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Veolia Group
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Veolia to deliver first Carbon Energy Fund Ireland contract to Dublin's Mater Hospital
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital targets €26m in guaranteed savings.
Press releases listing
Global resource management company Veolia, working through its specialist energy performance team, has been awarded the first Carbon Energy Fund Ireland, CEFI, contract for a hospital in Ireland. The 15 year Energy Infrastructure Project Agreement for Dublin's Mater Misericordiae University Hospital will reduce the hospital's carbon footprint by approximately 81,000 tonnes, cut imported electricity from the national grid by 77%, and deliver €26 million in guaranteed energy and operational savings.
John Lambe, Business Development Manager, Veolia Ireland and Alan Sharp, Strategic Director of Estates and Facilities, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and Ireland East Hospital Group
A secure and cost efficient energy supply is essential to maintain a modern patient care environment in the Hospital which treats over 360,000 patients per year. To meet this energy demand and achieve carbon and energy cost savings Veolia will manage projects covering the design, delivery, installation, commissioning and operation of a wide range of energy upgrades.
Originally opened in 1845 the 600 bed hospital is the national centre for cardiac surgery, heart and lung transplantation, extra corporeal life support (ECLS), spinal injuries, and covers all other general, acute and emergency services. Included in the energy upgrades will be a 2MWe combined heat and power, CHP, plant which will generate around 15.5 GWh of electricity a year, maximise heat efficiency, and cut annual carbon emissions by a 4,000 tonnes per year.
A new campus-wide network will distribute the heating to all the buildings on the site, and to ensure they conserve energy, 1500m2 of new double glazed windows will be fitted, along with door replacements to reduce heat loss. As good lighting has been shown to have a positive effect on patient outcomes the contract will upgrade 3000 lighting fittings with the latest technology and controls. Further energy saving measures will include new pumps and upgraded air conditioning and the energy saving measures will be guaranteed by Veolia who will also provide a comprehensive maintenance service for the duration of the contract.
Commenting on the achievement Fergus Elebert, Regional Director at Veolia Ireland said, "The award of this contract demonstrates how we can help healthcare providers improve their energy efficiency, cut carbon emissions and provide valuable cost savings that can be redirected to patient care. Our global portfolio of hospital contracts enables us to deliver market leading energy efficiency into healthcare environments, and we look forward to working with the Mater Hospital to help them achieve their environmental targets."
"The award of this contract demonstrates how we can help healthcare providers improve their energy efficiency, cut carbon emissions and provide valuable cost savings that can be redirected to patient care. "
Alan Sharp, Strategic Director of Estates and Facilities, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital added "The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital has a proud tradition of innovation and leadership in the provision of healthcare for over 157 years. We are delighted to announce this program in partnership with the Ireland East Hospital Group, CEF and the HSE's NHSO. Working with Veolia to invest in modern energy efficient technology will ensure the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital exceeds the goal set for publicly funded bodies and in doing so supports Ireland's national and EU targets on energy efficiency for 2020."
Delivering energy management to hospitals since 1938, Veolia currently provides energy management to 110 hospitals in Ireland and the UK which support the energy requirements for around 7.9 million patients each year. This increases sustainability of the healthcare sector by annually saving 119,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. In addition to healthcare Veolia also provides energy management solutions that serve industry, leisure, commerce, retail, district heating and the public sector.
Established in 2016 the Carbon and Energy Fund Ireland (CEFI) was created in 2016 to deliver Energy Performance Contract (EPC) projects on behalf of Ireland's public hospitals. CEFI helps hospitals through consultation and access to a contract and procurement framework that transfers risk, guarantees savings, provides funding for upgrades and monitors contract compliance.


A post-industrial society is a society in which an economic transition has occurred from a manufacturing based economy to a service based economy, a diffusion of national and global capital, and mass privatization. The prerequisite to this economic shift is the processes of industrialization of liberalization. This economic transition spurs a restructuring in society as a whole.
Daniel Bell emphasized the changes to post-industrial society are not merely socially structural and economic; the values and norms within the post-industrial society are changed as well. Rationality and efficiency become the paramount values within the post-industrial society. Eventually, according to Bell, these values cause a disconnect between social structures and culture. Most of today's unique modern problems can be generally attributed to the effects of the post-industrial society. A large number of people may find themselves with no clearly defined role. These problems are particularly pronounced where the free-market dominates. They can include economic inequality, the outsourcing of domestic jobs, etc.
The post-modern and post-marxist idea that the economic base (manufacturing and agriculture) and ideological superstructure (art, religion, philosophy, science, etc) are the same thing, akin to a monocoque bodied car (Such as a Hudson Hornet), is a common thread in post-industrial thinking. For example, emphasis on the arts as an important economic sector rather than just a means of exploring spiritual themes and political ideas, or a means of personal expression is a case in point. Actor and artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre, Kevin Spacey, has argued the economic case for the arts in terms of providing jobs and being of greater importance in exports than manufacturing (as well as an educational role) in guest column he wrote for The Times. It can be argued that the creative sector has taken a more prominent role in the wake of manufacturing's decline and that, in some countries, it produces more exports than manufacturing alone.
Another more obvious example of this monocoque argument is the internet. While used for e-commerce and other economic activities, it can also be used to promulgate poetry, give practical advice over being jilted by your boyfriend and inform you of the latest football results as part of the ideological superstructure. They effectively become monocoqued by using the same apparatus and software.
However, this argument of base and superstructure being indistinguishable from each other can also be used retrospectively throughout history. It can be used to argue that pre-Christian fertility cults were economic as well as ideological constructs because their economies were depedent on the fertility they worshipped, especially as they were pre-industrial agrarian economies where food was often scarce.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Post-industrial society" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on original research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
This page was last modified 19:49, 1 January 2013.


