text:
// Copyright 2018 Google Inc. All Rights Reserved.
//
// 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.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Google.Api;
using Google.Api.Gax;
using Google.Api.Gax.Grpc;
using Xunit;

namespace Google.Cloud.Diagnostics.Common.Tests
{
    public class ProjectTest
    {
        private static readonly Dictionary<string, MonitoredResource> s_resources =
            new Dictionary<string, MonitoredResource>
            {
                // Note: keyed by string so we'll be able to cope with GKE having multiple
                // representations.
                { "gae_app", MonitoredResourceBuilder.FromPlatform(new Platform(
                    new GaePlatformDetails("project-id", "instance", "service", "version"))) },
                { "gce_instance", MonitoredResourceBuilder.FromPlatform(new Platform(
                    new GcePlatformDetails("json", "project-id", "instance", "projects/12345/zones/zone"))) },
                { "container", CreateGkeResource("container") },
                { "gke_container", CreateGkeResource("gke_container") },
                { "k8s_container", CreateGkeResource("k8s_container") },
                { "cloud_run_revision", MonitoredResourceBuilder.FromPlatform(new Platform(
                    new CloudRunPlatformDetails("json", "project-id", "location", "service", "revision", "configuration"))) },
                { "unknown", new MonitoredResource { Type = "unknown", Labels = { { "project_id", "project-id" } } } }
            };

        // There are three different potential resource representations for GKE. We handle them all
        // the same way, but we need to test that.
        private static MonitoredResource CreateGkeResource(string resourceType)
        {
            var resource = MonitoredResourceBuilder.FromPlatform(new Platform(
                new GkePlatformDetails("json", "project-id", "cluster", "location", "host", "instance", "zone", "namespace", "pod", "container", "clusterLocation")));
            resource.Type = resourceType;
            return resource;
        }

        [Theory]
        [InlineData("gae_app", "project-id")]
        [InlineData("gce_instance", "project-id")]
        [InlineData("container", "project-id")]
        [InlineData("gke_container", "project-id")]
        [InlineData("k8s_container", "project-id")]
        [InlineData("cloud_run_revision", "project-id")]
        [InlineData("unknown", null)]
        public void GetProjectId(string type, string expectedProjectId)
        {
            var resource = s_resources[type];
            Assert.Equal("explicit", Project.GetProjectId("explicit", resource));
            Assert.Equal("explicit", Project.GetAndCheckProjectId("explicit", resource));

            Assert.Equal(expectedProjectId, Project.GetProjectId(null, resource));
            if (expectedProjectId is null)
            {
                Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => Project.GetAndCheckProjectId(null, resource));
            }
            else
            {
                Assert.Equal(expectedProjectId, Project.GetAndCheckProjectId(null, resource));
            }
        }

        [Theory]
        [InlineData("gae_app", "service")]
        [InlineData("gce_instance", null)]
        [InlineData("container", "container")]
        [InlineData("gke_container", "container")]
        [InlineData("k8s_container", "container")]
        [InlineData("cloud_run_revision", "service")]
        [InlineData("unknown", null)]
        public void GetServiceName(string type, string expectedServiceName)
        {
            var resource = s_resources[type];
            Assert.Equal("explicit", Project.GetServiceName("explicit", resource));
            Assert.Equal("explicit", Project.GetAndCheckServiceName("explicit", resource));

            Assert.Equal(expectedServiceName, Project.GetServiceName(null, resource));
            if (expectedServiceName is null)
            {
                Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => Project.GetAndCheckServiceName(null, resource));
            }
            else
            {
                Assert.Equal(expectedServiceName, Project.GetAndCheckServiceName(null, resource));
            }
        }

        [Theory]
        [InlineData("gae_app", "version")]
        [InlineData("gce_instance", null)]
        [InlineData("container", null)]
        [InlineData("gke_container", null)]
        [InlineData("k8s_container", null)]
        [InlineData("cloud_run_revision", "revision")]
        [InlineData("unknown", null)]
        public void GetServiceVersion(string type, string expectedServiceVersion)
        {
            var resource = s_resources[type];
            Assert.Equal("explicit", Project.GetServiceVersion("explicit", resource));
            Assert.Equal("explicit", Project.GetAndCheckServiceVersion("explicit", resource));

            Assert.Equal(expectedServiceVersion, Project.GetServiceVersion(null, resource));
            if (expectedServiceVersion is null)
            {
                Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => Project.GetAndCheckServiceVersion(null, resource));
            }
            else
            {
                Assert.Equal(expectedServiceVersion, Project.GetAndCheckServiceVersion(null, resource));
            }
        }

        [Fact]
        public void DoesNotCacheSpecifiedMonitoredResourceInstance()
        {
            var monitoredResource1 = s_resources["gae_app"];
            Assert.Equal("version", Project.GetServiceVersion(null, monitoredResource1));

            // Assert that the first MonitoredResource instance is not cached by checking if the version is correct.
            // Only auto-detected MonitoredResource instances should be cached.
            var monitoredResource2 = s_resources["cloud_run_revision"];
            Assert.Equal("revision", Project.GetServiceVersion(null, monitoredResource2));
        }
    }
}


The guiding light for our work in support of charity organizations.
Fratello Sole is a company that aims at supporting charity and social care organizations to offer help to people in need.
The support provided by Fratello Sole consists in helping these organizations save on energy costs, so as to make their work lighter and more sustainable.
It is specialized in fundraising within the energy sector at regional, national and European level.
It supports several organizations through actions that help protect creation and have a positive impact on the people it takes care of.
Together with its associated organizations, it organizes the creation of work chains that provide employment and indirect benefits for fragile or vulnerable individuals.
For the poor and the people in need.


Our Thanksgiving puns make light of what many consider to be the most American of all holidays. We get together with friends and family, we eat, watch some football, we eat some more, and maybe, just maybe get in a little post-meal exercise. Oh, and one more thing – the most important – we express our gratitude and give thanks for all of our blessings in life. One of those blessings is the ability to laugh at ourselves.
Getting the longer part of the wishbone is a snap.
Don't feed the turkey, it's stuffed.
Gobble, Gobble, until you wobble, wobble.
It doesn't get any butter than this.
It's all fun and games until the pants don't fit.
I'm all about the baste, about the baste.
The dinner doesn't stop until I've tried everything.
You ain't seen stuffing yet.
Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings, not your carbs.
Baby, I'm a maize at the way you feed me.
Don't forget to set your scales back 10 pounds tonight.
Don't be a jerky, eat some turkey.
Oh my gourd, I love Thanksgiving.
What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter? Pumpkin pi!
Popeye's Thanksgiving thought: I yam what I yam.
Go ahead, bake my day!
Learn more about the inside story of Thanksgiving's History.
Clear eyes, full stomach, can't lose.
You miss 100% of the leftovers you don't eat.
What is the key to a great Thanksgiving meal?
What does a turkey drink from?
I'm giving up leftovers over time because I can't quit cold turkey.
What do you get when you cross a octopus with a turkey?
Where did the turkey learn to dance?
Thanksgiving = Not a good day to be my pants.
Black Friday purchases need to take in account the weight you gained on Thursday.
What did the pilgrim call his home boys?
Why doidn't pilgrims tell secretes in the corn field?
What happened to the pilgrim who was wounded by the Indian?
If pilgrims were alive today, what would they be most famous for?
More Fun Thanksgiving Jokes and Humor.
Put your fat pants on…it's time to eat.
There's a place for all of God's creatures – next to the potatoes and gravy.
Call the girls, call the guys, we're having peas, potatoes and pumpkin pies.
People dress up on Halloween, we dress turkeys on Thanksgiving.
The day after thanksgiving is the busiest day for plumbers.
Eat, drink and wear stretchy pants.
Don't run a fowl of the cook!
Ah, the life of pie.
Families are like peanut brittle, it takes a lot of sweetness to hold the nuts together.
What does a turkey with one leg say?
Why were the fans tired of the turkeys' baseball team?
All they hit were fowl balls.
An American Turkey in the Oven.
A Sweet Potato Named Desire.
When the turkey was told he would be surrounded by family for the holiday, it wasn't necessarily a good thing.
How to diet on Thanksgiving: Don't!
The thing I'm most thankful for: Elastic Waistbands.
Thanksgiving dinner: How people used to communicate before social media.
Dear Christmas, Wait your turn. C'mon man!
I was thinner before Thanksgiving dinner.
You're on Thanksgiving Puns page.


Native Habitat Restoration, LLC brings over 15 years of experience in managing invasive species, having pioneered management projects to control invasive species in upland forests, as well as implemented wetland and floodplain forest restoration.
Jessica Murray Toro, Co-owner and Project Manager, has designed and implemented many invasive species control and restoration projects over the past 12 years. Jessica has overseen the Weed It Now project, a large-scale invasive species control project on 9,000 acres. This project covered nine towns and three states with over 75 landowners participating in the effort. Jessica has extensive experience writing and administering grants. She has secured over $3 million dollars in federal, state and private grants.
Sari Hoy, Co-Owner and Field Supervisor, has a Masters in Environmental Land Planning from Conway School of Landscape Design. She has extensive experience in oversight and management of field staff performing invasive control projects. Sari has experience working in small and large-scale projects and with conservation organizations. Sari is a licensed herbicide applicator in Massachusetts and New York. She is also a NOFA Certified Organic Land Care Professional, Master Gardner and NEWFS Plant Conservation Volunteer.


