text:
Chinese Consumers Up Their Vanity Spending
by Liu Sha and Deng Yuanyuan
#eCommerce, #Consumer Behavior, #Chinese Consumers
Chinese consumers are hankering after the good things in life—and there is a marked shift in consumption from the mass to premium segments in several categories.
Here's a question for you: just how much time do you spend choosing and buying a dustbin? Chances are, not a lot. Second question: and how much money would you pay for a bin? Again, not a lot.
But for Patrick Li, a 29-year-old civil servant in Beijing, buying a dustbin for his kitchen was a huge decision. For days on and end, he read up on various kinds of dustbins online. He endlessly researched the pros and cons of plastic dustbins versus metal ones, those with a lid versus those without, etc.
Then he found one with a 'motion-control whisper lid'—in simple words, a lid that did not clang when shut. It didn't come cheap: the German-made Brabantia Retro sported a neat price tag of RMB 1,200. Li loved it, but thought it was a tad too expensive.
Two days later he changed his mind when he read an article by a famous home designer on Weibo which emphasized just how important it is to choose a nice dustbin. "The host's taste can be seen through a dustbin…. A good pedal bin should be well-designed, quiet when the lid closes, and it should be in sync with the style of your home."
Coincidently at the same time, a friend of Li's posted something on WeChat: "Anyone with an eye for detail won't think that a dustbin is a trivial thing."
Two weeks later, Li turned once again to Taobao, the e-commerce site where Chinese netizens love to do their shopping. He found a bin similar to the Brabantia Retro model he liked, albeit it was much cheaper at RMB 850. By now he had already lost interest in dustbins under RMB 100. Without thinking twice, Li clicked on the 'buy' button.
Li is part of a phenomenon that is sweeping across large swathes of China: people are increasingly shifting their consumption of even routine everyday things to more premium categories. "Once people learn about good things, they can't get over them easily," says Xu Ke, 27,founder and CEO of Eqingdan (literally translated as 'the list'), a Beijing-based start-up that offers shopping guides that end up showing the likes of Li more sophisticated offerings for things that they are looking to buy.
Eqingdan, for instance, recently published an article introducing Vipp Pedal Bin priced at RMB 2,000. Among other things, the article talks of the advantages of the Denmark-made bin, the fact that it was displayed as an art object at New York's Museum of Modern Art and other stories associated with the brand.
"We are not encouraging people to buy such an expensive bin, but we would like to show readers what a dustbin with really good quality looks like," says Xu.
Pillow Talk: Eqingdan CEO Xu Ke giving a talk on how to pick the perfect pillow
Trading Up
Li's parents are flummoxed. They can't understand why anyone would buy a dustbin that costs more than RMB100, let alone RMB 850. Neither can they understand the deep sense of satisfaction their son feels after buying, of all things, a dustbin. People of their generation never splurged on anything, let alone mundane everyday things.
Li's generation is different. He is part of the growing tribe of millions of Chinese customers, who have been exposed to a variety of products and are now gradually climbing the consumption ladder and shifting from mass products to premium ones. According to a 2016 McKinsey China consumer report, despite slower-than-expected GDP growth, over 55% of people think their household income will grow significantly. Consequently, they have no qualms splurging.
"The days of broad-based market growth are coming to an end as consumers become more selective about where they spend their money. Spending is shifting from products to services, and from mass to premium segments," the report says.
"With increasing incomes, Chinese now have the basics, they are more emotional, thinking more about aspirational things and thus the discretional spending number is going through the roof," says Jeffrey Towson, a professor at Peking University Guanghua Management School and author of The One Hour China Consumer Book.
Chinese consumers are hard to generalize now. The value-focused consumers were 80%-90% of the population (then the mainstream) around 2011, but by 2012, 50% of the citizens became the "new mainstream" who prefer premium, he says. "And then everybody buys luxury products, it just happens sporadically and is evolving quickly."
The buying decisions of Chinese consumers are often influenced by their own experiences or those of their peers.
Some, of course, get exposed to new trends when they travel abroad or watch foreign films. Others turn to social media. China has 413 million online buyers and according to McKinsey, 55% of them use social media to do product research and get recommendations.
But increasingly now there are a whole host of services that are geared towards exposing Chinese people to newer things. Some like Eqingdan and Caixin Enjoy are essentially shopping guides. Others like Xiaohongshu and Meilishuo fall into a category that can be best described as 'social commerce', essentially the combination of social media and e-commerce. Then there are people as well—such as celebrities and social media influencers—who are often paid by companies to endorse brands in a subtle manner. Together, they have helped consumers discover more premium goods.
Let Me Show You What to Buy!
By telling people what products are worth purchasing and explaining why, Xu's Eqingdan has garnered over 350,000 followers since its founding in 2015, most followers being female between the ages of 18 and 35 from first-tier cities in China.
Eqingdan's major platforms are its app and public account on WeChat. They are updated every day with new product recommendations. There are also household utility-related articles on themes like 'how to choose a good juicer', 'what you need to do to take care of your leather furniture' and 'comparison of different rice cookers'.
Xu's team sets strict standards for products that qualify to feature on Eqingdan: sleek looks, precision, durability, stability and safety. If someone really wants to be a rational and clever shopper, these are the criteria to consider, he says.
"In China, an oven meets the national standard if its temperature deviation can be controlled within 20 degrees, but there is the German-made Miele oven (price ranges from $2,000 to $13,000) in which the deviation can be controlled within one degree. That's precision".
He says Eqingdan provides content aimed at eliminating information asymmetry, telling people what they should know to make the right choice as well as how and where to buy, mostly by giving links to Taobao or other e-commerce sites.
While Eqingdan provides detailed analysis to help people choose quality goods, Caixin Enjoy, a tech company providing shopping tips, is trying to push people to the next frontier of vanity consumption.
For consumers to desire a product, quality is the basic criteria, says Zhao Ji, CEO of Caixin Enjoy. According to Zhao, people today need something intangible, like distinct brand values, to help the buyer stand apart from the rest and even appear to be high-class,
It provides content of interest to men—such as, information on suits, watches and wine. "Today's young people, especially those born after 1990, care more for how the product will help to define and differentiate them."
From Zhao's experience, there can be many different types of articles to recommend a product, but the type that works best always cuts in from an analytical attitude, mixing in human philosophy—the "chicken soup for the soul" type of articles.
That's why Caixin Enjoy, with over 75% male users, from not only tier-1 cities, but also small towns, provides a variety of content: shopping tips, brand knowledge, etiquette and stories that make a product appear more premium.
The pressure of buying more premium products exists for sure, he says, adding that there is no way an individual can resist the constant streaming of catchy advertisements everywhere. Around 4% of its users end up buying the products it recommends.
Both Caixin Enjoy and Eqingdan profit from advertising revenue. Unlike many start-ups dependent on venture capital, Zhao says, "we manage well without any investment." Caixin Enjoy advertisers include big brands like Omega, Cartier and IWC.
With over 350,000 users, Eqingdan attracts at least 400,000 views per article. Currently it gets advertising revenue of around RMB 200,000 a month.
Xiaohongshu, one of the largest social-commerce platforms where people read each other's recommendations, is a community where people, mostly female ranging from 18 to 35, read about the good things owned by others.
With over 15 million users and a valuation of RMB 1 billion, it links the social community with e-commerce. It mainly sells foreign products and has a conversion rate of between 8% and 20%—which is considered the highest rate that can be reached in this industry and its sales revenue in the second half of 2015 stood at RMB 700 million.
Ricky, 27, an editor at a lifestyle magazine in Beijing, says she spent more on shoes after she opened an account on Xiaohongshu, because she discovered new objects every day and ended up buying them after reading recommendations by others.
She followed a popular netizen Liu Shishi, who has over 38,000 followers on Xiaohongshu. One of Liu's posts with 3,000 likes is a photo of all the 15 pairs of shoes she has, price ranging from RMB 1,000 to RMB 8,000. In the post she explains where and why she bought each of them and which one was more comfortable. She also encouraged others to get them to "match the clothes in your closet."
Last winter, Ricky bought a pair of Stuart Weitzman boots for $700. Her desire for this pair was fueled by Xiaohongshu users who posted pictures of it. Ricky feels a sense of achievement ever since. "Shoes are worth the investment," she says, quoting the popular saying, "Once you have a good pair of shoes, everything you wear will look better."
Zhai Fang, founder of Xiaohongshu, told the 21st Century Business Herald that her goal is to let every user to become someone who could stimulate other people's shopping desires. As if on cue, Ricky herself has begun to post photos of things she buys and peppers her recommendations with phrases like "you deserve better".
Ricky not only follows pioneering buyers on Xiaohongshu, but she also follows a lot of celebrities on Weibo and WeChat. In fact, in the last two years, most celebrities she follows have gone commercial: they have either becoming brand endorsers themselves, or have opened their own shops.
Compared to the shopping guides, online celebrities take a more personal approach when exhorting people to buy certain products. Data from Alibaba shows that in the last Single's Day shopping carnival, six of the best-selling women clothing shops were owned by such celebrities.
Chen Nuanyang, 27, gathered over 700,000 followers because of her workout videos and fitness tips. A fan commented on one of her videos on Weibo, saying that Chen is a good sports model who "communicates like a friend". Chen doesn't publish for no reason: she promotes her own brand in her videos. Her shop on Taobao has over 1,060,000 fans and her bestsellers are T-shirts and shorts which sell over 4,000 pieces monthly.
Companies often hire celebrities and internet icons to endorse their brands. They often post pictures of themselves online describing which parts of their ensemble belong to which brand and people who want to emulate them, rush to buy.
A popular blogger Cheng Yan, who has over 1 million fans on her public WeChat account 'Shiliupo baogao' ('The report of the pomegranate grandma'), attracts readers with the latest gossip of film stars, mostly Hollywood celebrities, and what they wear and use. Given her huge influence on readers, she currently charges RMB 100,000 for one commercial advertisement on her WeChat public account.
Lucile Yang, a senior investor at Bertelsmann Asia Investments, which has invested in many shopping guide start-ups, says that these shopping guide companies as well as individuals are successful because they provide content in sync with current social values.
"Wherever there is good content, there will be consumers," she says.
All said and done, these sites have their limitations as well. For one, the consumer can be skeptical. Although most of the content on Eqingdan and Caixin Enjoy is not paid for and they mark advertisements clearly, Towson has his doubts: people can be skeptical and take their recommendations as advertisements. He feels that "word of mouth" by acquaintances works better for Chinese compared to other consumers.
These sites could also urge consumers to behave irrationally. After reading the recommendations, they may discover things they had never heard of or desired before, but the desire is stoked, unnecessarily burdening their shopping lists and their wallets.
Eqingdan's Xu gives the example of a $400 food waste pulper by InSinkErator, a company based in US. "Once I tell you of the existence of this gadget that can process all your kitchen waste during cooking, you will want to have it."
Now that the dustbin is taken care of, maybe Li should invest in the InSinkErator next.


