Coincidentally coinciding with the 10th Anniversary of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Gallery Nucleus held a Legend of Korra/Avatar: The Last Airbender Tribute Exhibition containing the art of fans selected by Gallery Nucleus as well as some behind-the-scenes production art. Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, the creators of The Legend of Korra and Avatar: The Last Airbender, appeared at the event to meet the fans. During the press hour before the official start of the event, I was able to interview them.
Matthew Berg-Johnsen: The Legend of Korra certainly had a rocky development and distribution process.
MBJ: It seemed that Nickelodeon became less and less supportive of the series over time, with budget cuts for Season 4, a lack of marketing, and the pulling of the series off the air and distributing new episodes solely online. Such an unfortunate situation begs the question: Did you feel, during the development process, that Nickelodeon was starting to lose interest or rescind support with the Legend of Korra?
Bryan: I think it is easy when you're a fan of one particular show to say that that show is being picked on, but I think it really was a bigger issue. It's hard to really get into the details, but we happened to be at the forefront of the issue, and the issue is that the landscape of TV is changing. I know that from the outside even high-level journalists at major magazines and newspapers – no matter what Mike and I say in interviews to the contrary – they might think, 'the show is violent, that's why it got taken off the air' or 'this happened, that's why it got taken off,' but it had nothing to do with that stuff. Nickelodeon is in a position like every other network: dealing with the fact that people are leaving that model of watching broadcast and cable TV, and we have a show that did really well online. So, it ended up being fumbled, but it was meant to be this thing like, 'hey, this is our show that does really well online,' but it got messed up. So it's really a changing industry, a changing landscape. All the studios are trying to figure out what to do, and we just got caught in the middle of the mess, and kind of bounced around a bit. We have always had the support of the executives right above us. They're awesome. And they're just as big of fans of the show as anybody.
Was it frustrating? Yes. It was very frustrating, and we wish things could have been done differently, but at that level, you can't take it personally. I mean, you get angry and upset, especially when we made season 3 and we were so excited to share it.
Bryan: It wasn't all doom and gloom, you know.
MBJ: Well, the question doesn't entirely have to do with the doom and gloom, haha. What was the original plan for episode 8 before the budget cut?
Bryan: There's not a lost episode.
Bryan: Yeah, we weren't that far along [when we learned about the budget cut]. These productions take so long, I mean like, an episode of Avatar took 9-10 months. An episode of Korra took a year to a year-and-a-half. So, you know, there are a lot of discussions about a season before you're actually in-season and getting your hands dirty and all that stuff.
MBJ: As veterans of the industry, have you noticed any changes in the work environment?
Bryan: You mean the animation industry from when we came in until now?
Bryan: I don't know, I mean, again just to go back to this idea that there is a golden age going on like, I've been at Nick on and off for 14 years… 15? 15 years. So yeah I've definitely seen it transition through a lot of eras and we were talking to a show creator of a new series- really nice guy- and he was like, you know, just asking kind of a similar question like, 'how's the studio,' and I was like, 'you know, I think this is the best time at the studio.' There's so much going on there that's creative and creator-driven, and there is a lot of fresh talent that the studio pulled in. It's a pretty awesome environment right now.
Mike: Yeah, I think if anything has changed, it's the number of shows that are out there, because when I started I was on King of the Hill and it was just starting, so that was around the time a bunch of primetime shows were being picked up.
Mike: Yeah, with Family Guy and stuff. It wasn't like there were countless shows, I mean there was Cartoon Network back then, but they only had a few shows. Now there are more shows and a greater amount of younger people getting into animation. When I graduated years ago [from the Rhode Island School of Design], the animation department was not considered "cool" really, but like a couple of years after I left, it became really competitive to be accepted.
Mike: No, I think after my graduation, people were going to school specifically to become an animator or work in animation.
Bryan: Yeah, to go back for a bit to that idea that Korra got very unfortunately caught in the middle of a shift–that shift is what's allowing all of these new shows to be produced. I mean, DreamWorks' deal with Netflix is insane in the amount of content they are making that is all going online – and it's just for online. That never used to happen, and orders that long. Like, you'd be lucky to get a 6-episode pick-up for the first season, so it can be tough to get really good people because you're like, 'hey, come work on this show,' and they're like, "how long is it,' and you're like, 'two months,' and they're like, 'dude, I can't leave this job for a two month gig.' I did. That's how I ended up in Nickelodeon; I left a long job to go work on Invader Zim because I was like, 'I got to go where the creativity is, and this is an exciting project.' It turned into two years and that led to Avatar and, you know, The Legend of Korra. Digital outlets are allowing for more content to be made, and that's good for the industry. I mean, the industry always swells, it ebbs and flows. It always gets really big and then shrinks down, that's inevitable, but yeah, it's doing pretty well.
MBJ: It seems that the final scene of Season 4 has been very polarizing for the fanbase, with the primary complaint being the lack of a clear setup or progression to the relationship between Korra and Asami making it appear haphazardly thrown in. How would you respond to said criticism?
Bryan: I don't agree. I just saw a really beautiful post that took all the moments between them from the beginning. There's just stills from the beginning of the series to the end, and it looked like the most beautiful, natural progression.
Mike: Yeah, for every person that says, 'no, there's no set-up,' I see like that thing, which is like, 'it couldn't have been clearer,' and so obviously people interpret things their way.
Mike: The people who didn't even have it cross their minds as a possibility.
Bryan: Yeah, that it hadn't even crossed their minds. And then, other people who… I mean, you don't have to be gay to be like, 'yeah, that's cool, that could happen and I could see that.' Sadly we have had some really – I mean of course, inevitably – some negative, nasty stuff and I'm surprised that those people even ever liked the show. If you don't like it, then just go watch some other show. But yeah, I'm really quite proud of it and it was something that we didn't think we could explicitly show in the show. Earlier, halfway through the series, it was just a question of how explicit can we be or will we be, and knowing that we can't be totally explicit, it became a question of, 'how do we handle it?' I mean, you don't want something up that you can't pay off and that was the question in going, 'well, are we just going to keep the door open or are we really going to try and pin this down,' and so that was where we were wavering. Not like, 'oh I don't know, I saw a Tumblr post, we should do this at the end of the show.' We were not going to do that for a show we worked on for five years – we don't work that way, it just doesn't happen. We are not so easily swayed, I mean we're pretty stubborn and we planned years out, ahead of what people see. So, yeah, I'm just passionate about this stuff, and it's funny to me the idea that people think we made the decision at the last minute, and therefor 'they didn't know what they were doing,' because, like, anyone who says that is not a writer or doesn't appreciate writing. I'm not comparing us to Miyazaki, but I've heard he often doesn't know the end of his movies when he starts storyboarding them. But that's writing and directing – it's making a series of decisions and the only ones that were too late are the ones that came after we've released it. I mean, we've changed and tweaked stuff even after the mix sometimes, and it's not because we read a post on Tumblr or Twitter or something. We are fine-tuning all along the way, and then when it's done, that's when the decisions are done.
MBJ: Well, I think you're going to kill me for asking this, but there is a rumor that you two are working on a new 'world-building' series that you're planning to announce at Comic-Con 2015.
Mike: No, it's a rumor.
Bryan: I mean, hopefully we'll be at San Diego Comic-Con this year and hopefully by then we'll have been able to announce what we're each doing.
Tagged Bryan Konietzko, Legend of Korra, Michael Dante DiMartino, Nickelodeon. Bookmark the permalink.


