In Egypt, well-known activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah was released on 29 March after five years in prison; in Iran, human rights lawyer Nasrin Soutoudeh was handed a heavy sentence of 38 years in prison and 148 lashes; F1 accused of complicity in Bahraini abuses of protesters and athletes; 2018 index reveals increase in online incitement against Palestinians in Israel; some Saudi women rights activists were freed, but most remain behind bars.
In Egypt, human rights defenders celebrated the release of photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, also known as Shawkan, on 4 March 2019. As the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported, Shawkan spent over 5 years in prison "on anti-state" charges. These are related to his documenting of the Egyptian military's violent dispersal of a sit-in at Rabaa al-Adawiya square in 2013, commonly known as the Rabaa massacre. Happiness over Shawkan's release, however, was soon tempered over news that he has to spend 12 out of every 24 hours in a police station for the next five years of his life, as well as being banned from traveling, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The well-known activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah was also finally released on 29 March after serving a five-year sentence. Global Voices Advox responded with a #WelcomeHomeAlaa piece, noting that Alaa's sister, activist Mona Seif, announced the news with a simple "Alaa is out" tweet, followed by a photo of Alaa and their dog. Alaa is a leading pro-democracy figure in Egypt and a critic of current ruler Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
In Iran, the well-known human rights lawyer Nasrin Soutoudeh was handed a harsh sentence of 38 years in prison and 148 lashes, which was confirmed in a Facebook statement by her husband on 11 March 2019. According to ARTICLE 19, the sentence is related to her legal defense of women involved in protests against the compulsory hijab and represents "a new low for the country's repressive judiciary". Soutoudeh had already been sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2011 for giving interviews to the international media "in the aftermath of protests against the disputed presidential election in June 2009", as her profile on IFEX's Faces of Free Expression details. Notably, she was barred from practising law and banned from traveling for 20 years, both later reduced to six years.
Bahrain was once again in the spotlight for its ongoing repression of human rights activists. This has been especially relevant given the yearly Formula One (F1) Grand Prix race taking place in March despite the kingdom's notorious treatment of athletes. Various IFEX members have called upon both the Bahraini government and the F1 to respect human rights, culminating in a statement signed by 25 NGOs including Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), ARTICLE 19, Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE), Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) and Vigilance for Democracy and the Civic State.
In response to a statement by The F1 Group, Human Rights Watch (HRW) declared that the group has been disregarding its human rights commitments even though "some of the abuses appear to be directly related" to its activities in Bahrain. ADHRB noted that the F1's response to a previous statement by seventeen NGOs sent on 6 February "was ultimately lackluster". Referring to the case of Bahraini activist Najah Yusuf, who was detained and tortured for her social media activity criticising the 2017 Grand Prix in Bahrain, ADHRB said that the F1 merely cited the government's "reassurance that Yusuf's charges were unrelated" to the yearly F1 grand prix. HRW also said that such claims are false "given the spate of arrests and convictions ahead of the races every year". As for BCHR, they listed the cases of Ali Marhoun and Mohammed Khalil, two Bahraini athletes who have been arrested since January 2019. They join another two athletes who have also been persecuted, apparently for their political views, since the beginning of the year.
In Israel and Palestine, 7amleh - Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media released its 2018 index of racism and incitement on Israeli social media against Palestinians. It found an average of an inciting post every 66 seconds, or 474,250 during the year. This represents an increase from 2017 (up from every 71 seconds). 7amleh also released its "Hashtag Palestine 2018" report. In it, they describe how the Israeli government systematically targeted Palestinians and their right to freedom of expression online. This includes the arrest of 350 Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank on charges of "incitement" due to their social media activites.
As for Hamas, which rules the Gaza strip, it has arrested at least three journalists according to CPJ. The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) noted that the journalists were covering protests against the high cost of living in Gaza.
As for Saudi Arabia, GCHR released a statement on 23 March calling on the authorities to drop all charges against and free Saudi human rights defender Dr Mohammed Al-Qahtani who is currently serving a 10-year sentence in Al-Ha'ir criminal prison.
The kingdom has been under continuous pressure to release women's rights activists from prison, including Loujain Al-Hathloul, Aziza Al-Yousef, Eman Al-Nafjan, Nouf Abdelaziz, Dr. Hatoon Al-Fassi, Samar Badawi, Nassima Al-Sadah, Mohammed Al-Bajadi, Amal Al-Harbi, and Shadan Al-Anezi. On 8 March, over 50 human rights groups called on the Saudi government to release these activists.
On 13 March, two journalists, Eman Al Nafjan and Hatoon al-Fassi, appeared in court on charges under the infamous cybercrime law. According to CPJ, they are among four female journalists who were critical of the ban on women driving, and who were arrested shortly before the ban was lifted. On 17 March, GCHR reported that nine women human rights defenders had the first hearing of their trial in Riyadh. Finally, on 29 March GCHR reported that three of them, Aziza Al-Youssef, Eman Al-Nafjan and Dr. Rokaya Mohareb, were freed, although the first two only 'temporarily'. At the time of writing, the others were still behind bars.
GCHR honored women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in the region and beyond on International Women's Day on 8 March. In addition to celebrating their achievements and remembering those who have died, GCHR highlighted the gender-specific challenges WHRDs face and reiterated its calls to enable more protection and support for them.
In Algeria, ongoing protests against the government of Abdelaziz Bouteflika have led to the use of teargas as well as arbitrary arrests, according to HRW. In power since 1999, Bouteflika declared his intention to run again on 10 February 10. He has not given a speech since 2012, when he suffered a stroke. Journalists, having been prevented from covering the protests, decided to organise their own. In an interview with CPJ, Algerian journalist Lynda Abbou explained why the protests "were a pivotal moment for journalists frustrated at censorship."
In Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan, GCHR urged the authorities to uphold their commitments to public freedoms, including refraining from targeting journalists and activists, following a crackdown by Dohuk's intelligence agency, or Asayish, as well as the National Security Directorate in Najaf. CPJ also sent its Middle East and North Africa representative Ignacio Miguel Delgado to the cities of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok to speak to journalists who say they are vulnerable against attacks and harassment linked to the "partisan divide" in Iraqi Kurdistan.
In Lebanon, Social Media Exchange (SMEX) launched 'Muhal' on 1 March, an online freedom of expression case database which "aims to raise awareness about these issues" and in particular "regarding defamation and libel", the two main causes of arrest of journalists and activists.
In Libya, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) in cooperation with the Libya Platform (LP) coalition released a "roadmap for human rights and restoring the rule of law in Libya" which includes a call to respect freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.


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'I'm Very Disappointed': Coffman On VA Hospital
Filed Under:Aurora, Department of Veterans Affairs, Mike Coffman, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, VA Hospital, Veterans Affairs
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)– After five years of delays and more than a billion dollars over budget, the VA Hospital finally has an opening date. But the new facility doesn't have enough space, so that the old facility it was supposed to replace must remain open.
On Wednesday, Congressman Mike Coffman, a Republican representing Colorado, specifically Aurora where the state-of-the-art facility is being built, had some tough questions for the VA administrators on Wednesday morning.
The notion that the @DeptVetAffairs has been transparent is blatantly false. Congress was never notified that the old #VA facility would have to remain open until recently, despite multiple hearings on this matter.
— Rep. Mike Coffman (@RepMikeCoffman) January 17, 2018
The new VA Hospital in Aurora doesn't have enough primary care beds. In fact, the new facility has half the number of primary care rooms compared to the old facility.
Administrators say they will need to keep the old VA Hospital, six miles away near 9th and Colorado Boulevard, open for three to five more years. The VA also plans to lease space in other buildings around Colorado to meet the needs of veterans.
Denver VA Medical Center (credit: CBS)
The cost of the facility is nearly $2 billion. Years of delays have resulted in the need for hundreds of changes. New building codes mean that all the outlets need to be replaced. The rooms are too small for current medical equipment and the air conditioning is inadequate.
Coffman called for the VA administrators involved in the project to be fired.
"I will ask @SecShulkin and @POTUS to clean house (at @DeptVetAffairs VA)"
Rep. Mike Coffman (R) Colorado (credit: CBS)
"This project is an affront to veterans who made tremendous sacrifices and affront to the taxpayers of the United States who had to pay for this and I'm very disappointed. President Trump ran on cleaning up the VA… some progress. In this area there has been no change to the same bureaucratic incompetencies," said Coffman.
One veteran who relies on the VA is David Ortiz.
He was injured in a helicopter crash while serving in Afghanistan. He became a paraplegic.
David Ortiz (credit: CBS)
He's worried about staffing and service at the new VA once it opens.
"I'd like to see more accountability on the part of our elected leaders," Ortiz told CBS4.
That said, he said the current VA hospital in Denver has been great and he hopes the care is as good at the new one. He also said there is a big difference between the people who work there and those who make decisions.
"To the employees and staff there, those of us in the community support you. We know how hard it is for you too. For those that are in leadership roles you're accountable. You need to be accountable," he said.
The VA also said in addition to $340 million to equip and furnish the hospital, it will need an additional $13 million for a PTSD clinic at the new facility that was eliminated a couple of years ago to save money.
Pam Drake says:
ok I have to vent, my Jim has needed a left hip replacement, it is end stage oa/djd, bone on bone, his pain is so bad he spends most his time in bed on his right side so he is comfortable, his averaly pain is 8-10/10. The Ortho doctor in Denver has ran him through all sorts of hoops, first the Doctor was concerned about his teeth, so he had to be cleared by a dentist, we got that done. Got his surgery scheduled and the day before surgery they CANCELLED his surgery because Jim had a couple scratches/lesions on his arm, the doc said as soon as all his wounds were healed he would be first in line for surgery. So now today, wounds all healed, teeth ok The Ortho doctor feels he can not offer Jim the surgery because he feels that the pain is not his hip, its his back, and Dr Park does not feel the surgery would help Jim.. WTH!! Needless to say, Jim is disappointed, livid, upset, and every other emotion under the sun right now. We are going to try to get him on the VA choice so we do not have to go to Denver all the time. So much for our good reports of Denver hospital. Any suggestions are welcome!! Just keep Jim in your prayers that some way we can get his pain taken care of for him.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Dodo: The Delectable Nigerian Plantains You Need To Make
Lekan Agboola/Shutterstock
By Cara O'Bleness/Nov. 3, 2022 1:10 pm EST
Perhaps you're familiar with plantains but you've never actually tasted one or prepared them in your own kitchen before. If that's the case, you should head over to your local supermarket's tropical fruit section as soon as you can. While they're often compared to bananas, plantains are typically cooked and eaten rather than consumed raw. They're sweet like bananas, but starchier, according to The Pioneer Woman, which is one of the reasons why they need to be cooked before they're consumed.
And while bananas tend to brown as they become over-ripe, a plantain with a blackened peel and a touch of yellow is the sign of a perfectly ripe one. These are the perfect addition to Dodo, which is a traditional Nigerian dish made of plantains that are fried to bring out their sweet notes and are typically served as a breakfast dish, as a snack, or as a side dish to accompany hearty meats, beans, or rice (via All Nigerian Recipes).
The history of plantains in Nigeria
Trending Now/Shutterstock
While plantains originated in Southeast Asia, they found their way to Africa in about 1500 AD, where they were largely used for trading, according to African Foods. Today, plantains are a staple in Nigerian cooking and can be incorporated into a number of breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrées. While they're a staple in Africa, plantains are also one of the top 10 staple foods in the world, per research by World Atlas.
In Nigerian cooking, plantains are often boiled, roasted, and grilled, in addition to Dodo's popular pan-frying method, according to All Nigerian Recipes. Dodo is the moniker given to fried sweet plantains by the Yoruba people, an ethnic group in West Africa that is concentrated in southwestern Nigeria, Benin, and Togo (via The New York Times). And with just a few ingredients, you can whip up traditional Nigerian Dodo in your own kitchen.
How to make Dodo in your own kitchen
To prepare the traditional Nigerian dish at home, try this Dodo recipe from Serious Eats. You'll need just three ingredients — two large ripe plantains (remember, look for ones that have a perfect combination of black and yellow peel), 3/4 teaspoon of Kosher salt, and 2 quarts of vegetable oil. Next, you'll slice your plantains into your desired shape and thickness, then place them in a bowl and toss them with the salt. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, then line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels.
Then, heat your oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and add half of the plantains, stirring occasionally and frying until they're golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil and place them onto your baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven to stay warm while you fry the second batch. Repeat the frying process, then transfer the fried plantains to a serving bowl and dig in.
Once you've mastered the basic recipe, you can also incorporate additional ingredients like red onion, lime, and red pepper flakes, as this Dodo recipe from The New York Times does, or enhance the dish with a dash of cayenne pepper, as recommended by The Happy Foodie.