"... Studying temporal dynamics of topics in social media is very use-ful to understand online user behaviors. Most of the existing work on this subject usually monitors the global trends, ignoring vari-ation among communities. Since users from different communi-ties tend to have varying tastes and inter ..."


The PREVENT Equipment Wash Pad is designed as a mobile wash containment system. Instead of the standard 1' walls used on the PREVENT IS or OS, the Equipment Wash Pad uses 4" foam encapsulated entrance/exit walls with 4" foam side walls. This allows for continuous drive-over/drive-through applications where folding a wall up and down each time would be impractical. Our PREVENT Ground Tarp and Track Runners offer protection for your berm and are highly recommended for use in conjunction with the PREVENT Equipment Wash Pad to extend the life of your berm.


Online Radio starting with letter «V» - 61 stations. Internet radio starting with letter «V».
News of politics, economy, sports, culture, science, analysis, interviews with popular persons.
Radio «Vesti FM» is broadcasting in Russian from Russia, Moscow.
Listened: 53 403 since 10.04.2011 | ~ 128 a week.
Moscow radio station, which tells modern megalopolis citizen about the eternal truths of the Orthodox faith. The Church calendar, gospel readings, programs about history, about the education of children and family values.
Radio «VERA» is broadcasting in Russian from Russia, Moscow.
Listened: 23 763 since 28.04.2013 | ~ 77 a week.
Round the clock news, commentary and analysis of World events.
Radio «Voice of America» is broadcasting in English from USA, Washington.
Listened: 26 540 since 10.04.2011 | ~ 64 a week.
Professional youth radio station dedicated to electronic dance music.
Radio «Vyshka» is broadcasting in Russian from Russia, Ekaterinburg.
Listened: 20 069 since 01.04.2013 | ~ 64 a week.
E-psychedelia – from the variety of forms of ambient to goa.
Radio «Volta» is broadcasting in English from Ukraine, Kiev.
Listened: 22 850 since 20.01.2012 | ~ 61 a week.
Popular dance music on the infotainment radio of the Ukrainian State Academy of Railway Transport in Kharkov.
Radio «VTSU-DANCE» is broadcasting in Russian from Ukraine, Kharkov.
Listened: 9 234 since 10.10.2013 | ~ 33 a week.
Radio station of Ekaterinburg diocese.
Radio «Voskresenie» is broadcasting in Russian from Russia, Ekaterinburg.
Listened: 8 387 since 24.04.2014 | ~ 33 a week.
Popular foreign and Soviet music from 70s to 90s, modern hits, interactive radio show.
Radio «Vmeste» is broadcasting in Russian and Czech from Czech Republic, Prague.
Listened: 6 457 since 04.03.2015 | ~ 30 a week.
Infotainment radio of the Ukrainian State Academy of Railway Transport in Kharkov.
Radio «VTSU-POPSA» is broadcasting in Russian from Ukraine, Kharkov.
Listened: 8 239 since 10.10.2013 | ~ 29 a week.
One of the most popular radio stations of Primorsky Krai, broadcasting in all major cities of Primorye. Station broadcast local news, various infotainment issues, novelties and golden hits of popular music.
Radio «Vladivostok FM» is broadcasting in Russian from Russia, Vladivostok.
Listened: 5 817 since 21.10.2014 | ~ 25 a week.
Musical entertainment radio of Tver State University.
«VotEtoRadio!» is broadcasting in Russian from Russia, Tver.
Listened: 5 700 since 12.05.2014 | ~ 23 a week.
Radio is dedicated to Vocal Trance. The best tracks of the year and novelties of the season.
Radio «Vocal Trance» is broadcasting in Russian from Russia, Moscow.
Listened: 2 020 since 27.09.2016 | ~ 16 a week.


Have you ever been in a situation where all you could do what sit and think? There was nothing to do but delve into your own thoughts and prayers. To some, that would be an amazing thing to experience, others, their worst nightmare. At the Orfield Labs in South Minneapolis there is a room that is %99.99 sound absorbent. That means it is so quiet you can here your own blood pulsing through your ears. The longest anyone has lasted in that room is 45 min. I thought that seemed silly, and I could totally beat that record.
Jesus Smelled The Roses, Will You?
What are you doing this weekend? Where do you see yourself in five years? What are your plans for the holidays? It seems we as a society feel the need to live in the future. We see that in television and the futuristic connotations of some shows, in movies, where it seems half of them today are post-apocalyptic, and even our jobs, where the goal is to be promoted and eventual "be a success".


and Techno R Side Skirts.
BodyKitSuperStore.com & VIS Racing Sports, Inc. has been at the forefront of automotive restyling since 1996. We started the ultra-aggressive style in body kits for sport compact cars in Southern California. The trend quickly spread from the West Coast to East Coast. In a matter of a few years, our styles can be found in many parts of the globe. Each part is custom designed and manufactured for accurate precision. Once the installation is complete, you will realize why our parts are upon the best in the industry. Each part is made of a FRP Composite for a stronger but flexible finish. Be aware of imitations and please make sure you purchase your authentic VIS Racing parts from BodyKitSuperStore.com today!
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In heterogeneous wireless networks (HWNs), both single-homed and multi-homed terminals are supported to provide connectivity to users. A multiservice single-homed multi-mode terminal can support multiple types of services, such as voice call, file download and video streaming simultaneously on any one of the available radio access technologies (RATs) such as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and Long Term Evolution (LTE). Consequently, a single-homed multi-mode terminal having multiple on-going calls may need to perform a vertical handover from one RAT to another. One of the major issues in HWNs is how to select the most suitable RAT for multiple handoff calls, and the selection of a suitable RAT for multiple-calls from a single-homed multi-mode terminal in HWNs is a group decision problem. This is because a single-homed multi-mode terminal can connect to only one RAT at a time, and therefore multiple handoff calls from the terminal have to be handed over to the same RAT. In making group decision for multiple-calls, the quality of service (QoS) requirements for individual calls needs to be considered. Thus, the RAT that most satisfies the QoS requirements of individual calls is selected as the most suitable RAT for the multiple-calls. Whereas most research efforts in HWNs have concentrated on developing vertical handoff decision schemes for a single call from a multi-mode terminal, not much has been reported in the literature on RAT-selection for multiple-calls from a single-homed multi-mode terminal in next generation wireless networks (NGWNs). In addition, not much has been done to investigate the sensitivity of RAT-selection criteria for multiple-calls in NGWNs. Therefore, this dissertation addresses these issues by focusing on following two main aspects: (1) comparative analysis of four candidate multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) schemes that could be adapted for making RAT-selection decisions for multiple-calls, and (2) development of a new RAT-selection scheme named the consensus RAT-selection model. In comparative analysis of the candidate RAT-selection schemes, four MCGDM schemes namely: distance to the ideal alternative-group decision making (DIA-GDM), multiplicative exponent weighting-group decision making (MEW-GDM), simply additive weighting-group decision making (SAW-GDM), technique for order preference by similarity to Ideal solution-group decision making (TOPSIS-GDM) are considered. The performance of the multiple-calls RAT-selection schemes is evaluated using the MATLAB simulation tool. The results show that DIA-GDM and TOPSIS-GDM schemes are more suitable for multiple handoff calls than SAW-GDM and MEW-GDM schemes. This is because they are consistent and less-sensitive in making RAT-selection decision than the other two schemes, with regards to RAT-selection criteria (service price, data rate, security, battery power consumption and network delay) in HWNs. In addition, the newly developed RAT-selection scheme incorporates RAT-consensus level for improving RAT-selection decisions for multiple-calls. Numerical results conducted in MATLAB validate the effectiveness and performance of the newly proposed RAT-selection scheme for multiple-calls in HWNs.
Taiwo, O. 2013. Network access selection in heterogeneous wireless networks. University of Cape Town.


text:
"""MVP API
Generates lists of MMSIs based on the files in _assets

Example usage:

    import treniformis
    with treniformis.get_annual_list('GFW/FISHING_MMSI/KNOWN_AND_LIKELY/2016') as f:
      for mmsi in f:
        print mmsi

"""

import os

import six

from treniformis import errors
from pkg_resources import resource_stream

def open(p):
    try:
        return resource_stream("treniformis", '_assets/' + p)
    except IOError:
        raise errors.TreniformisIOError(p)

def get_annual_list(p):
    try:
        return resource_stream("treniformis", '_assets/' + p + '.txt')
    except IOError:
        raise errors.TreniformisIOError(p)

def build_combined_fishing_list(year):
    """Build the GFW combined fishing list.

    Parameters
    ----------
    year : int
        Process data for this year.