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Home Forums > Basic Medicine > Physiology >
When Does Your Brain Stop Growing?
Discussion in 'Physiology' started by Egyptian Doctor, Jul 21, 2012.
Egyptian Doctor Moderator Verified Doctor
Can you get smarter than a fifth-grader? Of course, but new research suggests some of the brain's basic building blocks for learning are nearing adult levels by age 11 or 12.
It is the first finding from a study of how children's brains grow. The most interesting results are yet to come.
About 500 super-healthy newborns to teenagers, recruited from super-healthy families, are having periodic MRI scans of their brains as they grow up. They also get a battery of age-appropriate tests of such abilities as IQ, language skills and memory.
The project, funded by the National institutes of Health, is tricky work.
Move during an MRI, and the image blurs. Because scientists cannot sedate healthy children, they are having to get crafty to keep their subjects still. Tired toddlers are put in the scanners at naptime; mom squeezes in for a cuddle and earplugs help block the machines' noisy banging. Six-year-olds wear earphones and watch favorite videos beamed into the scanner.
The MRI images measure how different parts of the brain grow and reorganize throughout childhood.
Overlap them with the children's shifting behavioral and intellectual abilities at each age, and scientists expect to produce a long-sought map of normal brain development in children representative of the diverse U.S. population.
On Friday, scientists were publishing a sneak peek at some surprising early results.
Performance on a variety of cognitive tasks — working memory, vocabulary, spatial recognition, reasoning, calculation — rapidly improves between age 6 and 10, but then levels off.
"We don't honestly know why," said Dr. Deborah Waber of Childrens hospital boston, who led the analysis published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.
This is a snapshot of 6- to 18-year-olds' abilities during their first study visit. Results may change after researchers observe each child's progress with age and compare their MRI scans, she said.
The adolescent brain is still growing. Indeed, the region responsible for things such as impulse control and moral judgment is the last to mature, sometime in the early 20s, said Dr. Jordan Grafman of the NIH's National Institute Of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
The study did not evaluate those kinds of skills. "It's an incomplete picture," he said.
But the age finding does make sense, suggesting a foundation necessary for higher learning is in place by puberty, said Dr. John Gilmore of the Univ. of North Carolina. The brain-development specialist was not involved with the project.
Scientists already knew that before age 12, the brain is racing to wire itself, making more connections between nerve cells that in turn enlarge vital regions. This is a time of rapid learning, the reason it is easier to learn a foreign language as a young child than as a teenager or adult, Gilmore said.
After puberty, the process slows and the brain "prunes" itself, focusing less on installing new wiring than on programming and refining what is already there.
"Obviously, learning continues to happen," Gilmore said. But the new study says that "by 10 or 12, kids have the basic building blocks they need to learn."
The study also found that girls start with a slightly better verbal ability but boys catch up by adolescence; they have an equal aptitude for math. While children from low-income families scored slightly lower on IQ tests, earlier suggestions of a bigger gap are due to poorer health among poor families.
Once those key MRI scans are added to the children's ability tests, scientists will have a better idea of the range of normal childhood development. Then they can use the data to help figure out what goes wrong in brain diseases such as autism.
Egyptian Doctor, Jul 21, 2012
Nice info,but i'm still waiting for my brain to start growing
Gospodin Seki, Jul 21, 2012

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


(AFP) The first female designer to lead Dior took her feminist revolution to another level on Friday, unleashing models in workers' blue overalls and Black Panther leather berets.
Maria Grazia Chiuri continued her radical shake-up of the fabled French label with a rhapsody in navy blue — the colour the label's founder Christian Dior said was "the only one which can ever compete with black".
She took her empowerment message a step further on Friday with a sober and hugely surprising collection that mixed blue jeans with taffeta and velvet.
The white bandana has been adopted as a symbol of resistance on fashion catwalks against politicians peddling division, a tilt at US President Donald Trump among others.
The contrast with the dreamy romanticism of Chiuri's first haute couture collection for the label in January could not have been starker.
Then she wowed critics with one dreamlike ball gown after another, which the New York Times described as "sheer romance".
In contrast, her autumn-winter ready-to-wear collection rarely strayed from navy blue and black, as if to acknowledge the hard word needed to achieve the equality she espouses.
Her models were in a big hurry — worker ants out to revolutionise their world.
Turned-up straight blue jeans were worn with capes and hooded tops inspired by monks' cowls.
And Chiari seemed to revel in the subversive charge of the most daintily feminine of all French brands, rethinking workwear last seen on 1950s car mechanics.
Navy as the new black was her starting point for the collection, she told AFP as celebrity guests including the singer Rihanna, actors Uma Thurman, Sienna Miller and Rosamund Pike and supermodel Kate Moss arrived for the show.
"As well as the symbol of the Virgin Mary and of kings, blue is the colour of all kinds of uniforms… uniform help(s) to protect people in some way," she said.
"There is no specific uniform (in the show), everyone can decide what their personal uniform is.
"Uniforms are also about equality," she added.
Earlier Friday Vanessa Seward, known for her classic slightly vintage look, sexed up her autumn winter collection with short dresses and knee-length boots.
And Jonathan Anderson at Loewe mixed spots, stripes, checks, squares and diamonds, sometimes on the same dress.


The math expressions library supports simple and multivariate linear regression.
The regress function is used to build a linear regression model between two random variables. Sample observations are provided with two numeric arrays. The first numeric array is the independent variable and the second array is the dependent variable.
In the example below the random function selects 5000 random samples each containing the fields filesize_d and response_d. The two fields are vectorized and stored in variables b and c. Then the regress function performs a regression analysis on the two numeric arrays.
The regress function returns a single tuple with the results of the regression analysis.
The predict function uses the regression model to make predictions. Using the example above the regression model can be used to predict the value of response_d given a value for filesize_d.
In the example below the predict function uses the regression analysis to predict the value of response_d for the filesize_d value of 40000.
The predict function can also make predictions for an array of values. In this case it returns an array of predictions.
In the example below the predict function uses the regression analysis to predict values for each of the 5000 samples of filesize_d used to generate the model. In this case 5000 predictions are returned.
The difference between the observed value and the predicted value is known as the residual. There isn't a specific function to calculate the residuals but vector math can used to perform the calculation.
In the example below the predictions are stored in variable e. The ebeSubtract function is then used to subtract the predictions from the actual response_d values stored in variable c. Variable f contains the array of residuals.
The olsRegress function performs a multivariate linear regression analysis. Multivariate linear regression models the linear relationship between two or more independent variables and a dependent variable.
The example below extends the simple linear regression example by introducing a new independent variable called service_d. The service_d variable is the service level of the request and it can range from 1 to 4 in the data-set. The higher the service level, the higher the bandwidth available for the request.
Notice that the two independent variables filesize_d and service_d are vectorized and stored in the variables b and c. The variables b and c are then added as rows to a matrix. The matrix is then transposed so that each row in the matrix represents one observation with filesize_d and service_d. The olsRegress function then performs the multivariate regression analysis using the observation matrix as the independent variables and the response_d values, stored in variable d, as the dependent variable.
The predict function can also be used to make predictions for multivariate linear regression.
Below is an example of a single prediction using the multivariate linear regression model and a single observation. The observation is an array that matches the structure of the observation matrix used to build the model. In this case the first value represents a filesize_d of 40000 and the second value represents a service_d of 4.
The predict function can also make predictions for more than one multivariate observation. In this scenario an observation matrix used.
In the example below the observation matrix used to build the multivariate regression model is passed to the predict function and it returns an array of predictions.
Once the predictions are generated the residuals can be calculated using the same approach used with simple linear regression.
Below is an example of the residuals calculation following a multivariate linear regression. In the example the predictions stored variable g are subtracted from observed values stored in variable d.


