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Q: Problems with DictField in MongoEngine DynamicDocument My problem matches this post on Bountysource:
https://www.bountysource.com/issues/32756263-attribute-error-when-building-nested-index-for-dictfield-in-dynamicdocument
My work place has used PyMongo 2.6.3/MongoEngine 0.8.7 for a while, and we are considering upgrading to PyMongo 3.2.2/MongoEngine 0.10.6.  I downloaded those versions and started testing them.  I began running into issues with a class that was based on DynamicDocuments that used DictFields.
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                            Traceback (most recent call last):
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/nas/data/sync.py", line 1484, in main
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                result = funct(external, syncRecord)
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/nas/data/sync.py", line 456, in syncAsset
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                success = scheduleUpdate(asset, v) and success
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/nas/data/sync.py", line 299, in scheduleUpdate
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                for wu in workunits:
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/auxiliary/__all/MongoEngine-0.10.6/mongoengine/queryset/queryset.py", line 80, in _iter_results
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                self._populate_cache()
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/auxiliary/__all/MongoEngine-0.10.6/mongoengine/queryset/queryset.py", line 92, in _populate_cache
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                self._result_cache.append(self.next())
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/auxiliary/__all/MongoEngine-0.10.6/mongoengine/queryset/base.py", line 1407, in next
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                raw_doc = self._cursor.next()
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/auxiliary/__all/MongoEngine-0.10.6/mongoengine/queryset/base.py", line 1481, in _cursor
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                self._cursor_obj = self._collection.find(self._query,
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/auxiliary/__all/MongoEngine-0.10.6/mongoengine/queryset/base.py", line 1515, in _query
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                self._mongo_query = self._query_obj.to_query(self._document)
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/auxiliary/__all/MongoEngine-0.10.6/mongoengine/queryset/visitor.py", line 90, in to_query
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                query = query.accept(QueryCompilerVisitor(document))
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/auxiliary/__all/MongoEngine-0.10.6/mongoengine/queryset/visitor.py", line 155, in accept
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                return visitor.visit_query(self)
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/auxiliary/__all/MongoEngine-0.10.6/mongoengine/queryset/visitor.py", line 78, in visit_query
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                return transform.query(self.document, **query.query)
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                              File "E:/alpha_maya_pyside/auxiliary/__all/MongoEngine-0.10.6/mongoengine/queryset/transform.py", line 61, in query
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                                raise InvalidQueryError(e)
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                            InvalidQueryError: 'DictField' object has no attribute 'document_type'
14:20:20  ERROR   nas.data.sync                            sync failed

Having the class inherit from Document instead of DynamicDocument did fix the issue.  I have been digging into the MongoEngine source code, but nothing really jumps out at me.  My only guess is that MongoEngine might be having trouble converting a DynamicField into a DictField.
I added a print statement MongoEngine-0.10.6/mongoengine/queryset/transform.py:
try:
    fields = _doc_cls._lookup_field(parts)
    print fields
except Exception, e:
    raise InvalidQueryError(e)

I got this output just before the error message:
[<mongoengine.fields.DynamicField object at 0x00000000048B48D0>]

A: I went into mongoengine/base/document.py and checked out the __lookup_field function. Inside that function is a rather long if/else statement.  Here is an excerpt.
            if field is None:
                # Look up first field from the document
                if field_name == 'pk':
                    # Deal with "primary key" alias
                    field_name = cls._meta['id_field']
                if field_name in cls._fields:
                    field = cls._fields[field_name]
                elif cls._dynamic:
                    field = DynamicField(db_field=field_name)
                elif cls._meta.get("allow_inheritance", False) or cls._meta.get("abstract", False):
                    # 744: in case the field is defined in a subclass
                    for subcls in cls.__subclasses__():
                        try:
                            field = subcls._lookup_field([field_name])[0]
                        except LookUpError:
                            continue

                        if field is not None:
                            break
                    else:
                        raise LookUpError('Cannot resolve field "%s"' % field_name)
                else:
                    raise LookUpError('Cannot resolve field "%s"'
                                      % field_name)
            else:
                ReferenceField = _import_class('ReferenceField')
                GenericReferenceField = _import_class('GenericReferenceField')
                if isinstance(field, (ReferenceField, GenericReferenceField)):
                    raise LookUpError('Cannot perform join in mongoDB: %s' %
                                      '__'.join(parts))
                if hasattr(getattr(field, 'field', None), 'lookup_member'):
                    new_field = field.field.lookup_member(field_name)
                elif cls._dynamic and (isinstance(field, DynamicField) or
                                       getattr(getattr(field, 'document_type'), '_dynamic')):
                    new_field = DynamicField(db_field=field_name)

If you run a query and use, say, a StringField, then the variable field remains None.  However, if you run the query with a DictField, then field gets set to something like <mongoengine.fields.DictField object at 0x0000000004506CF8>.  I have no idea how field is getting set to that value.  Anyway, if the class you are querying happens to be a DynamicDocument, then you are sent to this part of the loop.
elif cls._dynamic and (isinstance(field, DynamicField) or
                                       getattr(getattr(field, 'document_type'), '_dynamic')):
                    new_field = DynamicField(db_field=field_name)

I arrived to this conclusion through a process of elimination.  Basically, I figured out where I was NOT going.  As you can see, since a DictField is not a DynamicField, it will be queried for the document_type attribute.  The DictField does not have that attribute resulting in an InvalidQueryError.
Looks like the solution for now is to not use DictFields with DynamicDocuments or see if you can use the EmbeddedDocumentField, EmbeddedDocumentListField, or ReferenceField with your DynamicDocument.  Maybe this is the developers' intention?

