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The Daily Blog Open Mic – Thursday 9th August 2018
By The Daily Blog / August 9, 2018 / 11 Comments
Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven't covered for the day.
Moderation rules are more lenient for this section, but try and play nicely.
EDITORS NOTE: – By the way, here's a list of shit that will get your comment dumped. Sexist language, homophobic language, racist language, anti-muslim hate, transphobic language, Chemtrails, 9/11 truthers, climate deniers, anti-fluoride fanatics, anti-vaxxer lunatics and ANYONE that links to fucking infowar.
By: The Daily Blog
Last Modified: August 9, 2018 @ 9:23 am
Filed Under: Most Recent Blogs, The Daily Gallery
Tagged With: Open mic
Protests planned against Don Brash speaking at Auckland University
Political Caption Competition
View all articles by The Daily Blog »
The Daily Blog Open Mic – Thursday 18th July 2019
The Daily Blog Open Mic – Wednesday 17th July 2019
The Daily Blog Open Mic – Tuesday 16th July 2019
Another case study argument/reason to use more rail freight before we all loose our rail system and wind up with no roads.
Letter sent to; Hon' Phil Twyford, Minister of Transport and PM Jacinda Ardern and all rail stakeholders,
(See below) Gisborne herald article of the truck crash last Tuesday please
Again in Gisborne the main transport road north was blocked by a Logging truck accident on a straight road section of State Highway 2 10kms outside Gisborne City.
The log truck rolled over on the north Gisborne highway with a full trailer dangerously spilling all the logs onto the road and ditches alongside and blocked the road to Bay of Plenty for four hours holing up over one hundred trucks from delivering their goods to export ports and processing plants.
This episode again graphically showed clearly why we need a rail line service again to connect Gisborne to the rest of the country, as Gisborne is attempting to increase productivity for the health/wealth and economic wellbeing of the NZ economy and security of the local communities.
Aside from the dangers posed to other private users of the road depicted in the Gisborne Herald article here below, it is now time to plan for a rail route north of Gisborne to Waikato and the Bay of Plenty as our first PM Julius Vogel planned for us in 1870s, but sadly has never been carried out by successive Governments as they claimed to was due to the two world war events and the 1929 depression.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Vogel
Vogel is best remembered for his "Great Public Works" scheme of the 1870s. Before 1870, New Zealand was a country largely dominated by provincial interests and pork-barrel politics. After Vogel, as colonial treasurer, proposed borrowing the massive sum of 10 million pounds, New Zealand developed significant infrastructure of roads, railways and communication, all administered by central government. This ultimately led to the end of provincial government in 1876.[citation needed]
Now we call on the present "transformational Government" plans they have as our best way forward, to complete the rail line north to secure the prosperity of the Gisborne region and other adjoining regions.
Rail freight and passenger services will greatly lower the climate change emissions of CO2 inventory and enhance our transport carbon footprint also, while making our roads far safer and lowering the large increasing cost of maintaining them.
gisborneherald.co.nz
'Nightmare come true'
by Debbie Gregory Published: August 8, 2018 12:36PM
Two hurt in SH2 log truck crash.
Picture by Liam Clayton
A Te Karaka mother is praising God she is still alive after hearing, then seeing, a fully-loaded logging truck flip in front of her.
"My guardian angel was watching over us," she said.
The sound of the fully-loaded log truck screeching along the road was "so scary" but what she saw seconds later when she came off the Kaitaratahi Bridge on Matawai Road was a "nightmare come true."
The truck was sprawled across the road with logs everywhere.
"We were going home from Gisborne. There were two people in my car and there was a car ahead of me . . . there were four of us there. The first thing I did was ring 111."
The 60-year-old driver was a Te Karaka local, she said.
He was taken to Gisborne Hospital with serious injuries. The passenger was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The truck and trailer unit rolled on State Highway 2 just north of Lavenham Road about 2.30pm yesterday afternoon as it was heading towards the city.
Road blocks were placed at Te Karaka and at the back Ormond Road intersection. With it being nearly the end of school time, there were some frantic parents in the queues on either side.
Te Karaka Area School principal Gordon Pepere said people like the school bus driver, staff and the tolerance of worried parents made the job of managing the students at school and getting them home from school easier.
"We have to be grateful that the potential for the incident to be far worse did not eventuate. Our thoughts go out to those who were injured,"
Mr Pepere said this morning.
There were 27 students affected by the road closure.
The school bus and some staff had already left and were in the queue.
"A staff member spoke with the bus driver and because some of the younger ones were unsettled and worried, we decided to bring them back to school."
Parents and relatives were contacted. Some children were picked up by relatives or friends, while staff and older students looked after and fed the younger ones.
"It was great the older students were able to take over and prepare some food and look after the younger ones. The kids showed leadership in a situation that was not really school."
Mr Pepere said the idea of going to Matawai and taking the Wharekopae Road was not an option. Because of all the recent rain, it was not safe.
It was not until after 6pm that the highway was reopened to one lane with traffic control in place.
"Our bus driver offered to return the students home, but we were able to use staff, who travel from Gisborne."
Traffic halted, power to townships out
Mr Pepere said at this morning's debrief they identified processes that worked well and others that could be improved on.
People like the traffic controllers and clean-up crew, at the accident for hours to keep it safe, needed to be thanked.
Ormond School had a few students affected but it was "no big deal".
Te Karaka Preschool supervisor Diana Trafford said the power went out when the accident happened, so their landline did not work.
"There were some worried parents who couldn't get to their children but thanks to mobile phones we were able to communicate.
She was impressed with the police.
"It was really cool — we had police come to us and let us know what was going on."
A staff member who was in the queue that stretched north as far as Nisbett's Dip said there was no communication while in line.
She was in line for three hours and would have turned back to work if she had known it would be so long.
The Te Karaka mother who was one of the first on the scene joined the chorus of praise for the work of the people who responded.
"Fire, police, ambulance, power companies . . . everyone involved did an amazing job to get the road open."
Fire and Emergency NZ sent Te Karaka volunteers and Gisborne staff to the crash scene. St John ambulance attended.
Te Karaka chief fire officer Jamie Simpson said the passenger, aged in his 30s, was able to make his own way out.
"The driver, in his 60s, was still in the truck when we arrived. We assisted him out when the ambulance crew arrived."
The 63-year-old driver was admitted to hospital and to the intensive care unit with a chest injury, in a stable condition, a hospital spokesman said.
"The passenger was treated and discharged."
The crash took out a transformer power pole alongside the road and the power lines came down.
"It affected about 400 power customers in the Ormond, Te Karaka township area, and along the State Highway," said Eastland Network general manager Brent Stewart.
"We had 360 of them back on power supply by 3.15pm, and the rest by 4pm."
Mr Stewart said permanent repairs to the damaged pole would be carried out today.
A crane from C.R.Taylor Ltd was used to lift the truck and trailer on to transporters and the damaged rig was brought back to Gisborne.
Road contractors Downer loaded the spilled logs on to another truck for those to be taken away.
The highway was re-opened fully at 8.50pm, the New Zealand Transport Agency said.
Wonder what that is about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WND2YRrcfjE
Jundullah, message of peace:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-33tL5OJMc
I wonder what makes the Indonesians's so excited about the jihad and purity islamic state kind of stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSNcLW3LMnk
Philistine. freedom fighter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjI5zHIPrz0
Wonderful fighter:
Enjoy history and so forth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOWGnk9lTPs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYAU33h9JAQ
neaR 6 MILLION VIEWS, WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT DO WE GET.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amhLfE99mog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OcFheE1epw
Dawla Islamiyah
Digest this people's voice:
Sad story:
https://wsww.youtube.com/watch?v=JwTVO7V2UA4


I found myself in Jones's writing. Kentucky. Black. Rural. Woman. I was especially taken with how she drew characters from the oral storytelling tradition and then broadened that form into her own literary style. I saw Jones's act of making black speech the core of her work as revolutionary.