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Dreaming of Traveling the World? Meet Kayla!
Along with working as coach for global nomads living around the world, I also post an Interview Series on this website where I share the stories of global nomads who have moved abroad, are traveling the globe, or are transitioning to life back at...
From South Africa to Portugal: What's Life Like Living Outside of Your Home Country
Searching for Inspiration to Live Abroad? Meet Berta!
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Moving Overseas With Your Family? Meet Tanya!
Have you Ever Dreamt About Traveling Around South America: Meet Emma!
Pursuing a Career Overseas: Meet Katie!
Today's interview is with Katie, whose managed to turn her love for travel into a career overseas that's helped her to live all over the globe. Born and raised in Iowa (USA), she got a scholarship in 2007 to spend a year studying environmental science in Iceland....
How to Cope with Moving Home After Living Abroad: Meet Cynthia!
What´s Life Like for a Travel and Food Blogger in Malaysia? Meet Aditi!
Along with working as coach for global nomads living around the world, I also post an Interview Series on this website where I share the stories of global nomads who have moved abroad, are traveling the globe, or are transitioning to life back at home. Today's...
Looking for Inspiration to Work Remotely and Travel the World? Meet Ali!
Along with working as coach for global nomads living around the world, I also post an Interview Series on this website where I share the stories of global nomads who have moved abroad, are traveling the globe, or are transitioning to life back at home. This week's...
Is it possible to make a career out of a love for travel and diving? Meet Cat!
Along with working as coach for global nomads living around the world, I also post an Interview Series on this website where I share the stories of global nomads who have moved abroad, are traveling the globe, or are transitioning to life back at home. This week's...
Life as an Adult Third Culture Kid: Meet Alaine!
The Ups and Downs of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle: Meet Mike from Hobo with a Laptop
From West Michigan to Living in Sarajevo: Meet David!
What´s Life Like For an American Living in the Netherlands: Meet Gabby!
From Hong Kong to London: Meet Louise!
Looking for Inspiration to Move Abroad? Meet Minna!
This week's interview features Minna and is certain to speak to you if you're looking for inspiration to move abroad! Originally from The Midlands in England, Minna left her hometown back in 2014 and hasn't looked back. Despite having to move back to the UK to save...
What´s it Like to Teach at an International School? Meet Sarah!
This week's interview features Nate and Marta (aka The Tipsy Gypsies), an international couple traveling the world. The two of them met 13 years ago in Vienna, Austria and have been married for 7 years. Marta is from Poland and Nate is from America. For the last 6...
Are you an American Looking for Work in Europe? Meet Rapha!
Today's interview features Rapha. Originally from New York, she moved to Europe at age 22 and has now managed to secure EU citizenship. Currently she lives in Copenhagen, Denmark, has a passion for helping Americans looking for work in Europe and has some invaluable...
A Married Couple on the Road: Meet Taemi and Josh!
Today I'm featuring an interview with a couple who is sure to inspire you to pack your bags and head out on an adventure. Taemi and Josh are a married couple, originally from New York, who have been on the road for the past two years. After calling various places...
Traveling as a Couple: Meet Miguel and Yvonne!
I'm pleased to present to you today the very first couple that has been featured as part of the interview series. Miguel and Yvonne are the travel bloggers behind Trip Bitten, where you'll find the following story of how they met, and all about their adventures of...
Meet Ruben! Studying a PhD in Neuroscience in Madrid
Today's interview features a global citizen from Mexico who is studying a PhD in neuroscience in Madrid at the world renowned ¨Instituto Cajal.¨ Read on to see how he keeps a positive attitude while living abroad and pursuing his doctorate. Hi Ruben! Can you tell us...
Helping International Professionals in Madrid, Meet Pierre!
Each and every Tuesday I publish an interview with someone who is living outside of their home country. Today's interview is unique in that it's the first one I've done in-person rather than via email. Last weekend I had the privilege of sitting down with fellow...
Meet Amelia! A True Global Citizen Pursuing Grad School Abroad
I'm really excited to share with you this week's interview with an expat who is fulling embracing her experience abroad. Born in the U.S., and currently pursuing grad school abroad in Ireland, Amelia's path towards becoming a global citizen first started back when...
What´s it like for a Danish Girl Living Abroad in Bulgaria? Meet Katrine!
Today´s Tuesday interview features Katrine, a travel blogger who just recently ventured into the experience of living abroad when she moved from her home in Denmark to Bulgaria earlier this year. Despite being new to the expat world she´s still got plenty of tips on...
Meet the California Globetrotter, A Travel Blogger Living Abroad in Germany
Today's Tuesday interview is with a woman who has gotten bit by the "go go travel" bug. Born overseas, but raised in the states, she knew she had to make Germany her home one day after studying abroad in the university town of Heidelberg. She's now made this dream...
When ¨Home¨ No Longer Exists: Practicing Mindfulness Abroad. Meet Alessandro!
It´s Tuesday! Which means I´ve got another interview lined up for you today with someone who is embracing life outside of their home country. While anyone who´s moved abroad has experienced homesickness at some point in their journey, many of the global citizens that...
Meet Gian Luca, an Italian Blogger with a Passion for Travel
It´s Semana Santa, the official Spring Break of Spain, and the perfect time to escape from the city and visit the travel destination you´ve been dreaming of. But lucky for all of you, I´m unable to get away from work for the week which means the Interview Series that...
Each Tuesday I feature an interview with someone living outside of their home country, or a travel enthusiast set on seeing the world. Today's interview is with travel blogger, Desiree, a native of the island of Malta and founder of The Anti-Tourist blog, where she...
Ukraine, Thailand, Where Next? Meet Skylar! Two Time Peace Corps Volunteer
Good morning! It's Tuesday, which means another edition of the "Intentional Expat Interview Series." Each week I feature an interview someone who is either an avid traveler or living outside of their home country and embracing their experience abroad. Today I'm...
Savoring Life Abroad: Meet Lauren!
Welcome to the latest edition of the Intentional Expat interview series! Each and every Tuesday I post an interview with either an avid traveler or someone who is fully embracing life abroad. Today's featured expat is no exception. Lauren Aloise is a Madrid based...
A Love for Travel and Life Abroad, Meet Sagan, Native of the North
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Is it Possible to Live Abroad and Advance Your Career? Meet Pouneh!
Have you always dreamed of living overseas, but fear that it would be suicide for your career? If you´ve always wondered how you could live abroad and advance your career, you won´t want to miss this week's interview with global citizen, Pouneh! Pouneh Efekhari is an...
From Third Culture Kid in the USA to Brand Storyteller in Madrid. Meet Kay!
It´s Tuesday! And if you´ve been following my blog you´ll know by now that Tuesday is the day I feature an interview with an avid traveler or someone living abroad. Today´s interview is with a woman whose rich personal and professional story is impossible to sum up in...
How Many Places Can You Call Home? Meet Elena, A Spanish Girl in Chile
Each Tuesday I feature an interview with someone who is living overseas or is an avid traveler. This week's interview is with someone who is very near and dear to my own heart. Back in summer 2009, soon after finding out that I'd be moving to Spain in September to...
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Follow my blog with Bloglovin It's Tuesday and that means yet another edition of the Intentional Expat Interview Series. Today I'm featuring Charina, who like many Americans has found herself in Spain thanks to the Spanish Ministry of Education's Teaching Assistant...
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The past few weeks of interviews have been a huge success! The first week we heard from J Russell Mikkelsen, an avid traveler and blogger and last week got a glimpse at life abroad for a Spaniard living in the USA. Today's interview comes from fellow blogger Tina, who...
The Intentional Expat Interview Series: Meet Jhey!
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Editorial - Politics and discussions
By Karen J Ogilvie2013-05-01T00:00:00+01:00
...but students are wowed by practical hands-on chemistry
Politics and discussions
I have a packed issue for you this time. A lot of discussion has taken place in the world of science education recently. We start with one that will have a huge impact for many - the proposed A-level reforms. Things could be very different in 2015. Watch this space for updates.
Also on the boundary of science education and politics we saw the publication of Ben Goldacre's paper on educational research, commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE). Wearing my other hat as managing editor of Chemistry Education Research and Practice (CERP), I do have a vested interest here. Research in chemistry education is a growing field across the world and many are working as researchers and classroom teachers to ensure students have the best learning experiences possible. I contacted Keith Taber, one of chemistry education's research gurus and editor of CERP, to find out if he had an opinion on the report. He did (see p8). A lively discussion ensued on Twitter between Ben and Keith, (Feedback, p10) following online publication of the comment.
Staying on the theme of science education and politics, we travel to Italy for a change of scene. Teresa Celestino considers how legislation controlling the chemical industry could (and should) be applied to the development of green curricula when teaching about the importance of chemistry in environmental topics.
Analysis and discovery
EiC, however, has a finite capacity for politics so we move on to more hands-on and practical science. Spectroscopy is becoming a more important topic in post-16 curricula but the equipment is very expensive and is out of the range of many schools' budgets. You can arrange for it to come to you though. The RSC has partnered with a number of UK universities and Tracy McGhie explains how coordinators can run a workshop in your classroom, so your students can use this specialised equipment to solve a 'murder mystery'.
There is more analysis down at the Victorian pharmacy, which is part of a real working museum and subject of a recent BBC documentary series. Jane Essex and various teams of school students analyse the contents of old pharmacy jars and bottles to find what might have been in them and what is there now. We stay investigating the past a bit longer as Anita Quye shows us how modern chemical conservation techniques can be used to preserve fragile textiles for future generations to appreciate and learn from.
This is a biannual Maths for Chemists issue and Paul Yates looks at the fundamental student problem of manipulating fractions in in chemistry calculations. As he demonstrates using the Arrhenius equation in a worked example, I thought you might be interested in an article from volume one of EiC; The theory of acids and bases by FM Hall from Wollongong University, Australia, which investigates the Arrhenius theory.
Finally, our Endpoint in this issue is contributed by Peter Wothers, presenter of the 2012 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. Peter shares Michael Faraday's belief that children are never too young to be fascinated by chemistry and that it our job as educators to ensure they have chance to see how fascinating and far reaching this subject is. An observation that I hope is evident in the diverse content of this issue.
Karen J Ogilvie, editor
Chemistry of the noble gases
Behind the scenes of Education in Chemistry 50 years ago - The not-so-stable octet theory
The right medicine for educational research?
Too much reliance on random trials in education would be 'bad science', says Keith S Taber
Feedback - May 2013
Work to school transition and building evidence into education
When All This Is Over®
Looking back on 2020 what should we keep? asks EiC 's managing editor Paul MacLellan, tongue firmly in cheek
Teaching creative chemistry
It's not just the arts that are creative, chemistry is too. And it's an essential element in its teaching
Being anti-racist in science education
Good intentions are not enough. We need to work to counter racism in science education


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: How to make context request in dialogoflow via nodejs sdk? I would like to know how to create a context dialog, but I don't think anything about how to make this request... can anyone help me?
i'm using a lib sdk dialogflow
I searched how to do this, but I don't find anything, I don't know how to implement this..
me code
class DialogFlowController {
  public dialogID: string
  public sessionID: string
  public sessionClient: SessionsClient

  constructor () {
    this.dialogID = 'chatbot-asxj'

    this.sessionID = v4()
    this.sessionClient = new dialogflow.SessionsClient({
      credentials: {
        type: config.gooogleType,
        client_id: config.googleClientId,
        private_key: config.googlePrivateKey,
        client_email: config.googleCLientEmail,
        token_url: config.googleTokenUrl
      }
    })
  }

  public async interactor (req: Request, res: Response): Promise<Response> {
    console.log(teste)
    const messagem = req.body.goMessage

    try {
    // Create a new session
      const sessionPath = this.sessionClient.projectAgentSessionPath(this.dialogID, this.sessionID)
      const request = {
        session: sessionPath,
        queryInput: {
          text: {
          // The query to send to the dialogflow agent
            text: messagem,
            // The language used by the client (en-US)
            languageCode: 'en-US'
          }
        }
      }
      const response = await this.sessionClient.detectIntent(request)

      Socket.io.emit('returnMessage', response[0].queryResult?.fulfillmentText)
      return res.status(200).json()
    } catch (err) {
      return res.status(500).json(err)
    }
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Thai Green Curry Paste | How to make Thai green curry paste?
Thai curries are aromatic and fragrant. The aroma is rendered by a unique blend of ingredients ground into a paste. Thai green curry paste is so called because of the green colour from the chillies, basil (Thai), lime leaves etc.
Ingredients are generally ground into a paste using mortar and pestle. Obviously this will bring out the flavours of the ingredients even more.
Along with green curry paste there is another variation which is the red curry paste. These pastes are used with coconut milk and other ingredients to make beautiful curries from the Oriental!
These pastes are very similar to Indian coconut based curries with emphasis being on fresh leaves and herbs. Here's is the recipe of Thai green vegetable curry using this Thai green curry paste. Try Chinese recipes as well.
Thai Green Curry Paste | How to make green curry paste?


