text:
<?php

// Protection against direct access
defined('AKEEBAENGINE') or die();

abstract class AEAbstractDump extends AEAbstractPart
{
	// **********************************************************************
	// Configuration parameters
	// **********************************************************************

	/** @var string Prefix to this database */
	protected $prefix = '';

	/** @var string MySQL database server host name or IP address */
	protected $host = '';

	/** @var string MySQL database server port (optional) */
	protected $port = '';

	/** @var string MySQL user name, for authentication */
	protected $username = '';

	/** @var string MySQL password, for authentication */
	protected $password = '';

	/** @var string MySQL database */
	protected $database = '';

	/** @var string The database driver to use */
	protected $driver = '';

	/** @var boolean Should I post process quoted values */
	protected $postProcessValues = false;

	// **********************************************************************
	// File handling fields
	// **********************************************************************

	/** @var string Absolute path to dump file; must be writable (optional; if left blank it is automatically calculated) */
	protected $dumpFile = '';

	/** @var string Data cache, used to cache data before being written to disk */
	protected $data_cache = '';

	/** @var int Size of the data cache, default 128Kb */
	protected $cache_size = 131072;

	/** @var bool Should I process empty prefixes when creating abstracted names? */
	protected $processEmptyPrefix = true;

	/** @var int Current dump file part number */
	public $partNumber = 0;

	/** @var resource Filepointer to the current dump part */
	private $fp = null;

	/** @var string Absolute path to the temp file */
	protected $tempFile = '';

	/** @var string Relative path of how the file should be saved in the archive */
	protected $saveAsName = '';

	// **********************************************************************
	// Protected fields (data handling)
	// **********************************************************************

	/** @var array Contains the sorted (by dependencies) list of tables/views to backup */
	protected $tables = array();

	/** @var array Contains the configuration data of the tables */
	protected $tables_data = array();

	/** @var array Maps database table names to their abstracted format */
	protected $table_name_map = array();

	/** @var array Contains the dependencies of tables and views (temporary) */
	protected $dependencies = array();

	/** @var string The next table to backup */
	protected $nextTable;

	/** @var integer The next row of the table to start backing up from */
	protected $nextRange;

	/** @var integer Current table's row count */
	protected $maxRange;

	/** @var bool Use extended INSERTs */
	protected $extendedInserts = false;

	/** @var integer Maximum packet size for extended INSERTs, in bytes */
	protected $packetSize = 0;

	/** @var string Extended INSERT query, while it's being constructed */
	protected $query = '';

	/** @var int Dump part's maximum size */
	protected $partSize = 0;

	/**
	 * Find where to store the backup files
	 * @param $partNumber int The SQL part number, default is 0 (.sql)
	 */
	protected function getBackupFilePaths( $partNumber = 0 )
	{
		AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, __CLASS__." :: Getting temporary file");
		$this->tempFile = AEUtilTempfiles::registerTempFile( dechex(crc32(microtime())).'.sql' );
		AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, __CLASS__." :: Temporary file is {$this->tempFile}");
		// Get the base name of the dump file
		$partNumber = intval($partNumber);
		$baseName = $this->dumpFile;
		if($partNumber > 0)
		{
			// The file names are in the format dbname.sql, dbname.s01, dbname.s02, etc
			if( strtolower(substr($baseName, -4)) == '.sql' )
			{
				$baseName = substr($baseName, 0, -4).'.s'.sprintf('%02u', $partNumber);
			}
			else
			{
				$baseName = $baseName.'.s'.sprintf('%02u', $partNumber);
			}
		}

		if(empty($this->installerSettings)) {
			// Fetch the installer settings
			$this->installerSettings = (object)array(
				'installerroot' => 'installation',
				'sqlroot'		=> 'installation/sql',
				'databasesini'	=> 1,
				'readme'		=> 1,
				'extrainfo'		=> 1
			);
			$config = AEFactory::getConfiguration();
			$installerKey = $config->get('akeeba.advanced.embedded_installer');
			$installerDescriptors = AEUtilInihelper::getInstallerList();
			if(array_key_exists($installerKey, $installerDescriptors)) {
				// The selected installer exists, use it
				$this->installerSettings = (object)$installerDescriptors[$installerKey];
			} elseif(array_key_exists('abi', $installerDescriptors)) {
				// The selected installer doesn't exist, but ABI exists; use that instead
				$this->installerSettings = (object)$installerDescriptors['abi'];
			}
		}

		switch(AEUtilScripting::getScriptingParameter('db.saveasname','normal'))
		{
			case 'output':
				// The SQL file will be stored uncompressed in the output directory
				$statistics = AEFactory::getStatistics();
				$statRecord = $statistics->getRecord();
				$this->saveAsName = $statRecord['absolute_path'];
				break;

			case 'normal':
				// The SQL file will be stored in the SQL root of the archive, as
				// specified by the particular embedded installer's settings
				$this->saveAsName = $this->installerSettings->sqlroot.'/'.$baseName;
				break;

			case 'short':
				// The SQL file will be stored on archive's root
				$this->saveAsName = $baseName;
				break;
		}

		if($partNumber > 0)
		{
			AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "AkeebaDomainDBBackup :: Creating new SQL dump part #$partNumber");
		}
		AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "AkeebaDomainDBBackup :: SQL temp file is " . $this->tempFile);
		AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "AkeebaDomainDBBackup :: SQL file location in archive is " . $this->saveAsName);
	}

	/**
	 * Deletes any leftover files from previous backup attempts
	 *
	 */
	protected function removeOldFiles()
	{
		AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "AkeebaDomainDBBackup :: Deleting leftover files, if any");
		if( file_exists( $this->tempFile ) ) @unlink( $this->tempFile );
	}

	/**
	 * Populates the table arrays with the information for the db entities to backup
	 *
	 * @return null
	 */
	protected abstract function getTablesToBackup();

	/**
	 * Runs a step of the database dump
	 *
	 * @return null
	 */
	protected abstract function stepDatabaseDump();

	/**
	 * Implements the _prepare abstract method
	 *
	 */
	protected function _prepare()
	{
		// Process parameters, passed to us using the setup() public method
		AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, __CLASS__." :: Processing parameters");
		if( is_array($this->_parametersArray) ) {
			$this->driver = array_key_exists('driver', $this->_parametersArray) ? $this->_parametersArray['driver'] : $this->driver;
			$this->host = array_key_exists('host', $this->_parametersArray) ? $this->_parametersArray['host'] : $this->host;
			$this->port = array_key_exists('port', $this->_parametersArray) ? $this->_parametersArray['port'] : $this->port;
			$this->username = array_key_exists('username', $this->_parametersArray) ? $this->_parametersArray['username'] : $this->username;
			$this->username = array_key_exists('user', $this->_parametersArray) ? $this->_parametersArray['user'] : $this->username;
			$this->password = array_key_exists('password', $this->_parametersArray) ? $this->_parametersArray['password'] : $this->password;
			$this->database = array_key_exists('database', $this->_parametersArray) ? $this->_parametersArray['database'] : $this->database;
			$this->prefix = array_key_exists('prefix', $this->_parametersArray) ? $this->_parametersArray['prefix'] : $this->prefix;
			$this->dumpFile = array_key_exists('dumpFile', $this->_parametersArray) ? $this->_parametersArray['dumpFile'] : $this->dumpFile;
			$this->processEmptyPrefix = array_key_exists('process_empty_prefix', $this->_parametersArray) ? $this->_parametersArray['process_empty_prefix'] : $this->processEmptyPrefix;
		}

		// Make sure we have self-assigned the first part
		$this->partNumber = 0;

		// Get DB backup only mode
		$configuration = AEFactory::getConfiguration();

		// Find tables to be included and put them in the $_tables variable
		$this->getTablesToBackup();
		if($this->getError()) return;

		// Find where to store the database backup files
		$this->getBackupFilePaths($this->partNumber);

		// Remove any leftovers
		$this->removeOldFiles();

		// Initialize the extended INSERTs feature
		$this->extendedInserts = ($configuration->get('engine.dump.common.extended_inserts', 0) != 0);
		$this->packetSize = $configuration->get('engine.dump.common.packet_size', 0);
		if( $this->packetSize == 0 ) $this->extendedInserts = false;

		// Initialize the split dump feature
		$this->partSize = $configuration->get('engine.dump.common.splitsize', 1048756);
		if( AEUtilScripting::getScriptingParameter('db.saveasname','normal') == 'output' )
		{
			$this->partSize = 0;
		}
		if( ($this->partSize != 0) && ($this->packetSize != 0) && ($this->packetSize > $this->partSize) )
		{
			$this->packetSize = $this->partSize / 2;
		}

		// Initialize the algorithm
		AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, __CLASS__." :: Initializing algorithm for first run");
		$this->nextTable = array_shift( $this->tables );
		$this->nextRange = 0;
		$this->query = '';

		// FIX 2.2: First table of extra databases was not being written to disk.
		// This deserved a place in the Bug Fix Hall Of Fame. In subsequent calls to _init, the $fp in
		// _writeline() was not nullified. Therefore, the first dump chunk (that is, the first table's
		// definition and first chunk of its data) were not written to disk. This call causes $fp to be
		// nullified, causing it to be recreated, pointing to the correct file. Holly crap, it took me
		// half an hour to get it!
		$null = null;
		$this->writeline($null);

		// Finally, mark ourselves "prepared".
		$this->setState('prepared');
	}

	/**
	 * Implements the _run() abstract method
	 */
	protected function _run()
	{
		// Check if we are already done
		if ($this->getState() == 'postrun') {
			AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, __CLASS__." :: Already finished");
			$this->setStep("");
			$this->setSubstep("");
			return;
		}

		// Mark ourselves as still running (we will test if we actually do towards the end ;) )
		$this->setState('running');

		// Check if we are still adding a database dump part to the archive, or if
		// we have to post-process a part
		if( AEUtilScripting::getScriptingParameter('db.saveasname','normal') != 'output' )
		{
			$archiver = AEFactory::getArchiverEngine();
			$configuration = AEFactory::getConfiguration();

			if($configuration->get('engine.postproc.common.after_part',0))
			{
				if(!empty($archiver->finishedPart))
				{
					$filename = array_shift($archiver->finishedPart);
					AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_INFO, 'Preparing to post process '.basename($filename));
					$post_proc = AEFactory::getPostprocEngine();
					$result = $post_proc->processPart( $filename );
					$this->propagateFromObject($post_proc);

					if($result === false)
					{
						$this->setWarning('Failed to process file '.basename($filename));
					}
					else
					{
						AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_INFO, 'Successfully processed file '.basename($filename));
					}