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21 Different Types of Horse Saddles
January 18, 2023 August 18, 2021 by Jamie
When people first began riding horses, they quickly discovered that having a spine between your legs isn't very comfortable. Blankets seemed to help a little, but these still posed a problem when it came to centering the rider's weight.
Then, around 200 BC, some horse enthusiasts in Asia developed the first saddle tree. The Samaritans further improved on this by developing the first known leather saddles in the 200s AD.
Today, there are a number of saddles, all designed for specific uses. Most are categorized into English and Western Saddles.
English saddles are thinner and lighter for use in shows and competitions, while Western saddles have a flatter seat and are designed for more comfort on long rides.
However, these aren't the only saddles out there, and there's plenty of variety worldwide. Here are 21 types of saddle and the types of task they're designed for.
Related: 13 Types of Barns (with Pictures)
Types of Horse Saddles
1. Australian Stock Saddle
2. Barrel Racing Saddle
3. Cutting Saddle
4. Double Seat Saddle
5. Dressage Saddle
6. Endurance Saddle
7. Hunting Saddle
8. Kura (Japanese Saddle)
9. Jumping Saddle
10. McClellan Saddle
11. Military Saddle
12. Pack Saddle
13. Pleasure Saddle
14. Police Saddle
15. Pony Saddle
16. Racing Saddle
17. Ranch Saddle
18. Reining Saddle
19. Roping Saddle
20. Side Saddle
21. Trick Saddle
Inspired by English saddles, these have a much closer similarity to western saddles. The deep seat, high pommel that may include a horn, and extra padding make the saddle more comfortable during long rides.
A strap over the saddle, known as an over girth, helps keep the rider secure. These saddles are used for a wide range of activities, from cattle ranching and trail rides to endurance competitions and even polocrosse.
The smallest and lightest among western saddles, the barrel racing saddle is designed to allow the horse maximum flexibility. It features a high, slim horn and more flexible fenders so the rider can keep his balance during sharp turns.
Meanwhile, its short skirt and front cinch cause minimal hindrance to the horse. The entire package is rounded out with a high cantle and deep seat.
One of the more versatile saddle types out there, the cutting saddle was designed primarily for cutting events but is popular among horse enthusiasts for their functionality.
The design features wide swells, flat seats, low cantles, double riggings, and slim stirrups. This allows the rider to keep better balance without hindering the horse, and can be very effective in penning, reining, and training.
See Also: 17 Types of Hammocks
As the name suggests, these saddles are perfect when looking to have a horse ride made for two. The single saddle has two pairs of stirrups and deep padded seats to allow for extra comfort.
Versions of these saddles can be found worldwide, although the western saddle variant only has one horn, while the others have two. Despite the romantic possibilities, double seat saddles are most commonly used for teaching children how to ride.
These deep-seated saddles are primarily used in flat-work competitions and are best suited for more advanced riders. The saddle provides for an upright torso and allows better leg contact for maneuvers thanks to the thin, lightweight straight flaps.
There is nothing more painful than using the wrong saddle for an endurance competition. These events can involve steep or rough terrain and often require the rider to travel as much as 100 miles in a day.
The endurance saddle thus has padded seats, deep stirrups, saddle strings, and single rigging. They're made to be lightweight and sturdy while providing maximum comfort.
Endurance saddles lack horns, but make it easy to attach saddle bags, making these specialty saddles popular among frequent trail riders.
These saddles are designed to push the rider's weight into the seat during plunging jumps, keeping the rider safe. They have a low cantle and pommels and are usually made of a durable leather.
During the Heian period, archers often fought from horseback. They had a type of saddle, known as a gunjingura that gave them a stable platform from which to draw their yumi (a Japanese bow). Other adaptations from the period included both functional and formal saddle designs.
Today, the word kura is used to describe any Japanese saddle, and can generally be classified into karagura (Chinese- style, popular during the Nara period) and yamatagura (Japanese-style, most common during the Heian period).
Modern kura are rare and more commonly seen in reenactments, as Japan began adopting other foreign styles of saddle for general use shortly before WWI.
These saddles resemble dressage saddles but have a slightly flatter seat and larger saddle flaps for more leg support.
The front is padded to protect the lower leg and add stability, while the seat design pushes the rider slightly forward to make it easier to use a two-point jumping position when vaulting fences.
First introduced to the US shortly in the 1850s, they became a staple of the US cavalry just prior to the Civil War. While not used today outside of exhibitions, the core design remains in use for US Army ceremonial mounts.
Based on the British Universal Pattern, these saddles were throughout the British Empire around the turn of the 20th Century.
The designs went through multiple iterations, with the Steep Arch Universal Pattern Mark I being the least popular and the Mark III having a flexible girthing system that made it compatible with a wide range of horses.
The Universal Military Saddle arrived in 1902 and became the most popular to date, being lightweight, easily repaired, and comfortable for both horse and rider.
The fixed tree was later supplanted by an adjustable one, and all versions of the military saddle included dees and stapes (stirrups) for carrying shoes, swords, and other important equipment.
A simple design, the pack saddle was popular when horse travel was common but is now fairly rare. These saddles are designed to provide support for luggage, such as heavy bags, rather than focusing on a rider.
Also often referred to as a trail saddle, these are more lightweight than most western saddles and have padded seats. They include saddle strings and are compatible with breast collars.
Unlike more specialized saddle types, pleasure saddles are available in a wide range of styles and colors.
Inspired by the English saddle, the police saddle adds a tree to make the horse more comfortable during long periods of riding, as well as to keep the rider more secure.
These saddles are similar to western saddles but have a smaller 12-inch seat. They're specifically designed for smaller or dwarf horses, such as Shetland or Welsh ponies and are often used for children's' pony rides.
Featuring a lightweight design, short stirrups, and a single girth strap, these saddles aren't meant for sitting on. Instead, the rider crouches over the saddle in a raised position.
The flaps are smaller for use in flat racing, but larger for racing saddles being used for events that include jumping.
These sturdy western saddles have more weight but are designed to provide improved comfort while spending the day working with cattle. The deep seat is matched with a high cantle and thick wrapped horn.
Its stirrups are set to allow the rider's legs to hang straight down, further reducing strain. These are perhaps the toughest of all western saddles, as well as the most reliable.
Read Also: 13 Types of Farming
Balance and control are keywords in reining events, and the reining saddle is designed to provide both. The forward-hung stirrups make fast stops easier, letting the rider lean further back in the seat without losing balance.
The low seats, cutout skirts, dropped rigging, and medium height for maximize control. As a result, these competition saddles are also often used in training.
Designed specifically for roping events, the roping saddle has a stronger tree than a trail saddle and a well-anchored horn to allow for cattle to be dallied to the saddle.
They usually have a suede or roughout seat to reduce the risk of sliding while still granting the rider plenty of movement.
Now mainly seen in shows and exhibitions, the side saddle was originally created to help women keep an air of decorum while riding in a skirt. The two-pommel design helps to hold the rider' legs in place, even when jumping or galloping.
Following a similar design to western saddles, the trick or stunt saddle includes a low front and back, double rigging, reinforced handholds, and tall metal horns. They keep the rider more secure during sharp turns or jumps.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Albert Edwin Hill –conocido como Bertie Hill– (Swimbridge, 7 de febrero de 1927-South Molton, 5 de agosto de 2005) fue un jinete británico que compitió en la modalidad de concurso completo.

Participó en tres Juegos Olímpicos de Verano entre los años 1952 y 1960, obteniendo una medalla de oro en Estocolmo 1956 en la prueba por equipos. Ganó cinco medallas en el Campeonato Europeo de Concurso Completo entre los años 1953 y 1955.

Palmarés internacional

Referencias

Jinetes del Reino Unido
Jinetes de concurso completo
Jinetes en los Juegos Olímpicos de Helsinki 1952
Jinetes en los Juegos Olímpicos de Melbourne 1956
Jinetes en los Juegos Olímpicos de Roma 1960
Medallistas olímpicos de oro de hípica
Medallistas olímpicos de oro del Reino Unido
Medallistas olímpicos de oro de Melbourne 1956

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/local-news/article/Art-takes-over-Barryton-Elementary-Friday-14180127.php
Art takes over Barryton Elementary Friday
Crossroads Charter Academy eighth-graders Megan Griswold (left) and Allison Dennis work together to sort and band together pairs of shoes for their shoe drive. (Pioneer photos/Meghan Gunther-Haas)
BARRYTON — Creativity was flowing through classrooms Friday at Barryton Elementary School, as students made drawings, painted pictures and constructed unique creations.
The school celebrated Art Day on early release day, with children spending the morning rotating to different rooms to learn about art and work on various projects. There were four rotations for younger children and four for the older students.
Teachers stayed in their classrooms, leading the children in rotations such as Matisse paper collage, Michelangelo "ceiling" painting and 3-D hand drawings. Students spent 30 minutes at each of the four activities.
The day was a fun way for the kids to express themselves, said Principal Amanda Kimball.
"Art is a creative outlet and just because we don't have art class, we still work it into the curriculum as much as possible," Kimball said. "Not all kids learn the same. Art is a good way to help some students learn."
Jill Talicska, first grade teacher, showed students how to draw a leprechaun, but also encouraged each to add their own special features.
She also had them sign their names on the front of their work.
"I'm going to ask you put your name in the corner because you are an artist and that's what artists usually do," Talicska said.
In fourth grade teacher Leah Werner's rotation, students received a brief introduction to Henri Matisse, a French artist, known for his colorful works of art.
After showing examples of his pieces, students worked to cut up scrap paper, gluing the pieces to make their own masterpieces.
Using brown, red and white scraps, Cameron Tuttle constructed a volcano during the Matisse paper collage segment.
"This white piece is going to be the smoke and it's going to pop off the page," he said.
Others students created pictures of cats, swings, forests, beaches and more.
While many of the rotations were hands-on, a session set up in the library was more about observation and discussion.
The library was turned into an art gallery, using pictures on boards borrowed from Art Reach of Mid Michigan in Mount Pleasant.
"Mary Karcher, a former kindergarten teacher, brought in the pieces," Kimball said. "Everything from 'The Starry Night' to pieces by Norman Rockwell was available for the kids to check out. It was a day of neat exposure to so many artists and topics."
Police: Arsonist torches 'Halloween House' in Poughkeepsie


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To Prevent FGM, Punish Parents Who Let It Happen: NGO Report
A separate law to curb FGM would be best under the circumstances, says a new report.(Illustration: Susnata Paul/The Quint)
Urmi Bhattacheryya Updated: 24.05.17
Women 3 min read
"...A separate law to curb this (FGM) would be best under the circumstances."
So said a new report filed by Speak Out On FGM – a group of FGM survivors – and Lawyers Collective – a human rights NGO. The report, titled 'Female Genital Mutilation – A Guide to Eliminating the Practice of FGM in India' has advocated ways to "Recognise, Act Against and Stop the Heinous Practice".
Here's what Indira Jaising, Senior Advocate of Supreme Court said:
(Photo: The Quint)
And here's what Masooma Ranalvi, Convenor, Speak Out on FGM, had to say:
The report comes just days after Maneka Gandhi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, said:
The report seems to agree, as it stresses that,
"While existing laws like the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO can deal with FGM, there would be need for amendments and definition of FGM would have to be included. Also other provisions for relief, rehabilitation and protection are needed, hence a separate law to curb this act would be best under the circumstances."
Here are some important takeaways from the report that you need to know:
Snapshotclose
The detailed report is 57 pages long and was prepared for over 6 months.
It not only explores the physical and psychological trauma to the girl child, but also the social aspect – how opposing the practice makes many in the community fear ostracism.
It recommends that the definition of FGM – as provided in the joint statement by WHO/UNFPA/UNICEF, which is comprehensive and covers all the types of FGM practised by different communities across the world – be adopted: "All procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons."
It recommends a time period of three years within which one can report an incident of FGM.
Since it is primarily the parents within the Bohra community who take their daughters to 'cutters', they should be the first category of perpetrators who may be held accountable and penalised, followed by 'traditional cutters' or, in some cases, 'medical professionals'.
It recommends measures to prevent the practice – which include providing a helpline and conducting awareness programmes in schools.
"The Bohra community is clearly divided on the issue of FGM, but today there are large numbers of men and women who agree with our views on FGM," says Masooma Ranalvi. (Photo: Reuters)
When The Quint reached out to Masooma about the report and what she expects to be the next course of action, here's what she had to say:
The Bohra community is clearly divided on the issue of FGM. But today there are large numbers of men and women who agree with our views on FGM – and even though they may not openly support us, they are silently very happy that the Maneka Gandhi has taken such a positive stand against FGM and has strongly condemned the practice. With the support of the government, the need is to create an awareness in the community of the ill-effects of FGM and the fact that it violates the rights of a girl child.
Masooma also expressed hope that the "Syedna saab will issue directives asking Bohras not to practise khatna –similar to the resolutions in the Western countries asking Bohras not to practise khatna as it violates the laws of the land there."
"A law will certainly be a definitive moment in our battle against FGM," asserts Masooma.
First Published: 24.05.17
Follow our Women section for more stories.


