❶What causes obsessive-compulsive disorder? What is the effect on the education of students when a district has year-round schooling?
And it also provides our vision of the world from different perspectives. Cause and effect is a great choice for the people who want to improve their skills not only in writing but logical thinking as well. When used in English classes, this kind of writing teaches how to put the main ideas concisely and organize it following all the grammatical rules.
Using cause and effect essay in History classes helps a student to trace reasons of certain historical facts and find out the results.
Today, there is a tendency of cause and effect essays to become more popular than the traditional five-paragraph essays. The latter was often used in the field of academic writing. There is one main problem with the five paragraph essay.
Its patterns create certain boundaries for students to progress through writing more difficult types of papers. A cause and effect essay, in turn, helps students in mastering their language and writing skills making them more natural.
Also, it is very helpful in creating logical ties between events. This is the main reason why cause and effect essays have become so popular in academic circles. Frequently, a cause and effect essay requires selecting an incident with a number of results that are already.
Some incidents provide with the more information and can make your essay more interesting. If the facts are not strong enough, it will lead to the unclear writing hardly reminding an essay. For American students, it can be American Civil War. Topics like this make it much easier for a student to make a thesis statement listing all the causes and effects of such a renowned event. Another widespread topic is the effects of the Civil Rights Movement. In such case, a student finds out the background, traces in details all the preconditions, and finally reaches a conclusion and the results of the event.
This allows a student find the core for the analysis, having all the instruments such as dates, main events, and trends. A student may explain it in such way: In the case of the American Civil War, a student can write as follows: The pro-slavery policy of the South with claims of expanding it further over the county was in high contrast with the policy of the Northern states.
The possibility of slavery abolishment wasn't an option for the Southern regions. Make a thesis that will contain your topic of the essay in it. A cause-and-effect essay is usually written in the chronological order because it should follow a definite scheme.
You can start by describing effects. After that, it is possible to go back to the initial events that cause those effects. No matter what way you choose, you have to write reasonable topic sentences to every paragraph. Besides, each of them has to be supported by vivid details. A topic like the American Civil War presupposes a more general thesis. The main point is the possibility of conflict between two halves of the population of the same country if their views and standpoints are completely different.
Then, it comes to a particular case of conflict between the North and the South. Its origin should be sought for much earlier than the War itself.
The evidence is vital in this section. Besides, it should be plentiful, diverse, but never controversial. Questions are fundamental when it comes to presenting the effects. Although public morals have become more flexible and indulgent in the 21st century compared to previous epochs, there are still questions and moral problems that…. Living in a big city in the 21st century can be stressful: Everyone has at least once in their lives stayed awake throughout an entire night.
Usually, being up all night is a choice of high school…. Among the socio-political movements that managed to change the world we live in, feminism can be fairly called one of the most revolutionary and influential. If you ask someone if they would rather be in a good or in a bad mood, this person will most likely think you are…. Nowadays, many people believe it is the high school…. Among terminal diseases humanity has not yet learned to treat, cancer is probably one of the most feared illnesses.
Unlike AIDS or other diseases widely…. Is English your native language? What is your profession? Student Teacher Writer Other. Academic Assignment Writing an Essay. Writing a Research Paper.
Writing Guides for Students Writing a Memoir 2. Creative Writing Guides Writing a Song 3. Writing a Letter Writing an Evaluation Letter 3. Cause and Effect Essay Samples To demonstrate a cause and its effect is never that easy in written form. Login Username Password or login with. Register Username Email Is English your native language?
May 27, · Writing a good essay about cause and effect is easier than it might seem. It follows a pattern that is very logical and once you create the outline the essay can be completed in no considerableaps.tk: Jenniferc.
Cause and effect essays are concerned with why things happen (causes) and what happens as a result (effects). Cause and effect is a common method of organizing and discussing ideas. Follow these steps when writing a cause and effect essay. What subject to choose when it comes to cause and effect essay writing. We have collected some good ideas to get you started with your essay. Choosing the essay topic for cause and effect essay type is not difficult, here are some good sample essay topics.
80 Good Cause and Effect Essay Topics – Students' Choice. A quick recipe: take a problem. Use deductive reasoning. but still pretty good cause and effect essay topics: The causes of divorce: immaturity and poor communication Remember, writers at Place4Papers can help you to write your cause and effect essay. They can provide / Apr 02, · Benefits of writing a cause and effect essay Every essay has its purpose that goes beyond the subject. Believe it or not, essay writing is a practical and effective way of improving different skills you'll be using throughout your life.


It's been a ridiculously stressful day. I spent all morning/afternoon in the emergency room with my RL partner. I'm so tired and yet I still wanted to get a post out for you. I hope I can keep my eyes open long enough for this.
The Farah Top from ISON is so pretty! I especially like the cut out details on these puffy sleeves. It comes in 9 colours but if you get the fatpack you get an extra 3 bonus colours! It's made in fitmesh for Belleza Freya, both Slink bodies and the Maitreya Lara.


Insomnia is defined as the habitual inability to sleep. Those who have insomnia may try a number of different things to feel more rested and have more energy during the day. One of the more interesting approaches is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Learn more about this strategy and whether it can be useful for those struggling with sleepless nights.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is a structured form of therapy that seeks to address insomnia without sleeping pills. All too often, people rely on sleeping aids without really getting to the root of the problem. However, cognitive behavioral therapy can change the way that people think about sleep. Reframing how you think about sleep could help you fall asleep faster and sleep better each night.
Typically, CBT takes place in a one-on-one environment. Individuals meet with a professional who then walks them through one or more CBT strategies, which we detail below.
This form of cognitive behavioral therapy is all about getting rid of the things that might be preventing you from sleeping well. Sometimes, certain activities or actions can prevent you from getting into the right frame of mind for sleep. Tackling these issues one by one rules out each form of stimulus until you find the problem.
You could try setting a consistent bedtime each night. Alternatively, you might stop napping completely. Sometimes, it is necessary to leave the bedroom and only return once you're ready to sleep. Clinicians may also tell some individuals that if they can't fall asleep within 20 minutes, they need to leave the room and try again later.
This is one of the more basic forms of CBT. Typically, people already know that specific behaviors can make it harder to sleep well. Sleep hygiene is about implementing the best practices that lead to better sleep.
Sleep hygiene might start with cutting back on caffeine. It may also require you to abstain from alcohol. Exercising in the morning and avoiding screens at night can also help improve your sleep hygiene.
Although you may want to sleep, your body could be keeping your awake. Biofeedback addresses some of the physical ways to monitor your body and ensure it is ready for bed. This can include checking your heart rate and monitoring for muscle tension.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia can be an effective strategy. At PACE Mental Health in Houston, Texas, you can get support as you work toward better, more restful sleep. Call 866.971.8423 to learn more about finding the right services for insomnia.