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We enjoy to mix our creative experience with the ideas and excitement of our clients. Upon our first meet, we will walk through the clients vision and merge it with our own. Please rest assured that we have and will continue to refuse projects that are not up to the current safety standards and will never customize a vehicle in a way that would put anyone in any physical danger. Safety is our number one priority!
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Being guided by the Lord, Arens Guerrier left his position as a chef to help his little brother grow G's Custom. Arens has been a necessary asset to the business and it could not have grown to where it has without him. His professionalism, ability to listen and huge smile has made him loved by all of our clients and a if you ever need a biblical lesson on any subject, he's the man to see.
Standing by her husband (Elde Guerrier), DeLisa started managing the financials of G's Custom, pretty early in it's inception. Devoted to helping the company strive, she usually is very involved in all of the business relations, planning and background work.


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Has Anyone Read The Tweets from Eric Carmen?
Frank D'Onofrio
A Star Connecting with Real People
If you are a supporter of President Trump and have been watching the Twitter feeds, one name that may have gone unnoticed lately is Eric Carmen. He may not be a household word in entertainment today, but anyone who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s could not have lived without hearing his beautiful melodic voice. First it was with the group The Raspberries, which was followed by his solo career.
Carmen is a Hall of Fame Legend
Carmen is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump and the Conservative agenda. He is one of the more thoughtful Trump followers on Twitter. He takes his time commenting on Trump's successes as well as apparent flaws in the Democrat agenda. His tweets against Democrat oppression are biting and accurate in any form of social media. I find myself waiting around for his next tweet because they are not only spot on, but they uncover flaws that I might have missed. Many of my Twitter friends have come through my support for President Trump. Then one day I noticed Carmen "followed" me on Twitter. I was flattered and proud, to say the least!. Occasionally, I get the "Liked" on my post, or in rare cases, he has responded to one of my tweets. I am honored each time.
What you might not know, if you are not a fan of rock and roll music, is that the name Eric Carmen carries with it a Rock and Roll pedigree of immense proportions. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – a high distinction, to say the least! After The Raspberries, Carmen went on to a fantastic and memorable solo career. To those of us growing up during that time frame would consider Carmen music royalty. \Anyone who grew up as a teenager in the 1970's and 1980's could not help but be moved not only by his lyrics, but his beautiful melodic tenor voice. His technique from a musician's perspective (I am a classically trained singer), is almost perfect. His voice grabs you, but does not let you go.
The 1970s Music Scene
In 1975, I was like most New York teenagers who were part of the urban jungle scene. I wasn't old enough to drive, but old enough to stay out most of the days with my friends. This is something which doesn't have such a distinction today. Teens spent time listening to music every summer day. I grew up in the sweltering heat of the Bronx in New York City. There, I listened to the Rock and Roll Sounds of WABC. It was the best contemporary radio station of the time. I would listen exclusively to the best DJs like Harry Harrison and Dan Ingraham.
FM radio was on the rise, but if you wanted the best mix of the popular Rock and Roll format, you had your radio tuned into 77 WABC. This station is now strictly a talk radio format. We would continue listening to WABS at night when they transitioned to broadcasting Yankees baseball games. During the day we listened to music. WABC is also the radio station that introduced us to the irascible Don Imus.
In 1975, people carried these almost 10-15 pound rocks called boom boxes. Many carried these giant radios on their shoulders everywhere they went. The music would be blaring and they might be dancing along. Many would have the volume turned up so loud, you could hear it a block – sometimes two blocks away. In my neighborhood, your stature came from how big your boom box was. Some people carried a radio the size of a living room couch on their shoulders. They might have their ear pressed against the speaker as if it were on the lowest level.
The Song that Touched my Soul
In 1975, Eric Carmen influenced my life for the first time. His first solo hit was a song called "All By Myself." This was a ballad, which while haunting was very significant in my life. Rock and Roll music had grown up from the bubble gum songs to songs that relayed a message. In that era, not only was a catchy melody important, the words were equally if not more important. The melody may have sold us, but it was the words that became the reason we stayed to listen to it time after time.
"All by Myself" was a slow ballad which spoke to me in ways that even today, I am haunted by its effects. Carmen's song started with a slow beating piano chord eerily similar to a heartbeat. It seemed to introduce a lonely voice from outside. The chord beats were warning us about the story that was about to unfold. This song did not come and hit you at first, Carmen laid a foundation first. Lyrically, however, it was like getting hit with a sledgehammer.
Sinatra would call these saloon songs, but this was the Rock and Roll Era and Sinatra was on our parents' play list, not ours. Carmen's song, however, was as close to a saloon song as one could get in the era of Rock and Roll. The crescendo later, and then the chorus were reminders of the excess that life could be. They served as warnings to all of us about staying clear of giving up on love.
"All by Myself" Stuck with Me
Later on in my life, it was this song I could point to as something that resonated deep inside of me. When I went through my divorce some 20 years later, I could almost hear those haunting words make me think twice about ending my bad relationship
When I was young, I never needed anyone. and making love was just for fun… Those days are gone
I still remember what those words meant. One would never think that 17 words could hit a 14-15 year old hard. Those words did. I am lucky because I later found and married the love of my life. She put perspective on those words for me. By heeding the warning Carmen conveyed through his lyrics, I learned what true love was about. Those lyrics made as much sense then as they do now: Do not take real love for granted.
Not only did that song affect me, his other hits "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again," and the cult movie classic from Dirty Dancing "Hungry Eyes" also influenced me. Neither were as hard-hitting and intense like "All By Myself."
MAGA Carmen
When I found an Eric Carmen on Twitter speaking out for Donald Trump in favorable terms, I took a moment to ask the question – was this the same Eric Carmen? Was this the same singer that influenced my life so many years ago. I was surprised because so many members of the entertainment industry are so outspokenly liberal they make my skin crawl. I can take honest opinions, but it just seems that the Left is filled with overtly self-righteous people who have no clue what it is like to live in the real world.
Most Celebrities are Out of Touch
Sometimes I ask myself who are these famous people? I am talking about those who will be gracing the red carpet at the Academy Awards and the Grammys. These people are treated with gift bags worth hundreds of thousands. Most "stars" assemble together to congratulate each other every year. They don't live in the real world. They are so distant from our realities, yet they show just how distant they are by acting self-absorbed.
Do these celebrities REALLY like giving away money they earn to people who do not want to work hard? I don't mind helping people, and I do, very often in fact. I just resent those who want to spend my money and then not put in a dime of their own. They have accountants and others who help them shelter their money. We regular folks, on the other hand, may have our cousin Jeff who is an accountant who helps us with our tax returns. Our lives are just not the same. I can't wait for celebrities to realize if Bernie is elected, he is going to confiscate all they earned because they make too much. Maybe they think they will be immune because they are famous. That will not be their reality in Bernie's America!
Carmen is One of Us
I read tweets from Eric Carmen and I have a renewed appreciation for him. He doesn't preach, instead, he tells the truth. Others who seem to disagree with him are not put down. They are greeted with facts, which most Liberals seem to hate. His tweets expose lawlessness and the great job President Trump is doing. Carmen doesn't tell anyone they are dumb for not agreeing with him.
He takes a softer approach and shows them in real terms what the effects are to real people. Carmen responds to real people and even though he has been Blue Checkmark verified, he doesn't ignore people. In fact, he talks to them — even those with whom he disagrees. When I found him following me, I was honored. Then when he liked one of my tweets, I was overwhelmed. It was when he responded to my words, that I found I had to acknowledge him for doing so.
Take a look at Carmen's tweets when you get a moment. Realize you are hearing from a thoughtful man. Anyone who could write lyrics or sing those songs in such a convincing way, MUST be thoughtful. He grew up in Cleveland, the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While I do not know him personally, he speaks to me. First it was through his songs and now in his tweets.
Your Works and Tweets Are Appreciated
Thanks, Eric for acknowledging my tweets as well as others like me. Thanks for saying things I would like to say. Keep it up because America needs more patriots like you – people who stand up for the ordinary guy. People who allow people their opinions, and do not pop off when they disagree with you. People like you Eric let us have our beliefs and don't make us feel silly. You allow yourself to fit in with ordinary people, like the ones President Trump highlighted in his State of the Union address. Carmen is an American who gets it. Like most Trump supporters, he is just one of us.
Thank You, Eric. First for your influence on my life and your impact on others like me, who grew up with you. Keep on Tweeting.
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Tags: Eric Carmen
Frank D'Onofrio is a writer for NRN. He's is a passionate patriot. D'Onofrio has been a technology manager for over 25 years, and has traveled the world. He believes in the future of America. He believes our children should be taught to believe in American exceptionalism, that comes from our founders, and those who fought and died to maintain our freedoms.
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Jordan Fisher Will Return To 'Dear Evan Hansen' When It Reopens In December
By SJ Arnegger Jun 1, 2021
This morning on Good Morning America, Jordan Fisher confirmed that he will be rejoining the cast of Dear Evan Hansen when the Broadway production resumes its run at the Music Box Theatre on December 11th, 2021. Further casting details are still to be confirmed. The musical's other two critically-acclaimed productions will open this fall, beginning with the London production of Dear Evan Hansen, which won the 2020 Olivier Award for Best Musical and will reopen at the Noël Coward Theatre on October 26, 2021. The third year of the record-breaking North American Tour will relaunch on December 7, 2021 in Greensboro, North Carolina before visiting more than 30 cities across the US and Canada in the 2021/2022 season. For a full list of tour cities and venues, visit www.dearevanhansen.com. Tickets are now on-sale for the Broadway and touring productions of Dear Evan Hansen, and tickets for the West End production will go on sale to the public on May 18, 2021. For tickets to all three productions, visit www.dearevanhansen.com.
Dear Even Hansen opened on Broadway five years ago and features a score by Tony, Oscar and Grammy awards winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, book by Tony Award-winner Steven Levenson, music supervision, orchestrations and additional arrangements by Alex Lacamoire, direction by Michael Greif, choreography by Danny Mefford, scenic design by David Korins, projection design by Peter Nigrini, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, and sound design by Nevin Steinberg.
Photo: Matthew Murphy