					// Should we delete the file afterwards?
					if(
						$configuration->get('engine.postproc.common.delete_after',false)
						&& $post_proc->allow_deletes
						&& ($result !== false)
					)
					{
						AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, 'Deleting already processed file '.basename($filename));
						AEPlatform::getInstance()->unlink($filename);
					}

					if($post_proc->break_after) {
						$configuration->set('volatile.breakflag', true);
						return;
					}
				}
			}

			if($configuration->get('volatile.engine.archiver.processingfile',false))
			{
				// We had already started archiving the db file, but it needs more time
				$finished = true;
				AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "Continuing adding the SQL dump part to the archive");
				$archiver->addFile(null,null,null);
				$this->propagateFromObject($archiver);
				if($this->getError()) return;
				$finished = !$configuration->get('volatile.engine.archiver.processingfile',false);
				if($finished)
				{
					$this->getNextDumpPart();
				}
				else
				{
					return;
				}
			}
		}

		$this->stepDatabaseDump();

		$null = null;
		$this->writeline($null);
	}

	/**
	 * Implements the _finalize() abstract method
	 *
	 */
	protected function _finalize()
	{
		static $addedExtraSQL = false;

		// This makes sure that we don't re-add the extra SQL if the archiver needed more time
		// to include our file in the archive...
		if(!$addedExtraSQL)
		{
			AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "Adding any extra SQL statements imposed by the filters");
			$filters = AEFactory::getFilters();
			$this->writeline( $filters->getExtraSQL($this->databaseRoot) );
		}

		// Close the file pointer (otherwise the SQL file is left behind)
		$this->closeFile();

		// If we are not just doing a main db only backup, add the SQL file to the archive
		$finished = true;
		$configuration = AEFactory::getConfiguration();
		if( AEUtilScripting::getScriptingParameter('db.saveasname','normal') != 'output' )
		{
			$archiver = AEFactory::getArchiverEngine();
			$configuration = AEFactory::getConfiguration();

			if( $configuration->get('volatile.engine.archiver.processingfile',false) )
			{
				// We had already started archiving the db file, but it needs more time
				AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "Continuing adding the SQL dump to the archive");
				$archiver->addFile(null,null,null);
				if($this->getError()) return;
				$finished = !$configuration->get('volatile.engine.archiver.processingfile',false);
			}
			else
			{
				// We have to add the dump file to the archive
				AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "Adding the final SQL dump to the archive");
				$archiver->addFileRenamed( $this->tempFile, $this->saveAsName );
				if($this->getError()) return;
				$finished = !$configuration->get('volatile.engine.archiver.processingfile',false);
			}
		}
		else
		{
			// We just have to move the dump file to its final destination
			AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "Moving the SQL dump to its final location");
			$result = AEPlatform::getInstance()->move( $this->tempFile, $this->saveAsName );
			if(!$result)
			{
				$this->setError('Could not move the SQL dump to its final location');
			}
		}

		// Make sure that if the archiver needs more time to process the file we can supply it
		if($finished)
		{
			AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "Removing temporary file of final SQL dump");
			AEUtilTempfiles::unregisterAndDeleteTempFile( $this->tempFile, true );
			if($this->getError()) return;

			$this->setState('finished');
		}
	}

/**
	 * Creates a new dump part
	 */
	protected function getNextDumpPart()
	{

		// On database dump only mode we mustn't create part files!
		if( AEUtilScripting::getScriptingParameter('db.saveasname','normal') == 'output' ) return false;

		// If the archiver is still processing, quit
		$finished = true;
		$configuration = AEFactory::getConfiguration();
		$archiver = AEFactory::getArchiverEngine();
		if( $configuration->get('volatile.engine.archiver.processingfile',false) ) return false;

		// We have to add the dump file to the archive
		$this->closeFile();
		AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "Adding the SQL dump part to the archive");
		$archiver->addFileRenamed( $this->tempFile, $this->saveAsName );
		if($this->getError()) return false;
		$finished = !$configuration->get('volatile.engine.archiver.processingfile',false);
		if(!$finished) return false; // Return if the file didn't finish getting added to the archive

		// Remove the old file
		AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "Removing dump part's temporary file");
		AEUtilTempfiles::unregisterAndDeleteTempFile( $this->tempFile, true );

		// Create the new dump part
		$this->partNumber++;
		$this->getBackupFilePaths($this->partNumber);
		$null = null;
		$this->writeline($null);
		return true;
	}

	/**
	 * Creates a new dump part, but only if required to do so
	 *
	 * @return type
	 */
	protected function createNewPartIfRequired()
	{
		if( $this->partSize == 0 ) return true;
		$filesize = 0;
		if(@file_exists($this->tempFile)) $filesize = @filesize($this->tempFile);
		if( $this->extendedInserts )
		{
			$projectedSize = $filesize + $this->packetSize;
		}
		else
		{
			$projectedSize = $filesize + strlen($this->query);
		}
		if( $projectedSize > $this->partSize )
		{
			return $this->getNextDumpPart();
		}
		return true;
	}

	/**
	 * Returns a table's abstract name (replacing the prefix with the magic #__ string)
	 *
	 * @param string $tableName The canonical name, e.g. 'jos_content'
	 * @return string The abstract name, e.g. '#__content'
	 */
	protected function getAbstract( $tableName )
	{
		// Don't return abstract names for non-CMS tables
		if(is_null($this->prefix)) return $tableName;

		switch( $this->prefix )
		{
			case '':
				if($this->processEmptyPrefix)
				{
					// This is more of a hack; it assumes all tables are core CMS tables if the prefix is empty.
					return '#__' . $tableName;
				}
				else
				{
					// If $this->processEmptyPrefix (the process_empty_prefix config flag) is false, we don't
					// assume anything.
					return $tableName;
				}
				break;

			default:
				// Normal behaviour for 99% of sites
				// Fix 2.4 : Abstracting the prefix only if it's found in the beginning of the table name
				$tableAbstract = $tableName;
				if(!empty($this->prefix)) {
					if( substr($tableName, 0, strlen($this->prefix)) == $this->prefix ) {
						$tableAbstract = '#__' . substr($tableName, strlen($this->prefix));
					} else {
						// FIX 2.4: If there is no prefix, it's a non-Joomla! table.
						$tableAbstract = $tableName;
					}
				}

				return $tableAbstract;
				break;
		}
	}

	/**
	 * Writes the SQL dump into the output files. If it fails, it sets the error
	 *
	 * @param string $data Data to write to the dump file. Pass NULL to force flushing to file.
	 * @return boolean TRUE on successful write, FALSE otherwise
	 */
	protected function writeDump( &$data )
	{
		if(!empty($data)) $this->data_cache .= $data;
		if( (strlen($this->data_cache) >= $this->cache_size) || (is_null($data) && (!empty($this->data_cache)) ) )
		{
			AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "Writing ".strlen($this->data_cache)." bytes to the dump file");
			$result = $this->writeline( $this->data_cache );
			if( !$result )
			{
				$errorMessage = 'Couldn\'t write to the SQL dump file ' . $this->tempFile . '; check the temporary directory permissions and make sure you have enough disk space available.';
				$this->setError($errorMessage);
				return false;
			}
			$this->data_cache = '';
		}

		return true;
	}

	/**
	 * Saves the string in $fileData to the file $backupfile. Returns TRUE. If saving
	 * failed, return value is FALSE.
	 * @param string $fileData Data to write. Set to null to close the file handle.
	 * @return boolean TRUE is saving to the file succeeded
	 */
	protected function writeline(&$fileData) {
		if(!is_resource($this->fp))
		{
			$this->fp = @fopen($this->tempFile, 'a');
			if($this->fp === false)
			{
				$this->setError('Could not open '.$this->tempFile.' for append, in DB dump.');
				return;
			}
		}

		if(is_null($fileData))
		{
			if(is_resource($this->fp)) @fclose($this->fp);
			$this->fp = null;
			return true;
		}
		else
		{
			if ($this->fp) {
				$ret = fwrite($this->fp, $fileData);
				@clearstatcache();
				// Make sure that all data was written to disk
				return ($ret == strlen($fileData));
			} else {
				return false;
			}
		}
	}

	function _onSerialize()
	{
		$this->closeFile();
	}

	function __destruct()
	{
		$this->closeFile();
	}

	public function closeFile()
	{
		AEUtilLogger::WriteLog(_AE_LOG_DEBUG, "Closing SQL dump file.");
		if (is_resource($this->fp))
		{
			@fclose($this->fp);
			$this->fp = null;
		}
	}

	/**
	 * Return an instance of AEAbstractDriver
	 *
	 * @return AEAbstractDriver
	 */
	protected function &getDB()
	{
		$host = $this->host . ($this->port != '' ? ':' . $this->port : '');
		$user = $this->username;
		$password =  $this->password;
		$driver = $this->driver;
		$database	= $this->database;
		$prefix 	= is_null($this->prefix) ? '' : $this->prefix;
		$options	= array ( 'driver' => $driver, 'host' => $host, 'user' => $user, 'password' => $password, 'database' => $database, 'prefix' => $prefix );

		$db = AEFactory::getDatabase($options);

		if( $error = $db->getError() )
		{
			$this->setError(__CLASS__.' :: Database Error: '.$error);
			$false = false;
			return $false;
		}

		if( $db->getErrorNum() > 0 )
		{
			$error = $db->getErrorMsg();
			$this->setError(__CLASS__.' :: Database Error: '.$error);
			$false = false;
			return $false;
		}

		return $db;
	}

	public function callStage($stage)
	{
		switch($stage) {
			case '_prepare':
				return $this->_prepare();
				break;

			case '_run':
				return $this->_run();
				break;

			case '_finalize':
				return $this->_finalize();
				break;
		}
	}

	/**
	 * Post process a quoted value before it's written to the database dump.
	 * So far it's only required for SQL Server which has a problem escaping
	 * newline characters...
	 *
	 * @param   string  $value  The quoted value to post-process
	 *
	 * @return  string
	 */
	protected function postProcessQuotedValue($value)
	{
		return $value;
	}

