text:
Q: Python: foward fill nans and zeros Suppose I have a dataframe, df1, that has zeros and nans:
dates = pd.date_range('20170101',periods=20)
df1 = pd.DataFrame(np.random.randint(10,size=(20,3)),index=dates,columns=['foo','bar','see'])
df1.iloc[3:12,0] = np.nan
df1.iloc[6:17,1] = 0

What's the succinct way to forward fill both zeors and nans? I tried the below:
df1 = (df1.fillna(method='ffill', inplace=True)).replace(to_replace=0, method='ffill')

AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'replace'

A: Let's use replace to replace zeros with nan then ffill:
df1.replace(0, np.nan).ffill()

Output:
            foo  bar  see
2017-01-01  2.0  1.0    4
2017-01-02  2.0  2.0    6
2017-01-03  2.0  8.0    3
2017-01-04  2.0  6.0    1
2017-01-05  2.0  8.0    4
2017-01-06  2.0  9.0    6
2017-01-07  2.0  9.0    8
2017-01-08  2.0  9.0    5
2017-01-09  2.0  9.0    8
2017-01-10  2.0  9.0    7
2017-01-11  2.0  9.0    3
2017-01-12  2.0  9.0    6
2017-01-13  5.0  9.0    4
2017-01-14  6.0  9.0    9
2017-01-15  7.0  9.0    4
2017-01-16  6.0  9.0    2
2017-01-17  2.0  9.0    5
2017-01-18  3.0  1.0    1
2017-01-19  3.0  8.0    1
2017-01-20  2.0  5.0    7

A: I think @ScottBoston's answer is most idiomatic.
However, another way to do it is to use pd.DataFrame.mask
df1.mask(df1 == 0).ffill()


Nowadays approximately 80% of children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) or lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) can be cured and become long-term survivors. Avascular osteonecroses (ON) appear as serious side-effect of antileukaemic treatment. Frequently ON are first diagnosed at higher and than irreversible stages (ARCO III, IV). At these advanced stages curative treatment options are not available. Hence ON are associated with considerable morbidity concerning pain and immobility and go along with long-term impairment of quality of life. Therefore early diagnosis of ON in the follow-up of children and young adults with ALL or LBL is a pressing object.
Within the prospective multicentric observational OPAL-trial patients at risk (aged 10 years or older) treated according to the clinical trials ALL-BFM(Berlin-Frankfurt-Muenster Study Group), COALL or NHL (Non Hodgkin Lymphoma)-BFM in Germany should be examined with regard to the development of ON. By using a treatment associated, risk orientated assessment and examination incidence, symptoms and the clinical course of ON are investigated. The validity of MRI screening in the early diagnosis of ON in children and young adults is analysed.
Systematical investigation of patients under antileukaemic treatment is intended to contribute to risk adapted diagnostic strategies and to serve as data base for the subsequent evaluation of preventive and interventional approaches for the treatment of ON. Long-term objective is the reduction of ON-associated morbidity.


text:
using System.Threading.Tasks;
#endif
using ZendeskApi_v2.Models.AccountsAndActivities;

namespace ZendeskApi_v2.Requests
{
	public interface IAccountsAndActivity : ICore
	{
#if SYNC
		SettingsResponse GetSettings();
		GroupActivityResponse GetActivities();
		IndividualActivityResponse GetActivityById(long activityId);
#endif

#if ASYNC
		Task<SettingsResponse> GetSettingsAsync();
		Task<GroupActivityResponse> GetActivitiesAync();
		Task<IndividualActivityResponse> GetActivityByIdAync(long activityId);
#endif
	}

	public class AccountsAndActivity : Core, IAccountsAndActivity
	{

        public AccountsAndActivity(string yourZendeskUrl, string user, string password, string apiToken, string p_OAuthToken)
            : base(yourZendeskUrl, user, password, apiToken, p_OAuthToken)
        {
        }
#if SYNC
        public SettingsResponse GetSettings()
        {
            return GenericGet<SettingsResponse>("account/settings.json");
        }

        public GroupActivityResponse GetActivities()
        {
            return GenericGet<GroupActivityResponse>("activities.json");
        }

        public IndividualActivityResponse GetActivityById(long activityId)
        {
            return GenericGet<IndividualActivityResponse>($"activities/{activityId}.json");
        }
#endif

#if ASYNC
        public async Task<SettingsResponse> GetSettingsAsync()
        {
            return await GenericGetAsync<SettingsResponse>("account/settings.json");
        }
        public async Task<GroupActivityResponse> GetActivitiesAync()
        {
            return await GenericGetAsync<GroupActivityResponse>("activities.json");
        }