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Desert Destinations for Wander-Lusters: Road Trip From Las Vegas to Albuquerque
Albuquerque is about nine hours west of Las Vegas by car—if you drive straight through, that is. But, with so many iconic southwestern cities dotting the road from Nevada to New Mexico (like Phoenix, Sedona, Tucson, and El Paso, just to name a few!), why would you want to rush? The destinations between Las Vegas and Albuquerque range from state-of-the-art museums and stunning parks to specialty shops and breathtaking views. Keep reading to find out some of our favorites!
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
📍 Sedona (AZ)
Specialty Shops, Art Galleries, and More
336 AZ-179 | Tlaquepaque | www.tlaq.com
Sedona is about four-and-a-half hours southeast of Las Vegas, and it's a delightful, energetic town that makes for a perfect first stop on your way to Albuquerque. Located in the midst of Red Rock Country in the Coconino National Forest, Sedona is surrounded by natural landmarks and notable geological formations, some of the best-known of which are the Chapel of the Holy Cross (a church built into the side of a red rock butte!), Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Oak Creek Canyon. In the town itself, you'll find a well-established arts and culture scene that features an array of local galleries, museums, and outdoor public art. Speaking of arts and culture, another place that you don't want to skip in Sedona is the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, a social center and outdoor market that's become a Sedona staple.
Formerly a living arts community founded by Abe Miller in the 1970s, Tlaquepaque is modeled after a traditional Mexican village, and today, it features an eclectic mix of shops and art galleries where you can find everything from jewelry and food to clothing and trinkets. The shops at Tlaquepaque are open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, while the restaurants in the village are open slightly later. (Tlaquepaque frequently hosts festivals and other special events, so before visiting, make sure you check out the online events calendar to see what's happening while you're in town!)
Heard Museum
📍 Phoenix (AZ)
Exhibitions and Festivals Centered on American Indian Art
2301 N. Central Avenue | Alvarado Place | www.heard.org
Close to five hours southeast of Vegas, Phoenix is both the state capital and Arizona's biggest city. Sometimes called "Arizona's Urban Heart," Phoenix boasts plenty of compelling attractions, some of which include the Desert Botanical Garden, the Phoenix Zoo, the Musical Instrument Museum, the Pueblo Grande Museum, the Arizona Science Center, and, last but not least, the Arizona State Capitol Museum. One more place in Phoenix that you don't want to miss is the Heard Museum, a leading institution for the preservation and display of American Indian artwork.
Founded in 1929, the Heard Museum has evolved with Phoenix's growth as a travel destination, and it's transformed in not only size but also stature. The museum's permanent collection features over 40,000 objects, and its work primarily focuses on pieces from the Greater Southwest and contemporary native fine art in North America. (Types of art that can be found in the permanent collection include Hopi katsina dolls; Navajo and Zuni jewelry; Navajo textiles; Southwestern ceramics; and baskets from the Southwest, California, the Great Basin, and the Northwest.) In addition to its permanent collection, the museum also hosts rotating exhibits, as well as events and educational programs.
📍 Tucson
The Official Archeological Repository For the State of Arizona
1013 E. University Boulevard | University of Arizona | www.statemuseum.arizona.edu
Tucson is a little over six hours southeast of Vegas, and it's known for its striking desert scenery and year-round sun—and, of course, serving as home-base for the University of Arizona. Some of Tucson's top attractions include Reid Park Zoo, the Tucson Botanical Gardens, the Pima Air & Space Museum, and Mission San Xavier del Bac. But, if you're really trying to get up-close-and-personal with Arizona, then one place you'll want to see in Tucson is the Arizona State Museum, a mammoth institution that's dedicated to the history, culture, and archeology of the state of Arizona and its surrounding areas.
Overseen and operated by the University of Arizona, the Arizona State Museum was established in 1893, making it the oldest—and, later, the largest—anthropological research museum in the American Southwest. In the museum's permanent collection, you'll find everything from pottery and hand-woven baskets to fossils and photographs. The museum also has temporary exhibits, lectures, and workshops that encompass a wide range of anthropological topics. Admission is $8 for adults (ages 18 and over) and $6 for seniors and active or reserve military personnel, and the museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Kartchner Caverns State Park
📍 Benson (AZ)
Home to the World's Longest Stalactite Formation
2980 AZ-90 | South of Benson | www.azstateparks.com
Around seven hours southeast of Vegas and about six hours southwest of Albuquerque, Benson, Arizona, makes for an ideal halfway point on your drive from Sin City to Burque. A small, charming city with roots as a railway town, Benson is a hidden gem of southern Arizona that you'll love exploring. Some of Benson's key points of interest include the Oasis Exotic Bird Sanctuary, San Pedro Valley Observatory, Singing Wind Bookshop, and Forever Home Donkey Rescue. However, Benson's best-known attraction isn't even in the town itself—it's actually about 15 minutes south: Kartchner Caverns State Park, a limestone cave with over two miles of passageways.
Discovered in 1974 by Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts, Kartchner Caverns has become one of the most-studied public caves, due to its idiosyncratic mineralogy and the extraordinary formations that it contains. Tours of the caverns are led by trained guides, and there are a couple of different options that visitors can choose from when it comes to tour duration and hike length. (Visitors are advised to make tour reservations as far in advance as possible, as same-day bookings are not always available.) While you're at the park, make sure that you check out the Discovery Center, where you can learn more about the caves and how they formed, as well as the events that led to the land becoming a state park.
City of Rocks State Park
📍 Faywood (NM)
Volcanic Rock Formations in the Chihuahuan Desert
327 New Mexico 61 | Southwest of Faywood | www.emnrd.state.nm.us
City of Rocks State Park is just under four hours south of Albuquerque, and it's truly a sight to be seen. Distinctive rock formations create a remarkable landscape, proving that Mother Nature is a master architect who simply cannot be surpassed. The pinnacles that you'll see in this "City of Rocks" tower as high as 40 feet, and they're over 34 million years in the making.
While the rocks themselves are undoubtedly the main attraction at the park, hiking trails, cactus gardens, and even a star observatory all add to the unforgettable experience to be had at City of Rocks. Learn about native plant and animal species like yucca, bunny-ear cacti, antelope, and javelinas as you wander the unbelievable desert wilderness and marvel at the clusters of monolithic blocks. (Camping, picnicking, birding, and photography are also popular activities to enjoy at the park.)
Scenic Drive Overlook
📍 El Paso (TX)
Some of the Best Views of El Paso and Juarez
Scenic Drive Road | Between Rim Road & Wheeling | www.visitelpaso.com
El Paso is around four hours south of Albuquerque, and trust us when we say that "The Sun City" is a detour that's definitely worth taking! Some of El Paso's most-visited spots include Franklin Mountains State Park, the El Paso Zoo, the Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center, and the El Paso Museum of Art. But, no trip to El Paso is complete without taking a trip to the Scenic Drive Overlook, a vista point that rewards visitors with panoramic views of El Paso and the areas around it.
Considered to be the best view of the city accessible by car, the Scenic Drive Overlook is a must-do when visiting El Paso, especially if it's your first time in the city. Whether you take this memorable drive during the day or make your way along the winding mountain road at night, Scenic Drive is a classic El Paso attraction that's also free! (You'll also drive through a historic neighborhood that's filled with elegant, old-time homes, giving you a taste of some of El Paso's colorful heritage.)
📍 Alamogordo (NM)
The Largest Gypsum Dunefield in the World
Highway US-70 | Southwest of Alamogordo | www.nps.gov
Alamogordo, New Mexico, is about three hours south of Albuquerque, and it makes for a convenient, entertaining last stop before heading into Burque. Some of the city's most noteworthy attractions include the Alameda Park Zoo (thought to be the oldest zoo in the American Southwest), the New Mexico Museum of Space History, the Toy Train Depot, and McGinn's PistachioLand (where you'll find the world's largest pistachio!). But, while you're driving through this part of New Mexico, you don't want to pass up the chance to see a natural wonder that's unlike any other place in the entire world: White Sands National Park, nearly 300 square miles of majestic sand dunes.
As its name suggests, White Sands National Park is comprised of arrestingly pure, white sand that's composed of gypsum crystals. These sprawling dunes make up the biggest gypsum dune field on Earth, creating a dazzling topography that really is one of a kind. Upon first glance, you might assume that White Sands is devoid of plants and animals—but despite its stark appearance, the park supports a great deal of life, including cacti, desert trees and shrubs, and even several species of wildlife. (Gophers, porcupines, coyotes, bobcats, kit foxes, lizards, burrowing owls, and roadrunners are just some of the animals that can be found in the park.) While White Sands is conducive to many typical park activities, such as camping, hiking, and picnicking, one somewhat unconventional park-goer favorite that you'll want to try is sand sledding! Waxed plastic saucers are sold in the park's gift shop, but you can also bring your own sled, too.
Adventure Awaits in Albuquerque!
As New Mexico's biggest city, Albuquerque offers visitors a long list of diverse attractions to choose from. Some of the most popular places to go while in "The Duke City" include ABQ BioPark, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Old Town, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. (But, they don't call it "Albuquirky" for nothing… A few of our favorite offbeat attractions in Albuquerque are the American International Rattlesnake Museum, the Pueblo Montaño Chainsaw Sculpture Garden, and the Bart Prince Residence and Studio.) All in all, Burque is a city where excitement is never hard to find, and adventure is waiting around every bend.
California's Calling: Mini Road Trip from San Diego to Palm Springs
The best sites of Southern California.
Get Prepared and Excited For a Road Trip From Phoenix to Salt Lake City
This long and beautiful drive has many stops you will not want to miss!
A Rockin' Road Trip from Atlanta to Birmingham
Prepare for an amazing tour of Georgia and Alabama!
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Q: JFreeCharts TimeSeriesCharts without X value How to create TimeSeriesChart with constant distance for domain Axis (X values), just like LineChart but with DateAxis?
Normal TimeSeriesChart looks like this:

But I need something like:

with Date Axis on the bottom
Chart data are changing very frequently, and when I'm using simple LineChart domain axis is unreadable...
I've created some class extending XYSeries which sets next values to X and I've changed number formatter to render specific date, but this solution is just bad workaround

A: Rather than extending XYSeries try setting XYSeries#setMaximumItemCount(int) to the maximum number of items that you want to show in you chart this will stop the chart becoming unreadable.
In your second screen it looks like you are using a constant x interval, if you time are constant you will get a chart like this,  if not use an integer axis otherwise you will get irregular steps.

A: If you have significant gaps in the domain, you could try a CombinedRangeXYPlot with a subplot for each contiguous time interval.
Addendum: Also, consider either or both of these settings for pan & zoom, illustrated here.
plot.setDomainPannable(true);
chartPanel.setMouseWheelEnabled(true);