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Q: Choice of data types when passing a Table Valued Parameter (TVP) from C# to SQL Server stored procedure Problem: documentation for System.Data.DataColumn.DataType Property lists a paltry selection of datatypes and adds that it's possible to define a column as a different data type:

Although it is possible to define a column as data type other than the base .NET Framework data types and Byte[], such a column will be treated as a user-defined type, subject to the following usage restrictions (for more information on user-defined types, see Creating and Using User-Defined Types).

I can't seem to find this Creating and Using User-Defined Types documentation.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Please note, I'm not looking for a work around or advice on how to deal with this limitation. Just want to find how MS wants us to define custom data types in datatables.
For reference, a similar question: SQL Geometry Type can't be used in System.data.datatable

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Fuatino begins U.S.P. journey
04 February 2017, 12:00AM
Students who turned up at the University of the South Pacific's (U.S.P.) Faculty of Business and Economics (F.B.E.) orientation on 1 February, 2017 gave their testimonials on how they chose the University as their tertiary education provider.
Among them was Fuatino Vaiaouauli, 19, from Samoa.
She said it was not easy leaving her family behind.
"This is my first time in Fiji and although I look forward to new friends here I really miss my family back home," she said.
"I know I will get used to being away from them so I need to work hard.
"They have very high hopes for me and I will not disappoint them," she said.
She said in Samoa there are a lot of U.S.P. alumni working for government and N.G.O's and she hoped that one day she would share their experience and join them too.
"I am the first one in my family to attend U.S.P. and I want to make them proud eventually," she noted.
Akuila Vunidravo, a staff of iTaukei Land Trust Board (T.L.T.B.) enrolled as a part-time student after having graduated from the Fiji National University with a Diploma in Land Use Planning.
Mr. Vunidravo said he decided to do his degree at U.S.P. after hearing so much about the quality of the University's programmes.
"Many of my friends have told me that if we graduate here at U.S.P. we can get a job anywhere in the world and that is a great opportunity that I would love to explore," he relayed.
Mr. Vunidravo said he wanted to do a degree in Land Management and he was sure he would not regret coming to U.S.P.
"I want to pursue my career because most of the stuff we deal with at work is in regards to land. I carry out a lot of evaluation exercises and I liaise a lot with landowners.
"I am confident that I will benefit greatly from this programme and it will help me understand my work much better," he stated.
Nineteen-year-old Kia Williams said she looked forward to exploring the new environment.
"I chose U.S.P. because of the relevance of its courses and programmes which I do not see anywhere else and I am looking forward to a head start," she said.
"It is so different from high school and I am loving it already," said the former student of St Joseph Secondary School.
"I have enrolled into the Bachelor of Commerce programme majoring in Accounting and Finance. I have always wanted to become an Accountant and this is an opportune time for me to pursue this dream of mine," she said.
Temboa Tibuuarate, 20 of Kiribati said U.S.P. sounded exciting and interesting.
"I guess the one thing I am excited about apart from everything else is the fact that there is a diversity of cultures here at USP and I am looking forward to learning from that," Mr. Tibuuarate said.


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The Pax Terra
AuthorKenneth Tam
Few people realize the greatest threat faced by the Earth Empire during the period of the Martian War came not from without, but within. As efforts at peace led towards the signing of an official treaty with Mars, political operators loyal to Emperor Luther Gregory III began to make moves to displace the elected government, and to discredit Defense Command. Second Lord of the Admiralty Daragh Ryan, Rear Admiral Ken Barron, and Commodores Marshal Samuels and Karen McMaster had to block these moves… without starting a coup that could destroy the Empire before the long-awaited 'Pax Terra' could begin.
Available as part of the omnibus 2234: Victory From Peace.
Series The Martian War - 15
EISBN 978-1-926817-27-9
Published 2012-01-01 (ebook) 2016-07-01 (print)
Since the departure of Gabriel Pope, one of the greatest frustrations Daragh Ryan had been facing was communication with the Prime Minister's Office. There were a number of reasons for that difficulty, not least the fact that the media had caught Pope's Chief of Staff, Murt Sergeant, marrying a seventeen-year-old Mexican girl. And had uncovered the fact that she was the sixty-four-year-old's fourth wife. Concurrently.
That means four at once.
Now, strictly speaking, there are no limits to the number of spouses a person can have – it's not the government's place to tell you how many anniversaries you're going to forget – but since the war news was winding down, this little scandal was basically undermining the man's ability to do his job.
Not that Murt had been great at it. I don't even know how Pope ended up with that guy at his right hand, and perhaps I don't want to know… but he had, and now he was causing great complications.
Because while Marshal and Mel were practicing ways to kill people with the
Ha, did it again!
And while Kris was getting back aboard Lion and beginning to figure out her crew, the folks at PMO were keeping tabs on their counterparts in Olivia Bennington's office… and they'd discovered a crucial piece of information about the Deputy PM's plans (and by extension, the plans of the Emperor).
But that news was sitting on Murt's desk while he tried to avoid questions about the sordid messages he and his new bride had swapped from her school computer (not going anywhere near the details of that particular story).
The good news, if you can call it that, was that just before he'd left for Mars, Pope had appointed a new Deputy Chief of Staff for Earth Affairs, and that fellow was a bit of a political wonderkid. Two degrees, lots of experience on campaigns, and more enthusiasm than could be contained by a modest black hole.
And this kid, realizing that his boss was preoccupied with offers to appear on the Geraldine Coilier show, took the file and walked it over to Admiralty House himself.
It was the first time he'd been there, and he made an impression. You can see it on the security camera feeds, actually – he walks into the lobby wearing his black-on-black suit, strides up to the reception counter that has eternally been operated by Gerald and Betty, hands over his Parliamentary ID and asks to see Daragh Ryan immediately.
And Gerald and Betty both look at him, and his ID, and assume it has to be fake.
Because you have to appreciate that the wonderkid was only twenty-one, and he only looked sixteen. But they scanned his pass, checked the security files, realized that the precocious fellow was who he said he was, and then called the Second Lord.
That is how the first meeting occurred between batshit insane Second Lord of the Admiralty Daragh Ryan, and completely unhinged Deputy Chief of Staff Schwartz T. Babcock.
Yes, the Schwartz T. Babcock. You really think more than one set of parents would have punished their child with such a name? Not since Victorian times, at least…
Daragh's mood had been in freefall since Kris had gone into orbit – our Aussie skipper had done her best, but the realities of an impending coup tended to bring everyone's morale down. As such, the Irishman was in no way ready for the effervescent attack that Schwartz was about to unleash.
Sitting behind his desk with his shotgun in his lap, the Second Lord wore a deep scowl as he watched the young staffer come in.
"You're a politico."
"And you hate political people," Schwartz said with a big smile. "I look forward to changing your mind, Second Lord. My name is Schwartz T. Babcock, and I represent the Prime Minister's Office."
Daragh's glare could probably have shattered glass, but Schwartz didn't so much as blink.
"This better be something important," the Second Lord said eventually, and Schwartz nodded as he held up the file he'd brought with him.
"It is. Let's go on a journey, you and I…"
Uninvited, he took the seat opposite Daragh and opened the file, then turned it in the Irishman's direction.
"We know when Bennington's going to call the confidence vote. She's making the next ways and means confidence, and it's going before the House and the Senate at 5:00 and 5:30 on Friday evening."
That actually was useful news, and as much as Daragh might have trouble with Schwartz's manner, he wasn't going to be petty.
"Shit, I was hoping you were actually going to justify me grabbing you by your stupid collar and throwing you out of here," he muttered, leaning forward to take a look at the report.
Of course, we should at this point turn to a discussion of the significance of a Friday confidence vote, since it was now late on Tuesday, and Marshal was due to arrive on Thursday, but instead Schwartz seized upon the banter. And I can't not go with it.
"You're the second person to criticize my choice of clothing," he said, and Daragh frowned and looked up.
"Murt Sergeant criticizes it too. He thinks it suits me because I'm an 'obnoxious fucktard'. Tells everyone who'll listen that I am."
Not kidding. Daragh just stared, at this point entirely confused by the conversation.
"He calls his Deputy Chief of Staff that? Publicly?" the Irishman had to ask.
"Every day," Schwartz nodded, still wearing a political smile. "I die a little bit inside every time I hear it."
Daragh stared for another few seconds, then just shook his head and looked down at the file, "Well don't mind him, he's just worried someone's in his office who's going to take his job."
"And maybe his wife. Seventeen isn't too young for me, and from some of the things I've overheard she's very exuberant."
Daragh stopped reading for a minute, looked up, then looked down again, "I can already tell you're going to hell when you die."
Schwartz nodded, not missing a beat, "I'm glad we're laying the foundations for a great friendship now, since we're going to spend so much time together there."
As you can see, Schwartz was pretty much the same in these early days as he is now. He's either a talented performer, a sociopath, a politician… or maybe all three.
Daragh couldn't help but laugh, and then he shook his head, "You are obnoxious. But you're too fucking smart. Now please stop chattering and tell me what else. Friday vote?"
Switching back to the topic at hand, Schwartz leaned forward and glanced at the file as well, "They could have picked any day for that vote, but they chose Friday. And that's a bad sign."
"They know Marshal is on his way?" the Second Lord asked, and Schwartz nodded.
"We're pretty certain someone in Cavanaugh's office leaked that fact – and that he'll be here Thursday. So they know we're playing our biggest card on Thursday, and they still set the vote for Friday," the Deputy Chief of Staff confirmed.
Now we can go ahead and explain some things. When MP Leslie Cavanaugh had decided to send her Chief of Staff to collect Marshal Samuels and bring him back, the mission was supposed to be secret… but of course she'd told the Prime Minister's Office, and the PM's staff had told Daragh.
No one else was supposed to know, but it was Capital Island: word was inevitably going to slip out.
Now it had, and that meant that Olivia Bennington was aware of the threat to her plans to bring down the government… but she wasn't doing anything to preempt the threat. She could have called a snap confidence vote whenever she wanted to – the House Leader was one of her acolytes – but she hadn't.
She knew Marshal was coming, and she was going to let him have a crack at her Belt caucus, without whom she was stuffed.
Thinking about this interesting turn of events, Daragh immediately came up with two possible reasons for the confusing decision.
"Either Olivia is getting cold feet, and doesn't plan to take us down at all… or she has some other method for keeping Commodore Samuels away from the Belt caucus." Of course Schwartz had come to the same conclusion, and as the Deputy Chief of Staff voiced the possibilities, Daragh's frown got even deeper.
"Option one means we don't have to worry. Option two means she might try to stop him getting to ground. And that would take some sort of intervention that might qualify as unconstitutional…" the Irishman began thinking aloud.
He was implying that she'd have some sort of force attempt to keep Marshal from reaching Capital Island… and indeed, that was a big concern.
Schwartz nodded, "If she tries anything, it would give us latitude to do a bunch of different things. But in the short term, could be dangerous… if she catches us by surprise, stops him and no one notices until after a confidence vote, things could become very complicated. We'd be in the right but public perception could be very skewed."
He was, of course, completely correct. Imagine for a moment that Marshal and Mel tried to take a shuttle down to Capital Island, but their craft was diverted to Halifax by an unknown signal, and when they landed they found themselves surrounded by Imperial blockheads who in turn took them quietly into custody until after the vote.
Now, that would be illegal, and the logical thing would be for the Imps to kill them to hide the evidence, but Marshal's profile was too high. So what if they released him just after the vote, when a new PM was installed by the Governor General, and a new inquiry into Defense Command was mounted.
Then anything Marshal did to object – even if he had proof – would be cast into at least some doubt. A case could be made that he was inventing an illegal act to try to discredit the body that was mounting an inquiry into his (and all of our) activities. Public perception would be tangled up, and the legitimacy of the government unclear.
See? Messy.
Now, obviously, if blockheads tried to capture Marshal and Mel, they'd all be killed when Mel used her special quantum attack. And recall that both of them were being trailed by another superspy, Camila Barrai, so it would be 100 blockheads against two spies. Those Imps wouldn't just be dead, somehow they never would have been born… okay, I know, I'm over-doing it. But yes, it wouldn't be so easy for Marshal to be captured… but nobody knew that, because Mel was still under cover.
There were other complications too, which I'll get into later, but for now suffice to say that the possibility of a threat to the Belt Two team seemed quite real.
And Daragh was going to have to figure out what to do about it.
Fortunately, there was a frigate in orbit with a very trustworthy skipper aboard.
"Schwartz, I think I have an answer," the Second Lord declared as he thought of Kris.
"Daragh, I'm very proud of you. Would you like to share your idea, or would you like me to tell you that Captain Jacobs aboard Lion would be a valuable resource under the present circumstances?"
I'm really surprised Daragh didn't shoot the Prime Minister's Deputy Chief of Staff, but hey, that's Schwartz for you. He's never going to hell, because the day the grim reaper shows up, he'll talk the guy not only into voting for him, but into putting a 'Vote Schwartz' button on his robe. And maybe making a small donation to the next campaign.
I can just imagine that conversation…