        public async Task<IndividualActivityResponse> GetActivityByIdAync(long activityId)
        {
            return await GenericGetAsync<IndividualActivityResponse>($"activities/{activityId}.json");
        }
#endif
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Learning US Holidays and Idioms
Adjusting to a new culture and their holidays can be confusing and challenging. Read the below resources to understand each National US holiday. There are also some resources below to understand Idioms and common English words/slang.
New Years Eve(Dec. 31st)/New Years Day(Jan 1st)
New Years Eve/New Years Day
Today New Year's festivities begin on December 31st and end on January 1st. As far as we know, people have celebrated the end of the previous year and the beginning of the next for at least 4000 years. However, New Year's Eve/Day has not always fallen on December 31st-Jan1st. Some of the Earliest celebrations recorded are from 2000 BCE in Mesopotamia. They celebrated with the new moon in mid-March, after the Vernal Equinox.
In Rome, Julius Cesar decided to consult the best astronomers and mathematicians to solve the problem of the early Roman Calendar falling out of sync with the sun. The solution was the Julian calendar, which resembles the calendar most countries use today. As part of this reform, Cesar instituted January 1st as the first day of the year. The name January comes from the Greek god Janus, of beginnings and ends, whose two faces allow him to look back to the past and into the future at once. The Romans celebrated by offering sacrifices to Janus, giving gifts to each other, and decorating.
During the Middle Ages, the date of the New Year shifted to match with more significant religious days of the year. It wasn't until 1582 that Pope XIII reinstated January 1st as the official New Year's Day. Today we celebrate by throwing parties, music, and lighting bright lights. New York City celebrates by dropping a giant ball 12 feet in diameter. At McLit, we celebrate by beautifying our windows to match the theme of new beginnings.
Watch a video about New Year's Eve/New Year's Day here!
Read more information here!
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday of Jan.)
What is Martin Luter King Day?
Martin Luther King Day honors the legacy created by the late Mr. King Jr, an American minister, and activist. He became the most prominent spokesman and leader for the civil rights movement from 1955 to his assassination in 1968. He left a legacy of civil rights, power in nonviolence, and a call to public service. This holiday marks King's birthday and falls on the third Monday of each January. It first became a federal holiday in 1986.
Watch a video about Martin Luther King Day here!
Presidents' Day (3rd Monday of February)
What is Presidents'
Presidents' Day, the third Monday in February, commemorates all U.S. Presidents' service, birthdays, and lives. This national holiday originated in the 1880s to celebrate President Washington's birthday. A bill went into Effect in 1971, officiating the name of the holiday as "Presidents' Day" to honor not just one but all U.S. presidents. Today we celebrate by reenacting historical events and teaching about the accomplishments of our presidents.
Watch a video about President's Day here!
Find out more here!
Memorial Day(Last Monday of May)
What is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day, the third Monday of each May, is a federal holiday celebrating the fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country. Before 1967 it was commonly known as Decoration Day. The following year the name and date of the holiday would change. Decoration Day was celebrated on May 30th, but the newly named Memorial Day would, from now on, fall on the last Monday of May each year. We celebrate Memorial Day by showing respect for our soldiers. Flags are flown at half-staff throughout the morning as a sign of respect and mourning. Many cemeteries hold a service to honor those soldiers who have sacrificed their lives. Families often decorate the graves of their loved ones who served in the military. Some traditional decorations typical of this holiday include wreaths, flowers, crosses, and flags. Many communities also hold Memorial Day parades to mark this special day.
Watch a video about Memorial Day here!
Juneteenth (June 19th)
June Nineteenth, namely Juneteenth, is a federal holiday honoring the end of Slavery in America. Juneteenth was first celebrated in 1865 when troops arrived in Texas to inform slaves of their freedom under the emancipation proclamation. Celebrations first started as Jubilee Day but was not recognized as a national holiday until 2021. McLit celebrates Juneteenth by decorating the front window with murals and decorations, one of which you can see in the pictures to the right. You can find out more information below.
Watch a video about Juneteenth here!
Portrait (shown left) painted by local artist Darya Pineda, check out her website here.
Independence Day(July4th)
What is Independance Day?
Independence Day, July 4th, is a federal holiday honoring America's freedom from the British Empire. On July 2nd of July 1776, the Continental congress voted in favor of independence. Two days later, on July 4th, delegates from the thirteen colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence. It was, however, not an official national holiday until congress passed a law on June 28th, 1870. Independence Day was first modeled after the King of England's birthday with the ringing of bells (13 for the 13 colonies), bonfires, processions, and speeches. Interestingly, it was also celebrated by some colonists as a procession of the King's funeral. The tradition of setting off fireworks began on July 4th, 1777, during the first organized celebration of Independence Day. Today Independence Day is typically celebrated with fireworks, barbeques, parades, carnivals, and fairs. McLit celebrates this important day by decorating our front windows in red, white, and blue!
Watch a video about Independence Day here!
Labor Day(First Monday in September)
What is Labor Day?
Labor Day, September 5th, is a celebration of the contribution and rights of the working people. It began in the late 1800s as workers formed unions and rallied for shorter working hours, better pay, and safer working conditions. The first parade took place in Manhattan in 1882, but in 1887 Labor Day first became an official holiday in Oregon. Today it is celebrated with parades, picnics, and fireworks in all fifty states. It also marks when students return to school at the end of their summer break.
Watch a video about Labor Day here!
Veterans Day(November 11th)
What is Veterans Day?
Veterans day, November 11th is a day to honor all Americans who have served in our nation's military. It started in 1919 to commemorate the truce signed between the allies and Germany in World War I. The occasion occurred on the 11th hour, the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918. They called it Armistice Day in 1919. On this day, all business was suspended for two minutes starting at 11 am, and parades and public gatherings went on to celebrate the occasion. In 1954 Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day to honor all US veterans, not just those who served in World War I. At 11 am every Veterans Day, a color guard ceremony honors each military branch at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. The difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day is that while Memorial Day honors the soldiers who have died, Veterans Day honors all soldiers who have died and are still alive. It is an opportunity for us all to take a moment and remember the Americans who have defended the freedom we enjoy today.
Watch a video about Veterans Day here!
Thanksgiving (4th Thursday in November)
What is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday in November, is a national holiday to give thanks for bounty and peace. Pilgrims and Native Americans first celebrated it with a large feast from the harvest. Thanksgiving represented a quiet and jubilant time in our nation's history when settlers saw a glimmer of hope in the possibilities of their new homeland and the Natives in their new neighbors. Today we celebrate the holiday the same way the settlers and natives did, with a big meal and by getting together with family and friends. We also celebrate with parades, festivities, and pre-Christmas shopping deals. Most importantly, Thanksgiving is a day set aside to spend time being thankful for our family and home.
Watch a video about Thanksgiving here!
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Dec. 24th/25)
What are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24th/25th, are holidays celebrated worldwide. Christmas is said to be the birthday of Jesus Christ by the Christians and the day when Santa Claus delivers gifts to good children by placing them under a Christmas tree. This holiday falls right after the winter solstice, December 21st or 22nd, the shortest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere. Before Christmas, there was Yule for the Germanic people (starting December 21st and lasting 12 days), and for the Romans, there was Saturnalia (Dec 17th-23rd). Both holidays had the tradition of placing a tree or tree branches inside the house as a reminder of life during winter. Around AD 51-96, Saturnalia's date was changed to December 25th, slowly absorbing the previous pagan holiday into Christmas. Christians decorated their trees with apples, symbolic of the garden of Eden. These apples later became the Christmas ornaments we know today. More than anything else, Christmas is a time to celebrate by giving and receiving gifts with family and friends. McLit celebrates Christmas by decorating our windows with lights and Christmas-themed decor. It is said to be the most beautiful time of the year.
Watch a video about Christmas Eve and Christmas Day here!
Learning Common Idioms
What are idioms?
Idioms are a type of figurative language, which means they are not always meant to be taken literally. Idioms express a particular sentiment, but they do not literally mean what the individual words themselves mean.
An idiom is a saying that is specific to a language. For example, an idiom in English does not translate to an idiom in Spanish.
For example, saying the grass is always greener on the other side. This idiom does not literally mean that the "other side" will always have greener grass. There may not even be a literal "other side" to the subject at hand—or grass for that matter. The meaning of this idiom is that people think the other person, or someone in a different situation, has it better, or easier, than they do. [source]
Read more examples of Idioms here!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
What Do Accelerators Look For in Startups?
Accelerators look for different things when recruiting startups to join their cohorts. To find one that fits like a glove, start by understanding their expectations.
'Accelerator' is one of those buzzwords in the startup world that seems to be here to stay. With every wind of change or new technology trend, a host of new acceleration programs emerge to support startups in these niches.
Expara announced its VirTech Global Accelerator, for instance, as the global pandemic started to peak worldwide. Identifying the problems posed by the pandemic, the accelerator launched to take on the economic and social challenges posed by COVID-19 and future global crises as well.
But all accelerators are not cut from the same cloth, and the criteria for acceptance can vary widely. The differences depend on location, size, market, and the accelerator's own goals.
Startups will want to scrutinize these parameters to find the right fit, in order to convert their acceleration experience into long-term value.
Age of the company
One parameter common to most accelerators is the startup stage. Accelerators may prefer some stages over others depending on what they can offer and what they expect in return. Given that many programs make a small equity investment into participating startups, and it's easier to do so at earlier stages of the company, seed and pre-Series A companies are usually a popular choice.
These startups are usually at the inflection point between proof-of-concept and product development and the growth stage, making it a good time to get onto a company's cap table ahead of the next financing round.
While growth-stage companies can also benefit from accelerators, they may be much further along the curve, having already achieved many of the early milestones that startups hope to gain from accelerators. The nature of support they need is very different from that of their earlier-stage peers.
To reap the maximum benefits from accelerators, it's best that growth-stage companies look for programs that specifically target them.
Pre-seed companies may want to opt for an incubator instead. Incubators are better suited to catering to such a young company's needs, which include discovering and on-boarding customer leads, and validating the product.
Founding team and experience
In a somewhat dated blog post, Y Combinator Co-Founder Paul Graham wrote that having a single founder is the number one mistake of starting a company. While there is some evidence to suggest that this is incorrect, and that solo founders may be just as successful as multiple founders, the founding team is still a major consideration for accelerators and can affect how a startup is evaluated.
For instance, solopreneurs can apply for and receive funding through Y Combinator. However, the program strongly recommends the presence of two or more founders, on account of the challenges of building a company from scratch.
The primary downside for founders who prefer to fly alone is a reduction in autonomy. Yet, entrepreneurship is a testing endeavor, and more so for a single founder who must execute the roles of CEO, COO and CTO all at once. The opportunity cost of a conflict-free leadership position is that founders routinely go through burnout, and their mental health may suffer for it.
Further, a founder may not necessarily have the right skill set to carry out all the management functions – for example, having a technical person on board the founding team can show an accelerator program that the startup can build the technology and hardware that it envisions.
Founders who have prior experience with running or building startups also come off looking like surer bets to many judging committees. Previous experiences dealing with equity negotiations will also work to their benefit when engaging with an accelerator that invests in its teams.
No one factor can determine whether a startup will definitely be accepted into an accelerator program, but meeting all or most of the above criteria can show whether a startup's leadership is a good fit for the program.
While larger accelerators such as RISE, Y Combinator, 500 Startups and Techstars focus on a broad spectrum of technology, many smaller, niche players often focus on one specific kind of innovation such as AI or sustainability, and for a specific industry, such as retail tech or fashion.
Lever VC's joint investment fund and accelerator is one such example. The fund has partnered with Brinc, a Lever VC-backed accelerator, for a three-month rolling accelerator program for its alternative protein RMB fund.
Other aspects to consider
Accelerators will look closely at the pain point that applicants are solving, and how integral they are to the market. Shark Tank investors have routinely shown the door to innovators with solutions that did not make sense (such as anti-flatulence underwear).
The standards at accelerators are much higher than those in reality television. An innovation that does not address an existing and wide-reaching market need, or create one, is unlikely to get a foot in the door.
Product development also matters, but not at every accelerator. While some are happy to accept founders with just an idea, some others may want to see at least a working prototype or minimum viable product before they send around acceptance emails.
Some may even go far enough to ask that applicants have a customer base established for their companies, have a registered business, or have patents in order before joining the program.
With the diversity of options now available to startups, these parameters are not set in stone. When applying to accelerators, it is a good idea to take a close look at eligibility details and the application form itself to understand exactly what the program is looking for. Networking with startups from earlier cohorts can also be a helpful exercise.
One last important thing for startups to consider is whether they even need an accelerator – opting for remote accelerators or startup coaching can be viable alternatives as well. Joining an accelerator may sound like an exciting opportunity for a young, growing company, and certainly a noteworthy milestone, but it may also involve having to move shop, give away equity, and pay hefty fees – all factors that could affect your startup's short-term and long-term growth.
Header image by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash
Finance, Fundraising & AcceleratorsLatest - HomeStartup Toolkit
Impact Kommons Sustainability-Focused Accelerator Welcomes 15 Teams to Second Cohort
The acceleration program, backed by property conglomerate New World Development, has launched its second round off the back of a successful first cohort. A few days ago, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged world leaders to declare a "state of climate emergency." As [...]
5 Government-Backed Startup Programs in the Philippines
In an effort to boost the Philippines' startup scene, the government has launched several programs and initiatives. The Philippines is lagging behind in the startup innovation race. Despite the plethora of talent the local entrepreneurial pool offers, the Philippine startup ecosystem just isn't [...]
How to Bring Your Accelerator Online
By Zane Bojāre COVID-19 has been a force of digitization in many industries, including the startup accelerator world, as many programs have been forced to move online in recent months. But running programs online is not new; Y Combinator's Startup School is an 8-week online program and we have [...]
KK Fund and IGPI Singapore Launch SEA Point: Accelerator for Corporate-Startup Collaboration
Early next year, the partnership will launch SEA Point, an accelerator program to help corporates collaborate with startups and SMEs across Southeast Asia. Singapore-based venture capital (VC) firm KK Fund has entered into a partnership with Industrial Growth Platform Pte. Ltd. (IGPI Singapore), a [...]
Capturing Innovation Through Corporate Venturing
Talking corporate venturing and getting the most out of it with two frontrunning experts in the field. Hong Kong: a flourishing startup hub that's home to over 3,000 early-stage companies. In this rapidly-growing deconstructed startup ecosystem in the heart of Asia, corporations must find [...]


text:
Q: How to create a new partition in Ubuntu 14.04? I'm currently using Ubuntu 14.04. It's showing the whole hard drive as single partition. I need to split the drive into different partitions.
How can I accomplish this, preferably via the terminal?