text:
Georgia Weapons License
GWL News & Information
Great little read.
gizmo5
Not sure where to post, so mods can move where they see fit. :?
This is a very well written exerpt from an article in American Handgunner. The author, Roy Huntington, says it better than I have ever heard. ENJOY! :wink:
In America, many of our oldest and most onerous gun laws were crafted by criminals and passed by their puppet politicians. Frequently their purpose, as in New York City, was to prohibit arms to rival gangs. In other places, like Chicago and San Francisco, their aim was to criminalize ethnic minorities and "subversive elements," including blue-collar workers with coal on their clothes and grease under their fingernails; those who might organize and object to dangerous slave labor conditions and perennial poverty.
Following on that foundation came more restrictive weapons laws propounded by "progressive thinkers" and "social engineers," many of whom also embraced the "science" of "eugenics," which called for the euthanasia of "congenital misfits, morons and degenerates." Jews were, as a race, defined as degenerates. The "progressive" philosophy also envisioned a more "manageable, unarmed populace" of those who were not quite bound for the gas chambers, but well below the sophistication level of "gifted society" - those "born to lead." They only abandoned euthanasia, by the way, when the Third Reich co-opted the theme.
Tyrants and gangsters still exert their influence, because corrupt politicians prefer unarmed peasants; a simple fact. Their motives ethically disqualify them from such decision-making. Then, increasingly, our laws, policies and public perceptions have been and are promoted and enforced by psychological cripples, the emotionally unbalanced, and moral cowards.
Am I being rash and unreasonable?
Please consider this: Those who fear inanimate objects — tools like guns and knives — and believe them to be intrinsically evil or capable of inspiring evil, are clearly psychologically crippled. They cannot think rationally about arms and their lawful use. Those who cannot differentiate between armed, trained, dedicated guardians of their fellow man, and twisted, predatory, psychotic killers, based on shared use of firearms, are clearly emotionally unbalanced. Those who so morbidly fear physical confrontation they preach submission and surrender, even unto death, in preference to fighting for life — and seek to enforce that condition upon others — are moral cowards.
None are possessed of the courage, wisdom and appreciation of the dynamics of violence and counter-violence requisite to engage in decision-making on those critical issues — yet they do. They persist, and the killing zones widen, deepen and darken with the blood of innocents.
Our rights and freedoms were fought for and affirmed by brave and brilliant men, now derided and ridiculed by academia and the effete as "Irrelevant Dead White Males." Our rights have been stolen by the unworthy. To them we must say, "Your way has not, does not, will not work. Sit down and SHUT UP!"
GCO member since 7/17/2007
phaed
sounds good to me. although, i'd have added a couple of four letter words in that last line...but i'm a heathen like that.
"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." -Thoreau
Macktee
phaed said:
Maybe more than a couple...
Yeah. Very good read. Thanks Giz!
ldtimer:
GCO Member since 11/3/06
GPDO Member since 9/6/06
Ex-NRA Member since 4/30/10
It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it... ldtimer:
ptsmith24
=D>
...psychological cripples, the emotionally unbalanced, and moral cowards...
I see Roy Huntington has applied for a GFL in Cobb County.
merlock
:righton:
GA2A.org Member
It's a big club...and you ain't in it -- George Carlin
merlock Aug 12, 2007


We are reminded daily of how evil destroys lives. As a result, many live in fear instead of faith. Fear says that evil wins. Faith knows that evil never wins.
Please know today that if you have fear in your life, it is not of God. God does not want you to live in fear. Evil wants you to live in fear.
Fear comes when our focus is no longer on Jesus and following him. When a person is living in fear, they lose sight that the best in their life is yet to come.
The next time evil comes knocking and fear starts to take over your thoughts, stop it. Just, stop it. Refuse to go there. Instead of giving it any energy, thank God for all he has done for you, all he is doing for you, and all he will do for you. You are his child created in his image, and he loves you.
God's word, the Bible, tells us that "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD (Proverbs 21:30)." Friend, you can count on that!
Jesus came into our world and defeated the evil planned against him. At the cross of Christ, it didn't look good. It looked like evil had won. The disciples hid in fear instead of having faith in what Jesus had taught them. Three days later, Jesus revealed that he is the victor over evil. No evil plan, not even death, can succeed against him. Our victory is in Jesus.
Beloved, evil does not win. It never has, and it never will. It thrives in the fear that it breeds. Do not allow it any place in your day or in your life. Stay focused on Jesus. He assures your victory today and every day as you follow him.


As we all know, the Keyword Research is one of the most important stages in any SEO project.
Not only it helps us understand our customers, it also gives us insights into trending topics in the industry, gives us ideas about how we should plan our content strategy and, of course, gives us a chance to get more business by outranking our competitors.
Performing such research can be very tricky in some cases: key phrases would vary from industry to industry, or you may find that people do not spell words right while surfing the web, or businesses may have multilingual audiences, etc.
However, if all this doesn't scare you, here are few quick tips on how to make it happen on your own without an SEO agency's help.
– Try to look at your business from a different perspective: get into your customer's mind. What will they type into Google, while looking for your products/services?
– Create a spreadsheet to write down all your ideas. We use Google Sheets, the spreadsheets created in Google can be shared with your SEO agency later on, or you could collaborate with your colleagues, jointly using the document.
– Find your ranking competitors and analyse their keyword strategy they use.
– Look at taking advantage of other Keyword Research Tools, such as SEO Book, Wordpot, SEMRush, YouTube Keyword Research Tool, etc.


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A complete guide to the life and works of Agatha Christie
By Sophie Thomas | Posted on 06-Nov-2018
Often referred to as the "Queen of Crime", Agatha Christie is an established crime fiction writer, penning 66 novels as well as being the author of the world's longest-running production; The Mousetrap. She is one of the most successful writers ever, only outsold by the works of William Shakespeare and the Bible. Her writing changed the genre of crime fiction and in 1971, she was awarded a damehood for services to literature.
Even though Agatha Christie passed away in 1976, her stories are still regarded as some of the best ever. Learn more about the esteemed writer with us, as we explore her early life, her first works and the legacy she has left in the West End.
Agatha Christie: The Queen of Crime
What was her early life like?
Born Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller on 15th September 1890, she spent her childhood years in Torquay. Raised in a middle-class family, she taught herself to read by the age of five and was a gifted storyteller. In her autobiography, she said that she had a "very happy childhood". In 1912, Agatha Miller met Archie Christie, a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps. Her life was changed when World War 1 broke out, and she became a volunteer nurse in Torquay. She also met Colonel Archibald Christie, later marrying in December 1914.
As Colonel Archibald Christie was fighting in France, their relationship suffered due to being apart from each other for long periods of time. Once the war ended, the couple became closer than ever and the couple's only child Rosalind was born in August 1919. The war marked the beginning of Agatha's writing career. She began to write detective stories and her first novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles was published in 1920.