    Returns
    -------
    set
        MMSIs.
    """

    year = int(year)
    known_year = "ALL_YEARS"

    known_fishing_id = 'GFW/FISHING_MMSI/KNOWN/{}'.format(known_year)
    likely_fishing_id = 'GFW/FISHING_MMSI/LIKELY/{}'.format(year)
    active_mmsis_id = 'GFW/ACTIVE_MMSI/{}'.format(year)

    mmsis = set()
    for p in known_fishing_id, likely_fishing_id:
        with get_annual_list(p) as f:
            stripped = six.moves.map(lambda x: x.strip(), f)
            mmsis |= set(stripped)

    with get_annual_list(active_mmsis_id) as f:
        stripped = six.moves.map(lambda x: x.strip(), f)
        mmsis &= set(stripped)

    return mmsis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
Churches in Holston Baptist Association able to utilize a drone for many ministry purposes
By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
This photo, and the one in the bottom left hand corner, were taken from a drone that was flying high above New Salem Baptist Church, Limestone. Many churches in the Holston Baptist Association are using the drone to take overhead photos for promotional videos and other projects.
JOHNSON CITY — The Holston Baptist Association now has an eye in the sky, and it's helping the association's churches in a wide variety of ways.
Over the past several months, the churches in the Holston association have been using a drone — a small, remote-controlled "aircraft" that captures images and videos — to aid them in ministry purposes.
The drone is owned and operated by Jeremy Carlson, the communications director for Holston Baptist Association. Carlson has taken the device to several church campuses to assist with promotional videos, photos for social media and various other projects.
Some churches have also used the drone for more practical purposes, such as surveying the condition of the roofs on their buildings.
"We've had quite a few churches so far that have called us to utilize the benefit of the drone," said Carlson. "It really is a great way for churches to show their ministry in a new and different way."
Carlson's drone can fly as high as 13,100 feet and features a 12-megapixel camera that captures full, high-definition images.
Jeremy Carlson
Carlson said the concept of using the drone for ministry purposes just kind of fell out of the sky, so to speak.
"I first thought of the idea after seeing different creators on YouTube using them," he said. "I loved seeing the aerial shots and how they added so much depth to the story they were telling. I wanted to be able to add that same depth to what was happening in our association."
Carlson's drone is a "Spark" model made by the DJI company. The small device — which measures 170mm across diagonally and weighs only about 300 grams — is extremely easy to transport. "I can put it in a backpack or even in my pocket and go where I need to go," Carlson said.
In order to let churches know that he could come to their campus and operate the drone, Carlson — fittingly enough — recently sent out fliers about his flier. Since then, he said he has received a steady stream of calls about the device.
Jeremy Carlson's drone, which is being used by churches in the Holston Baptist Association, is about the size of a soda can.
"There is no charge to participating churches and I make no money (from) it," he said. "I really use the drone as a benefit to our churches within the association."
Carlson noted that the drone is "very safe" and has multiple sensors that will stop the drone if something is too close.
"The capabilities are great," Carlson said. "The drone will establish a starting point when it first takes off and will return to that point on its own if I lose the signal to it or the battery gets too low."
Carlson noted that there are many rules and regulations pertaining to the use of drones — and Carlson follows those guidelines closely in order to avoid getting a phone call and hearing the words, "Holston, we have a problem."
As with any aircraft that reaches a certain height, the drone has to be registered with the FAA.
"Tennessee has specific laws that restrict where I can fly, such as certain open air events or near an airport," he said. "It also can't be used for any type of surveillance. As much as possible, if I do a promotional video, I will shoot when nobody is around to make things easier and safer."
"Because the drone itself is mine, personally, it makes things a little easier as far as operating goes," he noted. "If I were to use the drone for business purposes — such as real estate photography or monetized videos or as a news reporter — then I would have to get my pilot's license under the FAA's Small UAS Rule."
To acquire that license, Carlson noted that he would need to pass a test that included sections on emergency procedure, radio communication and many more guidelines and regulations related to small, unmanned aircraft systems and flight operation.
For now, though, Carlson simply enjoys operating the drone — even though some other occupants of the sky don't necessarily appreciate the company.
"Birds absolutely hate my drone," Carlson said. "I have had to land the drone many times because birds were attacking it in open air. There have been multiple times where I have the drone flying over an open field with nothing around and as soon as I get the drone into position to take a picture it is swarmed by four, five, six and sometimes 10 or more birds."
Carlson said he hopes the churches in the Holston association will continue to make the most of his offer to utilize the drone.
"The churches in our association have such a large reach in the neighborhoods and community that they are in," he said, "and the (best) way to illustrate that is with an aerial photo."
Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee Tagged With: associations, media

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


April was a month of growth. From the premiere of new mini-documentaries, to our researchers' largest contribution at AERA yet, all with a new Foundation Team member on board, the World Wide Workshop keeps forging strongly onwards! Your support energizes us to reach even higher.
Watch all of EACPA's Voices from the Field videos here.
Dr. Betty Hayes (ASU, AZ) and Dr. Idit Harel Caperton presented their theory of expanded game media literacy in three contexts/models: game playing, game modding, and game programming and called for the integration of the three learning modes for fuller game media literacy development and learning.


The NCAC Advancement and Recognition Committee (ARC) exists to serve the advancement and recognition needs of our Scouts and provide guidance for the Scouters who administer the program.
The members of the NCAC ARC are the Chairs of the District ARCs and other volunteers. The members of each District ARC are the advancement representatives from each unit within that District. Both Council and District ARCs work to ensure adherence to the requirements established by National and the NCAC.
"Advancement is the process by which youth members of the Boy Scouts of America progress from rank to rank.
Advancement is simply a means to an end, not an end in itself. It is one of several methods designed to help unit leadership carry out the aims and mission of the Boy Scouts of America.
Everything done to advance—to earn ranks and other awards and recognition—is designed to educate or to otherwise expand horizons. Members learn and develop according to a standard. This is the case from the time a member joins and then moves through the programs of Cub Scouting, Scouting, and Venturing or Sea Scouts.
If you'd like more information about the Committee, advancement, or recognition in the NCAC, please contact your district's Advancement and Recognition Chair.


text:
Government Chemist
What's funny about your honey?
博客 - Honey is known to have multiple health and nutritional benefits and is in high demand among consumers. However, due to the declining numbers of bees, the impact of weather conditions on supply and the high costs production, honey is expensive, which makes it a prime target for economically-motivated food fraud.
Peanut allergen quantification: a tough nut to crack
博客 - Peanut allergy is the most common cause of fatal food allergy reaction. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies peanut proteins as something harmful. The fear of accidental exposure in food reduces the quality of life of peanut allergy sufferers and severely limits the social habits of allergic individuals, their families and even their friends.
Nanotechnology: The big challenge behind the characterization of the small
博客 - What do we really know about the potential effects when nanomaterials and nanotechnology come into contact with complex matrices and how do we ensure that nanoproducts are safe?
Every DNA counts – and we would know
博客 - The UK National Measurement Laboratory at LGC turned 30 years old this year, and to celebrate we've been looking back at notable accomplishments, and looking at where we are now. Clinical measurement is one field where our scientists have excelled and innovated throughout our time.
Making a mountain out of a Mole Day
博客 - Today is Mole Day, chemists' #1 holiday! Mole Day occurs every year on October 23 from 6:02am to 6:02pm to commemorate Avogadro's Number and the basic measuring unit of chemistry, the mole.
Christmas, candles and the countdown to the SI redefinition
博客 - Perhaps unsurprisingly, the candela was originally based on the light of a candle – but a definition based on something so variable was not good enough for measurement scientists. The candela, or 'the new candle', replaced candle-based definitions in 1948. In 1979 the modern definition of the candela was adopted:
LGC releases series of carbon isotope ratio reference materials: LGC171-KT
News (ZH) - Kit can validate new methods, monitor performance of methods for determination of carbon isotope ratios, and train and evaluate staff
National Measurement Laboratory team awarded £2.25m ISCF funding
News (ZH) - Money will support the manufacture of future medicines through better measurement
LGC announces European measurement science funding success for 2017
News (ZH) - European funding to address challenge of 'metrology for environment' and 'support for metrology impact'
以前 page


text:
Mercedes-Benz OM646/OM647/OM648 (код 646.8XX/9XX) — рядный четырёхцилиндровый дизельный двигатель внутреннего сгорания, выпускавшийся компанией Mercedes-Benz с 2002 по 2010 год и на Ярославском моторном заводе с 2013 по 2018 год. Является дальнейшим развитием двигателя Mercedes-Benz OM611/OM612/OM613.

На автомобиль Chrysler PT Cruiser устанавливался двигатель OM644. В 2006 году двигатель Mercedes-Benz OM646 был модернизирован и получил индекс OM 646 EVO.