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Swiss-based container shipping major, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), and South Korea's carrier, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), have jointly placed a bid to acquire a stake in a container terminal at California's Port of Long Beach currently controlled by ailing Hanjin Shipping, Yonhap News Agency reported industrial sources as saying.
Hanjin's 54% stake in terminal operator Total Terminals International (TTI) is estimated at more than KRW 400 billion (USD 342.5 million). The remaining 46% stake in the terminal operator is already held by MSC.
The news comes shortly after South Korea's SM Group, owner of Korea Line Corp., floated a proposal to team up with HMM and acquire Hanjin's stake in the terminal.
Posted on December 1, 2016 with tags Container Terminal, Hanjin Shipping, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Long Beach, MSC, Total Terminals International, TTI.


text:
US media, government scramble to obscure criminal dealings with Hussein
By Joseph Kay and Alex Lefebvre
Despite the orgy of self-congratulation that greeted the capture of Saddam Hussein, this is yet another "victory" that is proving to have unforeseen and bitter consequences for the Bush administration.
As reports begin to seep into the press of the history of dirty dealings between the former Iraqi president and the administrations of Reagan and Bush senior, one must suspect that the present occupant of the White House, not to mention his Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, regret that the military forces that located Hussein did not shoot him on the spot rather than take him into custody.
Now the administration confronts the danger that a trial of Hussein—especially one held under international auspices that affords the ex-president the opportunity to mount a genuine legal defense—will expose the direct and deep involvement of the United States government in the most serious crimes of which Hussein stands accused, particularly the use of chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s.
Recently declassified national security documents draw a devastating portrait of Washington's use of Hussein in pursuit of its geopolitical interests in the Middle East. Even as it became aware that Iraq was using chemical weapons against Iranian troops and Iraqi Kurdish insurgents, the US government continued shifting its policy to provide critical political, military and economic support to Hussein's regime.
This history exposes the administration's rationale for invading and occupying Iraq and placing Hussein on trial as utterly false and hypocritical. Iraq's use of chemical weapons, alongside its alleged possession of other so-called weapons of mass destruction, was a principal justification for the war. The documents establish irrefutably that key figures in the Reagan and Bush administrations were Hussein's enablers and accomplices in his crimes.
Hussein himself is clearly aware of the potentially explosive character of the history of his relations with the US government. When captured, his first words were: "My name is Saddam Hussein. I am the president of Iraq and I want to negotiate." On what basis can Hussein, whose army had been defeated months ago, seek to negotiate? His only leverage over the US government is his ability to expose its ruthless maneuvering in the Middle East over the past quarter century.
What the documents show
The declassified documents (publicly available at http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv) provide insights into the nature of the Baathist regime's ties with the American government during the 1980s.
What is particularly troubling for ruling circles in the US is that many of the principals involved in those relations on Washington's side—Rumsfeld, Vice President Cheney, the elder Bush and a number of others—either occupy leading positions in the current administration or are intimately connected to it. Any attempt to brush aside US-Iraqi relations in an earlier period as the bygone policy of a previous government is plainly untenable.
Official disquiet over these ties found expression in the New York Times's publication of a nervous article—buried on page 10 of the newspaper—calling attention to the national security documents and recounting Rumsfeld's diplomatic missions to Baghdad 20 years ago.
The relations between the US and Hussein began fairly early in the latter's career in the Baath Party. Hussein, fiercely anticommunist, was viewed by British and American officials as a person with whom they could deal. However, up until the early 1980s the two countries had no official diplomatic ties. Iraq had terminated all official diplomatic relations with the US after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
This changed with the onset of the Iran-Iraq war, particularly after the Islamic fundamentalist regime of Iran began to achieve victories against Iraq in 1982. The increasingly desperate position of the Iraqi army also prompted Hussein to begin using poison gas. Iran charged Iraq with violating the 1925 Geneva Protocol banning chemical weapons use—to which Iraq was a signatory. The documents indicate that the US was well aware of Iraq's use of the weapons by 1983, at the latest.
It was in this year that momentum began to build in Iraq and the US for resuming official diplomatic ties. On the US side, the issue of Hussein's chemical weapons use was viewed as a public relations problem that would give Iran political ammunition against Iraq and make it harder to conduct US-Iraqi relations in the open.
A State Department directive from Under Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, then the number three man in the State Department, to US personnel in Baghdad dated November 21, 1983, reads: "We are considering how to respond to development of the [chemical weapon] issue in the UN. We do not wish to play into Iran's hands by fueling its propaganda against Iraq."
The directive instructed US envoys to make sure that in bringing up the issue of Iraqi chemical weapons use, no lasting damage was done to US-Iraqi relations: "We raise the issue [of chemical weapons] now neither to enter into a confrontational exchange with you, nor to lend support to the views of others; but, rather, because it is a long-standing policy of the US to oppose use of lethal CW [chemical weapons]."
In December 1983, Rumsfeld (the current secretary of defense who was at the time the CEO of a large pharmaceutical firm, G.D. Searle) visited Iraq as a personal envoy of President Ronald Reagan. Included in the points to be discussed by Rumsfeld in the 1983 meeting is the statement that the US government "recognizes Iraq's current disadvantage in a war of attrition since Iran has access to the Gulf while Iraq does not and would regard any major reversal of Iraq's fortunes as a strategic defeat for the west."
Rumsfeld later told King Hussein of Jordan—who was a principal collaborator in US-Iraqi relations—that the US was worried Iraq's defeat could seriously endanger other countries in the region, particularly the US client state Saudi Arabia. This could entirely cut off US access to Persian Gulf oil.
Rumsfeld met with Iraqi minister Tariq Aziz and Saddam Hussein. According to detailed notes of his meeting with Saddam Hussein, he did not mention chemical weapons. He and his Iraqi counterparts did, however, discuss steps to move Iraq closer to the US and further from the USSR, the political climate in the Middle East, and the construction of an oil pipeline to the Mediterranean port of Aqaba, which would be out of the range of Iranian strikes. Bechtel, the politically well-connected engineering firm that is currently cashing in on the "reconstruction" of Iraq, was to build the pipeline.
In March 1984, Iraq's battlefield use of chemical weapons became so obvious that the US government felt obliged to issue a statement condemning it. The statement denouncing the chemical weapons use contains the following extraordinary passage: "The United States strongly condemns the prohibited use of chemical weapons wherever it occurs.... [However,] the United States finds the present Iranian regime's intransigent refusal to deviate from its avowed objective of eliminating the legitimate government of neighboring Iraq to be inconsistent with the accepted norms of behavior among nations and the moral and religious basis which it claims."
Apparently, the US has since overcome its moral qualms with "eliminating the legitimate government" of Iraq.
Iraq reacted strongly against the statement, despite repeated American attempts to assure the government in Baghdad that the statement was issued solely for purposes of public consumption and did not indicate a change in US commitments to improve relations with Iraq. Rumsfeld was hurriedly sent back to Baghdad (in March of 1983) to deliver this message. At that time, Secretary of State George Shultz told Rumsfeld to assure his hosts that "our interests in (1) preventing an Iranian victory and (2) continuing to improve bilateral relations with Iraq, at a pace of Iraq's choosing, remain undiminished," despite Iraq's illegal use of chemical weapons.
The US continued to minimize the issue of Iraqi chemical weapons use throughout the conflict. When, in 1988, the northern Kurdish town of Halabja was gassed and the Iraqi regime widely blamed, the US government moved to provide cover for Iraq. A State Department document notes that, in dealing with Congressional proposals to formally condemn the use of chemical weapons, "we should oppose legislation that uses inaccurate terms like genocide, and should try to keep the maximum amount of flexibility for the Administration in handling the issue."
The attitude of the US government to Iraqi use of chemical weapons was part of a strategic orientation to aid Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War. To this end, the US provided intelligence information and ensured that Iraq had sufficient supplies of weapons.
The Reagan administration pushed for US government financing of Iraq through the Export-Import Bank and other US institutions. As was revealed in the so-called Iraqgate scandal that emerged in the early 1990s, the US government looked the other way as Iraq used loans from American official and private institutions to fund purchases of arms. All of this was contrary to the government's stated policy of neutrality in the Iran-Iraq war.
This policy of support for the Hussein regime continued up until the day Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. To the complete surprise of Hussein—who was led to believe that the US was neutral in the conflict—the first Bush administration organized an air and ground war against Iraq. The turn against the Iraqi regime was completed by the second Bush administration, with the consequence that Hussein, instead of being supported by the US, now finds himself on the verge of execution for war crimes.
What changed? How did Hussein go from being a friend of the US to a pariah? The documents give clear proof that his use of chemical weapons and the like had nothing to do with it. Rather, the US made a strategic shift in the early 1990s. The growing strains within the Soviet Union—which would lead to its complete disintegration—meant that new vistas were opening up for American imperialism.
A dominant section of the American ruling elite—including as a prominent member Donald Rumsfeld—saw the decline of the Soviet Union as an opportunity for American imperialism to advance its interests without constraint. Whereas it once felt obliged to deal with people like Hussein in order to project its interests internationally, the US is now determined to assert these interests directly. Hence the drive for the direct military occupation of Iraq, a policy unthinkable for the US only two decades ago.
The US ruling elite fears a Hussein trial
It is no surprise, therefore, that the US ruling elite is so wary of a Hussein trial. This fear was expressed in a December 18 editorial in the Wall Street Journal entitled "Judicial Colonialism."
The Journal begins by arguing against an international tribunal for Hussein. "The fear seems to be," write the editors, referring to those who support an international trial, "that Saddam might not be able to get a fair trial in Iraq, as if there's some global suspense about his guilt. Worse, Iraqis might be so barbaric as to impose the same death penalty on Saddam that he imposed on so many thousands of his own people."
Instead of an international tribunal, the Journal advocates a trial in Iraq, which, under the current circumstances, can only mean a trial staged by the Iraqi stooge regime under the supervision of the American military occupation. The newspaper's editors praise members of the Iraqi Governing Council for declaring that the trial will be public and televised. "In a public trial that includes fulsome testimony, [Bush, Blair and the Iraqi Governing Council] have the chance to educate the people of Iraq about the scope and detail of Saddam's reign of terror."
The Journal's sarcastic comment about the "global suspense about [Saddam Hussein's] guilt" makes clear that what it wants is a show trial, a public exhibition of Hussein for propaganda purposes, in which only evidence contributing to a predetermined guilty verdict and execution will be admitted. Any serious examination of the history of Hussein's regime and role of the US government would be excluded from the trial envisioned by the Journal. The last thing that the Journal—and the ruling circles for which it speaks—wants is for the trial to raise uncomfortable issues, as is clear when the editors turn to their rationale for opposing an international tribunal.
"Exhibit No. 1," the editorial states, "is the trial of former Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, currently going on at the Hague.... Proceedings are being broadcast back home, and Milosevic, who is representing himself, is making the most of it.... This week he inserted himself into the US elections, trying to discredit Wesley Clark, who was appearing as a witness.... Giving Saddam Hussein a similar platform could be a disaster for Iraq's reconstruction, emboldening the Baathist remnants and suggesting to ordinary Iraqis that Saddam still might return to power..."
The Wall Street Journal is furious that Milosevic—who, like Hussein, is a right-wing bourgeois nationalist—has been given an opportunity in the trial to challenge the accusation that he is guilty of war crimes and genocide while president of Yugoslavia. His defense has rested, in part, on denouncing the role of the United States in fostering the breakup of the Yugoslav federation and launching a war against Serbia.
Nor are these sentiments unique to the Wall Street Journal. The New York Times voiced a similar view in a December 21 article by Jeffrey Rosen, entitled "Pursuing Justice: Perils of the Past." Also citing the example of Milosevic, Rosen writes: "There is certainly a risk of embarrassment when the degree of American support for Iraq in its war with Iran in the 1980s is aired. The details revealed could even undermine Washington's credibility."
Recognizing the hypocrisy of the American government's handling of Hussein does not imply any sympathy for the man himself. Hussein should be tried and held accountable for his crimes, but not by the Bush administration and its servants in the Iraqi Governing Council. Such a trial would be a mockery of international law, in which Hussein's former accomplices now assume the role of his prosecutors.
Canadian government tacitly endorses US assassination of Iranian general Soleimani
US assassinates top Iranian general as 4,000 troops readied for Iraq intervention
Washington escalates Mideast war threat with strikes on Iraq, Syria
Iraqi prime minister offers resignation after army unleashes bloodbath
The bloodbath in Baghdad
European powers move toward scrapping nuclear accord with Iran