Famous works by Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles: Agatha Christie's first book was written as a dare from her sister, Madge. Given the challenge of writing a longer story, Agatha Christie set to work and wrote a story centring around a fictional Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Little did she know at the time that Poirot would grow to become one of Christie's well-known characters and inspire the television show Poirot that ran for 13 series.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: Published in 1926, this novel is regarded as the book that made her name as a crime-fiction writer. In this book, Poirot solves the murder of Roger Ackroyd, a man who knew the woman she loved was a murderer. This hair-raising novel was released the same year as Agatha Christie found out her husband had cheated on her. Stunned, she disappeared for 11 days in Harrogate and later divorced Archie Christie in 1928.
The Murder at the Vicarage: This 1930 book was the first to feature Christie's female protagonist, Miss Marple. As she uses her detective skills to suss out who committed the crime, she realises that those who are most suspicious were right under her nose after all. The story was later adapted for the stage in 1949.
Murder on the Orient Express: Poirot is called to solve a murder on board the train in this 1934 tale that's become one of Christie's most known texts. The story of Poirot investigating a murder on board has been adapted for two films, most recently in 2017 starring Judi Dench and directed by Kenneth Branagh.
Death on the Nile: While cruising on the River Nile, an heiress is killed. Even though a passenger claimed they wanted to put a trigger through somebody's head, it's not so easy to find the murderer. But with Poirot on board, the case is investigated. This detective fiction story from 1937 is currently in the process of being adapted for a 2020 movie.
And Then There Were None: Eight people arrive at an isolated island who soon realise they've all committed a murder before. As the guests begin to die one by one, the other islanders must work out who the murderer is. This book pushed the genre of crime fiction when it was published in 1939, featuring racially insensitive language.
A Murder is Announced: Anticipating a fun murder parlour game, a village gets ready to play. When the lights get turned off, one of the villagers is killed. It's left to Miss Marple to figure out who took the excitement of the parlour game too far in this gripping story from 1950.
Famous Agatha Christie characters
Giving the world five ingenious characters, Agatha Christie knew how to create a character that readers continue to love.
Hercule Poirot: Arguably one of Christie's most known characters, Poirot is a Belgian detective, admired by police forces around the world. His understanding of the criminal mind is superior to everyone around him. David Suchet played the detective from 1989 to 2013.
Ariadne Oliver: Often accompanying Poirot, Ariadne Oliver is a crime-fiction writer who can use her criminal knowledge from her books to solve cases in real life.
Miss Marple: Unsuspecting but assured, Miss Marple is an old lady whose ability to solve crime shock the police.
Tommy & Tuppence: Thomas and Prudence Beresford star in many Christie novels, first appearing in The Secret Adversary in 1922. The pair are spies that get caught in many murders, ageing throughout the books.
Looking back on Christie's legendary writing career wouldn't be complete without discussing The Mousetrap.
Before the story became the renowned play it is today, it started life as a 20-minute radio play. Broadcast in 1947, Agatha Christie penned a new play for Queen Mary's 80th birthday called Three Blind Mice. Later worked on and rewritten, the play's title changed to The Mousetrap and premiered at the Theatre Royal Nottingham on 6th October 1952.
The show then transferred to London, where it was first performed in the West End on 25th November 1952. The murder-mystery continues its run in the West End, currently playing at St. Martin's Theatre.
The story begins when five guests arrive at a hotel. Unsuspecting of their surroundings, the guests are calm until a policeman warns them of a murderer around the area. As the guests are investigated, the killer's whereabouts are investigated until a trap is ultimately laid to catch the murderer.
Even Agatha Christie could not have predicted how long the show would run for. She thought it would only run for a few months before audiences would stop visiting. However, it's become a stalwart of British theatre and the play is still performed eight times a week.
Buy The Mousetrap tickets
Facts about The Mousetrap
Original cast member, Mysie Monte played the role of Mrs Boyle from opening night to November 1967. Taking a break in the middle, she starred in The Mousetrap for 12 and a half years in total.
Deryck Guyler is the only original cast member left. Although he died in 1999, he voices the news broadcast heard on the radio during the play.
The set has been changed three times during the run, but the only surviving prop from 1952 is the clock that sits on the fireplace.
For his ninth birthday, Agatha Christie's grandson Mathew Pritchard was given the rights to the play. Earning royalties from the rights to the play, Pritchard then set up the Colwinston Charitable Trust in 1995 that distributes the royalties to performing organisations.
A star-studded cast took to the stage for the 25000th performance of The Mousetrap. This one-off starred Patrick Stewart, Julie Walters, Harry Lloyd, Nicholas Farrell, Iain Glen, Tamsin Greig, Miranda Hart and Hugh Bonneville.
The Mousetrap is a beloved West End play, so why has it not received a film adaptation? In the play's small print, it states that it will not be brought to screen until six months after the theatre run has ended. As theatregoers are told not to reveal who committed the murder, releasing a film version would spoil the play's secrets.
Witness for the Prosecution
First published in 1925, the story was initially called "Traitor's Hands". When it was re-published as a story in 1933, it gained its well-known title of Witness for the Prosecution.
Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz
When reflecting on her work in her autobiography, Witness for the Prosecution was a stand-out play, with Christie saying "It was one of my plays that I like best myself".
One of Agatha Christie's earlier works can also be seen in the West End. Set in court, Witness for the Prosecution focuses on Leonard Vole, a man on trial for the murder of Emily French. When his wife is called to testify, her remarks are shocking. As the case develops, Leonard has to convince the jury that he is innocent.
This gripping courtroom drama is currently playing at London City Hall, where audience members can purchase tickets to sit in the jury.
Buy Witness for the Prosecution tickets
What's her legacy?
Even though Agatha Christie passed away in 1976, she's still regarded as one of the best authors ever. There is a monument on Cranbourn Street dedicated to her, testament to her popularity and incredible career.
Photo credit: Robin Sones (Geograph) under Creative Commons 2.0
To date, she has sold over 2 billion copies of her books worldwide, which have been translated into over 100 languages. She created iconic literary characters that were loved over the world; when Poirot died, he was given a full-page obituary in the New York Times.
She was the first crime writer to have a million copies of her work sold in one day and was named the mystery writer of the twentieth century at the Boucheron World Mystery Convention in 2000.
A history of theatre during World War One
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The nearest railway station that connects Ranikhet with different cities in India like Lucknow, Delhi and Kolkata is the Kathgodam Railway Station, which is situated at a distance of 80 km. Different trains that operate from various stations are Uttarakhand Sampark Kranti Express, Jammu Kathgodam Garib Rath Express to name a few. Tourists can hire a taxi whose fare is reasonably charged to reach Ranikhet from this railway station.
The nearest domestic terminal is the Pantnagar Airport which is located at a distance of 119 km. Daily flights connects different states with this domestic airport. The Delhi International Airport situated at a distance of 350 km is the nearest international airport that is well connected with the help of regular flights with the Pantnagar airport. Visitors can hire a taxi to reach their destination from the airport.
With the help of roads, the city of Ranikhet is well connected to all the cities of Uttarakhand state and also top the rest of India. The Uttarakhand Roadways and Kumaon Motor Owner Union Limited (KMOU) buses connect Ranikhet with different cities such as Delhi, Nainital, Almora and Bareily. Tourists can also avail the service of different state owned buses to reach their destination.