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Discography Browser
Comedy/Spoken
Agora Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Neil Hamburger
Left for Dead in Malaysia
AllMusic Rating
User Reviews ↓
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AllMusic Review by Chris Handyside
To paraphrase, or, rather, hijack, the words of Bill Cosby: Neil Hamburger is a very funny fellow. Right? Left for Dead in Malaysia represents the lowest rung yet on the downward spiral of Gregg Turkington's shlock-comedy alter ego, Neil Hamburger. Hamburger, for what it's worth, is a note-perfect character -- a loser in every sense of the word and embodying all of the self-loathing characteristics of nebbish comics through the ages (well, since the '50s, anyway) but utterly lacking in the self-awareness that allows the audience to laugh at his plight. Left for Dead is ostensibly recorded in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, with Hamburger warming up a hotel ballroom crowd that's eagerly awaiting an evening of karaoke. All of the unique Hamburger charms are here: the awful, awful comic timing, the deader-than-deadpan delivery, and the utterly tasteless observations about life, divorce, and foreigners. But, while on his first two albums, America's Funnyman and Raw Hamburger, Hamburger had some reserves of optimism and an energetic, hysterically inappropriate foul mouth (respectively), Left for Dead finds Hamburger bottoming out. Utterly hopeless, this is perhaps the lowest point in Turkington's character arc. At one point during this disc's often-painful hour-long running time, Hamburger is nearly forcibly retired from the stage by the karaoke machine. This, after his manager, Art Huckman, has deserted him (hence the album's title). He pleads with the crowd, telling them that there will be plenty of time to karaoke after his set. As with the rest of his act on this set, there is absolutely no reaction from the crowd. Where Hamburger would have previously berated the crowd or himself for laughs, here he just groans and carries on. This is easily the most painful "comedy" experience since Lenny Bruce's onstage reading of his court transcripts.
Neil Hamburger 01:19 Amazon
Selamat Malam
Transcending the Language Barrier
The Cola Wars
Sales Reps' Conventions
Swingers' Parties
Necrophilia
Colonel Sanders
Neil' Will
Other Comedians
Montezuma's Revenge
Metric System/Oriental Massage
Antarctica/New Jokes
blue highlight denotes track pick

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Ann McArthur, a third-year business management student, is sharing highlights from her experience at the Ted Rogers Management Conference!
The Ted Rogers Management Conference (TRMC) holds a special place in my heart. It was the first conference I attended during my undergrad as I was an Ambassador for the team. This year marked not only my third year attending the conference, but it also is TRMC's 10th year anniversary.
With the big 10-year anniversary, my expectations for the conference were extremely high. I'm happy to say that it exceeded my expectations.
The conference was hosted at the Westin Harbourfront Castle, a wonderful downtown location with a great view of the water. It began with an opening keynote from Melinda Rogers, the deputy chair of Rogers. She spoke about how her father, Ted Rogers, was an innovator who took risks. Having Melinda open the evening set the stage for the exciting days that followed.
Jim Reid, chief human resources officer of Rogers, had an upbeat energy and gave great life advice to play to your passions and hone your strengths. A key takeaway from his talk was the importance of having people in your life who are supportive. He explained the concept of ranking people at a company a 6 or a 9, then to get rid of the 6's and promote the 10's to make sure you have the right people on your team. He said that despite this being a common trick for companies, it can also apply to your personal life. It's important to have people with you that are supportive and bring value to your life. He also recommended that if you're to read any book about business, it should be Good to Great by Jim Collins.
Following Jim was a speech from Diana Brown, chief people officer at Capital One. She encouraged us to ask for help from others and to not compare ourselves to others. Everyone is going to be better than you in some aspect so rather than negatively comparing yourself, you should find positive aspects and strengths within your friends and learn from them. This is a way to grow.
Later that day was the 32nd Annual Ryerson Business Forum, which was moderated by Patricia Lovett-Reid, chief financial commentator of CTV News. The panelists were Justin Pang, head of corporate sponsorship at Google, George Soleas, CEO & president of the LCBO, Garrick Tiplady, managing director of Facebook Canada and Rola Dagher, president of Cisco Canada. Rola was named Women in Communications and Technology's Woman of the Year for 2019. She was an engaging speaker and she advised us to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations since those are what ensure us to grow.
The evening ended with the annual multicultural night dinner where everyone dressed up in their cultural clothing. Entertainment included lively dance performances. This was definitely the most fun part of TRMC as every delegate was dressed beautifully and the entertainment was a fun way to wrap up the evening. Unfortunately, I had left my traditional Filipino outfit at home, but was lucky enough to borrow a sari from a friend of mine. It was way harder to put it on than expected, so a big thank you to all my friends who taught me how to wear it!
The following day began with the Startup Summit presented by Facebook. The Startup Summit is an annual part of the conference which has 5 startups give a pitch and the winner receives $5,000. Before the pitches, Derrick Fung, CEO of Drop gave a speech on entrepreneurship. He left the corporate world to work with Tomorrowland music festival and then started his own business. He believes more and more people want to start their own business since people no longer chase money in a career, but want to fulfill a passion. He had a passion for music which is what led to his job at Tomorrowland music festival.
The TRMC gala was the night we had all looked forward to. After a cocktail reception and delicious dinner at the Liberty Grand, the conference concluded with a Fireside Chat with Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple. Seeing him speak in person was surreal due to the huge impact his work has had on the world, and my life as a Mac and iPhone user. He was far more personable and fun to listen to than I expected. He urges us all to focus on being happy and having fun in what we do.
My favourite part of his chat was that he was asked what he would tell his younger self – a common question I hear at conferences, but his answer was something I had never heard before. He said he wouldn't tell his younger self anything since he believes that thinking out problem he faced was what made him who he is and the process of thinking something out is the most important part.This was extremely refreshing and encouraging to hear, especially from someone as successful and impactful as him.
From the high-caliber speakers, enthusiastic delegates and overall conference experience, I'm so glad I had the opportunity to attend this conference yet again and celebrate 10 years of TRMC.


She's not discussing extravagance satchels or even Gray's Anatomy, her incredibly effective TV arrangement, which as of late started its eleventh period of healing facility dramatization and high jinks. Or maybe Pompeo is alluding to the 1930 house she imparts to her significant other, music maker Chris Ivery, and their two little girls, five-year-old Stella Luna and child Sienna May. On account of an ongoing start to finish makeover, it's the specific soul of reexamination.
When Pompeo and Ivery obtained the property in 2009, it had lost quite a bit of its unique appeal. Various redesigns had eradicated period points of interest, the structure was filled with asbestos and lead pipes, and parts of the grounds were severely disregarded. At the point when Pompeo says, "I adore a task," she would not joke about this.
To help with the undertaking of "giving the house the consideration it urgently required," as Pompeo puts it, she enrolled L.A. decorator Martyn Lawrence Bullard, with whom she's composed two past homes. Together they imagined a discount transformation adjusted not to some nostalgic, silk hung thought of Hollywood style—in spite of the home's family—however to the energetic soul of an outline smart on-screen character at the highest point of the Tinseltown diversion today.
Having made plans to bring the working down to its studs, Pompeo and Bullard grabbed the chance to reevaluate everything from room arrangements and spatial stream to materials and completions. Windows were broadened to upgrade light and catch clearing vistas. Existing floors, for the most part finished wood, were swapped out for vintage limestone pavers, recovered earthenware tiles, and boards of finished French oak. Also, antiqued moldings were included. "The house was cleaned of patina throughout the years, so we put it all on the line to restore a feeling of age and respect," Bullard clarifies.


