text:
Q: is there a way to check if a class instance attribute is itself a class instance I'm trying to serialize a python complex class instance to xml however I can't figure out how to determine if any of it's attributes are class instances this is my code.
def serialize_model_to_XML(self, modelObject, tagName):
    xml = etree.Element(tagName)
    for attribName, value in modelObject.__dict__.items():
        if isinstance(value, type) == '__builtin__': #this line needs to determine if the value of the class attribute is a class instance
            tagElement = self.serialize_model_to_XML(value, attribName)
            xml.append(etree.Element(tagElement))
        else:
            #if not then the key value pair is added as an attribute to the current tag
            xml.attrib[attribName] = value

    return xml


text:
Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities
Join the Industry Leaders at Pulmonology On Air
Following the global success of Endoscopy On Air, with more than 50.000 viewers in 2021, Pulmonology On Air is live and an official part of Medflix!
Contact us for more information on sponsorship opportunities!
Learn from the best in Pulmonology
Expanding Community
Upcoming next
Bronchus 2023 – Evidence, Innovation, and Education
29 January, 2023 09:00 (GMT+05:30) Why join us? Pulmonology on Air has partnered up with BRONCHUS 2023 to bring to you live on the 28th and 29th of January 2023 the live stream of Asia´s largest Interventional Pulmonology conference, from Hyderabad, India. Dr. Hari Kishan,…
2 December, 2022 08:00 (GMT+01:00) Why join us? The Global Event is going to be 8+ hours of live streaming interventional procedures, coming from top IP practitioners around the world. If you are interested in building your knowledge in lung cryo-biopsies, EBUS, electromagnetic navigation in…
PULMOSOLUTIONS FOR PERIPHERAL LUNG BIOPSY: FROM SCREENING TO TREATMENT PLANNING
16 November, 2022 15:50 (GMT+01:00) Event Recording Why join us? In this first part of a series of new events about a variety of techniques in Pulmonology, Dr. Neal Navani and Prof. Arschang Valipour will speak about low-dose lung cancer screening, leading to more patients…
JOIN OUR GROWING LIST OF PARTNERS
Pulmonology on Air is part of the Medflix family of continuous medical education initiatives that aims to provide contemporary and innovative scientific knowledge, to all Pulmonologists and associated physicians around the world.
Truly global coverage
Expanded international scientific board
Interactive discussions on basic and advanced topics
Hyper-segmented audience targeting
Geographically focused reach
Amplified digital presence
Educate attendees and raise brand awareness of your portfolio