A: Follow the standard procedure: boot from a Live CD/DVD/USB/whatever, use your favourite partitioning tool, done.
For partitioning you can use GParted (GUI and my favourite), parted (CLI), fdisk, cdisk or cfdisk. I haven't used any tool other than GParted (which comes with the ISO) to resize and reformat partitions. If you desperately need to use CLI, I can't help.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Dec. 1, 2015 10:21 am
This foundation exec doesn't care about financial returns. Here's why
McKenna will be stepping down from the Patricia Kind Family Foundation in January. But before she goes, she has a lesson for foundations looking to make impact investments.
Laura Kind McKenna, John Moore
Patricia Kind Family Foundation, Investors' Circle, Depaul House, Barra Foundation
big headlines, family foundations, impact investing
Laura Kind McKenna. (Courtesy photo)
Laura Kind McKenna is sitting in a diner booth, nudging at a poached egg draped atop a piece of wheat toast with her fork. She's catching a cold, but she's not letting it slow her down. She needs to pick up Jerome, an at-risk teenage boy she's mentoring, from his aunt's house in Germantown in a half hour. Today, McKenna is driving him to tour Northampton Community College in the Lehigh Valley.
First, Jerome needs to get out of bed, and over the phone, in a demanding, maternal tone, McKenna is giving him strict orders to do exactly that. Somehow, McKenna, who has been managing trustee at Glenside-based Patricia Kind Family Foundation since 1998, finds time to mentor youth outside of her professional capacity. She'll have even more time to dig into hands-on work once she steps down from her role within the Kind Foundation in January to spend more time with her family.
But she's not leaving without making a lasting impression on the local foundation community. Over the past three years, McKenna has been something of a pioneer on the impact investing front, making several investments ranging from low-interest loans to private equity investments. It's more than most family foundations in the region, and that investment activity has created a reputation for McKenna in the local foundation community as an "aggressive" funding practitioner.
It's pretty simple, actually: McKenna doesn't care about financial returns. She doesn't care for delving too deep into metrics. She doesn't want to wait any longer to make impact investments — she just wants to deploy foundation assets and make a social difference, and she wants to do it now. Even if a project fails, McKenna believes it had to have done some good. Either way, it's money well-spent.
Oh, and she hates the term "impact investing."
"'Impact' is too generic and should be left to angel investors and the financial world," McKenna asserts, mid-chew. Should that term be reserved for venture capitalists? She puts down her fork and knife. Pleasantries aside, she means business now.
"Absolutely. One-hundred percent. They're totally different things," McKenna opined in a tone that suggests she's had this conversation before. "The term 'impact' is different to everybody. What does it mean? High financial impact? Impact can be good and bad."
Right. We know the word "impact" can divide a room. So, what should we call "impact investments" — zero- and low-interest loans and the seldom-employed private equity investment — made by foundations? McKenna offered up two alternatives: "value-aligned investing" and "mission-aligned investing." To McKenna, the difference between impact investing in the venture capital community and impact investing in the foundation community is vast. She is vehement in her belief that foundations should inherently strive to spend more to have higher social impact.
Actually, her biggest failure, she said, was making a $50,000 private equity investment in a social enterprise last summer. The company rented tablets with educational software directly to prison inmates. After consulting with investors, the company has since pivoted and will now be looking to rent the tablets to prisons rather than the inmates themselves — a move that will rein in more cash.
To McKenna, that pivot is a major mission loss. It's no longer the same company she put that $50,000 into.
"From a financial point of view, this might make us much more money than I ever thought," McKenna admitted — though, not in the tone you'd expect from someone who might have just struck gold. "The reason it's a failure is, the model that will make a whole lot of money, to me is potentially not doing what we [invested in] — car[ing] about the rights and opportunities of inmates."
Go figure — McKenna's best financial investment is least tied to her mission. The investments that really hit it big, she said, do it because they chase the dollar. McKenna evaluates social impact first and foremost, and the potential financial return is second-hand. It's the kind of impact investment strategy that would make venture capitalists like John Moore of Investors' Circle cringe.
"[Foundations] call it impact, but really only analyze it financially," said McKenna, shaking her head in perplexity. "I can almost understand it from Investors' Circle — high-worth individuals — but I can't understand that approach from foundation investors."
McKenna's approach is a two-step process — one that she suggests foundations stop researching and just do. Here's how her foundation makes what she calls "mission-aligned" investments, and what others might call impact investing:
Do not touch the five percent you are legally obligated to grant. Instead, pull another five percent from your corpus (the 95 percent of assets that remain after grants are deployed). "The biggest thing you can't do, in my mind, is take that money out of your grant fund," McKenna said. "And at five percent, it doesn't matter."
With that five percent, make a zero- or low-interest loan or a private equity investment in a social enterprise that aligns with your mission. In a way, it's experimentation money — foundations are still figuring out how to navigate this new space. "A zero-interest loan is a revolving grant box," she said. "Pick something because you think there's a good likelihood they'll pay you back. But on the scale of it, it doesn't matter."
An example: In 2012, the Patricia Kind Foundation made a multi-year, zero-interest $37,000 loan towards Depaul House USA, a national transitional housing nonprofit for the homeless with a branch in Germantown. The loan, structured to demand increasing repayments over the course of its 10-year lifespan, helped Depaul launch Immaculate Cleaning Services (ICS), a for-profit business that employs Depaul residents.
Three years later, ICS has already paid back nearly three-fifths of their loan.
"Potentially they could still owe us another $15,000 if they belly up now," said McKenna. But if they do? McKenna personally chooses to perceive it as a grant. "But right now that grant is down to $15,000. In the meantime, the social return has been those employments, even if they're just hourly wage. They taught [tenants] to show up on time to do a job."
ICS generates a little under $1,000 in unrestricted funds for Depaul every month. It might not sound like much, but McKenna said it keeps the lights on. That's the kind of impact should not be underestimated.
"After they pay their employees, after they pay back their loans, they are still donating money to the nonprofit. That is a lot of money," McKenna emoted. "I know what $1,000 a month means to their bottom line. Hopefully that company will grow and put in $10,000 a month. I hope it does go to scale. Right now they're figuring it out."
Why aren't other foundations taking these risks — or, as many as the Kind Foundation is? McKenna has a saying: Everyone says it's a not a sprint, it's a marathon. But everyone is too concerned about training for the marathon and not actually running it.
The most detrimental failure a foundation can make, she said, is choosing to remain inactive with their corpus.
"Laura has been a passionate and vocal advocate for mission-aligned investing at foundations, pushing us to not just make grants but also make investments that benefit the communities we serve," said Barra Foundation President Tina Wahl, who has known McKenna since the mid-1980s. "She acted swiftly to change the investment practices at the Patricia Kind Family Foundation and forged a path for other foundations to follow."
McKenna may like to spend — hence the "aggressive" reputation — but she makes it work for her foundation, and has been a necessary trailblazer in the foundation investment space. Her advice for colleagues looking to join her? Stop vetting vehicles through financial institutions.
"When people say there aren't enough opportunities out there, they're only looking at opportunities through financial institutions," she said. "Look at mission first. Take a risk with a social entrepreneur. If you believe in what they're selling, why not?"
McKenna finishes the last bite of her poached egg, takes a sip of water to soothe her lasting cough and slides out of the diner booth. Jerome is waiting.
Reflect back, reimagine forward: How Ben Franklin Technology Partners is investing in regional impact
This is what individuals who invest in CDFIs want you to know
Investing in resilience: How a collaborative initiative in Camden is sparking change
'We know we have to do things differently': This partnership is ready to invest in Kensington in a new way
Tourism is a powerful lever for change that has been untapped and underutilized


text:
Home Reviews Why AI can't solve unknown problems
Why AI can't solve unknown problems
Welcome to AI book reviews, a series of posts that explore the latest literature on artificial intelligence.
When will we have artificial general intelligence, the kind of AI that can mimic the human mind in all aspect? Experts are divided on the topic, and answers range anywhere between a few decades and never.
But what everyone agrees on is that current AI systems are a far shot from human intelligence. Humans can explore the world, discover unsolved problems, and think about their solutions. Meanwhile, the AI toolbox continues to grow with algorithms that can perform specific tasks but can't generalize their capabilities beyond their narrow domains. We have programs that can beat world champions at StarCraft but can't play a slightly different game at amateur level. We have artificial neural networks that can find signs of breast cancer in mammograms but can't tell the difference between a cat and a dog. And we have complex language models that can spin thousands of seemingly coherent articles per hour but start to break when you ask them simple logical questions about the world.
In short, each of our AI techniques manages to replicate some aspects of what we know about human intelligence. But putting it all together and filling the gaps remains a major challenge. In his book Algorithms Are Not Enough, data scientist Herbert Roitblat provides an in-depth review of different branches of AI and describes why each of them falls short of the dream of creating general intelligence.
The common shortcoming across all AI algorithms is the need for predefined representations, Roitblat discusses. Once we discover a problem and can represent it in a computable way, we can create AI algorithms that can solve it, often more efficiently than ourselves. It is, however, the undiscovered and unrepresentable problems that continue to elude us.
Representations in symbolic AI
"Algorithms Are Not Enough" by Herbert Roitblat
Throughout the history of artificial intelligence, scientists have regularly invented new ways to leverage advances in computers to solve problems in ingenious ways. The earlier decades of AI focused on symbolic systems.
This branch of AI assumes human thinking is based on the manipulation of symbols, and any system that can compute symbols is intelligent. Symbolic AI requires human developers to meticulously specify the rules, facts, and structures that define the behavior of a computer program. Symbolic systems can perform remarkable feats, such as memorizing information, computing complex mathematical formulas at ultra-fast speeds, and emulating expert decision-making. Popular programming languages and most applications we use every day have their roots in the work that has been done on symbolic AI.
But symbolic AI can only solve problems for which we can provide well-formed, step-by-step solutions. The problem is that most tasks humans and animals perform can't be represented in clear-cut rules.
"The intellectual tasks, such as chess playing, chemical structure analysis, and calculus are relatively easy to perform with a computer. Much harder are the kinds of activities that even a one-year-old human or a rat could do," Roitblat writes in Algorithms Are Not Enough.
This is called "Moravec's paradox," named after the scientist Hans Moravec, who stated that, in contrast to humans, computers can perform high-level reasoning tasks with very little effort but struggle at simple skills that humans and animals acquire naturally.
"Human brains have evolved mechanisms over millions of years that let us perform basic sensorimotor functions. We catch balls, we recognize faces, we judge distance, all seemingly without effort," Roitblat writes. "On the other hand, intellectual activities are a very recent development. We can perform these tasks with much effort and often a lot of training, but we should be suspicious if we think that these capacities are what makes intelligence, rather than that intelligence makes those capacities possible."
So, despite its remarkable reasoning capabilities, symbolic AI is strictly tied to representations provided by humans.
Representations in machine learning
Machine learning provides a different approach to AI. Instead of writing explicit rules, engineers "train" machine learning models through examples. "[Machine learning] systems could not only do what they had been specifically programmed to do but they could extend their capabilities to previously unseen events, at least those within a certain range," Roitblat writes in Algorithms Are Not Enough.
The most popular form of machine learning is supervised learning, in which a model is trained on a set of input data (e.g., humidity and temperature) and expected outcomes (e.g., probability of rain). The machine learning model uses this information to tune a set of parameters that map the inputs to outputs. When presented with previously unseen input, a well-trained machine learning model can predict the outcome with remarkable accuracy. There's no need for explicit if-then rules.
But supervised machine learning still builds on representations provided by human intelligence, albeit one that is more loose than symbolic AI. Here's how Roitblat describes supervised learning: "[M]achine learning involves a representation of the problem it is set to solve as three sets of numbers. One set of numbers represents the inputs that the system receives, one set of numbers represents the outputs that the system produces, and the third set of numbers represents the machine learning model."
Therefore, while supervised machine learning is not tightly bound to rules like symbolic AI, it still requires strict representations created by human intelligence. Human operators must define a specific problem, curate a training dataset, and label the outcomes before they can create a machine learning model. Only when the problem has been strictly represented in its own way can the model start tuning its parameters.
"The representation is chosen by the designer of the system," Roitblat writes. "In many ways, the representation is the most crucial part of designing a machine learning system."
One branch of machine learning that has risen in popularity in the past decade is deep learning, which is often compared to the human brain. At the heart of deep learning is the deep neural network, which stacks layers upon layers of simple computational units to create machine learning models that can perform very complicated tasks such as classifying images or transcribing audio.
Deep learning models can perform complicated tasks such as classifying images (source: http://www.deeplearningbook.org)
But again, deep learning is largely dependent on architecture and representation. Most deep learning models needs labeled data, and there is no universal neural network architecture that can solve every possible problem. A machine learning engineer must first define the problem they want to solve, curate a large training dataset, and then figure out the deep learning architecture that can solve that problem. During training, the deep learning model will tune millions of parameters to map inputs to outputs. But it still needs machine learning engineers to decide the number and type of layers, learning rate, optimization function, loss function, and other unlearnable aspects of the neural network.
"Like much of machine intelligence, the real genius [of deep learning] comes from how the system is designed, not from any autonomous intelligence of its own. Clever representations, including clever architecture, make clever machine intelligence," Roitblat writes. "Deep learning networks are often described as learning their own representations, but this is incorrect. The structure of the network determines what representations it can derive from its inputs. How it represents inputs and how it represents the problem-solving process are just as determined for a deep learning network as for any other machine learning system."
Other branches of machine learning follow the same rule. Unsupervised learning, for example, does not require labeled examples. But it still requires a well-defined goal such as anomaly detection in cybersecurity, customer segmentation in marketing, dimensionality reduction, or embedding representations.
Reinforcement learning, another popular branch of machine learning, is very similar to some aspects of human and animal intelligence. The AI agent doesn't rely on labeled examples for training. Instead, it is given an environment (e.g., a chess or go board) a set of actions it can perform (e.g., move pieces, place stones). At each step, the agent performs an action and receives feedback from its environment in the form of rewards and penalties. Through trial and error, the reinforcement learning agent finds sequences of actions that yield more rewards.
Computer scientist Richard Sutton describes reinforcement learning as "the first computational theory of intelligence." In recent years, it has become very popular for solving complicated problems such as mastering computer and board games and developing versatile robotic arms and hands.
Reinforcement learning can solve complicated problems such as playing board and video games and robotic manipulations
But reinforcement learning environments are typically very complex, and the number of possible actions an agent can perform is very large. Therefore, reinforcement learning agents need a lot of help from human intelligence to design the right rewards, simplify the problem, and choose the right architecture. For instance, OpenAI Five, the reinforcement learning system that mastered the online video game DotA 2, relied on its designers simplifying the rules of the game, such as reducing the number of playable characters.
"It is impossible to check, in anything but trivial systems, all possible combinations of all possible actions that can lead to reward," Roitblat writes. "As with other machine learning situations, heuristics are needed to simplify the problem into something more tractable, even if it cannot be guaranteed to produce the best possible answer."
Here's how Roitblat summarizes the shortcomings of current AI systems in Algorithms Are Not Enough: "Current approaches to artificial intelligence work because their designers have figured out how to structure and simplify problems so that existing computers and processes can address them. To have a truly general intelligence, computers will need the capability to define and structure their own problems."
Is AI research headed in the right direction?
"Every classifier (in fact every machine learning system) can be described in terms of a representation, a method for measuring its success, and a method of updating," Roitblat told TechTalks over email. "Learning is finding a path (a sequence of updates) through a space of parameter values. At this point, though, we don't have any method for generating those representations, goals, and optimizations."
There are various efforts to address the challenges of current AI systems. One popular idea is to continue to scale deep learning. The general reasoning is that bigger neural networks will eventually crack the code of general intelligence. After all, the human brain has more than 100 trillion synapses. The biggest neural network to date, developed by AI researchers at Google, has one trillion parameters. And the evidence shows that adding more layers and parameters to neural networks yields incremental improvements, especially in language models such as GPT-3.
But big neural networks do not address the fundamental problems of general intelligence.
"These language models are significant achievements, but they are not general intelligence," Roitblat says. "Essentially, they model the sequence of words in a language. They are plagiarists with a layer of abstraction. Give it a prompt and it will create a text that has the statistical properties of the pages it has read, but no relation to anything other than the language. It solves a specific problem, like all current artificial intelligence applications. It is just what it is advertised to be—a language model. That's not nothing, but it is not general intelligence."
Other directions of research try to add structural improvements to current AI structures.
For instance, hybrid artificial intelligence brings symbolic AI and neural networks together to combine the reasoning power of the former and the pattern recognition capabilities of the latter. There are already several implementations of hybrid AI, also referred to as "neuro-symbolic systems," that show hybrid systems require less training data and are more stable at reasoning tasks than pure neural network approaches.
Herbert Roitblat, data scientist and author of "Algorithms Are Not Enough" (Credit: Josiah Grandfield)
System 2 deep learning, another direction of research proposed by deep learning pioneer Yoshua Bengio, tries to take neural networks beyond statistical learning. System 2 deep learning aims to enable neural networks to learn "high-level representations" without the need for explicit embedding of symbolic intelligence.
Another research effort is self-supervised learning, proposed by Yann LeCun, another deep learning pioneer and the inventor of convolutional neural networks. Self-supervised learning aims to learn tasks without the need for labeled data and by exploring the world like a child would do.
"I think that all of these make for more powerful problem solvers (for path problems), but none of them addresses the question of how these solutions are structured or generated," Roitblat says. "They all still involve navigating within a pre-structured space. None of them addresses the question of where this space comes from. I think that these are really important ideas, just that they don't address the specific needs of moving from narrow to general intelligence."
In Algorithms Are Not Enough, Roitblat provides ideas on what to look for to advance AI systems that can actively seek and solve problems that they have not been designed for. We still have a lot to learn from ourselves and how we apply our intelligence in the world.
"Intelligent people can recognize the existence of a problem, define its nature, and represent it," Roitblat writes. "They can recognize where knowledge is lacking and work to obtain that knowledge. Although intelligent people benefit from structured instructions, they are also capable of seeking out their own sources of information."
But observing intelligent behavior is easier than creating it, and, as Roitblat told me in our correspondence, "Humans do not always solve their problems in the way that they say/think that they do."
But as we continue to explore artificial and human intelligence, we will continue to move toward AGI one step at a time.
"Artificial intelligence is a work in progress. Some tasks have advanced further than others. Some have a way to go. The flaws of artificial intelligence tend to be the flaws of its creator rather than inherent properties of computational decision making. I would expect them to improve over time," Roitblat said.
Demystifying AI
Previous articleWhy end-to-end encryption is a must-have for enterprises
Next articleIs Boston Dynamics becoming a boring robotics company?
DimitriAus March 29, 2021 at 10:40 pm
Put it simple – someone randomly discovered an artificial emulation of ONE learning process feature and called it intelligence. That is not intelligent at all. It's like calling a rich man – smart and entrust him a civilization.
Steve Simpson March 31, 2021 at 7:52 pm
We have increasingly impressive techniques for seeing and observing – and handling association ("how are the variables related?" "how would seeing X change my belief in Y?").
We need to be able to intervene ("what would Y be if I do X?" "How can I make Y happen?")
And – ultimately – imagine, understand and perform retrospection. ("Was it X that caused Y?" "What if X had not occurred?" "What if I had acted differently?").
David Fitzsimmons April 1, 2021 at 10:35 pm
I had a thought the other day. I was thinking of the famous conundrum, that while the cellular structure of neurons is identical throughout the Human brain, there are over 5,000 local structures in that brain. And it seemed to me that Watson [the famous Jeopardy contestant] was in that sense biomimetic; it is composed of many subroutines which are polled to find out which of them might be relevant in a particular instance.
Now in this wave of ML/AI we have been focused on a mimetic 'vision' function, successfully – so we have pushed on with that same 'simple' neural-net structure. I say to you now, that is not the way to AGI. The way to AGI will involve more neural mimicry and more neuroscience to build more forms of networks, verified ant tested – 'subroutines' which may be polled, Watson-like, to build from the assemblage a result 'more than the sum of its parts.


text:
Project Star: Societal Transformation and Reconciliation (2018-2020)
Project STaR weaves together the strengths of five organizations Center for Peacebuilding (CIM), PRONI Center for Youth Development, Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR), Mali Koraci (Small Steps), and Karuna Center – to create a social fabric of people dedicated to reconciliation. The project focuses within 10 project sites throughout both entities of the country: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Republika Srpska.
Youth leadership for community engagement
To reach deeper into communities where interethnic cooperation is not the norm, we layer multiple approaches to engaging youth and young adults. At diverse project sites, we have opened and staffed brick-and-mortar PRONI Youth Centers, with the support of local officials, to facilitate an inclusive social space. At these centers, the project engages hundreds of youth in a variety of activities, ranging from advocacy trainings and interethnic exchange visits to classes in filmmaking. Meanwhile, YIHR works trains high school students on interethnic inclusion and respect. YIHR equips team of young adults to monitor and report on hate speech in print, radio, online, and television media stories, alerting a national Press Council to concerning content.
Combining youth leadership with broader community engagement, CIM brings together multiethnic groups of young adults for Project STaR summer peace leadership camps and peace caravans. Following a series of transformative dialogues and workshops, the youth tour Bosnian cities and towns coming into contact with diverse perspectives and experience—and when they get home, we support them to lead their own peacebuilding programs in their communities.
Sharing and stimulating stories of reconciliation
To engage whole communities across generational divides, Project STaR held an interfaith speaking-out tour of Serb, Croat, and Bosniak religious leaders, and facilitates community-wide film screenings and discussions. Throughout both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska, we screen the powerful anti-war documentary Maglaj: War and Peace. The film features 3 commanders (Bosniak, Croat, and Serb) who fought each other during the Bosnian War and have since reconciled and developed mutual respect. These screenings, often featuring the 3 generals in person, have stimulated powerful discussions with the audience about experiences of the war, and the shared desire, across ethnic divides, for a lasting peace. We also facilitated a discussion with the generals after the film at the 2019 Sarajevo Film Festival, where we also brought a delegation of 50 project youth.
In addition to the project's layers of leadership development and outreach, we provide advanced dialogue training to intermediate-level facilitators from the project's participating organizations—with an emphasis on facilitating emotionally difficult conversations and eliciting candid and honest responses. We have also engaged community religious leaders and government officials in support of the project's activities and objectives. Project STaR is supported by a two-year grant from USAID.
Karuna in the World
Subscribe to our email list and receive news, events, and program updates delivered to your inbox.
© Karuna Center for Peacebuilding
447 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002 USA
Registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization


A view of Lake Bled (Blejsko jezero) in northern Slovenia.
The photo is showing a view onto the Bled Island (Blejski otok) with the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary.
In the background the Bled Castle and the Julian Alps are rising.


So Where 2 Events has joined forces with White Wedding Decor. Your wedding day is undoubtedly going to be one of your most memorable moments – the start of a lifetime celebration. Our team understands that creativity, imagination and visual perfection are paramount. We make sure to pay attention to each detail, carefully planning every step, starting from the development of your personalized concept and theme.
Our services include complete planning and organization, preventing any hassles and ensuring that no request is overlooked. We make certain that your wedding day is not only stress-free, but is a truly memorable celebration.
We understand the importance of catering to our clients needs while considering budgetary constraints and have extensive experience sourcing personal requirements for reasonable costs. Our dedicated and reliable team prioritize getting to know you as a couple and creating a flawless and cost-effective event that truly represents your unique tastes.
Our primary goal is ensuring our client's complete satisfaction- we provide unmatched customer service, assessing all of our suppliers and ensuring that we procure every element to the highest standard.
Contact White Weddings – your wedding day will ultimately be – perfect.


text:
Dearborn Theater Class Registration
Dearborn Parks & Recreation presents a Dearborn Theater production of Little Shop of Horrors (Broadway Version), Directed by Rashid Baydoun and with Music Director, Vanessa El-Zein.
Class registration is open to ages 16 or older. Registration Fee $160 ($2 Internet Fee will apply for online registrations). Classes will meet on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Studio B from
6 -8:30pm, beginning on February 7, 2023. Principal actors will also meet on Saturdays from 4-8pm.
Performances are on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 2 & 7pm and Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 2pm. All tickets, priced at $21, are for General Admission Seating.
Register online or call or visit the Theater Box Office, open Thursday and Friday's from 11am to 4pm.
Please note: By selecting Buy Tickets, you will be taken to registration page.
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 6:00 pm


eXmerce acts as a third-party record keeper, just like a bank. Each month members receive a statement detailing recent buy and sell transactions, current trade balance and any fees due.
Members will receive an e-mail confirmation of any buy or sell transactions.


Here are some of the most attractive wallpapers for Windows 8 screen. With the launch of developer preview of windows 8, Microsoft released few cool and bonnie desktop wallpapers. But as far as i could imagine, its only the tip of the iceberg which we have seen in developers preview. There is lot more waiting in the Microsoft's arsenal and we have to wait until the user version of windows is released to see what exactly they have got.
In the meantime, a vast numbers of third-party windows 8 wallpapers and Windows 8 theme packs appeared on the internet. In this article i will be bringing to your notice, few of the most astonishing and beautiful windows 8 desktop wallpapers that you can grab from internet and give a windows 8 look to your desktop.
This is one of the official windows 8 wallpapers. It is called windows 8 fish and you can see the glimpse of windows fish on this wallpaper. The look of this wallpaper is very basic and decent.
M3 build also came up a series of official windows 8 wallpapers. This series of wallpapers are available in various colors.
Here are few more free wallpapers that you can download.


text:
Fine Arts Local Crime Music Theatre Government Education
Future of Parks, Arts Commission uncertain
TUSD schools improve, still fall below state standards
Community group to advise City in financial matters
Turlockers take in Niners win
Defendant gets six years for role in Donnelly Park beating death
Pro Sports Youth High School Sports Community Sports Columns College
Bulldogs kick off CCAL with back-to-back wins
Hilmar boys soccer shuts out Escalon
Huskies handle 'Jackets from home in first meeting
49ers one win away from Super Bowl
Pitman girls close out pre-league with win over Buhach
Melvin Lundell
Miriam R. Ness
Edith Marie Wierschem
Jacqueline "Jackie" Sondeno
Editorial Letters to the Editor
How much longer will Sacramento allow PG&E to play Russian roulette?
Strickland lecture inspiring
School district sanctions 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' for civic activism
The Blitz Breaking News Community Sports STUDIO209
209 Magazine 209 Senior Living AG Harvest Tab Business News Bridal Tab Election Tab Fair Tab Godinez Tab
FFA Holiday Salute Home & Garden Readers Choice Magazine The Blitz Yesteryears
Reader's Choice 2019 Reader's Choice Winners 2018
Denair Charter Academy welcomes new principal
Brian LaFountain is the new principal of Denair Charter Academy. - photo by Photo Contributed
Turlock Journal
Updated: July 22, 2016, 5:37 p.m.
After nine years of teaching students, Brian LaFountain will now lead them as the new principal of Denair Charter Academy.
It was LaFountain's passion to work with and make a difference in the lives of children that drew him to the world of education. For the past seven years, LaFountain has worked in the Patterson Unified School District. Last year, he was the coordinator of the Open Valley Independent Study program, which he compared to DCA.
"It is an alternative school of choice. It's very similar to DCA," LaFountain said. "The biggest difference is DCA is a charter school and has the flexibility that brings."
DCA offers home-school curriculum for K-8 students as well as an independent study alternative for high school students who haven't found the right fit in a traditional setting, have work or other family responsibilities or have been expelled. The campus serves about 300 students, most of them high school age.
Though Patterson is his hometown, LaFountain kept a close eye on job openings in Denair. He and his wife bought a house just behind the Denair High football field a couple of years ago. Their 11-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter attend Denair schools, and now they won't be far from their father, who jokes that he's traded a "40-minute commute to Patterson for a 40-second walk to his new office."
LaFountain grew up in Patterson and graduated from Patterson High School with aspirations to become an attorney, working for the FBI or Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. After working a number of jobs, from banking to a full-time position with the Modesto A's baseball team, LaFountain ultimately ended up following his passion – working with children. He first became a substitute teacher while working to earn his credential, then began his education career as a middle school teacher in Stockton before moving to Patterson seven years ago.
LaFountain replaces Dawn Allen, who left to take a job with the Sylvan Union School District in Modesto. Because he was hired after the school year ended, LaFountain hasn't had a chance to meet many on his new staff, though he has reached out by phone to introduce himself. He said he walked into an empty office on July 18 after a weeklong camping trip near Lake Tahoe with his family.
"Right now, I'm getting myself acclimated to how they do scheduling and the flow of paper work. I'm learning where we're at with budgeting and staffing. Fortunately, there are no openings," he said.
He expects to be formally introduced to his staff Aug. 8 before classes begin Aug. 11. And before that, plans are to turn DCA's current office into a child-care area and relocate LaFountain and his administrative aides to the old district office nearby.
LaFountain said all the concurrent changes "will make things interesting."
"I always like trial by fire," he said with a laugh. "There's not much that overwhelms me or scares me or that I think that I can't take on."
Local school employees to be recognized for 'making a difference'
2020 Healthy Air Living Kids Calendar
Career Technical Education classes provide options for students not on four-year college track


