Our website address is: http://creativewritingucc.com/www.
Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service. We do not sell, rent or give away any data that derives from the use of this site.


+ The features mentioned here are NOT YET part of mainline gPXE, and are still under development. The modified code can be found in my git repository, in the [[http://git.etherboot.org/?p=people/lynusvaz/gpxe.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/expt|expt]] branch.
It's good to see you! It's good to see you!
+ A break statement will exit a loop, and a continue statement will start the next iteration of the loop.


For comfort, he seeks a man-cave.
Let them praise her work.
For girls, big and little.
It has been a burning few weeks. The National-New York TV weathermen announced with a sad face, that on the day summer arrived, so did the first heat wave.
Huh? We have measured heat and waves very differently. And we stopped counting. Once the brain refuses to count, it has been another hot one. And so what is there to do? Walk slowly. Watch children in the water fountains of Bicentennial park or what ever is on your TV news. Drink plenty of water.
Another channel is literally praying for rain. For our yards. Please do not get your prayers answered too generously. We had a fill of water in the flood. Fire in some states and flooding in others. If we can find the God-particle, why can't we take water to the fires?
Yesterday's post was a 'featured post' on Black Art in America (www.blackartinamerica.com). This website serves artists, collectors, and those interested in African-American culture. It was quite an honor to have my blog recognised so prominently. Check it out for news about events around the country.
It is heart-breaking to see the ravages of fire, and the loss of power. Someone once asked,"Why don't you just go somewhere else?" Why, indeed. Where?
I found these great pens at Staples. They were on sale! The brand is Bic Mark It and they are fine point. I believe they are permanent but do bleed through some papers. I actually like the look on both sides. The names of the colors are yummy – Key Lime, Desert Rose, etc.
I added a bit of very fine lines using a Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine point pen. I buy these by the box!
These pens have been hard to find. They are Sanford Brand, felt tip, medium point, won't bleed on paper.
Shopping can be fun and encouraging. Try these and others out in your journals, drawings, or old-fashioned letter writing.
What will be next? The itch in the palm of your hand to write a blog, a short story or even a novel!
One of the great bloggers on the blues wrote my previous post.
talkingbouttheblues had "Wading in the Water" as one song on an album recorded by Big Mama Thornton. When I clicked on the link, Ella Jenkins was listed.


subject prefixes omitted in all but one case.
in N-Adj. phrases, the PL and case markers are suffixed to the adj. rather than to the noun (as they would be in normal usage)-- this is considered old-fashioned but elegant.


Landscape Construction - Building a landscape with earth materials, plants, and nonliving materials such as concrete brick and natural stone. landscape construction may or may not involve a blueprint.
Landscape Design - The creation of a scaled drawing or plan for the usage of landscape space.
Landscape Designer - One who creates landscape plans. Landscape designers may or may not have formal training or degrees.
Landscape Architect - A landscape designer with formal schooling and a degree in landscape architecture. Landscape architects are familiar with elevations, load surcharges, and watershed issues.
Commercial Maintenance - Performing seasonal services to maintain the grounds of businesses, apartment complexes, or industrial parks.
Residential maintenance - Performing seasonal services to maintain home landscapes.
Irrigation - The design, installation and service of lawn sprinkler systems.
Excavation - Heavy equipment operations necessary to prepare a grade for landscaping. Stump removal and trucking are key elements of the excavation process.
Hardscapes - Installation of structural or aesthetic elements of landscape using nonliving materials. Hardscapes can include retaining walls, pavers, or stone walls.
Arborist - A tree care specialist who performs tree removal, pruning, insect and disease diagnosis and treatment.


text:
TISA announces rapid expansion of pioneering Digital ID scheme for financial services
Barclays, Signicat, OneSpan and Daon among leading firms joining TISA Digital ID programme
The Investing and Saving Alliance (TISA), the cross-industry financial services membership body, today announced it had onboarded several leading financial services firms and identity companies into its Digital ID programme that is developing a Digital ID scheme. This is part of a significant expansion of the TISA Digital ID Live Trial in 2022.
Barclays, Signicat, OneSpan and Daon have joined TISA's Digital ID programme, which is entering its Live Pilot phase, during which TISA will connect identity providers to live onboarding processes using a Hub and connectors.
TISA completed the proof-of-concept phase of its Digital Identity Programme in July 2021 to assess the viability of its new Digital Identity system. Participants tested real-life user journeys, including setting up a digital identity to open a new account. 84% of participants were successful in utilizing a Digital ID that could be used to open a new account, demonstrating how the Digital Identity System would improve the onboarding rates for financial services and reduce AML costs.
The objective of TISA's project is to create a Digital Identity scheme that allows consumers to set up and reuse an identity to interact with financial institutions. This can then be used when applying for financial products and services, such as opening a new bank account, transferring a pension or applying for a mortgage. Financial services providers can easily verify and then authenticate a customer's Digital Identity.
The previous testing phase included building and implementing a test platform. TISA has recently completed an RFP process and is about to announce the new Hub provider for the live pilot, which is planned to be placed in the FCA sandbox.
For further information about the progress of TISA's digital ID scheme, join TISA's second Annual Digital Conference on Wednesday 16th March 09:15 – 15:30. The conference will further discuss the Digital ID scheme, future of financial advice post-covid, the increasing interest in digital assets investing, the risks and opportunities that come with it, market regulation and VC investment in climate tech.
Join us to hear from the Government, Regulator, industry practitioners and experts about the latest digital trends and technologies in the financial sector. Register in advance here: https://www.tisa.uk.com/product/tisa-annual-digital-conference-2022/?event_date=2022-03-16
Michael Forrest, Lead Architect, Open Banking, Identity, Fintech and External Engagement at Barclays Chief Technology Office, said: "Barclays have recently joined the TISA Digital ID Project that strongly aligns with the DCMS Alpha framework, KYC and AML principles in use today. We're excited by what we've seen to date and look forward to working with TISA on what could grow into an industry wide scheme, supporting opportunities to reduce fraud and deliver new innovation for our customers."
"As a global leader in digital identity and anti-fraud solutions, OneSpan brings an extensive understanding of the regulatory landscape to the TISA Alliance," said OneSpan Sales Director, Dave Allsopp. "TISA's close relationship with key stakeholders in the financial sector and the development of the Digital ID programme will demonstrate a public and private partnership to collaborate on technologies that better detect fraud and improve the customer experience."
Harry Weber-Brown, Chief Executive Officer at TISA Digital, said: "The number and caliber of firms joining our digital identity scheme demonstrates the value of having a digital identity for financial services. Digital ID is the next step in the online services revolution, simplifying customer journeys and providing safe, secure and widely available verification and authentication services for the financial services sector. The results coming from our scheme testing thus far have been impressive, and we are well on our way to creating a market-leading framework for digital ID.
Once our new Hub provider will be announced shortly and we are signing up firms to test in the Live Pilot, which will be rapidly followed in the full roll-out of a world class digital ID. I therefore welcome Barclays, Signicat, OneSpan and Daon to the Digital ID scheme and look forward to working with their brilliant teams."
TISA is currently running the "Live Pilot" where they connect identity providers to live onboarding processes using a Live Hub and a single API. TISA wishes to run the live test with financial services of all sizes. Those who would be interested in a demo of the service, hearing about the research results and discussing the next steps can register their interest here: harry.webber-brown@tisda.uk.com.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This page presents the Google satellite Street map (zoomable and browsable) of Giles Road in Willunga South, South Australia.
Geographical coordinates are -35.2793022 and 138.5482632.
Scroll below the map to see the Street View of Giles Road.


The report said the average advertised rent in the county in the fourth quarter of last year was €1,308.
When it came down to specific types and sizes of properties, there was a 4.7% rise in one bed apartment to an average of €928 while two bed houses rose 7.3% to €1,088.
Three bed houses were 4.7% up and stood at €1,267.
There was a 4.8% rise to €1,382 for four bed houses and an 11.4% rise to €1,516 for five bedroom properties.
Ronan Lyons, from daft.ie said there was a slight ease in the rate of growth in the rental housing market.
But daft.ie also said that there is high demand with its website getting a thousand searches a minute.
When it comes to value, the report also shows that in county Kildare, paying a mortgage for the house you live in rather than renting it is a much better deal, if you can manage it.
Take a three bed house, for example.
Assuming a 3.5% mortgage interest, one would pay a €766 monthly mortgage.
If if you raise the interest rate to 5.5%, the mortgage would increase to €968 a month.
But even at that you would be better off than renting because the average rent is €1,267.
The same applies to a two bed house where the rent is €1,088 but a 3.5% mortgage would cost you just €574, rising to €726 with the interest rate rising to 5.5%.
daft.ie said a one bed apartment costs €982 to rent but a 5.5% mortgage would cost €547.