Технические характеристики

Примечания

Двигатели Mercedes-Benz
Двигатель внутреннего сгорания
Продукция Группы ГАЗ
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Usha Martin's integrated steel plant near Jamshedpur has one million tonne capacity and is one of the India's largest speciality steel plant in long product segment.
The process route is Blast Furnace, Sponge Iron, Electric Arc Furnace, Ladle Refining Furnace, Vacuum Degassing, and Continuous Casting Machines and Rolling Mill is supported by in-house ore beneficiation, Sinter, Coke-oven, Pellet, DRI, Power Plant, and Lime kilns.
The state of the art wire rod mill produces wire rods (in coil form) in size range of 5.5 mm to 25.4 mm diamter.
The wire rod from Usha Martin finds application in Industrial Fasteners, Automobile springs, Industrial springs, Welding, Auto components, Roller bearing, Ball bearings, Industrial chains, Automobile chains, etc.
Approvals from prominent companies like Sundram Fasteners, NHK Springs, ESAB, ADOR, LGB, Indian Link Chains, Indian Chains etc. is attributable to the high quality wire rods produced by Usha Martin.
The steel plant was the first steel plant in India to receive TPM certification from JIPM Japan.
Copyright © 2015 Usha Martin All rights reserved.


text:
The library is open today: 9am - 9pm
Book Bundles & Personalized Reading Lists
Curbside Pickup & Home Delivery
License Plate Renewal
Hours & Closings
Catalog Site Search
Please see our Donated Materials Policy to get all the information on book donations.
Who are the Friends?
The Friends are a volunteer, nonprofit group made up of community members. Anybody age 18 and up are welcome to join. Members are dedicated to supporting the activities of the Itasca Community Library by fundraising and providing awareness of library services and resources.
The Friends come up with interesting fundraising ideas and support staff in library-sponsored events that build stronger community and offer greater opportunities to residents of all ages. We are always looking for new creative projects.
They achieve their mission in the following ways:
Sponsor and staff book sales and other fundraising events.
Sponsor programs and exhibits within the library.
Volunteer at library-sponsored events.
Encourage gifts & contributions to the library.
Assist in educating other residents about library programs and services.
When do we meet?
Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every other month at 7:00 p.m. at the Itasca Community Library. Annual membership meetings are held in November. If you are unable to attend the meetings but wish to help out, we welcome your participation in assisting us.
Please fill out the form along with your membership dues and return to a staff member at the library. You can also mail the application to:
Friends of the Itasca Community Library
500 W. Irving Park Rd.
President: Celeste Seavey
Vice President: Judy Snyder
Secretary: Kathy Zaleta
Treasurer: Dorothy Amato
The Gift Foundation
To help fund new library programs and services, the Itasca Community Library has joined the DuPage Community Foundation. This foundation receives contributions and bequests into a permanent Itasca Community Library Endowment that will continue to grow and help meet the needs of our library. Donations made to the library's endowment are tax-deductible.
The Itasca Community Library is proud of its reputation for friendly, individualized service while maintaining vast resources for the diverse needs of our patrons. The library is a reflection of our community – an illumination of our lives – and home to the village's knowledge, imagination, and history. For more than 75 years, we have been a mainstay in the community. But now, we need your support.
If you're interested in making a donation please contact:
Ridgeway Burns
rburns@itascalibrary.org
500 West Irving Park Road
Sign up for Enews Chat With Us Get a Library Card Apply for a Passport
500 W Irving Park Rd, Itasca, IL 60143
Phone: 630-773-1699|Fax: 630-773-1707
Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
(Closed Sundays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.)
© 2023 Itasca Community Library


text:
Participate in the WiCS 2022 Programming Competition, March 19 — sign up by March 17!
March 4, 2022 (Last updated: August 22, 2022 )
Internships, Undergraduate students
Register to participate in the biggest Women in Computer Science (WiCS) event of the year!
Every current ASU student, regardless of gender, is invited to participate in the 17th Annual WiCS Programming Competition hosted by WiCS at ASU. Come solve programming challenges, connect with sponsors, and win prizes based on your speed and correctness.
WiCS 2022 Programming Competition
Brickyard (BYENG) 210 and 214, Tempe campus [map] and Artisan Court at the Brickyard (BYAC) 110, Tempe campus [map]
Register as a team by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2022!
Registration is first come, first served — WiCS will be accepting approximately the first 60 people who apply (capped at the last team that includes the 60th applicant). Learn more about the agenda, rules and application process.
Prizes for top overall, top two underclassmen, top female/non-binary, as well as a raffle. Prizes include a Nintendo Switch, GoPro Hero, Samsung Smart TV, Polaroid and more!
As always, there will be free lunch, t-shirts, and swag!
Don't want to compete, but still want to help out? Sign up as a volunteer by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2022.
8 a.m. — Judges check-in in front of BYENG 210 (Up the stairs, second floor of BYENG)
8:30 a.m. — Opening Ceremony at BYENG 210
9 a.m. — Competition begins at BYENG Lab Room 214
Noon — Competition ends, lunch begins at BYAC 110
1 p.m. — Closing Ceremony at BYAC 110
1:30 p.m. — Reception at BYAC 110
2:30 p.m. — Official wrap-up


SNU ISI presents a unique opportunity for students to experience academic life at Seoul National University, Korea's most prestigious university and one of the leading universities in the world. SNU ISI's intensive six-week summer program, taught by distinguished SNU and visiting faculty members, offers students a chance to learn in depth about Korea and East Asia, as well as a range of topics from the disciplines of Economics and Business Management to History, Politics, Sociology, and Arts. SNU ISI also provides courses on Korean language and traditional arts for students wishing to acquire or advance their Korean language abilities while immersing Korean contemporary and traditional culture.
The SNU ISI team is committed to create a "home away from home" at SNU for students participating in the SNU ISI program. The team provides one-stop service, answering to any inquiries and assisting students at each stage, including application, registration, records, tuition payment, etc. During the program, the team is supported by more than fifty assistant staffs, most of whom have previous experience of the SNU ISI program, to work with the team closely as resident advisers and teaching assistants.
Any inquiries about the SNU ISI program can be made by email, by phone (during office hours), or by visiting the SNU ISI Office in person.


text:
www.idashboards.com
Marketing investment moves growth needle for iDashboards
New economy entrepreneurs love to boast about fashionable things that make their startups growth hockey stick. How they built a kick-ass team, or perfected their technology first, or developed an innovative company culture focused on disruption are common refrains when it comes to explaining success.
There is no lack of success for iDashboards. It has consistent double-digit revenue growth, dozens of hires, and cool software more and more people want. The secret sauce to its success: marketing.
"Marketing is the driver of our company's growth," says Shadan Malik, president & CEO of iDashboards. "We do a lot of marketing."
That wasn't the case initially for the 12-year-old company. It spent its first few years working on its software, which is a digital dashboard for business. The interactive portal enables the user to analyze, track and organize data into easily useable parts that help streamline a company and enable it to grow faster. Some of its clients include big-name companies in healthcare, finance, and higher education, among other industries.
Those early years served as a time for the Troy-based firm to get its basics right, such as building a customer base. Then the economy crashed in 2008, which prompted iDashboards to keep plugging forward and filling out its clientele.
"You need to have a certain critical mass to have rapid growth," Malik says. "Once we got that critical mass we started to experience better visibility and better growth."
IDashboards' growth started to take off when the economy began to improve.
"2010 was a good year," Malik says. "Things were looking up for us. We decided to take action and up our marketing."
Which meant bumping up the iDashboards' marketing budget to seven figures, and refine it to better publicize the company. It worked. The firm grew an average of nearly 20 percent over each of the last four years. It now has a marketing budget of more than $2 million today, which isn't bad for a boot-strapped firm that built itself up to make a significant-yet-strategic gamble.
"That's the difference between a boot-strapped firm and venture-funded firm," Malik says. "Venture-funded firms have millions to spend right away."
And large staffs to execute on that spending. It took iDashboards a dozen years to build up its staff to 90 employees and a handful of interns. However, 30 of those hires took place over the last year. Many of those employees work on iDashboards' marketing, which focuses mostly on casting a wide net in the digital world.
"We are constantly evolving," Malik says. "Our marketing message needs to be refined for several different verticals. One message doesn't apply for all verticals."
Malik immigrated to America in 1991 from India. His father was an entrepreneur working on everything from fabric exporting to construction management. Malik came to America to pursue similar dreams, first settling in Pittsburgh and then moving to Detroit where he co-founded WIT, a business intelligence consulting firm, before launching iDashboards.
"My passion was always to start a software company," Malik says.
Welcome to the Year of the Gazelle, an exploration of the fastest-growing startups in southeast Michigan by the Startup team and the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan (NEI). Not only will we identify the local gazelle companies that are perfecting innovative new products, creating jobs, and generating lots of revenue, we will give you a full accounting of each one. The stories behind the entrepreneurs that build these businesses. The investors that back them. The resources they leverage. How they have all worked together to build Metro Detroit's new economy, and how they plan to do it in the future. In return we will only ask you to do one thing: keep up.
- Written by Jon Zemke
Diversity, Emerging Technology, High Growth, Immigrant Owned Business, Indian/South Asian Community, Software/Information Technology, Year of the Gazelle


text:
Pentagon Weighs Personnel Cuts To Pay for Weapons
Smaller Air Force, Reduction
In Army's Plans for Growth
Are Among Ideas Considered
By Jonathan Karp and Andy Pasztor in Los Angeles and Greg Jaffe in Washington Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
(See Corrections & Amplifications item below.)
As the Defense Department scrambles to finalize its budget for the coming fiscal year, the Air Force is looking to secure much of its savings by cutting active and reserve forces, instead of slashing weapons purchases.
The Army, which is bearing more of the burden of the war in Iraq, doesn't envision similar personnel cuts, but is exploring a modest slowdown in its plans for troop growth as it grapples with a recruiting shortfall.
The Pentagon move to sacrifice manpower in order to protect high-tech weaponry is an about-face from signals in recent months that Pentagon leaders and defense-industry executives were girding for deep weapons-program cuts to offset huge bills from both the war in Iraq and the Gulf Coast hurricanes.
The Army and Marine Corps have provided the bulk of U.S. troops for the war and have taken the most casualties. Although the Air Force also has committed troops and aircraft to Iraq, it hasn't been stretched nearly as thin as the Army. Unlike the Army, the Air Force hasn't had any trouble meeting its annual recruiting targets, and is exceeding its retention goals. The Army's study of a possible slowdown in troop growth, on the other hand, is driven by the service's recruiting difficulties as much as a desire to save money.