WEBSTER CITY — Rebounding is all about grit, will and want more than anything else. And, right now, the Webster City boys' basketball team is still trying to find all three.
For the second time in as many outings, the Lynx had a tough time crashing the glass and were overwhelmed by a larger, more physical opponent inside the WCHS gymnasium Tuesday night.
South Central Calhoun (4-1) attacked the boards at both ends relentlessly and turned nine offensive rebounds into a slew of points in its 56-44 win over the Lynx. The Titans owned a 26-18 rebounding advantage overall.
With so many new faces on the court for WCHS, there's still a tentativeness, particularly when it comes to the boards. McKinney says too many guys are watching rather than attacking when the ball comes off the rim.
South Central Calhoun rode those rebounds to a 31-20 halftime lead. The Titans went on a 9-2 run over the final 31⁄2 minutes of the second quarter after WCHS (0-2) had pulled to within four on a driving bucket by Steen.
It was a tough outing at the offensive end for the Lynx as well. They shot just 33 percent (15 of 45) overall and 18 percent (4 of 22) from behind the 3-point arc.
South Central Calhoun collapsed two and three defenders on Hoversten inside the paint and that left the Lynx with the option to chuck it up from long distance. Tavis Eklund buried two 3-pointers in the first quarter, the second at the buzzer to pull WCHS within 15-12, and Drake Doering added two more triples.
Hoversten was noticeably frustrated down low. The 6-foot-6 senior was limited to just one free throw in the first half and only two field goals on the night. He finished with eight points.
Steen led WCHS with 14 points and Eklund turned in a career-high 12. Tyler Olson had just one bucket, but the sophomore guard was the most active Lynx player on the glass with seven rebounds.
Behind a monster 24-point performance from Zane Neubaum, South Central Calhoun built its lead to as big as 18 points by the end of the third quarter.
WCHS slowly whittled away and reduced its deficit to nine points on three occasions in the fourth, but could get no closer. Three straight points from Hoversten, followed by an Eklund steal and layup made it 47-36 with four minutes remaining. Steen banked in a jumper from the right wing to get the Lynx within 49-40 with 2:55 to go.
Jared Birks (13 points) also scored in double figures for the Titans, who have only a 72-58 blemish against what is sure to be a highly-ranked (Class 2A) South Hamilton team when the initial Associated Press poll is released next week.
WCHS will travel to Fort Dodge to take on St. Edmond on Friday.
SC Calhoun (4-1) — Landon Schleisman 0 0-0 0, Matthew Clark 2 2-3 7, Cole Corey 0 0-0 0, Zane Neubaum 10 2-5 24, Jared Birks 6 1-1 13, Jacob Nicholson 1 0-0 2, Sam Musselman 1 0-0 2, Homer Martz 0 0-0 0, Brennan Holder 3 0-0 8. Totals: 23 5-9 56.
Webster City (0-2) — Dylan Steen 4 6-6 14, Drake Doering 2 0-0 6, Nathan Ferrell 0 0-0 0, Tavis Eklund 5 0-0 12, Tyler Olson 1 0-0 2, Carter Neuroth 1 0-0 2, Henry Hoversten 2 4-6 8. Totals: 15 10-12 44.
3-point field goals — SCC 5 (Neubaum 2, Holder, Clark); WC 4 (Doering 2, Eklund 2). Rebounds — WC 18 (Olson 7, Steen 4). Steals — WC 10 (Neuroth 3). Assists — WC 10 (Olson 3). Turnovers — WC 11. Team fouls — SCC 10, WC 11. Fouled out — none.


Zoiks! Online - The Very Best in Stand-Up And Music!: MUSIC NEWS: THE @CRYSTALMETHOD New Studio Album Out January 14.
MUSIC NEWS: THE @CRYSTALMETHOD New Studio Album Out January 14.
THE CRYSTAL METHOD have kicked off 2014 by offering an advance listen of their fifth studio album, titled The Crystal Method, via Hype Machine. Marking the iconic act's 20th Anniversary, the album is set for release January 14 and is available to hear now at Pandora or at HypeM.
On The Crystal Method, THE CRYSTAL METHOD's KEN JORDAN and SCOTT KIRKLAND explore various directions of electronic music. "While there's plenty of hissing beats, belching production, squealing-breaks (and) keyboards for modern EDM heads to enjoy," wrote Annie Zaleski of Alternative Press (Feb) in her review, "…the album is steeped in meticulous club music emphasizing silky grooves and sculptured adrenaline rushes." Guests include LeAnn Rimes, Franky Perez (Scars On Broadway), Nick Thayer and mau5trap artist Le Castle Vania. "The Voice"'s season #2 contestant Dia Frampton (also known as one half of indie duo Meg & Dia) is the featured vocalist on the album's first single "Over It" impacting radio this month.
Look for THE CRYSTAL METHOD to appear on Los Angeles tastemaker radio program KCRW "Morning Becomes Eclectic" on Tuesday, January 14. Meanwhile, the pair are gearing up for a major performance at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles with a full live band (a first for the platinum-selling EDM duo) on January 16.
Also this month, they have DJ dates lined up in Denver January 18 and New York City January 23 alongside a live set on SIRIUS XM's Electric Area Electric Aquarium. A full tour for the spring will be announced soon.


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Volunteers Plant Redwood Groves in Nicasio to Fight Climate Change
By Turtle Island Restoration NetworkJanuary 14, 2019January 26th, 201910,000 Redwoods, California, Habitat Restoration & Landowner Assistance, Native Plant Nursery, Salmon
About 25 volunteers helped plant 325 redwood trees and companion plants on two properties in Nicasio to restore diverse, resilient ecosystems. The effort is part of 10,000 Redwoods, a project that aims to create a local carbon sink in the San Francisco Bay Area to combat climate change. | Photo by Turtle Island Restoration Network
NICASIO—Staff and volunteers of Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) planted more than 300 redwood trees in Nicasio in January, expanding an effort to fight climate change and bring back endangered California redwood forests to Marin County, an ecosystem that has been reduced by 95 percent due to logging and development.
About 25 volunteers helped plant 325 redwood trees and companion plants on two properties in Nicasio to restore diverse, resilient ecosystems. The effort is part of 10,000 Redwoods, a project that aims to create a local carbon sink in the San Francisco Bay Area to combat climate change.
"We're excited to expand our 10,000 Redwoods program into the nearby Nicasio Creek watershed, which was once dominated by redwoods that were more than 1,000 years old," said Audrey Fusco, Nursery Manager of Turtle Island Restoration Network. "The seeds are collected and cut locally, and grown in our native plant nursery until they are ready for out-planting, so the redwoods we are planting are the local ecotype for the San Geronimo Valley and nearby areas such as Nicasio Valley."
Due to overharvesting, only five percent of the original old-growth coast redwood trees remain, and they are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. The loss of coastal redwoods in California also impacts critically endangered Coho salmon and other species. In 2015, TIRN launched the 10,000 Redwoods program to coincide with the Paris Agreement.
Petaluma resident Christian Uyeno was among volunteers who helped plant redwood trees in Nicasio, California in an effort to fight climate change and restore local ecosystems. | Photo by Turtle Island Restoration Network
"Redwoods are a symbol of California and the conservation movement," said Todd Steiner, Turtle Island Restoration Network Executive Director. "I think John Steinbeck said it best in his famous quote, 'The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always…The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe. It's not only their unbelievable stature, nor the color which seems to shift and vary under your eyes, no, they are not like any trees we know, they are ambassadors from another time.'"
Because they are fast growing, massive, long-lived, rot resistant, and easy to cultivate, planting redwoods are an important tool and critical in the fight against climate change. Redwood trees store more carbon per hectare than any other tree on Earth in their massive trunks and in their root system. Coastal redwood trees sequester triple the above ground carbon of any other type of tree, making them a key player in mitigating climate change. In addition to helping to sequester carbon and reclaiming land for redwood forest, the trees planted in Nicasio will help to stabilize an eroding creek bank and diversify habitat for wildlife.
With the help of volunteers, interns, and elementary school students in Marin County, redwood seeds have been collected and germinated, and seedlings have been nurtured in SPAWN's native plant nursery for three to four years. The volunteers who helped plant out these young trees ranged from Mel Wright, a 75-year-old Woodacre resident and regular TIRN volunteer, to a Fremont Elementary School student who came to help her mom plant trees. One middle school student came accompanied by her father, who originally planned to come along to support his daughter's interest but then decided to plant one tree. Rather than stopping at one, he continued to plant all day. He later said this was the first time he'd ever planted a tree and he will come back to help again.
"Someday, centuries into the future, these trees will be towering giants that will make future generations stare up in awe," said Preston Brown, TIRN's Watershed Conservation Director.
Turtle Island Restoration Network is hosting two additional redwood planting events in February in Woodacre and Lagunitas. If you are interested in volunteering to help fight climate change and restore crucial habitat, please email Preston Brown at preston@seaturtles.org for more details and to RSVP.
With the help of volunteers, interns, and elementary school students in Marin County, redwood seeds have been collected and germinated, and seedlings have been nurtured in TIRN's Native Plant Nursery for three to four years. | Photo by Turtle Island Restoration Network
Preston Brown, TIRN's Director of Watershed Conservation, demonstrates how to plant redwood trees in Nicasio. | Photo by Turtle Island Restoration Network
Arcata resident Aris Owensby was among volunteers who helped plant redwood trees in Nicasio, California in an effort to fight climate change and restore local ecosystems. | Photo by Turtle Island Restoration Network
A group of volunteers learn how to plant redwoods in Nicasio, California. The efforts will help create a local carbon sink in the San Francisco Bay Area to help fight climate change. | Photo by Turtle Island Restoration Network
Volunteers in January Picture Update
CaliforniaDriftnetsNews Releases
Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act to Become Law


Almost everyone likes dogs, even those who prefer cats as pets. So it's not surprising that writers have devoted a great deal of verbiage indeed to describe their ongoing love affair with the canine breed. You'll find herein all kinds of tales focusing on dogs: science fiction stories, mysteries, horror tales, westerns, memoirs, humorous accounts, and first-person doggie narratives. There are well-known pieces by writers such as Jack London, James Oliver Curwood, Washington Irving, Saki, E. C. Tubb, John Gregory Betancourt, Robert Hood, and Jack Dann--and stories by authors who are relatively unknown today.
"The Sound of the Barkervilles," by Robert Reginald.
And don't forget to search this ebook store for "Wildside Megapack" to see more volumes in the series, including more animal stories (like Cats), plus mysteries, adventure stories, westerns, ghost stories, science fiction -- and much, much more!