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Q: How can I sum the middle elements of an expanding list in Haskell? So far I know how to expand a list from its ends, but they end up getting doubled because of the first condition, which is to double a singleton. Would it make sense for the code to be like this:
sumExpand :: [Integer] -> [Integer]

sumExpand l = expand l []
  where
    expand [] a     = a
    expand (x:[]) a = x: expand [] (x:a)
    expand (x:xs) a = expand (x:a) (expand xs a)

And for me to work on its output:
[1,1,2,2,3,3] from [1,2,3]
instead of [1,3,5,3]

The latter being my desire? Here's how I got to a temporary solution for a list of two elements:
expand (x:xs) a = x: tail (expand (map (x+) xs) (last xs:a))

Output:
*Main> sumExpand [1,2]
[1,3,2]
*Main> sumExpand [1,2,3]
[1,7,4,3]

EDIT: basically, I want the algorithm to work like this: [a, b, c] => [a, a+b, b+c, c]

A: Basically, all you want to compute component-wise sums between your input list and  a shifted version of it:
a   b   c   d   e
    a   b   c   d   e
---------------------------
a  a+b b+c c+d d+e  e

Fill each empty slot with a 0 (0:x and x++[0]), and you just need zipWith
> (\x -> zipWith (+) (0:x) (x++[0])) [1,2,3]
[1,3,5,3]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


When the Dow Jones Industrial Average first hit 20,000 in January of this year it generated quite a buzz within the financial community. Since January the Dow Jones Index has continued to rise and currently is over 22,700.
However, the Dow Jones is not the only market index that is currently sitting at or near all-time highs. The broader S&P 500 index is also at a historic peak.
However, even though the Dow Jones sits at an all-time high, it does not logically follow that all stocks in the Dow Jones are at all-time highs.
Perhaps more importantly, even though the index is at an all-time high, it does not necessarily mean that all the stocks in the Dow Jones are overvalued.
On the other hand, since the index is at an all-time high, it might also logically follow that many (if not all) of the stocks in the Dow Jones are overvalued. As I've often pointed out, it is a market of stocks not a stock market.
Then, not only will the veracity of the statement: "it is a market of stocks" be validated, the reality of how different each individual company that makes up the market is also vividly revealed. Therefore, this will be the first of a series of 5 articles where I will examine each of the 30 Dow Jones Industrial constituents individually. Moreover, I will be presenting the 30 stocks 6 at a time, in order of valuation highest to lowest. As a prelude to what will be revealed relative to valuation, I intend to illustrate that approximately half of the Dow Jones constituents are currently reasonably valued.
The following portfolio review lists the 6 most expensive stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average based on their current blended P/E ratio. However, there are many ways to value a stock in addition to the P/E ratio. Consequently, I suggest the reader also notices the price to cash flow of each of these 6 Dow constituents. For those investors most interested in dividend income, price to cash flow might be more relevant for higher-yielding dividend paying stocks. Furthermore, when ascertaining valuation, other factors such as expected growth need to be considered as well. I will elaborate more fully in the video below.
This video will present a quick overview of each of these Dow constituents based primarily on price relative to earnings and cash flow. However, for certain constituents I will also evaluate several other metrics. For any reader concerned with the current valuation of the stock market, this video and the subsequent 4 videos that follow in future articles are must watches.
Furthermore, although I will be only providing a cursory, or a pre-more comprehensive due diligence analysis, I believe you will find the video enlightening and hopefully entertaining.
In part 1 of this 5-part series I covered what I consider the 6 most expensive stocks in the Dow Jones. With my next article (part 2) I will look at the next 6 Dow stocks relative to valuation. I believe you will find that relative valuation of these next 6 Dow stocks is quite similar to these first 6. However, with each respective installment I will be reviewing additional Dow constituents that appeared to be more attractively valued.
As an aside, many of you may have seen or read about Warren Buffett's recent prediction that the Dow Jones Industrial Average will someday hit $1 million. Personally, I believe that Warren Buffett may in fact be correct. But more importantly, that prediction needs to be put into perspective. His timeframe is 100 years and this would imply that the Dow Jones increases only by 4% a year. Nevertheless, the reason I bring this up is simply to point out that stocks have generally risen over the long run.


Bring stories to life with this fun duo. Encourage reading out loud. Act out the story with the puppet. Dynamic, interactive puppet and soft book duo for those that love to play. Great for mommy and me time. The soft story attaches to the puppet with velcro.


Wow. Just look at this Mattapoisett property. Situated off of Angelica Ave near Crescent Beach, 2 Holmes Street is an extraordinarily flexible property. It's just one lot over from the ocean. You can feel the ocean breeze, hear the surf and taste the salt in the air when you're standing on the property's palatial lawn. And that lawn! It could be yours for fun and games, gardening, or family BBQ's. The amazing thing about this property is that it's zoned as a 3-family with 3 apartments. Current rents are $1,000 for each unit. But just imagine seasonal rental income. Or, convert the home to a single-family beach bungalow. Turn the tower in to your master bedroom where you'll have ocean views for miles. This home has a total of 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 1 half bath with a total of 14 rooms. It has town water & sewer and it's in flood zone VE. There's currently 1 furnace for the entire house with 6 zones.


Experience fine hand-crafted wines—Experience Miraflores!
Nestled in a quiet canyon in the Sierra Foothills stands the breathtaking vineyards of Miraflores Winery. We are passionate in our pursuit of wines which reflect both the terroir and the vision of Miraflores.
At Miraflores Winery we strive to emulate the old world tradition of crafting memorable wines, while also being attentive to the creation of gracious surroundings. Miraflores is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for wine tasting. Visit our new tasting room opening October 2010!
Join us for our fun-filled weekend events, music, cooking classes, art shows, grape stomp, concerts, and more. Please call for more information.
At Crystal Basin, it is all about having fun while enjoying our great wines.
That's all! Great juice, legendary hospitality and easy access to Highway 50 make CBC a continual local favorite. Ask our fans about our rockin' social events and find more reasons to visit the winery in Camino. We host barrel tastings most weekends and we're open seven days from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We ship wine to over 25 states. Best of All - Tasting is Free!
2008 Cabernet Franc – 95 points, Gold Medal, California State Fair, Best of Sierra Foothills Appellation. Gold Medal, El Dorado County Fair.
2006 Syrah – 95 points, Gold Medal, California State Fair, Best of Sierra Foothills Appellation.
2008 Zinfandel – Gold Medal, El Dorado County Fair. 89 points, Silver Medal, California State Fair.
2007 Zinfandel – Silver Medal, El Dorado County Fair.
Traveling through Placerville, in 1974, Raymond and Barbara McKay discovered 20 acres of preferred agricultural soil for grapes.
Clearing the property, Raymond and Barbara first planted Chardonnay and Zinfandel. Following the initial planting, Merlot, Barbera and Cabemet Sauvignon were added. With the first bottling came the beginning of multiple competition awards. Chateau Rodin boasts a 100 mile view, an ideal location for weddings, luncheons, dinners, picnic, or company functions.
Come, enjoy the camaraderie, and sip.


text:
MANTI TO DEVELOP NORTH ENTRANCE
Published: November 26, 1990 12:00 am
The Manti Destiny Committee is now embarking on the second phase of a project that has as its goal further developments in the Temple Hill area at this city's north entrance.
The committee proposes to purchase private property in the right angle/triangle formed by the intersection of First East and Highway 89 and develop a pioneer museum and gardens in the area."Our purpose for the project is historic preservation of the pioneer story and its values and the enhancement of one of Manti's most significant areas because it contains the Pioneer Memorial, the Manti Cemetery and the Manti Temple on its perimeter," explained Jane Braithwaite, chairman of the Destiny Committee 15-member board.
She said the committee is now negotiating the purchase of an older trailer court and one - possibly two homes - in the triangle.
One home will be converted into a museum that will contain films, tapes, slides, books, pictures and pioneer artifacts. The second house, if it can be obtained, and the trailer court buildings will be razed.
The land will then be landscaped and gardens developed, according to Braithwaite.
"In general, we can be proud of the city's north entrance," Braithwaite said. "But in some ways," she added, "the property we expect to acquire is a blight on the area. It detracts from our otherwise impressive north entrance."
The first phase of the Destiny Committee project features Avard Fairbanks' sculpture, "The Mortal Moroni," a sculpture based on the legend that Moroni, a Book of Mormon character, once visited the Temple Hill site.
Funds for the second phase are being raised mainly by means of a brochure titled, "Garden of Treasures" and a 30-minute video produced by KBYU-TV. Both tell of the Sanpete pioneer experience and values and describe the scope of the project.


A very-well respected client of ours a specialist Lloyds Insurance Broker based in the City of London are looking to appoint a Senior Marketing Executive.
We have a strong reputation among SME firms and in specific sectors including Financial Services, Investment, IFA, FinTech and Crowdfunding.
Strong IT capability including MS Office applications, use of email marketing systems and website content management systems. Knowledge of Pardot would be an advantage.
Database management - knowledge of Salesforce would be an advantage.
To view all Current Vacancies or for more information on our Refer a Friend scheme, contact one of our consultants or visit our website www.lawesgroup.co.uk lt;http://www.lawesgroup.co.ukgt;.


text:
Jacksonville Jaguars sign WVU's Marcus Simms to free-agent deal
William Wotring/The Dominion Post & WV MetroNews
West Virginia's Marcus Simms picks up yardage after the catch against Youngstown State.
By Alex Hickey in Sports, WVU Sports | July 10, 2019 at 9:02PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Marcus Simms was not selected in Wednesday's NFL supplemental draft, but the former West Virginia wide receiver will still get a chance to make it in the league.
Simms and the Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to an undrafted free agent contract, as reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissaro. Simms only needs to pass a physical on Thursday for the deal to become official.
Simms entered the supplemental draft after it became clear that he would not be academically eligible to play for the Mountaineers next season. He had 87 receptions for 1,457 yards and eight touchdowns in his three-year college career.
The only player taken in the supplemental draft was Washington State cornerback Jalen Thompson. The Arizona Cardinals used a fifth-round pick on Thompson. That pick will be docked from the Cardinals in the 2020 draft.
Simms will attempt to crack a Jacksonville receiving corps that has not produced a 1,000-yard receiver since 2015. The Jaguars signed former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Nick Foles in an attempt to jump-start a passing attack that struggled with consistency with Blake Bortles at the helm.
Alex Hickey
alex.hickey@wvmetronews.com
@bigahickey
Alex joined WVMetroNews in September 2018 after two seasons covering LSU sports for SEC Country. A scholarship recipient at Indiana University, he previously served as the McNeese State beat writer for The American Press in Lake Charles, La., provided freelance coverage for the Chicago Sun-Times, and worked as sports editor for The Journal-Standard in Freeport, Ill.
WVU Football 2018
WVU Mens Basketball 2018-19
WVU ››
"You don't have to coach enthusiasm with these guys"... (WVU preps for Spain trip)
Bob Huggins press conference (July 10)
The Sweet Spot with A.T. (July 8)
The Sweet Spot with A.T. (June 28)
"I see a lot of good things coming"... WVU football team hits halfway point of summer workouts


text:
Split FERC approves ISO-NE CASPR plan
RTO Insider - Rich Heidorn Jr. - March 12, 2018
Energy Policy Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire Rhode Island Vermont
FERC approved ISO-NE's two-stage capacity auction to accommodate state renewable energy procurements, with Commissioner Robert Powelson dissenting and Commissioners Cheryl LaFleur and Richard Glick leveling new criticism on the minimum offer price rule (MOPR) (ER18-619).
ISO-NE proposed the Competitive Auctions with Sponsored Policy Resources (CASPR) construct in January to address state regulators' concerns about ratepayer costs for policy-driven resources and generators' fears that out-of-market procurements would suppress capacity prices.
CASPR ISO-NE FERC state-sponsored resources
Under CASPR, ISO-NE will clear the Forward Capacity Auction as it does today, applying the MOPR to new capacity offers to prevent price suppression. In the second Substitution Auction (SA), generators with retirement bids that cleared in the primary auction would transfer their obligations to subsidized new resources that did not clear because of the MOPR. The RTO will phase out the renewable technology resource (RTR) exemption, which has allowed it to clear 200 MW of renewable generation in its capacity auction annually (to a maximum of 600 MW) without regard for the MOPR.
CASPR failed to win a 60% supermajority among stakeholders, and the RTO's filing was opposed by its External Market Monitor, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, municipal utilities, Connecticut, the Natural Gas Supply Association, a coalition of environmental groups, the New England Power Generators Association and several merchant generators. (See ISO-NE Defends CASPR Against Protests.)
The opponents challenged the definition of sponsored-policy resources (SPRs) eligible for the SA; the cut-off date of Jan. 1, 2018; restrictions on interzonal transfers; and the phase-out of the RTR exemption without a "backstop" to ensure SPRs receive capacity obligations. They also expressed fears that "fictitious" resources would enter the auction to collect revenues from SPRs and that the construct would worsen the region's fuel security concerns.
The commission rejected all the protestors' concerns, approving CASPR as proposed. The commission did acknowledge concern over potential anticompetitive bidding, urging ISO-NE "to work with its stakeholders to pursue market enhancements" to strengthen market mitigation rules.
Powelson Dissent
Powelson, however, wrote a dissent calling the construct "a complicated, patchwork solution that will neither accommodate the desires of the states, nor send proper price signals to market participants."
"The two goals that CASPR tries to achieve are fundamentally in conflict and cannot coexist in one market," he wrote. "By trying to both accommodate state policies and protect the [Forward Capacity Market], CASPR will likely only accomplish one goal at the expense of the other. Today's decision threatens the viability of the FCM to serve as a mechanism to ensure resource adequacy in ISO-NE, and therefore, it is unjust and unreasonable and should be rejected."
Powelson said he shared the states' concern that their ratepayers do not "pay twice" for capacity, as would happen if state-sponsored resources failed to win capacity commitments. "However, the states had the opportunity to foresee this 'double-payment' problem when they made the decision to support resources outside the market. … So unless the states are willing to reassume complete responsibility for resource adequacy, they must accept that the commission is required to take action to ensure the viability of the capacity markets."
Powelson said CASPR will not prevent state-sponsored resources from suppressing prices, because they are exempted from the MOPR after their first year and thus permitted to offer into the market at a lower price that reflects their out-of-market revenues. "Instead of incentivizing developers to compete for market revenues, the message the commission is sending to market participants is that the best way to ensure the future viability of a particular resource is to seek state support," he said.
In addition to suppressing prices, Powelson said CASPR also may fail to accommodate state-supported resources. "The FCM has been clearing at lower prices over the past few years, making it unlikely — if this trend continues — that a resource near retirement (i.e., one with high going-forward costs) would clear in the primary auction. As a result, there may be few or no resources eligible to swap capacity supply obligations with eligible state-supported resources."
Glick: MOPR Rationale 'Ill-Conceived'
Glick took the opposing view in supporting CASPR, but he dissented over the order's "suggestion" that state-sponsored resources must either be subject to MOPR or some alternative mechanism for ensuring state policies don't interfere with the capacity market. "That rationale — which is not adopted by a majority of the commissioners that support the order — is ill-conceived, misguided and a serious threat to consumers, the environment and, in fact, the long-term viability of the commission's capacity market construct," Glick said.
Instead, Glick wrote, the commission should "stop using the MOPR to interfere with state public policies and, instead, apply the MOPR in only the limited circumstance for which it was originally intended: to prevent the exercise of buyer-side market power."
Glick contends FERC has misinterpreted the Federal Power Act, failing to respect that "that states, not the commission, are the entities primarily responsible for shaping the generation mix."
"The fact that state policies are affecting matters within the commission's jurisdiction is not necessarily a problem for the commission to 'solve' but rather the natural consequence of congressional intent.
"I do not believe that it is — or should be — the commission's mission to create an electricity market free from governmental programs aimed at legitimate policy considerations, such as clean air and combatting climate change," he continued. "Nevertheless, today's order appears to suggest that it is appropriate for the commission to insert itself into the states' domain."
Glick said the commission's goal of ensuring "investor confidence" in the capacity market will result in over-procurement; with significant excess capacity, ISO-NE's auction should send price signals inducing high-cost resources to retire. "There is nothing in the record that supports the conclusion that, to ensure resource adequacy in New England, the commission must act to ensure that investors in all forms of generation — both existing and new — remain confident that they will recover their costs," he said.
Glick also said his support for CASPR is predicated on whether it facilitates the entry of state-supported resources into the FCM.
"To the extent that, as implemented, the CASPR proposal does not facilitate the entry of state-sponsored resources, it may render ISO-NE's tariff unjust and unreasonable," he concluded.
(Editor's Note: Although Glick supported CASPR, his office said he was recorded as a no vote, making the tally 3-2. An earlier version of this article reported the vote as 4-1.)
LaFleur: MOPR 'A Blunt Instrument'
LaFleur also supported CASPR but issued a concurring statement joining Glick in disagreeing with paragraph 22 of the order, which she said suggested MOPR should be the "standard solution" against the impacts of all state policies.
LaFleur said MOPR is "a blunt instrument" and that other constructs, such as carbon pricing, can also achieve state objectives within the market.
"I acknowledge that these issues are not easy, as evidenced by the split commission decision today. I also believe that these issues do not lend themselves to a cookie-cutter solution to be broadly applied across all regions," she wrote. "I therefore hope we receive market design proposals developed by other RTO/ISOs and their stakeholders. Without prejudging any specific proposal, I believe we should be open to region-specific solutions of different types."
Source: https://www.rtoinsider.com/...
https://www.windaction.org/posts/47948-split-ferc-approves-iso-ne-caspr-plan


text:
medica mondiale e. V. ist eine deutsche Frauenrechts- und Hilfsorganisation mit Sitz in Köln. Sie unterstützt weltweit Hilfsprojekte für Frauen und Mädchen, die von sexualisierter Kriegsgewalt betroffen sind. Darüber hinaus leistet die Organisation politische Aufklärungsarbeit über die Lage von Frauen und Mädchen in Kriegs- und Krisengebieten. Die Hauptgeschäftsstelle des gemeinnützigen Vereins ist in Köln.

Geschichte
Ende 1992 machte sich die Ärztin Monika Hauser, schockiert über die Massenvergewaltigungen an bosnischen Frauen, auf den Weg ins Kriegsgebiet der Nachfolgestaaten Jugoslawiens. Im April 1993 eröffnete sie in der Stadt Zenica (Bosnien) mit rund 20 einheimischen Psychologinnen und Ärztinnen das Frauentherapiezentrum Medica Zenica. Die Organisationen entwickelten Konzepte, wie kriegstraumatisierten Frauen und ihren Kindern noch während des Krieges geholfen werden kann. In Deutschland akquirierten Unterstützer Spendengelder für Hausers Anliegen, organisierten Versorgungskonvois ins Kriegsgebiet und mobilisierten die Öffentlichkeit. Im Juni 1993 wurde in Köln der Verein medica mondiale von Hauser gegründet. Ende 1993 wurde Hauser in den ARD-Tagesthemen zur "Frau des Jahres" gewählt.

1996 wurde Medica Zenica offiziell in Bosnien als humanitäre Organisation anerkannt. Das Engagement des Vereins wurde 1999 auf den Kosovo und Albanien ausgeweitet, wo weitere Zentren für die Betreuung von im Balkankonflikt vergewaltigten und traumatisierten Frauen entstanden. Auf der Grundlage des in Bosnien entwickelten stress- und traumasensiblen Ansatzes wurde die Vereinstätigkeit auch auf weitere Länder ausgeweitet, beispielsweise 2001 auf Afghanistan und 2006 auf den Südosten Liberias. Über einen Fonds werden außerdem Projekte von Partnerorganisationen unter anderem in der DR Kongo, in Burundi, Ruanda und Uganda gefördert. Seit dem Jahr 2015 arbeitet der Verein auch mit geflüchteten Frauen in der Türkei und im Nordirak.

Ziele und Grundsätze

Der Verein verfolgt mit seiner Arbeit nach eigenen Angaben die Vision, dass alle Frauen und Mädchen in einer Welt ohne Gewalt leben können, und damit in Würde und Gerechtigkeit. Der Verein bietet Frauen mit Traumasymptomen medizinische, soziale und psychologische Hilfen sowie Rechtsberatung und -vertretung an. Einheimische werden für die Arbeit mit traumatisierten Frauen geschult, Beratungs- und Gesundheitszentren eingerichtet und Möglichkeiten zur Sicherung des Lebensunterhalts geschaffen. Außerdem werden Verbrechen an Frauen dokumentiert und juristisch zur Anklage aufbereitet. Ziel ist die Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe und die Unterstützung eines eigenständigen, gleichberechtigten Lebens, sowohl durch die individuelle Arbeit mit betroffenen Frauen, als auch durch Beeinflussung der gesellschaftlichen und politischen Rahmenbedingungen. Selbiges gilt auch für die vom Verein aufgebauten Organisationen. Diese Frauenorganisationen werden danach weiterhin finanziell unterstützt und beraten.

Die Organisation lehnt jede Art von Nationalismus und Fundamentalismus ab und versteht sich als Teil der internationalen Frauenbewegung. Sie spricht sich für Toleranz und Wertschätzung kultureller und gesellschaftlicher Vielfalt aus, solange dies mit den universellen Menschenrechten vereinbar ist. Die Organisation fordert die Umsetzung und Weiterentwicklung der Resolution 1325 ("Frauen, Frieden und Sicherheit") der Vereinten Nationen, die im Jahr 2000 verabschiedet wurde.

Der Verein ist Mitglied im Forum Menschenrechte und im Verband Entwicklungspolitik und Humanitäre Hilfe deutscher Nichtregierungsorganisationen (VENRO). Außerdem hat sich der Verein der Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft angeschlossen.

Projektarbeit vor Ort
Weltweit existierende Projekte von medica mondiale:

Südosteuropa
Der Verein eröffnete neben Medica Zenica nach Ende des Kosovokrieges 1999 ein interdisziplinäres Frauenberatungszentrum im ländlichen Gjakova im Kosovo. Medica Gjakova ist seit 2011 eigenständig.

Afghanistan
2001 begann die deutsche Beteiligung am Krieg in Afghanistan. Kurze Zeit später, ab Anfang 2002, gründete der Verein die Medica Afghanistan. Die Frauenrechtsorganisation ist seit dem Jahr 2011 eigenständig. Nach der Machtübernahme der Taliban im August 2021 hat sich die Situation für Frauen und Mädchen in Afghanistan extrem verschlechtert. Sie werden vom öffentlichen Leben ausgeschlossen, der Zugang zu zivilen Rechten und Freiheiten wurde stark eingeschränkt.

Afrika
Über einen Projektefonds fließen seit 2004 Fördergelder an ausgewählte Frauenorganisationen, überwiegend in die zentralafrikanische Region der Großen Seen. Der Verein unterstützt Partnerorganisationen in der DR Kongo, in Ruanda, Uganda und Burundi. Seit 2006 arbeitet medica mondiale im Südosten Liberias in einem Gemeinschaftsprojekt mit der Deutschen Welthungerhilfe zur medizinischen und psychosozialen Versorgung und Betreuung liberianischer Frauen. Die dort gegründete Frauenrechtsorganisation medica Liberia ist seit 2015 eigenständig.

Naher Osten
Seit Herbst 2014 arbeitet der Verein in der Region Syrien/Irak. Aufgrund des Bürgerkriegs in Syrien, und der instabilen politische Situation im Irak durch die Terrororganisation "Islamischer Staat" unterstützt der Verein Frauen und Mädchen, die sowohl in ihren Heimatländern als auch auf der Flucht von sexualisierter Gewalt betroffen und bedroht sind.

Stress- und traumasensibler Ansatz
Basierend auf der Arbeitserfahrung in Kriegs- und Nachkriegsgebieten hat der Verein einen STA – stress- und traumasensiblen Ansatz® zur Unterstützung von Gewalt betroffenen Menschen, insbesondere Frauen, entwickelt. Der traumasensible Ansatz berücksichtigt bestimmte Grundprinzipien im Umgang mit Menschen, die Gewalt erfahren haben. Es geht dabei um die Vermeidung von zusätzlichem Stress für die Betroffenen. Außerdem soll die stress- und traumasensible Arbeitsweise einer Re-Traumatisierung vorbeugen und Frauen bei der Wiederherstellung des Selbstwertgefühls stärken. Ziel der psychosozialen Begleitung ist es, die Bewältigung traumatischer Erfahrungen zu unterstützen. Diese Unterstützung geht Hand in Hand mit Maßnahmen, die politische Rahmenbedingungen, Strukturen und gesellschaftliches Bewusstsein verändern sollen, wozu auch die Schulung von Nichtregierungsorganisationen, Polizei, Gesundheits- und Justizpersonal gehört.

Fortbildungen und Trainings
Der Verein Medica Mondiale bildet Trainierende aus, die als Multiplikatoren Fortbildungen zum STA – stress- und traumasensiblen Ansatz® anbieten. Diese Fortbildungen eignen sich für Fachkräfte mit den Tätigkeitsschwerpunkten internationale Zusammenarbeit und ziviler Friedensdienst. Fach- und Führungskräfte sowie Mitarbeitende aus den Arbeitsfeldern Konflikttransformation, Friedensförderung, Flucht und Migration, mentale Gesundheit, Menschenrechte, Friedensförderung oder Geschlechtergerechtigkeit, erlernen Stress, Trauma und Traumadynamiken in unterschiedlichen Arbeitsfeldern zu verstehen und Menschen mit Gewalterfahrung hinsichtlich der genannten Themen sensibilisiert zu unterstützen. Die vermittelten Kompetenzen werden bspw. in den Bereichen Kommunikation, Umgang mit Gewaltbetroffenen und der Projektgestaltung eingesetzt.

Lobbyarbeit und Kampagnen
Mit Aufklärungs- und Menschenrechtsarbeit möchte der Verein auf gesellschaftliche und politische Veränderungen zugunsten von Frauen hinweisen, in Deutschland und weltweit. Auf Fachveranstaltungen, in Gesprächen mit Politikern, aber auch in Positionspapieren und Offenen Briefen bezieht die Organisation Stellung zum Thema sexualisierte Kriegsgewalt, benennt Strategien zur Prävention sexualisierter Gewalt und fordert Entscheidungsträger zum Handeln auf.

Durch Kampagnen machte der Verein auf sexualisierte Gewalt im Krieg und ihre Folgen aufmerksam: Zeit zu sprechen erinnerte im Jahr 2005 an die Verbrechen gegen Frauen im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Die Kampagne Im Einsatz von 2008 bis 2011 informierte über Frauen und Mädchen in Kriegs- und Krisengebieten und bat um Unterstützung für sie. Zur systematischen Erforschung der Langzeitfolgen von Kriegsvergewaltigungen in Bosnien und Herzegowina führten medica mondiale und Medica Zenica eine Studie durch, die 2015 veröffentlicht wurde.

Mit Unterstützung des Ministeriums für Gesundheit, Emanzipation, Pflege und Alter des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen bietet der Verein seit 2016 Fortbildungen für Haupt- und Ehrenamtliche aus dem Arbeitsfeld Flucht und Migration sowie Seminare für Gesundheitsfachkräfte an, die an der Versorgung Schutzsuchender beteiligt sind. Im Juni 2016 entwickelte der Verein in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Kölner Flüchtlingsrat e.V. ein Positionspapier zum Schutz geflüchteter Frauen in Flüchtlingsunterkünften, welches dem Ministerium für Inneres und Kommunales des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen vorgelegt wurde.

Finanzierung
Die Vereinsarbeit wird durch Spenden und Zuwendungen aus öffentlichen Mittel finanziert. Informationen über die Einnahmen und Ausgaben bietet der Jahresbericht.

Weblinks
 Medica Mondiale - Offizielle Website
 "Kampf um das Ende der sexuellen Kriegsführung". Ein Beitrag über Vergewaltigung in bewaffneten Konflikten bei sueddeutsche.de, 13. Juni 2014.
 "Wir werden diesem Wahnsinn unsere Kraft entgegenstellen". Interview mit Monika Hauser, medica mondiale, und Sabiha Husic, Medica Zenica, über die Arbeit mit Überlebenden sexualisierter Kriegsgewalt. Deutsches Ärzteblatt, 18. Juni 2013.
 "Monika Hauser im Interview über sexualisierte Gewalt". Interview mit Monika Hauser zu den sexuellen Übergriffen in der Silvesternacht in Köln, vom 23. Januar 2015 bei F.A.Z. online

Einzelnachweise

Frauenverband (Deutschland)
Menschenrechtsorganisation (Deutschland)
Hilfsorganisation (Deutschland)
Frauenrechtsorganisation (Deutschland)
Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft
Gegründet 1993
Verein (Köln)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Claude Accursi est un scénariste et réalisateur français né le  dans le 9 arrondissement de Paris et mort le  à Toulouse.

Biographie

Réalisateur de deux longs métrages, il reste connu surtout comme scénariste.

Il est enterré au cimetière de Montmartre.

Filmographie

Scénariste
 1947 : Voyage Surprise de Pierre Prévert
 1951 : Minuit quai de Bercy de Christian Stengel + dialogues
 1952 : Trois femmes d'André Michel
 1954 : Théodora, impératrice de Byzance de Riccardo Freda
 1956 : Bonsoir Paris, bonjour l'amour de Ralph Baum
 1957 : Vacances explosives de Christian Stengel
 1957 : Paris Music Hall de Stany Cordier
 1957 : La Tour, prends garde ! de Georges Lampin
 1959 : Les Tripes au soleil de Claude Bernard-Aubert + dialogues
 1961 : Maléfices de Henri Decoin
 1963 : A fleur de peau de Claude Bernard-Aubert + dialogues
 1963 : À l'aube du troisième jour de Claude Bernard-Aubert + dialogues
 1966 : Le facteur s'en va-t-en guerre de Claude Bernard-Aubert
 1967 : Les Jeunes Loups de Marcel Carné + dialogues

Réalisateur
 1951 : Ça c'est du cinéma (coréalisateur : Raymond Bardonnet) + scénariste
 1974 : Dada au cœur + scénariste

Notes et références

Liens externes

Scénariste français de cinéma
Réalisateur français
Naissance en mai 1920
Naissance dans le 9e arrondissement de Paris
Décès en mai 1988
Décès à Toulouse


Betting іѕ tіеd in with anchoring роѕіtіvе expected value to mаkе a соnѕtаnt рrоfіt. As a mаjоr aspect оf that рrосеѕѕ, bеttоrѕ muѕt thіnk аbоut thе іmрасt іrrеgulаrіtу аnd luсk hаvе оn the result оf some random event. Thіѕ аrtісlе sees іn thе case оf becoming іntо a рrоfіtаblе bettor іѕ an issue оf luck оr ѕkіll.
Most оf whаt happens іn a bеttіng mаrkеt іѕ luck. It'ѕ nоt something thаt ѕроrtѕ bеttоrѕ want tо hеаr. Of соurѕе, casino games ѕuсh as roulette аnd craps аrе pure gаmеѕ оf luсk gоvеrnеd bу simple rulеѕ оf probability. But ѕроrtѕ where the probabilities of rеѕultѕ аrе mоѕtlу unknown must ѕurеlу offer the роѕѕіbіlіtу оf a profitable wаіt, rіght? Yеѕ, technically, bесаuѕе ѕоmе may bе mоrе еffесtіvе thаn others іn ассеѕѕіng аnd processing іnfоrmаtіоn, but іn practice they аrе оnlу ассеѕѕіblе tо a small рrороrtіоn оf рlауеrѕ due to an еffесt called раrаdоx of ѕkіll.
When fоrесаѕtіng becomes аn arms race bеtwееn рlауеrѕ who use increasingly sophisticated mеthоdѕ tо рrеdісt a ѕроrtіng оutсоmе, аbѕоlutе skills саn іmрrоvе іn all аrеаѕ, but іn general, wе rеmаіn silent.
Whіlе absolute fоrесаѕtіng ѕkіllѕ іmрrоvе, thе dіffеrеnсе bеtwееn bеѕt аnd wоrѕt іѕ rеduсеd; Sіnсе betting is a gаmе оf skill and luсk, іf thе vаrіаtіоn іn relative аbіlіtіеѕ hаѕ bееn rеduсеd, thе influence оf luck іѕ greater. Once уоu have taken іntо account thе cost оf gаmblіng (the margin оf thе bookmaker), most of uѕ wіll еnd uр wіth rеd іn thе long-term.
Whеn dоеѕ bеttіng become a gаmе of skill?
Whеn luсk аnd ѕkіll аrе рrеѕеnt in rереtіtіvе games, the relative contribution of thе skill іnсrеаѕеѕ with thе numbеr of repetitions.
Tеnnіѕ іѕ an obvious еxаmрlе of a gаmе with mаnу rеhеаrѕаlѕ. A 53% chance оf wіnnіng a single роіnt rеѕultѕ іn аn 85% chance оf wіnnіng a 5-ѕеt mаtсh. Poker is аnоthеr. The cards that аrе dealt аnd thе соmmunіtу саrdѕ rеvеаlеd bу thе сrоuріеr аrе рurеlу a mаttеr of сhаnсе and аrе рrоbаblу thе dоmіnаnt fасtоrѕ that dictate thе evolution оf thе game іn a ѕіnglе hand. However, іn many hands, gооd and bad luck are саnсеlеd, but differences іn the ability оf рlауеrѕ tо cheat and rеаd thеіr орроnеntѕ, a ѕkіll gаіnеd through rереаtеd play, will grаduаllу emerge.
A ѕkіllеd but unluсkу poker player соuld ѕtіll ѕhоw lоѕѕеѕ аftеr 100,000 hаndѕ, which equates tо аlmоѕt twо уеаrѕ оf play, or 40 hоurѕ реr week. Imagine twо sports bettors whо bеt еvеn-mоnеу рrороѕіtіоnѕ against оnе another. If уоu hаvе a 2% аdvаntаgе оvеr уоur орроnеnt, that is, an еxресtеd success rаtе оf 51%, thе еvоlutіоn of success with уоur rеаl advantage could аlѕо tаkе a lоt of tіmе . Aftеr 1,000 bеtѕ, thе wеаkеѕt рlауеr соuld still be ahead 25% of the time.
Whеrе thеrе is competition аnd luсk, thе оnlу thing that matters is relative реrfоrmаnсе. I соuld роѕѕіblу рrеdісt 9 оut of 10 rеѕultѕ іn a Prеmіеr League gаmе in a wееkеnd, but іf thе реrѕоn I bеt саn dо 10, I will lose аnуwау. Keep in mind thаt you can mаkе 95% оf уоur dесіѕіоnѕ соrrесtlу whіlе lоѕіng your ѕhіrt at a table fіllеd wіth рlауеrѕ who аrе mаkіng the right move 99% of thе time. "In thіѕ context, іt is also іmроrtаnt tо rеmеmbеr thаt thіѕ іѕ nоt rеаllу thе bооkmаkеr, уоu аrе trуіng tо wіn, but еvеrуоnе.


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text:
Q: Maven: Configure transitive dependency resolution in case of version conflict I have read that the Maven dependency resolution mechanism can replace my specified version (e.g. 1.2.3) by some lower version (1.0.0) if this other version is "nearer" in the dependency tree. I know that I can exclude this behaviour by specifying the version number with square brackets (like [1.2.3]).
I would like to know whether I can globally define the behaviour for version conflicts? Can I globally say that version conflicts are resolved to the newest version of that version conflicts always lead to an error message?