text:
Mazesoba (, ), also known as abura soba (油そば), monjasoba (もんじゃそば), tenukisoba (手抜きそば), abu ramen (あぶラーメン) or shirunashi ramen (汁なしラーメン), is a dry noodle dish made with a sauce of soy sauce and pork lard. Traditional ingredients include shoyu tare base, aroma oil, menma, shredded nori, and green onions. Other variations also include toppings like raw garlic, raw egg, cheese, and minced meat, which are mixed with the noodles before eating.

Mazesoba was introduced in the 1950s with Chin Chin Tei opening up in Musashino City in the 1950s. The largest mazesoba chain in the world is Kokoro Mazesoba.

References

See also
Japanese cuisine

Japanese noodle dishes
Japanese cuisine terms
Japanese inventions

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Roll Call: 7 members present, 0 members absent, 0 members excused.
Mayor Loomis led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Town Manager David Andrews reviewed the upcoming meetings and events.
Council Member Kunisch congratulated Sergeant McBride and the Community Action Team (CAT) for the arrest of drug dealers involved in the death of a Canyon Del Oro (CDO) High School student.
Council Member Gillaspie presented a gift of an hour glass to Mayor Loomis in recognition of his years serving on the Town Council. He commented that an hour glass was used by Mayor Engle in the past to time public hearings.
Town Engineer Craig Civalier reported that the Town has been awarded $3 million as part of the Federal Economic Stimulus package. He explained that this money would be used for pavement of the Town's arterial roads.
TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT - No report.
ORDER OF BUSINESS: MAYOR WILL REVIEW THE ORDER OF THE MEETING
There being no objections, Mayor Loomis moved the Presentation before Call to Audience and Item 4 to follow the Consent Agenda.
PRESENTATION - Pause for Paws
Representatives from the organization "Rescue a Golden of Arizona" introduced Roxy and Ben, therapy dogs that are now in rescue. Citizens can contact 602-404-WOOF (9663) or www.golden-retriever.org for information on adopting a Golden Retriever.
Richard Tracey, Oro Valley resident, addressed past comments from the Council referring to a police state. He also addressed the possibility of reducing Town personnel and suggested that the first thing that should be reduced was Council by 2 members. He also suggested that the Council consider increasing the utility tax to save jobs.
Chris Desoto, Oro Valley Police Officers' Association (OVPOA), commented on the proposed police department layoffs. He cited statistics from the Police Executive Research Forum regarding spikes in crime due to the current economic situation. He asked Council to look for other cuts in the budget before laying off police officers.
Larry Lopez, President of Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS) expressed their support of the Oro Valley Police Officers and stated their opposition to the proposed layoffs of 6 of Oro Valley's police officers.
Carmen Trevizo, Oro Valley resident and Treasurer for the Oro Valley Police Officers Association, commented on the proposed police department layoffs. She also expressed concern regarding comments made and votes cast by Council Members at the last Council meeting (March 4, 2009).
Terry Parish, Oro Valley resident, stated that he was offended by Council Members comments at the March 4th meeting. He commented on recent drug overdoses and party issues in and around Oro Valley and stated that it is a struggle to keep crime out of Oro Valley. He expressed concerns about the proposed layoffs of police officers and commented that cutting officers may cost somebody their life.
Amy Graham, Oro Valley resident, commented on remarks made by Council at the March 4th meeting. She then reviewed recent incidents in Oro Valley which involved police officers.
Dr. Leonard Ditmanson, Oro Valley resident, expressed his support for the Police Department and what they do for the Town. He also requested that the Town support the El Tour de Tucson bike race this fall. He stated that the event has been a foundation of wellness in the community and he hoped that the Council would continue to support the event.
Richard DeBernardis, El Tour de Tucson coordinator, stated that he appreciated the Town's support for the event. He said that the Town has been a partner in the bike race since 1983. He stated that he knows that the Town is going through hard times and decisions are tough but he requested that the Town not cut funding to the event entirely and offereded that a reduction in the Town's donation would still be greatly appreciated.
Council Member Gillasipie thanked those who commented. He then stated that the March 4th Council meeting was an emotional night and he knew that everyone on the Council was working very hard to find a way to balance the Town's budget. He explained that there were some misstatements and some things were taken out of context. He apologized for using certain words but he was trying to communicate that he has been part of building Oro Valley for over 20 years. He commented that Council and staff needed to find a way to work together to solve the problems facing the Town.
Richard Tracey, Oro Valley resident: I have three items I want to discuss and they are equally important. I will try to as brief as I possibly can. First of all, the comment was made from the dias by a Council man referring to police state, and I have only a comment on this that looking at a continum of police state on one hand and anarchy on the other, our community, as much as I hate to even use the word, leans to the side of anarchy rather than police state in the sense that the more that we eliminate the ability to deal with law enforcement we are going to have law enforcement problems and an increase in crime as in the direction of anarchy in my opinion. That takes care of that. There was a lot of comments at the last Council meeting about reducing or maybe reducing or whether or not it is ever going to happen, man power on the Oro Valley Police Department or other persons from the Town of Oro Valley staff. And I gave this a lot of serious thought and I have talked to lots of people. My feeling is that if we are going to reduce staff, anybody, from the Town of Oro Valley, I think that the first thing that we should do is reduce Council by 2 members and go back to 5 members instead of 7 as unnecessary and my suggestion is that we decide among yourselves who you want to throw under the bus or let the 2 junior members go and this is not anti-political rhetoric on my part as they both know, I supported both of them in their bid for re-election. But this is a matter that if you are going to walk the walk, or if your are going to talk the talk you oughta walk the walk in my opinion. About reducing man power, I'm suggesting that we consider increasing the utility tax. 1% would save the police jobs, 2% would save every job. This would double the utility tax and I realize that's onerous, but you as Council men and me as a retired member of this community, I would much rather continue to get the service than pay $5 more a month or $2.50 more a month to save the police men if that is what, it that's the alternative. I do have some other comments but I am running out of time, so I am going to quit. Thank you.
Chris Desoto: Mayor and Town Council. My name is Chris Desoto. I am a spokesperson for the Oro Valley Police Officer's Association. On March 4, 2009, Council Members Garner, Carter and Gillaspie voted to immediately lay off 6 Oro Valley Police Officers making Oro Valley the only town or city in the entire state of Arizona to lay off cops. Laying off police officers is the equivalent to an entire squad for an entire 10 hour shift without any police officers called to service. According to the Police Executive Research Forum, a recent study found that 44% of 233 police agencies reported spikes in crime linked to the economy. Of those, 39% reported increases in robberys, 32% in burgleries and 42% in thefts. To make matters worse, more than 60% of the participating agencies said that they were preparing for funding cuts in 2009. Oro Valley does not have a lower than average crime rate by accident. Oro Valley Police Department is a proactive department and there is no statistic for crime prevention and with the high level of crimes on the rise in our neighboring agencies, the department will continue to struggle to keep crime away from Oro Valley. On March 4th, Town Manager Dave Andrews said that the police officers were asking for a raise. Police officers have not asked for a pay raise or steps. According to the Explorer newspaper, Mr. Andrews received a raise in October 2008 for $21,000, up to 500 hours of vacation and $12,000 into his deferred compansation to bring Mr. Andrews' salary up to $164,967 and allowing his vacation to cost the Town $39,655 which is almost the salary of a new officer. The members that voted on the raise are Council Members Gillaspie, Abbott, Latas, Carter and Garner. In the middle of a financially strained fiscal year and a Town that is generating very little revenue and after 2 years of Town Manager service from Mr. Andrews. Mr. Andrews solution to a $5.3 million deficiet is to lay off 32 Town employees, including 6 police officers and to give the remaining Town employees a pay raise for their increased work load. Members of the Town Council, I ask that you look for cuts in the budget before laying off police officers and begin looking internally for options to rememdy the situation that will greatly impact this town. And to reiterate again the Oro Valley Police Officers' Association is not asking for pay raises, only to maintain our level of staffing. Thank you.
Larry Lopez: Honorable Mayor and members of the Oro Valley Town Council, my name is Larry Lopez and I am the president of AZCOPS, the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs. AZCOPS is a state wide organization with 90 affiliates andover 9,000 public safety members. The Oro VAlley Police Officers's Association is one of those affiliates. Tonight members of AZCOPS and of the Tucson Police Officers' Association are here in support of Oro Valley POA and to oppose the proposal of laying off 6 Oro Valley police officers. We are dealing with and suffering through the current economic situation and we understand that many government entities are battling shortfalls. However, what is troubling is that members of this Council to include the Town Manager are looking at police officers as equal to other employees when it comes to possible layoffs. Please understand that I am not in any way disrespecting your non-sworn employees. But the fact of the matter is we do different jobs. In every other jurisdiction in the state, government entities and public safety labor groups are working together to find ways to protect police officers from being subject to lay offs. For example, the City of Tucson has exempted public safety to include its civilian staff from furloughs and lay offs. Why? Because even they understand that the City can not provide police services necessary to protect the community. If you decide to proceed with your proposal, Oro Valley will be the only jurisdiction in Arizona who has laid off police officers. How can you sit there and justify this proposal when in October 2008, a majority of this governing body voted and approved a $21,000 pay raise for Town Manager David Andrews. Oro Valley has a population of over 43,000 residents who enjoy well trained, quality police department that has officers dedicated to protecting this community. It is those officers that kiss their loved ones goodbye before they leave for work knowing in the back on their minds that they may have to pay the ultimate sacrifice. Has it ever occured to you that the reason that this community has reputation of being safe, is because of the men and women that wear the Oro Valley Police Department uniform? As a police officer, I am extremely offended made by the comment made by Council Member Barry Gillaspie when he stated at a recent meeting that the Town should lay off 6 police officers so that the Town doesn't become a "police state". I am sure I'am not the only police officer that is deeply concerned by your extreme political views. I'm sure that once the voters are aware of it, they will be concerned as well. Ladies and gentlemen, first and foremost, it is your duty as elected government officials to provide public safety to this community. By laying off police officers, you will turn your back on your neighborhood leaders, the business community and more importantly the men and women of the Oro Valley Police Department who are the only Town employees that respond to your home when you need help. The 9,000 members of AZCOPS stand with our brothers and sisters of the Oro Valley Police Department and we are requesting that its your time to do the same. Thank you.