SIRUI ET Series tripod have a uniquely designed leg mechanism that lets you to flip the legs up 180o. This allows the tripod to be folded significantly smaller than comparably sized tripods with conventional leg designs. And you can keep a ball head on the tripod and it will still fit in the compact case.
The SIRUI Flip Leg Lock System makes setup and breakdown fast and easy. Simply open the leg locks and the legs smoothly slide open. Thanks to the use of Magnesium leg clamps (for added strength) and SIRUI's superior design, the flip locks provide a solid grip, enhanced stability and reliable performance.
The tripod is precision built from aircraft grade Aluminum or strong, lightweight 8 layer 100% Carbon Fiber, for maximum performance, stability and long life. The matching E-10/20 Ball Head provides full creative control with a separate panning and main locking knob and useful bubble level. Easily create panoramas with the exposed calibration scale.
tripod, ball head, TY-50E quick release plate, short center column, custom padded case, shoulder strap, tools, instruction manual, warranty card.


Corgilicious is a blog for the corgi community, affectionately called Corgi Nation. Here, we collect fun photos, meme, comic, and corgi news. Corgi owners and fans are encouraged to submit their own items for publication as well. See our submission guidelines and submission form for more!
Be sure to visit our sister sites: Puppy on a Roomba, the blog of corgis Ty and Eve, and Some Pets, Carleen Coulter's pet blog.
CEO: Puppy on a Roomba (Ty Coulter): Everything belongs to Ty, who doesn't care much for sharing his stuff. Ty is the alpha corgi and oversees all website activity, especially if it has to do with fun, food, or bacon. He has advanced corgilicious certificates in bacon detection, toy testing and hoarding, and earthworm farming. These obviously make him well suited to oversee a website.
VP of Princessology: Corgi Eve (Eve Coulter): Eve makes everything look pretty. No need to anything more.
Check back as we unveil our mascots and hold contests to name them!


You, like me, are probably looking forward to a few days off over Easter. But it won't be long before FOL staff and volunteers resume their work — at home and abroad. Later this year our volunteers will be back on the ground helping the people of the Kipkelion District of Kenya to work towards an improved quality of life based on Kenyan values and getting involved in everything from business training and teacher seminars to sanitation and health provision. And while our volunteers are supporting the people of Kipkelion, in Ireland we'll be trying to support the volunteers by building our support base and raising funds. That doesn't just mean promoting our range of sterling silver jewelry, Londiani-made handbags or special education vouchers — although we naturally urge you to check out the FOL shop elsewhere on this site. It also means organising and promoting FOL's contribution to the year-long Irish celebration called The Gathering. The FOL Gathering is just one part of a nationwide series of events, through which Ireland opens its arms to friends and family from all over the world, but we like to think it's a particularly important one — an affirmation of Ireland's long and distinguished history as a supporter of, and participant in, development efforts around the world. And like those efforts, our gathering can certainly make a difference, not just because it will raise much-needed revenue to support our activities but also because it will raise consciousness and awareness — and perhaps even boost the numbers of those willing to help FOL in its efforts. It's about fun as well as funds, of course. We fully intend to ensure that you, your friends and your families not only support a worthy cause but dine and dance late into the night in the superbly located Clarion Hotel overlooking Cork's famous River Lee and facing the inspired architecture of City Hall. There will also be a raffle on the night for fantastic prizes including a new season Orla Kiely bag courtesy of the Kilkenny Group; B&B in The Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co. Waterford; Sunday Lunch in Garryvoe Hotel, Co. Cork; Lunch in the Mill Wheel, Midleton (the — probable — home of Irish whiskey), Co. Cork. And many more great prizes… After the extended winter, we, like you, are all keen to enjoy some proper spring weather and more light in the evening — and where better than in charming surroundings by the Lee, enjoying great food and entertainment — and, of course, boosting health, education and water programmes in Kenya. So find out more at http://www.friendsoflondiani.com/getinvolved.php?id=295 — and keep the 20th of April free!


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What is the difference between conservation and preservation?
A hundred-year-old debate that pitched environmentalist against environmentalist still casts a shadow today.
By Boyce Upholt
Wren Staff Writer
What is nature for?
This question set off a fierce debate in the United States in the early twentieth century—even among people who all appreciated wild, empty places. Both sides agreed that nature should be protected. The question became how nature should be protected—and, really, why. "Conservationists" saw nature as a valuable resource, one that needed to be managed carefully so its value could persist. "Preservationists," on the other hand, thought nature was less an economic resource than a spiritual sanctum. Nature should be preserved simply because it is beautiful.
As a shorthand, think of the difference between a wilderness park and a national forest. The former—the domain of the preservationist—is a playground in nature, where we aim to leave no trace; the latter is the conservation's landscape, where loggers carefully cull trees and hunters pursue game.
These are simple enough definitions. But what is nature for? This, even a hundred years later, remains up for debate.
📚 Jump to section:
How did the divide emerge?
How are these words used today?
So is the old controversy over?
People have managed landscapes for thousands of years. Indigenous cultures use fire to clear space for favored resources and have done so for generations. (Carefully planned fires also prevent larger, more destructive wildfires.) In the late eighteenth century, a very different practice emerged in Europe: Rudimentary scientific methods were applied to forests in an attempt to increase the yield of timber, and therefore the amount of profit.
By the late 1800s, this concept had taken firm hold in Europe and even jumped across the Atlantic. It fit U.S. politics well: Engineers and scientists were often asked to solve the era's problems, from determining the most healthful foods to design effective public spaces; now they would tackle forests, too.
The U.S. Forest Service was launched in 1905, and aimed to keep public forests economically useful over the long term. This same mode of thinking applied to other resources, like rivers, which could be engineered to provide hydroelectric power and to irrigate arid land. Such was the "proper use" of nature, as people often said: to conserve it so as to ensure its long-term utility. These people became known as conservationists.
John Muir remains a saint to many adventurers, though his views on race have come under criticism. Image credit: U.S. National Park Service.
The mountaineer John Muir, though, believed nature offered a spiritual salve. ("The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness," he once wrote.) Muir and his followers declared that nature had no proper use. It had its own right to exist, and should be preserved in its perfect, untrammeled state. The people who held this viewpoint became known as preservationists. The spirit of this philosophy is reflected in the U.S. effort to establish national parks.
These two views came to head in the early 1900s, after the U.S. Department of the Interior granted the city of San Francisco rights to the water in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, which lay inside the recently formed Yosemite National Park. The city wanted to build a dam to store water—the exact kind of careful planning prefered by conservationists. Muir loved the landscape of the valley. He thought that it made as much sense to "dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man" than Hetch Hetchy. Despite Muir's efforts, the dam was completed in 1923.
Hetch Hetchy Side Canyon, I was painted by William Keith in 1908, amid the debate over the dam. Image credit: Public domain.
Most people today can't articulate the difference between conservation and preservation any more. Indeed, in many cases, the two words are used interchangeably. Even among specialists, the words don't have the same meaning as they did in 1923.
The terms "conservation" and "preservation" have shifted meanings through the decades, making the old debate harder to track.
Today, the word "conservation" tends to refer to the discipline of conservation science, which emerged in the 1980s and focuses on retaining the world's biodiversity. The motivations for conserving biodiversity span both sides of the old argument: Some scientists hope to use biodiversity as a resource; others simply believe all species deserve to live.
The discipline of "preservation," meanwhile, tends to focus on human culture, not nature. Preservation Magazine is published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which works to keep historic homes and artifacts in their original state.
Carefully constructed earthen mounds—like these, near present-day St. Paul, Minnesota—offer evidence that in the United States there never was an untrammeled "wilderness." Photo credit: trialsanderrors / licensed under Creative Commons.
The idea of "nature preservation" has fallen out of favor, in part because nature does not really have an original state to preserve. John Muir's notion of empty, human-less wilderness dismissed the long presence of Indigenous people in America, people who had altered the landscape to their benefit.
Not at all. The Hetch Hetchy debate centered on how the U.S. should use its public lands. That remains a contentious question. Indeed, at Hetch Hetchy itself there is an ongoing campaign to remove the dam so that the preceding landscape can be restored.
A even more heated battle is unfolding in southern Utah, at the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. The "national monument" designation is intended to preserve landscapes of historical and scientific interest, and prevents certain developmental activities. After President Trump came to office in 2017, he reduced the size of both monuments, opening some of their lands up to mining. Conservation groups working to protect endangered species and organizations focused on outdoor recreation have both sued in an attempt to restore the former protection.
The Grand Staircase in Utah is a set of rock formations of ascending heights. Image credit: Doug Dolde / licensed under Creative Commons.
Even people who can agree that the "proper use" of nature may not include uranium and coal mines still disagree about just what the word "nature" means. Within the field of conservation science, there is fierce debate over how human beings fit into the world's wider web of ecosystems. Here, too, the contours of the debate have shifted since 1923.
Human beings dominate half the land on earth. Perhaps other species deserve a bit of space, too.
That's in part because climate change has forced our hand. As the world warms, it's going to be harder and harder to sustain old ecosystems. Changing temperatures will force some species will leave their current range. If the goal is the conservation of individual species, conservationists may need to create habitat "corridors" that facilitate migration, or to intervene directly to carry species along. (Human beings will be among the species forced to move, of course; human climate migration is really already underway.) This can make the idea of "preservation" of landscapes seem all the more silly. How do you preserve something when the entire world is changing?
Still, it's not like we want to just stop protecting tracts of land. Old-growth forests are better are storing carbon than young forests—which makes their survival all the more important today.
Old-growth forests, like this collection of redwoods in California, have particularly importance in our era: They are highly effective carbon sinks. Image credit: Dave Hoefler on Unsplash.
In 2012, Peter Kareiva, the chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy, published an essay that set off a firestorm. Kareiva never used the word "preservation," but he criticized the idea of wilderness parks, places intended to be empty of people except for passing spiritual supplicants. In subsequent essays, Kareiva built a case for what became dubbed the "New Conservation," a movement focused on conserving not just pristine landscapes, but also places that have been altered by human beings. Other conservationists objected that this was in essence giving up on the many untrammeled places that still remained.
This debate, like the battle over Hetch Hetchy, has at its center a familiar specter: money. What is nature for? That question is also asking how ecosystems should fit into our economy. Kaveira suggested scientists needed to stop "scolding capitalism" and start partnering with corporations—perhaps by setting prices on the "services" provided by ecosystems. Which has subsequently happened: You can help fund conservation to offset your carbon footprint on Wren, for example! More generally, though, a Swiss insurance firm has noted that trillions of dollars are at risk due to looming ecosystem collapse. Still, the "ecosystem services" concept has been criticized, as it has a supply and demand problem: Commodities increase in value in large part because they become rare.
Other critics of Kaveira worry that capitalism, so often focused on endless growth, is part of the problem—that it can and should be scolded. After all, human beings take up nearly half the globe. If all the other species are going to get some space of their own, we may have to set ourselves some limits. No matter where you land, though, it's worth noting the point of agreement throughout all these eras: nature has value and needs our protection. The world can't survive unless we recognize that fact.
Carbon Pricing 101
January 18, 2021 · Climate knowledge