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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A true specialist in advanced driver training supported by a million miles of police advanced driver training experience.
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Chris is a former Police Advanced Driving Examiner, RoSPA Advanced Driving Examiner and a former DSA Delegated LGV and PCV Driving Examiner which authorised him to conduct LGV & PCV driving tests for police purposes.
It is our view and experience that the very best people to teach advanced driving on the public highway are Class 1 police advanced drivers who have many years of police operational driving experience and more importantly, have also taught a range of police advanced driving techniques at a Police Driving School, such as the world famous Metropolitan Police Motor Driving School Hendon, where Chris served for 22 years.
So, Chris is ideally placed to give advice and guidance in driving.
The Duchess of Gloucester and the Earl of Ulster.
Prince William introduces Chris to his father, The Prince of Wales in front of the world's media.
Click below to view BBC News of Highgrove photocall.
Chris has taught learner drivers as an RAC Registered Driving Instructor/ Ministry of Transport Approved Driving Instructor. In the police service, he has taught at all levels of advanced driving up to the coveted Advanced Class 1 level, including pursuit driving, 999 driving, high speed night driving, convoy driving, towing, PCV, LGV, skid pan instruction and training new driving instructors. He also taught tactical vehicle deployment for riot situations, anti surveillance training for government ministerial and EEC Brussels drivers. He is a former Police Advanced Driving Examiner, a former DSA Delegated PCV & LGV Driving Examiner and a former RoSPA Driving Examiner.
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Chris is a former Driving Standards Agency (DSA) trained Delegated LGV/PCV Driving Examiner and a current DSA Approved Driving Instructor grade 6. Has a City & Guilds in Motor Vehicle Construction and Use and City & Guilds NVQ D32 D33 in Competence's in Training and Development. Certified Metropolitan Police Motor Driving School Hendon Advanced Driving Instructor and Driving Examiner. As an operationally experienced Class 1 Police Advanced Driver he was qualified to teach every level of police driving from 999 driving to pursuit in high performance motor cars. He was also qualified to teach LGV and PCV driving. Chris became an RAC Registered Driving Instructor in 1965 and a Ministry of Transport Driving Instructor in 1966.
Chris has a long association with both the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). To that end, for the past 30 years, he has visited many IAM and RoSPA Advanced Driving Groups around the country to give Advanced Driving/Roadcraft/Road Safety presentations to great acclaim. He passed the IAM Advanced Test in 1964 and 54 years later remains a member and supporter of the IAM. In 1966 he passed the pre-RoSPA League of Safe Drivers Advanced Test with a gold class 1 test. Chris was an Advanced Driving Examiner for RoSPA in 1980-2. For a number of years Chris was President of the North Staffs IAM Group and also President of South Devon RoSPA Group, alas, time constraints and travelling distances caused a reluctant withdrawal.