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Mark Coker's third annual 2014 Smashwords Survey. Examines quantifiable characteristics of ebooks that give books an incremental advantage in discoverability and desirability. The 2014 survey attempts to answer such questions as: Do readers prefer longer or shorter ebooks?; Do ebooks that start out as preorders sell better?; How should I price my ebook?; Do series books sell better than standalone books?; do series with FREE series starters earn more money than other series; and many more.
Gianfranco Ruffini , Senior IT Consultant at Self employed. at Self employed.
5. Back in the dark ages of print-centric publishing (10 yrs ago), writers were unable to reach readers on mass scale without a publisher's support Writers relied on publishers to provide three essential capabilities. I refer to these capabilities as the three legs to the stool. Remove any leg and the book fails.
18. We looked at 12 months of sales data (April 2013 – March 2014) for ~250,000 titles, aggregated across the Smashwords distribution network, totaling over $25 million in global customer purchases Knowledge discovery starts with simple questions ? ? ?
25. Numbers are Dangerous, But Useful • Averages are only averages • Not always the typical outcome; big variances in a sample can skew results • Median = midpoint of numbers in a range when arranged from lowest to highest. Often a more "typical" result. • Medians not always useful either • A million butterflies: Cause and effect is not always provable (forces are often multi-dimensional, synergistic, opaque or delayed) • Your book is unique. Consider the information I share as only one of many data points upon which you base your publishing decisions.
26. The Power Curve Book sales are characterized by the "Power Curve" principle. (next slide) Very few titles sell spectacularly well. As your book moves to the left of the curve (i.e. your sales rank improves), your sales grow exponentially. Your Objective: discover and implement the viral catalysts that give you incremental advantage and nudge your book up and to the left of the curve.
31. Q: Do readers prefer longer or shorter ebooks? A: For the third year in a row we found strong evidence that readers prefer longer ebooks. How to Interpret: Visualize the power curve overlaid on top of the chart that follows to understand how the incremental advantage of higher word count translates into an exponential increase in sales. Tip: Don't write longer or shorter books based on this information. Write the length your book deserves. If your story takes you to epic lengths, go there, and understand that shorter books can put you at a disadvantage. If you split a 100,000 word novel into three novellas of 33,333 words each, the numbers indicate you're likely to earn less overall.
33. Interesting: We observed the same reader preference for longer book in our 2013 and 2012 surveys.
35. (2012) Do Readers Prefer Longer Books? The 2012 survey found similar behavior. Longer books increase sales rank, on average.
37. Q: What's the average word count for the top 70 bestselling Smashwords romance books?
41. I'm constantly in awe of romance authors. For decades they got no respect. The rise of ebooks + democratized ebook distribution + unlimited virtual shelf space exposed the genius ability of romance writers to connect with readers Relationships are at the center of most great stories. Romance writers make relationships the central focus of their stories.
47. Q: Silly question: I wonder if bestsellers have longer or shorter pen names? A: Interesting. Shorter pen names appear to have a very small advantage. Warning: Don't change your pen name based on this!!!
48. Do Shorter Pen Names Sell Better?
50. Q: Do authors who change prices have an advantage over authors that rarely change prices? A: Minimal. How to Interpret: Strong sellers are slightly more likely to have changed the price of their book in the last 12 months, but we're not seeing benefit of ADHD-style frequent price changes. Worst sellers are slightly less likely to have changed their price in the last year, which could indicate they're slightly less attentive to their book marketing. The incremental price change benefit is probably related to the author running a promotion.
51. Do Frequent Prices Changes Impact Sales?
52. Q: Do bestsellers have higher or lower opt-out rates for new and innovative ebook distribution channels? A: Interesting! Opt out rates are extremely low, but a small segment (~3%) of bestselling authors appear more skeptical or fearful of non-traditional ebook-selling models and channels. Oyster and Scribd are ebook subscription services. My read: A small minority of bestsellers are undermining their success, and could do better by having greater faith in these new entrants.
55. Q: Fun: What are authors earning per published word? A: 14-18 cents per published word per year for the top 50 Smashwords authors. Most authors earn much less. How to Interpret: Note that this was computed by taking total dollar sales for each author divided by the number of words they had published as of the end of the survey period. It's dangerous to read much into this data point, other than the fact that most authors don't earn much.
56. What Do Authors Earn Per Word?
57. Q: Do better-selling authors publish more books? A: Yes. How to Interpret: The reason is probably representative of multiple factors. More books mean: 1. more chances to be discovered and read. 2. more options for promotion. 3. more opportunity to leverage reader loyalty when a reader discovers they love you. 4. Positive feedback: If your books are selling, you're probably more likely to write more.
59. Q: What's the average published word count of authors in each bestselling tier? Do bestsellers publish more words or less? A: Like the previous chart, there's strong correlation between the number of words published and author earnings. How to Interpret: Remember the power curve? Visualize the power curve overlaid on top of this word count curve, and you see why authors who publish more have a tremendous sales advantage. Tip: organize your time to spend more time producing (writing) and less time on everything else. Gratuitous plug: save time by consolidating your distribution, metadata management, sales reporting and payments via Smashwords!!!.
61. Q: Do longer or shorter book descriptions sell more books A: Inconclusive. How to Interpret: Not much useful here. Slight indication that poorest sellers have slightly shorter book descriptions. On the other hand, there's little evidence that longer descriptions help. Tip: Focus on the quality of your description, not the length.
64. Q: Are the highest-earning indie authors utilizing high price points on average or low price points? A: Low, but not ultra-low How to Interpret: Strong evidence here that highest earning indie authors are pricing their books lower on average, and lower-earning authors are pricing higher. Note that even poorest selling indie authors are still priced, on average, quite low compared to traditionally priced ebooks. Low prices make it easier for readers to take a chance on an unknown writer. Note that most authors, even traditionally published authors, are unknown to most readers. You can hit the NYT list with 50,000 sales, but there are still tens of millions of readers who don't know you.
66. Q: Rather than ranking authors by the average price for all their books (previous chart), let's look specifically at individual books. Are the highest- earning titles utilizing high or low price? A: More evidence that lower prices help indie ebooks earn more. Cautionary tip: Note that this data is *on average* and aggregates titles across fiction and non-fiction (Smashwords sales are heavily skewed toward genre fiction).
68. Q: What price moves the most units?
69. A: FREE, of course!
74. Q: What are the most common price points (helpful to understand the level of competition your book may face in each price tier)? A: $2.99 is the most common price point for indie ebooks, accounting for about 25% of Smashwords titles Note: This aggregates both fiction and non-fiction, but is skewed toward fiction since fiction comprises majority of SW catalog.
80. Q: Other than FREE, which price points get the most downloads for FICTION? A: $.99, $2.99 and $3.99. How to Interpret: Note how, on average, $3.99 titles at Smashwords sold more units than $2.99 titles. We observed the same behavior last year when we looked at the combined numbers for fiction and nonfiction (we didn't break out F and NF last year). Conclusion: Readers will pay more if the quality and author brand trust is there. I suspect many bestsellers have an opportunity to experiment with higher prices.
84. Q: Which price points earn authors the most money (quantity * earnings per book) A: $3.99, for second year running. How to Interpret: These results are based on averages and combine fiction and non-fiction (it's 90% sales-weighted toward fiction, so it represents fiction behavior more than non-fiction). $3.99 remains a good price for full-length fiction. This could be an indication that authors with strongest brands realize they have pricing power. $1.99 and $.99, as in previous years, underperform on author earnings. See the separate charts for non-fiction only.
87. (2013 survey) What Price Yields the Greatest Author Earnings?
88. (2012) What Price Yields Highest Earnings?
89. Q: Which price point earns non-fiction authors the most money (quantity * earnings per book) A: $9.99 How to Interpret: Although prior caveats apply (this is based on averages and your book is not average, it's unique), note how non- fiction performs dramatically different than fiction. The data indicates that as non-fiction authors increase prices, the earnings increase. The implication here is significant. It indicates that non- fiction's demand curve is more inelastic (buyers are less price- sensitive, whereas fiction's demand curve is more elastic (buyers are more price sensitive, demand goes down as prices go up). I've been advising authors for several years that non-fiction can generally support higher prices than fiction, but this is the first Smashwords Survey in which we've crunched the aggregated numbers to prove it. Why the difference: Most likely, non-fiction readers are buying books to acquire knowledge or solve a problem, and this knowledge or problem-solving has a high value attached to it. As long as the value of the knowledge exceeds the price of the book, it's easy for a reader to justify paying a higher price. Conclusion: Many non-fiction authors are pricing their books too low and should experiment with higher prices.
91. Traditionally Published Ebook Authors are Disadvantaged When you consider both the units sales advantage and earnings advantage of lower prices, you understand why indie ebook authors have such a strong competitive advantage over traditionally published ebook authors. Indie fiction ebooks (our combined fiction/NF list is ~90% sales-weighted toward fiction) at $2.99-$3.99 earn about the same as $7.99+ prices, but get about triple the readership which means they have platform-building incentive to price lower yet still earn more or the same. Non- fiction ebook authors can price higher while maintaining strong unit volume. Combine this with the fact that indies earn 60-80% list on ebook sales while traditionally published authors earn only 12-17% list and you understand the economic and fan-building advantage of indie ebook authorship. Traditionally published ebook authors are suffering from high prices and low royalties. As reading continues to transition to digital, the pull of indie authorship will increase.
97. Q: In the previous question, we looked at individual titles. Now let look at top-performing authors. Are bestselling authors more likely to utilize preorders? A: Yes. How to Interpret: There might be a multiple cause and effect implications here: 1. The mere act of a preorder may help an author sell more copies, and therefore help an author become a bestseller. 2. Bestselling authors are more likely to have more books out, which makes it easier to market a preorder, which means bestsellers might be capturing more benefit from using preorders, which further increases their adoption of preorders. 3. Bestsellers might be more likely to use advanced tools such as preorder distribution. 4. Preorders increase odds of merchandising promotion by retailers which increases sales.
99. Q: During the survey period, were bestselling authors more likely or less likely to have released a book as a preorder? A: More likely. This result, when viewed within the context of the other preorder findings, confirms that bestselling authors are making much more use of preorders than poorer-selling authors.
102. New: Our 2014 Survey Now Includes Data on Series Books  Launched Smashwords Series Manager tool September 2013  Enhanced discovery at retailers gives Smashwords authors advantage  Over 8,000 series at Smashwords  We can now track sales performance by series (and will now share data with you)!
104. Q: What does the sales distribution curve look like for our top 1,000 series? A: Like a power curve! How to Interpret: See the chart that follows to see the impact of the power curve in action. The 1,000th bestselling SW series earned about $900 during the period, whereas #500 earned about triple that. The #100th bestselling series earned almost 20X #1,000, and over 62X #2,000 (#2,000 not shown on chart, earned ~$262).
107. Q: On average, do books in a series earn more than standalone books? A: Yes! How to Interpret: Strong evidence that books tied to a series have a competitive advantage over standalone books. Caveat: Keep in mind that romance is a top-performing genre at most retailers (and the #1 genre at Smashwords) and romance authors make greater use of series than most other genres. A self-fulfilling feedback loop? More series, more sales, more series adoption, more incentive to write more series?
109. Q: What's the average and median number of books in a series for series in each sales rank tier? A: About 3-5. How to Interpret: Interesting observation: Note how the top 50 bestselling Smashwords series are comprised of three to four titles, and there's not a tremendous variation as we go down the sales curve.
111. Q: When we look at the average word count for books in a series, do series with longer books sell better? A: Yes. How to Interpret: Strong indication that bestselling series have longer books. As you look at this chart, overlay the power curve in your imagination, and you'll understand how series with shorter books are disadvantaged. This means authors should probably avoid the temptation to chunk their books into shorter serials. Instead, write and publish full- length. Also remember that length alone is not the most crucial factor. Quality of writing is most important. But it's clear that longer works have an incremental advantage, which can lead to an exponential sales advantage.
113. Q: Do series with FREE series starters outperform series without FREE series starters A: Yes. How to Interpret: Strong evidence FREE series starters turbocharge the overall earnings of a series. If you write series, and you haven't experimented with either a perma- free series starter or a temporary FREE, give it a try. FREE has helped catapult the careers of many bestselling Smashwords authors.
118. Q: Let's look at the top 1,000 highest earning series, and then plot their word count against earnings tiers. A: What we see is what we'd expect from previous data groups: Lower word counts per title are associated with lower sales per title for series books.
123. Summary • Incremental advantages lead to big advantages on the power curve (always do things that move you to the left of the curve) • Most important findings include the advantage of: longer books, series books, series with free series starters, preorders, free as a marketing tool • Numbers provide hints at reader preferences • Dangerous to make decisions on a single metric alone • Data-driven publishing decisions are irrelevant without a great book • Every book is unique. Your book may respond differently • If your story demands 200,000 words, go for it! • Sometimes it's dangerous to draw cause and effect conclusions because multiple related or extraneous factors may be at play.
127. Smashwords YouTube Tutorials • View nearly 10 hours of Smashwords video workshops at http://youtube.com/user/Smashwords • Smashwords video series: • #1: Introduction to ebook publishing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khM4czIJUVM • #2: Ebook publishing best practices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnd7jYcjqm8 • #3: 2013 Smashwords Survey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rrl4NExo3Y • #4: 10 Trends Driving the Future of Authorship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbT7r-DUa6M • #5: How to reach readers at iBooks, the #2 global ebook seller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKwwcL_FS_c • #6: How to add navigation to Smashwords ebooks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpB9hmlgeU4 • Check back for new videos in the future!


BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA (WFTV) – Palm Bay police said two officers had a strange and scary moment Wednesday after pulling over a driver for speeding.
Officers said the driver fatally shot himself while they were writing him a ticket.
The shooting happened inside of a shopping plaza along Palm Bay Road near I-95.
Officers said they were inside a patrol car when they heard the gunshot.
Instead of pulling over on Palm Bay Road, the driver pulled into a parking lot and stopped, officers said.


This book was: Intense. Graphic. Twisted. I loved it. Unreliable narrator + summer heat + unscrupulous people + grandiose sense of what is "right"…I read this in one day. Get it. Read it. Be thankful you are not like these people. Be more thankful your doctor is not like this…or is he?


A stylish softshell jacket for everyday use. Can also be worn on tour or while cycling. Good protection against wind and rain but also breathable to keep you cool.
This soft shell jacket is one of best I've used,very well made ,comfortable and ok in light rain!