Quiet and established neighborhood located near all the LFCISD schools, parks and the city of Los Fresnos. At a driving distance to SPI too! Just shy of an acre & priced to sell. There is an old house on the property that buyer's will have to remove.


Played a total of 2168 times by 297 registered members. Finished by 223 users who rated the difficulty as easy.
got it on my second try. not too bad. a little tricky though. got to move some cards around to finally get it. wow!!!
Well forget about the K first. K first works just fine.
Ber Kins are C then D wait for 5 7 8 and 9 that should get it done.
my time stunk but i did get her done. so ok.
Leave 7 of diamonds on the pile first time in order get the 7 of hearts to cover the 8 of spades. Very easy from there on.
Hi butterfly49, I too have been married for 32 years and have three children. So we have a lot in common already! Join in and enjoy!
Hi everyone. I'm late on today, I still have the linger longer virus , so had a big sleep when I got home from work today. Hope all are well.


100 Days of Real Food: Fast and Fabulous: 100 quick and easy (healthy!) recipes that work for any busy family's lifestyle.
Essie Top: One of our very favorite style tanks that is well worth the splurge. These wash well, are easy to wear, and are cool enough for those hot summer months. If you're not into prints, the solid blue version is available here.
Eyelet Striped Dress: We love the delicate details on this simple, striped dress. Perfect for summer!
Blueberry Banana Bread: A healthy breakfast (or snack!) option for you and your little ones. Easy to bake ahead of time and pull out when you need it (and for extra convenience, bake them in muffin tins!).
Mini Notebooks: Our Mini Notebooks are back in stock! These fit perfectly inside the Simplified Planner and feature gorgeous gold foil details!
'Mint Condition' Bangle: One of our favorite color combos in a fun, stackable bracelet. We love this!
Avocado Salad: We can't wait to try this avocado salad this summer. So simple!
Portable Stepper: Any other work-from-home gals out there? Here's a simple way to stay active throughout the day.
Ashley Brooke's 15oz Coffee Mug: For those days that call for a little extra coffee. We love these BIG coffee mugs by our friend, Ashley Brooke.
Our Spotify Playlist: Listen along to our favorite summer tunes! To receive our monthly playlists delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the EL Newsletter on our website.
Wellness, Part 1 - the "Vice Detox"


Far be it from me to suggest a "Best Automobile" category for the Oscars, but by my estimation, in the past 20 years, only two Best Picture winners have featured an Oscar-worthy automobile. 2007's "The Departed" included Leonardo DiCaprio's 1992 Ford Mustang in a handful of scenes, and 1999's "American Beauty" stars Kevin Spacey alongside a 1970 Pontiac Firebird—although whether it was hiding a 250-cubic-inch straight-six or the 400-cubic-inch V8 under its hood remains a mystery.
More shocking than the lack of great cars in the Oscars' Best-Picture winners has been the frequent presence of trophy-worthy vehicles in films nominated but passed over for Best Picture. Who is this Academy, and what does it have against cars?
In the past, we had great cars in great movies. "Back to the Future'"s DeLorean DMC-12. "Jurassic Park'"s Jeep Wranglers. But, looking back over the past 20 years, at least five films have been nominated for best picture and ended up losing, despite starring objectively more-compelling automobiles.
This movie lost to "Birdman," and although Alejandro Iñárritu's direction and camerawork deserved considerable acclaim, the selection of cars did not. Perhaps "Boyhood" can't stack up against the storytelling present in "Birdman," but the 1968 Pontiac GTO certainly has a compelling story of its own. The first year of the GTO's second generation, 1968 ushered in the muscle car's new body style. It may not have had the longevity of the Ford Mustang or Dodge Charger, but in terms of presence, "Boyhood'"s 1968 Pontiac GTO was certainly more memorable than any of "Birdman'"s automotive victims.
"12 Years a Slave" won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2014, and I won't argue against its merit. The moving film launched Chiwetel Ejiofor's career as a starring actor, and few movies have highlighted the moral extremes of humanity, and the boundlessness of human perseverance, as poignantly as director Steve McQueen's drama. However, "12 Years a Slave" is set in the 1840s and as such, it's not exactly overflowing with throaty exhaust notes and revving engines. "The Wolf of Wall Street," however, features plenty of both, including one memorable scene starring Leonardo DiCaprio and his white 1989 Lamborghini Countach. Few cars pack as many supercar features as the Countach, from scissor doors to a mid-mounted V12 engine. Sure, it may not carry the weight of "12 Years a Slave," but the Countach isn't exactly light on history, with production spanning 1974 to 1990—maybe enough to merit its own Oscar-worthy movie.
Obviously, this movie would have won the 2008 Oscars' Best Picture had the director, Jason Reitman, opted to star a 1994 Toyota Previa instead of a 1991. In an effort to resolve complaints about the Previa's lack of power, Toyota made the obvious move in 1994 and added a supercharger to the 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine. The 1991 model J.K. Simmons drives in Juno features only the 133-horsepower engine, but it's nonetheless an all-wheel-drive, cab-over minivan. That deserves an Oscar on cool-factor, alone. Not to mention, "Juno" lost the Best Picture award to "No Country For Old Men," which largely starred 40-year-old American trucks getting shot at in the desert.
I discussed the merit of "The Departed'"s 1992 Mustang earlier, but considering it was going up against "Little Miss Sunshine" and a 1978 Volkswagen Type 2 with a broken starter motor, Scorsese's 2007 Oscar win was nothing short of miraculous. The Fox Body mustangs of the early '90s have plenty of charm nowadays, but they can hardly compete with the yellow Type 2. I've joked about cars "starring" in movies, but the Hoover's microbus was a legitimate character in "Little Miss Sunshine," adding tension and drama with every stop along the way from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Redondo Beach, California.
To be perfectly honest, I've never seen "Million Dollar Baby" (the 2005 Oscars winner), but I have seen "Sideways," and casting a Saab 900 Cabrio as Paul Giamatti's car was nothing short of brilliant. These little Swedish convertibles have a rabidly enthusiastic fanbase, and seeing one wind through wine-country backroads helps explain why. Conveying equal parts intelligent, sophisticated, and neurotic, the little turbo convertible matched its owner's personality flawlessly and made for the ideal road-trip car through Santa Barbara County.
What is your favorite car that got featured in a movie?
This entry was posted in Car Lists, Car Minded, Classic & Vintage Cars, Domestic Cars, Exotic Cars, Foreign Cars, General Chat, United States, Used Cars and tagged 2017 Oscars, 89th Academy Awards, Boyhood Pontiac GTO, Juno Toyota Previa, Little Miss Sunshine Volkswagen Type 2, movie cars, Sideways Saab 900, The Wolf of Wall Street Lamborghini Countach. Bookmark the permalink.
Many but Marlowe's 1963 Sport Fury (Marlowe) and 1941 Buick (The Big Sleep) come to mind.