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Celebrating Beatrix Potter's 150th Birthday
by editor | Jul 21, 2016 | Articles, Literally Literary: News & Features
Helen Beatrix Potter was a beloved children's author and illustrator who was born in London on July 28, 1866. She was known to friends and family – and now generations of fans around the world – as Beatrix, the creator of Peter Rabbit and 22 other children's stories about animals. Although Beatrix never went to school as a child, she spent hours with her art tutor, learning to draw sketches of the rabbits, mice, lizards, and frogs she and her brother kept as pets.
Beatrix's drawings were published several times before 1902, mostly as greeting cards for the publisher Hildesheimer & Faulkner. Her real success came from her determination to see The Tale of Peter Rabbit published. When it finally was accepted and printed by Frederick Warne & Co. in October of 1902, it became an instant bestseller, earning Beatrix the reputation that helped her publish 22 more children's books in her lifetime. All of her stories feature a farm animal as the main character and were inspired by her childhood fascination with animals and the lifetime love of the country that followed.
Beatrix wanted to bring her characters to life away from the page as well, so after the initial success of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, she handmade the first Peter Rabbit doll herself. She registered it at the patent office in 1903, making Peter Rabbit the world's oldest licensed literary character. She followed the doll with board games, tea sets, and even slippers.
July 28, 2016 marks the 150th anniversary of Beatrix's birth. Libraries around the country will be celebrating the day with readings and other activities for children. We've rounded up the characters of some of Beatrix's most famous books to help you get started celebrating her life and the lives she touched.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published by Frederick Warne in 1902 and endures as Beatrix Potter's most popular and well-loved tale. It tells the story of a very mischievous rabbit and the trouble he encounters in Mr McGregor's vegetable garden!
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
Beatrix Potter's famous tale of a naughty squirrel who loses his tail. Nutkin, his brother Twinkleberry and all his cousins make their way over to Owl Island to gather nuts, but Old Brown, the terrifying owl guardian of the island, has decided he has had enough of silly Nutkin's cheekiness!
The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher
This tale tells of an optimistic and slightly accident-prone frog, who sets off on a fishing expedition across the pond, only to find himself bitten on the toe by a water-beetle, fighting with a stickleback, and eventually nearly eaten by a trout!
The Story of Miss Moppet
The Story of Miss Moppet recounts the tale of a pussy cat, Miss Moppet, chasing a mouse. It turns out to be a bit of a battle of wits, and who do you think will win?
The Tale of Tom Kitten
This tale is set in the cottage garden Beatrix created herself at Hill Top, the farm she owned near the village of Sawrey. Tom and his sisters look so smart in their new clothes. When their mother sends them outside, she couldn't possibly guess what kind of mess they are going to get themselves into!
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
Jemima was a real duck belonging to Beatrix Potter. All Jemima wants to do is lay her eggs in peace. At last she flies off and finds the perfect place. Little does the silly duck realise that the charming gentleman who has lent her his woodshed is busily planning a delicious meal of . . . roast duck!
Faith Aeriel is a freelance writer and journalist. She has formerly worked as Associate Editor for Manhattan Book Review, San Francisco Book Review, and Kids' BookBuzz, during which time she was responsible for writing articles, blog posts, and interviewing authors, as well as editing and managing incoming content for the websites. Faith loves books, cinnamon rolls, and cats.
You can learn more about Faith on her booklover's blog.


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Q: Crop camera preview for TextureView I have a TextureView with a fixed width and height and I want to show a camera preview inside of it. I need to crop the camera preview so that it doesn't look stretched inside my TextureView. How to do the cropping? If I need to use OpenGL, how to tie the Surface Texture to OpenGL and how to do the cropping with OpenGL?
public class MyActivity extends Activity implements TextureView.SurfaceTextureListener
{

   private Camera mCamera;
   private TextureView mTextureView;

  @Override
  protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_options);

    mTextureView = (TextureView) findViewById(R.id.camera_preview);
    mTextureView.setSurfaceTextureListener(this);
}

@Override
public void onSurfaceTextureAvailable(SurfaceTexture surface, int width, int height) {
    mCamera = Camera.open();

    try
    {
        mCamera.setPreviewTexture(surface);
        mCamera.startPreview();
    } catch (IOException ioe) {
        // Something bad happened
    }
}

@Override
public boolean onSurfaceTextureDestroyed(SurfaceTexture surface) {
    mCamera.stopPreview();
    mCamera.release();
    return true;
}

@Override
public void onSurfaceTextureSizeChanged(SurfaceTexture surface, int width, int height) {
}

@Override
public void onSurfaceTextureUpdated(SurfaceTexture surface)
 {
    // Invoked every time there's a new Camera preview frame
 }
}

Also, after doing the preview correctly, I need to be able to read in real-time the pixels found in the center of the cropped image.

A: Provided earlier solution by @Romanski works fine but it scales with cropping. If you need to scale to fit, then use the following solution. Call updateTextureMatrix every time when surface view is changed: i.e. in onSurfaceTextureAvailable and in onSurfaceTextureSizeChanged methods. Also note that this solution relies that activity ignores configuration changes (i.e. android:configChanges="orientation|screenSize|keyboardHidden" or something like that):
private void updateTextureMatrix(int width, int height)
{
    boolean isPortrait = false;

    Display display = getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay();
    if (display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_0 || display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_180) isPortrait = true;
    else if (display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_90 || display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_270) isPortrait = false;

    int previewWidth = orgPreviewWidth;
    int previewHeight = orgPreviewHeight;

    if (isPortrait)
    {
        previewWidth = orgPreviewHeight;
        previewHeight = orgPreviewWidth;
    }

    float ratioSurface = (float) width / height;
    float ratioPreview = (float) previewWidth / previewHeight;

    float scaleX;
    float scaleY;

    if (ratioSurface > ratioPreview)
    {
        scaleX = (float) height / previewHeight;
        scaleY = 1;
    }
    else
    {
        scaleX = 1;
        scaleY = (float) width / previewWidth;
    }

    Matrix matrix = new Matrix();

    matrix.setScale(scaleX, scaleY);
    textureView.setTransform(matrix);

    float scaledWidth = width * scaleX;
    float scaledHeight = height * scaleY;

    float dx = (width - scaledWidth) / 2;
    float dy = (height - scaledHeight) / 2;
    textureView.setTranslationX(dx);
    textureView.setTranslationY(dy);
}

Also you need the following fields:
private int orgPreviewWidth;
private int orgPreviewHeight;

initialize it in onSurfaceTextureAvailable mathod before calling updateTextureMatrix:
Camera.Parameters parameters = camera.getParameters();
parameters.setFocusMode(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_VIDEO);

Pair<Integer, Integer> size = getMaxSize(parameters.getSupportedPreviewSizes());
parameters.setPreviewSize(size.first, size.second);

orgPreviewWidth = size.first;
orgPreviewHeight = size.second;

camera.setParameters(parameters);

getMaxSize method:
private static Pair<Integer, Integer> getMaxSize(List<Camera.Size> list)
{
    int width = 0;
    int height = 0;

    for (Camera.Size size : list) {
        if (size.width * size.height > width * height)
        {
            width = size.width;
            height = size.height;
        }
    }

    return new Pair<Integer, Integer>(width, height);
}

And last thing - you need to correct camera rotation. So call setCameraDisplayOrientation method in Activity onConfigurationChanged method (and also make initial call in onSurfaceTextureAvailable method):
public static void setCameraDisplayOrientation(Activity activity, int cameraId, Camera camera)
{
    Camera.CameraInfo info = new Camera.CameraInfo();
    Camera.getCameraInfo(cameraId, info);
    int rotation = activity.getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay().getRotation();
    int degrees = 0;
    switch (rotation)
    {
        case Surface.ROTATION_0:
            degrees = 0;
            break;
        case Surface.ROTATION_90:
            degrees = 90;
            break;
        case Surface.ROTATION_180:
            degrees = 180;
            break;
        case Surface.ROTATION_270:
            degrees = 270;
            break;
    }

    int result;
    if (info.facing == Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_FRONT)
    {
        result = (info.orientation + degrees) % 360;
        result = (360 - result) % 360;  // compensate the mirror
    }
    else
    {  // back-facing
        result = (info.orientation - degrees + 360) % 360;
    }
    camera.setDisplayOrientation(result);

    Camera.Parameters params = camera.getParameters();
    params.setRotation(result);
    camera.setParameters(params);
}

A: you could manipulate the byte[] data from onPreview().
I think you'll have to:

*

*put it in an Bitmap

*do the cropping in the Bitmap

*do a little stretching/resizing

*and pass the Bitmap to your SurfaceView
This is not a very performant way. Maybe you can manipulate the byte[] directly, but you will have to deal with picture formats like NV21.