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Pang is the third studio album and the major-label debut by American singer-songwriter and producer Caroline Polachek, and debut under her given name. It was released by Sony Music, The Orchard, and Polachek's imprint Perpetual Novice on October 18, 2019. The album received critical acclaim from and was placed on several critics' year-end lists, topping Dazeds list. Commercially, Pang peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and number 40 on the Independent Albums chart, making it Polachek's first charting solo album.

 Background and recording
In 2017, Polachek began working frequently with PC Music producers Danny L Harle and A. G. Cook after the dissolution of her band Chairlift. She appeared on Harle's single "Ashes of Love" back in 2016, and she also began collaborating with him and Cook in contributions with other artists, such as Superfruit and Charli XCX. Polachek started working on her own material, which was originally going to be a "warmer, auburn, folk-tinged, peaceful album" called Calico. When the two began work on the project they "came up with something that overshadowed Calico and kickstarted a fruitful collaboration".

The title Pang is derived from "experiencing inexplicable adrenal rushes" that Polachek experienced "that stopped her from sleeping and accelerated her metabolism", which she referred to as "pangs". In an interview with Dazed, Polachek revealed what it was like to work with a range of different people, noting that "Working with different artists is always a learning experience, a new skill for the tool belt, even when it's more about realising what doesn't work." She elaborated, saying that she feels more in control of the things she writes and produces, and that she's "...Ultimately the one in control, the one who is filtering and controlling the palette in real time. I don't leave it up to someone else. It's actually more and more liberating to just get in and start making stuff."

Throughout the duration of 2018, Polachek shared a number of images of her in the studio to record material and hinted at the possibility of working on an album in their captions.

 Singles
In 2019, Polachek released the album's lead single "Door", which was the first to be released under her own name (she previously released music under the names Ramona Lisa and CEP). It was also accompanied by a music video, directed by Polachek herself alongside London-based artist Matt Copson. The song was revealed by a press release as "the first taste of a forthcoming, larger solo project from Caroline to be released later this year," hinting that the album could include more than eighteen tracks. In an interview with Vogue, Polachek expressed her surprise that her label was happy to lead with "Door" as the first single, explaining "it's such a long and winding song. There are songs on the record that are a bit more twisty and moody. And this one feels like, no pun intended, an open door. It feels like an invitation." Pitchfork listed the song at number 47 for the 100 best songs of 2019.

The following month, she announced that she was to release two more cuts from the album "Ocean of Tears" and "Parachute". With their release sparked the announcement of the album, under the title Pang and its scheduled release period of sometime in fall of 2019. Polachek made both records with Danny L Harle, the sometime collaborator with Charli XCX and Carly Rae Jepsen. A. G. Cook also contributed production to "Ocean of Tears", alongside Valley Girl. Of the song "Parachute", Polachek said in a press release, "It was an incredible moment, realizing that this melody we'd written was unintentionally re-telling a dream I'd been shaken by. I went home, re-drafted the words to fit, and came back to the studio at 1 am to record the vocal the same day. And that's the take we kept. From that moment on, Dan and I knew we had a lot more work to do together."

In September 2019, she released the album's fourth single "So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings", which was co-written with Daniel Nigro and Teddy Geiger. Consequence of Sound reviewed the track with the statement, "While previous tracks 'Parachute' and 'Ocean of Tears' served up ethereal tones, 'So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings' has a little more pep in its step. With a hint of an '80s pop vibe, Polachek's vocals ping-pong off the synths as she sings the refrain". Around the same time, Polachek announced the album's release date of October 18, 2019.

"Look at Me Now" was released as the final pre-release single on October 14, 2019. The acoustic ballad is described as the "diary entry" of the album that Polachek wrote "while processing a mix of guilt, self-destructiveness, and hope." The song was inspired by Lilith Fair artists like Jewel and Sarah McLachlan.

 Composition
Pang is a pop, indie pop, experimental pop, and avant-pop record, influenced by ambient, new age, R&B, trap-pop, hip hop, trip hop, sophisti-pop, and classical music. Its sound is described as "almost symphonic" and "blend[s] acoustic and synthetic textures into a surrealist yet affecting listen"  The album exists in a space in between moody electronica and upbeat pop. As Mark Moody of No Ripcord put it, "best listened to sad and lonely in your bedroom, Pang is the perfect dance album for smart and sensitive boys and girls after their day's journaling are done." Polachek utilizes "operatic" vocals on the record, which were described by Shaad D'Souza of The Guardian as "an alien take on Céline Dion".

"New Normal" shifts between different keys and features "a conspicuously yeehaw opening of slide guitar to an almost dancehall beat to sputtering percussion and vocal clips from hip-hop". "Ocean of Tears" is a hip hop–tinged R&B track influenced by Kate Bush, Imogen Heap, and Annie Lennox. "Insomnia"'s "ecstatic aches" are of Björk and Weyes Blood. "Caroline Shut Up" takes influence from 1960s soul singers and doo-wop and is "equal parts seductive and bewildering". "So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings" is a "new wave masterpiece" that takes influence from 1980s pop and has been compared to the work of Haim.

Pang is a break-up album inspired by her divorce from husband of two years, Ian Drennen, six months into its production. The album explores lyrical themes of "living unexpected dreams, getting away with something sneaky-fun, tears in public and in oceans" and "love songs about the moment of surrender, the pain preceding it, and the euphoria after." In "I Give Up", Polachek succumbs to an "apathetic kind of self defeat". "Door" talks about "the disorienting and uniquely human feeling of blindly chasing a desire without knowing whether you will ever reach it." "Parachute" is described as "the audio-equivalent of feeling like you're seconds away from death but have absolutely no problem with it."

 Critical reception

Pang received a score of 82 out of 100 based on 14 critics on review aggregate site Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim". In a review for AllMusic, Matt Collar suggested that, "[Caroline] Polachek further distills her approach with a collection of deeply emotive songs that showcase her delicate vocals and intricate pop sensibilities" with "arrangements that straddle the line between moody electronica and adult contemporary pop." Jack Bray of The Line of Best Fit called Pang a "remarkable debut album assured of its legitimacy and brilliance"

Nick Lowe of Clash referred to the album as "fresh and ethereal" and a synthesis of Polachek's previous work, saying it combined "the playfulness of Chairlift, the theatricality of Ramona Lisa and the futuristic glimpses of CEP." Lowe also commended her "staggering" and "heavenly" vocals.  Katherine St. Asaph of Pitchfork also praised her "near-operatic vocalizations", "controlled vocal leaps, and precise staccato." Ben Thomas of The Guardian praised the album's lyrics about break-ups, saying that "Caroline Shut Up" in particular "lets you right inside her lustful waltz-time neuroses." Tiny Mix Tapess Reggie MT referred to the album "an absolute triumph of 'expressionist storybook goth' that recalls the great emotive artists in pop and New Age history, from Elizabeth Fraser to Imogen Heap, Enya to her (our) girl Charli [XCX]".

 Track listing Notes signifies a co-producer
 signifies an additional producer

 Charts

 Instrumental album
On April 11, 2020, Polachek released a version of the album on Bandcamp featuring instrumental versions of every track.

 Remix album Standing at the Gate: Remix Collection'' is a remix album by American singer-songwriter and producer Caroline Polachek, released exclusively on vinyl on April 16, 2021 through Polachek's imprint Perpetual Novice. The collection features reworked versions of songs from her 2019 studio album Pang as well as a cover of "Breathless" by the Corrs.

 Release and singles
On December 18, 2019, a remix of "So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings" by A. G. Cook was released as a stand-alone single. To celebrate the album's one year anniversary on October 19, 2020, Polachek released a ten minute long extended mix of "The Gate", featuring a visualizer by Ezra Miller. She called the new mix "a sort of parallel universe or alternate ending, where those words not only arrive, but ring true." On December 9, 2020, Polachek released remixes of "Ocean of Tears", "Hey Big Eyes", "Hit Me Where It Hurts", and "Door" as digital singles. On the same day she announced the remix album, including all of the prior remix singles except "Ocean of Tears". A cover of "Breathless" by the Corrs was released on December 17, 2020. On March 5, 2021 Polachek performed her cover of "Breathless" on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

 Track listing Notes'''

signifies a co-producer
 signifies an additional producer
signifies a remix producer

References

2019 debut albums
Columbia Records albums
Caroline Polachek albums
The Orchard (company) albums
Albums produced by Caroline Polachek
Albums produced by A. G. Cook
Albums produced by Andrew Wyatt
Albums produced by Dan Carey (record producer)
Albums produced by Dan Nigro
Albums produced by Danny L Harle
Avant-pop albums

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


There is beauty on everything, just not everybody sees it. This quote comes to my head when I think how little I liked Vietnam after coming from relaxing and welcoming Philippines. My stay in the country was as brief as eight days and only visited the north of the country.
How to move around: everything is kind of walking distance, so challenging as the trafic is insane.
How to get there: we took a shuttle bus from Hanói to Dinh Vu, a ferry to Cat Ba and another shuttle bus from the pier to town. Everything was arranged with a travel agency in Hanói for 18€ per person.
What to do: a boat tour to Halong Bay, trek to the National Park or chilling at the beach number 3.
How to move around: the beach is walking distance but you need a motorbike or a tour to visit the National Park.
What to do: do a trek on your own or arrange it with the Mama´s (trival ladies) who offer a homestay plus trek for about 16-18€ per person including meals.
How to get there: the night bus from Hanói departs at 10pm and arrives around 6am. It is super confortable and safe.
Tip: would recommend Mama Xhoxho, she was so welcoming and funny! Her house is 16km away from Sapa town.
How to move around: everything is pretty much walking distance.