Israel abstained from the U.S.-led bid to isolate Russia at the United Nations in the wake of its takeover of Crimea, distancing itself from the U.S. policy of backing Ukraine in the conflict with its more-powerful neighbor.
It also declares a referendum held earlier this month to validate last month's Russian takeover to have "no validity." Among those approving the resolution were leading U.S. allies, including Canada and Poland.
Israel has maintained a low profile throughout the crisis.
Several Western diplomats, however, said Russia led an aggressive lobbying campaign against the resolution, adding that many states which sympathize with Ukraine abstained or chose not to be present for fear of angering Russia.
This story "Israel Abstains From U.N. Resolution Slamming Russia Takeover of Crimea" was written by JTA.


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ARTS Pick: Pierre Bensusan
Guitar virtuoso Pierre Bensusan plays the Southern on Wednesday. Image: LUCK Media & Marketing, Inc.
There's no place that isn't home to Pierre Bensusan.
The guitarist's been on the road for four decades, picking more than singing, but still working a bit of both into his live shows. That schedule almost necessitates his being able to be comfortable anywhere. And he should be reasonably content in Charlottesville.
As WTJU's Folk Director Peter Jones endeavors to re-establish Prism Coffeehouse, a folk enclave that hosted acts for about 40 years, Bensusan recalls the space's artistic director lending his career a bit of assistance.
"Fred Boyce and his wife helped make an audience," the guitarist said. "When his venue went away, it was harder to play Charlottesville."
But Bensusan didn't just benefit by having a spot to play during his tours through the States. Boyce was apparently an avid archivist, too.
"Over 25 percent of the recordings on Pierre's 3-CD set come from the Prism archives," Jones wrote in an email about Encore, Bensusan's latest release. "The artistic director at that time…did an amazing job of recording nearly 16 years of concerts."
The remainder of Encore is a mix of four decades of live performances the Algerian-born, French-raised musician's culled from dates around the world.
"I made that first record when I was 17," Bensusan said of the 1974 Près De Paris, which would eventually be released stateside through Rounder Records a few years later. "I was playing mandolin-I was playing bluegrass at the time. And was lucky enough to find myself on the road with Bill Keith. He put together a band to accompany him in Europe, and I was asked to join."
There's a bit of that bluegrass repertoire included on the second disc of Bensuan's new release, contrasting starkly with the rest of the recording's tenor. But the guitarist's time touring with Keith, who's pretty highly regarded among bluegrassers and banjo players, served as an important part of Bensusan's development as a musician.
"One morning, I was playing my guitar," he recalled. "And Bill was there. He said, 'That was amazing. Would you like to play solo at the shows?'"
Those performances enabled Bensusan to return to venues across the continent, play solo, and make a name for himself, instead of simply being a part of someone else's ensemble. But consulting Keith about the spirit of music, Bensusan said, also taught him to just "go out there and express myself." Keith's advice manifests itself in a loose and sometimes improvisational approach to performance on this latest batch of recordings.
Encore opens with Bensusan being introduced to an audibly excited Charlottesville crowd. The songs that follow ostensibly mirror his career—not just because Bensusan's called just about everywhere home for a night during the last 40 years, but because both the performer and the performances are marked by all those places and their cultures. —Dave Cantor
Wednesday 4/9 An Evening with Pierre Bensusan, The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. 977-5590.
Posted In: Arts
ARTS Pick: Nici Cumpston
Daniela Sandler explores activism in urban reinvention
@artscville
RT @lmillernpr: For the last decade, I have been working on a book. Today, it has a cover. https://t.co/wJtipjrp4s 05:03:01 PM July 15, 2019 from Twitter Web Client ReplyRetweetFavorite
RT @BobRossOfficial: Where are Bob's paintings now? This happy little video and article from @nytimes visits Bob Ross Inc. to find out. htt… 04:29:34 PM July 15, 2019 from Twitter Web Client ReplyRetweetFavorite
ARTS Pick: Pride and Prejudice
Game theater: In Kate Hamill's reworking of the witty and romantic Pride and Prejudice, love is a game with rules and strategy, and played for high stakes. It's still Lizzy and Darcy, Jane and Bingley, but this time the production includes modern song and dance, and some cynicism to boot. Each
ARTS Pick: Belle & Sebastian
Belles and whistles: More than 20 years on from the group's formation in Glasgow, Scotland, Belle & Sebastian continue to make records cherished by its fanbase. B&S' sound has ranged from intimate acoustic rock to synthed dance music over the course of its 10 studio albums. On the
ARTS Picks: Maupintown Film Festival
Historic lens: Featuring over 20 films, discussions, and presentations over three days, the Maupintown Film Festival showcases the black experience in America. Topics range from the legacy of historic African Americans such as Arthur Ashe and Booker T. Washington, to lesser known events, like
ARTS Pick: Camelot
Royal drama: The Charlottesville Opera's Camelot is complete with suits of armor and ornate sets that pull you into the fantasy of King Arthur's court. In this all-new rendition of the award-winning play, the principled and supremely honorable King Arthur must react to chaotic reality when
Land here now: Les Yeux du Monde challenges traditions of landscape art
In the Anthropocene, what does it mean to paint the landscape? Pristine, unspoiled wilderness no longer exists (even places that look "untouched" are affected by climate change), and we've learned to cast a suspicious eye at bucolic pastoral zones, now that we know how often they involve
ARTS Pick: Mental Attraction Band 2.0
Funkin' up the coast: Providing music for the GoGo Indépendance crew, Mental Attraction Band 2.0 brings go-go from its native Washington, D.C., to cities along the East Coast. With 20 years of experience, the 13-piece band blends funk, R&B, and hip-hop to create an exciting live
Reissue Roundup: ZZ Top, James & Bobby Purify, Various Artists
By Nick	Rubin	| LEAVE A COMMENT
Various artists Lullabies for Catatonics (Grapefruit) The U.K. rock scene's initial response to LSD tended more towards pastoral reverie than paranoid fever dream (not having a Vietnam War helped). But psychic unraveling quickly followed, as chronicled on Lullabies for Catatonics, a
ARTS Pick: Pure Formalism
Celluloid hero: In defining its summer film series Pure Formalism, The Bridge PAI states, "In the spirit of Stan Brakhage, we stand face-to-face with the image itself—and absorb." Brakhage was a highly influential experimental filmmaker whose career spanned five decades beginning in the '50s.
Emotional undoing: Midsommar runs deep on horror and humanity
By Kristofer	Jenson	| LEAVE A COMMENT
When a horror movie reaches a certain level of pedigree or critical acclaim, it's common in some circles to find any word other than "horror" to describe it. "That was just a really scary drama." Or, "I think it was more of a thriller," a genre that can overlap but is still distinct.
Life aquatic
Do you know where your oxygen comes from? Trees, shrubs, grass, sure. But scientists estimate that at least half (and maybe even up to 85 percent) of all oxygen on planet Earth comes from phytoplankton, one-celled plants that live on the surface of the ocean, gobble up ocean nutrients and
ARTS Pick: Six Foot Ceilings
Indie rewind: No longer confined to the house party basements that inspired its name, Six Foot Ceilings is moving up. The local band gives in to nostalgia but always with an indie tonal twist, offering everything from a moody "Hit Me Baby One More Time" to a haunting "Cry Me a River." But don't
ARTS Pick: Chris Newman
Hip-hop hit: Chris Newman, aka VA DOE, has been a pillar of central Virginia hip-hop for over two decades. An experienced radio DJ who spins every weeknight on 101.3 Jamz, Newman started making music as a teen at Charlottesville's Music Resource Center, and he was inducted into the Nine Pillars
Learning curves: Bruce Holsinger crafts a timely work of fiction with The Gifted School
By Tami	Keaveny	| LEAVE A COMMENT
Charlottesville resident, author, UVA professor, and dad of two boys, Bruce Holsinger may want to add prognosticator to his CV. His new novel, The Gifted School, is about privilege, parenting, inequity, and the corrosive extremes that parents go to in order to ensure their kids' educational
ARTS Pick: Helado Negro
Art of the smile: Roberto Carlos Lange, aka Helado Negro, plays down-tempo indie that pulls as much from the electronic music he listened to in his teens as the Latin sounds of his Ecuadorian heritage. On his recent record, This Is How You Smile, Lange sings in both English and Spanish,
Stars aligned: Heritage Theatre season opens with a legendary night in music history
By Graham Schiltz Ten days after their first meeting, the cast members of Million Dollar Quartet are attending their first start-to-finish rehearsal. It's described to me as a "stumble through," but, to an outsider, that doesn't seem to give the people on stage enough credit. There's a buzz of
ARTS Pick: Southern Culture on the Skids
Hot and humored: For more than 35 years, Southern Culture on the Skids has been playing what guitarist and singer Rick Miller calls "Americana from the wrong side of the tracks." The Chapel Hill, North Carolina band just might have more fun than its audience while jamming out surf, rockabilly,
ARTS Pick: IX Beach Club
Tropical inland: Party like it's sunny Santa Monica in a flashback to the origins of fitness culture at Charlottesville's IX Beach Club. Muscle Beach is the theme at this week's local gathering, recreated with weight training and a pose-off to flaunt your hard bod. The work-out and splash-about
Shaking up Shakespeare: Ethan McSweeny plays with tradition at Blackfriars Playhouse
By Dan	Goff	| LEAVE A COMMENT
Ethan McSweeny is fond of automotive idioms. "I'm firing on all cylinders," he says when asked about his work with the American Shakespeare Center, where he has been the artistic director for close to a year. It's like "trying to tinker on the engine of your car while you're driving—this thing
Shared experience: Poet Irène Mathieu explores identity and liberation in Grand Marronage
By Raennah	Lorne	| LEAVE A COMMENT
Local poet and pediatrician Irène Mathieu has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember. Before she learned to write, she would observe her mother and narrate everything she did. "She found it super annoying," Mathieu says with a laugh. Mathieu, who lived in Charlottesville for parts
Less thrilling: The latest Shaft movie brings nothing new to the screen
The trope of "John Shaft is a dirty old man" is barely enough material to build a "Saturday Night Live" sketch, let alone an entire movie. Yet here we are, the fifth entry in a once-breakthrough series (the third to be titled simply Shaft), and the most we can muster is a sometimes tolerable