A: I have just made a working app where I needed to show a preview with x2 of the actual input without getting a pixelated look. Ie. I needed to show the center part of a 1280x720 live preview in a 640x360 TextureView.
Here is what I did.
Set the camera preview to x2 resolution of what I needed:
params.setPreviewSize(1280, 720);

And then scale the texture view accordingly:
this.captureView.setScaleX(2f);
this.captureView.setScaleY(2f);

This runs without any hiccups on small devices.

A: Just calculate the aspect ratio, generate a scaling matrix and apply it to the TextureView. Based on the aspect ratio of the surface and the aspect ratio of the preview image, the preview image is cropped on the top and the bottom or left and right.
Another solution I found out is that if you open the camera before the SurfaceTexture is available, the preview is already scaled automatically. Just try to move mCamera = Camera.open(); to your onCreate function after you set the SurfaceTextureListener. This worked for me on the N4. With this solution you'll probably get problems when you rotate from portrait to landscape. If you need portrait and landscape support, then take the solution with the scale matrix!
private void initPreview(SurfaceTexture surface, int width, int height) {
    try {
        camera.setPreviewTexture(surface);
    } catch (Throwable t) {
        Log.e("CameraManager", "Exception in setPreviewTexture()", t);
    }

    Camera.Parameters parameters = camera.getParameters();
    previewSize = parameters.getSupportedPreviewSizes().get(0);

    float ratioSurface = width > height ? (float) width / height : (float) height / width;
    float ratioPreview = (float) previewSize.width / previewSize.height;

    int scaledHeight = 0;
    int scaledWidth = 0;
    float scaleX = 1f;
    float scaleY = 1f;

    boolean isPortrait = false;

    if (previewSize != null) {
        parameters.setPreviewSize(previewSize.width, previewSize.height);
        if (display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_0 || display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_180) {
            camera.setDisplayOrientation(display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_0 ? 90 : 270);
            isPortrait = true;
        } else if (display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_90 || display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_270) {
            camera.setDisplayOrientation(display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_90 ? 0 : 180);
            isPortrait = false;
        }
        if (isPortrait && ratioPreview > ratioSurface) {
            scaledWidth = width;
            scaledHeight = (int) (((float) previewSize.width / previewSize.height) * width);
            scaleX = 1f;
            scaleY = (float) scaledHeight / height;
        } else if (isPortrait && ratioPreview < ratioSurface) {
            scaledWidth = (int) (height / ((float) previewSize.width / previewSize.height));
            scaledHeight = height;
            scaleX = (float) scaledWidth / width;
            scaleY = 1f;
        } else if (!isPortrait && ratioPreview < ratioSurface) {
            scaledWidth = width;
            scaledHeight = (int) (width / ((float) previewSize.width / previewSize.height));
            scaleX = 1f;
            scaleY = (float) scaledHeight / height;
        } else if (!isPortrait && ratioPreview > ratioSurface) {
            scaledWidth = (int) (((float) previewSize.width / previewSize.height) * width);
            scaledHeight = height;
            scaleX = (float) scaledWidth / width;
            scaleY = 1f;
        }
        camera.setParameters(parameters);
    }

    // calculate transformation matrix
    Matrix matrix = new Matrix();

    matrix.setScale(scaleX, scaleY);
    textureView.setTransform(matrix);
}

A: Answer given by @SatteliteSD is the most appropriate one. Every camera supports only certain preview sizes which is set at HAL. Hence if the available preview sizes doesn't suffice the requirement then you need to extract data from onPreview

A: For real-time manipulations of preview images of the camera, OpenCV for android is perfectly adapted. You'll find every sample needed here : http://opencv.org/platforms/android/opencv4android-samples.html, and as you'll see it works damn well in real time.
Disclaimer : setting up an opencv lib on android can be quite the headache depending on how you are experimented with c++/opencv/the ndk.
In all cases, writing opencv code is never simple, but on the other hand it's a very powerful library.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Megan Miller doesn't believe in ghosts or in reincarnation. But that soon changes after moving to a new city and a new school. It starts with feelings of déjà vu. Vague feelings at first that remain annoyingly just out of reach. Then the flashbacks start - memories of ancient times and frag-mented dreams of when she had been called Celeste.
Megan becomes entwined in a frightening and heartbreaking world as she slips uncontrollable between her present life and her medieval past. But the links are fiercely strong and she fears that a new friend is actually a past enemy - and evil has followed her through the centuries.
When Megan Miller moves to a new city she is suddenly plagued by feelings of déjà vu. She starts to have dreams and memories of people and places - so real that it breaks her heart. She soon realises that she has lived - and died before. Her name had been Celeste. Only now some ancient, ominous presence is following her, haunting her, whispering in her ear... Where did you hide it?
Celeste 5 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 1 reviews.
I am all about books that switch time periods. Its one of my favorite styles to write, but I don't see it a lot in young adult fiction, so I was thrilled that CELESTE did that. The transitions were smooth and I found myself easily absorbed in both worlds. I was never confused about time periods, and the voices were distinctive. I couldn't wait to keep reading. There are plenty of creepy moments mixed in with action. Great story!


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The 54th annual Youth City Tournament was bowled March 3 at Abilene Bowling Lanes.
Team handicap — Division 1: 3 Amigos (Ian Lopez, Isaac Lopez Jr. and Johnathan Castillo), 2,140; Division 2: Stars And Strikes (Summer De Los Santos, Melody Nickerson and Noah Butler), 2,032).
Singles handicap — Division 1: Eric Baysinger, 702; Division 2: Summer De Los Santos 714.
All events scratch — Division 1: Castillo, 1,124; Division 2: Ian Lopez, 669.
For those of you bought raffle tickets for the bowling balls and bags for the youth fund raiser, the youth committee thanks you.
The winners were: 14 pound ball — Matthew Casady; 8 pound ball — Melody Nickerson; and two-ball roller bags — Noah Butler, Richard Pierce and Samantha Connelly.
Men with games of 250 or better were John Lawson (289), Jonathan Osborn (286, 266), Nick Early (268), Robert Leonhart (267), Ron Beuoy (267), Eddie Henson (266, 264), Ric Lewis (264),Paul Unruh (258), Johnny Rhone (256) and David Lehr (255).
Those with series of 700 or better were Early (768), Shorty Mims (727) and Lawson (720).
Women with games of 200 or better were Ashley Kraly (216), Lisa Unruh (211), Lisa Steele (207), Tina Henson (201) and Denise Morey (200).
In the Dyess Friday Night Mixed League, Jonathan Osborn gave the perfect game a run for its money. After rolling ten strikes in a row, he was well on his way. On the 11th delivery, Osborn bowled a solid pocket hit and when the smoke cleared, the 7 and 10 pins were still standing. He ended the game with a 286 score.