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Raymond Thiry (born 29 September 1959) is a Dutch actor. He has appeared in more than eighty films since 1994.

Filmography

Prizes
 2015 - ShortCutz Amsterdam Annual Award, Best Actor for A MAN FALLS FROM THE SKY

External links

References

1959 births
Living people
Dutch male film actors
Dutch male actors
20th-century Dutch male actors
21st-century Dutch male actors


I have one little issue with the Airpods that they don't remain in my ears super safely. I can stroll around with them fine yet in the event that I hurried to get a prepare in the tram or simply keep running with them as a rule, I feel them begin to slip out and need to back off. When I got one bud as it dropped out of my ear.
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text:
Kruze by Enzo
Men's Beige Slim Fit Chinos
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If you decide that an item is unsuitable, or you change your mind, please feel free to send it back to us within 14 days of purchase, in their original condition, unworn with the tags still attached. Your returned parcel is your responsibility until it reaches us, therefore, please keep the proof of postage. We recommend using Royal Mail recorded service. We cannot accept responsibility for lost parcels. Unfortunately, we are unable to refund delivery charges or postage costs for items that are unsuitable or doesn't fit.
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Men - Key Measurements
Collar - Measure around the neck at the base where the shirt fits
Chest - Measure around fullest part
Sleeve - Measure from shoulder to end of the cuff
Tops, Knitwear & Casual Jackets
To fit chest (cms) 76-81 81-86 86-91 91-96 96-101 101-106 106-111 111-116 116-121
(inches) 30-32 32-34 34-36 36-38 38-40 40-42 42-44 44-46 46-48
Jeans, Trousers, Shorts & Swimwear
26" 28" 29" 30" 31" 32" 33" 34" 36" 38" 40"
66 71 73.5 76 78.5 81 83.5 86 91 96 101
Jeans & Trousers Inside Leg Length
Short Regular Long
Collar (inches/cm)
14.5"/37cm 15"/38cm 15.5"/40cm 16"/41cm 16.5"/42cm 17"/43cm 17.5"/45cm
Chest (inches/cm)
36"/92cm 38"/98cm 40"/102cm 42"/107cm 44"/112cm 46"/117cm 48"/122cm
Short (S)
Regular (R)
Long (L)
165 - 170cm (5ft 5ins - 5ft 7ins) 173 - 178cm (5ft 8ins - 5ft 10ins) 180 - 185cm (5ft 11ins - 6ft 1ins)
XS 37"/86cm 46
S 38"/96cm 48
M 40"/101cm 52
L 42"/106cm 52
XL 44"/111cm 54
XXL 46"/116cm 56
To fit chest (cms) 91 96 102 107 112 117 122 127 132
(ins) 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52
To fit waist (cms) 76 81 89 91 96 107 112 117 122
Brand sizing
Alpha 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Amplified 36 38 40 42 44
Animal 35/37 38/40 41/43 44/46 47/49
Base 2=36 3=38 4=40 5=42 6=44
Ben Sherman 36 39 42 45 48 51
Bench 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Berghaus 36/38 39/41 42/44 45/47 48/50
Burberry 36 38 40 42 44
Calvin Klein 36 38 40 42 44
Criminal 36 38 40 42 44
Diesel 36 38 40 42 44
Drunkn Munky 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Duck & Cover 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Duffer 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Ecko 35/37 38/40 41/43 44/46 47/49 50/52
Fenchurch 38 40 42 44 46
Firetrap 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Fred Perry 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
French Connection 38 40 42 44 46
Full Circle 36 38 40 42 44
Gas 36 38 40 42 44
Gio Goi 38 40 42 44
G Unit 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Helly Hansen 36/38 39/41 42/44 45/47 48/50
Henleys 2=36 3=38 4=40 5=42 6=44
Hilfiger 36 38 40 42 44
Kickers 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Lambretta 38 40 42 44 46
Levi 36 38 40 42 44
One True Saxon 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
O'Neill 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Peter Werth 2=36/38 3=38/40 4=40/42 5=42/44 6=44/46
Polo 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Pringle 36 38 40 42 44
Replay 36 38 40 42 44
Ringspun 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Rocawear 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Rockport 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Rock and Republic 8=26 10=28 12=30 14=32
Schott 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Scotch & Soda 36 38 40 42 44
Sonneti 36 38 40 42 44
Superdry 36 38 40 42 44
Ted Baker 2=36/38 3=38/40 4=40/42 5=42/44 6=44/46
Teddy Smith 36 38 40 42 44
Timberland 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Trespass 35/37 38/40 41/43 44/46 47/49
Urban Stone 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Voi 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
Wrangler 36/38 38/40 40/42 42/44 44/46
3 35.5 4 220
7.5 41 8.5 258
8.5 42.5 9.5 266
9.5 44 10.5 275
10 44.5 11 279
10.5 45 11.5 283


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And the Murder of Lord Darnley
By Alison Weir
Biography & Memoir / History
Bestselling historian Alison Weir turns her attention to Mary, Queen of Scots and one of the great mysteries of the 16th century.
On the night of 10 February 1567 an explosion devastated the Edinburgh residence of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. The noise was heard as far away as Holyrood Palace, where Queen Mary was attending a wedding masque. Those arriving at the scene of devastation found, in the garden, the naked corpses of Darnley and his valet. Neither had died in the explosion, but both bodies bore marks of strangulation. It was clear that they had been murdered and the house destroyed in an attempt to obliterate the evidence. Darnley was not a popular king-consort, but he was regarded by many as having a valid claim to the English throne. For this reason Elizabeth I had opposed his family's longstanding wish to marry him to Mary Stuart, who herself claimed to be the rightful queen of England. Alison Weir's investigation of Darnley's murder is set against one of the most dramatic periods in British history. Her conclusions will shed a brilliant new light on the actions and motives of the conspirators and, in particular, the extent of Mary's own involvement.
Also by Alison Weir
The Captive Queen and Eleanor of Aquitaine
Love Mary Queen of Scots? Subscribe to Read More to find out about similar books.