text:
Climate change and livelihoods is disasterprone coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal
Walk-in-interview will be held on 08 November 2019 at 12:00 noon at Agricultural & Ecological Research Unit (AERU) Seminar Room (2nd Floor, Kolomogorov Bhawan) in the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata for recruitment of (a) one (01) Project Assistant and (b) one (01) Research Assistant purely on temporary basis in the Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit of the Institute, Kolkata.
Contact Person: Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit, 033-2575-3220.
Developing Training Modules from Survey Based Research for ISS Probationers
Walk-in-interview will be conducted on 01 November 2019 (Friday) from 10:30 a.m. at Sampling and Official Statistics Unit (SOSU), 2nd floor of the C.D. Deshmukh Bhavan of the Institute for the recruitment of five (05) Project linked persons purely on temporary basis in the Sampling and Official Statistics Unit (SOSU) of the Institute Kolkata.
Contact Person: Sampling and Official Statistics Unit, 033-2575-2017
Networking on Data Science and Machine Learning" and "Co-ordination of Cluster Projects under Data Science Research
Walk-in-interview will be conducted on 01 November 2019 at 11:00 A.M. for recruitment of three (03) Project linked Junior Research Fellows and one (01) Programme Manager to work in the Center for Soft Computing Research of the Institute Kolkata.
Contact Person: Center for Soft Computing Research, 033-2575-2040.
Project linked Visiting Scientist
Walk-in-interview will be held on 13 November 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Central SQC Office, Kolkata (7th Floor of Platinum Jubilee Bhavan) for the recruitment of One (01) Project linked Visiting Scientist on purely temporary basis to work in a sponsored research project at Central SQC Office of the Institute, Kolkata.
Contact Person: Central SQC Office, 033-2575-3363.
Development of GPGPU base parallel algorithms for land cover classification of remotely sensed big data
Walk-in-interview will be conducted on 30 October 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Machine Intelligence Unit (MIU), 3rd floor of the Platinum Jubilee Academic Building (PJAB) of the Institute for the recruitment of one (01) Project linked person purely on temporary basis in the Machine Intelligence Unit of the Institute, Kolkata.
Contact Person: Machine Intelligence Unit, 033-2575-3100
A walk-in-interview will be conducted on 16 August 2022 at 10:00 am maintaining all precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 global pandemic as directed by the Government of India, at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (CAIML), 4th Floor of the S.N. Bose Building of the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata for the recruitment of One (01) Project Linked Person on purely temporary basis to work in a project titled "AI-guided systematic intervention and prediction of progression in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy" funded by Google, in the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (CAIML) of the Institute.
Contact person: Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
A walk-in-interview will be conducted on 22 August 2022 at 10:00 a.m. with maintaining all preventive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Global Pandemic as directed by the Government of India at the Machine Intelligence Unit (MIU), 3rd Floor of the Platinum Jubilee Academic Building of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata for the recruitment of two (02) Project linked persons (one for each project) purely on temporary basis to work for the following projects titled (1) "Multi-Omics Data Integration for Cancer Subtype Discovery" and (2) "Judgement Analysis on Multi-dimensional Crowd Opinions" in the Machine Intelligence Unit of the Institute, Kolkata.
A walk-in-interview will be conducted on 24 August 2022 at 10:00 a.m. with maintaining all preventive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Global Pandemic as directed by the Government of India at the Machine Intelligence Unit (MIU), 3rd Floor of the Platinum Jubilee Academic Building of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata for the recruitment of one (01) Project linked Senior Research Fellow purely on temporary basis to work on the project titled "Design and Development of an AI-Based Electrical Impedance Tomography System for Respiratory Function Studies using Machine Learning Techniques" funded by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and to be carried out at the Machine Intelligence Unit of the Institute, Kolkata.


Estimates show that nearly half of those over 65 either own a gun or have one in their household. And about 5.6 million people within that same age group also have Alzheimer's. Despite all the talk about gun control in this country, few people have even considered the dangers of those with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia having guns right at their fingertips.
This population is often overlooked because no one wants to believe that their loved ones would ever use their guns to hurt them or themselves. And under normal circumstances, they wouldn't. But dementia, which often causes those suffering from it to become confused, angry, agitated, paranoid, and even fearful of the people they have always trusted, is not a normal circumstance. Those with dementia often do and say things that are completely out of character, like using a gun against someone they bought that gun to protect.
That's why it's so important to talk with your loved ones about what to do with their guns now. According to a November 2018 NPR story, most gun owners feel like their firearms are an intrinsic part of who they are, so it's crucial to tread lightly on this subject. While you're asking questions about the location of their guns and to whom to give the guns or where to lock them up, should the time come, use words like "retiring," instead of "giving up" their guns. And have this conversation as early as possible so they're able to make most of the decisions for themselves.
Gun control shouldn't only be about keeping guns out of the hands of past offenders or those who are too young or who suffer from mental illness. When you don't trust someone to drive or even cook their own meals anymore, should you trust them to have a gun at their bedside? It's a difficult conversation to have, but one that needs to happen before it's too late.


Hair Highlight Colors - Save up to 70% at BEST-DEAL.com - the shop expert! Discover the Best Offers online now with our price comparison on BEST-DEAL.com!
Find Deals on Hair Color With Highlight in Hair Color on Amazon.
Find Highlights For Colored Hair At Target™. Buy Online & Pickup In-Store!
What Are Some Hair Dye Colors That Were Released in 2014?


text:
Q: Python AttributeError: module 'pandas' has no attribute 'Dataframe' I'm very new to python and pandas and I'm working a project for a distance matrix.
I got an API that gets distance data from two points and I 'd like to export to excel or csv.
I'm getting a module "pandas" has no attribute "Dataframe"
import requests
import json
import pandas as pd

origin="Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, E. P. E"
destination="Braga"
api="api"

response=requests.get("https://api.distancematrix.ai/maps/api/distancematrix/json?        origins="+origin+"&destinations="+destination+"&key="+api+"")

print(response.status_code)
print(response.json())

df=pd.Dataframe.from_dict(response.json())
df.to_excel("filepath")

I tried capitalizing Dataframe and made sure that I don't have any pd variable or pandas.py file name

A: It is DataFrame, python is case-sensitive, so use it like this:
df = pd.DataFrame.from_dict(response.json())

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Loulé – A Lovely Inland Town in The Algarve
Paulo Tavares
Loulé is a typical Portuguese inland town 17 km north of Faro. The focal point is the Moorish inspired covered market. On Saturdays it expands to include the surrounding streets. Farmers from the Algarve and Alentejo regions come to sell their produce creating a colourful scene.
The most bustling corner of the market is where fishmongers sell enormous quantities of fresh fish and seafood.
In a quiet corner a knife sharpner, Sr. Alfredo Potra, sets up shop where people still bring their kitchen knives and scissors to be sharpened.
RELATED: Best Day Trips in the Algarve away from the Beach
To get a taste of local life, walk in the cobblestone streets around the market. Artisan traditions such as basket making, woodwork and pottery still survive.
We visited Pedro Rocha whose skilled hands transform clay into beautiful pieces. He learnt the craft from his father and continues the family tradition with his sister, Elizabete who hand paints the items in their workshop. His other sister Célia sells the pottery in their shop in the market.
You can also part of the TASA Project, set up in 2010 with the goal of revitalizing the traditional crafts and algarvian knowledge. Designers incorporate new ideas to ancestral know-how to give a contemporary and functional flair.
Items from the TASA shop in Loulé
People from the Algarve have always used cork to solve everyday problems.
Featival Med
Loulé is also host to one of the most popular cultural entertainment events in the Algarve, Festival Med. It takes place every year towards the end of June bringing people together in the centre of Loulé to celebrate cultural diversity mostly through music with performances by famous musicians from all over the world. Festival Med is more than a music festival with activities including; gastronomy, handicraft, street performances and a dedicated space for children.
We hope this has inspired you to visit Loulé and if it has be sure to come back and tell us about it in the comments below
More Articles from Susan
Where to Stay in Faro (2022): Best Hotels & Accommodation
Travelling to the Algarve and wondering where to stay in Faro. Faro is a great place to stay for its historical centre, and nearby beaches.
Quick Guide to The Best Things to Do in Faro
The busy airport in Faro is the first step for many tourists arriving in Southern Portugal. Often overlooked by visitors Faro city is much more
Best Self-Catering Accommodation in Alvor (2022)
My first holiday in the Algarve was spent in Alvor so I have very fond memories of the place. Alvor is ideal for a relaxing
Portugal Exposure FREE Guides
We have complied this Porto guide to help you get the most out of your trip to Porto. We love Porto, we lived there for years and return frequently to visit as holidaymakers. Porto is a fantastic destination to visit alone, with family or friends.
The Portuguese capital is constantly recognised as one of the greatest cities in the world. Our Lisbon travel guide is packed with world-class art museums, a booming restaurant scene, and hotels for every taste and these are just some of the reason why you should visit.


text:
Q: Code will only read the first line of a text file So I copied some code over from another post on here, but i cant get it to read any lines after the first, im trying to make a username and password system.
def register():                                     #This function has been adapted from www.stackoverflow.com
    print("Please register.")
    time.sleep(1)
    username = input("Please input your desired username: ")
    password = input("Please input your desired password: ")
    file = open("outputusernamefile.txt","a")
    file.write(username)
    file.write(" ")
    file.write(password)
    file.write("\n")
    file.close()
    print("Please login now.")
    time.sleep(1)
    logged = True
    login()

def login():                                        #This function has been adapted from www.stackoverflow.com
    print("Please enter your credentials.")
    time.sleep(1)
    login.username = str(input("Please enter your username: "))
    password = str(input("Please enter your password: "))
    for line in open("outputusernamefile.txt","r+").readlines(): # Read the lines
        login_info = line.split() # Split on the space, and store the results in a list of two strings
        if login.username == login_info[0] and password == login_info[1]:
            print("Correct credentials!")
            print("You are now logged in.")
            logged = True
            QuizStart()
            return True
        else:
            print("Incorrect credentials.")
            print("Please try again.")
            time.sleep(0.5)
            login()
            return False

A: You're quitting the loop in the very first iteration. That's why only one line is being checked. Perhaps try to do something like this.
def login():
    ...
    with open("outputusernamefile.txt","r+") as file:
        for line in file.readlines():
            login_info = line.split() # Split on the space, and store the results in a list of two strings
            if login.username == login_info[0] and password == login_info[1]:
                print("Correct credentials!")
                print("You are now logged in.")
                logged = True
                QuizStart()
                return True

    print("Incorrect credentials.")
    print("Please try again.")
    time.sleep(0.5)
    login()

A: The recursive call in the login function starts reading the file from the beginning because the file is opened again.
You need to read the entire file, searching for a match, and then make the final decision at the end of the loop.  You can only return early if the function finds the requested user name.