Glass window blind, by foot. Ready to use, no need hem.
In the upper part, the fabric has eyelets for the sticks.
Measure: 45 cm high ↕.
Buy the centimeters you need for the width of the window.
Pretty much, it was washed in the washer and no iron.


The arrival of Coach Tim Cone at the camp of Barangay Ginebra significantly improved its campaign this 2015-2016 season.
During the first two conferences with Cone as their head coach, the Gin Kings made the quarterfinals twice as the fourth seed.
In the Philippine Cup, Ginebra finished with a 7-4 record and reached the second phase of the quarterfinals before losing to GlobalPort.
Ginebra also toted a 7-4 mark in the Commissioner's Cup, but failed to win a game against Rain or Shine in the best-of-three quarterfinals.
Now, the Gin Kings appear to be peaking at the right moment. They have an opportunity to finish with their best record since the 2013-2014 Philippine Cup where Ginebra finished 11-3 in the eliminations.
In that same conference, Barangay Ginebra also reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champions San Migel Coffee Mixers (now Star Hotshots) in an epic seven-game series.
So, what factors (or who) have contributed to Ginebra's hot start in the Governors Cup? Let's take a look.
Ginebra had a decent run during the past Commissioner's Cup with import Othyus Jeffers. Thus, some fans hoped that Jeffers would be back for another tour of duty in the season-ending conference since he fits the height limit.
However, Ginebra decided to go another route after hiring Paul Harris.
Unfortunately, Harris got hurt during his first official game against GlobalPort. His thumb injury prevented him from playing. Not a good start to the conference for Ginebra because Greg Slaughter is also recovering from an ankle surgery. Therefore, Ginebra opted to get a temporary replacement in Justin Brownlee.
Fans had a lot of concerns and questions with the arrival of a new import. Is he in good condition? Can he learn their system quick? Will he have chemistry with the others? Is he better than Paul Harris or Othyus Jeffers? Can he bring a championship to Barangay Ginebra?
Some fans were bracing for the worst and the rest were hoping for the best. So far, hoping for the best is winning.
Justin Brownlee debuted with a loss versus Alaska. In that game, he suffered cramps but his numbers were pretty good (31 points and 13 rebounds).
He has been very consistent in seven games with the Gin Kings.
His lowest output is 24 while his high is 38. His current averages are 30.7 points (sixth among imports) and 11.9 rebounds. Certainly not eye-popping numbers but still above average. Definitely good enough to give them more wins than losses and good enough to allow (or send) a now healthy Paul Harris back to the U.S.
Moreover, Brownlee is an efficient player who takes care of the ball. He has the second lowest turnover rate among active imports and he even averages 4.7 assists per game.
Probably, the best part about him is his ability to hit perimeter shots. Brownlee connects on 2.6 threes per game on 36% shooting. That places him fourth among imports with makes while his 3-point shooting percentage is higher than AZ Reid, Michel Madanly, Terrence Romeo and Mark Barroca.
Lastly, Brownlee is a solid defender. He gets steals (1.7) and blocks (1.3) while avoiding foul trouble (1.9 fouls). Thus, he can challenge shots and play tight defense because he rarely gets himself in bad defensive positions or situations.
For Ginebra, its greatest asset is the tandem of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar. No team in the PBA, not even San Miguel can match up against its Twin Towers. You can even add Joe DeVance to the mix as a third big and tall front court player. However, the injury to Greg Slaughter removed this advantage.
No worries for Barangay Ginebra though because a bigger threat has emerged this conference and this threat comes from its back court.
The trio of Sol Mercado, LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson has been excellent. The Gin Kings can boast of a "three-headed monster" in their back court. All three are primarily point guards but they have learned to play SG as well.
In some combinations, Cone plays two of them together and in rare occasions, all 3 might be on the floor at the same time.
Mercado played fewer minutes during the first two conferences. Hence, his numbers weren't that good or he played fewer minutes because his production was lacking.
Whatever the case may be, this conference is a lot different. How different? Mercado is fourth in minutes played behind Brownlee, Tenorio and Aguilar. His average this conference is the highest (13.1 points) in the last 10 conferences.
His assists are also up but the most impressive stat is his threes made. Mercado is riding a wave of confidence with his three-point shooting. His current hot streak has resulted into 2.1 threes made per game at an amazing success rate of 50 percent, easily his best shooting numbers from deep in any conference.
Aside from Mercado, LA Tenorio is also playing at a high level. His omission from Gilas Pilipinas 4.0 allowed him to rest and recover, while motivating him to play even better this conference.
Tenorio is scoring 13.8 points per game, which is his highest average in the past 12 conferences. His shooting from the perimeter is also at its peak.
Similar to Mercado, Tenorio is also on a hot streak from deep. He makes almost two three-point shots per game at 60 percent and his overall field goal percentage is at 53.8 percent.
He has been taking smart shots and he has been very efficient.
Lastly, Thompson, a former NCAA MVP, has been quite impressive. He is second on the team in rebounding behind Brownlee and among the local league leaders. That's quite a feat for a rookie point guard.
It seems that Cone trusts him more with the ball these days because his minutes are up.
Furthermore, Thompson is an excellent rebounder, so he is able to get the rebound and initiate the transition attack immediately. He is a pass first PG who often makes the right decision.
However, his shooting needs a lot of work, but no need to worry because he is young and still a rookie. He will improve.
The injury to Slaughter also gave Japeth Aguilar more opportunities to flash his skills and shine.
The former Ateneo Blue Eagle had a disappointing stint with Gilas Pilipinas 4.0 in the recent FIBA Manila OQT.
He hardly played during that tournament. Therefore, to make up for that lost opportunity, Aguilar came into this conference more determined, focused and filled with intensity. He wanted to show the country that he is still among the top big men in the PBA.
The former Blue Eagle is definitely flying high this conference.
His numbers this round are pretty good: 15.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Now, they aren't exactly career-high numbers for him but that doesn't matter because he is producing.
You can see Aguilar exerting maximum effort and hustle on the court. He is more active defensively especially since Slaughter is not around. It also helps him play better and tighter defense when does not get called for cheap fouls.
So far, Japeth has been able to stay in games and avoid foul trouble.
His 2.1 blocks display how dedicated he has been to play defense and help protect the weak side. He is often the last line of defense. He challenges a lot of shots that don't turn into blocks but result into missed attempts.
Moreover, Aguilar often guards opposing imports because his length and athleticism become very bothersome. It is not a stretch to consider Aguilar as their best import defender especially since Chris Ellis has been sidelined with an injury.
On offense, Aguilar is still a beast when it comes to racking up fast break points that often come from soaring highlight dunks and exciting alley-oops. He loves running the floor in transition. He knows that his dunks always energize the Ginebra faithful and bringing them into a frenzy would help them win.
Aside from dunking, Aguilar has shown more confidence with his jumper. Yes, he is still inconsistent with his perimeter shots but his willingness to attempt jumpers forces the opposing team to guard him more.
Actually, Aguilar even tries more threes today and he has been relatively successful with his attempts from three-point range. He makes 0.6 threes on 1.1 attempts, not impressive numbers when compared to others, but when compared to his career, his 0.6 makes already show improvement. He hasn't averaged that many threes made in at least the last four years.
With the return of Slaughter very soon, Ginebra hopes and prays that Aguilar will continue to be aggressive and active instead of playing in the shadows of Gregzilla.
Sure, Ginebra is winning because their import has been a perfect fit and four of their players are playing at a high level.
However, it would be unfair not to give credit to the whole team because the others are also contributing and it shows in the overall team statistics.
As a whole, the Gin Kings are a much improved defensive team. Actually, they have been excellent. They are no. 2 in least points allowed (93.9) while being no. 1 in defending against opponents' shooting percentages (41.1%).
They're also third best in steals, blocks and total rebounds. No wonder, they are among the top four teams in the league.
On offense, Ginebra is just seventh in team scoring, but they are tops in shooting percentage. They take smart and efficient shots, possibly products of their system and the growing team chemistry.
Furthermore, they are no. 1 in assists and no. 3 in least turnovers, which show more evidence that the team plays within their system and assigned roles.
Using isolation sets have been very limited with this bunch. Their PGs are unselfish and they try to look for the best shot possible.
Furthermore, guys like Devance, Mark Caguioa, Dave Marcelo, Chris Ellis, Jervy Cruz, JayJay Helterbrand and Aljon Mariano understand that minutes are limited. But they trust the coach and support their teammates.
Everyone's minutes will probably lessen once Greg Slaughter and Ellis becomes 100 percent healthy, so more sacrifices will be asked. Things will be fine as long as they keep on winning.
Now, even with all their improvements, Ginebra can still do better in a few categories, namely: 3-point shooting and free throw shooting. I mean, the Gin Kings aren't a perfect team, but they should certainly strive for that because a championship is what they are aiming for.