	/**
	 * Returns a preamble for the data dump portion of the SQL backup. This is
	 * used to output commands before the first INSERT INTO statement for a
	 * table when outputting a plain SQL file.
	 *
	 * Practical use: the SET IDENTITY_INSERT sometable ON required for SQL Server
	 *
	 * @param   string   $tableAbstract  Abstract name of the table, e.g. #__foobar
	 * @param   string   $tableName      Real name of the table, e.g. abc_foobar
	 * @param   integer  $maxRange       Row count on this table
	 *
	 * @return  string   The SQL commands you want to be written in the dump file
	 */
	protected function getDataDumpPreamble($tableAbstract, $tableName, $maxRange)
	{
		return '';
	}

	/**
	 * Returns an epilogue for the data dump portion of the SQL backup. This is
	 * used to output commands after the last INSERT INTO statement for a
	 * table when outputting a plain SQL file.
	 *
	 * Practical use: the SET IDENTITY_INSERT sometable OFF required for SQL Server
	 *
	 * @param   string   $tableAbstract  Abstract name of the table, e.g. #__foobar
	 * @param   string   $tableName      Real name of the table, e.g. abc_foobar
	 * @param   integer  $maxRange       Row count on this table
	 *
	 * @return  string   The SQL commands you want to be written in the dump file
	 */
	protected function getDataDumpEpilogue($tableAbstract, $tableName, $maxRange)
	{
		return '';
	}

	/**
	 * Return a list of field names for the INSERT INTO statements. This is only
	 * required for Microsoft SQL Server because without it the SET IDENTITY_INSERT
	 * has no effect.
	 *
	 * @param   array    $fieldNames   A list of field names in array format
	 * @param   integer  $numOfFields  The number of fields we should be dumping
	 *
	 * @return  string
	 */
	protected function getFieldListSQL($fieldNames, $numOfFields)
	{
		return '';
	}
}


Man, I wanna do exactly what you're doing! But I simply can't, it always show me an error on the machine that will stream.
It says "Option re(read input at native frame rate) cannot be applied to output url http://192.168.10.7 — you are trying to apply an input option to an output file or vice versa. Move this option before the file it belongs to.
Thanks! For those looking for code examples, just read his screen. That's all you need.
Thanks for the video… do you have some sample code or a tutorial on how to set this up ?
how do you set up ur rtp url?


The patient had noticed increasing swelling at the angle of his jaw on the left side over many months. There was no pain or tenderness. He only sought medical attention when his partner became alarmed and insisted that he saw a doctor. Following clinical examination he underwent a CT scan and subsequently had resection of the tumour followed by irradiation of the parotid region.
A slice across the parotid gland reveals a well circumscribed tumour composed of white 'glassy' - possibly cartilaginous, tissue together with some apparently mucinous areas. There is a narrow rim of salivary tissue around the tumour.


Cacow | Green Flash Brewing Co. Cacow – Green Flash Brewing Co.
Inspired by the flavors found in chocolate milk, our Virginia Beach Genius Lab team set out to brew a luscious, creamy Milk Stout. We added lactose to this brew to create this distinctly opulent new beer. Layers of chocolate and Munich malts add roasty sweetness. CaCow's dark, full-bodied liquid offers thick foam and lacing that lingers. Toasty and decadent notes of coffee unfold, offering sweet flavors of nostalgic chocolate milk perfection.


This week marks the 140th anniversary of the completion of the nation's first transcontinental railroad, the Union Pacific-Central Pacific, which famously linked up at Promontory Point, Utah on May 10, 1869 with the driving of the ceremonial golden spike. During the late 19th century, a total of five transcontinental lines were constructed to the West Coast, an amazing feat for the time period.
Most Americans have heard the story of these astonishing engineering exploits but not the real truth behind it. It is a tale of the utter failure of government subsidization of business but also the roaring success of unfettered capitalism, a part of the saga often ignored in history textbooks.
The first discussion of a transcontinental railroad began soon after the United States acquired California, during the Mexican War of 1846-1848. But with the ongoing struggle between North and South, a fight over constitutional principles as much as slavery, neither side could agree on anything concerning funding for a rail line or a path for its construction. However, with the secession of the conservative South, the federal government began financing a railway to the West Coast with passage of the Pacific Railroad Act in 1862.
To construct the first four lines, the government provided hundreds of millions of dollars in loans and freely granted over 150 million acres of land, an area nearly as large as the state of Texas, to various railroad corporations. Many historians and authors, including those charged with writing textbooks for college students, heap praise on the government's role in providing the necessary capital for these Herculean endeavors.
And finally, in a two-volume work, The Growth of the American Republic, authors Samuel Eliot Morison and Henry Steele Commager make a similar contention. Of the transcontinental lines the authors write: "Certainly very few of the western railroads could have been built by private capital alone without the generous aid from federal, state, and local governments." This was possible because Washington took a new view of the Constitution, "having abandoned the embarrassing strict construction theories that bothered an earlier generation." Such an assertion should come as no surprise, for the bias within this particular book should be readily apparent. Upon examining this work, one finds that a portrait of FDR graces the opening pages, which remains in later versions published years after the president's death in 1945.
However, each of these statements might possess a certain degree of truth, if it were not for the impressive accomplishment of railroad titan James J. Hill. Hill built the fifth and final transcontinental line of the 19th century, the Great Northern, which ran from St. Paul, Minnesota to Seattle, Washington. Though it took longer, he constructed his line without any government aid whatsoever. None of these works discuss Hill, or his achievement, in any degree of detail.
To get his railroad constructed, Hill decided to develop the frontier as he went along. He transported settlers and supplied them with grain, seed, and livestock, all to help them get started and to set the stage for the development of a capitalist economy in the west.
Unlike the other lines, Hill chose the most economical routes, insisted on using only the very finest steel rails, not the cheaper iron, as well as the best timbers. His work was slower, but also less costly and much more efficient, for it was his money he was using, not someone else's. It is for these reasons that his company survived every panic and depression, while the other lines all went bankrupt, a fact that many historians never bother to inform their students or readers. In fact, many textbooks never mention Hill at all.
However, there are historians and economists who will tell the absolute truth about Hill and his Great Northern. In addition to Folsom, Professor Thomas J. DiLorenzo, in his book How Capitalism Saved America, discusses the transcontinental lines in great detail, pointing out that not only did all the lines but Hill's go bankrupt, most of them were rife with corruption, culminating in the Credit Mobilier scandal during Grant's administration. These corrupt railroad corporations were actually bribing members of Congress to keep the government off their backs and continue the subsidies, giving out passes to ride the lines free of charge as well as company stock. Dozens of members of Congress, as well as Grant's vice president, were tangled up in the scam.
Today, we find ourselves in a serious economic predicament, to which the government has chosen to heavily regulate the economy, engaging in everything from bailing out corporations to taking over businesses and banks. And with the new massive growth of government has also come new allegations of corruption. History teaches us that such massive government undertakings will always end up as a corrupt disaster. The building of the five 19th century transcontinental railroads provides ample proof that government intervention into the economy will eventually fail and the only success is pure, unbridled capitalism.


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It was the worst fortune cookie ever. I broke it open after a Thai meal and read the message: "The fortune you seek is in another cookie." Not quite what I expected.
But, as I thought about it, the truth was there.
Perhaps you have looked in the wrong place, worked for the wrong company, bet on the wrong team, joined with the wrong friends, invested in the wrong education. You were looking for something special – and probably thought you had found it at the time – only to realize later that the fortune you sought was in another cookie.
The Bible is realistic about this. The enigmatic Nicodemus of John 3 appears to be searching for meaning. He comes to Jesus "by night," which is also a creative way to say he's "in the dark." He's successful, influential and important. Yet, like the Pharisees in Luke 17, he's looking for something more.
The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed, nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among [or within] you" (Luke 17:20-21).
The fortune they sought was in another cookie.
Ecclesiastes, too, speaks openly of how easily we can be misled. Early on, the teacher speaks in parody as a king who purchased, built, pursued and exploited virtually everything one could imagine. To his early audience, much of what he conveyed would have been familiar. Yet, this imaginary king declared all he had accomplished, owned and attempted to enjoy as mere "vanity" – nothing but a mist, an ephemeral fog that quickly drifts away.
The reality, of course, is that there are no free lunches. The Bible is clear about this, too.
The corporate world is no better. Like the landowners in Jesus' parables, corporations generally don't care about us. They manipulate and exploit us, use us until we are used up and even get rid of us before we can take advantage of the fine retirement plan we expected. We can ask, when will the kingdom of God come? When will we find our meaning, realize our hopes or capture our dreams? Or is the fortune we seek in another cookie?
Image is everything, they say. How we present ourselves, what we drive, where we live, who we associate with and how much money we make are the measuring rods of personal success. The people and images we understand to be signs of success and people of repute stand before us in all their wealth and prestige, telling us life is full and rich and meaningful, if only. . . . But the fortune they peddle is not as it seems. The richness of existence comes in both smaller and larger ways.
A purposeful life emerges smaller than advertised, whether in poverty or wealth, obscurity or fame, gradually, mysteriously, quietly and without fanfare. It is smaller because, according to Jesus, the purpose comes from the inside out. Like joy rising in the heart in spite of circumstances and difficulties, a purposeful life begins in the small, interior spaces of heart and mind, places where only we and our Maker have access. Detached from surrounding events, a sense of meaning for who we are and whose we are often rises unexpectedly, un-coerced and unrehearsed.
True meaning and purpose can be unplanned and unexpected. It is often an unanticipated experience or unfolding process. And it usually comes as a surprise. C.S. Lewis described this truth when he discovered Christian faith birthed in his heart without his knowing and in spite of his best efforts. It tiptoed in cautiously, squeezing gently through the cracks and crevices of his intellectual armor. It began small. And it changed his life. He referred to it as being "surprised by joy," the title of his 1955 book.
This might well have been what Jesus meant in his response to the Pharisees: the fortune you seek, the kingdom you anticipate, is actually within you, ready to surprise with joy. This interpretation seems to fit since, as noted above, the phrase used in Luke can be translated "within you," as well as "among you" (and both meanings may have been intended in this instance).
A purposeful life is larger than we imagined, lifting us in the midst of ourselves, raising the specter of hope and regeneration when we least expect it and opening us to new horizons just when we thought personal limitations constricted our world to a tiny space. New vistas open, unexplored paths beckon, the world widens, shadows narrow, colors brighten, vision sharpens and light illuminates. Life, now wider and more beautiful, no longer constricts, strangled in the smallness that was.
Such was Paul's conversion experience. Struck blind, figuratively and literally, his eyes gradually opened to a new world of less restrictive boundaries, new friends and better relationships – and larger than he imagined before his transformation.
The fortune we seek is often one we don't expect – unobtrusive, unpredictable and unseen – yet as real as all the well-publicized plans for recognition and popularity ever invented by human ingenuity. Look closely. Listen carefully. Be ready to be surprised by the unexpected goodness alive and well all around us in big and small ways. Through people and events, interactions and smiles, the cooing of babies or the changing of the seasons, the fortune you seek might not be a fortune at all. Rather, what we want – what we need – moves all around us, calling us to blossom where we are and with what we already have. According to Jesus, all we need is here among us, around us, within us.
Let us enjoy more fully the life God offers right here, right now.