text:
Those who innovate
The (near-)perfect tourbillon is within reach
Español Français Pусский
It has been an acknowledged fact for several decades that the tourbillon, invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet to offset the effects of gravity in pocket watches, was not designed to accomplish the same task in wristwatches. Double tourbillons and triple-axis tourbillons have gone some way to improving its effectiveness, but they are still far from achieving their ideal. The scientists at Instant-Lab EPFL in Neuchâtel probed the question. They designed a "theoretical object" that succeeds – almost. A fundamental step towards achieving the "perfect" tourbillon that will at last be capable of fulfilling all its chronometric promises. Now the ball is in the watchmakers' court.
n 1996, Europa Star published a critical assessment of the tourbillon by Jean-Claude Nicolet, a professor at La Chaux-de-Fonds School of Watchmaking. His analysis came to the scathing conclusion that "in creating the tourbillon, Breguet thought he was eliminating the effects of gravity. It was an error on his part. He succeeded only in masking them a little". Nicolet then compared the ingenious watchmaker to a "conjuror who causes an elephant to vanish".
This was tantamount to blasphemy, and the reaction of watchmakers to this critical assessment was equally scathing. No one disputed the scientific argument; the principal accusation was that we were out to "kill the golden goose" that the tourbillon was in the process of becoming. At the time, in 1996, it was estimated that around one thousand tourbillons had been manufactured over the course of two centuries, such was their rarity. Since then, and despite the reservations expressed as to the true chronometric benefits of a tourbillon in a wristwatch, tourbillon fever has taken over. Today, as many tourbillons are probably produced in one year as in the previous two centuries.
Since then, however, watchmakers have become increasingly conscious of the limitations of the tourbillon, especially in wristwatches, and have been exercising their ingenuity to overcome them. The result has been new configurations, double tourbillons, gyrotourbillons, triple-axis tourbillons, tourbillons inclined at 30° (which, let it be said, achieved the best results in the history of the International Chronometry Competition) to name just a few examples.
But no one has yet succeeded in designing the perfect tourbillon for a wristwatch, because to even out all the deviations in rate, its axis would have to sweep all directions uniformly. And that's a headache, because all the mechanisms available to date have one intrinsic, mathematical defect. We will come back to this.
No one has yet succeeded in designing the perfect tourbillon for a wristwatch, because to even out all the deviations in rate, its axis would have to sweep all directions uniformly. And that's a headache.
The team at Instant-Lab EPFL researching a mathematical design for the tourbillon
Noémie Mandon is a young Frenchwoman who recently graduated from the Cluny Arts and Crafts Institute of Technology (which teaches mainly mechanical, industrial and power engineering). For her final year of studies, an academic exchange gave her the opportunity to study mechanical engineering at the EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. She was drawn to micromechanics, and more particularly to mechanical watchmaking, for its beauty and sophistication. She was also driven by an interest in research and innovation.
She arrived to Instant-Lab EPFL directed by Professor Simon Henein in Neuchâtel, to work with Ilan Vardi (see our article Breaking the Second Barrier). At their first meeting, Ilan Vardi revived a subject that had been lying dormant for quite some time: the geometry of the tourbillon. It became the subject of her Master's research project.
The goal of her research was to construct a theoretical object using mathematical design, the purpose being to correct the intrinsic defect of tourbillons in order to offset "almost totally" the effect of gravity: to average it out, as in Breguet's pocket watches, but for all directions. But to do this also meant coming up with a means of varying the tourbillon's speed of rotation, which in the tourbillons available today is constant for each axis. In mathematical design, a theorem is implemented mechanically.
Ilan Vardi, the head of the project, brought together a talented team to assist Noémie Mandon (he emphasises the collective, team aspect of the work). It included Roland Bitterli, a scientist at Instant-Lab, in charge of "making sure the object did not become intractably complex", Patrick Flückiger, a PhD student who in 2019 won the Omega Student Award with a Master's project on a new type of Foucault's pendulum, and Quentin Gubler, an engineer and watchmaker from Ulysse Nardin, where he worked on several projects related to compliant mechanisms.
Does the tourbillon really serve no purpose?
Invented in 1795 to offset the effects of the earth's gravity on a pocket watch – that is, a a watch positioned vertically in a jacket pocket – the purpose of the tourbillon is to average out the vertical positions, thereby improving the watch's accuracy. In this sense, it achieves its purpose. "Proof of this," Ilan Vardi adds, "is that tourbillons automatically pass the COSC tests in all four vertical positions."
But things start to get more complicated in wristwatches. On the wrist, the tourbillon's position relative to gravity is changing continually in all directions. "Useful only when the balance axis is perpendicular to the direction of gravity", the tourbillon no longer serves its original purpose in a wristwatch. Because, while it can average out positions on a single plane (vertical), it cannot do so in three-dimensional space.
To solve this problem, watchmakers gradually turned to multiaxis tourbillons, starting with Anthony Randall, who invented the first double-axis tourbillon in the late 1970s. Numerous other propositions followed, including the Double Tourbillon 30° by Greubel Forsey, which enables the tourbillon's axis to sweep a circle at a constant latitude, then the Gyrotourbillon invented by Eric Coudray for Jaeger-LeCoultre, after which came the triple-axis tourbillon, versions of which have proliferated.
Watchmakers have become increasingly conscious of the limitations of the tourbillon, especially in wristwatches, and have been exercising their ingenuity to overcome them, via double tourbillons, gyrotourbillons, triple-axis tourbillons, tourbillons inclined at 30°...
In search of uniform distribution of points in a sphere
But, as Noémie Mandon explains, we know that "to average out the effects of the orientation of the balance in relation to gravity in a wristwatch, the distribution of the points on the sphere swept by the axis of the balance has to be as uniform as possible".
The uniform distribution of points on a sphere is an important mathematical problem, and has been the subject of numerous scientific papers. While we know how to distribute points uniformly on a rectangle, "for spheres there is no theoretical solution". As will be explained below, the simplest method for distributing points on a sphere leads to an overconcentration at the poles. To understand the consequences of this phenomenon for multi-axis tourbillons, a friend of Anthony Randalll, the English engineer Guthrie Easten, highlighted this lack of uniformity in 1985. He found a cogent image to illustrate it.
The simplest method for distributing points on a sphere leads to an overconcentration at the poles. This lack of uniformity in the distribution of the points implies "a failure to compensate for the effect of the tourbillon's position in relation to gravity".
Imagine a tourbillon set at the centre of a Chinese paper lantern. Its axis is fitted with an ink gun which, at each oscillation of the escapement, shoots a drop of ink inside the lantern. If the effect of the multi-axis tourbillon were perfect, the drops of ink would be spaced out evenly across the sphere's surface. But at the poles we unfortunately find an abnormal concentration of drops.
Why? Because the rotations of a multi-axis tourbillon are constant in latitude and longitude, they do not cover the same longitudinal distance, depending on the latitude at which they are located. When it arrives at the pole, the distance travelled is cancelled out. This lack of uniformity in the distribution of the points implies "a failure to compensate for the effect of the tourbillon's position in relation to gravity".
Variations in speed?
So, what can be done to remedy this? As Anthony Randall explains, in order to cancel out rate differences completely or maintain a constant rate in every possible position, "it is crucial that the double-axis tourbillon should vary in speed," specifically when approaching the poles, where concentration increases.
Watchmakers know how to vary speed, for example in a chronograph. What solutions exist for varying speed according to the position of the tourbillon? Is it better to do massive amounts of calculations, or to apply a theorem and create a theoretical object?
The team opted for the second method: mathematical design.
Watchmakers know how to vary speed, for example in a chronograph. What solutions exist for varying speed according to the position of the tourbillon?
Mathematical design
The avenues proposed by Guthrie Easten to solve the problem of variable speeds consisted of using non-circular gears or cams to vary the speed of the balance axis. But quite apart from the fact that this approach requires a vast amount of skilful calculation, designing a non-circular gear is a particularly complex undertaking.
So Instant-Lab chose another approach. "Mathematical design" may sound very modern, but in fact,the designers of the Antikythera mechanism (an astronomical calculator driven by a crank) were performing mathematical design in the first century BC, although they did not use the term. They "simply" produced mechanical implementations of the mathematical models of the sun and moon proposed by Hipparchus (c. 190–c. 120 BC).
But the primary inspiration of the scientists at Instant-Lab was the work of another great mathematician of antiquity, Archimedes. In one of his best-known theorems, Archimedes established the correspondence between a sphere and its circumscribing cylinder. He found that "the area of any surface of the cylinder is equal to the area of its projection on the sphere". One well-known example illustrates this perfectly.
The world map drawn using a projection of the earth in uniform latitudes (a) corresponds to the current multi-axis tourbillons. As we can see, the territories close to the poles appear far bigger than they are in reality – the equivalent of the denser projection of points in our Chinese lantern. The lateral projection of the earth onto a cylinder (b) preserves the surface areas of the territories and continents.
Following Archimedes' lead we can therefore state that, unlike the map showing the projection of a sphere onto a cylinder, one way of uniformly distributing the points on a sphere is to distribute them uniformly on a rectangle which is rolled up into a cylinder – and then project them onto the sphere. As we can see, using this method the projection of the points at the poles remains uniform.
But let us return to the rectangular map of the world corresponding to a uniform latitudinal projection, but with deformation at the poles. The speed of the axis of rotation of the multi-axis tourbillon is constant latitudinally, causing an "accumulation" of positions at the poles. But this lateral projection preserves the longitude. In that case, it suffices to modify the speed of the axis of rotation of the balance wheel latitudinally on the sphere, i.e. make it more rapid when sweep- ing the upper part of the projection rectangle. "Which simply comes down to projecting a vertical line onto a circle", the researchers explain.
One way of uniformly distributing the points on a sphere is to distribute them uniformly on a rectangle which is rolled up into a cylinder – and then project them onto the sphere.
From theorem to mechanical model
The mathematical design, then, consists of making a mechanical model of this projection, placed on a table turning at a constant speed longitudinally.
The critical point of this mechanism is the projection of a vertical line at constant speed onto a circle. This lateral projection of a vertical line onto the circle allows a faster speed to be obtained at the poles (where it theoretically attains infinite speed), which entails a lesser concentration of uniformly distributed points at those locations, theorem states.
To achieve this, it is necessary to mechanise an alternating rectilinear movement (i.e. alternately rising and falling) at constant speed. The constant speed is generated by a gear, which is also rotating at constant speed.
Just such an alternating rectilinear mechanism is described under #114 in Henry Brown's 1868 book entitled 507 Mechanical Movements. The researchers were inspired by a number of historical examples. One of them was the Antikythera, and more particularly the mechanical expression of the non-uniform movement of the moon or sun. Without going into all the details, the model of Hipparchus' work consists of taking an eccentric circle, representing a virtual sun, turning at a constant speed and projecting its positions onto an offset circle, centred on the earth. This gives rise to a non-constant speed on that geocentric circle. In concrete terms, the Antikythera achieves this projection thanks to a system consisting of a pin and slot, a device reproduced in the Instant-Lab mechanism.
The Antikythera achieves this projection thanks to a system consisting of a pin and slot, a device reproduced in the Instant-Lab mechanism.
Exploded reconstruction of the Antikythera Mechanism, a 2,000-year-old device often referred to as the world's oldest "computer".
©Tony Freeth
Polar problems
But there was still one big problem, as the first models showed. The mechanism tended to stick at the poles (due to the progressive loss of alignment of the pin with its slot, against which it rubbed). Moreover, once at the pole, the mechanism's wheel could just as well start turning in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, whereas it was crucial that it should always turn in the same direction.
This problem necessitated the addition of a supplementary mechanism that takes over at the passage through the poles (through the intermediary of an extra two-toothed gear). As a result of this, the distribution of the positions of the tourbillon would no longer be homogeneous, but this defect could be minimised by designs increasingly faithful to the theory.
A supplementary mechanism takes over at the passage through the poles (through the intermediary of an extra two-toothed gear).
Over to the watchmakers
During our visit to Instant-Lab, we were able to see for ourselves how these mechanisms work using a theoretical projection of a vertical line onto a circle. The researchers have succeeded simply and effectively in varying the speed of rotation according to the latitude. With a longitudinal axis of rotation, the distribution of the positions in three-dimensional space is uniform, with a much reduced discrepancy at the poles.
For the moment, this mechanism is mounted on a frame and driven manually by a crank. But the addition of the balance spring and escapement "will be relatively straightforward for master-watchmakers," the team explains. Applying it to double and triple-axis tourbillons will enable the effects of gravity to be offset "almost totally" – a fundamental step towards achieving the "perfect" tourbillon that will at last be capable of fulfilling all its chronometric promises.
Now the ball is in the watchmakers' court. Because, as Ilan Vardi says, "our business is concepts. We offer simple, elegant, clear conceptual solutions. Our prototypes are there to inspire of exploration, but we have no vocation to become watchmakers ourselves. We solve one problem, then move on." So, a challenge to watchmakers: the perfect – or near-perfect – tourbillon is within reach. It is up to them to actually produce it.
The researchers have succeeded simply and effectively in varying the speed of rotation according to the latitude. For the moment, this mechanism is mounted on a frame and driven manually by a crank. But the addition of the balance spring and escapement "will be relatively straightforward for master-watchmakers," the team explains.
One final remark: this work of mathematical design, applied here to watchmaking, also opens up numerous avenues of exploration in other domains where the effects of gravity must be counteracted, or which seek to make an object rotate in every possible plane and direction in a uniform manner. For example, what is the human eye if not simply a rotating sphere?
Just one demonstration that innovation in mechanical watchmaking can open up new vistas in numerous other fields.
A challenge to watchmakers: the perfect – or near-perfect – tourbillon is within reach. It is up to them to actually produce it.
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MicroLean Lab, part of HE-Arc Ingénierie, based at St- Imier in the Jura Arc, is in the process of designing a genuine micro-factory that will fit into one (...)
Success story: a reorientation towards protective masks
With the pandemic now a part of everyday life, mask production is becoming a huge industrial market. Thousands of factories have opened in China to produce (...)
Bulgari's Octo Finissimo, behind the scenes
To get a better idea of how the interaction between aesthetics and engineering came about in this collection, Europa Star met its masterminds Fabrizio (...)
Jacob & Co. The Astronomia Art Phoenix
WHEN INNOVATION MEANS EXTRAVAGANCE
You have to actually handle this incredible timepiece at least once to fully appreciate its absolute extravagance.
Bovet 1822: The Brainstorm Chapter Two
WHEN INNOVATION IS A STAGE
Back in 2016, Bovet introduced into their collections a highly innovative, asymmetric case in the shape of an antique writing slope. Here comes a new (...)
A Swiss R&D team introduces "hosted watch manufacturing"
Becoming a "manufacture" is the dream of many smaller and even large watch brands hoping to differentiate themselves, especially in the middle of a global (...)
Mauron Musy: a new sealing technology
WHEN INNOVATION IS WATER-RESISTANCE
Born as a spin-off of a Swiss sub-contractor specialising in exteriors and precision machining for watchmakers, Mauron Musy has built its reputation as (...)
Romain Gauthier: The Insight Micro-Rotor Squelette
WHEN INNOVATION IS DECORATION
Exactly 350 hours of anglage and polishing per watch. Or, as one of the anglage specialists at Romain Gauthier puts it, "a genuine test of mental strength. (...)
Girard-Perregaux: The Cosmos Infinity
WHEN INNOVATION MEANS TWO GLOBES
A solar day contains 24 hours. A sidereal day, the exact measurement of celestial time, lasts 23 hours and 56 minutes. To do full justice to this minute (...)
Urwerk: the UR-100
WHEN INNOVATION MEANS SPACE-TIME
Let's stay in space with the UR-100, the "fourth episode in the intergalactic saga of the 100 collection", as Martin Frei, co-founder of Urwerk, in-house (...)
Louis Moinet: The Space Revolution
WHEN INNOVATION IS SCIENCE FICTION
We already knew that Jean-Marie Schaller, the CEO of Louis Moinet – named after the astronomercum- watchmaker who had more or less fallen into oblivion – (...)
De Bethune: the DB28 Steel Wheels Sapphire Tourbillon
WHEN INNOVATION IS TRANSPARENCY AND LIGHTNESS
Denis Flageollet, the founder and master watchmaker at De Bethune, has always said he takes his inspiration from classic, high-end horology while (...)
Bernhard Lederer's Central Impulse Chronometer
WHEN INNOVATION MEANS TWO ESCAPE WHEELS
We might as well say it straight out: it is absolutely impossible to sum up here every feature that constitutes the huge originality of the calibre 9012, (...)
Ferdinand Berthoud: the Chronomètre FB 2RE
WHEN INNOVATION MEANS COMBINATION
The Chronomètre FB 2RE, the architecture and modular case of which are directly inspired by the Marine No. 6 clock built by the great horologist Ferdinand (...)
Greubel Forsey Balancier S
INNOVATION IN INCLINATION
A large balance wheel measuring 12.6mm, set at 7 o'clock and inclined at an astonishing angle, immediately catches the eye. Is it inclined for purely (...)
F.P.Journe: 20 years of Resonance
FROM THE THEORY TO THE WRIST
The most state-of-the-art innovations sometimes have roots reaching way back to previous centuries. Such is the case of the horological application of (...)
The lesson of Rolex
WHEN INNOVATION IS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS
In watchmaking circles, people tend to mock Rolex fans who buzz with excitement on social media because the brand with the crown logo has made some (...)
In the white rooms of CSEM
INNOVATION REPORT
In the early 1980s, at the height of the crisis affecting the Swiss watch sector, three separate institutes funded by the Swiss state and large watchmaking (...)
The cosmic attraction of watchmaking
We have known since mankind first tried to measure time that its laws come from the cosmos, straight from the sky. What, then, could be more natural for (...)
Instant-Lab (EPFL): Breaking the second barrier
It is sometimes said that, as far as mechanical watch movements are concerned, everything, or nearly everything, has already been achieved. So is (...)
Innovating in times of crisis
Innovations are perhaps were we need to look, if we are to overcome the major challenges of our time. In our latest report we identify some of the major (...)
Tissot: connection without disruption
It will be new CEO Sylvain Dolla's first major project. Tissot's connected watch, the T-Touch Connect Solar, has been eagerly awaited, as the new market (...)
Nomos, the radical art of nuance
This year, the German town of Glashütte celebrates 175 years of watchmaking history. And while A. Lange & Söhne and Glashütte Original are its traditional (...)
"Accutron becomes a brand in its own right"
For the 60th anniversary of the first fully electronic timepiece in history, Accutron has not just launched a commemorative limited series; it has (...)
Design: from concept cars to concept watches
For the past twenty years, Olivier Gamiette has created concept cars for a major automobile group. In his spare time, his passion is designing watches. The (...)
The intelligence service of the Swiss watch industry
In the 21st century more than ever before, reliable information is the key to industrial success. As early as the 1960s, the Swiss watchmaking industry set (...)
Behind the scenes: a watch design war
On an object that measures just a few centimetres across – a watch – the shapes and lines can sometimes end up looking disturbingly similar... even when (...)
Initium: converting people to watches
Five years after holding its first horological initiation class in Switzerland, the startup can pride itself on having modernised the induction process to (...)
1984: When Gerald Genta challenged the watchmaking establishment
The opening up of luxury watchmaking to contemporary creative horizons may have begun when Gerald Genta made a splash at the "Montres et Bijoux" exhibition (...)
Peter Stas: "We're in talks with health insurance companies"
Smartwatches? They account for 12% of turnover at Frédérique Constant and 35% at Alpina. With the creation of MMT, Peter Stas is one step ahead in the (...)
The watch that doesn't exist (yet)
Today, it is possible to launch a brand without even having the actual watch on your wrist. From the 1990s onward, the arrival of 3D computer-generated (...)
Swiss style and watchmaking
For all their use of characters, Swiss watchmakers have failed to take advantage of their country's reputation for excellence in typography, with some (...)
A new way of thinking about the production chain?
How is it possible to achieve a much stronger and instant match between brand orders and assembly capabilities? And doing so, avoid excessive and unsold (...)