text:
By Eileen Chollet Joint Force Quarterly 72
The Nation and its military appear to be growing less generous with decorations for valor. Seventeen Medals of Honor were awarded for the 17 days of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, while 11 have been awarded over the 11-year span of U.S. combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. No single factor accounts for the 20-fold reduction in the number of valor decorations in current operations. The most popular reasoning focuses on the changing nature of warfare and military culture, but that leaves gaps. The awards process is kept from public scrutiny, but some evidence suggests changes since Vietnam. The effects of the factors that can be isolated need further analysis to enable today's warriors to be awarded the decorations they earn.
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir lasted 17 bitterly cold days in late November and early December 1950. Thirty thousand United Nations (UN) troops were surrounded by 120,000 Chinese troops, and they fought as a Siberian cold front brought the temperature down to −30oF. Back in the United States, the country had been enjoying the peace dividend following the end of World War II, and Soldiers and Marines were sent to Korea with equipment that was not designed for the environment. By the time the UN forces broke the encirclement and fought their way to evacuation at Hungnam, 3,000 U.S. Servicemembers had been killed, another 6,000 had been wounded, and 12,000 had suffered frostbite injuries. Fourteen Marines, two Soldiers, and a Navy pilot were awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, USA, first living recipient of Congressional Medal of Honor since Vietnam War, rescued two members of his squad during insurgent ambush in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, October 2007 (U.S. Army/Leroy Council)
The scorching deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan are a long way from frozen Chosin, and 60 years have elapsed since the Korean War. The nature of warfare has changed, from a brutal force-on-force engagement to a high-tech counterinsurgency operation. During 11 years of war, nearly 2.5 million U.S. troops have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 5,000 have been killed, and nearly 50,000 have been wounded due to hostile action. However, only 13 Medals of Honor have been awarded for actions in those 11 years, compared with 17 awarded for those 17 days in Korea. Servicemembers and civilians alike wonder why.
Valor Decorations Then and Now
Official criteria for the three highest U.S. decorations for valor—the Medal of Honor, Service crosses, and Silver Star—were established shortly after World War II, so reliable comparisons can be made for these awards through the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Medal of Honor is presented to Servicemembers for gallantry and intrepidity in risking their lives above and beyond the call of duty. A Service cross (the Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, or Air Force Cross) is presented for heroism not rising to the level of the Medal of Honor. The Silver Star is presented for heroism not rising to the level of a Service cross.
Although records on military decorations are public information (subject to the Freedom of Information Act), no complete database exists, with the Pentagon citing privacy concerns and incompleteness of records following a 1973 fire in an Army records building in St. Louis.1 Following the recent Supreme Court overturning of the Stolen Valor Act, which upholds the right to lie about receiving a valor decoration, the Department of Defense (DOD) has begun to compile a database, initially intended to include only Medal of Honor winners going back to September 11, 2001, and recently expanded to include Service crosses and Silver Star. A complete database of Medal of Honor winners is maintained by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, but the only mostly complete database of Service crosses and Silver Star awards is the Military Times Hall of Valor, which is maintained by military historian Doug Sterner.
Although the incompleteness of the data complicates the analysis, a comparison of award rates for current and past conflicts shows that 20 times fewer valor decorations have been awarded during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars than during Vietnam and Korea (see table 1). The Medal of Honor is the most talked about example.
Explaining the Decrease
Lawmakers, journalists, and military historians have speculated on what might be causing the 20-fold decrease in award rates. In a 2009 Army Timesarticle, former Marine Joseph Kinney argued that being killed in combat had become a de facto criterion for winning a valor decoration, charging that DOD has an "inordinate fear that somebody is going to get the Medal of Honor [and] be an embarrassment."2 Of the 11 medals awarded for the current conflicts, only 4 went to living recipients, and the first was not presented until 2010. The cases of Captain Charles Liteky, USA (a Vietnam-era chaplain who later renounced his medal in protest of U.S. policies in Central America), and Major General Smedley Butler, USMC (who later wrote a book denouncing war as a government "racket" to protect the interests of corporations), argue for caution in presenting the high-profile Medal of Honor to living recipients. However, the award rates for the Service crosses and Silver Star have dropped by the same factor of 20, suggesting that something common to all three decorations—that is, something beyond the widespread publicity unique to the Medal of Honor—is causing the decrease.
In a report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2010, the House Committee on Armed Services requested that DOD study the Medal of Honor award process to determine whether commanders in the field had inadvertently raised the criteria for valor, leading to the low numbers of awards. DOD reported that it was confident that the process had not changed and cited two reasons for the decrease in award rates: the current use of "stand-off" technology (unmanned aerial vehicles, or "drones") by U.S. forces, and the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by the enemy.3 However, a closer look at the data shows that these changes in the nature of warfare are only part of the answer, accounting only for a factor of about 6 from the factor of 20.
The DOD Answer: Drones and IEDs
In current conflicts, drones have played a prominent role in surveillance and targeted killing, replacing some Servicemembers who would otherwise be put in harm's way. Since risk of one's life is required for valor decorations, the use of drones does indeed partially explain fewer valor decorations, but not the entire factor of 20. Though the exact number of missed combat actions is difficult to estimate, casualties can be used as a proxy for combat actions since each casualty due to hostile action probably represents a chance for valorous action. Only 1 in 50 Servicemembers in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters have been killed or wounded due to hostile action, compared with about 1 in 15 in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Since the casualty rate between the past and current conflicts has dropped by a factor of three, lack of opportunities for valor due to remote warfare probably accounts for a factor of 3 out of the factor-of-20 decrease in awards.
Among those who do experience combat and are wounded or killed as a result, the number of valor decorations is still lower than it was in the past (see table 2). Since personnel who do experience combat are receiving 5 times fewer decorations, the lack of personal combat actions cannot entirely explain the missing factor of 20.4
IEDs have been called the "signature weapon of the 9/11 era," accounting for two out of three casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.5 Given the unpredictable nature of these weapons, Servicemembers probably have fewer opportunities to demonstrate "gallantry and intrepidity . . . above and beyond the call of duty."6 However, three factors argue against IEDs playing a large role in the drop of award rates.
First, explosives were extensively used in Korea and Vietnam, and they historically account for more casualties than small-arms fire. Even the Vietnam War, known for its close fighting in the jungle rather than distant shelling, had more casualties due to explosives such as artillery, land mines, and grenades than to small-arms fire according to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Southeast Asia Combat Casualties Current File.7 While it might be "hard to be a hero against an IED,"8 as one military historian put it, it is just as hard to be a hero against artillery fire, which can have an effective range of more than 10 miles.
U.S. Marines patrol during cordon and search mission in Habib Abad, Helmand Province (DOD/Anthony L. Ortiz)
Second, all the Medals of Honor awarded for combat in Afghanistan were for incidents that occurred in 2005 or later, when IEDs were most heavily used. If IEDs were causing the drop in award rates, we would expect the awards to be clustered at the beginning of the war when IED use was minimal.
Finally, reading through citations makes it clear that involvement in a close combat firefight is not the only (or even the most common) way to be decorated for valor. Numerous awards have been presented to Servicemembers who jump on grenades or other explosives to shield their comrades. Rescue of one's comrades from danger—even while not under direct hostile fire—fits the criteria for a valor decoration. For example, Sergeant First Class Rodney Yano, USA, was a helicopter crew chief during the Vietnam War, and he was marking enemy positions with white phosphorous grenades. One exploded prematurely, partially blinding him and covering his body with severe burns while igniting other ammunition in the helicopter. He began shoving the burning ammunition out of the helicopter to protect his comrades, suffering additional burns that eventually took his life. He was awarded the Medal of Honor.9 By comparison, Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe, USA, was decorated posthumously only with a Silver Star following his heroic rescue effort in Iraq. After his vehicle hit an IED, fuel from the vehicle spewed everywhere and ignited. Sergeant Cashe repeatedly returned to the vehicle to pull his fellow Soldiers to safety—all while his own uniform was on fire.10
If casualties are again used as a proxy for combat actions, and one-third of casualties are due to hostile action that does not include IEDs, then IEDs can account for at most another factor of 3 in the factor-of-20 decrease in valor decorations. Since IEDs do not completely prevent valorous actions, these weapons probably cause a decrease by a factor of about two. Between the factor of three due to fewer combat actions and the factor of two from IEDs, the official DOD explanations do explain a factor-of-6 decrease in awards, but not the observed factor-of-20 decrease. Something else must be contributing.
Times Are Changing
While the official criteria for the three highest valor decorations have not changed, the broader military culture has, and these changes may be causing the rest of the observed decrease in award rates. Following Vietnam, several decorations received authorization to include the Valor Devices for combat service, and commanders may now nominate Servicemembers for these awards instead of decorations specifically for valor. During the 1990s, military officials debated internally whether medals were being awarded haphazardly and too freely, ultimately resulting in a Pentagon review of Bronze Star awards presented for the intervention in Kosovo. Delegations of approval authority for the Iraq and Afghanistan operations admonish commanders to reserve awards for those "who truly distinguish themselves from among their comrades by exceptional performance in combat or in support of combat operations."11 It would be unusual for these cultural factors not to affect the number of decorations awarded.
While the award process itself—from nomination to award (or not)—is understandably kept private, some indirect evidence suggests that something has changed in the award process since the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam era, the median time between a combat action and the presentation of a Medal of Honor was about 20 months. In Iraq and Afghanistan, that processing time has increased to 30 months. In past conflicts, 35 to 40 percent of valor decorations went to officers; in the current conflicts, that percentage has decreased to 25. Meanwhile, the percentage of decorations going to senior enlisted personnel (E7 to E9) more than doubled, from 3 percent to 8 percent. These data do not point to any specific cause, but we could speculate that the changing roles of Servicemembers in theater or the transition from a draft force in Vietnam to an all-volunteer force today may be playing significant roles.
The missing pieces of the data, along with the complex and changing nature of warfare and military culture, make the exact causes of the 20-fold decrease in the number of valor decorations in current operations difficult to determine. The prevailing explanation that the nature of warfare has changed is incomplete, explaining at most a factor of 6 out of 20. While the new DOD database makes a good attempt at transparency, it needs to be expanded to include all valor decorations and conflicts. The natures of combat and military culture have changed since the 1970s, and the effects on the award process deserve more careful study to ensure that our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen are awarded the decorations they earn. JFQ
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on a Searchable Military Valor Decorations Database, March 2009, available at <http://blogs.militarytimes.com/hall-of-valor/files/2012/06/DB-Report.pdf>.
Brendan McGarry, "Death before this honor: Why have Iraq and Afghanistan produced only 5 Medal of Honor recipients, none living?" Army Times, March 26, 2009, available at <www.armytimes.com/news/2009/03/military_medal_of_honor_032509w/>.
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on the Medal of Honor Award Process, January 2011.
The numbers here are somewhat uncertain. The decrease is somewhere between three-fold and eight-fold.
Spencer Acerkman, "$265 Bomb, $300 Billion War: The Economics of the 9/11 Era's Signature Weapon," Wired, September 8, 2011, available at <www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/09/ied-cost/>.
Medal of Honor Criteria, Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations 578.4, available at <www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2002-title32-vol3/html/CFR-2002-title32-vol3-sec578-4.htm>.
"Statistical Information about Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War," available at <www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html#cause>.
McGarry.
Military Times Hall of Valor, Medal of Honor citation for Sergeant First Class Rodney James Tadashi Yano, available at <http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=2796>.
Military Times Hall of Valor, Silver Star citation for Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe, available at <http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=29028>.
Jim Tice, "If it's easy medals you're after, you've come to the wrong war," Army Times, September 1, 2003.