A: Here's how it works for me. You forgot to iterate over the lines one by one.
import time

def register():                                     #This function has been adapted from www.stackoverflow.com
    print("Please register.")
    time.sleep(1)
    username = input("Please input your desired username: ")
    file = open("outputusernamefile.txt","a")
    file.write(username)
    file.write(" ")
    password = input("Please input your desired password: ")
    file.write(password)
    file.write("\n")
    file.close()
    print("Please login now.")
    time.sleep(1)
    logged = True
    login()

def login():                                        #This function has been adapted from www.stackoverflow.com
    print("Please enter your credentials.")
    time.sleep(1)
    login.username = str(input("Please enter your username: "))
    password = str(input("Please enter your password: "))
    with open("outputusernamefile.txt","r+") as file: # Read the lines
        line = file.readline()
        while line:
            login_info = line.split() # Split on the space, and store the results in a list of two strings
            if login.username == login_info[0] and password == login_info[1]:
                user_found = True
                print("QuizStart()")
                return True
            else:
                time.sleep(0.5)
                user_found = False
            line = file.readline()

    if not user_found:
        print("Incorrect credentials.")
        print("Please try again.")
        login()
    else:
        print("Correct credentials!")
        print("You are now logged in.")

register()


text:
Q: Why is this If Elif statement always resulting in the "yes" variable Basically I made this code to ask a user if they want to play ball:
print("Do you want to play ball?")

answer = input("I will throw the ball and you will catch it! Yes or no?")

if answer == 'yes' or 'Yes': {
    print("Great, lets play!")
}
elif answer == 'No' or 'no': {
    print("owwkayyyy...")
}

However, when it runs, if I say no it still results with the program printing "great, lets play"
I am new to coding and I seriously do not understand why this isnt working.

A: It is because you need fix your condition for your first if statement. It is incorrect to write:
if answer == 'yes' or 'Yes':

You need to rewrite answer like so:
if answer == "yes" or answer == "Yes":

The same thing is true for your elif statement.


text:
Q: How to transfer half of the array to another array with different size? For example, I have an array: int arr1[10] = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}. I want to transfer all values in the odd position to another array: int arr2[5] = {1,3,5,7,8}.

A: First, you'll have to allocate the appropriate amount of memory to the second array. Then, a simple for loop should do the job.
// This loops over all odd positions in arr1.
for (int i = 1; i < 10; i += 2)
{
    arr2[i/2] = arr1[i];
}

But I believe you want to handle this for arbitrary size. Try to come up with the correct allocations to the new array. If you're stuck, let me know.
But try to include what you've already tried.

A: Here is quick fix for you. Check following code.
    int array[10] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10};
    int newArray[5] = {0, 0, 0, 0, 0};
    int j = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < 10; i+=2) {
        newArray[j] = array[i];
        cout << newArray[i] << endl;
        j++;
    }

Hope this solution works.


text:
Missouri health agencies, schools told to halt health orders after court ruling
Jeff Roberson/AP
FILE - Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt speaks during a news conference in St. Louis on Aug. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
By: Jack Anstine
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt issued letters to local health agencies and public school districts Tuesday, informing them that they are required to stop enforcing mask mandates, quarantine orders and other health orders following a Cole County Circuit Court ruling that made public health orders null in Missouri.
In Robinson v. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), a judge in the Cole County Circuit Court ruled that that the DHSS cannot create and enforce health orders or close public schools or places of assembly based on opinion.
Schmitt's letters argue that previous orders are now null and void and should not be enforced.
"Public health authorities and school districts have gone unchecked, issuing illegal and unconstitutional orders in their quest to aggregate, maintain, and exert their new-found power. My Office will enforce the Court's order across the state," Schmitt said.
In his letters, Schmitt told health authorities, "Failure to follow the court's judgment may result in enforcement action against you to remove orders the court has determined are unconstitutional and illegal. We encourage you to take immediate action to remove all unconstitutional and illegal orders."
In the Nov. 22 ruling, the court stated that public health orders violate the separation of powers in the three-branch government system, and are inconsistent with the Missouri public health law framework.


text:
What Happens If You Go Without Water?
YouTube: https://youtube.com/watch?v=q3bjUu_ONjc
Previous: NASA's new frontier, and the Trouble with "Gravity"
Next: Billions of Earth-Like Planets!
Sorry! This is a re-upload of an episode that went live earlier today. Thank you to all the fans of SciShow who helped us out by pointing out an error in the original upload and thank you for bearing with us and understanding that these kinds of things do happen from time to time!
Ever wondered what happens to your body if you don't get enough water? Our bodies are mostly water by weight, so in today's episode of SciShow Hank explains what happens to your body as it starts to shut down when you go without that tasty H2O.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=football-water-weight-loss
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dehydration/DS00561/DSECTION=symptoms
http://www.hydration.net.au/page/shop/info_page/a/infopage_id/e/46
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/why-your-body-needs-water.html
http://www.menshealth.co.uk/food-nutrition/drink-recipes/fight-the-six-stages-of-dehydration-347578
http://www.bodybio.com/content.aspx?page=elyte-electrolyte-101
http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/information/question565.htm
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-03/fyi-it-ever-ok-drink-your-own-urine
Just a little while ago we were talking about what your body goes through without food, and I mentioned that a person can live for weeks without eating, and yet we're lucky enough to get a few days without water. So what's the difference?
Part of the reason why we're always dumping more liquid into our bodies is because we basically are water, 50-70% of your body mass is water, and as much as 75% of that bodily fluid is tucked away in your cells, which are, in one way or another, responsible for everything you do.
Your body fluid is mostly water, plus a whole lot of electrolytes which are dissolved ions of minerals like sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Concentrations of each kind of ion charge up the fluid on either side of your cell membranes, and it's that charged separation that your cells use to regulate your body's electrical system, which is what your muscles and nerves use to think and move and break dance and stuff.
In addition to providing this very worthwhile service, your body fluid does a ton of other stuff you need to live. It helps regulate your body temperature by providing sweat, ferries blood cells and nutrients all over the body, keeps food moving through your guts and helps flush out all the leftover waste products. So you can see why, whether you've been chasing a ball in the sun or you have chronic diarrhea or your runaway camel just left you stranded in the desert, it's very important to listen to your thirst.
If you've got cotton mouth, and you're flushed and feeling super thirsty you're probably already mildly dehydrated, meaning your body fluid is running low by about 2%. This first stage is very easy to remedy, just drink a couple glasses of water. But, if you're too oblivious or sick to drink, or don't have access to potable liquids in the middle of the desert, you're going to start sliding off into the next phase: moderate dehydration.
If you pinch your skin and it doesn't snap back right away, it stays, like, tented up there, you are failing the Turgor Test, you're basically starting to shrivel up. You are now missing 5-10% of your necessary bodily fluid. Your head is pounding, you feel nauseated, you're probably hot and confused, your brain is starting to feel all fuzzy. That's because it's mad at you, you're basically draining it's comfy water bed. If you're down by over 10% of your fluids, things are getting dire- you have rolled into severe dehydration.
Your eyes will start settling into the back of their sockets, your pee is gonna look dark and scary, and will probably be painful, if you can even go at this point. Your muscles are cramping, you may start shaking and you'll be feeling super tired and like you're dying a little bit. Mostly because you're dying. Your blood pressure is dropping as your shrivelling cells desperately try to get fluid. You've lost too many of your electrolytes, mostly through sweat and urine, and without the right electrolyte balances your cells can't maintain the voltages they need to activate muscles like your heart. Low sodium levels can also cause your brain to swell.
By now you're well beyond the point of needing a glass of water, you probably need an ambulance, a slow IV of electrolyte fluid and a good amount of luck. And for all of you inquiring minds probably wondering about the value of urophagia or pee drinking: while technically you can drink your own urine at least once, it isn't recommended when you're already very dehydrated. A properly hydrated persons pee is mostly water, but the water-to-waste ratio gets skewed the longer you go without drinking, so a dehydrated persons urine has a lot of waste in it, and by drinking it you're making your already endangered body work harder to filter it all over again, which just isn't worth it, and it's pretty gross.
So, stay hydrated! And thank you for watching this episode of SciShow, and a special thanks to all of our subscribers on subbable, you could have an honorary SciShow title like associate producer or president of space, to learn about these and other excellent perks go to subbable.com, and as always you can reach us on facebook and twitter, and in the comments below. And if you wanna keep getting smarter with us, don't forget to go to youtube.com/scishow and subscribe.
French the