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Zayn Malik Splits with Perrie Edwards
6 Aug 2015 by Venetia Sng
Zayn Malik has been hogging on to the headlines recently. He has recently called off his engagement to his Little Mix fiancée, Perrie Edwards.
Reports said that Malik, 22, contacted Edwards, also 22, two weeks ago and said it was over, not face to face but over the phone. Sounds like Joe Jonas and Taylor Swift all over again.
Credit:j-14
Fans of the former One Direction member have been rejoicing over the split. Mainly because they feel that Edwards was behind Malik's departure of the band, calling her the Yoko Ono of One Direction.
Sources also mentioned that Edwards has been putting on a brave face after the split was announced as Little Mix is going through their promotions right now but she's totally devastated and livid over the break up.
Edwards appeared on E! for an interview shortly after the news broke along with the rest of her bandmates and was asked how she is coping. The singer appeared emotional, but replied: 'I'm good, thank you.'
While on Malik's side, the singer – who recently signed a new record deal with RCA Records – hinted that he is focusing on his job.
How do you feel about their split? Let us know!
Entertainment News Recap
More freshly released MVs, Cara Delevingne's awkward interview and her proving that she's the boss! Here's what you missed last week!
Cara Delevinge's painfully awkward interview
If you haven't heard about the cringe worthy interview Good Morning Sacramento did with actress and model Cara Delevigne about the release of the film Paper Towns, have you been living under a rock?
Delevingne appeared live on Good Day Sacramento the morning after her final premiere for the film and it didn't exactly start off well when the news anchor introduced her as "Carla". You are a news anchor right? Learn how to pronounce pro-per-ly.
Well, the whole interview just went downhill from there. They asked her if she'd ever read the book, to which they got this sarcastic reply.
Then the news anchor commented that Delevingne seemed "irritable" and said: "Maybe it's just us." To which she shot back with the sassiest response.
At the end of the interview, the news anchor told her: "You go take a nap, have a Red Bull, how about that?" Which resulted in this reaction from Delevingne, we all rolled our eyes with her.
After the interview ended and she was off-screen, the hosts continued to comment on her "attitude". Which is not very professional, people!
Delevingne soon posted an update to Twitter over the matter.
And followed up with this Instagram image of her holding up a copy of Paper Towns, proving that she's the boss!
I JUST FOUND THIS BOOK! ITS AWESOME!
A photo posted by Cara Delevingne (@caradelevingne) on Jul 31, 2015 at 4:52pm PDT
YOU GO CARA!
Wonder Girls 'REBOOT's with 'I Feel You'
Wonder Girls are finally back with 3rd album 'REBOOT' and title song 'I Feel You'! The song is written by J.Y. Park and is a 80s pop-sounding song that combines synth instruments with a catchy rhythm, we are loving the track! With Sunmi back as part of a quartet, Yenny on the piano, Yubin on the drums, Sunmi on the bass guitar, and Lim on the guitar. It's not all for show! They really do know how to play the instruments, having to take part in the recording themselves. Check out the MV and let us know if you love it!
Choi Siwon to enlist soon
Super Junior's Siwon will be the seventh member to enter the military, following Shindong and Sungmin. When will we be bidding goodbye to him as he enlists for his mandatory military service? Reports state that Siwon is planning to enlist after his upcoming drama 'She Was Pretty'.
SM Entertainment confirmed the news stating, "Choi Siwon will be enlisting after he completes the MBC drama 'She Was Pretty'. The exact time period hasn't been decided on yet. After he wraps up his drama, he'll prepare and enter the military as an active duty soldier." We will miss our Won Won dearly.
Ex 1D member Zayn Malik signs with RCA Records
It's official you guys! The ex One Direction member has signed a global recording deal with RCA Records. Hopefully we wouldn't have to wait too long for his solo album to be out! Read more about it here!
JYP Entertainment to debut new boy group DAY6
Credit: Youtube
First iKon, now DAY6. JYP Entertainment has finally released news on their upcoming boy group. DAY6 (formerly known as 5Live) are preparing for their official debut with six members! JYPE told TVDaily, "6 member boy group DAY6 are preparing for their debut. The details on their debut have not been decided yet."
The confirmed members include former 'K-Pop Star' contestant Park Jaehyung, Kang Younghyun, who featured in Baek Ah Yeon's song "Shouldn't Have", as well as Kim Wonpil, Park Sungjin, Im Joonhyuk and Yoon Doyoon. You'll recognise most of them from that 'WIN' episode where the YG trainees competed with JYP trainees!
Shinee Drops MV for 'Married to the Music'
SHINee doesn't cease to delight and impress with their quirky and captivating new MV in which they have fun partying and weird things happened to them like, Key had his head chopped off, Taemin had his eyes hit out of him with a bat, Onew dropped his nose while washing his face and Jonghyun had his lips stolen after kissing a girl. You'll see a combination of all their facial parts on (presumably) Minho's body at the end of the MV.
Catch us next week for more entertainment news and celebrity gossips!
Ex-1D Member Zayn Malik Signs with RCA Records
31 Jul 2015 by Venetia Sng
Fans of Zayn (Zayners? Malikers?) rejoice! The ex One Direction member has signed a global recording deal with RCA Records. We can't wait for his solo album to be out already!
Ever since his departure from 1D in March this year, we've all been wondering when this heart breaker will make a solo comeback. Well, it seems like the wait is over! RCA Records and Syco Music announce today that Zayn Malik will release his debut solo album on RCA Records. No news as to when the album will be out but now that he's signed with a label, we hope it means that it'll be out soon!
"With RCA, Zayn has the perfect label to work with on his solo career. They are excited about working with him and I am sure whatever they release together will be special."
Simon Cowell of Syco Music
"Zayn's a genius songwriter with an incredible voice, and we are proud to have him join our roster of iconic superstars. We are thrilled he has entrusted us to deliver his personal artistic vision to millions of his fans across the globe."
Peter Edge and Tom Corson of RCA
Exciting much? Let us know what you think about Zayn's solo debut by commenting below!
Celebrity spats, one more couple revealed and who's pregnant now? We present to you a recap of the juiciest entertainment news.
Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah confirmed to be dating
Cue hearts breaking. Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah are dating, agencies from both sides have confirmed the reports! The 26-year-old actor and 31-year-old actress were spotted by Korean media, Dispatch, meeting up in secret. According to Dispatch, Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah became friendly as the endorsement models for fashion brand Giordano, which they shot for early this year in January. It's rumoured that they've been dating for around two months now. A source told Dispatch that they started becoming interested in each other in February and started a relationship in May. Though fan boys and girls (including us) all around are weeping, we still wish them all the best!
Nicki and Tay Tay having it out on Twitter
Earlier last week, Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to express her disappointment that 'Anaconda', which broke video streaming records when it was released last August, wasn't up for Best Choreography and Video of the Year at this year's VMAs.
Taylor Swift, whose 'Bad Blood' video broke the streaming record set by 'Anaconda', took the tweet personally and responded.
Minaj said that Swift was misinterpreting her comments.
Taylor tried to smooth over the whole situation with this but we ain't having it!
(Obviously) Katy Perry got involved and Minaj favourited her tweet.
Swift later apologised which Minaj accepted with grace.
Kim Kardashian, Ed Sheeren and Bruno Mars got somehow dragged into this and you know how these things go.. but all is well now, so lets head back to our daily lives.
Jun Ji Hyun is pregnant with her first child
Top Korean actress Jun Ji Hyun (34) is pregnant with her first child! The 'You Who Came From the Stars' and 'My Sassy Girl' star is currently 10 weeks pregnant after 3 years of marriage to husband Choi Joon Hyuk. Her agency stated, "It's still the beginning of her pregnancy, so they're being very careful. Currently, Jun Ji Hyun plans to focus on her health and the baby. We sincerely thank everyone for their interest." Congrats to Jun Ji Hyun and her family!
iKon debut date confirmed
Credit: kpopstarz
YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk had let it slip through an interview about his thoughts on Tablo's label 'HIGHGRND' previously that iKON will be debuting on 15th September.
Officials from the agency have also recently confirmed the news, stating, "We have finalised iKON's debut date for September 15. They're currently preparing diligently."
So after sunbaes BIGBANG wrap up their promotions, iKON will be up next to take the torch! We can't wait to see what iKon has in stores for us!
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 official trailer is out
Lionsgate has finally revealed the full-length trailer for the highly anticipated 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2', featuring the half-human-half-lizard-like sewer monsters! Finnick and Katniss were featured in the video, fighting these creatures as they attempt to enter the city. President Snow has also rigged the entire Capitol as a Hunger Games substitute – someone has Hunger Games withdrawals. Are you as excited as we are for 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2'?
Tao's solo MV taken down by SM Entertainment
Tao (Z.Tao) has revealed the dark, moody and trippy music video for his Chinese solo debut song, 'T.A.O' on the 23rd July. However fans have noted that it's been taken down one day after "due to a copyright claim by SM Entertainment". This has been grabbing a lot of attention amidst the feud that appears to be going on between Tao and agency, yet no word from either. Only time will tell we guess.
Fan responses range from amusement to disbelief and from agreement that this was the right course of action that SM Entertainment would get in the way. What are your thoughts about this?
5 Life Lessons We Learned From Koda Kumi
23 Jul 2015 by Chew Hui Ling
Koda Kumi is one of the hottest personalities in showbiz, and why not? The J-pop bombshell boasts a stage presence that can only be outshined by her sultry vocals, but when it comes to assets – it's undeniably her voluptuous bod, honed from 15 years of donning risque costumes. So it struck us as a surprise when we realised just how inspirational the real Kumi is. Greeting the media at the press conference for her first ever solo concert in Singapore (like, finally!), the 32-year-old opened up about her insecurities, inner beauty, and female-empowering ideals.
1. Feel confident in what you wear.
"I like to pick stage costumes that flatter my body shape, typically one-piece outfits that's one-of-a-kind and not typically seen on anyone else. I'd usually take into consideration the era [of my concert] and what trends are popular during the time of the year."
2. Embrace your insecurities.
"Actually, I've never thought of myself as sexy. I do have low self-esteem sometimes, and there are some parts of myself that I don't feel confident about at all. When that happens, I turn to fashion to cover up my flaws and boost my confidence."
3. Who run the world? Girls.
"Rather than having guys associate me with the word 'sexy', I'd prefer to be viewed as a cool, strong and independent figure from the female crowd instead."
4. Express yourself, impress everyone.
"Personally, I feel that summer is a season where I could freely express myself and be comfortable in my own skin, so I'd pick tracks that best reflect the summer image. As an artiste, I was proud to have achieved the 'Koda Kumi voice' back in 2006, which is why I selected songs after '06 to be included in my summer compilation album."
5. Be yourself and you can be anything.
"As I age, I put more emphasis on inner beauty rather than what's on the outside. After 15 years in the industry, I realised that being yourself is the most important thing. People can say what they want to say, but you should always maintain your stance and be yourself no matter what."
Photo credit: Avex Singapore