This course aims to empower teachers with tools of blended learning. Through blended learning students can stay on top of classwork anytime, anywhere with personalized tools. Blended learning not only nurtures students to develop better skills, it shapes superior, adaptable learners, able to use vast resources to grow their skillset.
Hey Buddy!, I found this information for you: "Blended Learning: Engaging Students for Effective Classroom Learning". Here is the website link: http://www.greenwich.edu.pk/programs/certificate-courses-dhum/blended-learning-engaging-students-for-effective-classroom-learning/. Thank you.


text:
Stone Cold Facts – Full Circle Podcast #75
Jared Fradette	November 11, 2019
Hello everyone, This week Bethesda made Fallout 76 a monthly subscription base game if you want all the features, and let's say the community is …
Game of Thrones – A Telltale Game Series: Episode 1 Review | Iron From Ice
Adam Birch	December 4, 2014
Episode 1 of Telltale's Game of Thrones has arrived and it's not only the best game based on the series yet, but a worthy addition to the franchise and one of Telltale's best games.
When You Play Telltale's Game of Thrones This Week, You Win Or You Die
Just a week after Tales from the Borderlands, Telltale is finally releasing their Game of Thrones adaptation.
Game of Thrones: Telltale Games signs George R.R. Martin's PA
Henry Hollaway	April 29, 2014
The Telltale Games adaption of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire has been held tightly under wraps.
Winter is Coming…and so are Game of Thrones Games
Nick Pinkerton	December 11, 2013
Telltale Games has inked a deal with HBO to produce an episodic game series based on the Game of Thrones franchise, according to an HBO …
New Game of Thrones Screenshots Unveiled
Michelle Quillen	April 29, 2012
Fans of HBO'S critically acclaimed fantasy TV series Game of Thrones who are anxiously awaiting the release of the show's upcoming RPG can now get a …
HBO App Coming To Xbox 360 April 1
Bailey	February 28, 2012
With Microsoft adding apps to the Xbox 360 dashboard, it has added a dimension to the console. Other genres of entertainment have join by creating …
ATLUS Announces Art Book for Game of Thrones RPG
Jennifer Kibble	February 24, 2012
Game of Thrones: Visuals from the RPG is a hardcover art book that will be available for free with a reservation of the upcoming RPG …
Game of Thrones to be Published by Focus Home Interactive
David Geeson	December 12, 2011
Good news for fans of Game of Thrones, whilst we already knew the game was in development and slated for a 2012 release it wasn't …
Falling Skies is the Show to Watch!
Charles Powers	June 27, 2011
This weekend, I got the opportunity to do something I rarely get to: watch a show from the very beginning. The show is called Falling Skies …
Shock Jock Rush Limbaugh Slams Video Game Censorship
Associated Press	October 30, 2010
Controversial American talk-back radio host Rush Limbaugh has spoken out against video game censorship.
Speaking with a caller about the impending US Supreme Court case that could deprive video games of 1st Amendment protection…
HBO/SCEA sign deal for original content download to PS3/PSP
Bailey	May 26, 2010
Anyone who is a fan of anything on HBO, should be happy to hear the following new (well only if you own a Sony console …


in2securITy is a non-profit educational group run by security folk in NZ, with the aim of helping those new to the security profession get enthusiastic and gain the skills to find a job.
Kirk spoke at the Wellington leg of the in2securITy national tour on the topic of Secure Software Development.
This was a 30 minute talk discussing the typical software development lifecycle, and different security tasks and discussions that could fit in along the way. He also advocated the role of "Security Champion" within project teams, and encouraged folks to speak up when they security issues in the making.
The Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle is a well regarded process used by large companies such as Microsoft and Adobe to add security into their software product lifecyle.


text:
namespace exegesis {
namespace arm {
namespace xml {

namespace {

using ::exegesis::xml::ReadAttribute;
using ::exegesis::xml::ReadIntAttributeOrDefault;
using ::tinyxml2::XMLAttribute;
using ::tinyxml2::XMLElement;
using ::tinyxml2::XMLText;
using ::tinyxml2::XMLVisitor;

enum class TagType {
  UNKNOWN,
  ARCHVARIANT,
  BLOCKQUOTE,
  CODE,
  ENTRY,
  IMAGE,
  LINK,
  LIST,
  LISTITEM,
  PARAGRAPH,
  ROW,
  TABLE,
  THEAD,
};

// Returns the canonical type of a given tag.
TagType GetType(const XMLElement& element) {
  static const auto* const kTagTypes =
      new absl::flat_hash_map<std::string, TagType>({
          {"arch_variant", TagType::ARCHVARIANT},
          {"arm-defined-word", TagType::CODE},
          {"binarynumber", TagType::CODE},
          {"entry", TagType::ENTRY},
          {"hexnumber", TagType::CODE},
          {"image", TagType::IMAGE},
          {"instruction", TagType::CODE},
          {"list", TagType::LIST},
          {"listitem", TagType::LISTITEM},
          {"note", TagType::BLOCKQUOTE},
          {"para", TagType::PARAGRAPH},
          {"param", TagType::CODE},
          {"row", TagType::ROW},
          {"syntax", TagType::CODE},
          {"tgroup", TagType::TABLE},
          {"thead", TagType::THEAD},
          {"value", TagType::CODE},
          {"xref", TagType::LINK},
      });
  return ::exegesis::gtl::FindWithDefault(*kTagTypes, element.Name(),
                                          TagType::UNKNOWN);
}

// TinyXML Visitor to parse simple HTML as Markdown.
class TinyMarkdownParser : public XMLVisitor {
 public:
  bool VisitEnter(const XMLElement& element,
                  const XMLAttribute* first_attribute) override {
    switch (GetType(element)) {
      case TagType::ARCHVARIANT:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, ReadAttribute(&element, "feature"));
        break;
      case TagType::BLOCKQUOTE:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "\n\n> ");
        break;
      case TagType::CODE:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "`");
        break;
      case TagType::ENTRY:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, " ");
        break;
      case TagType::IMAGE:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "![", ReadAttribute(&element, "label"), "]");
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "(", ReadAttribute(&element, "file"), ")");
        break;
      case TagType::LINK:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "[");
        break;
      case TagType::LIST:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "\n");
        break;
      case TagType::LISTITEM:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "+ ");
        break;
      case TagType::ROW:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "| ");
        break;
      case TagType::TABLE:
        cols_.push(ReadIntAttributeOrDefault(&element, "cols", 1));
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "\n");
        break;
      default:
        break;
    }
    return true;
  }

  bool VisitExit(const tinyxml2::XMLElement& element) override {
    switch (GetType(element)) {
      case TagType::CODE:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "`");
        break;
      case TagType::ENTRY:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, " |");
        break;
      case TagType::LINK:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "](", ReadAttribute(&element, "linkend"), ")");
        break;
      case TagType::LIST:
      case TagType::LISTITEM:
      case TagType::ROW:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "\n");
        break;
      case TagType::PARAGRAPH:
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "\n\n");
        break;
      case TagType::TABLE:
        if (!cols_.empty()) cols_.pop();
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "\n");
        break;
      case TagType::THEAD:
        for (int col = 0; col < (cols_.empty() ? 1 : cols_.top()); ++col) {
          absl::StrAppend(&md_, "| --- ");
        }
        absl::StrAppend(&md_, "|\n");
        break;
      default:
        break;
    }
    absl::StrAppend(&md_, " ");
    return true;
  }

  bool Visit(const XMLText& text) override {
    std::string value = text.Value();
    std::replace(value.begin(), value.end(), '\n', ' ');
    absl::StrAppend(&md_, value);
    return true;
  }

  const std::string& markdown() { return md_; }

 private:
  std::stack<int> cols_;  // Keeps track of table column sizes on traversal.
  std::string md_;
};

}  // namespace

std::string ExportToMarkdown(const XMLElement* element) {
  if (!element) return "";

  TinyMarkdownParser parser;
  element->Accept(&parser);
  std::string md = parser.markdown();

  // Remove all non-newline whitespace before/after all newlines.
  RE2::GlobalReplace(&md, R"([^\S\n]*\n[^\S\n]*)", "\n");
  // Any remaining whitespace becomes a single space.
  RE2::GlobalReplace(&md, R"([^\S\n]+)", " ");
  // Condense 3+ newlines into 2.
  RE2::GlobalReplace(&md, R"(\n{3,})", "\n\n");
  // Remove leading and trailing whitespace.
  RE2::GlobalReplace(&md, R"(^\s+|\s+$)", "");

  return md;
}

}  // namespace xml
}  // namespace arm
}  // namespace exegesis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


SAN FRANCISCO, April 8, 2010 — For the third consecutive year, Covington & Burling LLP partners Rob Fram and Bob Haslam have been named to The San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journals' list of Top Intellectual Property Litigators in California. The list honors lawyers from both the public and private sectors whose work has a significant impact on the world of intellectual property and the development of law in this area.
Mr. Fram, co-chair of Covington's 100 lawyer patent litigation group, was recognized for a string of recent victories, including three straight patent litigation victories for clients through dispositive motions and a jury verdict. In another case, a dispositive motion gutted the plaintiff's case, leading to a favorable settlement for his client. These victories, in addition to a successful ITC trial, capped a busy year.
Mr. Haslam's successful trial practice involves patent litigation, trade secret litigation, and other related high-technology disputes. He has represented clients in a range of arts and practices, including semiconductor products and processes, cryptography, GPS and cellular technology, electronic circuits, microprocessors and software products, medical devices and other life science products. One of his most recent victories came in January, when a mere 48 hours after his oral argument, the Federal Circuit summarily affirmed a 2008 jury verdict which had followed a seven day trial. Mr. Haslam is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Covington's IP group and its lawyers have been widely recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Chambers Global, IP Law and Business, The Legal 500, and The Practical Law Company.