text:
We are committed to ensuring our corporate structure and workplace reflect our respect for diversity and inclusion (D&I).
"Our success begins with ensuring every employee feels welcomed and has equal access to opportunities."
Nils Bolmstrand
CEO, Nordea Asset Management (NAM)
What does D&I mean to me?
Our staff members share their views on D&I at NAM
"I like the fact that all NAM employees are invited to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive NAM by getting involved in one or several D&I key initiatives. I am looking forward to bringing my own personal values into this. Specifically, I would love to create a working parents group to ensure that working parents embrace their identity as parents and benefit from the learnings of being a parent in their careers."
Anne Oberbillig
"I am looking forward to joining this initiative and to contribute sharing the values of Nordea, and our Nordic identity across NAM and especially outside of Scandinavian locations, by helping our people to feel that Nordea is the best work place for them, where they can feel welcome, heard, respected and valued."
Estelle Schieck
"If you are passionate about sustainability and want to make an impact on addressing climate change issues, working in the Asset Management area might not be the first one you consider. We need to change that perception as the financial sector is the centre of this massive climate transition. My wish is to enrich NAM's inclusive culture and help making it the best workplace for top talents".
Remus Puspan
"I have also been very fortunate to work in highly diverse teams where I found that being able to come just as you are allowed for high levels of creativity and collaboration. I was thrilled to see NAM launch an ambitious D&I agenda last year and volunteered in one of the initiatives that is close to me."
Elisabeth Van Sante
Present in 18 countries
Women in leadership positions
No gender should exceed 60% representation on any level of hierarchy
Diversity & Inclusion is a vital part of our corporate DNA. Our governance structure reflects this reality and it is embraced at the highest levels within the company.
D&I Highlights
Internal Ambassadors
Our D&I ambassadors work to enhance NAM's culture through initiatives aimed at empowering employees and increasing their involvement.
Annual Employee Survey
Our D&I Survey is a culture assessment of staff's personal values as well as current and desired company values. The survey allows staff to contribute to an even more inclusive, faire and better place to work.
Inclusive Job Ads
Because language can be biased, NAM utilises a software that scans our job ads to ensure they cater to all prospective employees in a neutral, unbiased way.
NAM Mentorship Programme
A two-tracked mentorship programme for a diverse group of people with the desire of advancing further either as a specialist or in a leader role. The programme aims to support the participants personal and professional development through mentoring.
Unconscious Bias Awareness Training
Unconscious biases can be a huge setback in creating a truly diverse and inclusive workplace and can also impact business activities. Therefore, all teams in NAM are required to participate in an Unconscious Bias Awareness training session.
Credentials & Partnerships
Nordea supports Pride
We are part of a larger organization which is also committed to the D&I agenda


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text:
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Adult Lit: The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton
Tween Tuesday: The Invisible Order: Rise of the Da...
Library Programs: Teen Read-A-Thon
YA Movie News: Peeta and Gale
Congrats to Lenore!!
Happy Blogoversary To Me!!
I Love Kelly Day
Happy Release Day Wither!
Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith
Tween Tuesday: Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
My Top Five Printz Books
Bloggers on the YALSA Ballot
Fun Children's Lit Links for your Saturday Morning...
Jennifer Lawrence Is Katniss
Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
Author Interview: Lindsey Leavitt
Tween Tuesday: Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer Hol...
Close to a Katniss?
Library Programs: Skype Book Club
Adult Lit: What Happens in London by Julia Quinn
Clarity by Kim Harrington PLUS Giveaway
Tween Tuesday: Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Fabulous Films for Young Adults
Blog Tour: Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney PLUS Intervi...
Judging a Book By It's Cover
Retro Review: The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsle...
Tween Tuesday: Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm...
-Twentieth Century Fox picked up the rights to the upcoming YA novel Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. The novel will be published in November by HarperTeen. The story is a romantic thriller about a teen who can kill people with her touch. Thanks to Cynopsis Kids for the news.
-Summit Entertainment picked up the rights to Veronica Roth's debut, Divergent. The book will be published in May by HarperCollins.
-The Last Apprentice Series by Joseph Delaney is being adapted by Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures and could possibly be a film franchise. The movie is based on the first book in the series, Revenge of the Witch, but is now being called The Seventh Son. Julianne Moore has been cast to play Mother Malkin, an evil witch, and Jeff Bridges is set to play Master Gregory, mentor to the young apprentice.
-A Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters movie could be in the works. The film is in very early stages, but stay hopefully Percy fans-there may be more coming to the big screen.
Labels: YA Movie News
Rummanah Aasi March 25, 2011 at 10:25 AM
I'm amazed how some books get movie offers before they are even published! I'll say a little prayer that the adaptations are good.
I have no idea how they can make the next Percy Jackson movie because they completely butchered the series's story arc! I so disappointed with "The Lightening Thief"!
GreenBeanTeenQueen March 25, 2011 at 10:41 AM
I know-so many books are being picked up even before they're released!
And I was surprised about the Sea of Monsters news too-they wrote out any possible way of making a sequel and I don't know how they would do it.
Asamum March 27, 2011 at 6:50 AM
Is it named something different in the States as Joseph Delaney is The Spooks series in the UK? They fly off the shelves in the school library so I would love a movie of those :D
GreenBeanTeenQueen March 27, 2011 at 6:03 PM
Asamum-Yes, in the states they're known as the Last Apprentice series, but same thing. They're popular at my library too!


text:
CCS Insight Recognised with Two Awards
In June 2008, the Institute of Industry Analyst Relations (IIAR) announced its awards for industry analysts. CCS Insight was honoured in two categories: Analyst Firm of the Year and Communications and Networking Analyst of the Year.
We took tenth place in the global Analyst Firm of the Year award, competing with over 100 rivals, including the biggest names in the industry. Ben Wood, CCS Insight's director of research, beat some notable figures in the mobile community to come second in the section dedicated to communications and networking analysts.
Nominations and votes for the IIAR awards come from a survey of more than 100 analyst relations practitioners worldwide. Respondents were asked who they felt were the best individuals and most important and relevant firms in the analyst world.
CCS Insight's strong performance in the IIAR ratings occurs just two years after the company rebranded and set its sights on becoming a major force in the mobile and wireless analysis industry.
Full results of the awards are on the IIAR's Web site here.
CCS Insight launches new Web site, Hotline Research Portal and Blog CCS Insight Launches Consulting Practice


text:
Immune System, part 2: Crash Course A&P #46
YouTube: https://youtube.com/watch?v=2DFN4IBZ3rI
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In the penultimate episode of Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology, Hank explains your adaptive immune system. The adaptive immune system's humoral response guards extracellular terrain against pathogens. Hank also explains B cells, antibodies, and how vaccines work.
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Adaptive Immune System's Humoral Response 1:19
How B Cells Mature, Identify Antigens, and Make Antibodies 2:42
How Antibodies Warm Pathogens and Mark Them for Death 5:22
Active and Passive Humoral Immunity 6:03
How Vaccines Work 6:27
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Hank: What's true in World of Warcraft is also true in your immune system: to defeat your enemy, you have to know your enemy; uncover its weaknesses; learn how to see it before it sees you.
We've already talked about how your innate defense system keeps out or quietly neutralizes pathogens without too much fuss, but sooner or later a threat's going to come along that's stronger than what the first responders can handle. That's when it's time for the adaptive, or acquired immune system to step in.
While your innate system takes its zero-tolerance policy very seriously and tries to toast any foreign microbe that it encounters, your adaptive system does things differently. It has to be expressly introduced to a specific pathogen and recognize it as a threat before it will attack.
As its name suggests, you're not born with a working adaptive immune system. It's slow to act, in part because it takes time to shake hands with so many pathogens and get to know them. These introductions may be organic, like touching a dirty faucet in the bathroom or walking into a sneeze cloud, or they may be premeditated, which is why vaccination is pretty much the greatest thing to happen to medicine ever.
But once it's been introduced to a potential threat, your adaptive defenses never forget it, and this ability to remember specific pathogens is one of the key differences between the adaptive and innate defenses.
Another main difference is that adaptive immunity is systemic. Rather than being restricted to a particular infection in say, a sinus or a sliced finger, your adaptive system can fight throughout your whole body at once. And it does this by deploying one or both of its separate but cooperating defenses: your humoral immunity and your cellular defenses.
Your humoral immunity, which you might not have heard of before, works by dispatching important proteins that I'm sure you have head of: antibodies. They're made by special white blood cells and they patrol the body's humors, or fluids, like blood and lymph, where they combat viruses and bacteria moving around the interstitial space between your cells.
Much of what you know or have heard about or think of when your immune system comes up actually has to do with your humoral immunity. It's why if you had mumps as a kid, you probably don't have to worry about getting it again for the rest of your life. It's also why doctors and nurses and patients who have been infected with the Ebola virus, a disease once thought to be incurable, have lived to tell about it. And it's why vaccinations work.
Whether you're protecting yourself from infections or playing an MMO, the first steps in any good defensive strategy is to be able to tell your friend from your foe. And in the case of your immune system, that means being able to identify antigens. An antigen could be an invader from the outside world, like a bacterium, virus, or fungus, or it could be a toxin or a diseased cell within your own body. But in any case, antigens are large signaling molecules not normally found in the body, and they act as flags that get the adaptive immune system riled up.
So let's say a flu virus gets inside you, and it's floating around trying to find a good host cell to start multiplying inside of. Before it finds that cell, hopefully it will be paid a visit by one of the stars of your humoral response: a b-lymphocyte. Like all blood cells, these guys originate in your bone marrow. But unlike other white blood cells, they also mature in the bone marrow too. And as a B cell matures, it develops the ability to determine friend from foe, developing both immuno-competence, or how to recognize and bind to a particular antigen, as well as self-tolerance, or knowing how to not attack your body's own cells.
Once it's fully mature, a b-lymphocyte displays at least 10,000 special protein receptors on its surface. These are its membrane-bound antibodies. All b-lymphocytes have them, but the cool thing is every individual lymphocyte has its own unique antibodies, each of which is ready to identify and bind to a particular kind of antigen. That means that with all of your b-lymphocytes together, it's like having 2 million keys on your immune system's key chain, each of which can only open one door.
So part of your immune system's strategy is just to win with overwhelming odds. The more unique antibodies your lymphocytes have, the more likely it is that one will eventually find, bind to, and mark a particular antigen.
Once they're matures, B cells colonize, or seed your secondary lymphoid organs like your lymph nodes and start roaming around in your blood and lymph. At this point they're still naive and untested, and they won't be truly activated until they meet their perfect enemy match, which brings us back to the flu virus.
When the right B cell finally bumps into an antigen it has antibodies for (usually in a lymph node or in the spleen) and recognizes it, it binds to it. This summons the full power of the humoral immune response and the cell basically goes into berserker mode. Once activated, the B cell starts cloning itself like crazy, quickly producing an army of similar cells, all with the instructions for the exact same antibodies that are designed to fight that one particular antigen. Most of these clones become active fighters, or effector cells, but a few become long-lived memory cells that preserve the genetic code for that specific successful antibody.
This ensures that if and when the antigen returns, there will be a prepared, secondary immune response that's both stronger and faster than the first. This is key to why vaccinations are so brilliant and important, which I'll come back to in a minute.
But while the memory cells are just there to hang back and record things, the effector, or plasma cells are packed with extra amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum, which acts as an antibody factory. These cells can mass-produce the same antibodies over and over for that particular invader, spitting them out into the humor at a rate of around 2,000 antibodies per second for four or five days until they die. And the antibodies they make work the same way that the membrane-bound ones do, they're just free-floating, so they ride the tides of blood and lymph, binding to all the antigens they can find and marking them for death.
Now antibodies can't really do the killing themselves, but they do have a few moves that can make it hard for intruders to take hold. One of their most effective and common strategies is neutralization, where antibodies physically block the binding sites on viruses or bacterial toxins so they can't hook up to your tissues. And because antibodies have more than one binding site, they can bind to multiple antigens at the same time in a process called agglutination. The resulting clumps can't get around easily, which makes it easier for macrophages to come and gobble them up. And not only that, but while all of this is going on, antibodies are also ringing a chemical dinner bell, calling in phagocytes from the innate immune system, and special lymphocytes from the adaptive system, to destroy these messy little antigen antibody clumps.
So the point of all of this in the short term is to keep you healthy, but in the long term, this process adds to your overall immunity. The humoral response allows your body to achieve immunity by encountering pathogens either randomly or on purpose. Active humoral immunity is what we were just talking about. It's when B cells bump into antigens and start cranking out antibodies. This can occur naturally, like when you catch the flu or get chicken pox, or pick up some nasty bacterial infection, or it can happen artificially, particularly through vaccination.
Most vaccines are made of a dead or extremely weakened pathogen, and they work on the premise that because a secondary immune response is more intense than a primary response, by introducing a pathogen into your body, you're priming it to fight hard and fast should that antigen show up again. In the case of typically non-fatal infections like the common flu, this immunity should at least spare you from some of the most severe symptoms. But in the case of more serious diseases like polio, small pox, measles, and whooping cough, vaccinations can be truly life-saving.
Now some antigens, like those from mumps or measles, don't really change much over time, so a few immunizations will leave you set for life. But others, like influenza, are constantly evolving and changing their surface antigens so immunity to last year's flu probably doesn't work against this year's flu.
Still, acquired immunity doesn't have to be active. Babies, for example, naturally obtain passive humoral immunity while still in the womb. They receive ready-made antibodies from their mothers through the placenta, and later on, through breast milk. And that works pretty well for a few months, but the protection is temporary because passively obtained antibodies don't live long in their new body, and they can't produce effector cells or memory cells, so a baby's own system won't remember an antigen if it gets infected again.
You can also acquire this kind of temporary passive immunity artificially, by receiving exogenous antibodies from the plasma of an immune donor. This is what recently saved some doctors and nurses who had contracted the Ebola virus from infected patients. A serum was made from the blood plasma of other medical workers who had been infected and survived. The antibodies helped defend the patients from the virus before their own active immunity could identify that particular antigen and start creating their own antibodies. It's not the same as a vaccine, which immediately engages your B cells, but it can buy a patient some crucial, life-saving time against an infection that would quickly kill.
But B cells and antibodies are only part of the equation. There are plenty of pathogens that quickly worm their way right inside your cells, where they're safer from the humor response and free to multiply as much as they'd like. Luckily, your immune system has yet another game plan, and a new set of players ready to fight that final battle with cell to cell combat.
Make sure you catch our final episode next week, and learn all about this epic battle royale.
But as for today, in our second to last episode, you learned how the adaptive immune system's humoral response guards your extra-cellular terrain against pathogens. We looked at how B cells mature, identify antigens, and make antibodies, and how antibodies swarm pathogens and mark them for death. We also talked about active and passive humoral immunity and how vaccines work.
Thank you to our headmaster of learning, Linnea Boyev, and thank you to all of our Patreon patrons. If you are one of those people I just thanked, you make Crash Course possible for the whole world and also for yourself. If you like Crash Course, and you want to help us make videos like this one, you can go to patreon.com/crashcourse.
This episode was filmed in the Doctor Cheryl C. Kinney Crash Course studio. It was written by Kathleen Yale. The script was edited by Blake de Pastino, and our consultant is Dr. Brandon Jackson. It was directed by Nicholas Jenkins, edited by Nicole Sweeney, our sound designer is Michael Aranda, and the graphics team is Thought Cafe.


We're hurrying to let you know that on 2nd of May 2015 there arrived another batch of terminals in the number of 120 items to the port of Abu Dhabi.
Despite of the terrible heat that had already come to the Emirates our specialists carefully unloaded the new terminals from the ship, checked their integrity and delivered them to our warehouse.
At the warehouse our specialists have made the technical checking of the terminals, tested them and already started installing of the necessary software to the machines.
All the terminals will soon be placed to the trade outlets and this will help us to widen the map of the installed NT.Payments kiosks.


text:
Four Arrested, Including Teen, After Casper Police Spot Alleged Drug Deal
Nick Learned
Natrona County Detention Center
Three people were arrested Saturday evening after a police officer saw what she believed to be a drug deal in a parking lot.
Scott D. Lamb, 20, was booked into jail on charges of interference and possession of marijuana.
Alaina D. Wright, 19, and Matthew R. Madden, 21, were each arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of hydrocodone.
A male teen was arrested, though the charges against him have not been released, as he is a juvenile.
Charging documents say a police officer was patrolling the area of Second Street and South McKinley at roughly 8 p.m. Saturday when she saw a maroon van, which she recognized from a previous incident which resulted in the arrest of a woman on a drug charge.
The officer drove the through the parking lot of Second Street Discount Liquors, where the van was parked, and saw Lamb walk from the van over to a blue truck, which was parked in front of Cold Stone.
Lamb allegedly shook hands with another man at the blue truck, then walked south on McKinley. The officer believed she had just witnessed a hand-to-hand drug deal, so she followed Lamb and tried to talk to him in the alley south of Cold Stone.
The officer got out of her car and said, "Hey man, can I talk to you for a minute?" Lamb looked back at the officer, then reportedly ran off down the alley. The officer yelled for Lamb to stop, but he kept running.
Though she chased him, the officer soon lost sight of Lamb. But it wasn't long before two other officers found Lamb hiding in the laundry room of a nearby apartment complex, where he was arrested.
Police confirmed Lamb was wanted in Mills for resisting arrest, no driver's license and possession of marijuana. Lamb declined to discuss what happened at the blue truck, and was taken to jail.
After the arresting officer dropped Lamb off at the jail, she was told that other officers had located the maroon van at Taco John's on F Street.
Police ended up speaking with the occupants of the van -- Wright, Madden two teenage juveniles -- in a parking lot. Wright reportedly said there was nothing illegal in the van, and gave police permission to search the vehicle.
According to the affidavit, police found a marijuana pipe, a scale with what appeared to be marijuana residue, a marble bowl with marijuana residue, seven hydrocodone pills, several pills of the muscle relaxant chlorzoxazone, a clear glass jar with a small amount of marijuana in the bottom, and a pair of sandwich baggies containing marijuana shake.
Wright told police that Madden and the two juveniles had recently picked her up from work. She said she was not in the van when Lamb allegedly ran from police. Wright reportedly denied using controlled substances, and said she didn't know anything about the drugs and paraphernalia allegedly found inside the van.
Wright was arrested and taken to jail.
Madden told police a man had picked him up at about 6:30 p.m. Wright was not in the van at that time, Madden said, but they picked her up shortly thereafter.
Madden also said he didn't know anything about the drugs and paraphernalia allegedly discovered by police. He later said they drugs belonged to Lamb, who Madden claimed he didn't know and was only giving him a ride to the liquor store.
Both juveniles initially lied about their names. One of the teens gave an incorrect birthdate three different times before police discovered her true identity, while the other teen only admitted his real name after police told him he was going to jail.
Since he is a juvenile, the teen's name and charges have not been released.
The female teen was written a citation for drug possession, then released to her mother.
Filed Under: Arrest, Casper, marijuana, police, teen
Categories: Casper News, News, Wyoming News


September ends, but the cold weather is not a reason to be sad. After all, there are so many holiday events in Arinar to look forward for!
And today we announce "Hot weekend"! Only this weekend unique skill books, discounts and additional Guild Points will have a pleasant and heart-warming effect, so do not miss it!


text:
#ifndef __TEXTURE_H__
#define __TEXTURE_H__

#include <Magick++.h>
#include <GL/gl.h>
#include <GL/glu.h>

/**
 * @brief Loads a chessboard in a OpenGL list.
 */
GLuint loadTexture( const char * filename );

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
The 1999 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Louisiana Tech University as an independent during the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach Jack Bicknell Jr., the team compiled an 8–3 record.

