Terry Power sat on the back porch of his home contemplating the area where he and Wendy had decided to construct a swimming pool. That would have to go on the back burner now along with their planned trip to Europe a year from now. He was a methodical man and needed this quiet time to think through the impact of shock news delivered him by his boss after Christmas.
His boss had shown a certain reticence when he called. It was so unlike Andy Ryder who was a gregarious and often generous friend more than a boss. They went fishing together and Wendy and Andy's wife Merle got on very well together attending barbecues and special occasions at Merle's home well set up for entertainment. Other employees and their families were often invited there too.
Terry wondered how much Andy was worth. He didn't give that kind of information away even though they were close friends, or at least Terry thought they'd been.
So, there'd been something about the initial approach on that phone call alerting Terry this was not the usual friendly inquiry about a mutual fishing trip in Andy's boat. No, the news hit him hard and it had taken time to recover and whisper a quiet why? Andy waited for Terry to recover his composure and asked him to come to the office and discuss the situation as soon as he could. He assured Terry he'd be settled with generously.
There'd been nothing said at the Christmas party where all workers of Ryder Lumber were in attendance. What kind of friend acts like there's nothing on the horizon and then drops a bombshell after Christmas. Terry remembered slowly increasing in anger as he made that quick drive over to the timber yard where Andy sat waiting for him at the office. To his surprise the collection of worker vehicles told him it was not only Terry involved in this shock announcement. The whole gang were assembled there milling around waiting for him to arrive. Terry was the foreman of the complex while Andy and Merle ran the business part of the yard. Andy had other business interests too.
They all trooped into the office on Terry's arrival primed for confrontation but were surprised to see Merle was there with Andy. That was unusual on a holiday. Both Andy and Merle looked uncomfortable and it was obvious Merle had been crying.
Andy motioned to Merle who stood unsteadily.
"I asked Andy to let me come to this meeting today boys as it's really because of me Andy took this decision. I know he's hurting probably as much as you are right now, and he's always been a softy about these things." She turned to look at Andy who sat moving papers around on his desk.
"Two weeks before Christmas I went for my regular check up and the doctor was not too happy about some of the things I was complaining about so sent me to specialists for the old once over. I was not worried then, but our doctor phoned and booked me for an urgent appointment. I'm riddled with cancer boys so have a year at the most. Andy wants to take me for a cruise before things get tough and as we've worked together over the years he now wants out of the business to spend time with me and then retire from active business. He says age seventy-three entitles him to that" Merle smiled grimly.
The workers sat stunned. They'd come to do battle but loved Merle too much to do that now. No one else would get away with calling them boys!
Andy cleared his throat and rose to look at the group. Tears formed in his eyes. "I'm sorry guys, I just can't handle it without Merle. I don't know how our competitor found out, but he did and phoned with an offer its pretty hard to turn down, but he wants to choose his own men so technically all of you would lose your job though it's possible some may continue here if he needs you. Of course, you'll be very liberally settled with by us. You've served this yard for more years than I can remember so this is hard for me. Losing Merle, then letting you guys down is almost too hard to bear. I need to resolve this quickly, so I can be with Merle these last precious months.
The mood among the men. Merle's boys, had changed from confrontation to sympathy. They gathered around expressing their sympathies and took leave. They'd be employed until a new owner took over.
Andy motioned Terry to stay behind. "Merle won't be able to handle the books from now until the business is sold. I know you'll be upset about this news, but I need help. You need to continue to keep the business going until a sale price is agreed to as I'll be driving Merle around to different medical appointments. Do you have any suggestions as to who could handle the accounting side?" Terry shook his head and Andy sighed.
Terry's head was in a whirl as he drove home. Wendy would not handle this well. Merle was like a second mother to her and she'd be equally distressed at he not having any guaranteed work for the immediate future. Her heart had been set on the swimming pool in the back yard and the trip to Europe next year. Oh well, the business was closed for vacation, so he had a few days to think things through before sharing this news.
But Wendy like any woman was tuned into changed moods in the family and she studied Terry carefully over the next few days. Was he sick? She decided to bring it to a head.
So, it all came out in a rush. Wendy cried when she heard about Merle and scolded him.
She ran down the hallway picking up the car keys as she left slamming the front door.
Later that evening Wendy had cooled down after spending time with Merle. "She was so calm, I can't believe it. I'd be having a meltdown over news like that." She smiled tentatively.
Terry nodded his head soberly. Some of them had mortgage payments to meet on their homes and needed all the work they could get.
The mood around their home was sombre as they reached the last day of the year and thought of changed circumstances. It was three in the afternoon when Terry's cell phone chimed, and he looked at the screen to see who was calling. It was Andy.
Wendy had just returned from visiting Merle, so Terry was puzzled. He shouted to Wendy.
Terry looked at his wife suspiciously, what had she been up to now? But the look of genuine surprise was for real. She picked up the keys again and motioned toward the door. They sped over to Andy's place apprehensively. Had Merle taken a bad turn?
But the two who met them at the door looked happy.
"I've got a proposition for you two!" Said Andy with a return of his gregarious style. Merle looked pleased about something so their curiosity was aroused.
"We'll take it!" Wendy said quickly.
Terry looked at her incredulously. "We don't have that kind of money hon, let's talk this over first," he stammered.
"What about two years?" Wendy couldn't believe she'd said that, now it was her turn to look apprehensive as she realized what she'd be committing to.
Thank you for continuing to visit my blogs in 2017 Jane. I wish you the very best 2018 has to offer.
Happy New Year Ian. Loved the story. Resonated with me too.
This was a wonderful story, Ian, and well-written as always. Even though there is sad news for Merle, happiness joins in and leaves the reader sighing with a bit of relief. Your story is also an example where a good attitude makes a big difference in how we react to shocking news – will we sink in despair or seek that bright side?
This one is a sweet tale and well told. I do believe that your writing is getting more and more accomplished. Loved it – Happy New Year!.
This story struck a chord.
Management buy out – happened to me in 1994 when my boss decided to sell and retire. I took over the business, employed all the staff and never looked back.