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The lure of free goodies has been used by marketers for generations to lure consumers in, and then get them to commit to paying - usually a lot - for anything from timeshare deals to vacuum cleaners, dietary supplements and face creams.
The epicentre of a global online skin cream scam appears to be the United States, where these products are churned out with ever-changing names.
The US's Federal Trade Commission has, in the past few years, been investigating a number of these companies, and managed to stop a few of them from doing business in some states.
Typically, they falsely claim that local celebrities endorse the product, offer free samples, and then ask for consumers' bank details to pay for the delivery of those freebies.
So in reality there are no samples on offer - just very expensive little 30ml pots of face cream.
It's an online shopping trap which catches many and the banks won't entertain disputes from victims, calling them "invalid" because of the cardholder's consent, albeit unwittingly.
The product, which a lot of South African women are currently falling for, goes by the name of Jeavence.
One of them, Bilqees Essa, told me how early last month she watched a short clip from an episode of the South African version of reality show Shark Tank apparently featuring two women getting investment for their cosmetics products - Jeavance.
All fake. The women are sisters but they triumphed on the US version of Shark Tank with their swimwear business. The image has been repeatedly cropped and used by the skin cream scammers, much to the Shark Tank's producers frustration.
Bilqees was impressed by that clip and decided to pay R70 and R68 respectively for two samples - of Jeavence repair cream and eye cream.
What she got were not samples and they were far from free - her credit card was debited for R1354 and R1297.
When she disputed this with her bank, Absa, she was told nothing could be done to stop the payment because she'd accepted the supplier's terms and conditions "even if you did not read them".
After pestering the delivery company, Parcel Ninja, relentlessly, Bilqees was refunded a few days ago, but if you take a look at HelloPeter, it's clear that most women don't get their money back.
The fact that they'll be billed R1354 every month for a product if they don't cancel within 18 days, should be impossible to miss, and not hidden behind a link.
But Bilqees says she doesn't recall seeing any disclosure of those big amounts, as do many others.
Others have said the same thing. The FTC warns that for those using a smartphone, that information is buried behind a Terms & Conditions hyperlink.
So that could be the issue - the way the information displays or doesn't display, on a smartphone.
Some have been cancelled their cards for fear of future debits.
This week I tried to get some comment from the local company which fields complaints from South African consumers at the email address: [email protected].
Be extremely wary of pop-up adverts on news sites, Facebook, and the like. If you're going to buy online from foreign sites, stick to the big-name sites.
Beware the free offers - free holidays, free gifts - they are almost always a costly catch.
If you can, do this on a desktop or laptop computer rather than a smartphone, as links display better on the bigger screens.


text:
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Mayra Calderon, Chair
Mayra is passionate about making the world more food secure through policy, international development and trade.
Since 2004, Mayra has worked at the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service. There, she promoted global food security by strengthening agricultural productivity and reducing hunger and malnutrition through food assistance programs in South East Asia. She conducted global economic analysis for beef and cattle trade and advised senior officials on market developments as the United States re-opens markets access with key trading partners. She developed and implemented comprehensive strategies to improve the agricultural relationship with countries in North Africa and Middle East.
She currently serves as Deputy Director within the Office of Agreements and Scientific Affairs where she engages employees and stakeholders to prevent and resolve Sanitary and Phytosanitary barriers affecting the trade of U.S. grains, tree nuts, horticultural products, and biofuels. She has been a delegate to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization for USDA and supported ratification of the International Treaty on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Mayra was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and grew up in Southern California. She earned her undergraduate degree in International Trade and Relations from the University of Northern Colorado. In 2016, she was an International Career and Advancement Program (ICAP) fellow.
In addition to her board role at DCCADV, she serves as a member of Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Alumni Association, Women in International Trade, and USDA's Women in Agriculture. She is a certified scuba diver and enjoys reading, the arts, travel, and photography in her spare time.
Peg Hacskaylo, Secretary
Peg is the Founder and CEO of DASH, where she has overseen multiple innovative programs providing safe housing options for survivors and their families, including the recent launch of the National Alliance for Safe Housing to provide training and technical assistance at the intersection of domestic violence and homelessness for communities across the United States. She holds a Master's Degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed a certificate in organizational development, and advanced studies in business administration from Georgetown University.
Allison McCarley Jackson, MD, MPH
Allison is a board certified Child Abuse Pediatrician serving as the Division Chief of the Child and Adolescent Protection Center of Children's National Medical Center, and as an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at George Washington University. As a pediatrician on her team for over 16 years, she evaluates and treats children victimized by all forms of child maltreatment. As an extension of her clinical work, she has testified as a medical expert throughout the region. Her additional responsibilities include providing physician leadership to the District of Columbia's Multidisciplinary Team on Child Abuse.
Allison holds a graduate certificate in leadership development from George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development as well as a master teacher program in medical education certificate from Children's National Medical Center and George Washington University School of Education and Human Development. She is an active member of the Children's Academy of Pediatric Educators through which she is working to improve early identification of abuse and neglect by physicians by enhancing the education of pediatricians on the recognition and response to child physical abuse. Dr. Jackson also provides clinical and didactic instruction to medical students, residents, fellows, and to child-serving professionals in the region on the topic of childhood victimization and its impact across the lifespan.
She is a 2014 recipient of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner's Award, and in 2017 was installed as the Washington Children's Foundation Professor of Child and Adolescent Protection. Her advocacy on behalf of victims of child abuse and neglect is reflected in her service on the DC Children's Justice Act Task Force, the DC Victim Assistance Network, and as the Ray Helfer Society representative to the National Coalition of Child Abuse. She has been a primary and co-investigator in a number of research protocols and has several publications.
Karma Cottman, Ex officio
Karma joined DCCADV as Executive Director in 2010.
Since 1994, Karma, who is a Washington D.C. native, has worked with numerous national partners to address emerging issues in domestic violence service provision and sits on several national committees. From 2000 through 2010, Karma worked at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). As the Vice President of Policy and Emerging Issues, she directed the agency's policy agenda, as well as supervised NNEDV's state coalition and housing technical assistance projects. She worked closely with national policy partners to strengthen federal legislation to effectively respond to the needs of all domestic violence survivors. Karma also worked with federal agencies to enhance violence against women programming. She provided training and technical assistance to state and territorial domestic violence and dual domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions across the nation.
Prior to joining NNEDV, Karma served as the co-director of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence Rural Diversity Initiative. In this capacity, she assisted with the development of a community assessment tool used to identify service gaps in numerous local Florida communities. Karma currently serves on the steering committee of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African Community and the Policy Partnership for Communities of Color.
John Goodloe
Joris Vega
Join our email list to get updates on actions you can take.
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We are able to check PV panels are in working order, and suggest solutons should an issue be found.
Solar PV Panels do not generally fail but do need to be kept clean and the wiring checked for loose terminals as this can cause failure to the system but can be easily fixed.
A PV panel can be impacted by dirt, leaves, bird poo and vermin e.g. squirrels who like to eat the connecing cables!
Any actual panel failure is normally found at installation stage from the manufacturers production process. Occasionally, the Diodes (by pass) in a panel can fail which can result in a panel becoming in efficient and not generating the expected power as it does not use all of its cells.
C Gascoigne Ltd are able to replace diodes if this is found to be the problem, and/or contact your panel manufacturer to see if this issue is covered under the panels warranty.
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text:
Q: Where is the documentation for cudaArray? I have greped through /usr/local/cuda/doc, gotten to the 4th page of Google results, checked the index of CUDA By Example and searched through developer.download.nvidia.com to no avail.
There is a page on cudaMallocArray, which accepts cudaArray as an argument, however there is no link on that page to documentation about cudaArray itself.
Is cudaArray deprecated?  I can't find anything saying it is.  Is there any information on its use?