text:
Toss the Caber! It's the Scottish Highland Games
Every summer throughout Scotland local communities gather for a very special day – a day of traditional sports and events unique to Scotland.
The Scottish Highland Games are believed to have taken place for hundreds of years prior to recorded history. The earliest historical record of the games occurred during the reign of King Malcolm III who was on the throne between 1031 and 1093 AD. King Malcolm was in search of the fastest man in Scotland to become his royal messenger. His test, a race to the top of Craig Choinnich, described by Walk Highlands as "a beautiful little hill just east of Braemar, clothed in pinewoods. Its ascent makes a short but very steep walk". It sounds lovely until that last part!
Braemar - Dave Murray on Pixabay
The Highland games were not just a test of athletic prowess; family clans would send their best musicians and dancers alongside their strongest warriors, to compete in the hope of bringing honour to their clan. A much more civilised way to do things compared with stealing each other's castles.
This is a wonderful Scottish tradition which still thrives today. Throughout the summer months you will find over 100 events taking place all over the Highlands and now in the Lowlands too. Children's clubs and schools hold mini Highland games. You can even include them as part of Bachelor and Bachelorette parties or 'Stag' and 'Hen Do's' as we call them here in Scotland. Nothing like celebrating the end of your single days by launching a hammer across a field…
The Games
There are a large range of entertaining competitions to enjoy during your visit to a Highland Games. Contestants train all year for these events and travel around Scotland throughout the summer competing at as many games as they can. The young dance troupes always seem particularly earnest! I guess some things are the same wherever you are in the world.
Highland Dancer, Glengarry Highlan Games - Jamie McCaffrey on Pixabay
The games include some Olympic sports such as sprinting and shot put. Other sports are rarely seen outside Scotland. Take, for instance, tossing the caber. Many think the idea is to throw a huge wooden pole as far as you can. However, it is actually about how precisely you throw the caber. The competitor takes a short run then throws the caber so that it flips with the aim of landing the 'handle' end at a 180 degree angle from the where it was thrown. It is not all brute strength (although it helps); some skill is definitely required.
Not every event is taken so seriously - although if you are 5 years old and your puppy comes last in 'the dog with the waggiest tail' competition you may need an ice cream to cheer you up. There are competitions for baking, art work and growing the largest onions in the county. Something to suit everyone's talents. What really makes a day out to the games so special is that most of the events take place in our beautiful Scottish countryside, set against the backdrop of rolling hills and quaint villages. Or in the case of the Inverary Highland Games, which we often include in our tours, the event takes place in the grounds of the magnificent Inveraray Castle.
The Grand Finale with a Difference
My favourite day at the games was at the Strathardle Highland Gathering in lovely Perthshire. I had spent a brilliant day sitting in the sunshine enjoying the bag pipes, the races and the cake stand (of course)… when a voice was heard across the speakers informing us it was time for the grand finale. I had no idea of the spectacle I was about to witness, but I really was in for a treat. The spectators gathered at the main arena. I watched with some confusion as a dozen cars drove into the arena and lined up nose to tail around the perimeter. A young boy ran onto the middle of the arena and randomly placed batons on the ground. The audience cheered with excitement.
Music started to play and each car began driving slowly round in a circle. Then suddenly the music stopped and the drivers slammed on the brakes. 12 passengers flew out of the cars and ran onto the arena in search of 11 batons, yep you've got it, I was watching a game of Musical Cars!
The losing car left and a baton was removed. The game continued until there was just one baton and two cars left. The drivers tried to strategically place their cars at just the right point in the arena to give their passenger a fighting chance. The music stopped for the final time and the two passengers raced for the baton, the winning passenger beating the other contestant by barely half a second. The crowd roared in a mixture of cheers and boos and the winning team jumped together as if they had just won a world championship. What a brilliant event. I can't promise you will see Musical Cars at every Highland Games, but I am sure there are equally ridiculous and funny activities elsewhere.
Piper - Jamie McCaffery on Pixabay
For Spectators
There are usually a few events on the day which spectators can get involved in. Whether its tug o'war, a mini race or a throwing event, it is a great opportunity to add some competitive fun to your day.
My biggest success was in 'Tip the Bucket'. Imagine jousting with a wheelbarrow instead of a horse. A bucket of water is hung on a frame about 7ft high. One person (me!) sits in the barrow and holds a long wooden stick. Their partner runs with the barrow towards the bucket. The person in the barrow (still me!) tries to push the long stick through a hole in a board hanging below the bucket. Miss the hole and hit the board… the bucket tips and both you and your partner get a soaking. This may sound simple but aiming well while your partner is rattling you along the bumpy grass as fast as they can really adds to the challenge! I am proud to say we came second and won £1.50 each. Which almost made up for getting completely drenched in the final round…
Soilders Pulling for their Regiment - Jamie McCafferty on Pixabay
The Braemar Gathering
The biggest event in the Scottish Highland Games calendar takes place in the very location where King Malcolm III first set up the competition for his royal messenger. A hill race takes place today, drawing competitors from all over the UK and Europe. The Braemar Gathering attracts thousands of spectators every year, often including the Queen and Prince Charles. You can expect a sea of kilts; bagpipes and drums in profusion; our very best highland dancers and of course a wee dram of whisky. It really is the most Scottish event you can attend.
If you are visiting Scotland during the first Saturday in September, check out our 7 Day West Coast Islands & Braemar Gathering Tour. Alternatively, request a Highland games event as part of your Custom Tour. In recent years we have visited the Luss Highland Games near the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond; the Gordon Castle Highland Games (yes another fabulous castle venue!) and the Isle of Skye Highland Games situated at Sron a'Mill which translates to 'The Lump'. Don't worry, this naturally formed amphitheatre is much more appealing that it sounds.
We can't wait to welcome you to Scotland!
Weight Throw - TCFA on Pixabay
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So someone in North Dakota, Maine, Wyoming, etc sent some loose change to a guy from Texas who promises nothing, talks in gibberish, flails his arms about and uses a faux Hispanic name.
I'm calling it fantasy or wishful thinking.
President Trump couldn't plan this any better.
Watching the Democrat Party destroy itself in front of us?
McGovern 72′ redux for any of you who were around then.
Ah, but neither "Law Enforcement" nor the "Legal" system seem remotely inclined to do anything about the vote fraud which is rampant in this country's hives. So don't be surprised to see vote counts in 2020 which are 200% of the eligible voters from each hive, and every one of them will be for the Democrat. And if even THAT is not enough to win the Electoral College, the House will refuse to certify the election because the Democrat will have won the "popular vote".
Or are you naive enough to think that the Democrats and Koch-sucking Rove Republicans would not stoop that low???
In my state of North Carolina, voters approved a constitutional amendment for voter ID. One superior court judge in liberal Wake County managed to shoot it down. It's disgusting.
Republican voters know the drill by now.
To wit: lie to the pollsters, and don't vote early.
Don't let the enemy know what the margin of fraud is in advance.
Ever notice that whenever there is a recount in a tight election the results only benefit Democrats?
Nope. No such thing as voter fraud.
Local and even some US House races have gone both ways.
But US Senators, governors, and statewide contests, yeah, that about sums it up.
Re this $6 million in 24 claim – you're believing what a politician SAYS? Rah ha ha.
The Dems are searching and fishing for the next Obama. Who will the stupid masses identify with and vote for the fantasy?
Yes, they are. We'll see several contestants for the Obama replacement–Beto and AOC being only a taste of what's to come in the future. They are both examples of the political Judas goats the fanatic lefties have waiting in the wings. The corporate media, like the trained seals they are, will loudly hail and applaud each one as he/she makes entrance on the public stage, of course. It's all part of the stage play we're watching. When whoever is on stage gets booed off (as are both Beto and AOC) there's another one ready to be pushed out, stumbling their way into the spotlight.
The last quote concerns me most. "Personality cult". That's what they have in totalitarian regimes.
I can see the fawning press corps putting this suit up as the front man with Kamala Harris/other politically correct minority as his VEEP.
Speaking of how a screwball like Beto can raise so much money, or a clueless AOC can become a member of Congress, here's a brilliant account of how AOC (and a couple of other similar dolts) got elected to the current Congress. It sure opened my eyes. We've been warned.
She certainly is not the brightest bulb in the box, so it isn't surprising that there are people behind her. What is very frightening is the lengths people have gone through and will continue to go through to get candidates into Congress. Auditions for the job?!?


text:
Estela Lorza-Gil
Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress and Calcium-Dependent Permeability Transition are Key Players in the Mechanisms of Statins-Associated Side Effects
By Estela N.B. Busanello, Ana C. Marques, Estela Lorza-Gil, Helena C.F. de Oliveira and Anibal E. Vercesi
Statins are cholesterol-lowering medicines utilized worldwide and are associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality and events. However, 0.5–10% of patients suffer from adverse effects especially on skeletal muscle. Recently, new onset of diabetes has been reported in subjects on statin therapy. Pro- and anti-oxidant effects of statins have been reported, thus fostering a debate. Previously reported data provide evidence that statins induce alterations in intracellular calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunctions that can be counteracted by antioxidants (e.g., CoQ10, creatine, and L-carnitine). Therefore, we have proposed that statin-induced inhibition of mitochondrial respiration leads to oxidative stress that opens a calcium-dependent permeability transition pore, an event that may lead to cell death. In addition, mitochondrial oxidative stress caused by statin treatment may be a signal for cellular antioxidant system responses such as catalase upregulation, possibly explaining the alleged statins' antioxidant properties. Muscle mitochondrial dysfunction induced by statin treatment may be associated with the peripheral insulin resistance and may explain statins-induced new onset of diabetes. Together, the data presented in this review suggest that the statins' detrimental effects can be prevented by co-administration of antioxidants.
Part of the book: Mitochondrial Diseases
Fumiaki Uchiumi
Tokyo University of Science
Sei-Ichi Tanuma
Lori A. Walker
University of Colorado Boulder , United States of America
Peter Kaplan
Danielle R. Bruns
University of Colorado Denver , United States of America
Grazyna Nowak
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , United States of America
Jun Arakawa
Yutaka Takihara
Motohiro Akui
Hiroshi Hamada


Flash forward a few years. Now I'm the new mom, wrestling with breastfeeding issues and recovering from a C-section. Cradling my sweet baby in my arms, my heart swelled with love so big it scared me. This was motherhood was like? Why didn't anyone tell me about this? Maybe they wanted to, but I didn't ask the right questions! In between feedings, I texted a dear mom friend my confession: "Girl, I'm sorry I didn't reach out more when your son was a baby – I thought you were too busy. I didn't want to bother you. I just…had no idea what it was like." Thankfully, she responded with grace.
Staying in touch with friends when you're in different life stages can be tough, but a little understanding and empathy goes a long way. So, in the spirit of open communication, I surveyed some fellow mamas about their friendships. Here are some things we want our childless friends to know about us.
"I want my friends that don't have children to know I'm thinking about them and care about what's going on in their lives, even though I can't seem to find the time to catch up on the phone or in person!" – Jennifer T.
"Although it is very apparent that my priorities have totally changed, I will never be too busy to want to know what's going on in their lives. I still want to know about the Tinder dates, the annoying boss at work, etc. Unfortunately, it's hard for me to find the time to remember to ask, but I love being kept up to date on things that are important to them!" – Allison O.
"I'm still there to love and support them just as always – just please have grace and patience if I'm slow to show it or in responding." – Sarah H.
"Even though I can't always come to social events, I still want to be invited." – Katie E.
"I might not be able to stay out as long as I used to with a newborn! Being a new mom and trying to figure all the logistics of breastfeeding and diaper changes in public is overwhelming in the beginning. The idea of being out for an entire day without a bit of privacy is a bit much! I would love to be invited and not judged when I don't stay for six hours." – Sarah W.
"Making time to hang out can be a challenge, but please don't stop asking me." – Megan R.
"Living around baby's sleep schedule is extremely hard, and I'm no happier about it than my childless friends must be. But getting a last-minute text that we should meet up just won't work, as good as the intention is." – Sarah J.
"It has a greater impact when we do have plans and [you] cancel or change abruptly or unexpectedly for no reason. It took a lot of coordination to get out childless, and it's not as easy to reschedule for a different time." – Meagan E.
"As much as I love my son, I don't *always* want to bring him along to our social events. I'd like to know that they still want to spend time with me, not just for a chance to hold the baby." – Brittany H.
"I want my childless friends to know that them showing interest in my child would mean the world to me. I enjoy the limited time I have with my daughter, and it would make me so happy to know they want to take an interest in how she's growing as well." – Jeni A.
"I wish they knew how great it is to still be recognized as a person separate from my child. It's a hard adjustment learning who you are post-baby, and when all anyone asks about is how baby is doing it can make it feel really lonely. Moms go through so much transition during pregnancy, labor, and adjustment to being a parent and often times it seems people forget that you're still all the things you used to be, in addition to being a mom to a precious new life." – Brenna M.
"I wish people knew to ask permission or check in with the parents. We're very intentional about the language we use with our daughter, we don't let her look at screens, we are in charge of when and how we introduce foods to her (someone offered her a french fry at 5 months!). As her parents, we love her a ton and we put a lot of care, intentionality, and thought into how we raise her. Please do us the courtesy of checking in with us before assuming you know what is or isn't OK for our kid." – Desirée R.
"I wish they knew how helpful it is to change a diaper or give the baby a bottle. Everyone wants to come over and hold the baby when they're being sweet, but it was such a treat when a handful of friends would say, "Don't worry, I got it," and change his diaper and feed him! Extra bonus points for the ones who knew to stand and bounce him when he started crying instead of all but throwing him back to me. Sitting for an hour is such an incredible luxury when you're a new mom." – Jessie B.
"I definitely wish my childless friends knew how broken and scared I was in the beginning. I'm usually the independent, make-you-laugh, give-you-tough-love friend, but nothing was funny to me and I was the opposite of strong when I first had my son. I needed them to let me off the hook for telling funny birth stories and just let me cry on their shoulder even if they didn't understand." – Kaitlin T.
"Motherhood can be so lonely, especially when your closest friends aren't in the mama boat with you. Just because I had a baby doesn't mean the person I was before just completely died. I still need my girlfriends!" – Kat P.
What do you wish your non-mom friends new about the change in your life?


An Individualized Educational Plan is something that the federal government offers to any Special Needs children or children with developmental delays in a public school setting. Setting up an IEP is free and is a basic right for these children. However, there is a huge difference between a mediocre IEP and an excellent one. Parents who want what is best for their children in the Special Education department will advocate at each IEP meeting for workable, measurable changes that will stretch their children without creating unachievable situations. Try out these six tips at the next IEP meeting in Los Angeles County to create realistic, specific goals for ultimate classroom success.
Unless this is the child's first year of school, parents and teachers will have a good idea of how the child prefers to learn and what does not work in the classroom. Teachers, administrators and other parents of Special Needs children will also be able to discuss different learning modalities that have worked with children with similar needs. Following this step will ensure that the IEP is individualized.
Most parents have questions about how their child is performing, what new educational technologies are available and how the school can integrate their child into traditional classroom settings. Coming with a list of questions will help parents and teachers create complete and accurate IEPs.
Goals listed in the IEP should be specific to the child and should be able to be measured using test results or some other form of concrete measurement. This will help the child be successful and will show teachers and parents exactly how well the child is progressing.
Often, disagreements will arise at IEP meetings. Remaining calm will help keep one's emotions out of the mix and will help to avoid tension and blaming. Should the need arise, parents can always put off decision-making until another meeting time to ensure that all decisions are made for the good of the child.
Federal and state laws allow parents to bring along an advocate. This could be a family member or friend, but often an attorney is the best advocate in tense situations. Attorneys at Newman Aaronson Vanaman can provide legal representation at IEP meetings as well as at followup hearings.


text:
Harvard Laboratory Caught Tormenting and Decapitating Animals
Published May 3, 2016 by Jennifer Bates. Last Updated June 18, 2018.
Harvard Medical School (HMS) is reviewing the treatment of mice and rats in its laboratories after an anonymous whistleblower, distraught over the school's experimenters' apparently callous attitude toward animals, contacted PETA with disturbing photographs and reports of mice and rats abused in deadly pain, itch, and other neurological experiments.
During the experiments, animals are injected with caustic materials, killed, and decapitated. The whistleblower's photographs reveal a freezer filled with plastic bags stuffed with mice's bodies, mice whose ears are pierced with metal tags so heavy that they appear to cause the animals' heads to tilt, and mice wrapped in gauze and left lethargic after surgeries.
These experiments, which have received almost $8 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have resulted in little clinical progress, and the use of mice to develop treatments for human neurological disorders has an extremely high failure rate.
PETA is calling on HMS and NIH to reevaluate their approval and funding, respectively, of these crude and cruel experiments. In our correspondence, we note the following:
Humane and modern non-animal research methods, such as neuro-imaging techniques in human volunteers, … systems using human cells and tissues, state-of-the-art organs-on-chips, and computational models all can generate data that are directly relevant to humans and can replace animals in these specific studies.
PETA's letters also discuss documents that we obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, which reveal more than 74 animal-welfare violations from December 2012 to October 2015 at HMS, including incidents in which animals endured pain, were injured, and died as a result of neglect and incompetence.
These documents reveal that mice in HMS's laboratories died from dehydration after their water bottles ran out of water and no one bothered to refill them. Mice in other experiments died from radiation overdoses or suffered when laboratory workers failed to notice that they had grown tumors larger than what was permitted in the experiment, and one mouse was found dead in a cage after being left unattended for months. Elsewhere at the school, a marmoset monkey sustained a broken leg as a result of abusive capture methods, and in just one incident, 200 zebrafish died after an aquaculture life-support system was inadvertently shut off.
While PETA welcomes the news that HMS is investigating our concerns, the only way to ensure that animals don't continue to suffer in wasteful, ineffective experiments is to shut them down and switch to superior non-animal research methods.
Despite making up more than 95 percent of animals abused in experiments, rats and mice are specifically excluded from the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), the only federal law with legally enforceable standards that governs the treatment of animals in laboratories. Please ask Congress to amend the AWA to include rats and mice.


Anything I say regarding what happened yesterday in Boston is going to sound trite and self-serving, and will probably insult someone.
Yesterday, when I posted on Facebook that my family (my parents and my stepdaughter) in Boston had reported in safe and well, I got "Like"s from people I hadn't heard from in months. This was a comfort. In the face of a very close tragedy, it was a comfort being reminded of all those tendrils I have out to the rest of the country, and the rest of the world.
Social media is great for tendrils, and despite my complaints about advertising and privacy, I am grateful for the computer age and the mechanisms that allow us to touch each other so easily. Some people say it's dehumanizing, and in some ways I suppose it is. But I would be no more likely to go out and interact with people face-to-face if I didn't have my computer. Certainly not everyone is like me – I'm an introvert – but in so many ways the Internet has made the world smaller.
But perhaps not small enough.
I am staggered by what happened yesterday. I am horrified that someone would do such a thing. I am relieved that so many people – officials and otherwise – rallied to help. I am incredibly grateful for Twitter and Facebook and the speed with which news travels. I'm also grateful that so few spurious rumors came out – there were some, but in general people were wary about repeating anything that wasn't directly confirmed by officials at the scene.
Impossible not to think: Three people, just going about their day, no longer here. Many more than that injured, some scarred permanently.
Impossible not to think: Across the planet yesterday – even if I limit it to the roads in the US, or just this state – so many more people lost.
Simple psychology, of course: If it's close to home, it's easier to "feel" it. If it's a deliberate crime, it's easier to become outraged. If it appears random, it's easier to feel helpless – so we immediately try to figure out why it was not random. We become tribal, we humans, at the drop of a hat. We are hurt, we are angry, we are scared – and for good reason. But step 2 of all of this is the attack. Who did this to us? What tribe can we turn on for this? We've been hit; how do we hit back?
At this point, of course, there hasn't been much confirmed about this particular crime. But the finger-pointing begins already. I caught one comment on an NPR story asserting it had to be the IRA. And of course the battle between self-described liberals and conservatives continues with its usual shrill irrelevance. So many people pulling together…and almost immediately we turn on each other.
As a general rule, I don't hold out a lot of hope for the human race. I'm pretty sure what we've done to the planet is going to make it uninhabitable for us sooner than we're ready to handle. But it may not matter. We may not make it that far. We are so angry and defensive and so wedded to the idea of an eye for an eye. Something like this happens – something that makes us feel helpless in our homes, where we should feel safe – and the saber-rattling starts immediately. We are so quick to want to fight back that sometimes we lose sight of who we're fighting.
And yet…these tendrils. People tweeting and re-tweeting news, photographs, "I am safe" messages. People opening their homes to stranded strangers. Businesses offering free meals, or just places for people to sit and wait.
I am as guilty as anyone of inaction. I can tsk away at headlines with the best of them, and do nothing. It is human nature to address immediate need, to deal with the crisis that is closest. If we tried to reach across the whole world, to fix all of it, every day…we would, every one of us, collapse in grief.
But I wonder. Maybe it's not just about fixing a crisis. There were waves of kindness yesterday, and I believe they were stronger than the divisiveness and cruelty. Maybe the key to all of this is not waiting for the crisis. Maybe the key is to remember a little more often that we're all in this together.
This is not some grand Pollyanna call for selflessness; but you know, it's not that hard to be nice.
I can smile and say thank you when the mail carrier drops packages at my door instead of leaving them in the mailbox. I can ask my co-worker how her vacation was. I can choose to believe that the guy who cut me off in traffic just didn't see me. I can remember that the people who don't think like I do are as human as I am, and that however they present themselves I can choose to present myself with compassion, even while disagreeing.
It's just not that hard. And despite my hardened cynicism, I do believe kindness spreads more persistently than hate.
I suppose I have to believe it, because the reverse is unbearable.


text:
Repelling sharks to save them...and us!
Thu. 20 Feb, 2014 7:00pm - 8:00pm AWST
Presented by Dr Ryan Kempster
Shark repellents have traditionally been used to reduce the risk of 'attack', but they also play a role in reducing bycatch and, ultimately, protecting these ecologically and economically important species. Ryan Kempster, a shark biologist at UWA, will reveal the history of shark repellent technology with insights into his latest research findings and conservation outreach programs to protect sharks and us.
About Dr Ryan Kempster:
Ryan Kempster is a Marine Neuroecologist (Sensory Biologist) and founder of the shark conservation group Support Our Sharks (supportoursharks.com). Ryan began his research with an M.Sc. in Marine Biology at Bangor University (U.K.) and later moved to Australia to complete a Ph.D. at the University of Western Australia. Ryan's research focuses on the sensory biology of sharks with the ultimate goal of refining and improving shark repellent devices to protect ocean users and reduce shark bycatch in commercial fisheries.
UWA Claremont - Kurrajong LT cnr Princess and Goldsworthy Roads
Claremont, WA 6010


text:
Q: svg2png performance I'm having difficulties with the speed of svg2png and wondering if there was any way to improve it. I'm using D3 to create a Radar Chart. This is all rendered by Node.js in a jsdom. The resulting SVG is converted to a PNG using svg2png. The purpose of doing this is to then insert the image into reports which are provided to the end user. The same javascript which renders the radar chart is used within the app (without node.js) and works very quickly.
Using .NET core 2.1 and Node.js v8.11.2
Time taken to convert the svg to png is approximately 2-3 seconds.
Invocation of node services;
public async Task<string> GetRadarChartAsync(dynamic options)
{
  return await _nodeServices.InvokeAsync<string>("./wwwroot/js/node-radar-chart.js", options);
}

Which is being called like so and the base64 image extracted.
Task<string> result = (Task<string>)mapped_function.DynamicInvoke(objects.ToArray<object>());
string img_base64 = result.Result;

The javascript wrapper looks like this;
module.exports = function(callback, options, data) {

   const dom = new JSDOM(`<!DOCTYPE html><div id="body" class="radar-chart"></div>`);

   var options1 = {
       window: dom.window,
       selector: '.radar-chart',
       data: JSON.parse(data.radar)
   }

   var options_combined = Object.assign(options1, options);

   var chart1 = new RadarChart(options_combined);

   // Convert SVG to PNG and return it to controller
   var svgText = chart1.html();

   svg2png(Buffer.from(svgText))
      .then(buffer => buffer.toString('base64'))
      .then(buffer => callback(null, buffer));

}

UPDATE 14/8/18
Previously incorrectly labelled this issue as an invocation issue between node and .NET Core 2.1. Further investigation revealed that svg2png is causing the problem.
FURTHER UPDATE
Issue is likely due to svg2png utilising PhantomJS. Proposed idea was to allow svg2png to use the same PhantomJS instance over multiple calls, but there is no development on this issue as yet. See svg2png github.
I'll have to deal with my speed issues until a better solution presents itself.

A: When I tried out the NodeServices samples on GitHub (especially the server-side rendering one) then the invocation time was 1 second minimum when using .NET 2.0. When I tried it with .NET 2.1 I think it decreased to like 100ms or less if I remember correctly. So it's possible that the NodeServices invocation time got a huge improvement from 2.0 to 2.1.
If it is not possible to upgrade then maybe you could refactor so that you need to invoke NodeServices only once.

A: I have never used svg2png but I see that you do buffer.toString('base64') which probably is not too efficient. I would imagine this happens:

*

*The whole buffer is read to the end and converted at the same time to Base64, and Base64 in itself is not very efficient when it comes to size on disk (as far as I know).

*Then this whole conversion is moved from Node to ASP.NET and I guess there could be some serialization going on here which will be slow with huge Base64 content(?).
I would look into using streams on both sides as that's what is usually used when it comes to media files.