Are Law Firms Valuable Businesses?
Well managed, profitable, organised businesses with repeat customers are worth real money. Why not law firms? We now have a large, successful, publicly owned law firm with a rising share price. It is not uncommon for small, successful firms to be purchased and sold. Many firms have retained goodwill in their balance sheet, sell interests to incoming partners and buy them from retiring or departing partners. So what are firms worth?
If any business is to be valuable it must be profitable, organised, able to achieve replicable results through quality systems, and have some degree of inimitability. In many respects, law firms are not that different. There are however some aspects of law firms that make the valuation process unique.
We are regularly involved in the valuation of law firms. We see and often are asked to comment on an accountant's valuation. Seldom ever is the same methodology used. If one asked ten accountants for a valuation, it is a safe bet that one would get ten different methodologies and ten different prices, all paying scant regard to the critical aspects of valuation. The only commonality in method or result is the disclaimer page.
Any rigorous valuation should take into close consideration seven essential elements.
The greater the return on investment, the greater the value of any asset, relative to risk. Potential purchasers will pay a premium for a practice that delivers high returns.
Any business should return a salary to all working owners. Astute purchasers will not buy a salary; you can get one for nothing. Saleable profit is the amount of income generated after salaries and expenses, including reasonable market salaries for all working partners. In a partnership structure these may be "notional salaries". Such salaries should reflect the marketplace for like lawyers.
Value will be greater where there is a history of consistent profits. Value will be greater if profits are generated by the operations of the firm as a whole rather than any one individual. These circumstances minimize risk for any purchaser.
Consider two firms that return the same profits to the principals. One is a high-end litigation practice with a heavy reliance on a senior partner for client development and fee generation. The second is a property practice with a number of developer clients that are serviced by a team of lawyers and paralegals. All other things being equal, in our experience the property practice would attract a higher valuation.
A constant challenge for firms is improving the speed with which activity, or work in progress, becomes cash. When it comes to valuing a practice, a commercially astute purchaser will want to examine how quickly a firm converts work-in-progress into debtors, and debtors into cash.
A rigorous valuation will include a free cash flow factor in determining the profit multiplier applied. When considering goodwill, firms with low levels of WIP and debtors will be valued greater than firms carrying large amounts of inventory. Note: WIP and debtors are usually valued separately from the goodwill, so large amounts of WIP and debtors (if sold) would have the capacity to increase overall sale price.
The investment payback term (IPT) is the maximum period a purchaser would accept to receive a total return of funds invested. It is, in part, an assessment of the risk involved in purchasing the firm.
In many respects this is a balancing act. The payback term should not be too short or too long. A practice that is subject to significant risk may be profitable with desirable cash flow but the inherent risk will give rise to a shorter IPT (say one year). A less risky business may have a payback term of three, five or more years. Although contradictory on face value, the logic is that the lesser the risk associated with a practice the greater the likelihood of any purchaser adopting a longer-term view and the greater the valuation, regardless of profit levels. This is of particular importance for external sales.
The personal nature of the law means that clients often identify more with a lawyer than a firm. Branding and promotion of individual partners and employed lawyers has distinct marketing advantages but it devalues a practice relative to a circumstance where work is attracted by the brand of the firm and evenly distributed.
Occasionally we see some creative approaches to profit maximisation. Profit in any period can easily be maximised on a profit and loss account by deferring necessary upgrades and investments, particularly in IT and office fit out. Purchasers should be wary of aging IT platforms, as the likelihood of a major and costly upgrade could be around the corner. Similarly, beware that scheduled office fit outs or improvements haven't been deferred to take place immediately after sale. Well run, organized businesses will amortise necessary assets over their workable life. This demonstrates a stable business and reflects in value.
A review of the depreciation schedules usually indicates the investment program. Similarly any valuation should consider a comparative review (using comparative financial benchmarks) of lease expenses for computers, software and any deprecation amount appearing in three consecutive profit and loss accounts.
Depending on the circumstances, the intentions of the vendor post sale may impact on the valuation.
Some purchasers would like to retain exiting principals on a consultancy basis to ensure an orderly transition of clients and management. Other purchasers may place more value on exiting the principal from the business at the time of sale. Obviously there are no concrete rules here, but it is an important consideration.
Premises commitments are deal-specific. Any purchaser would be interested in the duration of the lease commitment and how any lease incentives have been packaged. To reflect fair value, incentives should ideally be amortised over the duration of the lease. If a firm is committed to paying premium rent, having traded rent free for a period, this should be reflected in value.
In the circumstances where some partners are landlords and others tenants, a commercially reasonable lease – reflecting fair market value – should be in place.
Banks have traditionally seen value only in assets, lending on a safe percentage of WIP and debtors. Increasingly progressive bankers are lending on the intrinsic value of the business. Entering partners and purchases are able to finance their purchases, secured by the value of the business. Goodwill is alive and well in small, profitable firms. Any sale should be proceeded by a timely, rigorous valuation that considers all of the idiosyncrasies that set law firms apart from other small businesses.


The Woodlands is a new 144-resident, seven-story Skilled Nursing Community nestled into a beautiful, wooded site on the John Knox Village Campus in Pompano Beach, Florida. Influenced by a modern international style drawing from the past era of southeast Florida, the building design includes a touch of playfulness in its shapes and use of colorful Florida pastels to help embody a feeling of fun and light-heartedness. Unique community commons on the ground floor are dedicated to elders living upstairs and on-campus, of site visitors, and the JKV staff, helping promote the idea of "one community sharing life together." The building's lobby has two prominent entry points, one along an inviting Porte-cochere on the north and the second at the end of a beautifully landscaped courtyard to the south. Careful consideration was given to the exterior massing, scale, and composition to give it a distinctive multi-story residential feel, away from the traditional nursing home model. A favorite attraction on the ground floor of the community commons is the Palm Bistro, catering to health conscious individuals desiring fresh gourmet salads, soups, sandwiches, and wraps. Other resort like amenities are an 80-seat multi-purpose room, library, day spa, and rehabilitation area. Above the ground floor are homes to 144 elders living in a skilled nursing environment, each floor consisting of two homes, in both of which 12 elders reside. Large windows in each bedroom afford residents with both the physical and mental benefits of views to the outdoors, while window configurations vary and window treatments are customized so that each room is unique. The open layout of the kitchen, dining, hearth, and sun rooms allows natural sunlight to filter throughout the entire home. Thoughtfully considered and highly prioritized, the kitchen was designed with visibility to the rest of the home, as clear sightlines enable the staff to stay busy in the kitchen while at the same time allowing visual access to elders in the home. Designed under the careful eye of The Green House Project, The Woodlands was required to meet four specific criteria in the homes: that each have no more than 12 private bedrooms with European shower; an individual front door and sense of entry into each house; a residential style kitchen; and a gathering space at the dining room table for all elders and staff to share life's memories and to feel part of a family.


text:
Gottfried Glöckner (born 24 June 1937) is a German composer, choral conductor and music educator.

Life
Born in Chemnitz, Glöckner attended the Zwickau Conservatory. Afterwards he worked as a music teacher in Bad Liebenwerda and Frankfurt (Oder). From 1970 to 1974 he studied composition with Manfred Weiss at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden. He worked as a freelance composer and choral conductor in Frankfurt (Oder). Glöckner's compositions were published by bellmannmusik, Edition Choris Mundi and . His Concerto for Orchestra was first performed in Havana in 1984.

He was married to the writer Helga Glöckner-Neubert until her death in 2017.

Awards
 1986: Hanns Eisler Prize

Compositions
 Alle Kinder können sich verstehen for children' choir and piano
 Bratschenstücke (Viola pieces) for viola and piano (2011)
 Concertino for accordion and wind quintet
 Erste Liebe for medium voice and piano
 Flötentrio for flutes
 Fünf Intermezzi for clarinet and piano
 Kleine Suite for accordion solo
 Konzert für Orchester
 Musik zur Weihnachtszeit for small ensemble
 Philosophen und die Liebe for medium voice and piano
 Präludium und Passacaglia
 Sieben Stücke for horn and piano
 Sonata for flute and piano
 Sonatine for clarinet and piano

References

External links

 Werke von Gottfried Glöckner at Verlag Neue Musik
 Gottfried Glöckner at Bellmann Musikverlag

1937 births
Living people
People from Chemnitz
20th-century German composers
20th-century classical composers
German music educators


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Via Fox News: "Saturday's errant ballistic-missile alert to cell phones, televisions and radio stations in Hawaii has officials in Washington planning to find out what went wrong. Federal Communication Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced plans for a probe via Twitter. 'The @FCC is launching a full investigation into the false emergency alert that was sent to residents of Hawaii,' Pai tweeted later Saturday. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, praised Pai's decision to address an error that sent many Hawaii residents into a panic for about 40 minutes. 'This system failed miserably and we need to start over,' Schatz tweeted."
Via The Canadian Press: "Chelsea Manning will run for the U.S. Senate in Maryland. The transgender former Army officer filed her statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday. She was convicted of leaking classified information and spent more than six years behind bars. The Washington Post reported Saturday that Manning will challenge Democrat Ben Cardin. He has served two terms and is an overwhelming favorite to win. The 30-year-old Manning listed a North Bethesda address in her FEC filing. She is running as a Democrat."
Via Oriana Pawlyk at Military.com: "It was always intended to loiter for hours above a battlefield, swiftly maneuver at a moment's notice and, of course, bring the bombs. But in the early stages of the B-1B Lancer's life, no one thought the long-range bomber would be a leading close-air support mission aircraft dominating bomb runs or bellying up to U.S. and coalition forces on the ground. 'Twenty-five years ago, if you would have said the B-1 was going to do CAS, you would have been laughed out of the room,' said Lt. Col. Dominic 'Beaver' Ross, director of operations for the 337th Test and Evaluations Squadron."
The National Commission on Military, National and Public Service is set mark its official launch by holding a press briefing and panel discussion on Thursday in Washington, D.C. The 11-member congressionally chartered panel "will conduct a review and provide recommendations about the military selective service process and ways to increase participation in military, national, and public service in order to address national security and other needs of the nation," according to a press release on its site. Congress last year shelved a plan to have women register for the draft.
Rep. William "Mac" Thornberry, a Republican from Texas and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is scheduled to meet with defense reporters for breakfast on Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C., to discuss a number of military matters. Watch for the discussion to include questions about the defense budget. While Congress passed the Fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, which sets policy and spending goals for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, it hasn't yet approved a full-year appropriations bill. Congress faces a Friday deadline to approve a funding resolution to avert a government shutdown.


text:
Bassin de 50 mètres

Bassin de 25 mètres

Notes et références

Record de natation en nage libre
Natation au Maroc


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A world renowned philosopher, writer and speaker, Alan Watts has left behind many works on personal identity, the true nature of reality, and the pursuit of happiness, relating his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of Eastern and Western religions and philosophies. Having discovered his work has made a huge impact in my life and because I honestly believe there are so many valuable life lessons to learn from this wise and beautiful soul, today I am going to share 25 of these valuable lessons with you.
True genius in the sense of self awareness and "getting" how and why we are here.
I was 20 yo when I read "The Book 'on the taboo against knowing who you are'" and I began to think differently about everything.
A great constellations of word.Really life changing…….