Winston Churchill said, "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." Change is constant, within and outside ourselves. Few people I know would – without reflection – call it perfect. It's hard. Humans resist it. We don't like what we don't know. We don't like uncertainty. So often at work, the decisions to change come don't come from our own passionate desires to improve and change, but from organizational happenings that feel beyond our control.
Change at work can be small, like being assigned a new project, big like getting a new boss, or huge like a re-organization. Any of these can cause a certain amount of stress. So what's to do? Here are my 4 Ps for handling disruption.
1. Be Practical. First, accept that there is and always will be change; fighting that fact will only cost you energy. Accept that change often means a period of uncertainty or even chaos. Acknowledge your fear, frustration, and confusion, but strive to understand the reality of the landscape as best you can and deal with the needs at hand.
2. See Purpose. Ask questions. Challenge what you must. Get to a point where you can at least understand the intention behind the changes and the desired results. Now, embrace that purpose, find your part in the solution, and join with your leadership to drive the team in that direction, communicating and sharing the purpose with your team as much as possible.
3. Be Positive. This is not to say you should pretend you are a ray of sunshine. Rather, ensure you tell yourself the whole story. The whole story has both negative and positive sides. Evaluate, and work to move yourself forward. Try to see the improvements promised, to look at things from a process perspective, and to stay upbeat. You'll be less stressed AND you'll be part of the solution. Negative energy and stories are only going to hinder positive outcomes, so identify and embrace the up sides, and go forward.
4. Be Proactive. This is two-fold. First, look for the new opportunities and needs within the changed environment; find a place where your skills and expertise can fill gaps and where you can shine. Then go for it—change always contains opportunity, why shouldn't it be yours?
Second, in the longer term, you need to know that change IS constant – in your company, in the market, and in your personal landscape of motivation and balance. Keep your portfolio up to date; continue to gain new skills. Stay abreast of your value in the market. This helps you feel confident and secure because you're taking charge of the one thing in this work-world that you DO control: you.