Home Featured Commentary Meme writers walk off the job. What are progressive orgs to do?
Meme writers walk off the job. What are progressive orgs to do?
What happens when the meme writers strike?
Salary negotiations drew to an abrupt end today when union leaders stormed out of a meeting with high profile donors and organizers from prominent liberal groups. The chairpersons of Daily Kos, Moveon.org and the ACLU have made confident and optimistic statements to the press, but sources close to the organizations say the proposed strike could not have come at a worse time. Meanwhile, Horace Petersmark, President of the Fraternal Order of Chant, Slogan, and Meme Writers, voiced his concerns to reporters on the steps of the Santa Barbara Denny's, where the negotiations were held.
"We're not asking for a lot," he said, while adjusting what was clearly the only tie he owns in the whole world.
Pepe the Frog has been used by the so-called alt-right in images such as this "The Deplorables" meme accredited to Donald Trump Jr.
The campaign and the party flat out did not understand the most important tool in the election. Once they realized the toll that the memes were taking, they jumped into the comment section without learning how algorithms help comments generate views. Then they just kind of lost the internet with spellcheck posts every night for month. Eventually, a cartoon frog would undue a decade's worth of progress in civil rights.
Sunderford's view on resolving the union situation was equally grim.
Sam performs comedy throughout New England. Catch him at Lincolns on 2.23 and Empire on 2.12 and 2.26.


text:
Player's Own Voice
Sidney Crosby may need month to recover from arthroscopic wrist surgery
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had arthroscopic wrist surgery on Monday and is expected to require up to a month to recover. He sat out 28 games during the regular season following core-muscle surgery.
Penguins captain also missed 28 games this season after core-muscle surgery
CBC Sports · Posted: Sep 01, 2020 10:43 AM ET | Last Updated: September 1, 2020
Penguins centre Sidney Crosby is expected to need up to a month to recover after having arthroscopic wrist surgery on Monday. (Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had arthroscopic wrist surgery on Monday and is expected to require up to a month to recover, the team announced Tuesday.
The 33-year-old from Cole Harbour, N.S., follows fellow forwards Evgeni Malkin (left elbow) and Zach Aston-Reese (left shoulder) as the third Penguins player to have surgery since the team was eliminated by Montreal on Aug. 7 in the Stanley Cup qualifying round.
Crosby had two goals and three points in the four-game series loss after recording 16 goals and 47 points in 41 contests in the regular season. He sat out 28 games following core-muscle surgery in November.
A three-time Stanley Cup champion, Crosby has 462 goals and 1,263 points in 984 NHL regular-season games. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2016 and 2017.
PLAYER STATS: Sidney Crosby
Underdog Canadiens put Penguins on ice, advance to NHL playoffs
TEAM PAGE: Pittsburgh Penguins
Training camps for the 2020-21 season are not expected to begin until November at the earliest.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC Sports
Penguins' Sidney Crosby returns from 2-month absence with 4 points, nifty assist
Maple Leafs trade Kasperi Kapanen to Penguins for 1st-round pick in multi-player deal
More NHL coverage
Add some "good" to your morning and evening.
A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you.


I entered the semi-dark balcony and searched for the right spot. Most everyone had left the church sanctuary that particular Sunday morning, but I needed to pray. I found a seat, and told God what was on my heart.
I had seen people on television walk into chapels and cathedrals when they desperately needed help. They would slide into a pew and not say anything out loud. They would only look to the front of the sanctuary, their prayer written on their faces. I did the same.
I looked to God in that desperate moment. I wanted to connect with Him in a place where week after week His people sought wisdom from and fellowship with the Almighty. Have you ever been so desperate for Jesus' help that you sought Him in a place that was special to you?


text:
Unilever Malaysia
Previous - Nature and science combine to create a cleaning world-first
Next - Creating unshakeable pride with the Unbreakable Rainbow
From plastic waste to climate action, future foods to safe sanitation, here's a quick snapshot of some of the positive change we've helped deliver over the past year.
Our 400+ household-name brands and huge global reach give us a unique opportunity to create positive change in the world and to achieve our purpose of making sustainable living commonplace. As 2019 draws to a close, we thought we'd look back over the year to see how that vision has been turned into real, tangible action. So grab a cuppa and enjoy reading about a few of the many ways we made a difference.
1. We ramped up our efforts to reduce plastic waste
Plastic is crucial for the safe and efficient distribution of our products, and it has a lower carbon footprint than many alternative materials. It has its place. But that place is not littering our streets, rivers and oceans. So we upped our game, committing to halve our use of virgin plastic in our packaging, and collect and process more plastic packaging than we sell… all by 2025. As part of that, we're continuing to experiment and innovate with refill and reuse solutions, and rolling out more 100% recycled packaging. Dove made a big announcement on this in October.
2. We made some big moves to help tackle the climate crisis
In September, we passed an important milestone, with all our factories, offices, R&D facilities, data centres, warehouses and distribution centres – across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America – now being powered by 100% renewable grid electricity. This marked a significant step towards our target to become a carbon neutral company before 2030. We also made progress towards our goal of cutting our logistics carbon emissions by 40% through smarter planning, alternative fuels and partnerships with tech start-ups.
3. We stood up for women's and girl's empowerment
Dove and UNICEF joined forces to educate 10 million more young people on self-esteem and body confidence, to help them fulfil their potential. Since its inception in 2004, the Dove Self-Esteem Project has reached over 35 million young people across 140 countries. Sunsilk has also been busy this year. Inspiring girls to dream of a future full of possibility, the brand supported the 'Explore More' education programme in Thailand and Pakistan, set up the 'Together We Rock' platform in Brazil and launched its 'Rethink Pink' campaign in Argentina, featuring strong female role models.
4. We used our voice to push for equality
Hindustan Unilever (HUL) joined in the country's first Pride campaign, which included a two-month-long drive to create awareness and nudge the culture in the workplace. This campaign was part of our global push to create a truly inclusive work environment for people with diverse genders and orientations. We continued our work to make Unilever more inclusive of people with a disability. We also ran initiatives to help refugees integrate, develop skills and get back into work. This year, the Ben & Jerry's Ice Academy helped refugees in the UK, the Netherland and Germany find their feet economically with entrepreneurship training, mentoring and part-time employment.
5. We got tasty with food and food waste
Just a few weeks ago, we threw open the doors to Hive, our new, state-of-the-art innovation hub in the Netherlands where we will collaborate and co-create to turn bright ideas into the healthy, sustainable foods of the future. We continued our work to develop more plant-based foods and even partnered with Burger King to launch the plant-based Rebel Whopper powered by The Vegetarian Butcher. And since a third of all food that's produced globally gets wasted, we came up with some more ingenious ways of working with suppliers, restaurants and consumers to help reduce that unacceptable statistic.
6. We continued our push for global access to safe, clean sanitation
Celebrating sanitation may sound like a strange thing to do, but since two-thirds of people on the planet lack access to decent sanitation, we can't underestimate its value. On World Toilet Day we told the stories of sanitation superheroes who are making clean toilets their mission. Our Domestos brand continues to spearhead Unilever's hugely successful efforts, and in partnership with UNICEF, we have so far helped over 16 million people. And on a related note, Global Handwashing Day was even more special this year, as we shared the news that Lifebuoy has improved the handwashing behaviours of 1 billion people.
7. We smashed a few more stereotypes
It's been three years since we announced our pledge to unstereotype our advertising. Since then we've been working on doing so across every brand and in every one of our markets. More of our campaigns this year sought to defy outdated and harmful cultural norms and instead were underpinned by inclusive, diverse and progressive portrayals of people. In May, Dove launched Project #ShowUs, a disruptive new partnership to shatter stereotypes. This is an image library created and curated exclusively by women, female-identifying and non-binary individuals. Also, Dove Men+Care tied up with Promundo to encourage and promote paternity leave.
8. We put our weight behind biodiversity and soil protection
This year, the business community increasingly got behind the global biodiversity agenda, fuelled in part by the Our Planet: Our Business documentary. But this is something we've been working on for some time. In fact, each year Knorr co-invests €1 million with our suppliers and farmers through the Knorr Partnership Fund. This money helps finance sustainable agriculture projects, many of which are focused on biodiversity. On a smaller scale, there was a buzz around our office in southern Poland, where employee Agnieszka Przybyl is promoting urban beekeeping. And when it comes to protecting soil, we're working with soy farmers and our soy oil suppliers to increase the use of cover crops. These help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and prevent erosion.
9. We focused our minds on mental health
Millennials have grown up on social media with its potential to connect. Yet they've been found to be the loneliest generation of all. And that's not just a 'soft' health concern – it can be as bad for you as a packet of cigarettes a day. Lipton is helping to address the problem. Tea's ability to give people a reason to have a conversation lies at the heart of Lipton's newly launched brand purpose to awaken the world to quality connections and fight against hidden loneliness. Alongside mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, loneliness can impact sleep quality, reasoning and productivity.
10. We got even more transparent with tea
In September, we published a full list of our global tea suppliers. This move is designed to further increase transparency in our supply chain and boost our ongoing efforts to transform the entire industry. As part of this, we created an interactive map that highlights some of the social programmes we are leading on the ground with NGOs and supplier partners. These programmes aim to enhance the livelihoods and wellbeing of local workers, farmers and their families. And it's an area where we can have huge impact. As you'd expect from the world's largest tea company.


text:
Osborn Law
MAJOR ACCIDENTS
24 HOUR PHONE SERVICE
Oilfield Accidents
Drunk Driving Injury
Uninsured Underinsured Motorist
Bakersfield Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), it is estimated that approximately 12,000 new spinal cord injuries occur each year in the United States. NSCISC statistics Since 2010, approximately 36.5 % of all spinal cord injury cases have been caused by a combination of car accidents, truck accidents, big-rig accidents, tractor-trailer accidents and motorcycle accidents. An additional 14.3% of spinal cord injury cases were caused by acts of violence such as assault, battery and gunshots. It is reported that nearly 1 in 50 people in the United States live with paralysis from spinal cord injury. NSCISC facts Spinal cord injury can have a wide range of effects, including, but not limited to, paralysis, impaired motor skills, spasticity, autonomic dysreflexia, respiratory impairment, decreased bowel function, decreased bladder function, pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, depression, anxiety and sexual dysfunction. The cost of treating and living with spinal cord injury can be significant and it is estimated that for those experiencing paralysis from the neck down (quadraplegia), the average cost of living in the first year after becoming paralyzed is $1,023,924.00 and approximately $171,000.00 in each year thereafter. Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
For those who have suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of another's negligence, a personal injury lawsuit is likely the only means by which compensation may be obtained. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may be available for certain types of economic loss, including past and future medical expenses, past and future lost earnings, lost earning capacity and loss of ability to provide household services. In addition, compensation may be available for certain types of non-economic loss such as past and future physical pain, mental suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, physical impairment, inconvenience, grief, anxiety and humiliation.
If you or someone you know has suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of another's negligence, it is crucial that you retain an experienced Bakersfield spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible in order to protect your rights and obtain the compensation you are entitled to. Bakersfield spinal cord injury lawyer, Timothy M. Osborn, has a proven record of success in handling spinal cord injury cases. We encourage you to contact us today in order to learn more. We offer free consultations and there is no fee unless we obtain a settlement or judgment in your favor.
Bakersfield spinal cord injury lawyer, Timothy M. Osborn, handles spinal cord injury cases arising out of a wide array of accidents and types of negligence, including, but not limited to:
Knee Injury
Ankle Injury
Wrist Injury
We always provide free consultations to prospective personal injury and wrongful death clients. If you have questions about your case, please call us to learn how we can help.
COPYRIGHT © 2019 OSBORN LAW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. POWERED BY FLUXAR STUDIOS


Gary Jennings is a full stack web developer in Calgary, Alberta who has a passion for frontend development and design. He is an instructor at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology where he instructs in the web development fast track program. Gary was drawn to web development because of his love for creating and finding solutions to problems. He has developed web applications for the medical industry and health and safety industry in Canada. Always inspired to use technology for good, he seeks to teach and help guide those around him whenever he can, whether in a classroom or online.


text:
Media in Cooperation and Transition
Your email address has been registered
Making Nice With The Neighbours
Between US Sanctions and Iranian Influence, Iraq Will Try, And Fail, At Compliance
Mustafa Habib
Officially Iraq has said it will abide by the US' new sanctions on Iran. Unofficially, it puts the country in a very difficult position. It will be almost impossible to stick to the rules.
9.08.2018 | Baghdad
Iranian imports in Iraq. (photo: صباح عرار (جيتي- اي اف بي))
On Tuesday the US announced its latest round of sanctions against Iran. In Iraq, locals and politicians alike looked on, concerned at the ever-growing rift between their two major allies. With a long, land border with Iran, a political system in which Iranian influence is rife and important and an economy dependent on Iranian imports, the Iraqis are right to be concerned.
While the Iraqi government declared that it would abide by the new US sanctions, it did so reluctantly. "We consider them a strategic mistake and incorrect but we will abide by them to protect the interests of our people," Iraq's prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, said this week. "We will not interact with them or support them but we will abide by them." And Iraqi foreign minster Ibrahim al-Jaafari described the sanctions as foolish.
Iraq has depended on Iranian groceries for years.
There was no way that Iraq could really avoid agreeing to the sanctions: The US remains an important ally. But there was plenty of criticism of the decision and it is also hard to see exactly how the Iraqis are going to be able to abide by the sanctions, given their own porous banking system and border.
If there is one country that knows what the sanctions mean, and the implications for the region, it is Iraq, a country often caught in the middle of greater geo-political conflicts. After all, at one stage, Iranian loyalists and US soldiers were fighting in Iraqi streets.
"The Iraqi government is not convinced of the usefulness of the economic sanctions," Saad al-Hadithi, a spokesperson for the Iraqi government, told NIQASH. "They only create more difficulties for people. But we will abide by the sanctions, in order to protect our own national interests."
"Iraq will abide by the sanctions related to banking transactions and we hope that the problem will be resolved through dialogue and through diplomatic channels," al-Hadithi continued. "Those are the Iraqi government's bywords."
Despite this though, it is also quite clear that it will be difficult for Iraq to actually abide by that agreement. The country's banking system is almost continuously under suspicion of money laundering and politically, there are some powerful political factions in the country who consider the sanctions an attack on their belief systems.
Iranian cars were cheap but many Iraqis say they're also badly made.
In August, the head of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce, Hamid Hosseini, said that Iranian exports to Iraq regularly add up to around US$20 million worth in a day. It is also well known that Iraq is Iran's biggest export partner, receiving, among other things, building materials, petroleum products and food products.
In fact, Iraq has depended on Iranian groceries for years. Over the last decade, an increasing number of Iraqi farmers have given up on agriculture, thanks to unfavourable conditions and drought. Due to economic dependence on oil, Iraq's manufacturing sectors have also been languishing a long time. All of which makes Iraq very dependent on imports. It also means it would be extremely difficult to stop trading with Iran.
"Iran will try and prevent its own currency from collapsing by getting more dollars into the country," suggests Anwar Katheem, an Iraqi economist. "Iraq is the country closest to Iran and one way of getting dollars, would be to increase exports here and to other allied countries. That is similar to what happened in 2009, when sanctions were imposed. Iran has benefited hugely from exporting to Iraq, including large quantities of cheap vehicles." Caption cheap vehicles not so good in long run.
There is also a problem with Iraq's banking system, Katheem continued. Foreign exchange transfers are notorious for not being adequately controlled; the Iraqi Central Bank sells millions to banks and exchange shops almost daily, he notes, and its all done in a very non-transparent way.
This has been discussed many times in Iraq's parliament. At one stage, an MP and member of the parliamentary committee on integrity, was moved to say that "nobody can ever stop the currency market, because there are politicians who own banks, some of them fake banks, that benefit from it."
There are still many Shiite Muslims in Iraq who have strong feelings toward Iran and the US sanctions against Iran will also have an impact on how they regard the US. In particular some of the Shiite Muslim militias, formed to fight the extremist group known as the Islamic State and now a political force, will not like this: Certain factions are sponsored by Iran, in terms of funding, weapons and advice.
A few days ago, media organizations affiliated with those militias began to publish reports saying that in the near future, the US would be behind the formation of a new terrorist organization in Iraq and they would do this so that US soldiers would have a reason to remain in the country. Last month, senior members of Hezbollah in Iraq told UN officials that they wouldn't allow such a thing.
The disinformation is actually part of an ongoing campaign to link the US with the Islamic State, or IS, group. In May, Facebook pages associated with the militias published videos of what they claimed were US planes carrying IS fighters, landing in the central province of Anbar. Militia members and leaders called for all US troops to leave – they still describe them as an occupying force - and also threatened them. It is thought that there are no more than 6,000 Us troops in Iraq these days and most are based at the Ain al-Asad base in Anbar, where they train Iraqi military and tribal fighters as well as provide intelligence on the movements of IS fighters.
"They are indispensable," says Rashid al-Mahalawi, a tribal fighter in Anbar. "The security situation in Anbar now is good but there are no guarantees it will stay that way – and the presence of US troops is important. There is the serious problem of our long borders with Syria. We cannot protect those borders without US expertise and equipment. That's why we are concerned about the threats being made against them."
"Ten years ago both Sunni and Shiite men were fighting US troops and seeing them as occupiers," al-Mahalawi told NIQASH. "But the ones here today are not occupiers, they are advisers approved of by the Iraqi government. What we fear now is that Iran will urge some of their factions to threaten the US forces, because of the sanctions. Then it will be Iraqis who are going to pay the price."
The Cold War On The Border:
US And Iran Face Off in Former Extremist-Held Iraqi Town
Visa Free:
As Saudis Prepare To Open Basra Consulate, Iran Opens Border To Iraqis
Currency Crunch:
Iraqi Depositors 'Trapped' In Iranian Banking System
Articles by Mustafa Habib
40 Days Later:
Distance Between Iraq's Politicians And Iraq's Protesters Grows
Sex Parties + The Lazy Generation:
How Iraq's Protests Are Also Changing The Country's Culture
With Love, From Mosul:
The Theatre Group That Made Iraq's Most Popular Protest Video
Welcome To Freedom:
Visiting The Square In Baghdad, Where Protestors Rule A Utopian Iraq
An Arab Autumn:
The Hidden Political Poison That Iraq And Lebanon Are Really Protesting About
You are welcome to republish our articles. It would be great if you could send us an email. Please mention niqash.org. Thank you!
Republish us
©2021 MiCT, all rights reserved.


Last month, nonfarm payrolls fell 84,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The latest decline was slightly greater than expectations for a 75,000 drop but it was accompanied by downward revisions to prior months' data. Payrolls have declined in each month of this year and it amounts to 605,000 jobs lost.
During the last three months payrolls fell at a 0.7% annual rate. That compared to a rate of decline in excess of 2.0% by the end of the last recession.
The unemployment rate jumped to 6.1% last month versus expectations for just a slight increase to 5.7%. That was the highest level since September of 2003.
Household sector employment fell 342,000 (-0.2% y/y) after a 72,000 worker decline during July. It was the sixth monthly decline this year. The level of the unemployed rose 592,000 (31.4% y/y) after a 285,000 increase in July.
The labor force rose another 250,000 (1.3% y/y) last month and the labor force participation rate held at 66.1% for the third straight month. It was 66.0% during all of last year and 66.2% in 2006. The participation rate amongst adult men was 75.8%, about the same as averaged last year, and amongst adult women it was 61.1% versus 60.6% averaged during 2007.
The average duration of unemployment increased to 17.4 weeks and that was still up from 16.9 weeks averaged during the last two years. The number of those unemployed for more than 27 weeks rose by nearly one half versus one year ago.
From the establishment survey, hiring in the private service sector industries was notably weak. Jobs fell 44,000 but the 18,000 July decline was less than the 76,000 decline reported initially. Prior months' job losses also were revised shallower. Nevertheless, August was the seventh decline in the last eight months and the three-month rate of decline during that period was 0.3%.
A decline of 53,000 (-0.7% y/y) jobs was reported for the professional & business service industries. That was led by a 61,600 (-3.6% y/y) drop in hiring in the management & technical support services area. Temporary help services job also were quite weak as they fell 36,900 (-9.1% y/y). Retail sector jobs fell 19,900 and they're down at a 1.2% rate during the last three months. That rate of decline, however, remained less than the 3.0% rate of this past April. Motor vehicle & parts dealers employment led that drop with a 14,100 August decline and they're down at a 7.3% rate over the last three months. Jobs in the information sector fell 3,000 last month and at a 2.2% rate during the last three. Financial sector jobs fell 3,000 and at a 0.9% rate over the last three months.
These declines have been offset by 11.3% three-month growth in the number of jobs in education and by 2.7% growth health care jobs. The number of finance sector jobs fell 3,000 last month and they're down at a 0.9% rate during the last three. Real estate sector jobs slipped 1,400 and they have been falling at a moderate 0.6% annual rate during the last three months which is an improvement from the 3% to 4% rates of job loss late last year and early this year.
Factory sector jobs fell 61,000 which was the largest monthly decline since mid-2003. Payrolls were down at a 4.1% rate over the last three months though that was slower than the 10% rate of decline by the end of the 2001 recession. The motor vehicle & parts sector shed 39,000 (-12.9% y/y) jobs while jobs in the furniture industry fell 6,800 (-8.4% y/y).
Construction sector employment slipped just 8,000 last month after a little-revised 20,000 drop during July. They fell at a 4.2% annual rate during the last three months versus a 7.8% rate of decline as of June.
Government sector jobs continued to rise and they posted a 17,000 August increase. They've increased at a 0.6% rate during the last three months. Federal government hiring rose at a 1.0% rate during the last three months while state as well as local government hiring rose at a 1.3% and a 0.2% rate, respectively. These rates of growth are down from their recent peaks.
The one month diffusion index, which measures the breadth of job gain or loss (50 is the break-even level), improved to a near-break even 48.9%. The three-month index improved just slightly to 40.1% from the cycle low of 38.3% reached last month. The three-month figure for the factory sector was even weaker at 25.6%. That's up slightly from July but near the lowest since 2003.
Average hourly earnings increased 0.4%, the same as during as during an upwardly revised July. The three-month growth rate rose to 4.3%, its highest since early last year. Factory sector earnings fell 0.2% during August and rose at a 2.3% rate during the last three months, which was near the weakest since late last year. Private service sector earnings rose 0.4% and at an elevated 4.1% rate during the last three months.
China and India: Two Paths to Economic Power from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas can be found here.


text:
Suspender-clad chat show host on CNN
Name at birth: Lawrence Harvey Ziegler
Larry King was one of the most recognized broadcasters in America from 1985-2010, thanks to Larry King Live, his daily talk show which ran on CNN television for those 25 years. Larry King began his broadcasting career in Miami, Florida in 1957. By the early 1970s he was an all-around media personality, doing television and radio shows as well as writing a column for The Miami Herald. His career went a little sour during the 1970s, but in 1978 he landed a spot as the host of a nationally syndicated radio show. In 1982 Larry King began writing a newspaper column for USA Today (he ended the gig in 2001) and in 1985 he joined CNN as the host of a world-wide call-in talk show. Known for his blunt (if not particularly penetrating) questions, King conducted thousands of interviews with celebrities, politicians and newsmakers, including Paul McCartney, Marlon Brando, Yasser Arafat, Tony Blair, Richard Nixon and Ross Perot. King ended his run wth Larry King Live on 16 December 2010. He published a memoir, My Remarkable Journey, in 2009.
Larry King has been married many times. The complete list: Freda Miller, 1952 (marriage annulled); Annette Kaye, c. 1960 (divorced 1961); Alene Akins, 1961 (divorced 1963); Mickey Sutphin, 1964 (divorced c. 1966); Alene Akins, remarried 1967 (divorced 1971); Sharon Lepore (some sources call her Sharon Dorl), 1976 (divorced c. 1982); Julia Alexander, 1989 (divorced 1992); Shawn Southwick, 1997-present. King filed for divorce from Southwick in April of 2010, but they were reconciled a few months later… King has a son, Larry King Jr., from his brief marriage to Annette Kaye. He also has a daughter and a son with Akins, a daughter with Sutphin, and two sons with Southwick.


The Department of Labor recently decided a case that reminds practitioners of an overworked employee's right to collect workers compensation. In August 2013 an employee filed an occupational disease claim alleging that he sustained a stress-related emotional condition in the performance of duty as an Administrative Assistant. He pointed to his depression and social withdrawal, his worsening pelvic floor dysfunction, the onset of neuropathy in his hands, feet and lower extremities, his weight gain of over 80 pounds, his worsening insomnia and sleep apnea, and the onset of several skin conditions. The core of his claim was based on being assigned the work of three other Administrative Assistants who left the office between October 2012 and February 2013. Here is what DOL said when it overturned the initial dismissal of his case—and what is important to practitioners who want to help employees make similar claims.
"When an employee experiences emotional stress in carrying out his employment duties or has fear and anxiety regarding his ability to carry out his duties, and the medical evidence establishes that the disability resulted from his emotional reaction to such situation, the disability is generally regarded as due to an injury arising out of and in the course of employment. This is true where the employee's disability resulted from his emotional reaction to his day-to-day duties. The same result is reached where the emotional disability resulted from the employee's emotional reaction to a special assignment or requirement imposed by the employing establishment or by the nature of his work.
"By contrast, the Board has held that a disabling condition resulting from an employee's feeling of job insecurity per se is not sufficient to constitute a personal injury sustained while in the performance of duty. Likewise, assuming that the employee was unhappy doing inside work, desired a different job, brooded over the employing establishment's failure to give him the kind of work he desired, and as a result of such brooding the employee became emotionally disturbed, this does not establish a personal injury sustained while in the performance of duty….
"Where the disability results from an employee's emotional reaction to his regular or specially assigned work duties or to a requirement imposed by the employing establishment, the disability comes within the coverage of FECA. On the other hand, the disability is not covered where it results from such factors as an employee's fear of a reduction-in-force or his frustration from not being permitted to work in a particular environment or to hold a particular position.
"As a rule, allegations alone by a claimant are insufficient to establish a factual basis for an emotional condition claim…. Vague or general allegations of perceived harassment, abuse or difficulty arising in the employment is insufficient to give rise to compensability under FECA….The Board has consistently held that emotional reactions to situations in which an employee is trying to meet his position requirements, when supported by sufficient evidence, are compensable….
Given the government-wide inability to replace staff over the last few years, union reps probably have several members who are now doing the work of multiple employees or positions. If unions spread the word about these employees perhaps being workers comp eligible, HR should not be surprised to see a handful of claims pop up. Hopefully, HR will be ready to apply the correct criteria to speed resolution. Or, HR folks might try to get ahead of this by reminding front line supervisors that to the extent employees are showing signs of emotional stress from their workload, they should probably check with HR to see what options they need to consider.
This entry was posted in Workers' Comp and tagged Job Stress. Bookmark the permalink.


Systems designed to improve audibility in classrooms are changing. They used to be all about amplification. That's still the single most critical component. But systems are now also adding lecture capture, emergency features, paging, monitoring and collaboration capabilities to enhance not just sound, but student learning as well.
In Louisiana's Calcasieu Parish Schools, a classroom audio system called Flexcat is helping to support more collaborative learning.
Teachers can project their voice to the entire class, enabling students to hear more effectively — but they also can listen in on up to six distinct clusters of students as the children work on projects in small groups. Teachers can monitor this group work from a distance, giving students the opportunity to feel independent while still making teachers available to support those students, if needed.
"What we have found as a result is much more engaged classrooms," said Sheryl Abshire, the school system's chief technology officer. "I've been to quite a few classrooms with the Flexcat system in them, and I've seen students working on different projects and teachers being able to manage those classrooms in a way that I haven't seen before."
The Flexcat system is one example of how classroom audio systems have become more sophisticated in recent years. No longer just technologies that amplify the teacher's voice so students can hear better, today's classroom audio systems often can perform multiple functions.
Voice amplification is still as important as ever. Studies suggest that voice amplification systems can help improve student achievement and lower special education referral rates, while also leading to better classroom management and fewer teacher sick days as a result of voice strain. And earlier this year, researchers concluded that ambient noise is more distracting to a child's brain than an adult's, hindering how students learn. In fact, the ability to understand and process speech against competing background noise is a skill that doesn't mature until adolescence, the researchers said.
But classroom audio systems have advanced beyond just voice amplification to include additional features. For instance, manufacturers such as Audio Enhancement, Extron Electronics, FrontRow and others have offered emergency alert capabilities on their teacher microphone pendants for some time now. With this safety feature, a teacher can notify the front office or other staff members if there is a classroom emergency with just the push of a button.
Audio Enhancement and FrontRow sound systems also include lecture capture features, allowing teachers to record the audio from a lesson and make it available for students who want to hear it again as they are reviewing the concept — or for those who might have been absent from class that day.
Smart Technologies' Smart Audio classroom amplification system integrates with the company's Smart Notebook software and is designed to work with a Smart Board interactive whiteboard. Smart Notebook software has a Gallery feature that comes with audio files a teacher can play through the Smart Audio system's speakers. The software also includes a Recorder tool that teachers can use to capture their voice or a student's voice and save the recording for use in future Smart Board lessons.
Lightspeed Technologies has made it easier for teachers to manage collaborative group work with its Flexcat audio system. And both Audio Enhancement and FrontRow have developed products that integrate paging and classroom audio within a single system. FrontRow's Juno Connect even allows teachers to control a classroom projector or record the audio from a lesson with simple voice commands.
In South Carolina's Clover School District, several classrooms have been outfitted with the Juno Connect system to amplify teachers' voices. But in the district's two newest schools that are being built now, Juno Connect will be used for both classroom audio and paging, said Matt Hoffman, executive director of technology for the district — so there will be no need for a separate paging system.
"Our operations manager was very nervous about this endeavor at first," Hoffman said. "He's an old-school phone guy who's been in the industry for more than 30 years. One of his reservations was, what if the power goes out? How would you tell people, 'The school is on fire and we need to evacuate?' But Juno has a Power-over-Ethernet connector that allows us to pull power not from the wall but from our switch, which is on a battery backup and has a secondary generator backup. So if the power goes out, we don't lose that classroom audio or paging ability. The teacher still has her call button to call the front office if there's an emergency during a power loss. It just seems like a better tool, in my opinion."
When Hoffman and his team were evaluating the Juno system, they filled a room with a dozen or so adults and asked them to simulate a classroom environment by talking loudly with each other. Hoffman then walked around the perimeter of the classroom while someone played the part of the teacher.
"I was surprised," he said. "I could hear the teacher's voice much clearer as he spoke into the Juno microphone, compared with just raising his voice. The projection technology was able to penetrate the chatter of all the other people in the room."
Combining classroom audio and paging in the district's new school buildings will save money because the district will not have to install a separate paging system. But it will bring some additional benefits as well, Hoffman said.
"If the teacher is speaking or is playing some other audio and a page happens in our legacy classrooms, that paging speaker has to be loud enough to overcome the audio that's already being pumped into the classroom," he said. "With Juno Connect, the page takes over the audio." So if there's an emergency situation, the page "will be crystal clear. That's another feature that we liked: It's cutting out the distractions and getting to the heart of the point."
What's more, with Juno Connect, system administrators can set up flexible paging zones and can adjust these easily on the fly.
"With our legacy paging systems, after the install is complete, you're tied into X number of paging zones," Hoffman said. "I can page the 100 hall, or the 200 hall — or I can do an 'all call.' But what if my school is so diverse that the 100 hall isn't just first grade; what if it also has a fifth-grade class for some reason?"
With Juno Connect, "I can go in through the interface and just pick and choose from my map to dynamically change what rooms are in which paging zones," he said. "Then, we're not disturbing first-grade classrooms that might be in quiet time with a page that says we're serving ice cream in the cafeteria for all fifth graders."
Calcasieu Parish was part of a development team working with Lightspeed Technologies to think about classroom audio in different ways, Abshire said. The result of these efforts was the Flexcat system, which includes a headset and microphone for the teacher and a set of speaker pods placed strategically around a classroom.
If children are working in groups, doing project-based learning, the teacher can listen in and comment on what each group is doing from wherever she is in the room through these pods. "She can nudge them and monitor them," Abshire said. "And the students can ask the teacher questions — so it's a two-way communication system."
It's possible for teachers to manage small-group learning effectively without a system like Flexcat, she said. But this often requires a lot of "running all over the place."
"Just when you've got your back turned on one group, somebody over here would need something," she said. "We have found this technology to be a transformative tool, enabling teachers to do a better job at what they're already good at."
She concluded: "The magic in the classroom is what happens in the interaction between the teacher and the student. Technology enables that magic to occur — and the Flexcat system is a good example. It has empowered better teaching and learning in our classrooms. We feel like this is moving the whole concept of an engaged classroom forward in profound ways."


text:
Benitochromis conjunctus est une espèce de poisson de la famille des Cichlidés endémique du Cameroun.

Référence

Lamboj : Revision of the Chromidotilapia batesii/finleyi-complex with description of a new genus and three new species. Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft fuer Ichthyologie 2 pp 11-47.