text:
package org.nd4j.linalg;

import static org.junit.Assert.*;

import org.apache.commons.math3.linear.BlockRealMatrix;
import org.apache.commons.math3.linear.RealMatrix;
import org.apache.commons.math3.util.Pair;
import org.junit.After;
import org.junit.Before;
import org.junit.Test;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import org.junit.runners.Parameterized;
import org.nd4j.linalg.api.buffer.DataBuffer;
import org.nd4j.linalg.api.ndarray.INDArray;
import org.nd4j.linalg.checkutil.CheckUtil;
import org.nd4j.linalg.checkutil.NDArrayCreationUtil;
import org.nd4j.linalg.factory.Nd4j;
import org.nd4j.linalg.factory.Nd4jBackend;
import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;

import java.util.List;
import java.util.Random;

import static org.junit.Assert.assertArrayEquals;

/**
 * Tests comparing Nd4j ops to other libraries
 */
@RunWith(Parameterized.class)
public  class Nd4jTestsComparisonFortran extends BaseNd4jTest {
    private static Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(Nd4jTestsComparisonFortran.class);

    public static final int SEED = 123;

    public Nd4jTestsComparisonFortran(Nd4jBackend backend) {
        super(backend);
    }

    @Before
    public void before() {
        super.before();
        Nd4j.factory().setDType(DataBuffer.Type.DOUBLE);
        Nd4j.dtype = DataBuffer.Type.DOUBLE;
        Nd4j.getRandom().setSeed(SEED);

    }

    @After
    public void after() {
        super.after();
        Nd4j.factory().setDType(DataBuffer.Type.DOUBLE);
        Nd4j.dtype = DataBuffer.Type.DOUBLE;
    }

    @Override
    public char ordering() {
        return 'f';
    }

    @Test
    public void testMmulWithOpsCommonsMath(){
        List<Pair<INDArray,String>> first = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(3, 5, SEED);
        List<Pair<INDArray,String>> second = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(5, 4, SEED);

        for( int i = 0; i < first.size(); i++ ){
            for( int j = 0; j < second.size(); j++ ){
                Pair<INDArray,String> p1 = first.get(i);
                Pair<INDArray,String> p2 = second.get(j);
                String errorMsg = getTestWithOpsErrorMsg(i,j,"mmul",p1,p2);
                assertTrue(errorMsg, CheckUtil.checkMmul(p1.getFirst(), p2.getFirst(), 1e-4, 1e-6));
            }
        }
    }

    @Test
    public void testGemmWithOpsCommonsMath(){
        List<Pair<INDArray,String>> first = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(3, 5, SEED);
        List<Pair<INDArray,String>> firstT = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(5, 3, SEED);
        List<Pair<INDArray,String>> second = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(5, 4, SEED);
        List<Pair<INDArray,String>> secondT = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(4, 5, SEED);
        double[] alpha = {1.0,-0.5,2.5};
        double[] beta = {0.0,-0.25,1.5};
        INDArray cOrig = Nd4j.create(new int[]{3, 4});
        Random r = new Random(12345);
        for( int i=0; i<cOrig.size(0); i++ ){
            for( int j=0; j<cOrig.size(1); j++ ){
                cOrig.putScalar(new int[]{i,j},r.nextDouble());
            }
        }

        for( int i = 0; i < first.size(); i++ ){
            for( int j = 0; j < second.size(); j++ ){
                for( int k = 0; k<alpha.length; k++ ) {
                    for( int m = 0; m<beta.length; m++ ) {
                        System.out.println((String.format("Running iteration %d %d %d %d",i,j,k,m)));

                        INDArray cff = Nd4j.create(cOrig.shape(),'f');
                        cff.assign(cOrig);
                        INDArray cft = Nd4j.create(cOrig.shape(),'f');
                        cft.assign(cOrig);
                        INDArray ctf = Nd4j.create(cOrig.shape(),'f');
                        ctf.assign(cOrig);
                        INDArray ctt = Nd4j.create(cOrig.shape(),'f');
                        ctt.assign(cOrig);

                        double a = alpha[k];
                        double b = beta[k];
                        Pair<INDArray, String> p1 = first.get(i);
                        Pair<INDArray, String> p1T = firstT.get(i);
                        Pair<INDArray, String> p2 = second.get(j);
                        Pair<INDArray, String> p2T = secondT.get(j);
                        String errorMsgff = getGemmErrorMsg(i, j, false, false, a,b, p1, p2);
                        String errorMsgft = getGemmErrorMsg(i, j, false, true, a, b, p1, p2T);
                        String errorMsgtf = getGemmErrorMsg(i, j, true, false, a, b, p1T, p2);
                        String errorMsgtt = getGemmErrorMsg(i, j, true, true, a, b, p1T, p2T);

                        assertTrue(errorMsgff, CheckUtil.checkGemm(p1.getFirst(), p2.getFirst(), cff,
                                false, false, a, b, 1e-4, 1e-6));
                        assertTrue(errorMsgft, CheckUtil.checkGemm(p1.getFirst(), p2T.getFirst(), cft,
                                false, true, a, b, 1e-4, 1e-6));
                        assertTrue(errorMsgtf, CheckUtil.checkGemm(p1T.getFirst(), p2.getFirst(), ctf,
                                true, false, a, b, 1e-4, 1e-6));
                        assertTrue(errorMsgtt, CheckUtil.checkGemm(p1T.getFirst(), p2T.getFirst(), ctt,
                                true, true, a, b, 1e-4, 1e-6));
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }

    @Test
    public void testGemvApacheCommons() {

        int[] rowsArr = new int[]{4,4,4,8,8,8};
        int[] colsArr = new int[]{2,1,10,2,1,10};

        for( int x = 0; x < rowsArr.length; x++) {
            int rows = rowsArr[x];
            int cols = colsArr[x];

            List<Pair<INDArray, String>> matrices = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(rows, cols, 12345);
            List<Pair<INDArray, String>> vectors = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(cols, 1, 12345);

            for (int i = 0; i < matrices.size(); i++) {
                for (int j = 0; j < vectors.size(); j++) {

                    Pair<INDArray, String> p1 = matrices.get(i);
                    Pair<INDArray, String> p2 = vectors.get(j);
                    String errorMsg = getTestWithOpsErrorMsg(i, j, "mmul", p1, p2);

                    INDArray m = p1.getFirst();
                    INDArray v = p2.getFirst();

                    RealMatrix rm = new BlockRealMatrix(m.rows(), m.columns());
                    for (int r = 0; r < m.rows(); r++) {
                        for (int c = 0; c < m.columns(); c++) {
                            double d = m.getDouble(r, c);
                            rm.setEntry(r, c, d);
                        }
                    }

                    RealMatrix rv = new BlockRealMatrix(cols, 1);
                    for (int r = 0; r < v.rows(); r++) {
                        double d = v.getDouble(r, 0);
                        rv.setEntry(r, 0, d);
                    }

                    INDArray gemv = m.mmul(v);
                    RealMatrix gemv2 = rm.multiply(rv);

                    assertArrayEquals(new int[]{rows, 1}, gemv.shape());
                    assertArrayEquals(new int[]{rows, 1}, new int[]{gemv2.getRowDimension(), gemv2.getColumnDimension()});

                    //Check entries:
                    for (int r = 0; r < rows; r++) {
                        double exp = gemv2.getEntry(r, 0);
                        double act = gemv.getDouble(r, 0);
                        assertEquals(errorMsg, exp, act, 1e-5);
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }

    @Test
    public void testAddSubtractWithOpsCommonsMath() {
        List<Pair<INDArray,String>> first = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(3, 5, SEED);
        List<Pair<INDArray,String>> second = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(3, 5, SEED);
        for( int i = 0; i< first.size(); i++) {
            for( int j = 0; j< second.size(); j++) {
                Pair<INDArray,String> p1 = first.get(i);
                Pair<INDArray,String> p2 = second.get(j);
                String errorMsg1 = getTestWithOpsErrorMsg(i, j, "add", p1, p2);
                String errorMsg2 = getTestWithOpsErrorMsg(i, j, "sub", p1, p2);
                boolean addFail = CheckUtil.checkAdd(p1.getFirst(), p2.getFirst(), 1e-4, 1e-6);
                assertTrue(errorMsg1,addFail);
                boolean subFail = CheckUtil.checkSubtract(p1.getFirst(), p2.getFirst(), 1e-4, 1e-6);
                assertTrue(errorMsg2,subFail);
            }
        }
    }

    @Test
    public void testMulDivOnCheckUtilMatrices() {
        List<Pair<INDArray,String>> first = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(3, 5, SEED);
        List<Pair<INDArray,String>> second = NDArrayCreationUtil.getAllTestMatricesWithShape(3, 5, SEED);
        for( int i = 0; i < first.size(); i++) {
            for( int j = 0; j < second.size(); j++) {
                Pair<INDArray,String> p1 = first.get(i);
                Pair<INDArray,String> p2 = second.get(j);
                String errorMsg1 = getTestWithOpsErrorMsg(i, j, "mul", p1, p2);
                String errorMsg2 = getTestWithOpsErrorMsg(i, j, "div", p1, p2);
                assertTrue(errorMsg1,CheckUtil.checkMulManually(p1.getFirst(), p2.getFirst(), 1e-4, 1e-6));
                assertTrue(errorMsg2,CheckUtil.checkDivManually(p1.getFirst(), p2.getFirst(), 1e-4, 1e-6));
            }
        }
    }

    private static String getTestWithOpsErrorMsg(int i, int j, String op, Pair<INDArray,String> first, Pair<INDArray,String> second) {
        return i + "," + j + " - " + first.getSecond() + "." + op + "(" + second.getSecond() + ")";
    }

    private static String getGemmErrorMsg(int i, int j, boolean transposeA, boolean transposeB, double alpha, double beta,
                                          Pair<INDArray,String> first, Pair<INDArray,String> second){
        return i + "," + j + " - gemm(tA=" + transposeA +",tB= " + transposeB + ",alpha=" + alpha + ",beta= " + beta + "). A="
                + first.getSecond() + ", B=" + second.getSecond();
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Alum: I was in the second class that every graduate from Lower Gwynedd and previously attended Blue Bell Elementary before the district restructured. I continued into WMS and WHS. Lower Gwynedd is the district's premier elementary; it's the newest, conveniently located in the same complex as the high school and middle school and has a wonderful staff that's very welcoming and caring. My youngest sibling just graduated from WHS last year and several of my friends' children attend Lower Gwynedd currently, so I know it's still a fabulous school and would highly recommend it.