Beautiful, delicious, aromatic and self-sufficient, herbs represent a form of perfection in the garden.
Culinary herbs are singularly suited to growing in pots and other containers — they love a dry, airy perch. People love them, too: You can position a potted herb garden almost anywhere with a bit of sunlight, on a breezeway, a balcony, a front stoop or a back patio. The only criterion, other than sunlight, is that it be handy, so you can snip what you need for the kitchen. Herbs love to be trimmed; they respond by growing bushier.
May is the month for assembling your herbs. The weather is warm enough, finally, to please heat seekers, such as basil and lemongrass, and to coax mint into life for Kentucky Derby juleps.
And if I haven't quite conveyed how easy, inexpensive and foolproof it is to grow herbs in pots, and how badly I want you to do this, let me just say: GROW HERBS IN POTS.
The larger the container, the better. A greater volume of soil moderates root temperatures, retains moisture and allows room for crowded herbs to grow. A 14-inch-diameter pot is ideal for housing four to six herbs, don't go with anything smaller. Forms, colors and materials vary widely.
If you are on a budget, a simple plastic or basic clay pot costing a few dollars will work. If you have deeper pockets and want to make more of a design statement, you can find glazed ceramic pots for about $30 to $60, smart terra cotta pots from $40 to $100, and high-design concrete or resin pots for as much as $200 or more. Metal containers can look stylish, but they get uncomfortably hot in a Washington summer, as can black or dark-hued pottery.
All pots must drain freely, so make sure they have at least one drainage hole. Decorative "feet" — three to a pot — are cheap and can make a vital difference in preventing waterlogged roots, especially if the pot sits directly on concrete or stone paving.
A grouping of pots can provide a focal point and expand your range of herbs, but avoid lots of little pots. Three beefy pots of different diameters and heights can look great, define a corner of a patio, or visually lighten corners and walls.
No potted plant will thrive in poor, dense soil. Don't use garden soil or stuff left over from last year's pots. The classic general purpose potting soil is a peat-based mixture with perlite and limestone, often with compost and vermiculite added. You can make your own or buy bags that are ready-made. For herbs, particularly Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and lavender, some gardeners like to add some gravel or chicken grit to the mix to aid drainage. Adding sand might not help so much.
In creating any effective container garden, the pros give plants three distinct roles: as an upright accent, as a lower-growing mound and as a trailing plant. They are known in the trade as "thrillers, fillers and spillers." The same principle applies to potted herb gardens.
In a stylish square-topped clay planter, he placed four plants: an upright rosemary, rue, a silver-leafed curry plant (Helichrysum italicum) and a variety of oregano named Kent Beauty.
In a blue glazed pot, Pyle assembled a lot of curly parsley, which flopped and functioned as both filler and spiller. For height he used the feathery bronze fennel alongside a small-leafed and variegated form of basil named Pesto Perpetuo. To provide some visual punch, he added two annuals with edible blooms: Nasturtium (whose peppery leaves also spice up a salad) and a common marigold. Another group of marigolds, called Signet marigolds, have finer leaves and flowers and are well suited to the herb container.
In a green ceramic pot, Pyle selected five herbs that tolerate moisture (with adequate drainage). As a thriller, he put in a small bell pepper plant. His was unnamed, but I suggest a diminutive and fruitful sweet bell pepper named Golden Baby Belle. He added dill (variety Bouquet), which is a cool-season herb. Once it flags in the heat of early summer, you could replace it with a scented geranium. He added a red-leafed basil variety and a nasturtium from a group called Alaska, which are more heat-tolerant than other nasturtiums. He finished the ensemble with a trailing common oregano named Hot and Spicy.
Pyle likes to put dry-loving Mediterranean herbs in clay pots, which are porous and wick moisture from the soil more rapidly than other types of containers. He also adds extra drainage by placing gravel or other small stones at the base of the pot, incorporating chicken grit into the soil and topping it off with a mulch of small pebbles. You could use washed pea gravel. Pyle employs an expanded glass product named Growstone.
In this recipe, he used rue (not used much as a culinary herb, but with a lovely blue-green fine texture), a novel variety of chives named Cha-Cha, silver santolina, the English lavender Hidcote, compact with indigo blooms, and a caraway-scented thyme, noted for its caraway flavor, fine texture and rot resistance.
I have suggested five herbs: The twist is to use rosemary as the spiller by selecting a trailing type such as Prostratus. For the thriller, use a lavender — English or French lavandin type — and fill in with hardy sweet marjoram and lemon thyme, the latter a yellow variegated thyme with citrusy oils. Finish the medley with a clump of chives.


text:
//
// BXLogger.h
// BaseTen
//
// Copyright 2008-2010 Marko Karppinen & Co. LLC.
//
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
//
//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
//
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
// limitations under the License.
//

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import <stdarg.h>
#import <mach-o/dyld.h>
#import <BaseTen/BXExport.h>

/**
 * \file
 * Logging and assertion functions used by BaseTen.
 */

#define BX_LOG_ARGS __BASE_FILE__, __PRETTY_FUNCTION__, __builtin_return_address(0), __LINE__

//Note that " , ##__VA_ARGS__" tells the preprocessor to remove the comma if __VA_ARGS__ is empty.
#define BXLogDebug(message, ...)   do { if (BXLogLevel >= kBXLogLevelDebug)   BXLog (BX_LOG_ARGS, kBXLogLevelDebug,   message , ##__VA_ARGS__); } while (0)
#define BXLogInfo(message, ...)    do { if (BXLogLevel >= kBXLogLevelInfo)    BXLog (BX_LOG_ARGS, kBXLogLevelInfo,    message , ##__VA_ARGS__); } while (0)
#define BXLogWarning(message, ...) do { if (BXLogLevel >= kBXLogLevelWarning) BXLog (BX_LOG_ARGS, kBXLogLevelWarning, message , ##__VA_ARGS__); } while (0)
#define BXLogError(message, ...)   do { if (BXLogLevel >= kBXLogLevelError)   BXLog (BX_LOG_ARGS, kBXLogLevelError,   message , ##__VA_ARGS__); } while (0)
#define BXLogFatal(message, ...)   do { if (BXLogLevel >= kBXLogLevelFatal)   BXLog (BX_LOG_ARGS, kBXLogLevelFatal,   message , ##__VA_ARGS__); } while (0)

#define BXAssertLog(assertion, message, ...) \
	do { if (! (assertion)) { BXLogError (message , ##__VA_ARGS__); BXAssertionDebug (); }} while (0)
#define BXAssertVoidReturn(assertion, message, ...) \
	do { if (! (assertion)) { BXLogError (message , ##__VA_ARGS__); BXAssertionDebug (); return; }} while (0)
#define BXAssertValueReturn(assertion, retval, message, ...) \
	do { if (! (assertion)) { BXLogError (message , ##__VA_ARGS__); BXAssertionDebug (); return (retval); }} while (0)
#define BXLogAssertionFailure(message, ...) \
	do { BXLogError (message , ##__VA_ARGS__); BXAssertionDebug (); } while (0)

#define BXDeprecationLogSpecific(...) \
	do { BXLogWarning (__VA_ARGS__); BXDeprecationWarning (); } while (0)
#define BXDeprecationLog() BXDeprecationLogSpecific(@"This method or function has been deprecated.");

//C function variants.
#define BXCAssertLog(...) BXAssertLog(__VA_ARGS__)
#define BXCAssertValueReturn(...) BXAssertValueReturn(__VA_ARGS__)
#define BXCAssertVoidReturn(...) BXAssertVoidReturn(__VA_ARGS__)
#define BXCLogAssertionFailure(...) BXLogAssertionFailure(__VA_ARGS__)
#define BXCDeprecationLogSpecific(...) BXDeprecationLogSpecific(__VA_ARGS__)
#define BXCDeprecationLog() BXDeprecationLog()

#define Expect( X )	BXAssertValueReturn( X, nil, @"Expected " #X " to evaluate to true.");
#define ExpectL( X ) BXAssertLog( X, @"Expected " #X " to evaluate to true.");
#define ExpectR( X, RETVAL )	BXAssertValueReturn( X, RETVAL, @"Expected " #X " to evaluate to true.");
#define ExpectV( X ) BXAssertVoidReturn( X, @"Expected " #X " to evaluate to true.");
//C function variants.
#define ExpectC( X ) Expect( X )
#define ExpectCL( X ) ExpectL( X )
#define ExpectCV( X ) ExpectV( X )
#define ExpectCR( X, RETVAL ) ExpectR( X, RETVAL )

/**
 * \brief
 * Logging levels used by BaseTen.
 */
enum BXLogLevel
{
	kBXLogLevelOff = 0, /**< No logging */
	kBXLogLevelFatal,   /**< Fatal errors */
	kBXLogLevelError,   /**< Errors */
	kBXLogLevelWarning, /**< Warnings */
	kBXLogLevelInfo,    /**< Information */
	kBXLogLevelDebug    /**< Debugging information */
};

// Do not use outside this file in case we decide to change the implementation.
// The symbol is also needed by BaseTenAppKit.
BX_EXPORT enum BXLogLevel BXLogLevel;

/**
 * \brief
 * Set the logging level
 *
 * \warning This function is not thread-safe.
 */
BX_EXPORT void BXLogSetLevel (enum BXLogLevel level);
BX_EXPORT void BXSetLogLevel (enum BXLogLevel level) BX_DEPRECATED_IN_1_8;

/**
 * \brief
 * Set whether the logger should call abort() on assertion failure
 *
 * \warning This function is not thread-safe.
 */
BX_EXPORT void BXLogSetAbortsOnAssertionFailure (BOOL);

/**
 * \brief A debugging helper.
 *
 * This function provides a convenient breakpoint. It will be called when
 * an assertion fails. The reason might be a bug in either BaseTen or in
 * user code.
 */
BX_EXPORT void BXAssertionDebug () BX_ANALYZER_NORETURN;

/**
 * \brief A debugging helper.
 *
 * This function provides a convenient breakpoint. It will be called when
 * deprecated functionality is invoked, presently when relationships with
 * deprecated names are used.
 */
BX_EXPORT void BXDeprecationWarning ();

#if ! (defined (TARGET_OS_IPHONE) && TARGET_OS_IPHONE)
BX_EXPORT void BXLogSetLogFile (NSBundle *bundle);
#endif

BX_EXPORT void BXLog (char const *fileName,
					  char const *functionName,
					  void const *functionAddress,
					  int line,
					  enum BXLogLevel level,
					  NSString * const messageFmt,
					  ...) BX_FORMAT_FUNCTION(6,7);
BX_EXPORT void BXLog_v (char const *fileName,
						char const *functionName,
						void const *functionAddress,
						int line,
						enum BXLogLevel level,
						NSString * const messageFmt,
						va_list args) BX_FORMAT_FUNCTION(6,0);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Get the hands-on training you need to turn your passion for massage therapy into a career.
Train to become a Massage Therapist With Part Time, Evening Classes offered at our Woodbury campus only!
You don't have to alter your busy schedule to train for a new career. Our part time Massage Therapy program allows you to train at night so you can keep your day schedule in tact!
What makes the Minnesota School of Cosmetology program different?
Our massage therapy training program is designed as a holistic program that will prepare college students to focus on body mechanics of their clients as well as develop positive habits for the massage therapist. Together, those two areas will provide a foundation that can lead to longevity in the career field.
This holistic approach also prepares massage therapy program students to assess and communicate the client's concerns and needs. Massage therapy program students will learn to develop a therapeutic treatment plan that will benefit their clients.
In addition to learning about the various massage techniques, this massage therapy training program will educate students in the areas of Anatomy and Physiology, Kinesiology, and Business. Massage therapy program students will gain a fundamental understanding of how the body works as well as how to manage and grow their personal massage business. The goal is to not only teach someone how to provide a massage but to give them an understanding of why massage is important and how it impacts a client's overall health.
Looking for a massage? Minnesota School of Cosmetology offers massage packages, in addition to a full range of beauty salon services. We want to serve our larger community while helping our massage therapy program students build skills and techniques. Call, text or stop into one of our locations and schedule an appointment today.
*The above schedule options may not be offered at both Minnesota School of Cosmetology campuses for every class start date.
Each Minnesota School of Cosmetology student is required to complete the following number of clock hours in order to graduate.


text:
__БЕЗКН__
-{ISO 216}- (некадашњи -{ISO 476}-) је -{ISO}- стандард за формате папира који се најчешће употребљавају у свету, осим у Канади, Сједињеним Државама, Мексику, Колумбији и Доминиканској Републици. Стандард прописује дужину и ширину папира за -{A}- и -{B}- серије величина папира, укључујући -{A4}-, најчешће доступну величину папира у свету. Два додатна стандарда, -{ISO 217}- и -{ISO 269}-, прописују одговарајуће величине папира; серија -{ISO 269}- -{C}- се обично наводи заједно са -{A}- и -{B}- величинама.