text:
Leeds: Whites eye up move for Ola Aina
By Henry Jackson
Posted on 7 January 2022, 15:10
Leeds United are interested in signing Torino right-back Ola Aina in the January transfer window, according to a new transfer rumour that has emerged.
The Lowdown: Aina impresses in Italy
The 25-year-old has become an established player for Torino since joining in 2019, making 13 Serie A starts already this season.
He can play anywhere across the defence or on either wing, per Whoscored, and ranks highly amongst his teammates in both interceptions and successful take-ons, showing his ability on both sides of the ball.
Aina also has 21 caps to his name for Nigeria, having initially represented England during his youth team years, making four appearances for the Under-20s.
It could be that a return to England appeals for the defender, however – he was originally at Chelsea between 2015 and 2019 – and Leeds appear to be contenders to snap him up.
The Latest: Leeds eye up move
According to Tuttosport [via Sport Witness], 'there is Leeds' when it comes to those clubs showing an interest, with Torino willing to sell him if the 'right proposal' comes along.
Aina's current deal expires in the summer of 2023, essentially giving the Italian side two more transfer windows to sell him for a decent fee, should they want to.
Latest Leeds United news!
The Verdict: Strong Ayling replacement
With Luke Ayling turning 31 later this year, it is important that Leeds plan for the long-term and bring in someone who can be his eventual replacement.
Aina could be that man, having already picked up plenty of experience in Italy but also being at an age where he can improve further as a player. Torino manager Ivan Juric has hailed his crossing ability, highlighting what he could bring to the side.
He has averaged one tackle and 1.4 interceptions per game in the league this season – Ayling has averaged 1.6 and 0.9, respectively – and he shouldn't cost a large amount, with Transfermarkt valuing him at £4.95million.
With his contract expiring in 2023 and Leeds currently boasting plenty of depth on the right flank, perhaps this is a move we could see later in the year or next January, when Ayling will have one more season on the legs while the Italian outfit will have little choice but to offer up a bargain for Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani.
In other news, Leeds have been linked with another player – find out who it is here.
Related Items:Elland Road, Italy, Leeds, Leeds transfer news, Leeds transfer rumours, Leeds United, Leeds United transfer news, Leeds United transfer rumours, Marcelo Bielsa, Nigeria, Ola Aina, Premier League, Serie A, Torino
Wolves: Journalist claims centre-back is priority signing
Liverpool: Fans delighted with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain injury update
Leeds: Whites boosted in pursuit of Vedat Muriqi
Article title: Leeds: Whites eye up move for Ola Aina


How Far is Sree Sai Towers?
Sree Sai Towers a residential venture located at Madhurawada. The project is well planned and developed with quality materials and offers 2BHK and 3BHK apartments designed with basic amenities and at a reasonable cost. The property is placed at an excellent residential area and is well connected to transport modes and other civic utilities.


The 1969 Bandy World Championship was contested between three men's bandy playing nations. The championship was played in Sweden from 8–16 February 1969. Originally the tournament was to be arranged in Norway, but the Norwegians declined to participate and arrange the championship so Sweden had to take over.
The Soviet Union became champions.


text:
Home Tech Super Nintendo World entry bracelets will work as amiibo
Super Nintendo World entry bracelets will work as amiibo
The Nintendo theme park continues to share its secrets and now reveals how the Power U Bands will be able to connect with the Nintendo Switch.
There is less and less left for the dream of many to come true. On February 4, 2021, the Universal Park of Japan will welcome within its walls Super Nintendo World, a new thematic region within it whose attractions, restaurants and shops are inspired by the great Nintendo franchises (Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon … etc.). The proximity to its inauguration date allows us to learn more and more details about the secrets that lie in it and how things will work. Today, for example, the information that reaches us is related to the entrance bracelets, called Power U Band. Some bracelets that are magnetic closure, have a chip inside and have up to six different models based on different characters from the Mushroom Kingdom (Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toad or Yoshi).
But be careful, because there is more. The Power U Band are not like the bracelets in other parks, where you put them on and forget them, or where they only serve for the staff of the attractions to check that we are wearing them before letting us pass. Once inside Super Nintendo World, the Power U Band will connect to a mobile application and begin what the creators of the park have called "a life-size video game." And it is that thanks to the bracelets we will be able to interact with more than 150 objects in the enclosure, which when we bring our wrist closer they will move, illuminate or emit sounds, also allowing us to participate in various minigames, some of augmented reality. All this grants coins in the application, as if we were playing an installment of the Super Mario saga. The more we relate to the park through the bracelets, the more coins and points we will accumulate. Shigeru Miyamoto himself showed this kind of relationship between the bracelet and the park in the following video:
Power U Bands also serve as Amiibo
And as if that were not enough, from the official Nintendo website they tell us that the bracelets will work like amiibo and can be used later on our Nintendo Switch. To do this, it would be enough to put the base of the bracelet in front of the NFC point of the console, located on the joy-con sticks. In case we get the red Power U Band, for example, the platform will identify it as a special Mario amiibo and unlock a personalized version of the character in games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Presumably, once the park opens the doors on February 4, the first visitors will report on the titles compatible with the bracelets, the rewards they give in them, the use they have of the application currencies … and so on. . Until then to continue dreaming (and saving) for that visit to Super Nintendo World.
Redmi K30 Pro is listed on Google Play under the name...
Great app for live streaming and distance learning


In this video I'm going to run you through how to draw a diamond step by step, super easy.
In this tutorial I'll be using a Mac Book Pro 17 inch, a Wacom Intuos and Adobe Illustrator.
Here we are in illustrator. I am set up on A4 size art board. I'm first going to do the outlines of the diamond, just like so. Then I am going to do the interior of the diamond. Just do that line from there to there. I think these edges are called caveats. I'm not sure if they are called caveats, but I think they are called caveats, which is kind of a weird word, so I'm drawing the caveats if that's what they're called. Hope they are, as I've been going on about it for a long time and that's our diamond. I'm just going to thicken up that edge, so it's slightly thicker and I'm also going to just do a sparkle, so I'm going to do a circle. Then I am going to go to distort and transform pucker and bloat. I'm going to make a sparkle about, a bit more that's okay. Then I'm going to expand that and then with illustrator, if I click this selection tool, you can round the edges, so I just want to round the edges a little bit. I like that rounded edge vibe and there's one sparkle.
So to start with on the colors, I'm just going to color the whole thing up. First I'm going to do the background, which is going to be this navy blue here, so I will just select that. Eyedropper it and send it to back. Then next I'm going to do the line work just turn that into white. Then this sparkle, I'm going to color this light blue and reduce it a little bit, which is going to be, where's it going to be. Just have a couple of different sizes. One can go there, one can go. Then next, I'm going to color the diamond, which is a pretty easy task to do, so I'll start off with this blue color and just color this up.
The corner's got a bit of a bend in it, so Ill just tweak that and then copy and paste that bad boy and reflect it and send both of those to back and then bring them forward one, and then next I'll do a slightly lighter blue. Send that to back and copy and paste. Bring it forward one and then next we've got two more colors, so we're going to use this, just tweak that and then I think these diamonds should all be around the same size. Sorry, I mean these triangles should all be about the same size, so copy and paste that in front. Copy and paste that in front for that one. Then send them all to the back, bring them forward one. Then next just going to copy and paste that in front. Oops. Evolve it round so it's upside down and then make that lighter. Then select both two, send them to back and just bring them forward one, and there we have our beautiful, beautiful diamond. Here are the colors we've used and here's a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful diamond. I love it.
Let's see what these look like just outlined. Nah. Interesting. Nah, they look better solid, so I hope you've enjoyed this little tutorial.
I hope this video has helped you in how to draw a diamond step by step, super easy. You can download our free textile design cheat sheet. The link is in the description. Be sure to subscribe to our channel. If you are going to subscribe, make sure you press that bell icon that comes up after you subscribe and you'll get notified. We try to publish videos every week, so stay tuned for that. Feel free to like this video and share with your friends and comment in the comments, what shape you would like me to do a tutorial on next. I will see you in the next video. See ya.


text:
Ljubčo Georgievski (, ), né le  à Chtip, est un homme d'État macédonien titulaire de la nationalité bulgare membre de l'Organisation révolutionnaire macédonienne intérieure - Parti populaire (VMRO-NP).

Biographie

Formation

Premier président de la VMRO-DPMNE
Il participe à la fondation de l'Organisation révolutionnaire macédonienne intérieure - Parti démocratique pour l'Unité nationale macédonienne (VMRO-DPMNE) en 1990 et en devient le premier président le . Bien qu'il remporte les élections législatives de  avec 38 députés sur 120 à l'Assemblée, il refuse de s'associer avec n'importe quel parti des Albanais de Macédoine.

Il se trouve alors confiné dans l'opposition. Aux élections de , il décide de boycotter le second tour en dénonçant des irrégularités. Son parti n'est alors plus représenté à l'Assemblée tandis que l'indépendant de centre gauche Kiro Gligorov remporte la présidentielle avec plus des trois quarts des voix.

Président du gouvernement
Participant aux élections législatives d', la VMRO-DPMNE remporte 49 députés, soit 40 % des sièges. Le parti s'associe alors avec l'Alternative démocratique (DA) et le Parti démocratique des Albanais (DPA/PDSh), ce qui lui assure une solide majorité absolue de 73 mandats sur 120. Le , Ljubčo Georgievski est nommé président du gouvernement de Macédoine à 32 ans, succédant au social-démocrate Branko Crvenkovski.

L'élection présidentielle qui se tient en 1999 est marquée par la victoire au second tour avec 53 % des voix du candidat conservateur Boris Trajkovski, perçu comme un nationaliste modéré, contre le social-démocrate Tito Petkovski.

L'année 2001 voit le pays vivre une insurrection armée albanaise, ce qui l'amène à former brièvement un gouvernement d'union nationale avec l'opposition de centre gauche entre  et .