text:
Michelle Obama Will Visit These 6 Cities On Her 'The Light We Carry' Book Tour
by Natasha Decker | September 21, 2022
Source: Richard Cartwright / Getty
Michelle Obama is gearing up to discuss her latest book with readers in six special U.S. cities. The former First Lady announced on Sept. 21 that "The Light We Carry" tour kicks off this fall.
Beginning in Washington D.C. on Nov. 15, the tour will expand to Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco before it concludes in Los Angeles on Dec. 13.
What a Time to be 59!: Celebrating Michelle Obama's Birthday And Style
SUNDAY 'NOIRE: It's Time For Grown Men To Actually Grow Up
Michelle Obama 'Couldn't Stand' Barack Obama At One Point During Their Marriage
Readers interested in securing tickets for the tour early can register as a Verified Fan and order presale from Sept. 26-28.
"Anyone who pre-registered will be able to purchase tickets on a first-come, first-served basis," and "remaining tickets will be made available to the general public on Friday, Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. local time," PEOPLE details.
The announcement of Obama's book tour comes weeks after she and her husband Barack Obama, the 44th President, returned to the White House to unveil their official portraits.
RELATED CONTENT: "The Obamas Return To The White House To Unveil Their Official Portraits"
"This book means so much to me — it's a collection of perspectives and practices I've used to keep me afloat amid uncertainty," Obama expressed in a press release. "On this tour, I'll be sharing some personal stories and lessons that have helped me along my path, and I can't wait to tell you more."
Titled The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times, Obama's newest offering promises to offer readers "a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power, including her belief that when we light up for others, we can illuminate the richness and potential of the world around us, discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress."
If you're interested, read more about what to expect from the book via the publisher, Penguin Random House.
See "The Light We Carry" book tour dates down below.
Nov. 15: Warner Theatre, Washington D.C.
Nov. 18: The Met, Philadelphia
Dec. 3: Fox Theatre, Atlanta
Dec. 5: Chicago Theatre, Chicago
Dec. 10: The Masonic, San Francisco
Dec. 13: YouTube Theater, Los Angeles
RELATED CONTENT: "Tabitha Brown Announces 8-City Promo Tour For Her Upcoming Cookbook"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
La  du Tour de France 2010 s'est déroulée le jeudi  entre Épernay (Marne) et Montargis (Loiret) sur . Elle a vu la victoire au sprint du coureur britannique de la Team HTC-Columbia Mark Cavendish. Au classement général, le Suisse Fabian Cancellara conserve son maillot jaune à l'issue de cette étape.

Parcours de l'étape

La course

Sprints intermédiaires

 1. Sprint intermédiaire de Vauchamps (kilomètre 27,5)
{| style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:#808080;background-color:#808080;margin-left:15px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2"
|- style="background-color: #54FF54;"
| Premier || style="text-align: left;" |  José Iván Gutiérrez || 6 pts.
|- style="background-color: #94FF94;"
| Deuxième || style="text-align: left;" |  Julien El Fares || 4 pts.
|- style="background-color: #94FF94;"
| Troisième || style="text-align: left;" |  Jurgen Van de Walle || 2 pts.
|}

 2. Sprint intermédiaire de Ville-Saint-Jacques (kilomètre 126,5)
{| style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:#808080;background-color:#808080;margin-left:15px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2"
|- style="background-color: #54FF54;"
| Premier || style="text-align: left;" |  Julien El Fares || 6 pts.
|- style="background-color: #94FF94;"
| Deuxième || style="text-align: left;" |  Jurgen Van de Walle || 4 pts.
|- style="background-color: #94FF94;"
| Troisième || style="text-align: left;" |  José Iván Gutiérrez || 2 pts.
|}

 3. Sprint intermédiaire de Prefontaines (kilomètre 169,5)
{| style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:#808080;background-color:#808080;margin-left:15px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2"
|- style="background-color: #54FF54;"
| Premier || style="text-align: left;" |  José Iván Gutiérrez || 6 pts.
|- style="background-color: #94FF94;"
| Deuxième || style="text-align: left;" |  Julien El Fares || 4 pts.
|- style="background-color: #94FF94;"
| Troisième || style="text-align: left;" |  Jurgen Van de Walle || 2 pts.
|}

Côtes

 1. Côte d'Orbais-l'Abbaye,  (kilomètre 18,5)
{| style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:#808080;background-color:#808080;margin-left:15px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2"
|- style="background-color: #FF8666;"
| Premier || style="text-align: left;" | Jurgen Van de Walle || 3 pts
|- style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"
| Deuxième || style="text-align: left;" | José Iván Gutiérrez || 2 pts
|- style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"
| Troisième || style="text-align: left;" | Julien El Fares || 1 pt
|}

 2. Côte de Mécringes,  (kilomètre 36,5)
{| style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;border-color:#808080;background-color:#808080;margin-left:15px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2"
|- style="background-color: #FF8666;"
| Premier || style="text-align: left;" | Jurgen Van de Walle || 3 pts
|- style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"
| Deuxième || style="text-align: left;" | José Iván Gutiérrez || 2 pts
|- style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"
| Troisième || style="text-align: left;" | Julien El Fares || 1 pt
|}

Classement de l'étape

Classement général

Classements annexes

Classement par points

Classement du meilleur grimpeur

Classement du meilleur jeune

Classement par équipes

Abandon
  Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) : non-partant

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Article connexe

 Tour de France dans le Loiret

Liens externes

 La présentation de l'étape sur le site officiel
 Le journal de l'étape sur le site officiel

05
2010-05
2010-05
2010-05
2010-05

Épernay
Nemours

en:2010 Tour de France, Prologue to Stage 10#Stage 5

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Mystery & Thriller / Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
The Flight of the Falcon
As a young guide for Sunshine Tours, Armino Fabbio leads a pleasant, if humdrum life — until he becomes circumstantially involved in the murder of an old peasant woman in Rome. The woman, he gradually comes to realise, was his family's beloved servant many years ago, in his native town of Ruffano. He returns to his birthplace, and once there, finds it is haunted by the phantom of his brother, Aldo, shot down in flames in '43.
Over five hundred years before, the sinister Duke Claudio, known as The Falcon, lived his twisted, brutal life, preying on the people of Ruffano. But now it is the twentieth century, and the town seems to have forgotten its violent history. But have things really changed? The parallels between the past and present become ever more evident.
"In du Maurier's fiction, she unflinchingly exposed hard truths."-Times (UK)


I walked today and it wasn't too bad. It was warm, but it's no where near as bad as it was a few weeks ago. I wish it would cool down a little more. I came home and did some of my other stuff. I also noticed it was getitng overcast. It drizzled a bit. I hope it doesn't rain a lot. We certainly don't need anymore rain here! Some people are still without power and there are still trees and lines down. There was a mud slide the other day and it took out power to a bunch of people again. I think they got that fixed.
I went down in my basement after my walk to see if I could get my water heater lit. Nope. The part that I would need to light is still under water! I took a ruler down there and measured the step to see how deep it was the other day when I was down there. 12 inches! Good grief! It's still about 8 inches of water down there so I'll have to wait a few more days and try again. I hate not having hot water.
Remember the Fossil satchel bag I got that I wanted to start carrying this fall? Well, it stinks. I mean reeks of perfume and I can't stand it. I don't like a lot of heavy scent. I wrapped it in newspaper, stuffed it with newspaper and closed it up in a some plastic bags for over a week. I took it out the other day and it still reeks. It's bad. I've been looking up ways to take the smell out. One solution was to put it in a closed container with dry coffee grounds. That sounds like a good idea. Especially if it smells like coffee. LOL . I just want it to smell like leather! I'm going to find a sealable plastic bin big enough for it and put it in there with some coffee grounds and hope for the best. I really want to carry this handbag, but at the moment, it's not a possibility!


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ACCEPTED

#### According to
Index Fungorum

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#### Original name
Phyllosticta fici-elasticae Nicolas & Aggéry