Spanking machines seem to be a pretty common spanko fantasy and since I'm curious about anything spanko, I started looking into them. That's when I came across the Robospanker. In order to get the full effect, you should click on the "See Spanking Video" link on the bottom left-hand side of the page or follow the Robospanker link to the next page and watch that video. The girl in the video sure seems to enjoy it anyway.
A toy like that could come in handy if you're between partners or if you've completely worn your spanker out with brattiness. I worry about that myself sometimes. What would we do if Dan sprained a wrist or something?
hehehehehehehe… well ya know bethie, maybe if you offer a testimonail from a real spanko, the robospanker folks will offer you a test model to try out for em?????
Hi Bethie, That Robospanker sure looks a mean contraption but it is designed for poeople with a selfish nature. A good spanking should be enjoyed by two people. Beside, where would you keep it at home, unless you have a cellar or a workshed in the garden ? I really enjoy your blog.


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text:
Film Documenting Robidoux's Western States Experience Set for Nov. 7
October 25, 2019 Chris Wristen Leave a comment
Six months following Kyle Robidoux's barrier-breaking moment when he became the first legally blind runner to start the legendary Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, a film documenting the experience will make its local premiere.
The film, titled "Narrow Vision," will be shown at an event starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at Heartbreak Hill Running Company, 652 Tremont Street, in Boston.
A resident of Roxbury, Mass., Robidoux typically races with the assistance of a sighted guide. To help attendees better understand that component and to introduce potential guides to those responsibilities, the event will begin with a "how to guide"-themed run with Robidoux and Cory Gardner. