monday I was lucky enough to be invited and attend a VIP listening party for Woodkid's debut album Golden Age. The album is set for worldwide release next month, and for anyone who has been following Yoann Lemoine's career, you've been hanging on with eager anticipation of what's to come.
The venue: Soho House in West Hollywood. The room: a throw back to a Hollywood producer's cigar and whiskey lounge. Plush red chairs, very low lighting, and (no joke) blankets were provided.
With only 50 people in attendance, all industry folk, tastemakers, and the very shy Yoann himself (how did I get in? that is a great question), everyone was ready to be invited into Woodkid's cinematic world.
What I can tell you is that there are some definite "hits" (if you can call them that) on the Golden Age. The reason I say "hits" is because Woodkid is anything but traditional. As he explained during his Q&A, he calls his music "pop" but what he creates is on a completely different playing field.
He surrounds himself with contemporary beat makers, electro-artists, and pals such as Sebastian, The Shoes, and basically the whole Ed Banger crew. But his music does not reflect any of their sounds. When I asked him how he managed to take a completely different path than his mates, he simply explained, "I am extremely influenced by them all. I am not a classically trained virtuoso. Woodkid is completely programmed and digital." When you listen to the orchestral arrangements encompassed in his work you can't imagine that he is a machine. This notion threw me for a loop, and I began to question- what is my reality and what is his?
Perhaps, at the end of the day, this is exactly what he intended for us to feel all along. Kudos my friend. Very well played.
PS. Post screening I managed to crash a party hosted by the band Fun. Thanks for the specialty drinks dudes.


Aircraft cabin design research to improve the in-flight sleep of long haul economy passengers.
Repose is an aircraft cabin concept design to improve sleep for economy class passengers on long-haul flights. The design resulted from a practice-based PhD design research project and stood apart from existing solutions in that sleep improvement interventions are provided from the design of the aircraft cabin environment instead of the design of the seats.
Passengers on a long haul flight want to sleep, however, sleep remains elusive for most people. As a result, discomfort and poor sleep health became common associations with air travel, especially for economy class passengers. Previous attempts in passenger sleep improvement were overwhelmingly seat-centric and as such demanded more resources and often increased the cost to the passenger. As a result, on an aircraft, quality sleep has become a privilege for a few instead of a basic need that is met for all passengers.


Are you passionate about HIV/AIDS, public health, and making a difference?
AIDS United is looking for candidates who want to make a difference! Candidates should have strong research, writing, and organizational skills. Our Fellows must be able to work independently in a fast-paced environment. Some familiarity with HIV-related issues and the legislative processes is preferred.
People living with or affected by HIV, and/or from communities disproportionately affected by HIV are strongly encouraged to apply.


I made this for Christmas last yea for a friend and cannot remember the font that is use for the words Wine and Laugh. Thanks for any assistance.
Calligraphic font search or hand made?
Some more information might help get an answer. Where did this appear? Do you have any other samples?
Good idea. Certainly has the same structure. Either lettering or another font in same vein.