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USA Bobsled/Skeleton
Menu USA Bobsled/Skeleton
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Development Teams
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USA Bobsled/Skeleton Features Home is where the ic...
Home is where the ice is
Jan. 25, 2016, 1:17 p.m. (ET)
by Kristen Gowdy
Photo credit: Molly Choma
Unlike most of his U.S. National Team teammates, Jimmy Reed grew up in a place where bobsled is one of the most popular and publicized sports.
But even spending much of his childhood in Garmisch, Germany, the sport that would become Reed's future was never part of his past.
"For someone who grew up in the mountains of Germany, it is surprising that bobsled was never on my radar as a kid," he said. "I knew virtually nothing about the sport before last year."
Instead, Reed skied, ran track and field and played soccer, while his father was stationed on the military base in southern Germany. The family spent 16 of Reed's first 18 years in Germany.
"We were very fortunate that because of my dad's job we didn't have to move around a lot compared to an average military family," Reed said. "And because of that Garmisch, Germany is to this day where I say I am from and what I consider to be home."
Years later, Reed would become a frequent visitor to the country, though he now lives in the United States and is a U.S. citizen. But his trips abroad aren't to visit the military base that he called home for most of his life — they're to race down the slippery tracks that are interspersed throughout Germany and the rest of Europe.
Reed's rookie season with the national team was a momentous one for the youngest member of last year's men's bobsled squad. The 24-year-old spent the majority of the season pushing for two-time Olympian Nick Cunningham, in which he earned two podium finishes, including a gold medal in the Park City, Utah race on the North American Cup. On the World Cup circuit, Reed helped Cunningham's sled to four top-10 finishes and pushed three-time Olympic medalist Steven Holcomb to a seventh-place finish in the Koegnissee, Germany race.
Reed made the national team in his first season as a bobsledder after a promising track and field career at the University of
Maine, where he chose to go to, because nearly everyone in his family — his parents, sister, aunts, uncles and cousins — attended. It also happened to be one of the only NCAA Division I schools to recruit him. Living in Germany and attending an international high school weren't the easiest paths to a collegiate athletic career.
"When it came time to start looking at colleges, I knew I wanted to run track and field at the Division I level," Reed said. "UMaine was one of the few schools who reached out to me about competing for them and with in-state tuition, it was an offer I couldn't pass up."
It was in college that Reed first heard about bobsled. One of his coaches, David Cusano, had competed on the national team in 2004 and encouraged Reed to try out for the team if he ever had the opportunity.
When Reed graduated in 2014, all he knew was that he wanted to become a professional athlete. The problem was, he didn't know which sport.
"It wasn't going to be in track and field," he said. "I wasn't sure what I wanted to do."
Then, he remembered Cusano's words, and Reed decided he was going to become a bobsledder.
After attending a combine just a couple of months after his graduation, Reed was invited back to try out for the national team. He did well enough to make the team, and spent his first season on the ice learning a completely new sport — when he made his first World Cup appearance in November, Reed had only been bobsledding for barely six months.
But that didn't stop him from falling in love with the sport almost immediately. He says his favorite part is the camaraderie between the four-person teams — it's not a coincidence that one of Reed's main track events at Maine was the 4x100-meter sprint.
"It's not always the four fastest or strongest guys that make up the best crew," he said. "There is no feeling like standing on the starting block with three other guys, who you have developed relationships with and who you trust to do their jobs. Not only wanting success for yourself, but wanting it just as equally for those guys."
Additionally, Reed's parents — who still live in Garmisch — are able to attend almost every one of the team's international races. This support helped Reed get through the grind of his first season as a professional athlete.
"They were behind me when I first set off down this path and they continue to support and cheer me on everyday," he said. "But also just as important, they can resupply us with American junk food and drinks from the Army base, while we are on the road in Europe."
For Reed, in his second season, he knows what to expect out of the grueling travel schedule and difficult training regimen that comes with the World Cup circuit. Now, he is simply focused on development.
"My focus is on this upcoming season," he said. "Entering my second season, I am looking to improve upon last year and establish myself as a top-level brakeman. I want to continue to help the team in any way that I can."
So far this season, Reed has competed in six four-person races alongside Cunningham, turning in a six top-15 finishes and a season's best ninth-place result in Lake Placid earlier this month.
And though Reed hasn't yet followed his father's footsteps with a career in the military — he still thinks about the opportunity occasionally — he does see himself ending up working with the World Class Athlete Program (WPAC) after his bobsled career ends. The organization offers national-level Army athletes the opportunity to train for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Reed's teammate Cunningham is a member of the WPAC.
But retirement and another career are, Reed hopes, a long way away. For now, he is focused on giving back to his country in a different way.
"The ultimate goal is to one day represent my country at the Olympic Games," he said. "What is seen on the TV and at races is just five percent of what goes into the sport. This is such a blue-collar sport, and if you are not willing to put in the behind the scenes work and be a great teammate this sport becomes very difficult."
Related Athletes