Retour dans l'opposition
Dans la perspective des élections législatives du , il forme une alliance électorale avec le Parti libéral (LPM). Le jour du scrutin, la VMRO-DPMNE ne remporte que 27 députés. Renvoyé dans l'opposition, il cède le pouvoir à Crvenkovski le  et renonce à effectuer un nouveau mandat à la présidence de son parti. Le , son ancien ministre des Finances Nikola Gruevski, âgé de 33 ans, prend sa suite.

En , le président Trajkovski meurt dans l'accident de son avion en Bosnie-Herzégovine et une élection présidentielle anticipée est convoquée en avril. Georgievski préconise alors d'investir l'ancien ministre Ljube Boskovski, connu pour son nationalisme, mais Gruevski choisit Sasko Kedev, qui sera nettement battu au second tour par le candidat social-démocrate, Branko Crvenkovski.

Fondation de la VMRO-NP et nationalité bulgare
En conséquence, Georgievski quitte son parti et fonde le  l'Organisation révolutionnaire macédonienne intérieure - Parti populaire (VMRO-NP), qui se veut plus nationaliste. Bien qu'il n'en exerce pas formellement la présidence, il en est perçu comme le principal dirigeant.

En , il acquiert la nationalité bulgare, sur la base de ses origines et moyennant une déclaration de conscience nationale bulgare devant notaire. Son domicile en Bulgarie se trouve dans la municipalité de Blagoevgrad.

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Organisation révolutionnaire macédonienne intérieure - Parti démocratique pour l'Unité nationale macédonienne
 Nikola Gruevski ; Branko Crvenkovski

Naissance en janvier 1966
Naissance à Štip
Naissance en RS de Macédoine
Étudiant de l'université Saints-Cyrille-et-Méthode de Skopje
Président du gouvernement de Macédoine du Nord
Personnalité politique bulgare

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


More Democrats begin to make excuses for Joe Biden's previous behavior. An execution of a murderer is put on hold to appeal to a Buddhist's needs. ABC writes a story citing criticism by 3 tweets. Beto O'Rourke endorses abolishing the Electoral College. Dana shares the story of an animal fight in her backyard. Former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson joins us to discuss the movie "Unplanned".


SOS Ready Beam Shake Flashlight with 3 Super Bright LEDs is waterproof and shock resistant.
SOS Ready Beam Shake Flashlight with 3 Super Bright LEDs is waterproof and shock resistant. Double coil charge system works when you need it most, it never needs batteries, and no bulbs to replace.
The SOS Beam uses your energy and the principles of induction to light the way.
Shaking the flashlight causes a very strong magnet to pass between the SOS Beam's patented double coils. The magnets movement between these coils charges the flashlights internal capacitor.
CLICK HERE to view our list of Flashlights!
A flashlight is a modern necessity for emergencies, travel, outdoor sports, automotive and home safety. Unlike most flashlights, the SOS Beam has no batteries or bulbs to replace. It's ready when you need it most.


text:
HomeGeorges captures the many colors of life
Georges captures the many colors of life
February 22, 2015 September 11, 2015 A Good Reed Review ReviewFMT, Foothill Music Theatre review, Sondheim, Sunday in the Park with George, WPLongform
Foothill Music Theatre just opened their production of a rarely done, but arguably the most ethereal show in the Sondheim canon, Sunday in the Park with George – a musical based on the Georges Seurat painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The painting is surreal, an example of Seurat's Pointillism technique that was a vivid departure from the approach used by the impressionists of his time. Pointillism is essentially a mosaic of complementary colors that, when viewed at a distance, causes the brain to fuse the colors and register a complex color, such as seeing violet emerge when only blue and red are actually painted. Likewise, this first collaboration between composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and playwright and director James Lapine whisks the audience members into a surreal world of color and light worthy of Seurat.
The story is a fictional account exploring Seurat's motivation and character in life, and in his work, which are one and the same in this play. The family relationships depicted in the play are not drawn from Seurat's real life. Act 1 takes place in the mid-1880s and has two locations – the park along the Seine, and Georges' studio. Act 2 jumps 100 years to 1984 where George, Georges' fictional great-grandson (though the real Seurat had no grandson, let alone any great-grandson in real life), is also a struggling artist, but he uses a different medium.
The show opens as a blank canvas with Georges (Tyler Bennett/Sergey Khalikulov – note that Bennett performed opening night) at his sketch pad. Soon, a scene forms, a park along the Seine. Georges' model and mistress, Dot (Katie Nix), is attired in a heavy dress with a high bustle. She stands in the hot sun as Georges sketches her. As time goes on, various passersby enter the scene though Georges isn't one to engage in frivolous chatter. He's focused on his sketching, even as the scene turns to fantasy when Dot steps out of her dress and moves provocatively around Georges and the stage, as the two of them sing the title number.
Beyond Georges and Dot, 14 additional actors form a featured supporting cast playing characters that appeared in Georges' famous painting. Each is featured at some point, and each provides color to the painting that Georges is capturing. There are also five pit singers included in the cast, each serving as understudies to various roles.
Two very telling numbers in Act 1 include "Finishing the Hat" and "Beautiful". The first is a solo stream-of-consciousness number where Georges presents his thoughts on life, and on the importance of following his creative path to the exclusion of all else. The second is a duet with the Old Lady (Linda Piccone) where Georges explains all of the things of beauty in the world. He claims that "beautiful" is forever, but "pretty" is fleeting, changing with the times and whims of what is fashionable.
In Act 2 the story resumes in the park where Act 1 leaves off in a delightful number called "It's Hot Up Here." The cast, sans Georges, is stuck in the painting, and in addition to being musically interesting, the number is insightful and very funny. Once the story jumps forward in time, most of the cast members have a modern day role as well, far removed from their 19th century characters, and it's interesting to see the contrasts.
Sondheim had clearly established his unique style by the time this collaboration emerged, a style that is instantly recognizable in its complexity with rhythmic patter songs filled with crisp, clever lyrics. The cast handles the difficult score and tongue-twisting lyrics rather nicely for the most part although there are just a few moments when some of the quick one-liners don't come through.
Bennett and Nix show off their vocal chops in several gorgeous solos along with some lovely duets that are part lyric ballad and part fugue. "Color and Light" illustrates this wonderfully with an orchestral rhythm that both Bennett and Nix pick up in turn or in rapid-fire musical exchanges. Both have excellent diction, which is critical in Sondheim music, and they tell a compelling story. In a more conversational bent, Bennett has some nice exchanges with Kevin Kirby's Jules, a more successful artist and caustic friend, while Nix and Caitlin Lawrence Papp's Yvonne also banter as rivals of a different sort.
Piccone is wonderful as Georges' mother. She is both touching and funny, and plays a very sympathetic character. Her jabs at both Vanessa Alvarez who plays her nurse, and at Bennett are completely in character and may remind some of their slightly eccentric grandmothers. In Act 2, Piccone plays an art critic who is delightfully surly at just the right moment.
A few of the actors in some minor roles aren't quite as polished, but their coarseness isn't disruptive, and any fleeting missteps are recovered quickly.
Milissa Carey's staging is spot on. This is a show that needs to appear magical as the tableaus appear out of chaos in some sequences, the most striking is the Act 1 finale when the painting emerges. These aren't forced, but instead they flow organically from the action. The cast becomes the foreground of the painting, with the background projected behind them upstage, and the effect is captivating. Act 2's "Putting it Together" is artfully scattered with frozen tableaus to punctuate the duality between the external action and George's thoughts.
Bruce McLeod, Michael Rooney, and Erik Scanlon provide the scenic, lighting and video designs for the production. The scenic design is very clean and open, and although the space is tight, the design keeps the character of the original Broadway run. The laser light show early in Act 2 fits nicely and contrasts with the painting.
Music director Dolores Duran-Cefalu commands a seven piece orchestra, reduced from the scored twelve parts, to provide a strong counterpoint to the vocalists on stage. One early missed phrase was noticeable on opening night, but overall, the instrumentalists were up to the challenge of this difficult Sondheim score. Andrew Heller provided a solid sound design, though the orchestra/cast balance still needs just a slight bit of tweaking for a few of the full company quick exchanges. While the cast is miked, the amplification is very subtle to allow the actors to focus on their diction rather than projection.
FMT has gone through a number of changes in leadership and in accessibility to talent. In the past, the casts were made up of a combination of actors from the Foothill Conservatory program and the community. Regulatory changes required by the state have imposed strict limits on the number of times anyone can enroll in the class that is the show. This has eliminated a number of community regulars who've been performing in FMT productions in the past, and it will force greater turnover in the future as more of the community actors become ineligible to participate.
In spite of these changes, the company should be proud of the quality of this production. Don't miss this one.
What: Sunday in the Park with George with book by James Lapine, and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Where: Lohman Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos, CA 94022
When: Continues through 8 March 2015, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, and Sundays at 2PM.
See www.foothillmusicals.com or call (650)949-7360 for tickets or more information.
(Photo credits: David Allen)
← It builds!
Solve "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" at SCP →


Zen | Bylands Nurseries Ltd.
A Zen garden is meant to provide you with nothing but tranquility. A place of peace. Creating a visual flow free of any obstacles that might stop your eye is key in order to Zen garden that is mentally pleasing to you. Incorporate the four elements: earth, air, fire and water to create a harmonious space. Rocks and stones make up a large part of Zen gardens because you can position them to mimic the flow of water. Any size water features make a great addition and provide to the soothing atmosphere of a Zen garden. Adding lighting or candles would create nighttime ambiance.
Gardening is supposed to be relaxing and therapeutic but sometimes it can become a chore when you have to stay on top of weeds and pests. So be sure to use a weed retainer or cover before placing anything to keep your Zen Garden low maintenance.
Click to check out our pin board on Pinterest for more ideas.