Schedule

References

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football seasons
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football


You can hear tooth decay!
The tooth decay detective, "DIAGNOdent," is an instrument that reliably helps detect tooth decay early. This perfectly painless examination method indicates whether your child's teeth are healthy.
It is possible to discover tooth decay before it becomes visible or perceptible. And the earlier it's treated, the less serious the damage.


New Macbook Airs on Apple Web Site.
The Tech Spec's page hasn't been updated but the main paige has been. i5/i7 processors, Thunderbolt, backlight keyboard. All of the stuff that's been rumored.
Not sure about the internal storage options.


I made a simple abstract puzzle using cardboard and paint.
I used the scissors to get a rough size for the puzzle i wanted to make.
I drew out the shape of the puzzle i wanted to make.
I then cut out the puzzle using the crafting knife.
Then i cut out the individual shapes using the crafting knife. This took a while but doing before painting made sure if i made any mistakes i could fix them.
I then painted the entire puzzle with white paint so it would be easier for the colour paint to show up.
I then painted the puzzle with my desired design. I wanted to do an abstract design.
I took apart the puzzle before the paint was completely dry so that i could take it apart easier.


By Suzelle on Monday, April 25th, 2016, in Cooking.
I know what you're thinking. Suzelle!? How did you come up with such a wonderfully creative flavour combination? Well, I didn't.
It was the creative genius of my new friend Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen. He is a very talented and gorgeous South African chef who has his own restaurant in Nice (which you say like "niece" for those of you who don't know about French). He is the first South African ever to be awarded a Michelin Star! Wow.
Anyway. He visited my DIY studio and we made real magic together in the kitchen, which you can watch in the episode below. What a LOL we had!
P.S This is the most delicious smoothie you will ever drink.
1) Heat the oil in saucepan on medium high heat.
3) When the kernels pop, add the rest of the popcorn kernels in an even layer.
4) Pop on the lid, remove from heat and count 30 seconds.
5) Return the pan to the heat. The popcorn should begin popping soon, and all at once. 6) Once the popping starts, gently shake the pan by moving it back and forth over the burner.
7) Try to keep the lid slightly ajar to let the steam from the popcorn release (the popcorn will be drier and crisper).
8) Once you can count four seconds between the pops then you know you are done.
Place your popcorn in a big bowl and season with salt.
And now for the caramel.
1) Heat the sugar, butter and syrup in a saucepan over medium -low heat. Cook stirring occasionally, for about 5 min, or until the sugar has dissolved.
2) Bring the mixture to a boil and cook without stirring for another 5-8 min or until it's golden.
3) Line a tray with baking paper and spray some non stick spray.
4) Spread the popcorn onto the tray and pour your mixture over.
5) Set it aside to cool.
And now for the smoothie!
Pop your frozen bananas in the blender with your peanut butter and your caramelized popcorn. Don't make it too fine. You still want to bite into the popcorn.


The Axiom™ Pro RVX is a high-performance widescreen 9" diagonal multi-function display with RealVision™ 3D Sonar and 1KW CHIRP sonar.
With a blazing fast quad core processor, a super-bright high-definition IPS display and the smart LightHouse operating system, Axiom™ Pro delivers a fluid and intuitive navigation experience. With HybridTouch technology, take full control of the Axiom™ Pro from its multi-touch screen, its buttons and rotary knob or any combination of both.
For more about the new technology behind the IPS display used in the Axiom™ Pro, see our West Advisor article: Amazing New IPS Displays for Marine Electronics.
Axiom™ Pro is easy to expand into an advanced navigation network that includes multiple Raymarine Axiom Displays, CHIRP radar, Evolution Autopilot, FLIR thermal night vision technology and more.
Pro-grade offshore sonar tools: The Axiom™ Pro 9 RVX has built-in offshore-rated 1KW CHIRP sonar. Add a compatible offshore transducer (sold separately) and experience the stunning definition and clarity of dual-channel CHIRP sonar. With low, medium or high CHIRP, Axiom Pro 1kW sonar offers a wide spectrum of CHIRP sonar bands for deep, mid-range and shallow water fishing.
Navionics+ charts: This Axiom Pro 9 RVX is bundled with Navionics+ Charts for North America with full coastal coverage for the USA and Canada, plus over 20,000 inland ponds, lakes and rivers. The Navionics+ charts are also compatible with advanced features like SonarChart Live and Dock-to-dock Autorouting.


text:
Shorefall
Format: Paperback / softback Trade paperback (US) Publisher: Del Rey Publication Date: 2021-10-19
As a magical revolution remakes a city, an ancient evil is awakened in a brilliant novel from the Hugo-nominated author of Foundryside and the Divine Cities trilogy.
"An absolutely wild ride . . . Foundryside blew me away, and this is a perfect sequel."—Amal El-Mohtar, The New York Times Book Review
A few years ago, Sancia Grado would've happily watched Tevanne burn. Now, she's hoping to transform her city into something new. Something better. Together with allies Orso, Gregor, and Berenice, she's about to strike a deadly blow against Tevanne's cruel robber-baron rulers and wrest power from their hands for the first time in decades.
But then comes a terrifying warning: Crasedes Magnus himself, the first of the legendary hierophants, is about to be reborn. And if he returns, Tevanne will be just the first place to feel his wrath.
Thousands of years ago, Crasedes was an ordinary man who did the impossible: Using the magic of scriving—the art of imbuing objects with sentience—he convinced reality that he was something more than human. Wielding powers beyond comprehension, he strode the world like a god for centuries, meting out justice and razing empires single-handedly, cleansing the world through fire and destruction—and even defeating death itself.
Like it or not, it's up to Sancia to stop him. But to have a chance in the battle to come, she'll have to call upon a god of her own—and unlock the door to a scriving technology that could change what it means to be human. And no matter who wins, nothing will ever be the same.
The awe-inspiring second installment of the Founders Trilogy, Shorefall returns us to the world Robert Jackson Bennett created in his acclaimed Foundryside . . . and forges it anew.


text:
Volvo Inks Long-Term Autonomous Research Agreement With Nvidia
June 18, 2019 • by HDT Staff
Volvo plans to use NVIDIA's end-to-end artificial intelligence platform for training, simulation and in-vehicle computing, with the goal of developing vehicle systems that can safely handle fully autonomous driving on public roads and highways.
Photo: Volvo Trucks
Coming on the heels of the Swedish truck maker's deployment of its Vera, autonomous tractor prototype, in the port of Gothenburg in early June, Volo has now announced a signed agreement with American autonomous vehicle developer Nvidia to jointly develop the decision making system of autonomous commercial vehicles and machines. Volvo plans to use Nvidia's end-to-end artificial intelligence platform for training, simulation and in-vehicle computing, with the goal of developing vehicle systems that can safely handle fully autonomous driving on public roads and highways.
The joint control solution will be built on Nvidia's full software stack for sensor processing, perception, map localization and path planning, enabling a wide range of possible autonomous driving applications, such as freight transport, refuse and recycling collection, public transport, construction, mining, forestry and more, Volvo said.
"Automation creates real-life benefits for both our customers and the society in terms of safety, energy efficiency and as a consequence productivity. We continue to gradually introduce automated applications in the entire spectrum of automation, from driver support systems to fully autonomous vehicles and machines. This partnership with Nvidia is an important next step on that journey," said Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO of the Volvo Group.
The partnership with Nvidia will focus on the development of a flexible, scalable autonomous driving system, which is planned to be used first in commercial pilots and later in commercial offerings from the Volvo Group. The agreement signed between the Volvo Group and Nvidia is a long-term partnership spanning several years. Work will begin immediately with personnel from the two companies being co-located in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Santa Clara, California.
"Trucking is the world's largest network – a network that through online shopping puts practically anything, anywhere in the world, quickly within our reach," said Jensen Huang, Nvidia founder and CEO. "The latest breakthroughs in AI and robotics bring a new level of intelligence and automation to address the transportation challenges we face. We are thrilled to partner with Volvo Group to reinvent the future of trucking."
"Automation is a key technology area for the Volvo Group. With this partnership we will further increase our speed of development and strengthen our long-term capabilities and assets within automation, to the benefit of our customers in different segments and markets," added Lars Stenqvist, Volvo Group chief technology officer.
The strategic partnership covers end-to-end computing fundamental to autonomous vehicles. It includes accelerated computing technology in the datacenter for training deep neural networks; large-scale simulation for hardware-in-the-loop testing and validation of autonomous vehicle systems; and finally deployment of the Nvidia Drive platform in the vehicle running the full software stack for 360-degree sensor processing, mapping and path planning.
Related: Volvo's New Electric Truck Goes to Work on the West Coast
Originally posted on Trucking Info
Read more about Volvo Group Volvo Volvo Trucks NVIDIA Autonomous Vehicles Autonomous Technology Driverless Vehicle Future Trucks
Swedish EV Manufacturer, AV Startup to Deploy Robo Taxis in Europe
Founded in 2012 after acquiring the assets of Saab, NEVS will integrate AutoX's autonomous drive technology into NEVS' next-gen vehicle architecture.
Ford, VW Partner on Autonomous Driving, High-Volume EV for Europe
Volkswagen will invest in Ford's Argo AI autonomous vehicle platform. Ford will use VW's electric vehicle architecture to design and build at least one high-volume fully electric vehicle in Europe for European customers starting in 2023.
NTSB Ends Investigation Into Driverless Shuttle Accident
A unique case of miscommunication between a truck driver and a self-driving vehicle that led to a minor accident in Las Vegas may give us a glimpse into a future where autonomous vehicles and human driven vehicles share the road.
Autonomous Vehicle Startups Seek Partners to Survive Early Development Phase
Apple acquired Drive.ai just as it was about to cease operations. The buyout reveals the high stakes in a market that is taking longer to put autonomous vehicles on the road than initially planned.
BMW and Daimler to Collaborate on Development of Self-Driving Cars
The key aim is to launch autonomous passenger car systems for private customers by 2024.
Waymo Expands Its Self-Driving Shuttle Service to California
The company has been permitted to take part in the state's autonomous vehicle passenger service pilot program, along with Zoox, AutoX, and Pony.ai.
Ariz. City Employees Can Now Hail Self-Driving Vehicles
At the City of Chandler, Ariz., employees can hail a ride with a self-driving Waymo vehicle rather than checking out a motor pool car.
AV, Auto OEMs Define 12 Guiding Safety Principles for Safe Autonomous Driving
The paper aims to provide a framework for the design, development, verification, and validation of safe automated passenger vehicles (AVs).
On the Spot: ZF's GPS-Based Autonomous Control [Video]
Autonomous trucks aren't as far off as you might think, or hope. Equipment Editor Jim Park got a chance to see how one such system works in a test scenario at the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty, Ohio.
Waymo, Lyft Launch Pilot in Phoenix
The pilot program will be confined to a small area outside of Phoenix where Waymo has already been testing its autonomous technology.


text:
Dougco's fitness quest starts with teachers
By Rebecca Jones
One and a half billion: That's how many steps teachers and other staff participating in the Douglas County School District's pedometer challenge logged from December through the start of April.
Douglas County teachers participate in a hula hoop contest as part of a wellness challenge program in the school district.
Or, put another way, they burned through enough calories to equal 1,732 pounds.
Or, put another way, they avoided the equivalent of 2,215 days of passively-watched television.
School officials haven't yet calculated how many fewer staff absentee days that equates to, or how much savings in health insurance premiums, but they're sure it's substantial.
More difficult still is assessing how much more learning was imparted in classrooms because of all the extra exercise teachers are getting, but they're quite sure that that is being impacted as well – for the better.
The pedometers log steps taken as well as time spent in movement, and transmit this data wirelessly to a website, so each participant's total is updated continuously.
So far, of the district's 6,500 employees, almost 4,000 are taking part, either in the pedometer challenge or some other district-sponsored fitness activity. It's all part of Douglas County's goal of becoming the healthiest school district in the nation by 2015.
It's a campaign being waged on many fronts, with a variety of strategies, all focusing on getting students and staff to eat healthier and get more exercise. So far, much of the wellness initiatives have been focused on the staff. For example:
Line dancing classes for district staff are planned throughout April and early May at Castle View High School in Castle Rock.
Traiblazer Elementary in Highlands Ranch hosts a Weight Watchers at Work program on Tuesdays after school.
Mountain View Elementary in Parker has a "Staff Fitness Club," offering one-hour exercise classes twice a week, led by the physical education teacher.
During April, the district is hosting a "Healthiest School" competition that combines points for minutes spent exercising plus points for improving a school's "food environment," whether that means removing candy dishes, discouraging bake sales, getting rid of sodas or other good ideas.
Each day, staff are emailed "the daily challenge," involving some fitness-type activity, such as lunge walking or a yoga movement, and are encouraged to incorporate that activity into their day.
Participants are eligible to win prizes – things like exercise balls, iPods, water bottles or other fitness aids. But next year, the district is looking to provide financial incentives for staff who take part in wellness programs.
"A lot is percolating right now," said Brian Ewert, director of human resources for the school district. "Really, teachers have the most impact on kids. When kids see teachers eating right, getting snacks out of the classroom, not bringing candy bars or cupcakes, and they see that that's happening all across the system, there's an upswell of real attention."
🔗Wellness awareness spilling into classrooms
Marcia Decker, a first-grade teacher at Franktown Elementary, said the emphasis on staff wellness is spilling over into her classroom. "My children are rooting for me," said Decker, who has logged as many as 20,000 steps in a single day on her district-issued pedometer. "We've done more moving in our classroom as a result. And the health of our staff has improved noticeably. There are people in our building who've lost 20-plus pounds.
"The exercise has helped all of us with our stress levels in these uncertain times," she added. "We're all dedicated to our jobs, and so we often don't think about taking time for ourselves. But this wellness competition has helped us."
Story continues after video of teacher Marcia Decker talking about the wellness program at her school.
John Zimmerman, who works in the district's business office, has lost 30 pounds since he enrolled in the wellness program and got his pedometer. "I watch what I eat, and at lunchtime, I go for a walk," he said. "Then I go 4 miles on the treadmill at night. I'll get 15,000 or 16,000 steps a day. I like going online to see just how many steps I've gotten."
Andrew Patch, an art teacher at Cougar Run Elementary in Highlands Ranch, said competing with other teachers on behalf of his school has kept him focused on his exercise regimen. "I try to get 250 minutes of movement a day," he said. "I can tell, I'm getting in a lot more minutes now, and a lot more steps."
He also hasn't sat in his chair in his classroom for months. Instead, when he sits, he sits on an exercise ball provided by the district.
🔗Looking at the benefits of good health
The man behind much of the activity in the school district is Andrew Sykes, chairman of Health at Work, a Chicago-based firm that specializes in employee wellness programs. Sykes is an actuary, and he looks at wellness programs from a cost-benefit perspective.
"Almost all wellness programs target the obese, the diabetic, the asthmatic or other at-risk populations," Sykes said. "They make valiant attempt to enroll people in wellness programs to live longer and have more energy, but frankly, most people don't respond to those invitations because they hear the invitations as if they're being targeted.
"In Douglas County, we're trying to do things differently. We're not saying 'Hey, all you fat or diabetic teachers, enroll in this so you'll live longer.' We're saying 'All teachers, enroll in this so you'll be a better teacher.' We've found that people are more likely to participate if you give them a reason that's more consistent with their career aspirations rather than if you target their health condition."
Sykes sees the teachers simply as the first wave of a movement that eventually will encompass the whole county. "We're enrolling 7,000 employees to become agents for change for 60,000 students," he said. "And those 60,000 students are themselves going to be agents of change for health habits in their families."
Sykes notes that only 30 percent of health problems in the United States are attributable to inherited conditions or to the quality of care received when a person is ill. The majority of health issues are created by our own bad habits.
"If most health failures come from health habits, and most health habits are learned from parents and teachers, then to solve the U.S. health crisis, we have to stop – in one generation – the cycle of inherited bad habits."
Sykes said removing soda pop from school vending machines is a good step – but it needs to be out of the teachers' lounge as well. Removing candy from vending machines is positive, but teachers and parents ought not then bring in sweets for class celebrations. "It's a whole mindset that needs to be changed," he said.
The results will impact bottom lines as well as waistlines, Sykes said. Teachers who are fit will pay less for insurance and will cost the school district less. The district pays Health at Work typically between $10,000 and $30,000 a month to promote the various fitness initiatives. But Sykes said Douglas County has saved $30 for every $1 spent on wellness promotion.
Healthy teachers will create healthy schools, he said. Healthy schools will create healthy students, who will create healthy families, who will create healthy communities.
"With a healthy community, it becomes much easier to produce great results in the schools," Sykes said. "Along with a good reputation comes a desire for people to move into your community, and property values go up."
More stories in Community & Wraparound Programs
Even after Indiana schools reopen, it could take time to get back to normal, McCormick says


Bian, H., M. Chin, S. R. Kawa, H. Yu, T. Diehl, and T. Kucsera (2010), Multiscale carbon monoxide and aerosol correlations from satellite measurements and the GOCART model: Implication for emissions and atmospheric evolution, J. Geophys. Res., 115, D07302, doi:10.1029/2009JD012781.
Regional correlations of CO and aerosol on different time scales provide information on their sources, lifetimes, and transport pathways. We examine regional and global column CO and fine‐mode aerosol optical depth (AODf) correlations from daily to seasonal scales using 7 years (2000–2006) of satellite observations from the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and model simulations from the Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiative Transport model. Our analyses indicate that, globally, column CO and AODf have similar spatial distributions due to their common source locations, although CO is more spatially dispersed because of its longer lifetime. However, temporal CO‐AODf correlations differ substantially over different timescales and different regions. On daily to synoptic scales CO and AODf have a positive correlation over the industrial and biomass burning source regions owing to the covariance of emissions and coherent dynamic transport. No such correlation is seen in remote regions because of the diverging influence of mixing and chemical processes during longer‐range transport. On the seasonal scale in the Northern Hemisphere, CO and AODf are out of phase by 2–4 months. This phase lag is caused by photochemical production of sulfate, which is the major component of fine‐mode aerosol in the Northern Hemisphere, and photochemical destruction of CO in reaction with OH (both at maximum in the summer and at minimum in the winter), together with the seasonality of fine‐mode dust, which peaks in the boreal spring season. In the Southern Hemisphere tropics and subtropics, however, CO and AODf are generally in‐phase because the variability is dominated by direct release from biomass burning emissions.


text:
Q: C# Using array.Where in Arraylist I have sets of codes in C# with array and I need to split the array into smaller size array.
I have no errors when declaring the array with :
List<int> array = new List<int>();

However, the code execution prompts out error at the array.Where when I declare as :
var array = new ArrayList();

Is there any way I can use array.Where in array list? Below is my code :
List<int> array = new List<int>();

for (int i = 0; i <=20; i++){
  if (unitIsPresent)
  {
    array.add(1);
  }
  else
  {
    array.add(0)
  }
}

devidedArray = array.Where((e, i) => i >= 5 && i < 10).ToArray();

A: Array List is a non generic collection type so it's good to store items in array where you don't consider the items types. So for this reason you can't use Linq methods that are used for generics collections like Where.
My recommendation is use a List and convert it to Array with the Linq method provided.this way is very fast.

A: If you really want to use an ArrayList (really? why?), you can use OfType<int>() to change the IEnumerable to an IEnumerable<int>.
var devidedArray = array.OfType<int>().Where((e, i) => i >= 5 && i < 10).ToArray();

Alternatively you could use Cast<int>():
var devidedArray = array.Cast<int>().Where((e, i) => i >= 5 && i < 10).ToArray();

The difference between the two is that OfType() will silently ignore objects that cannot be cast to int while Cast() will fail with an InvalidCastException.

A: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.collections.arraylist?view=net-5.0
look microsoft doc.
We don't recommend that you use the ArrayList class for new development. Instead, we recommend that you use the generic List class. ...
just use List<T> to replace ArrayList.