Све величине папира -{ISO 216}-, -{ISO 217}- и -{ISO 269}- (осим одређених омотница) имају исти однос ширине и висине, : 1, са заокруживањем у милиметарима. Овај однос има особину да, када се пресавије или исече на пола, задржава исти однос ширине и висине. Свака величина ИСО формата папира представља половину следећег формата по величини у истој серији.

Историја
ISO 216 и сродни стандарди су први пут објављени између 1975. и 1995. године:

 -{ISO 216}-: 2007, дефинише -{A}- и -{B}- серију формата папира
 -{ISO 269}-: 1985, дефинише -{C}- серију формата за коверте
 -{ISO 217}-: 2013, дефинише -{RA}- и -{SRA}- серију сирових ("необрезаних") формата папира

Димензије A, B и C серије

-{A}- серија

Формула која даје већу границу величине папира -{An}- у метрима и без заокруживања је геометријски низ:

Величина папира -{An}- тако има димензију

и површину(пре заокруживања)

Мерење у милиметрима дуже стране -{An}- може се израчунати као

(заграде представљају функцију заокруживања на нижу вредност).

-{B}- серија

Мерење у милиметрима дуже стране -{Bn}- може се израчунати као

Постоји и некомпатибилна јапанска серија -{B}- коју -{JIS}- дефинише тако да има 1.5 пута већу површину од одговарајуће -{ЈИС}- серије (која је идентична серији -{ISO A}-). Дакле, дужине -{JIS B}- серије папира су  ≈ 1.22 пута више од папира серије -{A}-.

-{C}- серија
Мерење у милиметрима дуже стране -{Cn}- може се израчунати као

Спољашње везе

 Детаљан опис ISO 216 стандарда
 -{ISO 216}- каталог на -{iso.org}-

Стандарди
 ISO стандарди

DIN

pl:Format arkusza#Norma ISO 216

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Sepsis Fact Sheet
Everything you need to know about sepsis in two pages. This fact sheet include the definition and symptoms of sepsis, statistics on sepsis and children, and how it compares to other well-known conditions, including global and economic impacts.
Sepsis Alliance is the leading sepsis organization in the U.S. working in all 50 states to save lives and reduce suffering from sepsis. Learn the tragic story that inspired Dr. Carl Flatley to found Sepsis Alliance.
Expert Interview Opportunities
We are happy to work with credentialed media to provide expert officials, physicians, and sepsis survivors to speak on behalf of Sepsis Alliance. Please contact Angelica Estrada, Social Media & Communications Specialist, at aestrada@sepsis.org to coordinate an interview.
Erin's Campaign for Kids
Created to combat the high incidence and mortality rates of sepsis among children, Erin's Campaign for Kids honors Erin Kay Flatley who died tragically of sepsis in 2002. The campaign includes resources and awards specific to pediatric sepsis.
About Sepsis Awareness Month
In 2011, Sepsis Alliance designated September as Sepsis Awareness Month to bring healthcare professional and community members together in the fight against sepsis.
About Sepsis Heroes
This annual event is the centerpiece of Sepsis Awareness Month, honoring the people and organizations that have made a significant contribution to sepsis awareness and education among both the general public and healthcare professionals. Last year marked the 5th presentation of our Annual Sepsis Heroes Gala and raised over $200,000.
Sepsis Awareness Survey Findings
In 2018, sepsis awareness increased to 65% among U.S. adults, but only 12% could identify the four most common symptoms of sepsis. To read the full survey finding, click here
Past survey findings:
In 2010, Sepsis Alliance and Harris Interactive conducted a poll to get a better understanding of how many people in the United States could define the word "sepsis." Results showed that the majority of Americans had never heard the word and of those who had heard it, many did not know what it meant. Repeat polls have been done each year, showing the, albeit slow, progress that is being made:
2011: Sepsis Awareness Shows Solid Increase Over Last Year but Still Low in U.S.
2012: Sepsis Survey Reveals Majority Americans, Especially Those Under 35, Have Never Heard of One of Deadliest Killers in America
2013: Fewer Than Half of American Adults Have Heard of Sepsis, One of the Deadliest Killers in the U.S., New Sepsis Alliance Survey Reveals
2014: New Survey Shows Most Americans Have Never Heard of Sepsis, Despite Sepsis Being Most Costly Hospital Condition in the U.S.
2015: Americans More Aware Of Many Rare Diseases Than Sepsis, According to New Sepsis Alliance Survey
2016: Fifty-Five Percent of Americans Have Heard of Sepsis – Nation's Third Leading Killer – Sepsis Alliance Survey Reveals
2017: Sepsis: A Word to Know, a Meaning to Learn


text:
Home»Posts Tagged "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds"
Browsing: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Posters Show the Team of the Enterprise
By Harry April 10, 2022 0
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will be coming soon, and now new character posters have been released so that we…
'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Teases Action-Packed Trailer Evoking A Sense Of Nostalgia
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The appraisal process is an estimation that produces an opinion of value. This opinion or estimate is arrived at through a formal method that generally utilizes the three main "common approaches to value". One of them is the Cost Approach - which is how much it would cost to replace the improvements, less physical deterioration and other factors, plus the land value. Easily the most common approach in finding the worth of a house is the Sales Comparison Approach which involves figuring a comparison to similar homes nearby. The Sales Comparison Approach is normally the most definitive and best indicator of cost for a house. One of the least common approaches in appraising residential properties is the Income Approach, which is commonly used to figure the worth of a property based on what an investor would pay based on the income produced by the building.
The real function of an appraiser's job is to produce an unbiased, professional opinion of value to help out with financial transactions. A formal investigation is displayed by the appraiser in a report.
The appraiser is not a home inspector nor does he/she do a complete home inspection. The purpose of a home inspection is to investigate the structure of the property from foundation to top. The archetypal house inspector's report will include an evaluation of the integrity of the house's heating system, central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic, and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement, and visible structure.
To be blunt, the difference is night and day. The CMA depends on indistinct market trends. The appraisal depends on similar valid comparable sales. Area and construction values are also precedent in an appraisal. All a CMA does is generate a "ball park figure." An appraisal delivers a defensible and carefully documented opinion of value.
KEM Services LLC is always willing to address any inquiries you might have about appraisals in Miami-Dade County. Contact KEM Services LLC today to learn how we can help you with your valuation problems.


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The Thief of Auschwitz
By Jon Clinch
Jon Clinch at Bloom
Sonya Chung
At Bloom this week, check out the feature on novelist Jon Clinch, and the accompanying Q&A, where Clinch talks in-depth about his decision to self-publish his fourth novel after having his first two published by Random House. He says that his second novel, Kings of the Earth, "was set up for success: Oprah's magazine put it at the top of their summer reading list, and it went on to be named one of the best novels of the year by theWashington Post. But the Oprah nod came six or eight weeks before publication date, and Random House either couldn't or didn't capitalize on it. By the time the book hit the shelves, it was already forgotten. I simply couldn't bear the possibility that The Thief of Auschwitz might slip into the abyss."


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El Premio Novia Salcedo a la Excelencia en la integración profesional de los jóvenes es concedido cada año desde 2008 por la Fundación Novia Salcedo, dedicada al empleo juvenil.

Pueden presentarse como candidatos al premio instituciones, centros culturales y de investigación, universidades, empresas y otras organizaciones, además de aquellas personalidades a quienes el Comité Organizador del Premio invite.
El premio es honorífico, no monetario.

Categorías del premio:
 Personas, pudiendo caber la categoría "Ad Honorem" siempre que el Jurado así lo considere. En el Premio de 2018 se ha incluido el premio "Joven".
 Empresas, con dos subcategorias: grandes empresas y pequeñas empresas
 Administraciones públicas/instituciones/ONGs

Los aspectos que se tienen en cuenta son: ideas e investigaciones; proyectos e iniciativas; buenas prácticas; y sensibilización y difusión social.

El premio tiene como patrocinadores el Gobierno Vasco, la Universidad del País Vasco, el Ayuntamiento de Bilbao así como varias empresas.

El jurado está compuesto por reconocidas personalidades del mundo de la empresa, de la educación, del tercer sector y de las instituciones.

El acto solemne de entrega de los premios suele tener lugar en Bilbao, normalmente en el Teatro Arriaga, o en el Teatro Campos Elíseos. En casi todas las ocasiones Felipe VI, Rey de España.ha presidido la entrega de los premios, desde antes de ser proclamado rey. el último el 15 de octubre de 2018.

Historial del premio y premiados
I Premio Novia Salcedo 2008 - Premiados: José María Pérez "Peridis"; Egamaster; Programa Erasmus.
II Premio Novia Salcedo 2009 – Premiados: Egidio Guerra da Freitas; Grupo Lezama]; Fundación Tomillo.
III Premio Novia Salcedo 2010 – Premiados: Ricardo Díez-Hochleitner; Souleymane Sarr; Fagor Group; TEKNIMAP Energía y Medio Ambiente SL; Fundación Chandra.
IV Premio Novia Salcedo 2011 – Premiados: Vicrila y Factor CO2, IQ Consult; José Manuel Pérez "Pericles" y José Ángel Sánchez Asiain.
V Premio Novia Salcedo 2012 – Premiados: Rosalía Mera, (Fundación Paideia); Miguel de la Quadra Salcedo; Everis; Grupo Init; Young Foundation] e Ihobe.
VI Premio Novia Salcedo 2013 (entregado en 2014) – Premiados: Benita Ferrero Waldner (en la categoría de Personas), Enrique Iglesias (Ad Honorem), Leroy Merlin (Empresa Grande), Sao Prat, S.L (Empresa Pequeña) y Lantegi Batuak y Centro Nazaret (Organizaciones).
VII Premio Novia Salcedo 2016 - Premiados: la filósofa Victoria Camps (Ad Honorem), Jordi Albareda (en la categoría de personas), Emtesport (en la categoría de empresa), y Fundación Paraguaya (en la categoría de administraciones públicas, instituciones y ONGs).
VIII Premio Novia Salcedo 2018 - Premiados: Sabino Ayestaran, (Ad Honorem), el salvadoreño Diego Echegoyen (Joven), George Belinga (Personas), Egile Corporación XXI (Gran Empresa), TuPrimeraPega/Tu primer Laburo de Argentina y Chile (Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas), y Braval (Institución). El premio a la Institución Pública quedó desierto.

Referencias

Enlaces externos
 Premio Novia Salcedo
 Fundación Novia Salcedo

Noticias
 El Correo: "El Príncipe entrega los premios de la Fundación Novia Salcedo a la integración profesional de los jóvenes"
 EITB (Televisión Vasca): El Príncipe entrega en Bilbao los premios de la fundación Novia Salcedo
 EITB: El príncipe apela a 'no dejar de lado' a los parados de larga duración
 Diario Vasco: "El centro Nazaret, galardonado con el premio Novia Salcedo"
 Deia: El Arriaga acoge los premios que concede la Fundación Novia Salcedo
 Cadena SER: Lantegi batuak, Premio Novia Salcedo 2014
 Finanzas: Benita Ferrero, Leroy Merlín y Lantegi Batuak, Premios Novia Salcedo 2014
 Euronews: El Príncipe pide tener presente la "dimensión social y humana" del paro
 Casa Real: Entrega de la VII edición del "Premio NoviaSalcedo a la excelencia en la integración profesional de los jóvenes"
 ABC: El Rey ha entregado hoy los Premios Novia Salcedo en Bilbao.
Agencia EFE: El rey destaca que el paro juvenil es uno de los principales problemas en España

Premios de España


From Middle English spoke, spok, spook, from Old English spāca, from Proto-Germanic *spaikǭ.
A support structure that connects the axle or the hub of a wheel to the rim.
(nautical) A projecting handle of a steering wheel.
A device for fastening the wheel of a vehicle to prevent it from turning when going downhill.
One of the outlying points in a hub-and-spoke model of transportation.
(transitive) To furnish (a wheel) with spokes.
From Old English spāca, from Proto-Germanic *spaikǭ.
A sharp spike or projection on the edge of a wheel.
"spōk(e (n.)" in MED Online , Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-12.


Home / Fashion / Men's Fashion / What Are The Most Comfortable Smart Shoes For Men?
by adminon March 28, 2019 March 28, 2019 Leave a Comment on What Are The Most Comfortable Smart Shoes For Men?
Some days – for work, a function or just because you feel like it – you need to dress up. But there's always that hesitation in having to don dress shoes – so often stiff, uncompromising and hard on your tootsies. At least, that was the case.
More relaxed dress codes, as well as the introduction of new technologies and ways of making shoes, mean you don't have to be in pain for your style any more. Today, you can take a stand in shoes that won't leave you bleeding and blistered, and you'll still look the part.
Whether you opt for a shoe brand with an established reputation for comfort, are ready to play the longer game and break in a classic Goodyear welted pair, or opt for a more trainer-inspired, hybrid style, comfortable dress shoes are there to let you walk without wincing.
What Is A Dress Shoe Today?
A dress shoe used to be rather limited in style. For most men, well into the late 20th century, dress shoes meant dark (which really meant black), plain Oxfords – a slim-line lace-up largely free of decoration, with the exception perhaps of some light broguing. Buckles were out (too fancy). Loafers were out (too casual).
But with the shift in attitude towards office wear, smart shoes have also loosened up, at least in the styles available. It still largely rules out sports shoes or the likes of work boots, but the scope now includes monk shoes, Chelsea boots and chunkier looks of the kind that once would have been worn more for walking the dog.
Even hybrid models – a dress upper on a trainer or work boot-derived outsole – are possible for semi-formal dressing. Of course, if the occasion calls for properly formal dressing, do respect that: think shoes not boots, lace-ups not slip-ons, dark high-shine leathers, a slimmer silhouette and low profile (rubber or leather) sole.
Generations that have come up wearing trainers have different – and sometimes unrealistic – expectations as to how comfortable a dress shoe might be. A new pair of Oxfords is never going to feel as cloud-like underfoot as a new pair of AirMax, which are built for lightness and ease of movement.
Even so, there are things you can look out for to ensure a comfy smart shoe.
While traditionally a dress shoe would have been an Oxford, there are numerous smart styles available today that do the job just as well. The nature of an Oxford's lacing system means there's ample chance of pinching around the toes and the top of the foot. The same can be said of loafers, which need to be snug to ensure they stay on your feet. More relaxed is a Derby shoe, which has the vamp sewn over the top, increasing flexibility. If you're on your feet all day, go for the latter.
Greater efforts are being made to build comfort into work shoes: rubber soling (relative to leather soles) reduces impact on the heel, where most downward pressure is felt; some models now use a layer of memory rubber padding under the branded liner to further reduce impact – a step up from the previous material typically used, which tended to compress over time and stay compressed.
Traditional shoemakers will also argue that Goodyear-welted construction, although not modern, remains extremely comfortable – each shoe has a cork bed that moulds itself to your unique foot. You just have to be prepared to go through the breaking in process.
Softer leathers are available too – though note that these are not as hard-wearing. Unlined leathers and suedes are readily accessible, and offer superior pliability and comfort when walking. In some cases there won't be much of a break-in period at all, which is good news if your pain threshold isn't up to scratch.
Yes it's all well and good knowing your shoe size – although it will vary from brand to brand. Many shoes are now offered in different widths too, so if you often find the sides of your feet pinching, go for something wider next time to accommodate all that real estate. Also check the shape if your foot, says Church.
A high quality calf leather – of the kind long used in traditional upmarket shoemaking – may initially be stiffer, but best absorbs moisture away from the foot, which can be a key factor in overall comfort (not to mention foot health and the longevity of the shoes). Wear a thick pair of socks and break them in around the house before subjecting yourself to a painful commute.
The Northampton shoemaker, best known for its chunky 'country' brogues, also offers a line with what it calls an ultra flex sole – still leather on the insole and sole but some 30 percent lighter than comparative models. Rufus, a suede monk strap shoe in brown or navy, is the dressier of the styles.
Online retailer Mr. Porter carries a wide range of styles but its own brand shoes lean more towards the semi-smart, affording them a greater emphasis on obvious comfort benefits the likes of a rubber lug commando soles, flexible suede uppers or, on its Lucien desert boot model, soft half-lined uppers with crepe soles.
The problem with shoe brands that put comfort first is that the results are often pretty ugly – they're all tech and no style. But that's not always the case. Comfort footwear specialists Mephisto, for example, packs a lot into a plain, simple, suit-friendly package: its Marlon model, for example, comes with an air cushioned sole and the brand's proprietary Air Jet system, which allows air to flow through the shoe with each step.
With its long history of making children's shoes, with fit and comfort inevitably to the fore, Clarks has translated this ethos into its shoes for the grown-ups. Even conservative black toe-cap styles get a comfort overhaul, with a lightweight EVA sole unit and Clarks' "anatomically targeted dual density" Cushion Soft technology, which cuts down strain felt on the ball of the foot.
Traditional English shoemaker Cheaney places the emphasis on comfort through a Goodyear welted construction, though it also includes in its collection a number of dress styles on rugged commando outsoles. In its Bertie style it even offers what might be called a dress sandal – a smart T-bar bucking shoe with aerating cut-outs along the upper.
Its Airwair sole might have redefined comfort when it was launched in the 1950s, but Dr. Martens is best-known for its clumpier shoe styles beloved, once upon a time, by police and postmen. But don't rule it out for dress shoes. It's about selecting a style free of the signature yellow stitching – the likes of the Adrian Arcadia fringe loafer or cherry red Arcadia brogue.
The eventual comfort of a Goodyear welted construction need not imply an out-and-out classic shoe style. New York-based brand Feit, for example, takes a familiar build and shape, but puts a contemporary spin on the details – its black Braided Oxford model, for instance, is a whole-cut made with a one-piece veg-tanned leather upper, with an ornamental tassel at the heel.
Grenson has made a name for itself by pushing stronger takes on traditional shoe styles, many of which are built around lightweight, cushioning wedge sole units. But it also pushes at the edges of dress shoe acceptability with its trainer hybrids the likes of its Sneaker 3, a brogue calf leather upper on a sneaker sole unit.
Although another Goodyear-welted shoe manufacturer, Crockett & Jones reflects the growing demand for comfort across a number of styles, from those with highly flexible crepe soles to rugged yet smart suede boots with Dainite rubber soles. For slipper-like comfort, consider Genoa, a super-soft, rubber-soled penny loafer driving shoe, for semi-smart summer style.
Classic US brand Cole Haan has won a reputation for the comfort of its dress shoes. A standard brogue on the outside, such a style might, for example, on the inside have an anatomical footbed and heel – which adjusts weight distribution – flexible outsole and moisture-wicking textile lining. Why suffer for your style?


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Tamper Evident has been a contest at SAINTCON the last 2 years. Participation was limited by the number of available kits. To get more people involved, we are shifting to a community this year. Come learn to bypass tamper evident systems.


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Q: K mean clustering algorithm on 1D data I'm really confused on what are the steps on how to perform k-means clustering algorithm on 1 dimension data. So suppose I have the following array of data and it should be clustered in two groups:
data = [40, 20, 30, 10, 22, 94, 66];

I have read the following site and it helped me get an idea on how to approach it but I'm still a little unsure.
http://www.macwright.org/2012/09/16/k-means.html
My approach is:

*

*I would first calculate the mean of the entire dataset.

*then I would find calculate the euclidean distance between each point and the mean.

*then I would cluster them in to two groups, one group that had the shortest distance to mean and the other that wasn't so close.

My question is are these steps correct and how would I perform k-means clustering on the dataset if k>2. I feel like my thinking is flawed, any help would greatly appreciated.

A: Given your points array (incidentally, your name clusters is not that great for it IMHO), k-means could work as follows:

*

*Choose initial cluster centers; for the case of two clusters, say you randomly chose the initial cluster centers are [22, 60] (more on this below)

*Now iterate; repeatedly:

*

*For each point, assign it to the cluster with the nearest center.

*Now you have your clusters. The centers are defined to be the means of the points within each cluster.
You can stop the iteration, e.g., the first time the assignment of points to clusters does not change.

How to choose the initial cluster centers? There are a number of methods:

*

*The simplest is just to use uniform random assignment

*A more sophisticated method is to use non-uniform random assignment, e.g., by using the k-means++ algorithm

Given that k-means (and the k-means++ variant) are so mainstream, there's really no reason to implement them (although it's always good to understand stuff). I suggest you search for a relevant package for your language.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


In a stunning rebuke to the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, the UK Parliament has voted against using force in Syria. As a consequence of this development, should the United States decide to take action against Assad, it's highly unlikely that the UK will participate.
Just a few days ago, British Prime Minister, David Cameron, was pressuring President Obama for a rapid military response. Today, Cameron has suffered a huge political defeat. So, why did this happen?
Although the legacy of Iraq is a major influence in the US intervention debate, in Britain, this dynamic is even more pronounced. Where US domestic support for the Iraq war ebbed and flowed, in the UK, the 2003 invasion was deeply unpopular with the British public from the start. In a significant sense, the war undercut UK public perceptions of trust in Government. In an associated sense, UK public confidence in the US Government also suffered. The flowing impact is clear. Now, facing another substantial military action, the British people and their representatives were far less certain about the merits of following the American lead. Reflecting this concern, Members of Parliament have, in effective terms, tied Cameron's hands.
In Britain, as indeed in much of Europe, there's a much greater sympathetic for the notion of supreme international law. As this relates to today's events, in simple terms, many members of the UK government believed that action against Syria would be illegal without UN authorization or a longer UN deliberation. This concern also explains why the British Government was so desperate to affirm that any intervention outside UN authority will, amongst other caveats, be ''directed exclusively to averting a humanitarian catastrophe, and the minimum judged necessary for that purpose.'' In a broader sense, Parliament was anxious about the diplomatic consequence of being perceived as attached to a flexibly subjective understanding of international law. Now, by waiting for the UN inspection process to develop, anti-intervention Parliamentarians believe they have achieved two key objectives. First, satisfying the UK's obligations under international law. Second, re-establishing British credibility under that same orbit.
The UK's opposition party, Labour, are seeking to use the Syrian crisis to re-build their perceived national security legitimacy post-Iraq (Tony Blair was a Labour Prime Minister). Even as the Iraq war was unpopular with the British people, it was also profoundly unpopular with Labour's left wing base. Indeed, on the eve of war, Robin Cook, one of Labour's highest ranking officials resigned in protest. Miliband appears to have hoped that by his present strategy, in the run up to the 2015 UK general election, Labour will finally be able to escape the political demons of the Iraq war. However, it's certain that's he's fostered a lasting bad blood with Cameron.
President Obama might talk about an international effort against Assad, but the British Government (in holding a vote) and Parliament (in their rejection of intervention) knew that the US would take the lead in any military action. As Andrew Exum has noted, EU military weaknesses mean that European military power is inherently limited – British MPs know this. Whether regarding logistics or actual attacks, the US Military will be the instrumental foundation of any action. Recognizing the increasingly aggressive tone from Washington, British MPs likely felt that they had the flexibility to take a step back. Even if, as now appears likely, the UK takes no action against Assad, by American intervention, the UK Government will consider their underpinning strategic intent (upholding the red lines) as having been fulfilled.
Regardless of the above, today's events are likely to cause serious repercussions for the UK-US 'special relationship'. Now, facing British rejection, Obama may be forced to return to that oldest and most unpredictable of American allies. Vive le France.
Late comment however this is not the reason I opposed the interventions in the so called 'Arab Spring'. I will outline my two reasons below being chaos & no good alternative.
Firstly, I opposed them as I saw them leading to chaos. These are countries without a democractic tradition and there is usually not a good outcome when trying to overthrow dictators while hoping that Western-educated liberals can take power. A dictator in many situations is the best alternative for religious freedoms and economic growth. This leads into my next point.
Secondly, I could envision no good alternative. Bluntly speaking, Western educated liberals tend to be able to talk a lot but command no popular mandate or force of arms to enable them to take and keep power. In those countries, Islamists are the one with the regional experience in insurgent warfare and sufficient funding for basic weapons & training. At the time, the chaos after the Libyan intervention was clear. A side point is that the mandate given for the Libyan intervention to pause the fighting e.g. no fly zone & anti artillery turned into becoming the rebel's CAS even when they were attacking populated zones with crude unguided weaponry. I saw no mandate for this and was not willing to support a similar resolution. We are already seeing a massive increased terrorism risk due to British jihadists being trained in Syria. This may have not been the case if we had stayed out completely (no material support) or supported Assad.
Thanks for the comment and for your well argued points. I enjoyed reading.


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Rebound KC
Quick links... Weather Local News Rebound KC We're Open KC Sports Coronavirus I-Team Web Links Contests
Kansas U.S. Senate race breaks spending records for campaigns
Kansas candidates for Senate are spending a record amount of money on advertising.
By: Cat Reid
Posted at 3:00 AM, Oct 30, 2020
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas voters are witnessing the most expensive U.S. Senate race in state history.
Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall and Democratic state Senator Barbara Bollier are running to replace Sen. Pat Roberts.
Campaign finance data shows roughly $65 million has already been spent in the race.
"You can total up every Senate and governor's race for the last decade in the state of Kansas, and it's still less than what they've spent so far," UMKC Associate Professor Greg Vonnahme said.
Bollier, who has collected more than $24 million, has a big fund raising advantage over Marshall, who has raised about $6 million.
However, individual campaign totals aren't the only important metrics.
"If you look at total spending, outside groups have closed that gap significantly," Vonnahme said.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, outside groups have spent $23 million against Bollier compared to nearly $16 million against Marshall.
Meanwhile, $5.5 million was spent in support of Marshall, and $890,000 in support of Bollier.
Among outside spenders, the biggest contributor so far is the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC that poured in $15.6 million against Bollier.
Other top spenders include liberal super PACs Duty & Country and Sunflower State, as well as Americans for Prosperity Action, labeled by OpenSecrets as a conservative group. AFP Action spent $31.5 million for Republicans and $93,000 for Democrats in the 2020 election cycle. The group also spent $8.9 million against Democrats.
So why so much money is flooding the race?
American Conservative Union Chairman, Matt Schlapp explained in a recent campaign stop for Marshall and other Kansas GOP candidates.
"The court is sitting there on the table. The Senate majority is sitting there on the table," Schlapp said.
The latest data analysis from FiveThirtyEight has democrats favored to win the Senate.
Although spending is breaking state records in Kansas, even more money is pouring into other states. In Iowa, for example, more than $200 million has been spent on a senate seat.
An earlier version of this story identified Americans for Prosperity Action as a Republican group. We regret the error.
41 Action News is committed to providing comprehensive information on the 2020 primary and general elections with an emphasis on several key issues — the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and race relations. Count on us to provide news and information to help you make an informed choice at the polls.
Local Voter Resources
Kansas Voter Information Missouri Voting Information Check your voting status in Kansas, Missouri Where to vote in the Kansas City area How to register to vote in Kansas, Missouri How to find a sample ballot in Missouri or Kansas


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News broke this week that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Enhanced Station Initiative (ESI) will be limited to 19 subway stations.
Enhanced Stations We Can Believe In: Accessible to All
#accessdenied
News broke this week that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Enhanced Station Initiative (ESI) will be limited to 19 subway stations. The ESI was Governor Andrew Cuomo's directive to spend nearly $1 billion to upgrade 32 stations on cosmetic repairs. The program was heavily criticized by TransitCenter's Access Denied campaign, riders and members of the MTA's board for failing to make stations ADA accessible while they were being closed for months at a time.
Unfortunately, the program didn't end because the agency suddenly saw it as misguided. Rather, it fell victim to the high construction costs. The MTA was ultimately able to fund only 19 of 32 planned stations, blaming discovered "infrastructure rot" as the source of cost overruns. MTA Chair Joe Lhota admitted to the Wall Street Journal he knew in 2017 the program costs were ballooning, but didn't bring it up during discussions of the program because he "didn't think it was relevant to the debate."
A small silver lining and a sign that the MTA recognizes how untenable the ESI program is that $90 million left in the program will be allocated to making one or two additional subway stations accessible.
Much more importantly, the impending demise of the program allows the MTA to pivot to a station program that makes accessibility central to any major station overhaul, for the upcoming 2020-2024 capital program and thereafter.
To make real strides in the future, the MTA must create a policy and clear plan to bring elevators to the entire system. The agency lacks both. New York City Transit President Andy Byford has indicated he's working on them. The proof will be whether the 2020-2024 capital program reflects a faster, bolder approach to accessibility. Riders don't need another list of "key stations" to be completed in a hundred years. They need tangible improvements delivered on a regular basis.
Most immediately, the MTA must dramatically improve its elevator performance. Given that the subway system has so few elevators, the ones that do exist have to be much more reliable. The MTA's target reliability of 96.5% uptime means that the average subway station elevator will be out of service for two weeks each year. This is too low of a bar––Boston's and Chicago's elevators routinely operate at 99% reliability. Broken elevators result from the agency's practice of hiring too few elevator maintenance staff and its failure to perform preventive maintenance on aging equipment. This is within Byford's control now, in 2018.
Testimony to New York State Senate on Finances and Operations of the MTA
The ground has shifted, and the transit system must adapt and change in response -- or else the future for subway and bus riders looks bleak, as do the prospects for the entire New York City region.


After BETonMACE top line data release there will be presentation(s) and publication(s) of the full BETonMACE trial data at major conferences and in major journals. Assuming top line is positive, then the full reveal of the detailed outcomes and safety data as well as all of the sub-studies and pre-specified comparisons would offer even more potential headlines/spotlights/catalysts. Top line is only the beginning, if not the end.


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Another Perspective: The Division
February 26, 2017 by rageriley·0 Comments
Day 1: The Division
This is article one of a series of articles where I place my girlfriend, Kay, in front of a game she's never played. She'll play for Twenty minutes and i'll write about it here.
Without Further ado, Kay plays: The Division!
One Year with the Gear VR
September 7, 2016 by Super Nicktendo·0 Comments
The Gear VR is one of the most popular VR headsets. I have had it for one year and it has gotten overwhelmingly better with age.
Dormeo Espo Octaspring Review
August 30, 2016 by Super Nicktendo·0 Comments
The Dormeo Espo Octaspring Manager Chair is a great inexpensive alternative to the higher end gaming chairs.
No Man's Sky: PC Review
August 19, 2016 by rageriley·0 Comments
No Man's Sky has been on a lot of people's radar for some time now, mine included. A lot of people aren't very happy with the fact that a lot was left out of the game, based on what developers had said it would include. Here's my review of what WAS included.
[Guest Review] – Mighty No. 9
June 28, 2016 by Super Nicktendo·0 Comments
Mighty No.9 is the culmination of a 4 million dollar Kickstarter. Does it live up to the expectations?
Ghostbusters: The Video Game Review (2009)
May 22, 2016 by Super Nicktendo·0 Comments
The Ghostbusters movies are a timeless classic that many kids from the eighties grew up emulating. Ghostbusters themed parties, Ecto Cooler from Hi-C and even terrible NES video games. Now that nostalgia is relived in Ghostbusters: The Video Game for the Xbox 360 and other platforms
Platform Reviewed: Xbox 360
Developer: Terminal Reality
Price: $20 used from Gamestop
Cities Skylines DLC Review
April 7, 2016 by rageriley·0 Comments
Last year, Cities Skylines was released. Now that there are two DLCs available, I broke it out to give them a whirl.
The Xbox One Elite Controller is the most expensive console controller on the market and comes with a lot of bells and whistles. But is it worth the hefty price tag?
Xbox One Elite Controller for Xbox One and Windows 10
Platform: Xbox One, Windows 7,8,10(app only available on Windows 10)
Price: $149.99 (As tested)
The Xbox One Elite controller is arguably the best designed controllers of all time. The form is a modified version of the already comfortable Xbox 360 controller. As competitive gaming becomes more main stream, the demand for a professional level controller has become a necessity. The Xbox One Elite controller meets that demand by adding fully customizable buttons, hair trigger locks, and paddles that can be mapped for any game that is in the Xbox One library.
The controller has been out since October, but since there was heavy demand, many people like myself have been left patiently waiting until Microsoft could replenish stock. At a hefty 150 bucks, this controller was expected to be a niche market item, but after playing with it for a couple of days, I can tell you if you have the means, you should definitely pick one up for yourself.
The Xbox One Elite controller parts are magnetic allowing the user to swap them out on the fly
The Xbox One Elite Controller comes with:
4 Paddles – Paddles are used as secondary buttons that the original controller already provides. Mapping a paddle to the jump function for example allows you to jump in the air without taking your fingers off the trigger. These paddles fit on the back of the controller and are removable. They're also interchangeable so if you prefer smaller ones in the back or just 1 paddle instead of all four, you are free to do so.
6 joysticks – depending on your preference, there are 2 standard sticks like the ones found on the original Xbox Controller, 2 rounded joysticks and another set of standard sticks that sit about twice as high as the normal ones. Regardless of your preferences, there's a stick that should meet your needs.
2 D-Pads – There's the classic cross pad and an omnidirectional pad. The Omnidirectional offers a much better experience for fighting games. The pieces are also magnetic so you can swap them out easily without fear that they'll pop off while playing.
Carrying Case –a case with a zipper that houses all parts of the controller including the controller itself. Comes in handy when you decide to pop over to a friend's house or your Halo tournament.
The case for the Xbox One Elite controller houses everything including the braided USB cable.
To customize your Xbox One Elite controller you'll need to access the Xbox Accessories application that's already installed on your Xbox One. If you're using the controller on your PC and have Windows 10, the app is available on the app store.
The application is very easy to use and allows you to name your controller, choose from pre-set game configurations and fully customize the controller. Want to make the right joystick super sensitive and the left one not so much? You can. Increase or decrease the rumble? Absolutely. You can also save and name your configuration and assign 2 to the controller itself and change on the fly. This comes in handy if you're playing Team Deathmatch in Halo 5 and want to switch to Capture the Flag. Simply switch to the second profile and you're good to go.
The Xbox One Elite Controller works with any Xbox One title available today. Some games like Halo 5, Sunset Overdrive, and Forza 6 already have pre-set controls, but if you won't have an issue if you're playing a third party title like Fallout 4 or Mortal Kombat X. Since the controller is adjusted in the Xbox Accessories app, you won't have to worry if games in the future will support the controller. This is excellent foresight on Microsoft's side because I don't think anybody outside a eSports circuit could justify dropping $150 on a proprietary controller that only worked best on 1 title. There are no extra buttons, the paddles just add a better way to use the face buttons without taking your fingers off of the thumbsticks and triggers. Also since it's a first party device, the software and firmware are built in to the Xbox One so you won't run into any bugs.
I have been playing with the controller for the past week and the controller is smooth. The force that you need to give to move the controller makes it very precise. Aiming has never felt better. Of course I'm sure I can have better results with a keyboard/mouse combo, but this comes incredibly close. I was able to pull of headshots and keep my crosshairs in the same position every time after shooting. With the regular controller, I found that aiming was all over the place.
So – should you buy the Xbox One Elite controller? That depends. $150 is a lot of money if you causally enjoy games. If you game a lot, $150 is a fine investment in game play. That is if you can find one. Gamestop sells them used for $129, but that doesn't guarantee you the case or USB cable.
The Room Three Review
The Room Three
Platform: iOS, Android (Reviewed)
Studio: Fireproof Games
The Room Three is the in popular "The Room" series. The game features a series of challenging but thoughtful puzzles that you must solve to progress through the game. The first chapter of the game is straight forward, having you solve one puzzle before moving on to the next one, but as you progress through the game the puzzles ramp up in difficulty. If you get stuck, there's a tip menu that will nudge you in the right direction. If you still don't get it, the tips get more precise but you have to wait at least 45 seconds before the next one unlocks allowing you to try the puzzle again. If you haven't played the previous two Room games, don't worry; no experience is necessary.
The story is a combination of Shutter Island meets Sherlock Holmes. The Room Three places your character on an island and you must solve puzzles left by a mysterious person known only as "The Craftsman." The scenes are ominous and the music and sound effects reflect that.
The environments are very detailed
This game is built for mobile; double tap to inspect and interact with objects, pinch to exit, etc. The game is also on rails so to speak. You can't really travel to every inch of the room, but that's good because the controls would be very cumbersome.
Most objects that you can inspect have many different pieces that you can interact with.
There doesn't appear to be any in app purchases for this game. You paid 5 dollars for it so why should you pay any more?
What I didn't like:
There's not too much to not like about this game other than the screen doesn't stay on during gameplay. My screen is set to turn off in 30 seconds so during some load times, I have to unlock the screen if I don't touch anything. I'm sure this would be something that can be fixed in the next patch.
Some people might be turned off by the fact that you can't explore every nook and cranny of the environment, but I'm OK being lead around.
What I liked
The puzzles are challenging but not so hard that they're frustrating. After figuring out a puzzle, I feel pretty accomplished. The game has a nice story that flows through each chapter seamlessly.
If you have five bucks lying around and you enjoy a good puzzle game, pick this game up. It's already been out on iOS since November but Android users just got it on the 11th of January.
Nick's Spoilerific Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review
December 21, 2015 by Super Nicktendo·0 Comments
A word of warning: If you haven't watched Star Wars: The Force Awakens that was released on Thursday of last week, stop reading anything Star Wars related and go see the God Damn movie already. I had to wait until Saturday to see Star Wars and I have to say that it was worth the wait. I went on an internet blackout to avoid any plot spoilers and I'm glad to say that it paid off. Star Wars is now back on my good side. I can finally come out to all of you and say that I am a huge Star Wars geek and this movie did a really good job of correcting the mistakes of the prequels.
All this movie had to do was not be as bad as the prequels. JJ Abrams when above and beyond making sure that the next two movies were just as anticipated as The Force Awakens. This isn't a money grab by Disney. This is a full fledged Star Wars film that's going to make a boat load of money for Disney.
Before Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released, I like other Star Wars fans, had some serious reservations. We've been hurt before. The prequels broke our nostalgia goggles and we were left wondering if there was ever going to be a film that was an original story and captured the magic of the original trilogy. 10 years ago George Lucas told 60 Minutes that there was never going to be an Episode 7. And with only a handful of Star Wars related cartoons, I had given up any hope that there would be a new movie showing what had happened to our beloved characters. If you don't want to read the synopsis that I put in, you can click here to skip down to my thoughts about the movie.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in the same way as the other films minus the 20th Century Fox intro. The story crawl announces that Luke Skywalker has vanished and there are people looking for him. One side is the Resistance headed by General Leia and the other is the First Order headed by Kylo Ren and General Hux. After we're all brought up to speed, the movie starts on the planet Jakuu where we're introduced to Poe Dameron and BB-8. Poe gets the map that leads to Luke Skywalker but Kylo Ren and the First Order are hot on his trail and capture him just after he sends BB-8 away with the plans. Kylo then orders the village purged and one lone Stormtrooper doesn't fire. It turns out that it's our new hero, Finn.
Now we meet Rey. She's a scavenger that gets paid in food. Every haul she brings in is literally her meal ticket so she does her best to get what she can. During her dinner, she's hears droid sounds and guess who it is: BB-8 has been captured by another scavenger and she sets him free as the other scavenger goes on her way. Rey feel sympathetic to the little guy and offers to let him spend the night and then send him on his way in the morning. While turning in her scavenge haul, she's informed that BB-8 is worth a ton of food; enough to feed her for weeks. She considers the offer and then turns it down stating BB-8 is not for sale.
Finn helps Poe escape in spectacular fashion, Kylo Ren gets super pissed, and they wind up back on Jakuu after their stolen TIE fighter is destroyed. There are no signs of Poe as the TIE fighter is devoured by a sand monster and Finn must trudge on to the nearest city for help. Finn is dying of thirst because duh, he's been in the desert without water and decides to drink out of the watering hole where all the space cattle drink from. He turns his head to see Rey getting hassled by some bad dudes and decides to be a hero and save her. But Rey can handle her own and easily defeats her would be assailants. That's when BB-8 notices that Finn has Poe's jacket and tells Rey that Finn is a killer and must be destroyed. Rey doesn't think twice and attacks Finn before getting told that Finn helped Poe escape but unfortunately he didn't survive the TIE fighter crash.
Suddenly, Finn realizes that he hears the feint sound of TIE fighters approaching and grabs Rey's hand to get out as soon as possible. Rey fights this because she doesn't need saving, but quickly realizes that Finn has her best interest in mind and decides to get out as well. They need a spaceship and Finn points to a ship off screen, but Rey says it's a hunk of junk and runs towards the new one. That one gets blown up and so they move toward the junk ship which just so happens to be the fabled Millennium Falcon. Rey flies it well while Finn shoots and they escape in typical Millennium Falcon fashion.
Now Kylo Ren has been let down twice and he's not very happy about it. So he goes to his mentor for advice. Supreme Leader Snoke. We don't really know much about Snoke much like we didn't really know anything about the Emperor until Return of the Jedi. Turns out Snoke is pretty powerful in the dark side and knows that Kylo is conflicted but for right now we don't know why.
Flashback to Finn, BB-8 and Rey: they've escaped in the Millennium Falcon and now learn their names. Just as they're about to get further in their stories, the ship suddenly gets caught in a tractor beam and Finn is pretty sure it's the First Order coming to take them away. They decide they're not going down without a fight and decide to hide in a smuggling bay and gas whoever comes in. Turns out it's Han Solo and Chewbacca! Nostalgia fills the theater and Han's heart as he's finally home in his glorious ship. Han quickly finds out that the ship isn't empty and discovers Finn, Rey and BB-8 hiding and quickly askes them how they got the Millennium Falcon. Apparently it has changed hands quite a bit in the past 30 years.
Just before we get another plot advancement, Han is confronted by some bounty hunters who are of course demanding money that Han owes. Han of course tries to sweet talk his way out of it, but it doesn't work because Han Solo is now notorious for being a terrible liar and weasel. Just when it appears that Han and Chewy are screwed, Rey inadvertently unleashes the smuggled cargo which are squid looking meatballs that go around eating everyone. Finn gets pulled off but is saved at the very last minute by Rey. Everyone gets back on to the Falcon and they escape leaving time to speak to each other and get the audience up to speed.
In this conversation, Rey lets on that they're in possession of a droid that has the map to Luke Skywalker. They then say that some bad dude named Kylo Ren is searching for it too. That's when we're given the bombshell that Kylo Ren is actually Han Solo and Leia's son who was trained by Luke Skywalker and turned to the dark side forcing Luke to go into hiding as there are no Jedi left in the universe to help him. Han offers to take Rey and Finn to someone who can help and that's where were a new planet and swatch of characters are revealed.
It also should be noted at this time the Resistance and the First Order know what BB-8 has and has put out an APB to everyone in the known galaxy. As soon as BB-8 is recognized in the bar, both sides are alerted to his presence. While we're waiting for the battle to start, Finn decides to peace out and leaves Rey to live her life with Han and Chewy. As Finn leaves, Rey hears some cries for help in the basement. She follows them to a room full of junk and a small chest with some artifacts in it. One being Luke's original lightsaber that was last seen falling down a bottomless pit in The Empire Strikes Back. Once Rey touches the lightsaber, she hallucinates everything in the previous trilogy and some of her own fears as well. When she finally comes to, Maz, the little alien oracle tells Rey that the lightsaber has magical powers that have been awaken in her and she must find Luke Skywalker and before she goes any further, Rey says "nope" and runs away.
During Rey's force trip, the Starkiller base (AKA Death Star 3: Bigger and badder) fires up its super laser and takes out not one, not two, but 4 major planets including what looks like Coruscant, the capital planet that was a major scene of the prequels. Maybe Jar Jar is finally dead. OR IS HE!? Well since these lasers are huge and everyone on Maz's planet sees other planets explode, they all collectively lose their shit. But they don't have time for that because the First Order is here for BB-8 and they've never been afraid to cause collateral damage. While they're destroying everything, the Resistance X-Wing squad shows up fashionably late to the party and a giant battle ensues. Also we discover that Poe is very much alive.
During the battle, Finn decides that he needs to save Rey and goes back to the bar to find her but instead finds Han, Chewy, and Maz left wondering what to do next. Finn decides it's time to fight, but he doesn't have a weapon. But Maz does! Luke's lightsaber is now in Finn's hands and he has no problem using it on his old work buddies. While he's fighting off Stormtroopers, Han and Chewy kick ass and kill plenty of First Order troops.
Flash back to Rey as she's running aimlessly into the forest trying to come to terms with what she just experienced. This is where she runs into a very real Kylo Ren who senses that she has seen the map to Luke Skywalker and decides to take her instead of BB-8 to extract the information. Finn and Han look on helplessly as Kylo loads her up into his ship, and then a resistance ship shows up right at their footsteps. Out steps General Leia who greats Han and Chewbacca. It's clear that they haven't seen each other in years and it's all because of Kylo turning to the dark side. They still have feelings for each other obviously and this romantic moment is interrupted by none other than C-3PO. Proving once again the droid has no social awareness.
Back on the Starkiller base, Kylo has Rey in the torture chair that seems to come standard on every evil base. He tries to break into her mind and try to steal the map that she saw. Rey tells him to take off his mask and Kylo obliges. The face of actor Adam Driver is revealed and we find that Kylo is just as fresh faced as his rival Rey. Kylo attempts to extract the information from Rey but she uses her new force powers to get into Kylo's head and find that he's worried that he's not going to live up to his grandpappy Vader. This freaks Kylo out and he storms out of the room to seek advice from Grand Supreme Taco Leader Snoke. This leaves Rey alone to use her newfangled powers to convince a Stormtrooper to let her go so she can escape. When Kylo returns to the empty chair he gets understandably angry and destroys the room.
Back to the rebel/resistance/republic base – we don't really know what's the resistance is at this point because they keep using different descriptions of it. Finn catches up with Poe and gets to keep his sweet jacket. We also find R2D2 covered up and collecting dust. It turns out he's been in low power mode since Luke left and everyone just accepted it. BB-8 senses that R2D2 has the rest of the map to Luke, but everyone writes him off because he's a droid. And droids don't know any better.
Leia brings everyone to the command center where we now have schematics of the Starkiller base and Han says what the audience is thinking "How do we blow it up?" Good question, well it turns out that Finn knows a ton about the Starkiller base and how to defeat it. How does he know so much? Do all Stormtroopers get a manual on how the Starkiller base works and what its weak points are? Well that's really a moot point right now because Admiral Akbar says that the shields can repel any attack that's thrown at it so we'll need a rag tag team of crazy guys to go to the base and disable the shields so a full on attack can commence. Of course that team is Finn, Han, and Chewy. Just before they leave, Leia reconciles with Han and asks him to bring their son home.
The Millennium Falcon jumps into light speed and it's going to come out of light speed right on the Starkiller base because the shields pulse and can't block anything going that fast. They get to the snowy base, crash into some trees and slide to the edge of the cliff stopping just short of falling off. Phew. All three walk to the nearest entry point undetected and proceed to look for a way to disable the port and prevent the base from firing off another super laser. They find Captain Phasma and force her to disable the shield. Phasma then tells Finn that they're pretty stupid and their plan won't work to which Solo replies- isn't there a trash chute to throw her down? We never see her again and the search for Rey continues. As Finn is ranting about finding Rey, Han sees her conveniently climbing outside and to another corridor.
Rey is quickly reunited with the gang and they move forward with their plan to disable that one area of the base that will prevent the entire base from destroying planets. Outside the Resistance is kicking ass and taking names. They're moving closer to the trench they need to destroy the base and deal a huge blow to the First Order. I have no idea how this architect of Death Stars keeps getting work if he keeps putting in one fatal flaw in each one of his designs.
Kylo is on the hunt for Rey because he's been humiliated three times now and he's not going to let her get away this time. He wanders into a big empty room where Han and Chewy are placing thermal detonators and still can't find anything. It's now time for Han to confront his son and try to bring some sense to him. Han calls him out by his real name "Ben" and approaches Kylo casually. Kylo unconvincingly tries to tell his father that Ben is dead and there's only Kylo to talk to. Han sees through his bullshit and tells Kylo to take off his mask. Kylo again takes off his mask and tearfully explains to Han that he needs help and only his dad can help him. He places his lightsaber in Han's hands, looks at him and then turns it on and thrusts it through Han Solo's chest. Han is shocked, but not surprised, he touches his son's face one last time and falls into the abyss. Chewy lets out a vicious roar for his fallen friend and obliterates any Stormtrooper in site, then detonates the explosives opening the way for the Resistance.
We're now outside and still reeling from Han Solo's death. Kylo catches up with Rey, force throws her into some trees and knocks her out. Finn fires up Luke's lightsaber and fights Kylo Ren cutting down trees as they go along. Finn ultimately loses and looks to be dead. Kylo goes to pull Luke's lightsaber to him and it looks like he's going to succeed but it's actually Rey who grabs the lightsaber and starts to fight Kylo. The intense battle goes on for what seems like 15 minutes and Kylo tries to bring Rey to the Dark Side. It's unsuccessful, Rey cuts Kylo's face and runs away just in time for part of the base to create a huge chasm between them. Luckily Rey is on the side where Finn is. She picks him up and they run to the Millennium Falcon where Chewy is waiting to take off. They leave the base just as it explodes revealing a sun underneath the crust.
The ride home is bittersweet. Rey, Finn and Chewy have succeeded in their mission but at the cost of Solo. When they arrive back to the Resistance base, Leia knows Han didn't make it but also knows that he died trying to save their son. When Rey gets to the base, R2D2 decides to wake up and project his part of the map which is conveniently only missing the part BB-8 has. We now know where Luke is located and Rey goes with Chewy in the Millennium Falcon to find him. She climbs up the mountain where a robed hermit is standing. He turns around and it's Luke Skywalker with a glorious beard and Jedi Robes. He says nothing as Rey reaches out to hand him his old lightsaber and the credits roll.
Thoughts about some the characters
I liked the movie very much and while I'm disappointed that Han Solo died, I'm glad that he went admirably. There's nothing worse than a major character dying with no other reason than the writers thinking "wouldn't it be cool if we killed off this guy?" Han's death helped Kylo Ren's story progress and now we'll find out if he's going to go deeper down the Dark Side or not.
I can't help but think that this is how Anakin should have been portrayed in the prequels. And maybe that's why they made the film 30 years after Return of the Jedi and not something like 5 or 15 years afterwards. It's clear that Kylo is still conflicted, but JJ Abrams avoids the awkwardness of the prequels by just putting Kylo on the path to the Dark Side and letting the audience decide for themselves how that happened. One of the flaws of the Prequels is that there were no surprises because we knew that Anakin becomes Darth Vader and we know that all characters not in the original trilogy had to die or disappear. With the new trilogy set after Darth Vader's timeline, we can establish new characters and have them grow without worrying how we're going to write them out of future movies that the audience has already seen.
Finn is a great character and he is quickly a fan favorite by being a wannabe hero and also a wise cracking smooth talker that kept the tone of the film lighthearted even though it had some serious parts. It's still hard to say what Finn actually is and that leaves a lot open in the next two films to see how he fits in the overall plot. He was a Stormtrooper raised from birth to kill, but all of a sudden he realizes that what he's doing is wrong and decides to defect. The good thing is that there is so much that Finn is that is all speculation. He lies a lot so maybe he's lying about his past as well.
I'm glad that we have a human female protagonist prospective Jedi in the film. While Prin.. excuse me.. .General Leia was a strong female role in the original trilogy she was constantly getting rescued. Times have changed and it's perfectly acceptable to have a female lead in a film that was originally marketed as a boy's wet dream involving saving the girl, and thus the day. They don't even focus on Rey's gender playing a big part in the movie because no one cares. All progressiveness aside, it's clear that Rey isn't a token character and she's going to be fun to watch when she's under Luke's tutelage. Just like with Finn, there's a mystery about her character that leaves the writers plenty of room to show how robust Rey can be.
Anybody else peeved that she didn't get much on screen time? It seems that she was just a plot device so that we could get a Stormtrooper to shut down the shields. She doesn't have any real character development other than she's Finn's asshole of a boss. Even when Finn gets up in her face, it's like a bullied employee who finally gets to say he quits. I really hope Phasma returns in the next movie, because she needs proper development.
Poe is another character that I felt was just an afterthought. Poe disappears for the majority of the movie and really feels just like Phasma: we need to put a name to the commander of the army but we also need to make him/her look cool. Let's do it. Again – let's hope that Poe is solidified as an integral character in the next film.
Thoughts about the film:
Overall the film is great. It's clear that JJ Abrams and crew took this seriously and knew there was a lot riding on this. Star Wars fans are fickle and messing with the nostalgia of an iconic film is risky. The results have been disastrous in the past and now the healing can begin with this new age of Lucas free Star Wars Films. While watching the films, I was filled with the same feelings that I had with the first three films. I think I had even more of those feelings because I was in the epic space of a theater and not my small bedroom and TV. I'm glad there's a new Star Wars film that managed to capture the feel of the original three. There were throwbacks, but not in a way where you got sick of them. The humor was also on point which seemed to be missing from the original trilogy. Sure there was Jar Jar, but I'm talking about smart, quirky jokes that aren't slapstick like Jar Jar was.
The actors and actresses of the film also did very well. I am very impressed with the new characters and I'm excited to see them in the next films. One of the best indicators of a good movie is that you forget that these are people playing characters and actually start to feel attached to them. It's really been a long time since I've seen a movie like this. Sure I care about some characters, but I was actually upset that Han Solo was killed. I'm passionate about Star Wars again, and it's all thanks to this film.
I do have some beef with the film, however. I'm not too thrilled with the ultimate cliffhanger and I really don't like that they didn't include more of Phasma. I thought they were going to find Luke Skywalker in the middle of the film and go on from there. I'm also a bit heartbroken about Han Solo's death because he's such a loved character. I've grown attached to him and to have him around for such a long time and now he's gone, it feels like a real death has occurred. Overall these are just superficial beefs and the film didn't have plot holes like the prequels did. I look forward to seeing it again so I can catch the little quirks that I missed the first showing.