text:
Q: How do I create Azure AD Tenant through code **Can we create a new azure active directory through PowerShell. I have searched and couldn't find much information? ** https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/azure/new-azureps-module-az?view=azps-2.8.0

A: NO, You cannot create Azure Active Directory tenant using PowerShell. I do not think, you will need to create an Azure Active Directory. It is already created and managed by Microsoft. What you create is a tenant within Azure Active Directory.
However you can perform the following actions with Powershell once you have the Azure AD.

A: No, this functionality does not currently exist.  I struggle to imagine it ever existing since the process of creating a tenant is so complex and requires the acceptance of various agreements.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


François Gabart on the subject of Brest Atlantiques - We have emerged much stronger!
François Gabart and his co-skipper will endeavour to win the first Brest Atlantiques race on the MACIF trimaran, which sets sail on 3 November 2019. It is a non-stop course running south from Brest in a loop and crossing the equator in the direction of Rio de Janeiro, then heading to the Cape of Good Hope, before returning to Brest. This represents an intensive month of double-handed racing, according to François. It is very interesting from a competitive point of view and demonstrates the vitality of the Ultim 32/23 class, that was considerably affected by material damage during the route du Rhum 2018.
"The end of January," says François Gabart, "was a key moment in the class's history. As the initial calendar was messed up after the autumn accidents, we had to rethink a programme. I was not particularly worried about our ability bring our visions and our interests into line, but it is reassuring to feel the driving force behind the whole Ultim 32/23 class. We talk and respect each other, and we build together. And I believe that we have emerged much stronger for all these misadventures."
"There is no shame in saying that it is essential to be able to measure the costs. The Class, and ocean racing as a whole, must propose economically viable events. I would have loved to stop in Rio and at the Cape of Good Hope, but it would not necessarily have been coherent, considering that our sponsors are primarily based in France. We have all taken the implications for our sponsors on board, to create wide appeal for this wonderful adventure appeal, and target our sponsors' public."
"Not Much Shorter Than a Round the World"
The Brest, Rio, Cape of Good Hope, Brest triangle promises to be, "a little under a month at sea, which in the end is only a little shorter than a round the world by the three capes. The first part is fairly standard and then we will sail round St Helena Island from the North, before sailing downwind from the Cape to the equator. The sail back up the Atlantic will be a classic of its kind. In the end, I think we will spend more optimizing our course and speed with velocity made good (VMG). As for sailing double-handed, I believe that it will allow us to have a similar race format to the Transat Jacques Vabre, which will help us find solutions to the reliability problems recently experienced, even if trimarans like these are still not that easy to handle double-handed"
While the MACIF trimaran is still undergoing a refit to prepare for the challenges this autumn, François Gabart has begun a new chapter of his life racing a Flying Phantom double-handed with Louis Viaton. The two skippers have been actively training with ENVSN, the Ecole national de voile et de sports nautiques, with the goal of lining up for the start of three major events in the international season of this very powerful class: the Eurocat (Carnac, 2 to 4 May), Act 2 of the Flying Phantom season, then Act 7, which will take place on Lake Garda (July) and the European Championship, which should also be held on the Italian lake. What is the goal? "To learn the subtleties of foiling and to get familiar with these sensations, says François. I will be competing with the 18 to 25 year-olds, a generation that was practically born racing on foiling yachts and which is very good. You wouldn't think it, after so many years of being the young sailor, it turns out I'm no longer young. I practised Olympic sailing for a long time, but it has been a long time since I lined up at that kind of starting line. Getting back to regatta racing is fun, but it's not the main goal. I feel the need for wind in my sails and for getting back to the heart of my job."
The start of the year was also marked by Sébastien Col joining the team – a 100% regatta racer, well-grounded in the America's Cup challenges. "Sébastien was the driving force behind my commitment to sailing the Flying Phantom. He was the one who helped me choose the boat and set up a programme," says François Gabart. He provides the whole team with details about foiling."
Sébastien Col is helping with the development of the MACIF trimaran, but also with Charlie Dalin's IMOCA 60 Apivia and the two Figaro Beneteau 3 yachts of the Macif skipper's Martin Le Pape and Pierre Quiroga. He is a key figure, linking the three projects' different teams and sailors, so that everyone can make good use of their knowledge expertise, and so that everything runs smoothly internally. He is also the "competitive advantage" of MerConcept, where few of us race intensively, and this creates team drive".
"Ocean, une plongé insolite" is the name of the new immersive exhibition on show at the National Natural History Museum in Paris, "exploring the ocean, a source of biodiversity, as well as inspiration and legends" MACIF is the sole patron of this exhibition and, quite naturally, François Gabart will be the ambassador for the group, its employees, representatives and public. "I am delighted that these environmental subjects, for which MACIF has shown concern for a long time, are at last being brought to the fore. Macif has resolved to make the public more aware of the treasures of the marine environment and the urgent need to protect the ocean as a climate regulator, a source of biodiversity, as well as of scientific innovation. I have been troubled by these subjects for a long time. If I had not found a sponsor to race across oceans, I think I would have used my engineering skills to the benefit of the environment. Endorsing this exhibition about the subject I know best, the sea, is a way of doing something positive."