A: cudaArrays are a core part of CUDA and unlikely to go anywhere because they provide access to hardware that optimizes 2D texture sampling. They are described in the Memory Management section of the CUDA Runtime API documentation. And they are introduced in the CUDA C Programming Guide.

A: Some example:
http://cuda-programming.blogspot.fr/2013/02/cuda-array-in-cuda-how-to-use-cuda.html
Other example:
cudaArray simple example-- How to allocate 1D array?
Some information about CudAArray in the ending slides:
https://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEYQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eecg.toronto.edu%2F~moshovos%2FCUDA08%2Fslides%2F008%2520-%2520Textures.ppt&ei=fjkmU-reMcTI0QXm5oGoCw&usg=AFQjCNHMccUExB5WrE6SibJ4MpQFynuuRw&sig2=fOkKFMq1GDRgtJMQaImgdg&bvm=bv.62922401,d.d2k
Hope this can help

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Implementation in Erlang of the AbC Calculus developed at IMT and assessment of its quality and effectiveness by evaluating performances through a number of case studies. Development of tools for the verification of programs written in AbC.
The candidate should have a good knowledge of formal methods, verification techniques, and process algebras. Moreover, he/she should have demonstrable experience in implementing interpreters and compilers and very good knowledge of the programming language Erlang and its concurrency packages.
Masters degree or 4-year degree in Computer Science or similar field.
Suitable scientific background for carrying out research activity and experience in the field that should be described in the curriculum vitae.
Excellent knowledge of English, both written and spoken.
"Second life - Second Life of the Public Services" and "WiLIFE - Tecnologie WireLess e ICT per un efFiciente e integrato sistema per la prevenzione e gestione delle situazioni di crisi e delle Emergenze"


text:
Step aerobics, also known as bench aerobics and step training, is a form of aerobic exercise that involves stepping on and off a small platform.

Step aerobics was studied by physiologists in the 1980s, and in 1990 it swiftly grew in popularity in the U.S. as a style of health club exercise, largely because of promotion by Reebok of the Step Reebok device and associated exercise routines, prominently advocated by Gin Miller. Step aerobics attracted more men to group exercise classes. At its peak in 1995, there were 11.4 million people doing step aerobics.

Today, step aerobics classes are carried by many health clubs. Exercise routines include weights held in the hands for upper body development. Music with a medium (not fast) tempo often accompanies the routine, and learning a choreography sequence can hold the participants' interest.

History

Background

Aerobics traces its origin to the 1968 book Aerobics by Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, which inspired Jacki Sorensen to start her Aerobic Dancing program, combining music and dance routines to create an aerobic exercise pattern. Also in 1969, Judi Missett developed Jazzercise, combining jazz dance with fun exercise in much the same way. Building through the 1970s, Missett's Jazzercise and Sorensen's Aerobic Dancing became very popular in the U.S., such that by 1981–82 they counted 4,000 instructors each, and more than 300,000 students combined.

In 1982, Jane Fonda's Workout video changed the fitness world dramatically, starting a boom in home video exercise instruction through the 1980s and beyond. This same boom benefited health clubs by increasing the number of people who were involved in fitness.

Step development

Stair climbing exercise was already thousands of years old when physiologists started studying its medical characteristics in the 20th century. Climbing stairs was long known to be healthy exercise for the heart. The act of stepping up and down on one bench was studied in 1986 by a team led by Doctor Fredric L. Goss of the Human Energy Research Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh. Goss et al examined the popular HeavyHands hand weights fitness product combined with stepping exercises on the "Superstep" 12-inch (30.5 cm) fitness bench, comparing this combination to treadmill exercises and finding them equivalent. Goss followed this in 1988 with an evaluation of the energy expenditure of step aerobics combined with hand weights.

At the same time, Atlanta-based aerobics competitor Gin Miller was sidelined from high-impact activities in 1986 when she injured her knee. She was advised by her physical therapist to build her strength back up by stepping on and off an upside-down plastic milk crate ( tall). The crate was too high, so she used her 8-inch front porch step instead. After a few weeks of therapy, she noticed her increased fitness and realized this would be a good workout method for others. Working with Connie Collins Williams, Miller used prototypes made of plywood, and tried them out in an Atlanta Gold's Gym franchise, the location later called Sportslife. Working together, they developed 250 separate step-based movements. The program was aimed at men, the usual gym-goers at Gold's. These wooden prototype benches were very long: , with a choice of heights: 10, 11 and 12 inches. Small weights held in the hands could also be used. Fitness instructor Kathy Smith first experienced the Williams/Miller prototype step aerobics program during its early days, thinking "This is the most cutting-edge workout I've ever seen."

Miller and Williams formed a company called Bench Blast in late 1988, making wooden steps from 6 to 12 inches high. They began to sell the benches and teach their style of step aerobics. The two split in 1989, with Miller leaving for Reebok. Miller's friend and Reebok shoe representative Kelly Watson saw the Bench Blast program, and recommended Miller visit Angel Martinez, Reebok's Director of Business Development. Martinez thought the step aerobics idea was good, and introduced Miller to Reebok CEO Paul Fireman who quickly gave the go-ahead to hire Miller and start a major product campaign. Reebok already had connections with many health clubs through their shoe promotions, and they were very interested in any new aerobics program which would attract male customers, since existing classes were about 90% women. Reebok commissioned physiology trials of the step exercise program, undertaken in 1989 by Doctors Lorna and Peter Francis at San Diego State University. The Francis study showed that 40 minutes of step aerobics was equivalent to running  in terms of oxygen breathed and calories burnt, but the body stress was much lower, the same as normal walking. Lorna Francis also observed a Bench Blast training session in May 1989, remarking that it was an excellent overall exercise regimen for people without joint problems.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, fitness trainer Cathe Friedrich had been working with long wooden benches which were  high. Up to six people at a time could perform her leg-strengthening and aerobics movements on one bench. In 1988 when she heard about the Bench Blast project, she put together a video production company with Chris Williams, the owner of Four Seasons Health Spa in Glassboro, forming Step N Motion Videos. They produced their first step aerobics video in mid-1989, using wooden benches.