It is quite a rare occasion, indeed if it happens at all, for anyone to be able to complete a major project without a helping hand or external expertise being required. And when any project involves a global workforce there is always a custom database application sitting in the middle – or somewhere close to the center – where it can collect data from input devices and applications located on the periphery of the network.
Although it might seem like an oxymoron, the terms "team collaboration" and "D.I.Y." (Do it yourself), can actually be used in the same sentence without creating a contradicting message. In this case, for example, it is implied that people can work together using software solutions that they themselves can install, configure, and then use. They are connected together using independent software solutions of their choice.
The applications we will see next are all powerful enough to support complex tasks while using as little as possible in terms of computing resources in return. In some cases, the free versions of the applications offer the same services (albeit with a limited number of users). This allows users to try them out in real-life scenarios and production environments before they can commit to paying for their premium versions.
A Custom database application is a data storage server that sits in the middle of a cloud network with everything from online spreadsheets to the Internet of Things (IoT) being able to connect to it. Once the data has been processed and saved from one connected device or application, it can immediately be accessed by another one sitting on the opposite side of the network.
This image shows a typical design where a custom database application sits in the middle of a bevy of third-party applications that it would be built to accommodate and even integrate.
Kohezion serves as a platform that lets users create databases on them so they can then be used to serve as the cores of data sharing and storing projects. Even their free trial offer serves as an eye-opener as to how efficient their solution is in bringing systems that use diverse data storage and sources – like MS Excel and SQL – together.
Slack, a proprietary cloud-based collaboration tool, is one of the most popular workspace-and-communications applications out there.
This application can serve as the "home base" for project members and lets them chat in assigned rooms, share documents among themselves, and stay in contact around the clock.
When configured and utilized correctly, Slack can really feel like a real office environment complete with water cooler gossip and advanced communication, notification, and document-sharing features making it seem like another day at the office.
There is no project that can be completed without someone needing to note something down or save figures for future calculations and references. That is where these two cloud applications shine.
With Google's Docs (for text content) and Sheets (for numerical data analysis) files can be shared individually or as a whole folder so everyone can add inputs or access what was shared by a colleague with complete ease and no version confusions.
When using the applications, users won't have to worry about the security of their documents and spreadsheets. In contrast, those documents that are saved on their individual devices could end up being corrupted, not up-to-date (out of sync) or even stolen/tampered with by malicious entities.
Collaborating workers always need to know what they have been assigned while team leaders and the bosses higher up must have a clear image of progress that is being made.
Asana helps the collaboration effort by organizing tasks, creating workflows, and scheduling projects, among many other things. It is a management tool that clearly shows how much progress – or otherwise – has been made via detailed dashboards and reports.
The project workers, on the other hand, can see what is scheduled for the future, and if they don't like what they see, their team leaders are able to assign or reassign the tasks to other more fitting workers by simply dragging and dropping them.
Finally, we have the front-end applications that the user will use to do the actual work – whatever it may be. It, therefore, becomes the choice of the user to pick one that they will deem fit to meet all their requirements.
Either way, the whole idea becomes: getting the work done with the help of software solutions that can connect to the database housing the data.
Ok, we can see that these tools are really good at what they do; and yes, they also really do help with collaboration. But, what exactly are their overall advantages for any business – SMB or otherwise – that chooses to use them?
Reeling in the smartest fish in the pool: Allowing for the IQ level involved in a project to rise as businesses can reach out to, and hire, people from all over the world.
Location independence: People working on a project don't have to be tied down to a specific location. Because, as long as there is an Internet connection, anyone can be allowed to join the project from anywhere on the planet.
Streamlined data flow: All the data that is used during the project is stored on custom database applications that are built for cloud computing, while the applications connecting to them are designed to optimally retrieve, and store, data from them.
Flexibility in manpower allocation: Grouping and assignment of team members is digitalized which makes it easy to assign and reassign them as needed. Their roles and privileges can also be controlled accordingly to ensure a secure working environment.
Cost saving: A project that is run using DIY online applications will always cut costs as they eliminate (or drastically reduce) software, hardware, and overhead expenses.
Improved brainstorming: When all members store and share their information centrally and communication flows smoothly across seamless platforms, a business can grow quickly using these tools as it creates a fertile ground for innovation.
The cumulative result is that any project which is tackled using custom database applications and other DIY online applications has a higher chance of being completed on schedule, on budget, and meeting all expectations along the way.
If you have had any doubts about team collaboration and DIY online applications – now you know!
This entry was posted in Business Productivity, Database Application, Online Database Software, Spreadsheets and tagged custom database, custom database application, DIY, HR software, internet of things, IOT, online collaboration, online projects, online spreadsheet, people management, team collaboration. Bookmark the permalink.
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What is a loot box and why do some people worry that they are exploiting addictive behaviors?
Video gamers might have a spending problem.
With the exponential rise in popularity in games such as Fortnite and Overwatch, many video games have introduced loot boxes and microtransactions – avenues for players to spend real money to unlock virtual weapons, boosts and costumes.
Loot boxes award in-game upgrades such as new skins for characters, new maps, items or player boosts, often at a cost. Loot boxes have become common fixtures within the individual economies of video games – yes, today's video games have their own built-in economies.
Fortnite, one of the most popular games worldwide, generated $318 million in revenue in May despite being a free-to-play game. A recent Juniper Research report expects the digital game industry to exceed $160 billion via in-game spending by 2022.
For most adult gamers, this might merely be a consumer choice. But some people contend that loot boxes pose special risks for children and people prone to gambling addiction. That's because players often buy loot boxes without knowing what's inside, taking the chance that it might hold a treasure trove.
On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission agreed to investigate loot boxes in gaming following an official request by U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH).
Hassan wrote a letter to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) earlier this year citing "the prevalence of in-game microtransactions, often referred to as 'loot boxes,' raises several concerns surrounding the use of psychological principle and enticing mechanics that closely mirror those often found in casinos and games of chance."
While this has been topical in video game culture for several years especially overseas, the issue has only begun to take center stage in policy here in the states.
What is a microtransaction in video games?
Any time a player uses real world currency to purchase an in-game upgrade or premium, that is a microtransaction. This often happens one of two ways: a player can opt to purchase an item or loot box outright or a player may choose to purchase an item via in-game currency. In-game currency is a monetary system that changes from game to game. Each video game's economy is different. For example, in Fifa 18 "FUT Coins" are the in-game currency, in the popular PC game League of Legends "Riot Points" are. Accumulation of in-game currency varies between games. Loot boxes, while often categorized as separate, are still a microtransaction; the reward in a loot box is randomized.
Why the concern about loot boxes?
With a loot box, a player is unaware of what he or she may receive. In games like Star Wars Battlefront II the loot box system came under heavy scrutiny from the gaming community to a system that encouraged players to pay for better items in order to gain an advantage. In circumstances like this, in-game spending can create an edge for players who invest more in the game. A pay-to-play advantage, if you will.
Some video games have also come under fire due to a gambling component within the acquisition of loot boxes and microtransaction purchases. Seeing how loot boxes are randomized, there's an element of chance. Meaning a player might have a chance to get a "rare" item but will likely be awarded an average one. This implementation has been most notable in Fifa 18's "Ultimate Team" game mode, where gamers purchase "packs" for players and items. The packs are defined based on gold, silver and bronze tiers. A gold pack will likely yield more "legendary" items in comparison to a bronze one. However, the packs are still randomized and items are delivered based on a lottery. This can create an emotional tie towards playing that emulates gambling and addictive behaviors, as noted by an August 2018 article by The Guardian.
Earlier this year the ESRB issued a statement regarding the definitions of in-game purchases. However, monitoring loot boxes and in-game purchasing remains in question.
A number of games have taken proactive measures against loot boxes over the last year, however, they are still present in a number of top-selling games. Here's a breakdown of a few of the in-game economies for some of the most popular titles right now.
One of the most widely played games in the world right now, Fortnite initially relied heavily on a loot box system when it first launched, however, the current system allows players access to a season pass. Players can purchase the "Battle Pass" for $10 a season.This allows players access to cosmetic upgrades like skins and outfits, which can be earned through gameplay ("V-Bucks") or outright via purchase.
Initially, during the beta phase, the game's online economy was met with heavy criticism from gamers. At first, players could buy items via real-world money or earn gold bars through gameplay. What players first noticed was an unruly high cost for online items in addition to an unfair time limit on how many gold bars you could earn completing missions. This was forcing a number of players to either grind out hours on end or use real money to advance in the game and caused a backlash from gamers across the country. Since, Rockstar has corrected the mistake, requiring fewer hours of gameplay to earn gold bars and cheaper prices for online items. However, players can still purchase items with real-world money if they choose.
The EA Sports franchise relies on "FUT Coins" in the game's economy. Players can earn coins by playing in addition to purchasing larger quantities of FUT coins via real-world currency. Loot boxes are largely present in the game's "Ultimate Team" mode as player packs.
Players can purchase upgrades through the in-game currency of "silver bars" which can also be purchased with real-world cash. However, the game does not have any form of loot boxes currently.
This free-to-play game is one of the most widely played in the world and one of the most profitable. Players can purchase "Riot Points" which are used for cosmetic upgrades such as costumes in addition to gameplay bonuses.
Overwatch uses a loot box system based on four tiers: common, rare, epic and legendary. The boxes are 4-item bundles which can be purchased via real-world money in addition the boxes can also be earned through gameplay experience.
Plenty of microtransactions for cosmetic items and outfits are available for purchase via real-world currency, but currently, no randomized loot boxes are present.
April 1, 2019, 10:26 a.m.


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The Sassy One by Susan Mallery
"For the Marcelli sisters of California wine country, the season is ripe for romance!Francesca Marcelli married at eighteen -- right on schedule, according to her warm, colorful family, who have always said a beauty like Francesca need never worry about finding love. But a few years later, finding herself on her own with a wide open future ahead of her, she pursues her educational passions -- with a risky experiment that takes her straight into the arms of playboy CEO Sam Reese. Delighted by Francesca's interest in a no-strings relationship, Sam suddenly finds himself needing her outside the bedroom when a secret from his past lands on his doorstep. But Francesca soon has a secret of her own to tell -- a bombshell that will force the diehard bachelor to show his true colors. Are there "I do"s in Sam and Francesca's future? Only if she can persuade him that home truly is where the heart finds happiness."
From the very first line, this book caught me ("Francesca Marcelli had only been pregnant for twenty minutes and already her back hurt.") The book itself is a worth reading, not-going-to-put-down kind of book, but what really kept me reading was the strength of the characters. I loved Francesca's quick-witted, bubbly personality and I loved that right from the start Sam was a gentleman and not the cynical, to-be-converted type that we read about oh-so often. The characters' attraction was instant and there relationship only flourished throughout the book, I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading their interactions.
This is a book I'd definitely recommend it was humorous, passionate and comically romantic, both characters have promised not to wed again, yet both find themselves falling for the other. I'd give this book 4 stars out of 5 and a B+, while I enjoyed it thoroughly, A(s) are for my absolute top-favorite books.
The Sparkling One by Susan Mallery
I decided to review The Sparkling One as it was first published quite awhile back, but has been recently republished, and so, will gain more publicity, attracting more buyers.
"A party planner extraordinaire, Katie Marcelli loves her big, boisterous family -- even when their chronic matchmaking drives her crazy! In the Marcelli household, fine wine and good food are as celebrated as true love, so when her eighteen-year-old sister announces her engagement, Katie promises her the perfect wedding. There's only one hitch: the father of the groom, Zach Stryker, who is adamantly opposed to his son marrying so young. Now, despite her instant attraction to the handsome, arrogant attorney, Katie must approach with caution: Zach, who hired Katie for a major fund-raiser, holds the fate of her business in his hands -- and how can she trust a man who is willing to break her sister's heart? It will take a passionate battle of wills to determine if wedding bells will ring for a Marcelli bride, and to unlock the deepest desires -- for family, love, and home -- inside a strong-willed man's heart."
Katie and Zach are both strong-willed and stubborn so, when paired, it's almost always a fight-to-the-death match. It's comical, the way how both character's interact, and from the first instance Katie and Zach collide, sparks fly.
I loved Katie's character, right from the beginning, she was funny, smart and caring, just one side-effect of growing up in a crazy Irish-Italian household, not to mention being smothered with love and food by both her grandmothers, how could a girl not weigh 500 lbs? I loved Zach as well, although I loathed him for a bit in the beginning for using his work relationship with Katie to try and break Mia's engagement to his son but, despite that, he was a pretty lovable fellow.
I also loved the Marcelli family, although I disliked their primal belief in Alpha-males in a household, although that belief was mostly diminished by the end of this book. I would recommend this book for a romance lover or for a quick read, I would recommend it for someone who savors every romantic gesture, as the romantic gestures in this book comes in smaller, more subtle ways. I give this book 4 stars, maybe a B+.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
License Our Health News
General HealthEmergenciesPet HealthEar Nose And ThroatHead InjuriesBlood DisordersClotsPublic HealthFire Safety
Cats Injured in Wildfires at High Risk for Blood Clots
Cat treated for care at UC Davis Veterinary Hospital after 2018 Camp Fire. (UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine)
MONDAY, July 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- While California works to restore its landscape after years of historic wildfires, new research could transform the way in which veterinarians treat animals recovered from damaged forests.
The study found that cats who inhaled smoke or suffered burns are at risk for forming deadly clots. Not only that, the scientists were able to pinpoint microscopic issues in the cats' blood that could lead to new treatments down the line.
"Prior to these two papers, we didn't realize that cats impacted by urban wildfires were prone to forming clots, which can lead to sudden death," said lead study co-author Ronald Li, an associate professor of small animal emergency and critical care at University of California, Davis. "This study will change the standard of care for rescued cats from these wildfires and hopefully save more lives."
For the study, the researchers looked at the platelets, blood cells that trigger clotting, of a group of cats who were treated for their injuries after the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. They discovered the injured cats had increased, overactive platelets when compared to healthy cats or cats with a common heart disease known as HCM, which causes a thickening of the heart muscle.
"Cats with HCM are hypercoagulable, meaning they are more likely to form clots," explained lead co-author Ava Tan, a veterinary research fellow working in Li's laboratory. "That's why we used them as a control group to compare with cats in the wildfire group."
The overactive platelets of the injured cats released large amounts of microvesicles, which are microscopic, bubble-like structures filled with proteins. High quantities of these microvesicles could be an indicator of heart disease, as their presence threatens an increased risk of blood clotting.
"We found cats exposed to wildfire smoke and injuries are even more prone to throwing clots, showing a direct association between wildfire injuries, platelet response and clot formation," Tan said in a university news release.
The findings were published July 14 in the journalFrontiers in Veterinary Science. Another study is now underway to determine why feline platelets are so prone to clotting.
But can smoke and burns impact humans in the same way? Although the underlying mechanism hasn't yet been identified in humans, this study in cats could lead to future developments on platelet activation in humans.
"This study opens a new door to looking at how wildfires impact cardiovascular health in humans," Li said.
Visit the U.S. Forest Service to stay updated on wildfires in your area.
SOURCE: University of California, Davis, news release, July 14, 2022
FDA Could Ease Blood Donation Rules for Gay Men
Got an Extra Chromosome? It Could Harm You
Once-Weekly Efanesoctocog Alfa Beneficial in Severe Hemophilia A
Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling
What Is Heartworm and How Can You Protect Your Pet From It?
You Can Prevent Sports Overuse Injuries
In a First, Medicaid Extends Coverage to Prison Inmates
FDA Says No to Regulating CBD Products as Supplements
Risks for Heart Failure Rise in Rural America
Top FDA Official Involved in Baby Formula Debacle Resigns
Heart Disease When Young Could Bring Memory Issues by Middle Age


Earlier, I was in my happy place enjoying the rain when Adrian broke the silence with, "Oh man, it's flocking wet outside!" I asked, "Excuse me?" And he said, "I said it's flocking wet out!" "What does 'flocking wet' mean?" I asked, really curious where this was going. "Umm, I mean, I guess it means it's really kind of wet outside."
And so now, a couple hours later, it's really coming down. So I'm just gonna sit here and flocking enjoy it.


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TADFF19: Witches in the Woods
October 18, 2019 January 7, 2021 Sean Kelly
Witches in the Woods (2019) 1h 30min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller | 25 August 2019 (Brazil)
Director: Jordan BarkerWriters: Christopher BorrelliStars: Hannah Kasulka, Alexander De Jordy, Craig Arnold
Summary: Jill, a tenacious UMass freshman, abandons her studies for an off-the-grid snowboarding trip. When their SUV mysteriously becomes lost, temperatures fall and the group dynamic unravels as a virtual and then literal witch hunt begins.
Countries: CanadaLanguages: English
Source: imdb.comDisclaimer: This plugin has been coded to automatically quote data from imdb.com. Not available for any other purpose. All showing data have a link to imdb.com. The user is responsible for any other use or change codes.
A group of friends get lost in the wilderness and find themselves tormented by a supernatural force in Witches in the Woods. Derek (Craig Arnold), Jill (Hannah Kasulka), Phillip (Corbin Bleu), Tod (Kyle Mac), Mattie (Alexander De Jordy), Bree (Humberly González), and Alison (Sasha Clements) are a group of friends heading out on a ski trip. The group enter into Stoughton Valley, which is known for a series of witch trials more infamous than Salem. After taking a wrong turn, the group finds themselves stranded in the woods and hunted by a sinister presence.
Witches in the Woods is a supernatural horror film from director Jordon Baker and writer Christopher Borrelli. Early on, we learn that Alison has been traumatized by a recent sexual assault and is an outcast to everyone except her best friend Jill, who also has to tell her boyfriend Derek that she is going to leave him to be with Phillip. After following bad directions by Tod, the group finds themselves trapped in a snowbank in supposedly haunted woods. As night falls, the friends begin to turn against each other and specifically target Alison, who they believe has become possessed by a supernatural force.
Witches in the Woods is a film that spoils any creepiness it has with a cast of incredibly unlikeable and cliched characters. The film is also incredibly problematic in how it turns the sexual abuse trauma of Alison into a plot device, especially as the film vilifies her by showing her possessed and seeking revenge against her horrible friends. As such, Witches in the Woods is less Blair Witch Project and more I Spit on Your Grave and adding the fact that the film is written and directed by males, I can't condone the direction it goes.
Jordan Barker, Witches in the Woods permalink
TADFF19: Extra Ordinary
TADFF19: James vs. His Future Self


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Q: Button disable/enable based on user control value change I have a user control which has 3 text boxes and one combobox. I am adding these user control multiple times (say 5) in my main page. I have a button in main page which should enable/disable if any of these textbox values change or combo box selection changes ( 5*3 = 15 text boxes and 5*1 = 5 combo boxes).
I am using MVVM, so i have all these controls binded to property. Can someone help me know how i can achieve this? How to capture the event for any of the changes to either a text box or a combo box and based on the enable/disable my button?

A: Its a bit of a pain sometimes, but this is a good use case for CanExecute/CanExecuteChanged.
Your button's Command property should be bound to an ICommand object. That class should probably just take an instance of your ViewModel in its constructor so it can check all the appropriate fields in CanExecute.
Then, you need to add a RaiseCanExecuteChanged function on that command object, so that you can call it whenever a related variable is set. The function just raises the CanExceuteChanged event so the button will re-invoke CanExecute and update its IsEnabled property.
Alternatively, you can just bind IsEnabled on the button, and update the bound bool whenever a related field changes.

A: You can create an event on the ViewModel of the UserControl. Trigger it when the buttons value get changed.
So lets us say you have your control VM.
public class MyControlViewModel
{
    public event EventHandler OnTextboxOrComboBoxChanged;

    private string _myTextBoxValue;
    public string MyTextBoxValue
    {
        get { return _myTextBoxValue; }
        set
        {
            _myTextBoxValue = value;
            OnPropertyChanged("MyTextBoxValue");
            if(OnTextboxOrComboBoxChanged != null)
                OnTextboxOrComboBoxChanged(); // trigger the event
        }
    }

    // other codes here
}

Now on the ViewModel where the button exists. Create a subscription to the event and add a IsEnabled property to bind on the button.
public class MainViewModel
{
    public MainViewModel
    {
        MyControlViewModel = new MyControlViewModel();
        MyControlViewModel.OnTextboxOrComboBoxChanged += (sender, e) =>
        {
            IsButtonEnabled = false;
            // add other process here
        };
    }

    public bool IsButtonEnabled { get; set; }

    public MyControlViewModel MyControlViewModel { get; set; }
}

Now this is just a code mockup, modify the details you pass on the event based on what you need by creating your own EventArgs

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This paper presents a theoretical and poetic research on interactive digital images, a very broad group of visual objects characterized mainly by their power to react to the viewer with whom it relates. Considering the context of the digitalization process in contemporary society, we analyze interactive images under the concept of simulacrum, an image without an original matrix. This process associates a perceptive proposal that aims to find the objects in an intuitive way. This intense connection guides us towards a new approach to the concept of immersion, which we comprehend in this work as an immediate relation between subject and interactive digital image. These discussions unfolded in a poetic effort - the REM game, whose development was guided by methods of design that aim to think and conceive virtual objects.


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WSDG Scores Two Nominations For 32nd Annual TEC Awards
Startseite/News/WSDG Scores Two Nominations For 32nd Annual TEC Awards
By Howard Sherman
NEW YORK: Two WSDG-Walters-Storyk Design Group projects have been nominated for the 32nd Annual TEC Studio Design Project Award. The Boston Symphony Orchestra, a cultural icon for 134 years, engaged WSDG for a major upgrade of their Symphony Hall's Deutsche Grammophone Gesellschaft Control Room. Simultaneous to this assignment, VSL, the Vienna Symphonic Library enlisted WSDG for the upgrade of its historical (circa 1940) Synchron Scoring Stage and Control Room. The 32nd Annual TEC Awards will be presented on January 21stat the 2017 NAMM Convention in Anaheim, CA's Hilton Pacific Ballroom.
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONTROL ROOM
Boston Mass. USA
Boston Symphony Orchestra Control Room. Photo by www.cherylfleming.net
The world-renowned BSO is lauded for the excellence and diversity of its performances. Broadcast from Symphony Hall, via radio, TV and the Internet, these symphonic and 'Boston Pops' concerts encompass the entire spectrum of classical and contemporary music concerts, from Rachmaninoff to Manilow. After more than forty-five years of constant service, the Symphony Hall's Control Room had earned a major upgrade. WSDG's ground up acoustic treatment solution included splayed perforated wood panels, slotted wood panels, wood diffusion planks and low frequency absorption units. A handsome new custom ceiling cloud was installed to round out the package, along with four new producer workstations and two space-saving rollaway equipment racks.
VSL SYNCHRON STAGE
VSL Synchron Stage Control Room A. Photo by Heinz Zeggl
A leading developer of orchestral sample libraries and music production software, the Vienna Symphonic Library, enlisted WSDG to upgrade its scoring stage into a cutting-edge recording facility. The reconfigured complex now provides enhanced acoustics and technology for recording film music and the full spectrum of orchestral and choral works. The 2,000 sq. m. /21,000 sq. ft. complex is the world's only scoring stage capable of merging proprietary software innovations with traditional technologies and procedures. WSDG engaged original design elements to achieve a world-class acoustical environment by adding specially tuned Micro Perforated Fabric at the sidewalls, and also built in a Concert Hall grade floor. Other amenities include a Producer's Lounge, a Composer's Lounge, a Pre-Production Lounge, and several guest offices.
Presented by The NAMM Foundation, The TEC Awards are bestowed annually in celebration of the pro audio community by recognizing the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind today's sound recordings, live performances, films, television, video games and other media.
"We have been extremely fortunate to attract projects that prompt our peers to nominate them for TEC Awards," remarked John Storyk, co-founder of WSDG, a leading architectural/acoustical firm for over 45 years. "And, we've been privileged to see our work honored in past events. It is great clients that make these awards possible. We have no favorites here, but we are extremely interested to learn how our peers respond to them. May the best project prevail."
Click Here to VOTE or send an email to TECawards@namm.org with VOTE in the subject line
Visit our Boston Symphony Orchestra Control Room Project Page
Visit our VSL Synchron Stage Project Page
David Molho2017-01-29T23:01:42+00:00November 17th, 2016|News|


It's a hot Friday afternoon and I'm off to meet up with my hiking buddy's in Downtown Tucson. There's eight of us and we're planing on doing some canyoneering at Haigler Creek. The van heads off at 03:00 pm and there's a cheerful atmosphere within the group. We have been planing and training for this trip for a while now and it feels good to finally be off. After six hours of driving we reach our first goal, Hellsgate Wilderness, Tonto National Forest, Arizona. We're gonna sleep under the stars here tonight so we can get an early start in the morning. Feels great to be sung to sleep by the coyotes in the black night.
After breakfast and reorganizing our gear we say farewell to our driver that will meet us on the other side of the canyon in a couple of days. We sett our compass and head out through some heavy vegetation to reach the water that we'll be following throughout this trip. Haigler Creek is a part off the beautiful Tonto Creek and it feels like no other human ever sat their foot here, it's truly wild country. There's no trails to follow and the easiest way is to walk in the nicely cooling water. It's +15°C (59°F) in the water and +40°C (104°F) in the air. It's not just the temperature of the brown water that is refreshing, there's a lot of interesting creatures living in it to; spiders, insects, crayfish, snakes, fish, leaches, frogs and lizards.
The group consists of great gang of experienced hikers and we feel well prepared. We're just hoping that we have interpreted the Tonto Nationalparks Rangers right in their estimation on how long time it'll take us crossing the canyon. We have planed this as a three day adventure.
After some hours of wading, swimming and rappelling (at the big water falls we use our climbing gear) through amazingly beautiful and wild nature we make camp for the night in a quiet clearing. New dry clothes and some warm food makes you go to sleep quickly under a magnificent moonlit sky.
The next morning we greet the morning sun as we head of for another day of wet adventure. Today the plan is to meet up with our driver and head back home. So to keep our schedule we move as fast as we can without jeopardizing the safety, but pretty soon we realize that the estimate we got from the parkranger isn't realistic. By the time we get to the spot where we're planing to start out climb up the canyon its already getting dark. As we don't wanna climb this passage in the dark we decide to spend one bonus night out in the wild. Along with two of my buddy's we try climbing the nearest hill to see if we can get our cellphones to work. We realize that soon people back home will start worrying and wondering where we are. But as we already guessed there's no signal out here. As we wanna get a really early start in the morning we hit the hey as quick as possible.
We have one more section to swim before we can start climbing. So we get to greeat this morning's sun from the water. The climb is very steep and requires full concentration. The last thing we want right now is someone hurting themselves. Cacti and sharp rocks give us some scratches but noting we can't handle. When we finally reach the top we burst out in triumphant cheer as we realize we have navigated just right; there the trail is, right where we wanted it to be. This is the first trace of humans we've seen for almost four days. The thin air in combination with the heat is starting to take its told on our group. But by respectfully sharing the last of our snacks and drinking water we're able to keep focus. At 01:00 pm we reach our pick up point one day late. We are truly longed for; cheering and hugs is exchanged. After calling off the rescue chopper and refreshing ourselves with some water we head off to the nearest village for some well earned food. Around the restaurant table our newly won war stories are shared eagerly. And during the following six hour drive back home to Tucson we all together gratefully reflect on the fantastic adventure we've just been blessed with. And the fact that we all made it back home in one peace. Now the next challenge awaits; telling our families where we've been.
If you're a knife nerd like me you probably have been trying to figure out what knife I'm carrying in the pictures. If you want the answer; click HERE.


text:
Charles Wycliffe Noble OBE FRIBA FRSA (12 June 1925 – 1 April 2017) was a Scottish musician and architect known for his work with the Joystrings and in making public buildings accessible to disabled people.
The buildings Wycliffe Noble worked on to make them usable for disabled people include the famous Royal Albert Hall, UK Parliament, and Westminster.

References

External links
https://wycliffenoble.com/
http://www.joystrings.co.uk/Wherearetheynow.html

1925 births
2017 deaths
People from Greenock
20th-century Scottish architects
20th-century Scottish musicians
Fellows of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
British disability rights activists

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Archives for December 7, 2018
New: Dec. 23 TLC Online
The Dec. 23 edition of The Living Church is available online to registered subscribers. In this edition, associate editor Zachary Guiliano reports on the Church of England's energetic effort to attract more visitors at Christmas, and John Martin, associate editor for international news, reflects on the church's place in national culture. Guiliano writes: The church has … [Read more...] about New: Dec. 23 TLC Online
Bishop-elect Will Return to Zimbabwe
The Very Rev. Farai Mutamiri, who stepped down as dean of St. Mary and All Angels Cathedral to work in Canada, has been elected the Diocese of Harare's next bishop. Mutamiri served as dean from 2008 until August, when he moved to Canada. He was elected to succeed the Rt. Rev. Chad Gandiya, who retires on New Year's Eve. Mutamiri will be consecrated and enthroned on Jan. 6, … [Read more...] about Bishop-elect Will Return to Zimbabwe
Bp. Goff Affirmed for Longer Term
The Reverend T. Grant Ambrose, president of the Diocese of Virginia's Standing Committee, announces a decision to cancel the search for a bishop provisional: After numerous conversations with leaders in our Diocese and the Presiding Bishop's Office, and with prayerful consideration of what is in the best interests of our Diocese at this time, the Standing Committee unanimously … [Read more...] about Bp. Goff Affirmed for Longer Term
Bp. Knudsen to Assist in Washington
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Diocese of Washington announces the calling of the Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen as assisting bishop: I am thrilled to announce that Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen will join the Diocese of Washington as Assisting Bishop, effective February 20, 2019. Bishop Knudsen served as Bishop of Maine for a decade (1997-2008) and has since served a missionary in … [Read more...] about Bp. Knudsen to Assist in Washington
New Convener Bishops
Bishops United Against Gun Violence has chosen Bishop Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez of Pennsylvania and Bishop Steven Miller of Milwaukee as new co-conveners. They join Bishop Ian Douglas of Connecticut, who has served as co-convener since the group's founding in 2013. Gutiérrez and Miller succeed co-conveners Mark Beckwith, who retired as Bishop of Newark earlier this year, and … [Read more...] about New Convener Bishops


text:
Eating Out, Mainz, Wiesbaden September 20, 2014 June 21, 2017
Review: Curry Kartell
Curry Manufaktur has long been the leading Currywurst outlet in Wiesbaden. Located on Römertor and also appearing twice a week at the farmers' market at the Marktplatz, they do a consistently roaring trade of excellent, regionally-produced sausages, Belgian-made sauces and freshly-packaged (as opposed to frozen) chips to a loyal brigade of happy customers.
Various other Currywurst joints have come and gone in the time I've been here, from Curry Papst on Goldgasse, whose late night DJs and wildly flashing lights couldn't do enough to keep the customers coming, to The Best Worscht* in Town, who positioned itself laughably close to Curry Manufaktur, covered its sausages in curry powder rated on a scale of zero ("because you find yourself too hot already") to "Fucking Burning Injection", and promptly closed back down. It seems that Wiesbaden likes its Currywurst done in style.
Taking all this into account, you'd think that anyone opening a new fast food restaurant in town might think twice about making it a Currywurst joint. Unless of course, they think they're really in with a chance of stealing Curry Manufaktur's crown.
Well, the six-week old Curry Kartell on An den Quellen could be in with a chance. It opened at the beginning of August, a modern, clean-lined, glass-fronted affair at the top of the tiny escalators next to Vapianos. Space is a little tight on the inside, yet it doesn't feel cramped, and they've a couple of larger tables outside to make up for it. It's got a bit of a hipster vibe, from the huge black stickers of moustachioed, monocled chaps on the windows to the names they've given their sauces – you wouldn't get Der Dude or Der Dandy at The Best Worscht in Town.
The drinks menu continues on the same theme, made up of Fritz-Kola & Limos, the socially responsible, sustainable must-have German thirst quencher for any self-respecting hipster (and I say that with affection – their drinks really are very good); plus beer, pale ale and a very carefully considered gin and tonic.
But we're not here to talk about stickers on windows or hipster beverages, are we, we're here to talk about the Currywurst. So, is the Currywurst any good? Yes, it's good. It's very good. And it should be: the meat is all produced within 150km of here, turned into sausages made to a Curry Kartell's own recipe without flavour enhancers, colouring or preservatives. The chips are real potatoes, twice cooked. The sauces were developed by award-winning, three Michelin-starred German chef Juan Amador and are made using fresh ingredients. Even the curry powder is a blend supplied by Germany's king of spices, Ingo Holland; and even the dips are – as far as possible, they say – organically and regionally produced.
The very cute menu card (photo above) includes a small selection of Currywürste, salads, dips and meal deals, the brevity of which made me very happy, since there's nothing I hate more than endless menu options, especially "crazy" variations on a Currywurst theme (minus point for Curry Manufaktur there: the decision-making process can be very confusing for a first-timer). There are two very basic meal choices – Currywurst and chips with or without a drink – plus a vegan option that comes with salad, and a fancy sausage-free meal accompanied by a gin and tonic (!).
I picked the Schnelle Liebe ("fast love") menu, a classic currywurst with chips and a Fritz Apfelschorle (6,90€) plus extra mayo (0,70€). There are three tomato and three fruit based sauces to choose from, each available in three levels of heat and each with its own name to avoid confusion. I went for Der Dandy, a tomato sauce dusted with a medium hot spice mix that had a wonderfully fresh, tomatoey flavour and a proper fiery kick. The sausage was excellent, juicy and meaty without being fatty, the mayo was good and the chips, twice-cooked and made from actual potatoes, were the best I've had in a very long time.
I know it's just a Currywurst. It's just a sausage and chips. But good grief it's a good one. Three cheers to Curry Kartell: they've succeeded in making the Currywurst more than just a guilty pleasure and they're giving Curry Manufaktur a run for their money. I like to think Wiesbaden's big enough for the both of them, but I can't wait to go back to Curry Kartell for my next one.
Address: Wilhelmstraße 52, Wiesbaden
Website: Curry Kartell
*Worscht = Wurst (sausage) in regional dialect.
Have you been to Curry Kartell yet? How do you think it compares with Curry Manufaktur? And most importantly, how do you like your Currywurst?
Weingut Koegler, Eltville (Review)
Festivals, Events & Celebrations
Festivals, Markets & Fairs
In Review: the Mainz Street Food Festival
Germany (other)
Where to eat in Berlin (even if you're gluten free) Part I: Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg
O my God, you are so lucky! Two Currywurst places in close proximity, that's my definition of Heaven 🙂
Just one criticism about your otherwise wonderfully engaging review: what do you mean by "I know it's just a Currywurst"?!
Frau Dietz (Eating Wiesbaden) says:
Hahaha! Sorry 😉 But thank you very much for such a lovely comment! 😀
Wow. That sounds so good! It's available down here obviously, but I don't think there's anywhere that specialises in purely that! I love the sound of both of those places! 🙂
Well, they're on the look out for new spots to open more restaurants, so how about we lobby for one next door to you? 😉
That is awesome! I hope it's still there when we visit again next year (though from your review, I think it will be :)). Funny story about Curry Manufaktur, the first night that my husband and I were in Wiesbaden, we were out with his brother and their uncle and some cousins. Walking past the Römertor and a bit ahead of hubby and I, uncle and brother stopped so uncle could point something out to brother. My husband and I caught up to them and my husband showed me that what they were looking at was a Roman tower, very cool… and then uncle admits that he was showing brother that the best Currywurst place was down that street, but oh yeah there's a cool ancient tower down there, too 🙂
Haha – I'm glad your husband's uncle has his priorities right!! And I'm hoping it will still be here next year, too 😀
You have already tempted me to try this new place with what you wrote on Facebook, but now I'm definitely going to walk over this afternoon – rain permitting, as then I won't feel too bad about the ingested calories!!! I'm VERY fussy about Currywurst so the idea of preservative and additive free sausages just lured me in even more!! It's the questionable preservatives and other chemicals that put me off of eating just any sausage even though I enjoy them!! I tend to sway towards mainly organic groceries in any case, so sounds like a perfect fit for our family when we fancy a 'guilty pleasure'!
Oh you're back! I'm pleased to hear it, hope everything's ok. I'll be very interested to hear what you think of the Currywurst 🙂
Charlotte Steggz says:
Omg Fritz cola – NOW I miss Germany!
Hahaha now if only the bottles were a bit more practical for shipping over the Channel 😉
nikki @ book punks says:
Best Worscht is supposed to be the best in Frankfurt. I've never tried to myself as I cant stand curry ketchup. I guess they won't be giving me a German passport any time soon, huh?
Well not if you carry on like that young lady 😉 The good ones don't use curry ketchup but a tomato sauce or whatever and then the curry powder on top. Tastes totally different to a bottle of curry ketchup. This tomato sauce was so fresh it even had seeds in.
So, next time you make it to Wiesbaden we'll go for one of these 😀
Currywurst AND a G&T – what a treat!
The only question being: which to start with…?! 😉
Yes, I'm back and things are looking a tiny bit more positive 🙂 I just wanted to let you know that we had a Currywurst the other evening and absolutely enjoyed it!!! Yummm, it is definitely now my all time favourite, as you can really tell that the quality of the ingredients is superior to many others. I had the tomato based sauce and thought that it was indeed much less starchy and 'gloopy' and was clearly made with a lovely fresh base so felt less like processed food!!
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Dec 8, 2016-The Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon) has directed listed companies, except for banks and financial institutions (BFIs) and insurance firms, to make transparent funds collected from the issuance of rights shares and Further Public Offerings (FPOs).
The Sebon move is aimed at boosting investor confidence in real sector companies, including hydropower developers. The companies will now have to get approved their plans of utilising the funds raised by their annual general meetings. They will also have to acquire approval for their planned projects from government bodies concerned and obtain the letter of intent on financial closure prior to declaring share issuance, according to the eight-point standards released by Sebon on Wednesday.
Sebon has asked the companies to acquired the approvals at least five days ahead of the announcement of share issuance. The companies should have done initial public offering at least two years earlier to be eligible for issuing rights shares and FPOs.
Also, the companies' shareholders should have paid cent percent of the issued capital. The firms also need to have obtained credit rating from agencies concerned.
Sebon Chairman Rewat Bahadur Karki said a Sebon board meeting on Tuesday decided to enforce the standards. "The standards are expected boost investor confidence in companies that have no such regulator to look after their financial health and daily operations," Karki said.
Sebon said it felt the need for such standards after a number of hydropower companies sought to raise their capital through rights issuance and FPOs.
"We have up with the standards in order to develop a mechanism so that the actual status of these companies can be known," Karki said.
Given BFIs and insurance companies have their regulating agencies, they have been exempted, he added.


text:
using System;
using Yours;
using System.IO;
using Mine;

namespace Test
{
    public class TestStandardFeatures : TestBase
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// This is a simple test to trigger most functionality of the generated code.
        /// </summary>
        public static void Run()
        {
            MyMessageV2 version2before = MyMessageV2.TestInstance();

            //Write
            MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream();
            MyMessageV2.Serialize(ms, version2before);

            Console.WriteLine("Wire bytes: " + ms.Length);

            //Read
            MemoryStream msread = new MemoryStream(ms.ToArray());
            MyMessageV2 version2after = MyMessageV2.Deserialize(msread);

            //Verify
            Test("MyMessageV2 WriteRead", version2before.Equals(version2after));

            //Read by older version
            MemoryStream msread1 = new MemoryStream(ms.ToArray());
            MyMessageV1 version1 = MyMessageV1.Deserialize(msread1);

            Console.WriteLine("Version 1");
            Test("FieldA", version2before.FieldA == version1.FieldA);
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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If you've been into Tarot for any length of time, you've no doubt seen the astrological correlations bandied about in books and on blogs. For the well versed, this fluidity between two arcane disciplines generates great insights—not to mention a communication shortcut to doubled esoteric treasures.
But what if you're new to Tarot? Or, what if you're familiar with the cards, but you've learned them on your own terms or from someone who doesn't use astrological correlations in card interpretations, nor in their metaphysical practice or teachings?
Not only can the mere mention of Astrology in conjunction with Tarot cause fledging (and intermediate!) Tarotists to get the vapors, but it also may discourage readers from going further with the Tarot—precisely because they assume that astrological fluency among some Tarot enthusiasts means ALL must be fluent in order to be a good reader. No so!
However, Astrology brings its own rich storehouse of symbolism and archetypes, which means by becoming familiar with the secret of the stars, if you feel drawn to do so, you can only expand your cache of associations and, arguably, become a more knowledgeable, skilled tarot reader.
And this is where Corrine Kenner's new book Tarot and Astrology comes in. I don't know how she managed it, but she not only gives Tarot readers a solid introduction to Astrology, but also explains why in the world astrological correlations make sense through the lens of each card.
So when discussion The Emperor, for example, Corrine explains this card's connection to Aries—including behavior patterns, attitude and the ram symbol. That would be adequate, but then she explains how Aries rules the head (yes, every zodiac sign is connected to body parts, if you can believe it)…and what that means for a "head-based" leader with other "head" associations (issues?).
Wow, isn't that the truth when faced with enticing options of the 7 of Cups? And, really, only a mother could make that brilliant connection in my estimation (meaning, Corrine also brings her life experience and wisdom to this book, as well).
Now, if this is all that Tarot and Astrology contained, it would be well worth paying retail. But the author doesn't stop there. No, Corrine provides charts for court card and elemental associations, as well as the Wheel of the Year and zodiac houses. She even takes us through an actual reading with the Horoscope Spread (one of my favorites).
And then there's the accessible but thorough crash course (with images) explaining house opposites (e.g. Taurus and Scorpio) and how they energies play out in the corresponding Tarot cards (Hierophant wants to maintain status quo, Death wants to shake it up or take it away).
But she's not done! She actually shows reader how to read a horoscope chart (think The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need…but more succinct and with Tarot flair), providing several famous examples with complete astrological breakdown (Prince William, Marilyn Monroe, Dali, etc.). Topping it off? A nine-page glossary of astrological terms!
Throughout the book are grayscale images of the recently released Wizards Tarot, co-created by the author, so readers can track the symbols and stances as she discusses them.
I am thoroughly impressed by Tarot and Astrology. If you've ever been interested in the crossroad, and meeting, of the stars and the cards, you'll find this book informative and engaging. If you're a Tarot reader, your knowledge will increase exponentially by studying and using this book (and its revealing spreads). If you're an astrologer, you'll gain a unique backdoor perspective on Tarot, which will no doubt enhance your practice, too.


text:
Woman 'Rammed' to Ground by St. Louis Police Seeks $177K at Trial
Laura Jones, 68, sued over an incident captured on video on the first day of the Stockley protests
By Ryan Krull on Tue, Dec 13, 2022 at 8:38 am
Screen Grab from Fox 2 News
Video from Fox 2 shows Laura Jones on the ground amid police officers.
Opening arguments began in federal court yesterday in a lawsuit being brought by a woman who alleges she was pepper-sprayed and rammed to the ground by police amid a 2017 protest.
The civil case centers on the interaction between members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's Civil Disobedience Team and Laura Jones, now 68, on September 15, 2017, during protests stemming from the acquittal of former police officer Jason Stockley.
Video shows Jones at Clark and Tucker avenues in the early evening when, confronted by a line of police officers marching forward, Jones hits the pavement.
In her suit, Jones says she was pepper sprayed before being "rammed by a police shield and thrown to the ground." The police report says that Jones "tripped and fell." She was placed under arrest soon thereafter.
The incident was caught on video and widely shared by protestors and media.
The question at the heart of the suit — and the $177,600 being sought by Jones — is whether police used excessive force.
In her suit, Jones says that the incident continues to haunt her and cause panic attacks.
In her opening statement, Jones' attorney Alicia Campbell said that even though objects were thrown at officers during the protests, Jones was doing nothing other than "standing still with her hands up," flashing a peace sign when an officer knocked her down with a police shield. Campbell described Jones as an "art historian, elections judge and conscientious citizen."
In the opening statement on behalf of the city and the individual police officers named in Jones' suit, Associate City Counselor Abby Duncan said that "context is king" and that Jones was in the middle of "an anti-police protest turned violent."
Duncan said that only incidental contact occurred between Jones and the three officers named as defendants in the suit, with one of the officers stumbling over her after she fell. Duncan referred to a text that Jones allegedly sent after the incident in which she refers to an officer stepping "over" her — as opposed to on her — when she was on the ground.
Duncan said the contact between Duncan and the officers was "a far cry from what would be considered excessive and in violation of [Jones'] Constitutional rights."
This current civil trial has its roots in the fatal police shooting more than a decade ago of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith.
On December 20, 2011, then-St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley and his partner Brian Bianchi went to investigate Smith after they said they saw him involved in a drug deal in the parking lot of a Church's Chicken in the Walnut Park West neighborhood.
When Stockley exited the police SUV he was armed with both his personally-owned AK-47 Draco as well as his service pistol, a 9mm Beretta. Smith attempted to flee in his silver Buick, but backed into the police SUV, nearly clipping Stockley with the Buick before taking off out of the parking lot.
Then, as the RFT's Doyle Murphy reported:
"Stockley switched the AK-47 — the Draco is a pistol version of the famed assault rifle — to his left hand, pulled his Beretta and fired seven rounds at the fleeing Buick before he rejoined Bianchi in the SUV to give chase. Superiors had previously told the West Point grad and Army vet not to carry the Draco. He testified in court he felt he needed the extra firepower but chose the smaller gun in the parking lot because the Draco was so powerful and hard to control that he worried he'd accidentally blast through walls of nearby buildings and wound bystanders."
"With Bianchi behind the wheel, the officers chased Smith at high speeds through north city neighborhoods. Prosecutors would later focus on a dashboard camera video that recorded Stockley saying, "Going to kill this motherfucker, don't you know it." His attorney, Neil Bruntrager, challenged the quotation, claiming there was too much static to hear exactly what was said. Stockley, however, testified he had listened to the recording and conceded he said the line or something very close to it. He said he didn't remember saying it but was sure he didn't mean it literally."
About three miles later, Stockley and Bianchi used their SUV to corner Smith in his Buick. Stockley ordered Bianchi to ram Smith, triggering the Buick's airbags. Stockley exited the SUV, carrying both the AK-47 and his handgun, and fired rounds through the driver's side window of Smith's Buick. It later came to light at trial that the shot killing Smith had been fired from within six inches.
Smith's daughter brought a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the police, which was settled for $900,000.
Five years after Smith's shooting death, then-Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce filed first-degree murder charges against Stockley in May 2016.
Months after a four-day bench trial, the judge issued an acquittal on September 15, 2017, a Friday. That day, Jones and hundreds of others took to the streets in protest.
Protests continued throughout the weekend, later spurring numerous lawsuits and criminal investigations of law enforcement.
Detective Luther Hall was working undercover at another protest downtown on September 17, 2017 when fellow officers attacked him, causing a concussion and serious injuries to his back, among a variety of other injuries that have left Hall with lingering health effects.
Hall subsequently settled a lawsuit with the city and the department for $5 million.
The four officers eventually charged in the attack on Hall were, like the officers named in Jones' suit, members of the members of the department's Civil Disobedience Team. Officer Randy Hays received the most serious punishment in the Hall case. After pleading guilty he was sentenced to more than four years in prison.
September 17 also saw the now-infamous kettle, in which police utilized a controversial technique that swept up protesters and bystanders alike in mass arrests.
A documentary filmmaker from Kansas City, a Post-Dispatch photographer, an Air Force lieutenant and others have filed lawsuits stemming from their arrests that weekend.
Attorney Javad Javad Khazaeli, whose firm is among those representing Laura Jones, is attempting to bring a class action lawsuit on behalf of more than 120 individuals arrested as part of the kettle.
We welcome tips and feedback. Email the author at [email protected]
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From her small town childhood in Missouri to her formative years at Oscar de la Renta, through the high flying "roaring 80's" in New York City and beyond, the book takes us through the admirable staying power and evolution of Carolyne's many talents.
So thank you Carolyne, you have been and continue to be an incredible wellspring of artistry and inspiration! Here's to your next creative incarnation!
This entry posted in At Home with, books, design, fashion, garden, interior design, jewelry, photography, Quintessence video series, Stylish Shopping, video. Entry Tags: Carolyne Roehm, Design Books, fashion, Flowers, Gardens, interior design, Video, Weatherstone Bookmark the permalink.
Delightful. The closing moments, with Carolyne's magnificent silk ball gown billowing in a fairy-tale garden, were magical. Best wishes.
Absolutely incredible, Carolyne!! Such style, such class, such grace. I once commented to a blog post, and she REPLIED to me. I about fell off my chair. I am so in awe of her talents!! Here I am in deep Umbria. Thank you both.
I'm back for another VIEWING!!!!!!!!!!
I want her BANGLES THIS MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH these VIDEOS are SO FUN for us !To Hear HER voice as well is such a Thrill for me!It's the Little things that make us SMILE!
Bangles. Me, too. All 75 of them.
Dresses, Homes, Gardens, Parties, Food, Books and buying Antiques. Charolyne makes The World more Beautiful. A True STYLE Maker !
Awesome as always! Loved when she was talking about the 80s. I'll never forget her first big fashion show; everyone, and I mean everyone … Pat Buckley, Nan Kempner, Chessie Raynor, the list goes on … was front row center. Fabulous.
Congratulations on this beautiful new creation. Everything sings with colour, passion and love.
She is beautiful inside and out, a tru renaissance woman. That is the definition of elegance. I wish she had her own show, we could all learn so much and it would be a feast for the eyes. Thank you for this video.
They still call them lochrosen….
Adore all of your books. Beautifully illustrated and very creative. Many have tried to copy but they can't capture your magic.
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When Angkor Wat Built
"The Question with More Than One Answer Cannot Quell the Curious Amongst Us"
'When Angkor Wat Built' is the second most popular question we get about the Angkor Wat Temple. And most who ask have English as their second language, or are too lazy in include the 'was'.
So, let's mimic them.
The structure hits the curiosity of every person who stands before it.
The answers may be the only way for anyone to make sense of what they have just seen. Something about the place tells you that you are standing in a once very important place.
Perhaps more important than anyone really knows.
Angkor was the largest city in the entire world until The first Industrial Revolution, which began in the 18th century and merged into the Second Industrial Revolution around 1850.
I could probably say its construction was helped along by 'Gods' from the heavens (Or 'Aliens', as we call them today). I bet that there are people who would believe this and to be honest, it would be easier to explain a few things.
Like how they managed to complete Angkor Wat in less than 35 years. The point is that I could say it and people would listen. Not everyone but enough to surprise.
I feel bad telling you this but we only built this page to "head-off" the hundreds of emails we get a month asking this very same question about Angkor Wat in exactly the same way, every time.
The two most asked questions we get are this one and "Why was Angkor Wat Built'
So, When was Angkor Wat built?
Everyone from Scholars to Amateurs Archeologists will tell you that Angkor Wat was built during the first half of the 12th Century.
Some are even so bold as to say "Angkor Wat built between 1113AD and 1150AD". But those are the exact dates of King Suryavarman II and his reign of Angkor from 1113AD - c. 1150AD.
I'll say that Angkor Wat Was finished in 1145ad and construction began in 1110AD.
I only lived and worked in Siem Reap for 6 months. I made 4 other independent trips to Angkor and the archeological park. That sure doesn't make me an expert.
I still treasure any opportunity to look in the research books on Angkor and I am not the only one. There really is huge interest in the whole of the Angkor Archeological Park and knowing how old the Temple is and when Angkor Wat was built lets you know just how old it really is.
I always looked at the question of 'When was Angkor Wat Built' in a different way. I always saw it as a time-stamp on the rise and fall of one of the greatest civilizations to have ever existed.
The Angkorian people first appeared in 802AD and then disappeared in 1432AD. Angkor Wat is a time stamp because it marks the time when the Angkor civilization was at the zenith of its power.
There are also hints that the construction of Angkor Wat might have contributed to the demise of the Angkorian People.
So, there are 2 ways to answer the question of when Angkor Wat was built. It was built between 1110AD and completed in 1145AD. The carvings on the temple were ongoing and lasted much longer.
The main structure was completed in 1145.
Angkor Wat was also built during the most powerful period in the lifespan of the Angkorian people.
The video below is just a marvel. I had to include it because it strikes the intrigue button and introduces a new technology into the study of Angkor Wat.
Leave the 'When Was Angkor Wat Built' for More on Angkor Wat Itself
Leave the 'When Was Angkor Wat Built' and Return to Our Budget Travel Home Page
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package soot.jimple.infoflow.android.axml;

/**
 * Basic class for all classes which represent elements from an Android XML file.
 * Provides functionality to either include or exclude the element from the XML.
 *
 * @author Stefan Haas, Mario Schlipf
 */
public abstract class AXmlElement {
	/**
	 * The include flag determines whether this element will be written out in the document.
	 */
	protected boolean include = true;

	/**
	 * The added flag determines wheter this element was part of a parsed xml file or added afterwards.
	 */
	protected boolean added;

	/**
	 * The element's namespace.
	 */
	String ns;

	/**
	 * Constructor for a new Android XML Element.
	 *
	 * @param	ns		namespace of this element.
	 * @param	added	wheter this element was part of a parsed xml file or added afterwards.
	 */
	public AXmlElement(String ns, boolean added) {
		this.ns = ns;
		this.added = added;
	}

	/**
	 * Returns the namespace of this element.
	 *
	 * @return	the element's namespace
	 */
	public String getNamespace() {
		return this.ns;
	}

	/**
	 * Sets the namespace of this element.
	 *
	 * @param	ns		the element's namespace
	 */
	public void setNamespace(String ns) {
		this.ns = ns;
	}

	/**
	 * The added flag determines wheter this element
	 * was part of a parsed xml file or added afterwards.
	 *
	 * @param	added
	 */
	public void setAdded(boolean added) {
		this.added = added;
	}

	/**
	 * Returns wheter this element was part of a parsed xml file or added afterwards.
	 *
	 * @return	added flag
	 */
	public boolean isAdded() {
		return this.added;
	}

	/**
	 * Returns the current value of the include flag.
	 * If true the manifest will contain information about this element.
	 *
	 * @return	whether or not the element will be included in the manifest
	 */
	public boolean isIncluded() {
		return this.include;
	}

	/**
	 * Sets the include flag to true so that the manifest will contain information about this element.
	 */
	public void include() {
		this.include(true);
	}

	/**
	 * Sets the include flag to false so that the manifest will not contain information about this element.
	 */
	public void exclude() {
		this.include(false);
	}

	/**
	 * Sets the include flag to the passed boolean value.
	 * If given true this element will be included in the manifest.
	 *
	 * @param	included	value for the include flag
	 */
	protected void include(boolean include) {
		this.include = include;
	}
}


text:
Hawaii: Solar System is Not Placed in Service Until All State Law Requirements Have Been Satisfied
Jeffrey G. Davis
In September, the State of Hawaii Department of Taxation issued a letter ruling (Hawaii Letter Ruling No. 2018-01) that clarified the "placed in service" requirement in the application of the Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit ("RETITC") in Hawaii. A project was denied RETITC in the year when testing was conducted because the project had not obtained all legal permits and did not satisfy certain legal requirement.
Taxpayer contracted with an installer to build a commercial solar system. The system was turned on for testing in 2017. The testing was successful except that Taxpayer had not installed a fence around outdoor electrical property as required by the building and electrical codes. The inspector refused to sign off and advised Taxpayer to build the fence. The fence was installed in January 2018.
In Hawaii, RETITC is issued to renewable energy systems that are "installed and placed in service" during the taxable year.[i] A system must be "ready and available for its specific use" to be considered properly "installed and placed in service."[ii] Citing the U.S. Tax Court's decision on federal investment tax credits,[iii] the ruling provides that use of the system during construction generally does not satisfy the placed-in-service requirement. The ruling provides that typically the government's approval to operate a system indicates that the system has been placed in service. When either facts are not clear or the taxpayer does not have all information regarding the permitting process, the Department will analyze five factors: 1) whether the necessary permits and licenses for operation have been obtained; 2) whether critical preoperational testing has been completed; 3) whether the taxpayer has control of the facility; 4) whether the unit has been synchronized with the transmission grid; and 5) whether daily or regular operation has begun. None of the factors is dispositive.
The ruling provides that except for the fourth factor, which does not apply to Taxpayer's system, only the second factor supports a granting of RETITC to Taxpayer's system in 2017. The first factor indicates that the system must be compliant with all applicable laws. As Taxpayer's system did not have a fence as required, this factor was only satisfied in 2018. Taxpayer had physical control of the system after construction was completed in 2017, but the indicia of physical and legal control were enhanced in 2018 with the installation of fencing and the approval of all required permits. Taxpayer could not establish a time when regular operation of the system started. The ruling provides that regular operation could not legally had begun before all necessary permits were obtained. Therefore, the system could not have commenced operation before 2018. The ruling concludes that the second factor was outweighed by the other factors and, therefore, the system was placed in service in 2018.
The "specific use" standard provided in the Hawaii Administrative Rules and the five-factor test provided in the ruling are analogous to the standard and test the U.S. Treasury and the IRS adopted with respect to federal investment tax credits.[iv] In the Department's ruling, obtaining governmental approval and permits on time is critical. Although the testing for the system was conducted in 2017 and the system was transferred to Taxpayer's control in 2017, the Department refused to allow the RETITC with respect to the system until it satisfied the fencing requirement in 2018.
[i] Haw. Rev. Stat. § 235-12.5(a).
[ii] Haw. Admin. Rules § 18-235-12.5-01(a)(3).
[iii] See Noell v. Comm'r, 66 T.C. 718, 729 (1976).
[iv] See Treas. Reg. §§ 1.46-3(d)(1)(ii), 1.167(a)-11(e)(1)(i); see Sealy Power, Ltd. v. Comm'r, 46 F.3d 382, 395 (5th Cir. 1995), nonacq. 1996-1 C.B. 6 and A.O.D., 1995-10 (Aug. 7, 1995); Consumers Power v. Comm'r, 89 T.C. 710, 725-26 (1987); Oglethorpe Power Corp. v. Comm'r, 60 T.C.M. 850, 860 (1990).
Brazil Tax Round-Up
Brazilian IRS Normative Ruling No. 1,888/2019: Regulates the Declaration of Transactions with Cryptocurrencies


text:
Úvod :: Knihy USA :: Schiffer Books :: Military History :: Uniforms, Medals & Insignia :: Germany :: German Camouflaged Helmets of the Second World War, vol.2
German Camouflaged Helmets of the Second World War, vol.2
This two volume set (companions to the author's previous books on World War II German helmets) is packed with nearly 1000 full-color photographs of more than 180 helmets and covers, all shown at full page size and many in detail. The helmets shown are some of the most wonderful and exotic camouflage helmets to be seen in private and public collections. The various sections are divided into: Wire, Covers, Netting, Straps, Interiors and Miscellaneous with each section having its own period photograph reference section - most never before published. The author brings to the reader and collector, for the first time, a clear, detailed look at the many and varied styles of camouflage the World War II German soldier applied to what was his most personal piece of equipment.


"I really hope we have 10 nominees this year" is a phrase I've been hearing a lot lately in conversations about the Oscar race. The underlying assumption is clear: With the Academy's system of variable nominations, in which we could have as few as five nominees for Best Picture or as many as 10, more good movies equals more nominees.
Certainly, this is a good, maybe even a great year for movies. "Gravity" is a visionary delight. "12 Years a Slave" packs a staggering punch. "Captain Phillips" and "Rush" are thrilling fact-based dramas. "Inside Llewyn Davis" is the Coen brothers with a lovely song in their black little hearts. "Nebraska" is smart and funny and affectionate.
And more: "Saving Mr. Banks" is grandly entertaining and moving. "All Is Lost" is an unlikely tour de force for both Robert Redford and J.C. Chandor. "Prisoners" pulls off the unlikely trick of being simultaneously slow and gripping. "Dallas Buyers Club" makes you root for the unlikeliest hero. "Enough Said," "Blue Jasmine," "Fruitvale Station," "Short Term 12" and "Before Midnight" are little movies that pay big emotional dividends.
And Spike Jonze's "Her" is a wholly original and deeply affecting love story.
That's 16 movies right there, and I haven't even mentioned "American Hustle," "The Wolf of Wall Street," "Lee Daniels' The Butler," "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," "The Book Thief," "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," "Philomena" or "Lone Survivor," or the year's best documentaries, foreign films and animated features.
So if Academy voters choose wisely and come up with a full slate of 10 nominees, I'll be delighted. But I'll also be surprised — because the way the system works, more good movies does not equal more nominations.
A quick refresher course on the system: Voters rank their top five favorites in order of preference. Any movie that's listed at No. 1 on more than 8.9 percent of the ballots is an automatic nominee.
A complicated wrinkle called "the surplus rule" then kicks in, apportioning partial votes from ballots whose first choices have received significantly more votes than they need.
Finally, first choices with less than 1 percent of the vote have their votes shifted to the second (or third, fourth or fifth) choice on each of those ballots.
At that point, any movie with more than 5 percent of the vote (300 votes, give or take) is a nominee. Any movie with less is not.
Under that system, with its single round of redistribution limiting the chances for films that don't get 300 first-place votes right away, more good movies don't lead to more nominations unless the votes are very evenly divided. An overabundance of quality could just as easily push borderline films out as get them in.
In fact, there's simply no precedent for a full slate of 10 nominees. Sure, the 2009 and 2010 Oscar years each produced that many — but those were years when 10 nominees were automatic, before the variable system was instituted.
To help the Academy decide whether to adopt the system, PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants went back over eight previous years of Oscar voting, 2001-2008, and counted the ballots all over again using the new system. According to PwC and AMPAS, the recount would have resulted in years of five, six, seven, eight and nine nominees–but never a year of 10. And in the last two years, after the system was in place, there were nine nominees both years.
In other words: Not once, in the 10 years that have been studied, has the Oscar system produced a full slate of nominees. So while 10 is theoretically possible, it has never actually happened.
So yes, 2013 is a good year. A varied year. A year in which the major studios have made a strong stand.
An unpredictable year in which the big winner could be harrowing, or exhilarating, or beguiling, or maybe even surprising.
Just don't expect it to be a year of 10, because the Academy really doesn't do that.


text:
History made: Renewable energy surpassed fossil fuels for European electricity in 2020
New York (CNN Business)Europeans got more of their electricity from renewable sources than fossil fuels for the first time last year, according to an annual report from Ember and Agora Energiewende.
The report, which has been tracking EU's power sector since 2015, found that renewables delivered 38% of electricity last year, compared to 37% delivered by fossil fuels.
The shift comes as other sources, such as wind and solar power, have risen in the European Union. Both sources have nearly doubled since 2015, and as of last year accounted for one-fifth of electricity generation in EU countries, the report found. It's also the reason why coal power declined 20% last year, making up only 13% of electricity generated in Europe.
"Rapid growth in wind and solar has forced coal into decline, but this is just the beginning," said Dave Jones, senior electricity analyst for Ember and lead author on the report, in a statement. "Europe is relying on wind and solar to ensure not only coal is phased out by 2030, but also to phase out gas generation, replace closing nuclear power plants, and to meet rising electricity demand from electric cars, heat pumps and electrolysers."
Last year's Covid-19 lockdown measures resulted in less demand for electricity across the globe. European demand decreased by 4% in 2020, according to the report, which said Covid trends had no effect on the growth of renewable energy sources. Since 2015, Europe's electricity emissions recorded a historic decline, becoming 29% cleaner, the report noted.
The milestone follows commitments from EU leaders last month to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030. In the United States, renewable energy overtook coal consumption in recent years. Last May, renewable energy sources were consumed more than coal for the first time since 1885.
"Post-pandemic economic recovery must not slow down climate action," said Patrick Graichen, director of Agora Energiewende, in a statement. "We therefore need strong climate policy — such as in the Green Deal — to ensure steady progress."
Source : CNN