If you have a document control system in place, it may be currently managed by an IT manager, office manager or even receptionist. The thought of seeking out a dedicated document controller might not seem like it is worth considering, but when you look a bit closer at what this role entails, you may start to realize the potential value in such a role. As a fairly new job description, document controllers are starting to become in demand for a variety of companies across the world. Large scale engineering, manufacturing, production, warehousing, logistics and even corporate businesses and smaller companies are beginning to realize the importance of best practices when it comes to document management. Not surprisingly, part of this process is employing a dedicated professional to oversee the procedure. Simply put, the main goal of a document controller is to manage company documents. This applies to incoming and outgoing documents, which are reviewed and organized properly. This person is also responsible for software tools relating to the management of documents, while also having the authority to ensure that access levels are correctly given to relevant members of staff as needed.
Maintain current records and history of all approved documents in a clear and organized manner.
Another option that you may want to keep in mind is training current employees to take a dedicated role such as document controller. Office managers who may show a good understanding of how your software tools work, or admin assistants who are willing to learn the ropes can benefit hugely from specialized training – this also acts as a solid investment for the company too. Ultimately, taking a bit of time to determine whether or not such a role would help streamline your processes will go a long way in getting better results from your document control strategies – something that will never fail to add value.


Conservative and libertarian scholars are clashing over the findings and political implications of the new Heritage Foundation immigration study. The study spans 92 pages and is jam-packed full of statistics and detailed calculations.
Total federal, state, and local government spending in 2010 was $5.4 trillion, or $44,932 per U.S. household. The figure of $31,600 in "benefits" is total spending less spending on public goods, interest, and government pensions.
A useful feature of the Heritage study is a breakdown of the $5.4 trillion in spending into six categories constructed by the authors. "Direct benefits" includes mainly Social Security and Medicare. "Pure public goods" includes programs such as defense and scientific research. "Population-based services" includes programs aimed at whole communities, such as police and highways. (Some of these also seem to be public goods). "Means-tested benefits" includes programs such as food stamps. Education includes both K-12 and college subsidies. "Interest and pensions" is the current costs of past spending, which includes servicing the debt and paying for government pensions. The chart shows spending in 2010.
This spending breakdown is useful for thinking about the proper size of government. From a libertarian standpoint, governments ought to be spending only on public goods and population-based services, as a first cut. That would be $1.94 trillion, or just 36 percent of the current total of $5.4 trillion. As a percent of GDP in 2010, that would be spending of 14 percent, rather than current spending of 38 percent.
But some of the population-based services mentioned by the authors could be privatized, and spending on some of the public goods could be cut. So a good libertarian target might be less than 36 percent of current spending, or less than 14 percent of GDP.
The study includes projections about how many trillions of dollars of government benefits will flow to immigrants and their children in the decades ahead. But conservatives and libertarians agree that we ought to cut trillions of dollars in benefits to immigrants and nonimmigrants alike.
So is there some common ground here? Can we work toward an immigration reform that cuts government dependency in general and downsizes the welfare state?


Allstate has run a print ad in the royal baby issue of People magazine, sharing the excitement surround the newest British heir, George Alexander Louis. The ad reports it costs more than $235,000 to raise a child, and yet parents are not deterred. Safe to say, it's probably costs a little more if your child is considered royalty. The print ad reminds us that Allstate is not only there when Mayhem comes, but for happy times, too. The print ad connects with the Allstate site, allstateonline.com/goodlife and their "Good Life" commercial, released in May 2013.
The Babies campaign was developed at Leo Burnett Chicago by chief creative officer Susan Credle, executive creative director Charley Wickman, creative directors Mark Wegwerth and Chris Cole, art director Scott Smith, copywriter John Kistner, producer Nia McCarthy, account director Andrew Melone and account supervisor Jonathan Linton.


Carpenter Ants | Ants | Pest Library | A-1 Bonded Termite, Inc.
Carpenter ants are attracted to moist wood that is decayed to softened by fungi. This allows them to easily create galleries and hollow out the wood.
Carpenter ants are social insects and very active at night. They can forage alone for food or in groups. Carpenter ants feed on protein and carbohydrates such as sugars and meat and will also collect and consume dead insects and some live insects. Carpenter ants are attracted to wood that is moist and weakened by fungi.
Although they first invade weakened moist wood, they may cross over into dry undamaged wood. Carpenter ants can enter structures through cracks and crevices, window or door moldings, wires, shrubs, tree limbs or plumbing.
A-1 Bonded Termite specializes in safe and effective carpenter ants removal treatments. When taking care of your ant problem, you can expect the utmost care and professionalism by our certified team of pest removal specialists.
If you suspect an ant infestation, call A-1 Bonded Termite, Inc. for a free inspection* immediately. This is the safest and most effective way to get rid of ants.
They get their name because they use modify wood to build their nests, but they do not eat the wood like termites. The galleries inside the wood are smooth tunnels. When carpenter ants are seen inside structures, the nest can be located inside the structure or outside nearby. They can cause extensive physical damage to structures.
Carpenter ants build nets outdoors in various moist environments with high humidity. Once the main colony is mature and established, they can build satellite nests. Eggs are mainly housed in the main nest that is more sensitive to humidity, satellite nests are not constructed with attention to humidity. Exterior locations for their nests can include landscaping, firewood, rotting trees, tree stumps, and debris. They require a water source to survive.
Carpenter ants can cause extensive physical damage to wood through their nest building. If they enter a structure, they pose a property threat.
In addition, if they feel threatened they can bite. They bite can be quite painful and they can inject formic acid which intensified the pain. This is the same acid found in bee stings. The size of the bite can create a blemish on the skin be the size of a pea. It causes inflammation to the skin with a raised blemish. Symptoms include pain, itching, swelling, and redness.
Allergic reactions should require immediate medical attention.


Wooden Designer Box : We have developed a designer box for the storage of Galaxy Chess Pieces. The box has been made in Bud Rosewood and Wenge wood. The Drawer with the magnetic lock has two separate sections to store the dark and light chess pieces.


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Samson and Delilah is a German/Italian/American television film that was first shown on TNT in the United States. It was directed by Nicolas Roeg and broadcast December 8, 1996.

Plot
Samson is chosen by God to destroy the Philistines, who have occupied the land of Canaan. He is given the greatest strength ever known to man as long as he remains true to his vow and its conditions, yet he still is not convinced of his purpose, preferring instead to spend his time with Philistine company.  He eventually falls in love with a Philistine girl, decides to marry her, but is betrayed by her on his wedding day. He soon learns she was blackmailed by the Philistine lords who are plotting his demise, and goes to reclaim her, but she has been murdered along with her entire family.

Meanwhile, a treacherous courtesan of the king, Delilah, is convinced of her ability to bring even the mighty Samson to his knees. She appeals to Samson as a beautiful woman, and Samson is immediately taken with her. They begin the relationship of two passionate lovers, and Delilah convinces Samson of her love, ultimately seducing him into telling her the secret of his strength.
Samson is thus at last captured by the Philistines, who blind him and make him into a slave, forcing him to grind grain at a millstone. At the celebration of his and his kingdom's defeat, he is brought in chains to be both an example and entertainment to his captors. Unbeknownst to them, his strength has returned, and as he stands between the two pillars that support the building, he asks God for forgiveness. He then pushes against the pillars, collapsing the building and killing those inside, including himself. Delilah, who was present in the temple, also dies as well. As often in film and movies Delilah is portrayed as weak and unwise but not evil and apparently genuinely in love with Samson.

Cast

Eric Thal as Samson
Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Young Samson
Elizabeth Hurley as Delilah
Dennis Hopper as General Tariq
Diana Rigg as Mara
Michael Gambon as King Hanun
Daniel Massey as Ira
Paul Freeman as  Manoah
Ben Becker as Prince Sidqa
Jale Arıkan as Naomi
Pinkas Braun as Harach
Alessandro Gassman as Amrok
Debora Caprioglio as Rani
Sebastian Knapp as Yoram
Matt Green as Elder Yoram
Karl Tessler as Jehiel
Leo Gregory as Young Jehiel
Luke Mullaney as Amran
Tobias Saunders as Young Amran
Tim Gallagher as Habor
Mark McGann as Mahal
Luke de Lacey as Philistine Soldier
John Forbes-Robertson as Philistine Doctor
Mary Hanefey as Delilah's Servant
Neil Robinson as Yoram as Narrator

Production
The film was entirely shot in Ouarzazate, Morocco from early March and late June 1996. The Italian actor Giorgio Francesco Palombi was one of the film's stunt performers. He later appeared in TNT's biblical television film David as Goliath of Gath. A male African lion named Sudan was trained by Hubert G. Wells, Sled Reynolds and Victoria Vopni. In addition, English mechatronic engineers from Jim Henson's Creature Shop provided an animatronic lion for the animal's attack scene.

References

External links

1996 films
1996 television films
American television films
German television films
Das Erste original programming
Italian television films
Films about Samson
Films directed by Nicolas Roeg
Bible Collection
Films shot in Morocco


Harp and a Monkey are a Manchester-based trio consisting of Martin Purdy, Andy Smith and Simon Jones. Martin provides the lovely vocals for the album, and all three contribute to the unusual instrumental mix. You will hear various combinations of glockenspiel, accordion, banjo, guitar, melodic, harp, guitar, strings and "electronica" and indeed the trio describe themselves as "folktronica". One effect used makes the CD sound like a dusty vinyl record.
On this CD you will find songs about war (Soldiers Song), love - successful or otherwise (The Bride's Lament), fairgrounds, pastoral idylls etc; all the ingredients you find in traditional song but with a modern twist - not many folk songs mention karaoke for instance.
The songs are delivered with a simplicity that is childlike without being childish (indeed A A Milne is listed in the acknowledgements!) The band's northern roots are evident in Katy's Twinkly Band which sings about the Rawtenstall Fair, complete with year 7 pupils from a Manchester high school, and the sleeve design is taken from a sketch by a Lancashire dialect expert.
The accompaniments to the songs are interspersed with snippets of spoken word, old recordings, and also various sound effects such as bird song, and a whistling kettle, and Polite Society even includes a snippet of a classical tune.
This CD is one that can be stand up to be played over and over again, however, I still have one question - which one is the monkey?


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Paper tickets for public transport are being progressively phased out as the NSW transport system moves towards a single, convenient system under Opal. As a result, the 365-day international student ticket (MyMulti 2 or 3) will no longer be sold from 28 February 2016.
Travel under Opal
International students wishing to travel on public transport are highly encouraged to acquire an Adult Opal card.
Where can customers obtain an Adult Opal card?
Online (https://www.opal.com.au/ordercard/)
By calling 13 67 25 (13 OPAL)
At one of 2,100 retailers (visit www.retailers.opal.com.au to find the closest retailer)
At 27 selected Service NSW locations (visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/get-opal-card)
Although the 90-day international student ticket will still continue to be available, international students are highly encouraged to acquire an Adult Opal card which offers a range of travel benefits including daily and weekly travel caps, free travel after eight paid and completed journeys a week and a $2.50 daily cap on Sundays.
Please take note:
From 28 February 2016 the 365-day international student ticket will no longer be sold.
Valid 365-day international student tickets purchased before 28 February 2016 can still be used for travel, but these will not be valid indefinitely.
Refunds for 365-day international student tickets purchased before 28 February 2016 may be issued (terms and conditions apply). Information on refunds is available at www.transportnsw.info/en/tickets/ticket-conditions/refunds/refunds-other.page
To keep up to date with the retirement of the 365-day international student ticket, visit: http://www.transportnsw.info/international-students
For information on the 90-day international student ticket, visit http://www.transportnsw.info/international-students
Alternatively, single Adult tickets (trains, buses, ferries and light rail) and return Adult tickets (trains, ferries and light rail) are still available.
Click here for more details on the Opal Card.
For more information please visit Transport for NSW


Julie speaks with Destiny Lopez, Co-director of All* Above All about the UNFORTUNATE Anniversary of the Hyde Amendment. This is one of the big barriers to access keeping financial assistance out of reach for many. Check out the links below to learn what you can do to help END the Hyde Amendment once and for ALL.


The Alvechurch Thrush is a 66ft long, 6 berth semi traditional stern narrowboat. It has a quiet water-cooled diesel engine with simple to use controls.
There is full radiator central heating on the boat. A 200 gallon water tank supplies the hot and cold running water. There is a double-filtered drinking water system. There is carpeting in the saloon and bedrooms. Carpeting in saloon and bedrooms.
Price includes : Basic hire charge, damage waiver, fuel deposit and boat/lock training.
Optional extras may apply. Please see the booking form for more details.
The boat images : The boat images shown above depict the style of boat and may not be the actual boat offered. The colour and boat layouts may vary slightly. If you need specific advice on boat layouts, please contact us.
The specification of boats, their accommodation, facilities and equipment in the brochure, the information provided is intended as a general guide but the Company [and/or] the Boat Owner shall not be liable in the event of any differences in the boat supplied and reserves the right to make modifications. Layout plans are for guidance only and are not to scale and may have steps which are not shown. If the hirer's party includes any infirm persons the Hirer should make relevant enquiries at the time of booking. The Company and/or the Boat Owner reserve the right to change boat specifications without prior notice.


text:
The Pampered Protagonist
September 8, 2013, by Jefferson Smith
Category: For Writers, Structure, Technique, Theory - Tagged: pampered protagonist - no comments
There's a structural issue I see quite frequently in fiction – especially indie fiction – that bothers me quite a bit, but in the few places I've ever seen it discussed, it tends to be buried within terms like "Mary Sue" and "Deux Ex Machina."
The concept is one I call the "pampered protagonist," but I don't mean that the protagonist is loved and admired by all the other characters, or that his life is made easier by attentive and admiring servants, friends, etc. What I'm referring to is the case where the author himself does the pampering. I find that many writers cannot bring themselves to let anything bad happen to their characters, and the result is a hero who waltzes through his journey, achieving great things with scarcely any effort and damnably little opposition. In some cases, there is no actual conflict, and the character simply wins big just by showing up, while in other cases, there is opposition, but it is of the token variety, and quickly scatters at the first sparkle of his steely-eyed glare.
The problem with this, for me, is that success without effort, without risk or cost, rings hollow. Sure, it can happen in real life, but I get no sense of satisfaction from watching some entitled twit win big every time he throws the dice. When was the last time you really cheered for an already wealthy neighbor who got lucky in a deal and became even wealthier? If there's no chance he might lose, where's the fun in watching? Nobody likes a perpetual winner. Or at least, nobody I know.
But as frustrated as I am by these kinds of stories, I am equally frustrated by the lack of discussion I've been able to find about this writing practice. As I said above, it often gets buried in the Mary Sue or Deus Ex labels, so maybe other people see them as the same thing. Let me articulate here why I think they're not.
Not a "Mary Sue"
A Mary Sue is generally perceived to be an authorial wish-fulfilment character. The author creates a personal avatar character to insert into an existing story world or even a genre, and then romps that character through the world, collecting all the prizes, just the way they've always dreamed that they would do themselves, if they were in that world. It's a common enough fantasy, but that doesn't make it fun for anybody other than the author.
It's clear that the Mary Sue character is often a Pampered Protagonist, but the reverse is not always true. Some PP characters are not at all authorial avatars. The other common cause of pampering, from what I've seen, is an author who isn't comfortable with conflict. This too makes some sense. After all, if you've spent months developing a character you really bond with emotionally, it can be very difficult to throw Hell at them by the bucket load. You can't protect your children from a life of hardship and cruelty, but by golly, you can certainly protect your characters! But just as with children, it is often the hardships they grapple with that makes characters into richly rounded, capable beings worthy of our attention and respect.
Nothing "Deus Ex Machina" About It
I have also seen this conflictless style of character success rolled into the Deus Ex Machina trope, but let's be clear. Deus Ex refers to an unlikely intrusion into the story. A previously unmentioned character rides into the story and saves the princess just when all the other characters seem doomed at the hands of the villain. A wizard pulls a spell out of his pants that we've never seen before, and it's just the thing to make Unstoppable Monster #3 crawl back into hiding. These are what is normally meant by Deus Ex. It is certainly unlikely that anyone can succeed time and again, winning riches or accolades of any value, without having any competition or resistance, but the lack of resistance itself can't be called a Deus Ex, unless it were introduced as an "out of the blue" change of conditions that somehow managed to facilitate our hero's success at just the right moment.
Nope. The Pampered Protagonist is a structural flaw unto itself, related to, but not identical to, these other flaws in which it usually gets buried.
How to Spot a Pampered Protagonist
So, are you worried that Ken Dexter, the hero of your WIP, might be a Pampered Protagonist? Here are a few signs to watch out for:
Is he loved, respected, admired or generally regarded with favor by everyone who knows him?
Does he solve problems that have eluded other competent characters, simply by applying his critical thinking skills, his charm, or with a lucky guess?
Has he managed to avoid fights, failures, setbacks, and even the angry muttering of jealous observers?
Does he worry about problems, resistance, obstacles and objections that never materialize?
Does your story lack a clearly defined villain?
Do you have a clear villain, but he never seems on the verge of winning?
These are all traits that point to a Pampered Protagonist, but bear in mind that simply answering "No" to one of those questions does not mean you don't have a case of it. I have seen cases where, for example, the story did have a declared villain, but the protagonist was still a pampered house cat, because the villain was incompetent, or the protagonist dreamed up a scheme to avoid the villain altogether, or Lady Luck intervened and the villain's Dastardly Death Machine failed to work at the crucial moment.
If you're still not sure, here's another test you can apply: Is there ever a point in your story where things look grim for the protagonist and he is in the midst of abject failure. I don't mean that he's worrying about a future in which things might not work out, but is actually present in a moment of apparent defeat. Conflict in stories does not come from worrying about negative outcomes – it comes from facing them. If your character doesn't come face to face with life-changing troubles, you may be pampering him.
Why Pampering is a Problem
So what's so all-fired important about conflict, anyway? Many of us ask that question on our path to writerdom. I know I did, early on. But since those days, I've come to understand its value. I don't mean to suggest that conflict is the be-all and end-all for creating stories, but in western culture, we have been weaned on it, we have bathed in it, we have been forged in the fires of conflict stories, and when we encounter the conflictless variety, they seem less brilliant, less substantial – even if we can't quite put our finger on why.
The reason for this, I think, has something to do with our basic human psychology, but I don't mean that people are basically violent or combative. It has to do with what our intelligence is actually for, in an evolutionary sense, and the role stories play in that evolution. We all know that one of the primary advantages human beings have is our prodigious intellect. Compared to other beasts and creatures, we are smarter, and it is that intelligence that has put us at the top of the hunt-or-be-hunted chain of command. We aren't the dominant species on the planet because we have sharper claws, better armor, stronger muscles, or any of the physical features that allow other critters to dominate their local regions. Instead, we got a more advance brain, and that has turned out to be a huge advantage.
In short, I think it's because our brain allows us to theorize about the world around us. By seeing that world as it is now, in the present, and then making accurate predictions about how the future will unfold, it is like we are practicing magic, when compared to our competitor species. Time and time again, good old homo sapiens seems to be able to anticipate crises better than his cousins, and as a result, is better prepared to deal with them when they arise. Okay, but what does that have to do with stories? The answer is simple.
Stories are how we sharpen the edge on that intelligence. When hearing tell of the hunter who got stuck in a tree and then had to out-think the hyenas below him, we extract a number of useful lessons. We identify a few of the warning signs our hunter/protagonist failed to notice; we gather intel on what kinds of environments might lead us into similar predicaments; we learn about the strategies of our hyena enemies; and we gather evidence about what kinds of response tactics work (or fail) if we ever find ourselves up a similar tree. The more of these stories we hear, the better armed we are for facing our own brutal futures. And so, in a very real way, story-telling makes us better survivors, and since those who appreciate stories are more likely to survive, an affinity for hearing and telling stories gets passed on to surviving generations. The result is that we have become genetically addicted to stories.
The Value of Conflict Stories
But not just any stories. The kinds of stories we most specifically crave are the ones where the hero gets into some kind of identifiable trouble, and then finds a way to get out. A story without such danger and conflict fails to give us that much-craved jolt of survival practice. And a story where the hero wins by luck, or through no discernible agency of his own, fails to teach us any useful techniques we can adapt.
Consider two "treed by hyenas" stories. In one, the desperate hunter notices that all the hyenas seem to get sleepy, just before sunrise, so he waits until the third night, and then jumps down and runs like hell at just that time, and narrowly manages to reach a river, after having fought off the only hyena who hadn't gotten sleepy. In the second story, our frantic hunter wakes up on the first morning to discover that the hyenas all died of cancer during the night. Wow. Lucky him. I know that the next time I'm stuck in a tree with hyenas at my feet, I'd much rather remember having heard the sleepy-time story than the cancer version.
And that, I think, is why we crave conflict in our stories – because they allow us to explore something useful, and maybe even extract a re-usable lesson from them. Without conflict, or risk, or hardships to overcome, and credible, actionable efforts to overcome them, stories are just daydreams. And daydreams don't have the power to save your life from hyenas.
What About Some Examples?
We don't tend to see the Pampered Protagonist very often in traditional publishing or mainstream film or television, because those media have developed a strong affinity for conflict-driven stories, and this kind of conflictless character gets beaten to death by script supervisors and developmental editors long before you and I will ever see them. But in the emerging world of indie fiction – whether it's novels, films, web series, or whatever – I'm seeing more and more of it.
Having said that, though, I suspect that a few of them must have snuck past the gatekeepers and I'd love to find some well-known examples to cite. Can you think of any characters that just seem to win over and over again without ever having to try? If so, hook me up in the comments below, and I'll try to provide enough push-back to make your victory seem worthwhile before I designate a winner. :-) After all, you wouldn't want to win without any believable effort, would you?
Make Paragraphs Your Bitch
Surviving booth duty


It is not stated by the ancient chronicler whom Seymour quotes where in Ireland the witch in question came from—and undoubtedly she was a witch because she possessed a familiar spirit, "Huthart," whom she alleged warned her of the coming catastrophe. Of the 59 percent of adults who read daily newspapers, 50 percent read an Irish title only, 5 percent read both Irish and UK dailies, and 4 percent read UK titles only. Eden was created by the Almighty fiat, which called heaven and earth into existence, and poets of genius much inferior, and falling far short of Milton in the power of expressing their meaning, would have avoided the solecism of representing Paradise as decorated with beds and curious knots of flowers, with which the idea of human labour and human care is inevitably connected---an impropriety, indeed, which could only be equalled by that of the French painter, who gave the skin dress of our first father the cut of a court suit.
For a while there was an unhasty rush to grow tobacco and neglect basic foodstuffs. A singular and invaluable quality of the larch-fir, first remarked, or at least first acted on, by the patriotic nobleman whom we have named, has given the means of altogether appeasing the fears of those well-meaning persons, who apprehended that the great extent of modern plantations might, in time, render timber too abundant in the country to bring any remunerating price, while, at the same time, it would draw a great proportion of land from the occupation of flocks or herds.
Times are much changed since the days of Wilkes and Liberty, when the bare suspicion of having come from North of the Tweed, was a cause of hatred, contempt, and obloquy. After graduation from high school, many went on to college and then into careers in medicine, law, and business. The Normans (a Viking people) gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. The Indo-European languages stretch from the Americas through Europe to North India. Or again;---Supposing England should take a fancy to impart to us her sanguinary criminal code, which, too cruel to be carried into effect, gives every wretch that is condemned a chance of one to twelve that he shall not be executed, and so turns the law into a lottery---would this be an agreeable boon to North Britain?
Generally, however, children are treated firmly but kindly. But, whether formed or not, the space for such paths ought always to be left, and, among other advantages, they will be found to act upon the forest like the lungs of the human body, circulating the air into its closest recesses, and thereby greatly increasing the growth of the trees. The 1916 Rising represented the first major demonstration of force since the United Irishmen Rising of 1798.
The first Irish slaves were sold to a settlement on the Amazon River In South America in 1612. The DUP has come out in favour of leaving the EU while Sinn Féin has come out in favour of remaining. The prince's army was entirely broken up; all the foreign troops surrendered forthwith, with every thing belonging to the materiel of their army; the clans had in a great measure dispersed themselves and gone home, as was their uniform custom after defeat.
We can conceive him, like the giant in Frankenstein, working awkwardly enough until he had acquired a complete acquaintance with his own powers and the mode of using them to advantage. Kemble carried his love of splendour rather to the extreme, though what he introduced was generally tasteful and splendid. Although informally a republic since 1937, Ireland is formally declared a republic. 1950s. It was over concerns of the concentration of European seapower against Britain that led to the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
He was friendly enough with Prince Philip to have lunched with him in central London. A surviving Union combine harvester, built in 1898, is a reminder that it was Irishman James Morrow who produced Australia's first viable combine harvester. The Library also holds a collection of books by the Kelmscott Press. The Lions team colour is red and has been synonymous throughout the side's history. On the whole, we greatly prefer the conduct of Smollett, a Whig as well as Home, when he poured out his affecting lyric:--- Most of the members of the Poker were fast friends to the Hanoverian dynasty, though opposed to the actual Administration, on account of the neglect, and, as they accounted it, the affront put upon their native country.
The oldest known R1b-V88 sample in Europe is a 7,100 year-old from the Catalan Pyrenees tested by Haak et al. 2015 and whose autosomal DNA matched that of other Neolithic farmers, without a trace of Steppe ancestry as in Bronze Age R1b-L11 samples (see below). Princess Anne married Mark in November 1973 but the couple, although they continued to share their home in Gloucestershire, agreed to go their separate ways in other ways in 1980, at about the time Princess Anne was pregnant with her second child, Zara (Arabic for "Morning Star").
His father also used to be a policeman in a world where everyone knows each other and is related in some way. Note that the Russian tsars called themselves "autocrats", after the Byzantine term for emperor, "autokrator". Irish Catholics continued to receive an education in secret "hedgeschools", in spite of the Penal laws.  A knowledge of Latin was common among the poor Irish mountaineers in the 17th century, who spoke it on special occasions, while cattle were bought and sold in Greek in the mountain market-places of Kerry.  For a comparatively small population of about 6 million people, Ireland made an enormous contribution to literature during the enlightenment.
A brook flowed through the grounds, which, by dint of successive dam-heads, was arrested in its progress, twisted into the links of a string of pork-sausages, flung over a stone embankment, and taught to stagnate in a lake with islets, and swans quantum sufficit. Icon of French cinema, Catherine Deneuve has been honoured for her contributions to the world of film in the city where it all began. Later, public officials asked the Archbishop to restrain New York's Irish. "I have not the power," he said. "You must take care that they are not provoked."


YEREVAN. – It is our duty to double our efforts to prevent new genocides, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday stated the aforesaid in his opening remarks at the 17th Summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie, in capital city Yerevan.
In the PM's words, the constant existence of conflicts obligates us to reaffirm our commitment to conflicts' pacific settlement within the framework of recognized international negotiating formats.
But Pashinyan stressed that, at the same time, security issue is of key importance to Karabakh.


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Q: ColdFusion 2018 does not interpret undefined as empty string A ColdFusion server has been updated to ColdFusion 2018 (from ColdFusion 9 or 11).
One of the oldest applications on that server contains code like: < cfif arguments[key] NEQ "">
Before, this seems to have been equivalent to isDefined("arguments.key") or StructKeyExists(arguments, key).
Today, even though isDefined("arguments.key") is false, and StructKeyExists(arguments, key) is also negative, <cfif arguments[key] NEQ ""> fails, because arguments[key] doesn't behave like empty string anymore. In fact, < cfdump var="#arguments[key]#"> displays 'undefined'.
Is there anything I can do in order to avoid changing the code everywhere where empty string was used instead of StructKeyExists? Perhaps a ColdFusion server parameter? (THIS.enableNullSupport didn't help)

A: The bracket notation for the ARGUMENTS scope will always return an undefined value for non-existing keys and values in all versions of Adobe ColdFusion.
function f() {
    return arguments[key];
}
f(); // returns undefined

function f() {
    return arguments["key"];
}
f(); // returns undefined

function f() {
    return arguments.key;
}
f(); // throws exception: Element KEY is undefined in ARGUMENTS

All 3 cases should throw an exception. This is inconsistent and should be treated as a bug. It is probably only kept for backwards compatibility.
Anyway, as you already noticed:
// ACF 10
(undefined eq "") -> TRUE

// ACF 11
(undefined eq "") -> TRUE

// ACF 2016
(undefined eq "") -> TRUE

// ACF 2018
(undefined eq "") -> FALSE

// ACF 2021
(undefined eq "") -> TRUE

Adobe introduced NULL support in ACF 2018 and broke this behavior. They fixed it in ACF 2021, but not in ACF 2018, classic Adobe move.
Either report this bug to Adobe and hope for an update (last bugfixing for ACF 2018 was done in November 2019, so good luck) or fix your old application by not relying on this dodgy function argument check.

A: IsDefinedValue may help as it's agnostic to NULL and checks a value exists too.
https://cflib.org/udf/isDefinedValue