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Apple Watch Review & Giveaway
Tim Brookes May 11, 2015 11-05-2015 13 minutes
Like the iPhone before it iPhone 6 Plus Review and Giveaway iPhone 6 Plus Review and Giveaway The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus is Apple's latest and perhaps strangest addition to its range of tablets and smartphones. Read More , everyone was talking about the Apple Watch long before it was announced by the company themselves. Shortly after going on sale, shipping dates for new orders slipped to June or later, as early adopters rushed to part with their cash — but is it worth it?
I've spent a week playing with an Apple Watch Sport to find out, and we have one 42mm and another 38mm unit to give away to two lucky MakeUseOf readers at the end of the post.
The New Apple Thing is Out
Few companies can generate the hype that Apple seems capable of, even if that is met by a fair amount of criticism. Every time Apple announces (or is thought to be working on) a new product, news outlets and blogs alike go into overdrive, speculating about features and design decisions — you'd be forgiven for getting sick of it.
This review focuses on the 42mm Apple Watch Sport, but it's also available as a metal-banded Watch, and needlessly-expensive Apple Watch Edition. The Sport is strictly limited to using a silicon band (available in a range of colours), while the standard Watch can use a milanese loop, stainless steel links and other using a different connector.
All of the Watch models include the same core hardware inside the watch, with different materials and finishes to differentiate the models. The Sport is made of lightweight aluminium, the Watch of tougher stainless steel and the Watch Edition of gold.
Each is available in a 38mm or 42mm, with the Sport versions costing $349 and $399 respectively.
The watch itself is presented inside a weighty, and somewhat unnecessary heavy plastic case. Included is a magnetic charger with plenty of spare cable and the watch strap you requested when you ordered. There are no spare straps included, but you can buy and change them yourself.
Uniquely Wearable
The Apple Watch is unique in that there's really no competition. You might think that other smartwatches Which Android Wear Smartwatch Is Best For You? Which Android Wear Smartwatch Is Best For You? In the market for an Android Wear smartwatch? Let's compare all the options available now and make the decision easy. Read More provide some sort of competition, but in reality they don't Should You Buy A Smartwatch Now, Or Wait? Should You Buy A Smartwatch Now, Or Wait? Everyone is talking about smartwatches and other wearables as "the next big thing." So, should you buy a smartwatch today, or wait for the smartwatches to come? Read More . This is a device designed for iPhone users, and it depends entirely on also owning an iPhone. At present no other smartwatch is able to do what the Apple Watch can do with an iPhone – and that's not going to change any time soon.
It's also unique in that the Apple Watch has been announced for quite some time, and WatchKit — the software development kit (SDK) used by app developers to prepare software for the device — has enabled third-parties to hit the ground running. From the get go there is a surprising amount of support for Apple's new wearable, something that has been seriously lacking with other smart watches.
But a lack of competition and ample third party development tools does not guarantee success. In order to make this special, Apple has created a truly smart watch. It's so different to what most regard as a "watch" that it shouldn't necessarily be compared with traditional "dumb" watches (is that a term yet?) – it fulfils a completely different purpose.
And that's where I found myself surprised by how effective the device is at fulfilling its objective. I wasn't interested in a smartwatch before this, and even when it had been announced I was lukewarm to the idea. As a moderate to heavy iPhone user, you probably won't find a better way to get rid of a spare $400 burning a hole in your pocket.
Regardless of the version you choose, the Apple Watch is a sleek and sophisticated bit of kit. From the matte finish on the Sport to the "first gen iPhone" polish of the shiny Watch, these are beautiful wearables that mimic the weight and thickness of a rugged wristwatch.
Rounded corners fit perfectly with Apple's current iPhone 6 aesthetic, and as this is a device that goes wrist-in-band with the iPhone, this is surely a trend that's set to continue. Holding it in your hand it feels typically well-made, despite the relatively soft aluminium finish being prone to scratches.
Like many other Apple products the Watch is really just a big screen, and nothing gets in the way of the main show. There are no buttons or on-screen controls, but you can drag, pinch and tap to make selections. The screen is bright, clear and surprisingly easy to read in bright sunlight — the most you'll have to contend with is glare from the Ion-X glass.
There are a total of two physical inputs: the digital crown, a replacement for the traditional watch winder used to set the time and wind and a dedicated speed dial button for quickly accessing your contacts. I'm not too sure about Apple's hype regarding the digital crown (it is after all just a rotating bit of metal), but it's well-implemented and has excellent knobfeel.
There's a small degree of water resistance, courtesy of the IPX7 water resistance which guarantees devices to a depth of 1 metre for 30 minutes. After some accidental testing I can confirm it's shower proof, and it also survived some pretty enthusiastic dishwashing. The screen seems to handle touch input pretty well, even with water droplets on the screen.
Introducing WatchOS
The Apple Watch runs a separate operating system to any device Apple has released in the past, known as WatchOS. It shares many similarities with iOS, and for good reason: it's based on the same code. You'll find many of the same applications here that you have on your iPhone — Messages, Mail, Maps and Calendar to name but a few.
The Watch is entirely dependent on an iPhone 5 or better, though you are able to track workout data, play music and pay for things with Apple Pay (more on this later) without your phone being present, should you need to.
When you put the watch on, it will ask you to unlock it either by inputting a passcode or choosing to have it unlock with your iPhone. The Watch knows when you're wearing it so you don't have to unlock it more than once after putting it on. When you take the watch off, it automatically locks again.
Notifications arguably steal the show, appearing over the top of everything you do and providing a tactile ping on the wrist thanks to the power of haptic feedback Touch Something That Isn't There - Haptic Technology [MakeUseOf Explains] Touch Something That Isn't There - Haptic Technology [MakeUseOf Explains] Haptics is the technology of touch. In the context of a virtual environment, it would mean being able to touch and feel something that literally isn't there, but that's certainly not its only use. From... Read More . This is where the Apple Watch comes into its own, providing you with instant access to everything that's happening in your pocket without having to stop what you're doing and reach for your iPhone.
To activate the watch, simply raise your wrist and the screen will light up. If you just got a notification, the notification will be displayed. If you didn't raise your wrist correctly, which sometimes happens if you don't give it enough force, a tap of the digital crown activates the device.
In general I found the gestures work well, and I even got used to the slight delay between raising my wrist and the screen activating — just don't try it with a cup of hot coffee in your hand.
WatchOS is just like iOS in that it displays all of your "apps" on a springboard. You can use the digital crown to zoom in and out, and use your finger to choose an app. Just like iOS, everything is a separate "app" — though that might be a stretch, as many of these are simply slimmed-down versions of iOS mainstays.
As an example, the BBC News app only shows short versions of stories. Messages, though well-integrated, relies on canned responses or voice input (which works excellently, despite background noise) and you can start a workout via the RunKeeper app, but you can't do very much else. The Watch at no point tries to replace the iPhone, and that means it never feels that fiddly to get where you want to go.
Siri support is very well implemented, with full "Hey Siri" support providing hands-free access to most functions 8 Things You Probably Didn't Realize Siri Could Do 8 Things You Probably Didn't Realize Siri Could Do Siri has become one of the iPhone's defining features, but for many people, it's not always the most useful. While some of this is due to the limitations of voice recognition, the oddity of using... Read More in less taps.
The "everything is an app" approach also means that the time is an app, albeit the "default" app. Double-click in the digital crown while in another application and you'll be returned to the time, and whatever watch face it is you've chosen.
There are a total of 10 watch faces to choose from, including Mickey Mouse, traditional analogue-style faces, and completely new ones that visualise time using graphs and animations. Many of the faces can be customized to add information like moon phase, weather, upcoming appointments and fast-access to the timer app.
Despite always being a fan of the traditional rounded watch face, I found myself sticking to the information-rich "Modular" face which seems to make full use of the screen by cramming-in the time and five additional bits of information. Tapping any of these customizable areas takes you to the corresponding app, while count-down timers and calendar appointments update in realtime.
At present there are no third-party faces, with little more than speculation over whether or not these will be added. Not opening up watch face design to developers surprised many, but it's typical of the level of control Apple likes to maintain over new products — just look how long it took them to add third-party keyboards to iOS.
The default watch app is where you'll spend most of your time, accessing what Apple dubs "Moments" — short bursts of information from system and third-party services, accessed by swiping upwards from the watch face. These can be entirely customised from the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and include heart rate monitoring, the current weather, power status and more.
You can also access Do Not Disturb, Airplane Mode and mute controls, in addition to the oh-so-handy "ping my iPhone" button which is perfect for when your iPhone goes walkies (even if it's in silent mode). Everything is within reach, though it can be a bit of a slog swiping through eight screens to get to what you want.
Third party apps can use Moments, though so far I haven't noticed anything really worth shouting about. I was excited about the prospect of fast-access to the Shazam on my wrist, but the Moment doesn't let you ID music — suggesting that Apple is maintaining tight control over the feature.
Life With The Apple Watch
The Apple Watch isn't the sort of device you realise you want until you're handed one and told to play with it, perhaps even over the course of a few days. You have to adjust to life with the Watch before you start to see just how well it fits into the iOS ecosystem, but even then it's not a necessity — and, fancy heart rate sensors aside, it doesn't do anything your iPhone won't.
For that reason it's not surprising to see hordes of angry commenters condemning the device to a fate worse than the Newton. It's easy to write-off, particularly at this typically Apple price point, which is why it's important that the Apple Watch is compared with other wearable gadgets, rather than cherished hand-made timepieces.
Battery life is a major concern for many, and understandably so. Before encountering the Watch, I was highly skeptical of a device that apparently couldn't even manage a day — but I found that this unit lasted two whole days with moderate use. Intensive use and lots of fiddling saw me through a full 24 hours.
So really, it's just another device you'll have to get used to charging. When the battery gets low you're warned, and a power saving mode is available that enables you to tell the time (but deactivates all other features, including wrist raise detection).
In many ways, many of the features found on the Apple Watch were found on our wrists as digital watches became more advanced in the 80s and 90s. With the rise in popularity of do-everything mobile phones, these features migrated from the wrist to the pocket. Such a device redresses this.
Alarms and timers are far more useful within reach, and you can set up a timer simply by saying "hey Siri, set a timer for one minute," for completely hands-free operation. Taking phone calls on your wrist when you can't find your phone has you feeling like Inspector Gadget How James Bond Made Me Buy an Apple Watch How James Bond Made Me Buy an Apple Watch Bond has always had a thing for watches. Indeed, some of the best gadgets Bond has ever used have been timepieces. Which means he would buy an Apple Watch. As will I. Read More , and it works tremendously well. Similarly, when exercising I found it liberating being able to set off RunKeeper or one of the included Workout apps without having to get my phone out.
There was a point while testing the watch where I could see that Apple had succeeded in achieving what they had set out to do, even if this wasn't particularly important to my own personal agenda.
The first example of this was carrying bags of shopping up a hill and receiving a text message. The second was using Evernote on my wrist while cooking to check a recipe. Controlling other apps, accepting phone calls, sending a quick speech-to-text message while in a rush — these are all things the Apple Watch succeeds at doing.
The question is whether you find these useful, or simply nice but altogether unnecessary. You don't need to use your Apple Watch to access an iOS feature, but it's generally a nicer way of doing so.
Encouraging Healthy Living?
The Apple Watch is expensive, sure, but it might be a small price to pay for a longer lifespan. While testing the watch I was impressed by its ability to track physical activity and movement, to the point where the device encourages you to stand up after long periods of inactivity. Sedentary lifestyles are contributing massively to diabetes and obesity epidemics worldwide, which means earlier graves for those of us who spend a long time at our desks.
The Apple Watch actually buzzes your wrist when it thinks you need to stand up, and tells you to move for a few minutes. This is in-line with advice from healthcare professionals, except it's tailored to your activity and pretty hard to ignore.
Some people might not like their watch telling them to move more, but for me it was a standout feature with potentially long-term benefits. And, while the Apple Watch is expensive, so are heart medications.
Apple Pay: A Disclaimer
Unfortunately, due to Apple still not having launched Apple Pay in Australia, we were unable to test Apple Pay with the Watch. According to Apple, the technology works without an iPhone being present and requires two taps of the button below the crown before touching your watch near the NFC terminal and paying away.
It's possible to use Apple Pay outside the US provided you have a card that is registered to certain US banks, but users have reported hit and miss results. Fingers crossed Apple Pay goes international soon.
A watch is a timepiece, something you buy occasionally — maybe only once every 10 or so years, so you want it to be good. For my money, the Apple Watch is not a timepiece, it's a wearable gadget — another device, like an iPad or a pair of bluetooth speakers. It will get old, it will stop working, and it won't last anywhere near as long as most mechanical timepieces sold in this price range.
But for what it does — provide oft-used features, connectivity and at-a-glance information — it works wonderfully, and you'll quickly become reliant on it. If you're taken by this, the real question is whether or not you want to buy a first-generation model or wait.
At present the Apple Watch is very good, but you know the next version will be even better — it will be thinner, it will have a better battery life and Apple may even introduce a more capable waterproof rating. Unless you want to be buying another Apple Watch in a year or so, it might be worth holding on for the inevitable improvements.
But for a first go, this is an incredibly promising start. Apple has done what no smart watch manufacturer has so far, and that's make a device that's not technically impressive but pleasant to use and genuinely useful — it just won't be a "must-have" for everyone.
Our verdict of the Apple Watch:
If you want a smartwatch for use with your iPhone, the Apple Watch won't disappoint. If you're uninspired, don't write it off until you've had the chance to spend some time with it.810
Apple Watch Sport Giveaway
Send your products to be reviewed. Contact James Bruce for further details.
Explore more about: Apple Watch, MakeUseOf Giveaway, Smartwatch, WatchOS.
Jabra Elite 85h: The New King of Noise Cancelling Headphones"My Child Is Being Bullied" – Check out These 7 Helpful Resources
i would love to win this for my father :)
II would soo love the opportunity to experience The Apple Watch, I have never owned anything Apple and for me, I would soo welcome the opportunity to study this fascinating piece of Apple innovation. Please could you send me a watch, even if I have to give it back, I would love to have a day to study it and see what it can actually do.
(l.e.athanassiadis@gmail.com)
Louise Athanassiadis
I'm realy glad to heare, that someone is going to give a Apple Watch to someone and because of this I World be very happy to be that one. I've the means to do sth. with it, but not the Money!
I would love to win the Apple watch, I don't have enough money to buy one and it looks amazing!
Would love to win this for my husband for Father's Day. Thanks for the chance to win.
I would really love to win this watch!
standa kaluža
So, who are the two lucky winners? :)
John Leet
Seems like there are no winners....
Peter Griffiths
looks awesome. gimme gimme :P
Would love to win one of these watches!
Catherine Lee Guzik
Thanks for the chance.....would be A.....mazing!!!
beth needel
Apple you think of everything! I would love to wear your watch.
Yasmine Ansari
This product is amazing!!!
I would really love to win one!!??
It would be a huge honor to win this.
Indrani Biswas
Crazy about this watch...Hope I win !
johnnygurnett
hope I win :) I could never afford one myself so fingers crossed!
Hello i hope i win ive been dying to have this watch over 5 months now
Trying again as does not seem to have loaded an entry.
When is he going to say the winner
Fikri Azami
I would like to have it
What a fantastic gadget.
Would love one of these as certainly could not afford to buy one! As Apple aficionados a laptop is all we have at the moment. It would get us up and moving for a start, badly needed on my better half's part - might get him off the computer and exercising!!
Even if I don't win, thankyou soooh much for the opportunity. Don't know how you do it - amazing internet site.
wow would I like to win one of these,looks great
Wow, prize apple watch is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Pick me, pick me! Your next winner!!! Show me the money!!! It would be a dream come true and means more to me than anyone else to win. Starving artist here desperately needs the watch to tell time, work and eat. Winner, winnner. Chicken dinner. A life changing experience. Top of my bucket list. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. Dear Santa: I've been nice. My X-Mas wish this year is to win this contest.
Look's nice like anything Apple !
Marco Distefano
I would love to win one!
Ivaylo Kolegov
When we can see the winer
Lorena Grande
I am usually at the tail end of technology....this time I would love to be the trendsetter at the front. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway. :)
Kenny P
Pick me...Why not...would love to make use of that gadget.
If I win it I'll wear it but I wouldn't buy one.
Tammy Clarke
I would love to win this for my teenage son he lives and breathes new technology.
He would love to try out this new watch,
Would love to give this a try & review
Miali Cavanagh
Would love this...thanks for the chance.
Still an nice accessory! Would to win one! Not sure I would pay that much for a gadget like this...
I would love an arm gadget!
magykman
There's no competition in the smart watch world? That just simply isn't true. There isn't much that the Apple watch can do that most Android wear devices can't. Unless you meant watches which work with Apple phones. In which case, you're right, but that's only because of Apple's closed ecosystem.
Considering how poorly the Android wear devices are doing, that could be the reason he states there is no competition. The other side, that there is no competition in watches that are Apple compatible, that is also not true. In general, there just isn't anything good.
I loved the dumb watch nic.
in the past year it seems i am now on my third dumb watch. Each one caused by a battery change requirement,
The first was a popular distance runners watch and because it was pricey enough i had the battery changed for me. Went swimming with my waterproof watch and the seal had been compromised. dumb now dumber watch.
Second I decided to change the battery myself. Watch is "running" again but I can't adjust time etc. if I timed it right and put the battery in at the correct moment I would have a dumb watch again. it got the rip as well. Loved the article. I think i'm convinced.
Tanvi
As a developer - I love the possibilities these things create.
LadyDi1002
Thank you Make Use Of and apple for the contest!! Good luck to all who entered.
olumide
liked and shared
Prabhath Kaushalya
count me in p/s........
Siobhan Davis
Great watch :) Great giveaway. Best of luck everyone x
its more nice like ipads
how do i share this to my friends in facebook??
CHRISTOS TSIKRIKOYDIS-TSIKRIKAS
Nice review.
Phil N
This would be great to sell on eBay and get a good smartwatch.
Thanks for the Info, hope I win one, will have to get a iPhone then too...
Dang won't work with iPAD or Mac Book Pro.... :o(
cheridene boucher
Great watch and review.
Frank Hanshaw
WOW - Never in my 76 years did ever expect to something like this watch. As a kid I was a big fan of Dick Tracy in the comics—way before television—and I though Tracy's watch that was his two way police radio was something that was only in Chester Gould's mind. Now Apple has created a watch that makes Chester Gould's imagination seem like child's play.
Again all I can say is WOW.
ROCKHi
OK, your review convinced me...count me in!
Simutsira
Great review!!
Gansi
Useful review
A die hard Android lover made a post that, "They're going to laugh at anyone wearing an Apple Watch." Personally, I think the low end Watches, because of their pricing, are buy-worthy when compared to high-end tracking bands, like UP3 or Fitbit's top model. Yes, the Watch costs more, but they seem worth it for the build quality, functionality, aesthetics and tight integration with Apple's ecosystem. The resale value of a Watch is yet to be seen, but if it's anything like other Apple products, that's another plus.
Tech problem for the Apple Watch contest:
Entries are broken. I made three entries for this contest, zero showed up. I tried Twitter, email, Facebook, tried two different email addresses to get it to work. Nada.
Does anyone know the proper support link for this kind of issue? TIA.
Apologies for putting a support issue in the comments section.
I found the tech support link. It's just a pagedown key away.
the problem was stopping the 15 web trackers detected by Safari extension called Ghostery
As a watch maniac, I wish I could have an Apple Watch
Mike Morgan
I would love to win one. I don't know what I like more, watches or shoes. Mthaks for a chance.
prashantm
Just waiting for Gen 2 (or 3). Not confident enough at this point.
Tim Brookes 988 articles
Tim is a senior writer for MakeUseOf who lives in Melbourne, Australia. You can also find him at VeganTricks.com where he blogs about food and other things.
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I have this 1968 Chrysler Imperial convertible project for sale. I would like to sell it while it could still be saved. It was a red car with white interior and top. I believe that only 474 of these were built. It is still solid enough to be saved,but outside storage is taking a toll on it. It will be sold with a bill of sale only. It is located near the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. The first $1500.00 takes it. You can send me a PM here,or call me at 401-722-4744 Thanks Pete.
I thought I had this car sold,but the potential buyer was overuled by his wife,so the car is still for sale. I went through the task of getting the car pulled out,and I was surprised to see that the car is more complete and solid than I remembered. My friend posted the car on New York city Craigslist,and there are twenty pictures in the ad for your viewing pleasure.
Last edited by chargervert; 01/30/19 01:35 AM.
Repainted in 2011, front seats are sebring conv, rear seat covered in matching leather. Center console is fully removable containing stereo -factory stereo is in place and works, Wood grain steering wheel.
Power windows, power drivers seat, a/c is complete and holds charge, compressor is bad, have new one included.
Wheels are 20x8.5 Ridler 645.
Car runs and Drives Great, just don't have time for it anymore. I have the 3rd row seat, but it is not installed in car.
Last edited by ViperDave; 01/22/19 02:31 PM.
Posting this for my Dad.
He has owned this car for 17 years now and well to be honest the car does not get used as it should anymore.
He has decided that is it time for it to move on to someone who can enjoy the car as it deserves to be.
Car was restored by the previous owner who unfortunately passed away before enjoying the car.
The car is a VERY nice Driver quality type car that turns heads everywhere it goes.
Please, ONLY serious inquiries need reply. PM me or Email me @ Dart640@aol.com I can answer any and all questions you may have about the car.
Price, $100k He may entertain offers if your sincere, Dealers need not reply.