4. Relative adoptions, O.C.G.A. § 19-8-7. NOTE: a "relative" for purposes of filing an adoption petition and for purposes of applying for adoption assistance are different.
The superior courts of the several counties shall have exclusive jurisdiction in all matters of adoption, except such jurisdiction as may be granted to the juvenile courts. O.C.G.A. § 19-8-2 (a)(1990). All petitions for adoption shall be filed in the county in which any petitioner resides, except that upon good cause being shown, the court of the county of the child's domicile or of the county in which is located any child-placing agency having legal custody of the child sought to be adopted may, in its discretion, allow the petition to be filed in that court. O.C.G.A.
Who May File Petition for Adoption?
Furthermore, "[i]f a person seeking to adopt a child is married, the petition must be filed in the name of both spouses; provided, however, that, when the child is the stepchild of the party seeking to adopt, the petition shall be filed by the stepparent alone." O.C.G.A. § 19-8-3 (c).
Is there Financial Assistance Available for Adoption?
There are 2 types of financial assistance available: Non-recurring adoption assistance and Recurring adoption assistance.
Non-recurring adoption assistance: Adopting parents can be reimbursed up to $1500 for reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees and other expenses directly related to the adoption of the child. Adopting parents cannot be reimbursed for any expenses associated with obtaining a court termination or voluntary surrender of parental rights of the birth parents.
Recurring adoption assistance: Adoption Assistance is a monthly cash benefit for relatives who qualify and who adopt children with special needs. A special needs child is any child who has been in the care of a public or private agency or individual other than the legal or biological parent for more than 24 consecutive months; (b) a child who is a member of a sibling group of two or more placed in the same home; or (c) a child with a physical, mental or emotional disability, as validated by a licensed physician or psychologist. The state must also determine that the child cannot be adopted without the assistance.
Who is eligible to receive reimbursement for non-recurring adoption expenses?
The child must be "special needs," which means (a) a child who has been in the care of a public or private agency or individual other than the legal or biological parent for more than 24 consecutive months; (b) a child who is a member of a sibling group of two or more placed in the same home; or (c) a child with a physical, mental or emotional disability, as validated by a licensed physician or psychologist. The state must also determine that the child cannot be adopted without the assistance.
You must apply after your petition for adoption has been filed in the Superior Court but before you have your final hearing on the adoption.
You start by making a phone call to the contact person in your county at the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Tell her that you want to apply for special needs adoption assistance because you are adopting your grandchild, niece, nephew, etc. DFCS must allow you to apply. You and the caseworker will then draw up an adoption assistance agreement, which will include the monthly payments you may receive for the child and how long you will receive them. This agreement must be signed before you have the final hearing on the adoption.
Contact the Douglas Law Group, LLC to assist in Petitioning the Court for Adoption. Go to our Resources page to Download Adoption Checklists and to get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Adoptions in Georgia.


text:
John F. Kennedy's Assassination: Where Were You on November 22, 1963? My Story
By j - November 22, 2013
Artist: Aaron Shikler (1970)
Posthumous Official Portrait of John F. Kennedy
Anyone who was alive and at an age of awareness 50 years ago today remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing on that terrible day.
These memories are etched deeply in our minds and our hearts, after all these years, still breaking.
As I watch the grainy TV footage, I am reminded of what we lost that day – much more than our beloved President.
But we couldn't know that then.
I was 13, an especially vulnerable age. Too old to be unaware, too young to process this tragedy on a sophisticated level. In many ways, my grief is still stuck at this level, the child grasping for an explanation – anything to make everything better. But there were no and are no adequate words to smooth over the crushing grief that blanketed me – and most of us – that day.
I loved President Kennedy. In my mind, he represented the young father I never had and Jackie the mother who was beautiful, stable, and loving to her children, a family I never had. Once, I even wrote a letter to him, spelling out my adoration for him and his family. Perhaps I had a little crush on him. I received a letter from a representative along with an unsigned photo. But I was thrilled anyway because the person who wrote the letter said that President Kennedy had enjoyed reading my letter, and I believed it!
The unsigned photo sent to me
Jackie, Caroline, and President Kennedy
In those days, we believed everything we were told.
But JFK's death was difficult to swallow.
Yes, my generation would laugh again, but it would be a deeper, more cynical laugh; we would spend our teen years and young adulthood acting out: drugs, hard rock, Woodstock, protesting – an entirely different story only tangentially related to the assassination.
But on that ordinary Friday, I was in eighth grade at St. Boniface Elementary school, Sioux City, Iowa, working at the cafeteria scrape table, the worst job in the world for a teenager.
Let me explain: back then, the eighth-grade girls – the boys got a free pass — were expected to do cafeteria duty. Although we hated it, we never questioned "our duty." We just gritted our teeth and obeyed the nuns and the pastor in this matter – with our parents solidly supporting this "for-our-own-good" free child labor.
And that day, I, smelling like rotten vegetables and meat, was scraping, with a spatula, gloopy scraps from lunch trays into the garbage.
The janitor came over to me and leaned on his broom.
He opened his mouth slightly and paused before speaking. "The President has been shot," he finally said.
I started laughing. "Yes, and I'm a Martian. Take-me-to-your-leader."
He was a natural jokester, so I just assumed he was messing with my head.
"No, Jennifer, I'm serious. And you need to return to your classroom. The kitchen staff will finish up."
It was then that I knew he was serious.
I dropped the spatula and fled, without even washing up, to my classroom, a roomful of morose children and a distressed nun, Sister Jacinta, who I still remember with great fondness.
We sat silently in our rows as bulletins on the President's condition were delivered over the loudspeaker from the principal, also a nun.
And then, the message we were dreading but expecting: "The President is dead."
And then the weeping, a roomful of crying children. He was, after all, a Catholic President, and now he and our hopes were all gone, in one awful instant when someone (and, perhaps, others) thought it was okay to snuff out the life of our President.
"You are dismissed for the day, to pray with your families for our dead President," the principal said.
There was no whoop or happiness at being dismissed early; we just filed out silently, numb from our sorrow and the cold as we walked home.
At home, my grandparents were glued at the TV, watching the non-stop coverage in real time.
The arrival of Kennedy's coffin at Andrews Air Base is what stands out for me.
I remember clearly Mrs. Kennedy accompanying the casket and being led off the elevator, still in that pink bloodied dress (about 5:40 on the video).
It was then that the finality of his death hit me profoundly, that image of Jackie standing by her murdered man, no matter what, even riding down a clunky airline elevator that belied her cool, sophisticated branding, stubbornly insisting on not changing out of that iconic pink dress, splattered with her husband's blood, surely wanting a part of him still close to her.
At that point, we had no Abraham Zapruder film and just scant footage of happier times earlier that day in Dallas when everyone was still hopeful, happy, and innocent.
Those images would fill the airways and magazines later.
And the images of his funeral had not yet happened; we were still in the moment, still disbelieving.
Lee Harvey Oswald was still alive.
"WHY?" still hung in the air, palpable and painful.
We were simply experiencing our personal grief as it unfolded in black and white and in our own way. My own grief was too large to process all at once, and I believe that in many ways I'm still processing it, stuck in that teen angst and disbelief of 50 years ago.
On that terrible day, ordinary folks didn't know about his infidelities and Jackie's depression over her husband's wandering eye, and the other foibles of our leader, his Addison's, his relationships with other women, his impetuousness, and his regular visits by Dr. Feelgood.
But, even as I still mourn, those human frailties do not matter.
John F. Kennedy was an important symbol of those times, and nothing can take that and my good memories of him away.
What are your JFK assassination memories? Feel free to comment (No outside links, please).
50th anniversary of President Kennedy Assassination Anniversaries Assassination Essay Index J Jackie Kennedy JFK John F. Kennedy Milestones Mourning Personal remembrance Sorrow


Get your fingers loose for this one. By the time you learn this one you will be very proficient in the key of F! This is from the Rice Brothers vol.2 and it contains TR's first and second breaks molded together into one long break. This a great tune and fun to play. Spend some time with it, and your friends will love you for it. I like to "show off" by playing this one in music stores. An interesting phrase of notes is at measures 35-36. Use it often.


Myung Se-bin shed tears as she talked about her divorce.
Myung Se-bin was in a morning TV program in the morning where she talked about her divorce and her love for her mother. She revealed the pains that she carried through this interview.
She said that the reason for this separation was because of their personalities and value differences. She said that this divorce is not just about herself thus, she will not talk too much about it. The actress said that the married days are short yet much has happened through this. The 5 months of marriage was not so short for her.
Myeong had married in 2007 August to a lawyer and divorced on 2008 January. She did not appear in the screens for a while and had been thinking a lot and recovering a lot.
She said that her parents, relatives, and friends were a great support to her.
The actress was able to learn about pains through this experience. Tears streaked down as she started talking about her mother. She said that her mother is the best.
To her fans, she apologizes for the bad news and assures that she will do her best in being a role model. Currently, Myeong is in the drama "Three Sisters".
"[ChanMi's star news] Myung Se-bin's tears"
Im Sang-soo says Jeon Do-yeon is "full-fledged artist"


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