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HomeTechWith 40 new titles & movie rental service, Amazon Prime strikes hard...
With 40 new titles & movie rental service, Amazon Prime strikes hard in war of the OTTs
New offerings include several Bollywood productions, regional films & series. Move comes at a time when Amazon Prime's biggest competitor Netflix has lost 200,000 subscribers.
Tina Das
2 May, 2022 04:26 pm IST
At the launch of the Amazon Prime's latest offerings in Mumbai last week | Credit: Amazon Prime
New Delhi: Streaming platform Amazon Prime has launched over 40 new titles as part of its 'Amazon Prime Video presents India' showcase, along with a movie rental service. The move comes at a time when its biggest competitor Netflix has lost a sizeable number of subscribers — around 200,000, according to its first quarter earnings for 2022.
Amazon Prime launched its showcase at an event hosted by director-producer Karan Johar in Mumbai last Thursday. It attended by the entertainment industry's biggest names.
"There are three aspects of going deep — there is content, there is how we market it and there is distribution," said Gaurav Gandhi, country head, Amazon Prime Video India, at the launch press conference Thursday.
The 40 new titles, which include Hindi, Tamil and Telugu offerings, indicate that while streaming platforms are going global in general, in India, they are also focussing on regional productions.
India is one of the fastest growing markets for OTT platforms. While Netflix ventured into the country in 2016, Amazon Prime recently completed five years here.
Netflix has 6.1 million subscribers in India, while Amazon Prime has around 22.3 million subscribers. The disparity is not merely an indicator of supremacy, but also of Amazon Prime offerings, which include streaming, music and shopping.
Also Read: Netflix & Modi govt collaborate for video series on 'women change-makers'
The Netflix crisis
Having already lost hundreds of thousands of subscribers, Netflix has estimated a loss of another 2 million subscribers by the second quarter. This worrying shift after over a decade of sustained growth has been motivated by various factors, including the pandemic as well as the Russia-Ukraine war.
The OTT platform had withdrawn from Russia as a response to the latter's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions. The move resulted in a loss of 700,000 subscribers in the quarter. Netflix still gained 500,000 subscribers, but the number was far short of the expected growth of 2.5 million subscribers.
Netflix had slashed its rates in India in December last year. It brought down the monthly mobile subscription plan for a single screen to Rs 149 from Rs 199, and is also available free with a few broadband plans.
Big names in upcoming films, series
Amazon Prime, meanwhile, has expanded its horizons with the genres it offers, ranging from horror to biographies, and true crime to investigative docudramas.
Among the upcoming offerings is Farzi, directed by filmmakers Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K., who had earlier given Amazon Prime its goldmine series The Family Man, starring Manoj Bajpai. Farzi has Shahid Kapoor in the lead with Vijay Sethupathi playing a policeman.
Meanwhile, Jubilee will bring Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee and Aparshakti Khurana together, while horror series Adhura will feature actor Ishwak Singh from the hit web series Rocket Boys, as well as Rasika Dugal. Sonakshi Sinha will play a cop in Dahaad, co-starring Gulshan Devaiah and Vijay Varma, while Telugu actor Naga Chaitanya will make his OTT debut in the Telugu horror series, Dhootha.
This indicates Bollywood's attempts to make a space for itself on OTT platforms, not simply through actors, but also collaborations, with 17 licenced films coming from the likes of Karan Johar-owned Dharma Productions, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment, Ajay Devgn FFilms (sic), and Yash Raj Films.
Apart from these, there are three originals, two co-productions, and one "special collaboration" in the pipeline.
The Madhuri Dixit Nene-led comedy-drama Maja Maa will directly come to Prime Video while Akshay Kumar's Ram Setu is among the co-productions. Kangana Ranaut's Manikarnika Films is also collaborating with the platform for Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer Tiku Weds Sheru.
How many OTTs are too many?
In India, as of now, there are around 40 OTT platforms, offering various plans. A KPMG survey in 2019 predicted that there will be a massive increase in the number of OTT subscribers in India, an estimated 62 million, by 2022. The growth is also significant in India's tier 2 and tier 3 cities, where cable TV used to enjoy massive popularity.
While the Covid-19 lockdowns kept everyone indoors, OTT platforms grew, with India being one of the biggest consumers. And even though movie theatres have reopened, there is the undeniable economic angle to having the option of watching at home.
India is a land that watches TV shows like both Naagin and Anupama, and wants variety in everything. OTT platforms like Hoichoi (Bengali), OHO Gujarati (Gujarati), Sun NXT (Malayalam) and Aha (Telugu) are some of the big players in the regional market. Hoichoi, which launched in 2017, has 13 million subscribers while Aha Video reached over 1 million paid subscribers within around 20 months of its launch in March 2020.
Hoichoi has released around 80 shows in Bengali while Sun NXT has over 4,000 South Indian movies in its library.
With such fierce competition, Amazon's aggressive launch of new and diverse content, and promoting new talent, both in the form of actors and show creators, is not a surprise. In fact, some of its biggest hits like Mirzapur, The Family Man and Made in Heaven featured ensemble casts. And it is now pushing the envelope further in the war of OTTs.
While Prime's yearly subscription is still economical compared to that of Netflix, there is no denying that there are cheaper options, with more regional offerings.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Also Read: 'Netflix is the new PVR': Why indie films aren't benefiting from the rise of OTT platforms
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Home » Next gen SimCity
Next gen SimCity
SimCity was one of the first major sandbox games that allowed the player to flesh out the role of a God and control an entire city on his screen. It was created by Will Wright and till this date enjoys fan appreciation and respect. Recently Maxis decided to launch its newest endeavour in the SimCity series called SimCity Online. For old fans and newcomers alike this was major news as it was allowing them to step into the shoes of the Almighty once more and build their city from scratch. Little did they know that they would be in for a nasty surprise.
Since SimCity hit the fans screens it spelt doom for its popularity that it had acquired over the years. It got storms of negative reviews and remarks from all over the gaming community and upset almost everyone. Maxis or Electronic Arts were holding on to their heads and racking their brains as to solve this predicament they had landed themselves into. SimCity launched after a long period of hibernation and the developers had major improvements set for the series in this latest instalment. They talked about new transportation options, population determination by roads along with an immersive multiplayer experience and several other features but it all went wrong.
This version of SimCity has wonderfully new and refreshing features that put the other games to shame. It lets you trade online with your neighbours where you can help one another. Your own city is a part of a gigantic network that is interconnected with several other towns and cities. This helps the player to evolve over time at an increased rate and lend a helping hand to his neighbours. The graphics are stunning and have certainly come a long way from the early days. The water shines with magnificence and the air sparkles while the smoke rises into the sky and the leaves rustle with peace.
The sounds are a pleasure to listen to as they each have a unique blend of tones and echos that resonate throughout the gameplay. Impressively the UI of the game is fantastic as it helps the player at every step of the way. It proves to be a great help if the user comes across some complexities that he is unable to comprehend. But all these improvements cannot save it from the disaster that it went on to create and become at the end of the day.
However there are several instances where SimCity was bogged down with server related problems which affected the gameplay and put a halt to all the fun that one would normally enjoy. The worst part about the game is that the player needs to be online at all times as it does not support offline gameplay. Bugs and various other threats flood the gameplay with irritating and time consuming tasks. Multiplayer options are welcome but it does not possess MMO qualities like cities being affected due to neighbouring towns and disasters. Login errors were rampant and the players were furious with EA.
SimCity was a great experience but due to the numerous problems and issues it fostered, the entire gameplay experience went to absolute hell. Now the only hope is that EA stands up and pulls its socks up to clear the difficulties and hear out the problems that the many gamers are putting up with.


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Child care providers demand $15-an-hour pay
Bahney, Anna
As the Fight for $15, the movement to secure a $15-dollar an hour wage for employees, gains momentum, child care providers are becoming more vocal about working toward the goal.
Calling our child care system broken — because it leaves families unable to afford care and providers unable to support their families — child care providers, parents, members of the Congressional Progressive PGR +0.43% Caucus and other Members of Congress announced a plan that aims to secure affordable and accessible child care for every American family and to strengthen the child care workforce.
In front of the Capitol building, the group announced plans to take their proposals, including calls for $15 and a union for child care workers, to families in cities in red and blue states nationwide.
The demands follow a week of wins for underpaid workers fighting for $15 an hour pay nationwide. Last Wednesday, a Wage Board empaneled by Gov. Cuomo recommended a $15 minimum wage for fast-food workers throughout New York, which would boost pay for 200,000 women and men throughout the state. In California, the LA County Board of Supervisors voted to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and the University of California system announced it would raise pay to $15 an hour for its direct and subcontracted workers. And a proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in the District of Columbia was certified for the 2016 ballot. and although it was dead on arrival, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders and members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus introduced a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
"Families need a reliable and affordable child care system that's available when they need it," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR). "And importantly, the care should be provided by skilled child care workers who are paid enough to support their families. Providing affordable, quality child care reduces worker turnover and strengthens our economy," Bonamici added.
Along with Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), Bonamici is introducing a House resolution recognizing the critical need for a stable and reliable child care system and a full-time living wage for all child care workers. "No one who is caring for and educating our children should have to live in poverty, and no one should be pushed into poverty because of the cost of child care for their kids," Bonamici said.
"The cost of caring for a child in America keeps rising, while our biggest corporations book bigger and bigger profits," Rep. Ellison said. "It's time we pledge no family in the United States faces a future without affordable childcare."
The group plans to hold town hall meetings, roundtables and rallies to discuss the policy recommendations for a stronger child care system in cities nationwide.
Working parents – who provide and who need child care – will be continuing their calls for $15 an hour pay and a union at these events. In May, child care workers and parents in the Fight for $15 met with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on the need for economic policies that strengthen the child care workforce and invest in affordable quality child care.
"I love my work. I help feed, change and nurture 19 three-year-olds in my classroom," said Dawn O'Neal, child care provider in Atlanta, Georgia. "But after 15 years in child care, I am still only paid $8.50 an hour as an assistant teacher. More than anything, I want to have a full life and be able to spend time with my children and grandchildren. That's why I'm fighting for $15 and a voice at work. Better pay for child care providers means we can support our own families and do our best at work without having to worry about having enough money for food or rent."
Most child care workers are paid less than $10 an hour, and a study by the University of California, Berkeley's Center for the Study of Child Care Employment found that child care workers have experienced no increase in real wages since 1997, while the cost to parents for early childhood care have grown nearly two-fold. Studies show that 46 percent of child care workers rely on public support programs, including food stamps, Medicaid and the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
"Underpaid moms and dads across the country are struggling to take care of our kids," said She'tara Brown, a single mother of three who works at Dollar Tree DLTR +1% in Tampa, Fla., and is paid $8.05 an hour. "I work hard, but at $8.05 an hour it's barely enough to pay for lights, rent and food—let alone child care. Parents like me desperately need affordable child care. It would give my children the opportunity to socialize, play and learn and it would free me up to do more to provide for them."
The lack of affordable child care affects all families with kids, but women are disproportionately impacted. Women make up 95 percent of the professional child care workforce and still do most of the unpaid child care work in families, according to Vivien Labaton co-founder and co-director of Make It Work. "This resolution shows a commitment to smart investments that guarantee affordable, flexible, high quality childcare and a $15 minimum wage for care providers and represents an important step toward the peace of mind that women, and all working parents, seek."
The Fight for $15 is racking up victories across the country, including $15 minimum wages in Seattle, SeaTac, San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as $15 for home care workers in Massachusetts. Earlier this month, Kansas City officials approved a $13 minimum wage and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved $15 for the nation's largest county, matching the $15 approved in the city of Los Angeles earlier this year.
-reprinted from Forbes