Liens externes

Cichlidae
Faune endémique du Cameroun

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Client Reviews - Gilson-Moreau & Associates, P.S.
Rhea came along, through a referral from someone I trust, when I needed someone I could trust, a lawyer, to help me get out of a dangerous situation. This situation involved my kids and we had to go through the whole family court, guardian ad litum, restraining order bloody battle. Rhea gave me sound, unemotional advice, and I made it through a legal maze with my kids, safe and sound. I'll always feel a sense of obligation to this marvelous buddha nature woman, who practices law but there's alot more to her and the calling she has to help families like mine through a daunting and difficult process, divorce. Hire her, you won't regret it.
When I came in to file for my divorce, I was very apprehensive. I had just left an abusive man and just walking into her office was difficult let alone file for divorce. Monique, her partner, got me started and filled me with enough confidence to get the ball rolling. Rhea and her paralegal Rebecca, kept me going each step of the way, even when I didn't think I could do it. Rebecca was always very patient with me, kept me well informed and answered all my questions. When I wanted to quit, Rhea or Rebecca would contact me to check in and see how I was doing. It was just enough for me to take the next step. I don't think my divorce was a difficult one, but it was a long drawn out process and Rhea was with me every step of the way. When we went to court, she was well prepared and was able to keep me calm while we waited. Divorce is not an easy process. Rhea made it feel like I was on a journey to a new life, one that I so deserved! Rebecca her paralegal is an absolute gem and would often turn my tears into a smile! I would recommend Rhea to anyone who asks about an attorney~worth every penny!
Our case has not been finalized and yet, I don't need to know the final decision before I can recommend Rhea. She is a pillar of virtue in the family law practice and our community in Washington State. After working with her for over a year and watching her deal with a very unresponsive and absent minded apposing council I can't explain how fortunate I feel to have Rhea in my community as a resource, especially on my side. Upon first calling her office and speaking with her she gave me sound advice and council, upon our first meeting she gained a full understanding of our unique situation and was fully on board from the beginning. She put in tons of research, knew the topic thoroughly and stuck to the basics because the law is in our favor. Our opposing council attempted to throw her off on wild goose chases and such prior to trial while blindsiding her upon arriving to court with last minute documents and witnesses change of schedule. Through it all she remained above the tactics of opposing council and I feel I couldn't have been better represented. She wastes no time, is very upfront and communicative. I highly recommend Rhea Rolfe.
Rhea J. Rolfe was my lawyer when I needed one to help me recover my 4 children back, after my husband in 2011 kidnapped them from Guatemala to Seattle without my knowledge or permission. The US State Department recommended her to my good fortune. We fought in court a total of 2 months and I returned to Guatemala with my 4 children ages 3, 10, 12 & 14. She had over 25 years of experience, she knew how to handle each appeal and she fought with knowledge and expertise. She worked with an outstanding team, was organized, professional and continuously updated me on everything. She also recommended a great appeals lawyer, a forensic psychologist, and everything needed in a court case. Even after the case ended she facilitated a mediator, considering my ex-husband´s lawyer had quit, and we resolved many unfinished issues, like dividing goods, a jewish divorce and a parenting plan. Lawyers work on a case, Rhea solved my case and returned my family to me. To this day we remain in touch and when I visit Seattle we get together. She is efficient, passionate and dedicated. She is also respected amongst her peers. Do not hesitate to take her on a case!
During my bitter divorce,I had a "Good Attorney" by the name Charley B. This buzz smelling, so called Attorney was slopy, unprepared and disorganized for the first court appearance. Therefore, I decided I would be better off representing myself; until a friend recommended MONIQUE GILSON-MOREAU. It was a blessing from above to find Monique, she took charge of my case at once, she was polite with the Judge and firm with, the opposite Attorney, during negotiations Monique was fearless, she look at the opposite Attorney in the face and made her feel as if the only reason she was born was to agree to our terms of the parenting plan. It was superb!
During the past 15 years I have sought Monique's legal advice in several occasions and always the same result EXCELENCE and PROFESSIONALISM.
Monique Gilson-Moreau is not just and attorney, she is The Attorney.
I found Monique by accident and thank God I did!!! I am divorcing an abusive man with BPD I had a lawyer who did an awful job and at the first hearing she made erroneous mistakes and put my children's lives at risk. I found Monique and Erin when I googled Family Lawyer. I called over 20 lawyers most had no clue what BPD is and the ones who did wanted nothing to do with my case. When I called MGM legal Monique actually answered the phone she was happy to answer my questions she new about and had experience in BPD divorce and was ready to help me protect my children!!!!! She was able to fix the mistakes my previous lawyer made and helped me get back my full retainer. So far she and Erin have done an amazing job they have won everything we have asked for and even helped me find a wonderful therapist for my little girl. The personal attention I get from this office makes me feel like I am the only client they have and I can tell by the way they fight for us they truly care about protecting my children and I.I know my case is safe in her hands and this has given me the chance to focus on healing for myself and my kids! Thank you Monique and Erin for helping us get our lives back!!!!!!!
I used Monique in my original divorce a number of years ago. She took over my case from another attorney who wasn't doing much but prepare me to be skewered by my ex! After switching to Monique, I realized there was hope in coming out of the process intact and be able to see my kids etc. She really turned the negotiations around and the other side really backed off with all the crap they were trying to pull. Ended up with a very fair settlement.
Since then I've had to go back and get custody of my kids back, due to drug problem with the ex and she and Erin have been very supportive. We've been successful in getting my kids out of a bad situation with the ex. Whenever I felt that the whole process was becoming too much or that things were not going to work out, I'd call them and I always had a new sense of hope after talking to them that by god, this was the right thing to do and we were going to be successful.
I read some of the other reviews here and I'll have to admit that sometimes this office isn't the most rigorously organized attorneys I've dealt with, but they have a pleasant laid back style and are easy to work with and really care about your situation.
At the same time, they know what they are doing and all the stupid tricks the other side will try to pull and how to counter them. All in all this is a VERY effective attorney and I'd highly recommend them.
I suppose that it is human nature to write a negative review first during the most difficult, emotional part of your life, as I just read about Monique…but it is just not the situation with my experience with her, and her staff. My ex-husband was mentally, physically abusive during the marriage and during the divorce. I ended up in the ER twice in a three month period in two different counties. I was threatened. The police and sheriff kindly protected me on several occasions. He pulled every trick in the book and beyond to the point of having to lock myself in my bedroom for weeks. As I searched for the right attorney, Monique was the one that answered my desperate email very late one evening. Her words of comfort were the empowerment I needed to hear my legal rights, to give me the courage to know, I could escape my nightmare. She never promised something she could not do. She kept me level headed and legally empowered throughout the difficult process. Her attention to detail where nothing was allowed to slip through the cracks, made me all the more able to face the challenges of the worst time of my life. I realized later as I saw all the clients coming in and out of her office, she was a very busy attorney, handling so many client's emotional and legal issues. All the while, making me feel like I was the only client she had. If you are afraid and feel like you have lost control of your life because of a mentally abusive spouse…look no further. Monique is number one in my book! I am convinced no one else could have taken my divorce and did with it as she did. She is smart and nothing gets by her. She is tough when she has to be but has a heart of gold. She is all business, but knew the perfect balance in her communications of empathy and getting the job done. I could have hired someone less expensive but she never wasted a single minute of our time. She got me out of that nightmare with my dignity back and it was worth every penny and more! I wish I could go further into detail of all the amazing ways she gave me my life back so I could have a fresh start in life again. I don't know the proper way to write the excellent review she deserves. It was not all about money as my ex would like everyone to think. I have moved on now, thanks to Monique and her paralegal Rebecca. I know I will never let anyone trick me into thinking they are someone they are not, again. Thanks to Monique, I am not a victim anymore of pure evil. I am "me" again, happy and loving life to the fullest. Pam Fleshman (I would have given her 5 stars on "kept me informed" but I learned she was on top of my case at all time. She did not need to waste my money on keeping me informed of small details. She DOES keep you informed whether it is by her or her paralegal, Rebecca (who is a doll!).
Hands down the most professional and helpful attorney I have come across. Monique is not your typical empty suit kind of lawyer, She will actually deeply listen to everything that is on your mind and offer the best advice to proceed in helping you any way she can. If you are in need of an excellent family law lawyer or general attorney look no further! I came to Monique with a complex divorce problems and right from the start she put me at ease and assured me. Monique and her staff are very polite and professional and easy to work with.
I was hopeless when I called Monique Gilson-Moreau`s office. My previous lawyer had handled my case with a careless approach, she missed the due date to submit my financial declaration even though I provided 3 times to her on the court hearing. Monique is a true professional, full of integrity, she has the right tools to make her life easier and efficient. When I got to her office, she strategically organized my papers, and listened attentively to my case. She simplified my mess, made my financial declaration in 5 minutes and asked for $5000 deposit, money that of course I did not have, but somehow I knew that I had to value a competent professional and reward for her awesome skills. The Brazilian Consulate emailed her and she accepted my case before having the money on her account after couple days that I talked to her. Monique is knowledgeable and uses the law to help her clients to understand it in a practical way, no hidden communication to manipulate your case. She writes the emails and cc you and everyone involved to make communication transparent between the parties. I am so thankful for Monique, she really cares and listens to your needs. Her excellent team makes her even more successful, she has an awesome daughter that keeps her in track of all the tasks. 🙂 I highly recommend Monique Gilson-Moreau if you are looking for a solution for your case!