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By Niamh O Donnell | May 26, 2022 | 0
As we prepare to host the 2022 Women's Irish Open this September, we go behind the scenes with Eamonn O'Donnell, Director of Golf at Dromoland Castle. "Our plan to bring the Women's Irish Open to Dromoland Castle began 3 years ago. Eager to bring another international event to the Castle, we first spoke about the…
By Niamh O Donnell | February 10, 2022 | 5
The stars aligned for Pauline Handrick from New Ross, and Nickie Flynn, from Birmingham when both began six-month college placements at Dromoland Castle over 30 years ago. Little did they know, but the Castle was to become the backdrop for a great romance that would last a lifetime. "By autumn when the hotel quietened down…
By Niamh O Donnell | January 11, 2022 | 0
This February, why not whisk your loved one away for a very special St Valentine's celebration that's high on luxury and romance. Join us at Ireland's most magical address to hide away in spectacular comfort and embrace the great outdoors in our 450-acre estate. Offering the warmest welcome and five-star discretion, we'll turn up the…
By Niamh O Donnell | July 28, 2021 | 0
With its grand Earl of Thomond fine dining restaurant, its extravagant afternoon tea, its golf clubhouse, and its Irish gastropub, Dromoland Castle offers guests the best of Irish cuisine created with fresh, local ingredients. Now, overseeing the entire food and beverage programme is Xavier Perche, who brings extensive hospitality experience to Clare's famous five-star castle…
Meet Alex! Alex joined Dromoland Castle 8 years ago as assistant sommelier. Hailing from the city of Nantes in the Loire region, he is now head bartender and mixologist extraordinaire. But how did he end up in Ireland? "I did an advanced bartender course in France and one of my teachers used to work in…
Golf In Ireland
By Niamh O Donnell | June 30, 2021 | 0
Golf in Ireland We are delighted to be featured as one of the best places to play golf on holiday in Ireland by our friends at Aer Lingus in their 'Golf in Ireland' article. If you would like to play our course, we are welcoming players based in Ireland now so book your summer tee times…
This year, we are celebrating the 34th work anniversary of our Head Receptionist, Grace Kierce. One of our longest standing staff members, Grace has seen many changes take place at the Castle. To mark the anniversary, we took a little time out enjoying lunch in our Walled Gardens, surrounded by the scent of our beautiful…
Sir Edward O'Brien, 2nd Baronet,1705-1765
The O' Brien's owned Dromoland Castle for over 300 years. Sir Edward O'Brien, 2nd Baronet, 1705-1765, was not only fanatical about horse racing, he was revered as a famous racehorse owner and trainer, but he too was a gambler, alcoholic and hypochondriac and ran up huge debts. The Dromoland Octagonal Pond (today referred to as the…
Meet Arek – Our Sustainability Officer
By Niamh O Donnell | April 28, 2021 | 1
To help us take the next steps in our green journey, we are proud to appoint our own full-time Sustainability Officer, Arek Gduliński. Arek joined our team at Dromoland Castle six years ago and we are excited to back him all the way in his new role as he carves out the future of our estate,…
Marie's Story
Many of you will have had the pleasure of meeting Marie Chawke, our Director of Business Development and a key member of Dromoland Castle since 2017. Energetic, hard working and much-loved, on August 26th 2020 Marie was diagnosed with Stage Three hormone cancer. Determined to weather the storm with her upbeat attitude, she began…


Humans, among other animals, have developed love as an adaptation to ensure the safety of an entire group. Those individuals who had a strong attachment to the others in their group were better able to survive since a group is stronger than the sum of its parts.
The feeling is especially strong for an organism's offspring since a strong attachment is beneficial for survival. You inherently know that the survival of your genetic code depends on the survival of your offspring and every parent knows that their child's life is worth more than their own. Those who felt love toward their offspring were less likely to want to eat it or abandon it when it got annoying, thus giving a better chance to the survival of the child.
Most of us are born into a small group, called a family, made up of our parents and possibly other children that our parents have made. When we are born, we see ourselves as the center of the universe and believe that time began with us.
It's understandable; we don't start out knowing anything beyond ourselves. We create characters of "Mom" and "Dad" and possibly siblings. Since this is your first experience with people, those characters are often given embellished traits. You might think that your mom is all-knowing or that your dad is the strongest man in the world! This happens because you are not yet developed enough to realize the flaws in other people; your caregivers seem all-powerful to you.
The characters that you created early of your parents and siblings are often maintained with exaggerated information since they formed in that way. If you grew up with a younger sibling who you thought always needed to be defended, you might continue to treat them as though you are their protector even if they grow stronger than you.
Similarly, if you think that every conversation you have with your parents is one where they are telling you what to do, you'll synapse the idea that this character will always tell you what to do. It's why we're so quick to revert back to our childhood roles when we are around the people we knew best during our childhood.
As the entertainment industry grew in popularity, television shows and other storytelling media began to utilize the social dynamics of a family. The majority of the audiences for those shows were families so the shows that related to the audience had the best chance of surviving. In this case, that meant remaining on the air. It's fine to have a family structure for the audience to relate to but when there is such a huge collection of shows and movies that have family structure, a problem arises.
Television shows tend to show only the good parts of a family. Audiences didn't originally want to watch dysfunctional families, though that's changed over time. With a huge amount of model families with nice sentimental moments filling TV screens, the audience raised their expectations of how their family should behave.
In reality, there is no way your family can compare to a made up version that you watch through a screen. Your family is real, meaning there are bound to be at least a few negative experiences. The difference between reality and expectation causes dissatisfaction with your own family. This can also happen if you were to only observe the good parts of a family in real life, you'll compare your own family to this one and you'll most certainly be dissatisfied because you don't see the negative in them. The people who are most dissatisfied with their family are the people who have synapsed too many bad experiences or are unable to reconcile that their family expectations cannot be achieved in reality.
It's actually okay if you feel as though you're on the outside of your family looking in. When you try to see what it is that binds you together, you'll first think of your similar DNA; you and your siblings are made from your parents after all. But when you take a step back, you'll see that the similarities between you and your family aren't that significant compared to the similarities between you and every other human on the planet.
Have you ever felt close enough to a friend that you think of them as a brother or sister? Have you ever felt as though a mentor took over the role of your mother or father? It is not necessary for your family, the group of people that you love, to only include your parents and their other offspring. You have the freedom to choose any human to be part of your family.
Family should be thought of as a fluid concept, one that welcomes new people and says goodbye to others. The most successful groups of people see themselves as family: military groups, sports teams, urban gangs, even people in some businesses.
Given enough time and cooperation, you can feel a family bond with just about any group of people. Your parents have a Basic Function drive to love you and want to protect and provide for you; nobody is going to change that automated function. I'm sure that they would very much appreciate some love in return but they not the only family that you have. We are all human, we want to love and we want to be loved and you have the potential to form those bonds with anybody and everybody.