Carmen Trevizo: Good evening. My name is Carmen Trevizo. I am a resident of Oro Valley and treasurer for the Oro Valley Police Officers' Association. Mayor and Council, as a resident I am opposed to cutting public safety positions. There is two things I'd like to address today. First, I want to address some of the comments that were made at the last Council meeting. And secondly, I want to point out why public safety should not be cut. As to my first point, Council Member Garner, it was upsetting to see you try to shift responsibility for the staff reductions from the Town Manager to the Chief of Police. Obviously, it was the Chief who decided how to make those cuts, but the direction did not originate from him. Vice Mayor Carter, you made a motion to fire 6 officers immediately which was supported by Council Members Gillaspie and Garner. You then got upset that Council Member Latas would not support that amendment, then voted agains the whole thing. It seems as though you think that if we get a grant for these officers, we can just hire them back? These officers that we would be terminating are laterals from other agencies and they are very well trained. We are fortunate that they chose to come to Oro Valley and they won't be waiting for us to call them back. They will be picked up by other agencies. There are other departments that are still hiring because they put public safety first. Now, Council Member Gillaspie, again, you made a comment that basically said that if we don't cut officers along with other staff that we would end up in a police state. I just want to read to you what Wickipedia says what a police state is: "The term police state describes a state in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic and political life of the population. A police state typically exhibits elements of totalitarism and social control and there is usually no destinction between the law and the exercise of political power by the executive. The inhabitants of a police state exercise restrictions on their mobility and on their freedom to express or communicate political or other views". Is this truly what you think of us? A police state is identified by behavior not by how many officers a department has. Our entire department takes pride in the level of service we provide to the public and we were insulted by your comments. As to my second point, it seems as though some on the Council are determined to cut officers no matter what. And let me explain to you why police are different. On the weekends and holidays, I'm here. You are not. Public safety is one of the few areas where we don't have the luxury of a normal life. Well, maybe recently you are. But usually I'm out here and you guys are not. We work midnights and miss many important events because we're serving the public. Most importantly police and fire are the ones who run to the tragedy not away from it. We have to see things and deal with pressures that most people would just walk away from. Sometimes we give our lives to serve just like the four officers that were killed in open. That is why you should not fire police officers. I lived and grew up in the south side of town for 23 years. I know what it is like living in a crime infested area. I love living in Oro Valley because I know that if I call the police even for something small, they're going to be there. That's all I have. Thank you.
Terry Parish: Evening, my name is Terry Parish. I am a Oro Valley resident. And I came here tonight basically because I went home after making my comments at the last meeting and listened to you on line. And Barry, my friend, you offended me. And you're the main reason I'm here tonight. The police state comment, since she stole some of my thunder, for the police comment, state comment, was I went in the dictionary and I looked it up and I was going to read it, but she already did it for me, was unforgiveable as far as I'm concerned. I looked in the dictionary for anything that would apply to what happened. The next thing that I was offended by was the word, the statement and I looked it up on line again today was "one thing I'm tired of is that we are always lectured and we are always scared about crime" and then went on said that we don't have the facts. The day that the citizenry coming forward to talk to you in a Town Council meeting is a lecture and a bad thing like why am I always getting lectured about my manners or something like that. When it becomes a bad thing for the citizens to come talk to you then I submit to you that there is a problem. Because we as citizens have the right to come up here and tell you what we think. You have the right because we give it to you, to vote on our behalf whether you agree with us or not. And so that remark was offensive to me but I, real quickly but I only have a minute and 33 seconds, last week, last two weeks since this meeting has been real rough for Oro Valley's kids. Our third one died of an overdose, the third fatal overdose in Oro Valley. Friday night I got called out for five Oro Valley kids who were in the hospital as a result of party just on our outskirts where two of our students were stabbed, one was run over by a car and two others sustained fight injuries. Oro Valley police did a fantastic job by the way. They were at the hospital detaining witnesses, helping us gather evidence, it was really truly a multi-jurisdictional event and they did a fantastic job. And one thing that I want to point out is that while our crime, calls for service may be down, you don't want to go back up and you don't take away the proactive approach so we can wait for a tragedy to happen. I submit to you that if we had better law enforcement surrounding Oro Valley, not only in Pima County but in the City of Tucson, we would not have the struggle that we have keeping crime out of here and my question for you tonight really is, how much are these kids' lives worth to you? If you cut police, you have to understand that your decision may cost somebody their life. It may be a police officer waiting for back up. It may be a citizen that couldn't get a cop fast enough. You have to be prepared for the reality of that situation. That's why cops are different. Not just because we put our lives on the line, but because your life is on the line if we can't get there.
Amy Graham: Mayor and Council, my name is Amy Graham. I'm a citizen of Oro Valley. I'm here to address a statement given by Council Member Gillaspie who said that no gives us the actual facts or numbers. I know you receive the monthly stats but I'm here tonight to put a face on those stats. This what occured this weekend. You heard a little bit about it. Friday night we got a call to an assault. The parents called, their child was beaten up. We arrived and we found two more inside, one stabbed, the other one extremely intoxicated and had to be transported to the hospital. An additional teen at the hospital was stabbed and beaten. One more female had also been run over by the car. All of these were students of Oro Valley. During that event, we got two DUI arrests. Saturday, officers were dispatched to a suicidal subject. She had locked herself in a friend's apartment bathroom and had a butcher knife. She was upset because her friend was the one who had OD this past week. She sliced both of her wrists and then she went for the AC and she cut it to the bone. She was bleeding profusely and when we arrived, the fight was on. Officers exposed themselves to the real danger of blood-born pathegons in order to save her life. That evening we received many reports of gun fire. The citizen was able to chase down a suspect. Unfortunately, he couldn't even tell us what street he was on. All of us were looking for him. Five teens had been throwing bottle bombs and they hit three different locations. We were able to apprehend them, arrested them, and all were cited for a class four felony and all were students of Ironwood Ridge. While awaiting the parents, I received a call from one of the parents who was on their way. They advised me of a an overturned vehicle in the median on Moore Road between Eagleview and Piping Rock. I was the first to arrive. I pulled back the door to find a female who had been thrown into the passenger seat. She wasn't wearing her seat belt and she had been drinking and this turned into a deadly combination. Her first words to me were "I can't feel my legs and my back really hurts". I held her neck until parmedics arrived. This 24 year old med student now has her spine severed and she paralyzed from the waist down. Meanwhile, alarms were going off at Home Depot, another vehicle accident occurred, we didn't have the units. I had to send the DUI unit to take a call. I had to send a single unit by themselves. We do what we can. In total we had 4 DUIs this weekend besides all that occurred. I want you to understand that just because you don't see it on TV, doesn't mean its not happening up here. We take pride in our work and we subscribe to a "community of excellence". I don't know if you realize, but a majority of people we encounter, don't like us. I'm stopping them for traffic violations. I'm coming into their house and arresting them for whatever the crime is and very rarely do we get thanked for what we do, but we do it because we care. Thank you.
Leonard Ditmanson, M.D.: Honorable Mayor Loomis, Council Members. My name is Dr. Lynn Ditmanson. I'm a physiciant at the Northwest Oro Valley Hospital. I'm a resident at Oro Valley. I came actually to discuss one matter that I'll get to in one minute. But I wanted to put in my strong support for the Oro Valley Police Department and what they are doing in your current staffing levels. I was one of the founding members of the Meth-free Alliance, a multi-agency task force and community based coalition that gathered together to wrap our arms around the methaemphatine problem. Arizona has the highest rate of methaemephatine use in teenagers of any state in the union. And methaemphaine is involved in and behind much of the crime that we see. And again the reason that we don't see a lot of it in Oro Valley is because of the vigilence of the Police Department and other agencies. (End of discussion regarding the P.D.)
At the request of Council, Items A, B, C, D, and E were pulled for discussion (Item F was removed from the Agenda).
Motion to to approve Item G on the Consent Agenda. Moved by K.C. Carter, Vice Mayor, seconded by Al Kunisch, Council Member.
Vote to to approve Item G on the Consent Agenda. (Approved)
A. Minutes - 02/04/09; 2/11/09; 2/25/09
Item A
Motion to to approve the 2/04/09 and 2/11/09 minutes and to continue the 2/25/09 minutes to the April 1st meeting. Moved by Paula Abbott, Council Member, seconded by Al Kunisch, Council Member.
Vote to to approve the 2/04/09 and 2/11/09 minutes and to continue the 2/25/09 minutes to the April 1st meeting. (Approved)
B. Economic Development Division Monthly Report - February 2009
Item B
Discussion followed regarding the Town's Building Safety permitting process, the 2006 Building Safety Management Plan, Sign Code issues and the possible establishment of an Economic Development Commission.
Motion to to accept the Economic Development Monthly Report with direction to the Town Manager to come back with a plan for reviewing the Building Safety inspection process and/or provide a report on what has been done with respect to the Building Safety Management Plan. Moved by Al Kunisch, Council Member, seconded by Paula Abbott, Council Member.
Vote to to accept the Economic Development Monthly Report with direction to the Town Manager to come back with a plan for reviewing the Building Safety inspection process and/or provide a report on what has been done with respect to the Building Safety Management Plan. (Approved)
C. Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau Quarterly Report: October - December 2008
Item C
Mayor Loomis opened the floor for public comment.
John Musolf, Oro Valley resident, referred to the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (MTCVB) second quarterly report and expressed concerns about giving this organization $120,000. He also questioned what benefits the MTCVB was bringing to the Town.
Motion to to continue consideration of the MTCVB's quarterly report to the first meeting in May (May 6th) with direction to staff to bring back additional information with respect to the contract and with respect to the report that the MTCVB is meeting the criteria that is in the contract and to also include answers to Mr. Musolf's questions. Moved by Bill Garner, Council Member, seconded by Paula Abbott, Council Member.
Vote to to continue consideration of the MTCVB's quarterly report to the first meeting in May (May 6th) with direction to staff to bring back additional information with respect to the contract and with respect to the report that the MTCVB is meeting the criteria that is in the contract and to also include answers to Mr. Musolf's questions. (Approved)
D. Mayor & Council Trip Reports - March 2009
Item D
Council Members Latas and Gillaspie presented highlights regarding their trip to meet with our Representatives in Washington D.C. and their attendance at the National League of Cities Conference. Town Manager David Andrews and Assistant Town Manager Jerene Watson also attended the conference.
Zev Cywan, Oro Valley resident, questioned why four Town representatives attended the conference. He stated that he felt that this was too many due to the economic status of the Town. He also commented on "green" building and questioned why the huge wall was being placed in areas along Oracle Road, blocking the view of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Motion to to approve the trip reports. Moved by Al Kunisch, Council Member, seconded by Barry Gillaspie, Council Member .
Vote to to approve the trip reports. (Approved)
E. Fiscal year 2008/09 Financial Status Report through February, 28, 2009
Item E
In response to a question from Council Member Kunisch, Finance Director Stacey Lemos clarified that this year's budget deficit was currently $179,000 but staff would have updated numbers in March.
Motion to to accept the Financial Status Report through February 28, 2009. Moved by Al Kunisch, Council Member, seconded by Bill Garner, Council Member.
Vote to to accept the Financial Status Report through February 28, 2009. (Approved)
F. Resolution Number (R)09 - 15 Authorizing the Mayor and Council of the Town of Oro Valley to approve the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Town of Oro Valley, the Town of Marana, and Pima County for a Design Concept Report regarding the construction of roadway improvements on Tangerine Road between Interstate 10 and La Canada Drive (Removed from Agenda)
G.	Resolution No. (R)09-15 Authorizing the Water Utility Department of the Town of Oro Valley to apply for a Drinking Water Revolving Fund Loan from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) for the Oro Valley Water Utility Phase 1 Existing System Improvement Projects and the Northwest Water Providers Central Arizona Project (CAP) Water Delivery System Design Project
Item G
4. PUBLIC HEARING - ORDINANCE NO. (O)09 - 03 OV9-04-02 REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A REZONING REQUEST BY THE PLANNING CENTER REPRESENTING DESCO SOUTHWEST, LLC, TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF THE EXISTING WASH ON THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE MILLER RANCH DEVELOPMENT FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R1-144) TO PARKS AND OPEN SPACE (POS), LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF LA CANADA DRIVE AND TANGERINE ROAD Explanation: Desco Southwest LLC, represented by The Planning Center is requesting approval of a rezoning change.
Motion to to continue (O)09-03, OV9-04-02 to the April 15, 2009 Council meeting. Moved by Al Kunisch, Council Member, seconded by K.C. Carter, Vice Mayor.
Vote to to continue (O)09-03, OV9-04-02 to the April 15, 2009 Council meeting. (Approved)
Mayor Loomis recessed the meeting at 7:25 p.m. The meeting resumed at 7:32 p.m.
Meeting Paused
Meeting Resumed
2. PRESENTATION ON THE PINAL COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BY KEN BUCHANAN, ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER AND JERRY STABLEY, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. (R)09-16 ENDORSING AND SUPPORTING THE DRAFT PINAL COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Jerry Stabley, Planning Director for Pinal County, updated the Town Council on the progress of the Pinal County Comprehensive Plan and the planning and development issues facing Pinal County. He then reviewed the draft land use plan and the multimodal circulation plan and highlighted areas of economic sustainability, quality educational opportunities, healthy environs, open space, environmental stewardship, sense of community, mobility and connectivity and rural lifestyle. He then thanked the Council and staff for their involvement and support.
Discussion followed regarding net change in density (current population of Pinal County is 300,000 with future projections at build-out of 6 million), Sonoran Conservation Plan concepts and the water aquifer.
Motion to to adopt Resolution (R)09-16 endorsing and supporting the draft Pinal County Comprehensive Plan. Moved by Al Kunisch, Council Member, seconded by K.C. Carter, Vice Mayor.
Council Member Abbott stated that she could not support the motion as she felt that the plan was too dense.
Vote to to adopt Resolution (R)09-16 endorsing and supporting the draft Pinal County Comprehensive Plan. (Approved)
3. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING - RESOLUTION NO. (R)08-82 OV11-08-04 REQUEST TO AMEND THE GENERAL PLAN FOR PORTIONS OF RANCHO VISTOSO, NEIGHBORHOOD 5, GENERALLY BOUNDED ON THE NORTH BY RANCHO VISTOSO BOULEVARD, ON THE EAST BY BIG WASH, ON THE SOUTH BY TANGERINE ROAD AND ON THE WEST BY RANCHO VISTOSO BOULEVARD (CONTINUED FROM FEBRUARY 4, 2009)
Explanation: Vistoso Partners, represented by The WLB Group is requesting approval of a General Plan amendment.
Paul Oland, The WLB Group, representing Vistoso Partners, reviewed the land use map of the area and highlighted the proposed General Plan amendment request. He then summarized the requested General Plan amendment highlights:
~ Consistent with Amphitheater School District intentions.
~ No increase to number of housing units (proposed reduction to Neighborhood 5 unit cap from 3555 to 2500).
~ Preserves intent of the golf course.
~ Parcel 5-D to be designated as open space adjacent to Honeybee Canyon Park.
~ Significantly widens Honeybee Wash corridor.
~ Proposal addresses concerns expressed by Council, staff and neighbors.
Mary Beth Savel, Legal Counsel with Lewis and Roca, representing Vistoso Partners, explained that the proposed Escrow Agreement would address the transfer of the school site from Vistoso Partners to the Amphitheater School District.
Planning and Zoning Director Sarah More stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval of the original submittal. She then explained that the revised proposal maintains the potential for golf course use and the enhancement of open space was beneficial. Ms. More also stated that the applicant has proposed a reduction of the neighborhood units by approximately 1,000 units. She reported that staff recommends approval.
Discussion followed regarding:
~ Original school site.
~ Original rezoning (rezoned to Low Density Residential).
~ Measurements of new corridor.
~ Recreation site (Condition 2 - park site must be improved with recreational elements and amenities for the community).
~ Planning Commission has not reviewed the final report. (Council can consider a reduction in a request. Discussions were primarily on buffers to residential areas and stepping back from open space and densities. These were addressed but have now changed).
~ Escrow agreement (mechanism to get conveyance of school site accomplished).
~ Possibly impose a condition that after a certain amount of time, Vistoso Partners will deed school site to Amphitheater School District.
Mayor Loomis opened the public hearing.
Patty Clemente, Oro Valley resident, expressed concerns regarding traffic along the Moore Road extension and Arrowsmith Road.
Frances Lee, Oro Valley resident, expressed concerns about traffic along Arrowsmith Road stating that it will be a traffic nightmare.
Bob Becker, Oro Valley resident, stated that the relocation of the school was beyond our control but it will create traffic issues. He also stated that he is pleased that there is less density and that the golf course is being kept in the proposal.
Mayor Loomis closed the public hearing.
Motion to to adopt Resolution (R)08-82, OV11-08-04, General Plan amendment for portions of Rancho Vistoso Neighborhood 5 generally bounded on the north by Rancho Vistoso Boulevard, on the east by Big Wash, on the south by Tangerine Road and on the west by Rancho Vistoso Boulevard and subject to the conditions contained in Exhibit "A" with the following additional conditions: 1) Area 5D (19.2 acres) be designated as Resort/Golf Course (RGC) (can be used as vacant space or part of the golf course; 2) Parcel M (19 acres) designated as C-1 and can be used by the golf course for a Club House, etc.; 3) Parcel I - Small area (2-3 acres) would be included as Golf Course (GC) designation; 4) Regarding deed for new school site: Vistoso Partners LLC will formally convey the new school site as described in the General Plan amendment to the Amphitheater School District within 30 days following the approval of the General Plan amendment (instead of Planning and Zoning's condition #4 in Exhibit "A").
Exhibit "A" Conditions of Approval, OV11-08-04<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Planning and Zoning Conditions 1. The 34.5 acres of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />HDR (High Density Residential) proposed on Parcel 5-V must be zoned and developed to the Rancho Vistoso PAD MHDR (Medium High Density Residential) density of no more than eight (8) dwelling units per acre (du/ac.).
2. The recreation area adjacent to the old school site (Parcel 5-I) must be improved with sufficient recreational elements and amenities to provide meaningful active and passive recreation opportunities for the community. The park must be constructed to the standards of Section 26.5 of the Oro Valley Zoning Code Revised, or to a standard deemed appropriate by the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB). The park plan must be approved by the PRAB.
3. The proposal must provide an adequate corridor of not less than 1,500 feet for recreation trail access and wildlife mobility to the Honey Bee Canyon Park area to the north. This shall be accomplished through the redesignation of Parcel 5-D from Medium Density Residential to Open Space and by moving residential development further west where necessary to maintain the required corridor.
4. Vistoso Partners, LLC shall formally convey the new school site as described in the General Plan Amendment to the Amphitheater School District within thirty (30) days following the approval of the General Plan Amendment.
5. All future utility lines must be placed underground throughout the amendment area in Neighborhood 5.
6. The overall Neighborhood 5 dwelling unit cap will be limited to 2,500 dwelling units.
Oro Valley Water Utility (OVWU) Conditions
1. OVWU will provide water service to the entire development, including the school, for potable and/or reclaimed water and no wells will be drilled by any developers or landowners within Rancho Vistoso Neighborhood 5.
2. All new irrigation systems for two (2) or more acres of turf must connect to the Town's reclaimed system per Section 15-15-9(5)(b) of the Town Code. Any addition of new turf to create an aggregate area of more than two (2) acres of turf must extend the reclaimed system to their properties per Section 15-15-9(2)(1)(b) of the Town Code.
3. Provide a minimum 30 foot wide access to OVWU's Well E-2. This access must be in the form of an access/egress easement dedicated to OVWU and when the school site is designed it must allow OVWU 24-hour access to the well site, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
4. Dedicate to OVWU a 15-foot wide easement in addition to and adjacent to the 15-foot wide easement for the potable main necessary to provide service to the development in the Moore Road/Arrowsmith Loop road.
5. Dedicate to OVWU a 15-foot wide easement from Rancho Vistoso Blvd. on the west to Rancho Vistoso Blvd. on the east along the Moore Road alignment.
Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Conditions
1. The development includes Trail #180, known as the WAPA Line Trail in the Oro Valley Trails Task Force Report. The WAPA Trail traverses most of the center of the Town and provides an important through route for users. The proposed development area also includes Trail #331, which connects both to Trail #180 as well as (eventually) to Trails #33 and #156. Trail #33 (Honey Bee Canyon Trail) is adjacent to the eastern edge of this area. In addition to being noted in the Task Force Report, these trails are listed in the Eastern Pima County Trails Master Plan. Trail #33 is also a State Trail as designated by Arizona State Parks.
2. All three of the aforementioned trails must be identified as "non-motorized public recreation easements" and must be a minimum of 15 feet in width.
Pima County Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Office/Arizona State Parks, State Historic Preservation Office Condition
1. A new cultural resources survey must be conducted within the subject portions of Neighborhood Five at the time of PAD amendment. This new cultural resources survey would identify the current boundaries of previously recorded archaeological sites AZ BB:9:155(ASM), AZ BB:9:169(ASM), and AZ BB:9:41(ASM). If cultural resources are identified, development and implementation of a mitigation treatment plan prior to ground-disturbing construction [is required].
Public Works Conditions
The Department of Public Works approves this submittal for the Town of Oro Valley General Plan land use designation changes as described within the applicants submission package, subject to the following conditions.
Vistoso Partners will build and complete both Moore and Arrowsmith Roads up to and through their common intersection to the timelines required by the existing agreement with Amphitheater School District, or at the time another development within this amendment area generates the need for the roadway, as determined by the Town Engineer, whichever is required first. This road must consist of a minimum 3-lane collector street section with multi-use lanes, incorporating continuous sidewalk along the west side and a separated 10' wide asphalt pedestrian/multiuse path on the east side. Both the sidewalk and pedestrian multiuse path must completely loop and connect to Rancho Vistoso Boulevard at the north and south intersection points.
Vistoso Partners will install a new gravity sewer line from a connection point on Tangerine Road north to the existing lift station serving Sun City Vistoso, Units 9 & 10. In addition, a sewer stub-out shall be provided to the boundary of Parcel 5-B in order to provide a connection opportunity to relieve the Parcel 5-B lift station should that HOA elect to construct such a connection in the future.
The sewer main connection to the existing Sun City lift station shall be constructed according to the timelines set forth in the existing agreement with the Amphitheater School District or at the time another development within this amendment area generates the need for the sewer, as determined by the Town Engineer, whichever is required first. The location of the sewer line will be along the west bank of Big Wash and will continue by gravity to the closest connection point on Tangerine Road, as dictated by Pima County Wastewater Management.
Public Works Submittal Requirements
Among all the standard elements set forth for the submission package (site analysis and TDP), the follow represents minimum detail required by the Department of Public Works to review any future rezoning:
1. For any future rezoning of the subject property, the Department of Public Works will require at a minimum, a full hydrology report containing the following hydrologic information submitted as a part of the application/site inventory submission package:
a. Describe and map on an aerial photograph the perimeter of all off-site watersheds that affect, or are effected by, the site both upstream and downstream to their logical conclusion and note all balanced and critical basins.
b. Provide a description of any significant off-site natural features and manmade features located within the above watersheds that may affect or be affected by the site.
c. Indicate the area in acres for those upstream off-site watersheds with 100 year discharges greater than 100 cubic feet per second (cfs).
d. Describe and map the characteristics of the existing on-site hydrology. Include the following:
i. Approximate 100 year floodplains with a discharge greater than or equal to 50 cfs.
ii. Sheet flooding areas with their average depths
iii. Federally mapped floodway and floodplains
iv. Peak discharges both entering and leaving the site for 100 year events which exceed 50 cfs using approximate methods such as the regional area versus discharge graphs.
e. Provide a qualitative description of existing drainage conditions along the downstream property boundary.
f. Describe how the Tentative Development Plan responds to the hydrologic characteristics described in the Inventory and Analysis for both existing and proposed conditions. (Examples include building setbacks, density, building placement, location of open space and recreation areas).
g. Identify if any features of the development (i.e. structures, roads, lots), as shown by the Tentative Development Plan overlay, encroach on and/or modify existing site drainage patterns. Explain why this is necessary and other alternatives that have been considered.
h. Describe and map potential drainage impacts to off-site land uses both upstream and downstream due to the proposed development.
i. Describe and map approximate location of engineering and design features that will be used to mitigate drainage and erosion problems for the proposed development. (Examples include detention basins, revegetation, rip-rapping and preservation of channels in their natural state).
j. Describe how the Tentative Development Plan conforms to all applicable area plans, basin management plans and Town policies.
2. For any future rezoning of the subject property, the Department of Public Works will require at a minimum, the following traffic information submitted as a part of the application/site inventory submission package:
k. Map all existing and proposed streets on and between the development site to, and including, the nearest streets as shown on the Oro Valley Transportation Plan. Also map all arterial streets within one mile of the project site. For all streets identified, provide the following general information:
i. The existing and proposed rights-of-way widths.
ii. Whether these rights-of-way meet minimum Oro Valley width requirements.
iii. Ownership (public or private)
iv. Whether the rights-of-way are continuous or whether they jog.
v. The number of travel lanes, theoretical capacity and design speed on existing roads.
vi. The present Average Daily Traffic (ADT) for existing streets
vii. A description of the surface conditions of the existing roadway which provides access to the site.
viii. When roadway and intersection improvements are programmed to be completed by public or private entities.
l. Map existing and proposed intersections on the arterials within one mile of the site which will likely be used by traffic generated by the development.
m. Map any existing bicycle and pedestrian ways adjacent to or on the site to their connections with arterial streets, parks and schools.
n. Provide a full traffic impact analysis report (attached as an appendix) which must include:
i. A description of the proposed internal circulation and access to/from arterial streets included in the Oro Valley Transportation Plan for the project, their location and the rationale for their placement in terms of circulation.
ii. If the tentative Development Plan depends upon future off-site road improvements for access, state which roads, the projected time frame for their completion.
iii. Discuss the projected ADT at "build-out" for the internal circulation system and the level of service to all streets and intersections as outlined within the study area. Provide a projection of traffic volumes and capacity analysis, based upon the development's "build out", on the arterials and at the intersections within the study area.
iv. Describe the impact to existing development abutting off-site streets listed above.
v. Provide capacity analysis for proposed internal streets and proposed off-site streets and describe the right-of-way and pavement widths, geometrics, design speeds and traffic control improvements which will be needed.
vi. Describe the types of improvements specified in (iii) above which will be needed thereat.
vii. A schedule listing who the applicant believes is the responsible party or agency for making said improvements.
viii. Provide evidence that proposed turning movements will meet safety standards in relationship to traffic volumes.
o. Describe proposed on-site street right-of-way, indicate their proposed ownership and show typical roadway sections.
p. Describe any proposed bicycle and pedestrian pathways within the development and indicate whether they are constructed to external pathways, arterial streets, parks and schools.
q. For proposed developments within 1 mile of a public school, describe and map safe walk/bike paths for students. Student walk/bike paths should be designed, with easements between selected lots, as required, to reduce walk/ride distances.
r. For proposed developments greater than 0.5 miles from elementary schools and greater than 0.8 miles from middle and high schools indicate safe bus stops and safe bus turnarounds, if required. Bus stops should be designed to allow residents to monitor the safety of children while at the same time minimizing the impact of waiting children on the adjacent residents.
s. Provide a letter from the school district indicating review of, and concurrence with, the proposed student walk paths and school bus provisions.
3. For any future rezoning of the subject property, the Department of Public Works will require at a minimum, the following Sanitary Sewer information submitted as a part of the application/site inventory submission package:
t. Map the location of the existing public sewers in relation to the project site.
u. Describe the method of providing sewer service.
v. If Pima County Wastewater is projected to serve the site, provide a response letter from Pima County Wastewater Management addressing capacity and ability to serve the site.
Moved by K.C. Carter, Vice Mayor, seconded by Bill Garner, Council Member.
~ Proposal would eliminate buffer to Honeybee Wash.
~ Open space and golf course designations.
~ Small area (2-3 acres described as a "doughnut hole") is hillside property and has large rock outcroppings (zoned Open Space due to steepness of slopes).
~ Opposition to motion: Good effort has been made by the petitioner but the new information is not organized in a way that is easy to understand.
~ Not comfortable removing "doughnut hole" area as it is an environmental area.
~ Send back to Planning and Zoning Commission as plan has changed dramatically.
~ Concerns regarding traffic issues at Arrowsmith (could be considered in a Planned Area Development (PAD) amendment).


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Q: Keep window on top in Delphi or Java Is it possible in Delphi to keep a window on top of all other windows? For example when you have an error message in your application, let's say you want to keep the window on top and make sure the user has to click something before he can do anything else. And I really mean anything, like clicking another program in the background. And how about in Java?

A: No. Raymond Chen of Microsoft has a great article about why not here. The gist of it is that no matter how hard you try to keep your window on top, someone else can always come along and do the same thing.

A: You could do this in the old days. It was called a system modal dialog and you used the now obsolete SetSysModalWindow() function.
They were utterly repugnant and so sense and order was restored when Windows NT based versions of Windows took over.

A: In Delphi you can do FormStyle:=fsStayOnTop;. This will put you in front of all normal windows.
But if there are other windows which have that style set too(such as the task-bar) those might be on in front of yours. In particular among those windows the one that has focus is has the highest priority.
You can try to ensure that your window always has focus, but that's rarely a good idea. And you will incur the wraith of Raymond.
You can also use a layered window. I think those are in front of normal always-on-top windows. But this has severe side effects and is most likely not the correct choice for you.