This just in via the BBC: "Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has been seized by armed men from a hotel in the capital, Tripoli." Attacks such as this and like that on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi underline what we've already seen in other cities: urban environments with their hotels, shopping centres and restaurants will be the battlegrounds of the future. And the siege, with its commando-style tactics and penetration of the city's systems, is increasingly the tactic of choice for the enemies of civilization.
In his new book, Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban Guerrilla, counterinsurgency strategist Dr. David Kilcullen examines conflicts in Benghazi, Kingston, Mumbai and other cities to explain the changing face of warfare. Given the major trends of the 21st century — population growth, coastal urbanization and increasing digital connectivity — he predicts a future of savage cities, and increasing intersections between crime and conflict in the real and virtual urban environments. Kilcullen argues that dealing with these challenges will require insight and expertise outside the military realm — from urban planning to systems engineering to alternative energy technology.
How countries can diffuse urban conflict was the theme of a discussion with Dr. Kilcullen hosted last month by The New America Foundation. It's excellent. By the way, we end our urban-themed week here tomorrow with a look at Big Data and the City.


text:
Public Discussion Boards
WebGUI Designers Guide (B&W)
WebGUI Administration Guide (B&W)
WebGUI Content Managers Guide (B&W)
Plain Black Staffed Message Board
WebGUI Installation
WebGUI Upgrades
Annual Performance Tuning Checkup
Priority Bug Fixes
9am - 5pm (GMT -0600)
Within 24 hours*
Immediate*
Customer Contacts
$450/mo**
*Longer periods may elapse on weekends and holidays. Holiday schedule is provided to all support clients.
**Payment may be made monthly rather than in an up front lump sum; however, using this option does not change the contract duration.
***Server hosting packages that include Online Support do not include WebGUI guides. These are only available to customers who purchase the $1000 Online Support package.
Why buy support?
If you're like most people (including us a long time ago) you're thinking to yourself, "Why should I buy support for a piece of software I got for free?"
We'd like to turn that around on you. Ask instead, "Why should you pay for support when you paid thousands of dollars for commercial software?"
Truth be told we like the fact that people all around the world are using WebGUI for free. We take pride in that we've made something that people like and find useful. However, it costs us a lot of time and money to support all of you that are using WebGUI. That's why we charge for support and other services.
Help us support you by purchasing a support program.
Support F.A.Q.
How does the support board work?
The support board is a message board that is staffed by Plain Black employees. You post a question, and our staff will make sure you get a prompt response, either with more questions or with an answer.
Are there limits to the phone support?
Our contract states no more than 10 hours per month, but we usually don't place any limits on your phone calls. However, we do ask that trivial or non-emergency requests be posted to the support board first. This helps keep our technicians focused on urgent emergencies.
What kinds of questions are OK to ask?
Our technicians are prepared to answer just about any question related to WebGUI and its dependencies (Apache, MySQL, Linux, HTML, CSS, etc). We'll answer all your How do I? questions, as well as provide deployment and upgrade advice, performance tuning advice, and even some not-so-obvious tips and tricks.
I'm just a [fill in whoever you are]. Do I still have to pay for support?
If you want support from Plain Black you'll need to pay for it.
What do you mean by "site login"?
That means that Plain Black staff will log in to your site to fix a problem. If your support package does not have this, then PB staff are not authorized to log in to your site.
What do you mean by "server login"?
This is much like site login, except that Plain Black staff will log in to the machine to fix the problem. That is, if you give them access to do so.


Are your kids hopping down the days to Easter yet? Get them even more excited with these adorable bunny treat bags. They're a cinch to make with the free printable included!
Print out the template and cut (one bunny head + 2 paws + 1 banner for each color).
glue the bunnies paws onto the bags and glue the "happy Easter" banner on top of the paws.
You can also add a pom pom tail to the back of the bag.
Fill the bags with your favorite Easter treats and close with the bunny head clip.
What are your favorite bunny crafts? Check out more creative Easter ideas here!


On August 10, 2017, the New Delhi centre of Madame Tussauds unveiled a statute of Madhubala, as the famous courtesan Anarkali from Mughal-E-Azam, in the presence of her youngest sister Madhur Bhushan. The unveiling, which was scheduled to happen in London, was rescheduled for Delhi, the late Madhubala's birth place. "I was nervous about attending such a special event alone. I'm grateful to Shri Arvind Kumar Mahiyaji, my Guruji's most loved shishya, and also someone I greatly respect, for accompanying me. He gave me moral support during such an emotional moment," she shares.
Attaullah Khan and Ayesha Begum had 11 children - seven girls and four boys. "Sadly, the boys didn't survive. I'm the youngest. Madhu Aapa was the fifth child," says she. Today only four of the sisters are alive. Altaf (87) is in the US, Kaneez Fatema Aapa (92) in New Zealand and Chanchal (83) in Dubai. In the '40s, Ataullah Khan lost his job in the Imperial Tobacco Company in Delhi and came to Mumbai. He ushered young Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi (Madhubala's real name) into showbiz. A nine-year-old Mumtaz first appeared in Basant (1942). Actress Devika Rani was impressed by her act and suggested the screen name Madhubala. Her first lead role, at 14, was in Kidar Sharma's Neel Kamal. She achieved stardom with Kamal Amrohi's Mahal (1949). Hits like Dulari, Tarana, Amar, Mr. & Mrs. '55, Mughal-E-Azam (1960) and Barsaat Ki Raat between 1949-1960 are other milestones in her career. Success and rumours often go together. Madhubala was linked with director Kamal Amrohi and co-stars Premnath and Bharat Bhushan. But Madhur asserts that it was Dilip Kumar, who was the love of her sister's life.
The preview to Madhubala's fatal illness first occurred during the shooting of SS Vasan's Bahut Din Huwe (1954), when she spat out blood while brushing her teeth. "Dilip saab flew in with Dr Rustom Jal Vakil from Mumbai. He diagnosed she had a hole in the heart (ventricular septal defect). Aapa appeared so healthy and beautiful. She found it hard to believe and so did others. She didn't take it seriously. She kept on working and signed more films," recalls Madhur. In fact, even during K Asif's Mughal-E-Azam (1960) with Dilip Kumar (they were not on talking terms then), the excruciating shooting schedules precipitated several bouts of fainting on the sets.
An anguished Madhubala, struggling to get over Dilip Kumar, perhaps on the rebound, got involved with Kishore Kumar with whom she had worked in Dhake Ki Malmal (1956), Chalti Ka Naam Gadi (1958) and Half Ticket (1962). "Perhaps, she got attracted to his beautiful voice, his ability to make her laugh," reasons Madhur. "As she wasn't keeping well, Abba said don't get married now, see what the doctor has to say. But they got married in 1960," says Madhur. "Kishore Bhaiyya flew her to London about 10 days later. The doctors said, 'her heart is finished'. And that she wouldn't live beyond two years," recalls Madhur.
Dilip Kumar did visit her at Breach Candy Hospital reveals Madhur. "He wasn't married to Sairaji then. Aapa asked him, 'If I get well, will you work with me?' He said, 'Of course! And you will get well. Don't give up on life'," she says adding. "When a few months later, he got married to Sairaji, Aapa cried for days. But what could she have been able to give him?" she asks.


text:
How did the Corset come about?
Interview with Lingerie Bee
Once used as body armor, the corset has a long history. Here we take a look at what they symbolise and why they are still being worn even today.
What is a corset?
A corset is a close-fitting item of clothing that has been stiffened or strengthened with boning (usually metal). It is worn to shape the body, and may be fastened at the front, back, or sides. Corsets are traditionally associated with women's fashion, and were particularly common during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
What are the origins of the corset explain?
The corset is thought to have originated in ancient China, though there is some evidence that it may have been used in other cultures as well. It was originally a type of body armor, designed to protect the wearer's torso from injury. The corset evolved over time into a fashion item, and by the 19th century it was widely worn by women in Europe and North America. Corsets were often quite tight-fitting and uncomfortable, and were worn as a way to achieve a slender figure.
How has the corset changed over time?
The corset has changed a great deal over time. It is now made of much lighter materials and is designed to be comfortable to wear. The boning is also much softer, making it less likely to cause injury.
Who typically wears a corset?
A corset is a garment that is typically worn by women. It is designed to create a slimming effect, and often contains boning in order to create a more defined shape. Corsets can be worn as outerwear or underwear, and are often used in order to achieve an hourglass figure.
Why do people wear corsets?
Corsets can be worn for a variety of reasons. Some people wear them for the aesthetic appeal, while others wear them for additional support. Corsets have also been used in the past to help shape the body into a more desirable shape.
How is a corset made?
A corset is made by sewing together different pieces of fabric, which are then boned, to create a garment that pulls in the waist and accentuates the curves whilst creating support. Corsets can be made from a variety of materials, but most commonly they are made from leather, latex, cotton, linen or satin. The corset is then laced up in the back, often using a strong cord or ribbons.
How long does it take to make a corset?
It takes around 2-3 hours to make a corset, depending on the complexity of the design.
How much does a typical corset cost in uk?
A typical corset can cost anywhere from £25 to £200.
Are there any health risks associated with wearing a corset?
While corsets are generally safe to wear, there are some health risks associated with wearing one. These risks include:
• Compressing the lungs and making it difficult to breathe
• Pressing on the stomach and intestines, which can cause indigestion or other gastrointestinal problems
• restricting blood flow and causing circulatory issues
• aggravating existing back pain or creating new back pain
What do corsets symbolise?
Corsets have a long and complicated history, with many different interpretations. For some, they are a symbol of femininity and sexuality, while for others they represent an oppressive tradition that forces women into an unrealistic and unhealthy ideal of beauty. Whatever someone's personal opinion on corsets may be, there is no denying that they are loaded with cultural significance and meaning.
Curvy Kate Fascinate Basque
Satin Tulle Basque in Lace
Lingerie Sent From Heaven | www.godlingerie.com
Lingerie Selection in three simple questions
Copyright © 2023 StumbleBees.
StumbleBees?