Amsterdam, University of Kentucky, Aalborg University, Denmark and Albert Ludwigs Universität, Freiburg, Germany where he was a Humboldt Fellow (2006–2007). He has an abiding interest in social movements and cultural change, criticism, creativity and contemporary dialectics of transformations, theories of self, culture and society, and ethics in management and development. Dr Giri has written more than a dozen books in Oriya and English. Among his previous books are: Global Transformations: Postmodernity and Beyond (1998), Sameekhya o Purodrusti [Criticism and the Vision of the Future, 1999], Conversations and Transformations: Toward a New Ethics of Self and Society (2002); Building in the Margins of Shacks: The Vision and Projects of Habitat for Humanity (2002); Reflections and Mobilizations: Dialogues with Movements and Voluntary Organizations (2004); Self-development and Social Transformations? The Vision and Practice of the Self-study Mobilization of Swadhyaya (2008); Mochi o Darshanika [The Cobbler and the Philosopher, 2009] Rethinking Social Transformation: Criticism and Creativity at the Turn of the Millennium (editor, 2001); A Moral Critique of Development: In Search of Global Responsibilities (co-editor, 2003); Creative Social Research: Rethinking Theories and Methods (editor, 2004) and Religion of Development, Development of Religion (co-editor, 2004).


Experience the launch of the inaugural Pocono Folk Festival and celebrate the summers-end and beginning of fall in the Delaware Water Gap, the place Conde Nast travel magazine called "the most beautiful place in Pennsylvania" in 2018. The concert will be held on the stage and grounds of the historic Castle Inn at 20 Delaware Avenue, Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327.
The rain or shine event will take place on September 15, 2018 from 11:00 am to 10:30 pm and will feature folk, classic rock, bluegrass, Americana and tributes to The Band and The Grateful Dead. Tickets are festival seating/general admission for $39.50 in advance and $49.50 at the gate day of show.
There will be local vendors, Food and Wine and an Arts Fair. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome – with a reminder to be courteous to your neighbor's space. No alcohol allowed in the gates but will be available for purchase onsite.
"It is only appropriate that we launch this historic event with a music icon who is no stranger to the Poconos or the Catskills, John Sebastian. He graduated from Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ (just 15 miles east of the Delaware Water Gap) in the early 60's, and closed the decade up-river in Bethel, NY at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. It was there that he made history performing an impromptu set before 400,000 people! We're truly humbled and honored that John has agreed to kick things off on the good foot as only he can," Della Croce concludes.
Supporting John Sebastian will be The Music of THE BAND performed by Professor Louie and the Crowmatix. The Woodstock, NY-based band is led by former BAND producer, Aaron "Professor Louie" Hurwitz, and members of Bob Dylan's and Van Morrison's bands. The group is supported by the Woodstock Horns and will perform a full set of classics by The BAND. They will close the show at 9:00 pm after John Sebastian with a rollicking Last Waltz style finale featuring key early day performers.
One of Jam band's favorite sons, and Delaware Water Gap producer/artist, Tim Carbone of RAILROAD EARTH will take the stage with partner Lou Rogai of LEWIS & CLARKE with their duo CEDAR SPARKS.
Nashville folk singer-songwriter SEAN DELLA CROCE will also perform music from her latest album along with Grateful Dead Tribute band STRAWBERRY JAM and Pocono bluegrass favorites, THE LOST RAMBLERS. The music begins at 11 am with local acts and continues through to 10:30 pm.
More information can be found at www.poconofolkfestival.com.
The Pocono Folk Festival is produced by Jim Della Croce Pathfinder Productions The Castle Inn Suite #223 Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327.
Pat McGee at The Press Office pat@thepressoffice.com or call 615.419.9989.


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text:
Q: Android Preference Screen Layout I have the following preference screen in my app
<PreferenceScreen
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<EditTextPreference
android:key="edittexvalue"
android:id="@+id/edittextvalue"
android:title="Title Here"
android:summary="Summary Here"
android:defaultValue="Some Value"/>
<Preference
android:key="customPref"
android:title="Title Here"
android:summary="Summary Here"/>
</PreferenceScreen>

All of that works just fine however my app i have custom backgrounds and text colors/sizes but i can't figure out how to format the PreferenceScreen I assume you point this at another xml? but can't figure out the code i need and what changes should be made. The main concern is the background color the text is fine i guess but the background just doesn't match the rest of my app. So i'd like to set a custom background color lets say red for now (#ff0000)
I thank anyone that can help me with this problem

A: You can to apply a theme to it in your manifest, for example
<activity android:name=".Settings"
     android:theme="@style/YourStyle"/>

and in your styles.xml (if you dont have one, create it in the values folder)
you can modify whatever you need
For example
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
<style name="YourStyle" parent="android:Theme.Light">
    <item name="android:listViewStyle">@style/Widget.ListView</item>
    <item name="android:windowNoTitle">true</item>
</style>

<style name="Widget" parent="android:Widget">
</style>

<style name="Widget.ListView">
    <item name="android:background">@color/white</item>
    <item name="android:divider">@color/gray_division</item>
    <item name="android:dividerHeight">2dip</item>
</style>
</resources>

I hope this helps


Marketing fiction books may seem like a bizarre new terrain; after spending months in isolation, you suddenly thrust your baby out in the world… and watch it sink.
A powerful book launch can give every fiction book its chance in the sun, but few authors know how to do it well. You can have very successful fiction books with very little marketing – but only if you're willing to use publishing 'hacks' like giving books away for free. You don't need to grow your email list or build an author platform, but the chances of success will be much slimmer, and you won't have any control (or – more importantly – a relationship with your readers).
Many authors will complain that they 'hate marketing' and 'just want to write'… that's fine. Let them fail. You and I know better. We want to be career authors. We are happy to take the reigns of our own futures and build a platform that will make successful book launches easier every time around.
Writing LOTS of books is the most important thing, so I appreciate that you don't want to waste a lot of time on social media or blogging. That's fine. But you can probably spare an hour a day, or 3 hours twice a week, to focus on building your author platform. And even if you don't do that, you can still use these lists and guides I've put together to launch this book and worry about your author platform later.
(Am I missing any vital categories? Let me know in the comments).