Problems with the Bench Blast wooden benches included difficulty of storage, sideways instability, slippery upper surface when wet with sweat, dangerous sharp corners, and the heights were too challenging. Lyle Irwin, a shareholder of Sportslife gym, saw Williams and Miller struggling with these problems; he suggested the first adjustable-height step bench on June 19, 1989, with nesting stacked layers, and later patented the idea. Sportslife CEO Rich Boggs joined with Irwin to hire Industrial Design Associates (IDA) to fabricate an attractive plastic exercise aide in the form of an adjustable-height step. William J. Saunders and Samuel Crosby of IDA worked with QPI, a plastics molding company in Atlanta, to prepare a prototype step, which was first displayed in October 1989 in Chicago at a trade show. Reebok licensed "The Step" through Boggs and Irwin's new company, Sports Step. The step base unit was teal with a black non-skid upper surface. It came with two sets of risers in contrasting colors: purple and gray for health clubs, purple and pink for home users. The first official deliveries were in January 1990, carrying Reebok's name as well as The Step trademark.

Early demonstration units were trialed by Step Reebok in select health clubs, including Mezzeplex in West Los Angeles in December 1989. Gin Miller taught the routines to local instructors. Mezzeplex began offering two to three step aerobics classes every day.

Demand for the Step Reebok device quickly rose, requiring Boggs to add two more manufacturing plants in other cities, including one in Ontario, California. Combined, the three plants were making 50,000 steps every month. Sports Step extended their reach with manufacturing licenses in Japan and Europe.

Two months after its introduction to the general public, step aerobics classes were attracting major media attention, starting with a March 1990 article published by The New York Times. Miller promoted Step Reebok in person, touring the U.S. and demonstrating it at hundreds of exercise studios. Step aerobics became widely popular, helping the company sell many thousands of step devices, and millions of lightweight, flexible high-top shoes with ankle support. For promoting aerobics through Step Reebok, Miller was named IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year in 1991. Step aerobics programs were soon developed by Jazzercise, Kathy Smith, Jane Fonda, Molly Fox, and New Zealand health club founder Les Mills. The year 1995 was the peak of step aerobics, with 11.4 million practitioners.

Videos
The first home video of step aerobics was released during the weekend of July 28–30, 1989, by Cathe Friedrich who sold out her supply of tapes at the IDEA International Aerobics Convention in Nashville. Also in town for the convention, Gin Miller appeared on Nashville's TV show Talk of the Town on July 28 to promote Bench Blast. New Jersey fitness instructor Dawn Brown released Step It Out in 1990, one of the earliest adopters of Step Reebok. In 1991, more videos of step aerobics were released by Cher, Stacey Benson, Denise Austin, Victoria Johnson, Jenny Ford, Gilad Janklowicz, Debbie Tellshow, Cory Everson, Karen Flores, Carolyn Brown, and Esquire magazine featuring Marian Ramaikas. A smaller device called Super Step was promoted with a video by Brenda Dykgraaf (later Dygraf) and Kathy Smith.

Miller's Bench Blast colleague and co-developer Connie Collins Williams trademarked "BenchAerobix" in 1990, and at the same time put out a step aerobics video called BenchAerobix. Williams trained instructors in her method, and promoted a smaller molded plastic bench, , with a fixed height of 8 inches for most students, and 10 inches for advanced levels. She sold Bench Blast to Reebok in 1991, to focus on BenchAerobix. Bench Blast trainer Sindy Benson joined Reebok's 14-person training team.

In March 1992, Reebok designed a new step with angular nesting legs. They featured this new step in a moody industrial video led by Gin Miller, driven by live percussionists in a band. The video starts with a 1991 TV commercial showing a fit young couple running up the steps of the Guatemalan pyramid Tikal, intercut with scenes of people using the previous rounded step design in teal and purple. Then the Miller workout is performed on the new angular step design in dark and light gray. A new Step Reebok logo was issued, with three horizontal lines representing the 'E' in Step.

Characteristics
Step aerobics is one of several low-impact aerobic exercises, along with water aerobics, dance aerobics and fast walking. Step aerobics is similar to climbing stairs, but performed while staying in one place. The step platform itself is much less expensive and more portable than a StairMaster, and needs no electricity to operate.

Music for step aerobics should be medium tempo, typically 118 to 122 beats per minute (bpm). A rhythm of 126–128 bpm is sometimes used for advanced classes; Reebok defined 128 bpm as the "fastest permissible speed." The style of music should emphasize the beat, for instance a steady four on the floor rather than offbeat syncopation. Choreography requires that the music present a predictable 32-beat, eight-measure sequence. Playlists for aerobic dance may include such songs as "Strut" by the Cheetah Girls, "Carry Out" by Timbaland featuring Justin Timberlake, and "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" by Coldplay.

Step and bench devices are usually molded polyethylene plastic, covered in rubber or other non-slip surface, with the lowest height starting at . This height can be increased in  increments to . Studies have been made of 10- and 12-inch benches, but these are not recommended for popular step aerobics classes. The height of the step should be tailored to the individual; lower levels for beginners. Typical steps have a length and width of . A smaller product called Super Step was . The step is never approached with the participant's back toward it.

While women were already doing aerobic dance in the 1970s and 1980s, outnumbering men 9 to 1, men were attracted to step aerobics in the 1990s because the style was simpler, not based on dance choreography with unfamiliar dance lingo. Mixed-gender step classes were common from the start. On the other hand, dance routines can be brought into step aerobics, for instance Phillip Weeden's "X-treme" hip-hop dance program with music by Beyoncé, Silentó and old school rappers. Elements of step aerobics can be blended into other exercise styles such as kickboxing or Zumba to create hybrid or combo styles.

References

External links
1992 Step Reebok video featuring Gin Miller, 58 minutes

Aerobic exercise

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


It is still freezing cold here at Misfit Farm, but today my mom made a nice big fire in the stove and gave me my favorite blanket to keep me extra snuggly warm.
I'm not lazy, I just really didn't want to play outside today, not at all, since it's icy and cold, so I spent the whole afternoon on the couch by the fire with my blanket. See?
Not only that, but all the dogs were outside, running around and doing mischief, which is what dogs do. So I had the whole living room to my own self for a good long time. It was lovely. It wasn't so lovely when Pootie came home and tried to snuggle me though, because he smelled terrible. I think he rolled in a dead thing while he was out.
Dogs are really weird sometimes. Why would you do that? I mean...eeew.
I hope you're warm, wherever you are, and that your mom gives you a nice blanket to keep your fur and hooves warm. I hope your dog friends smell less than my dog friends.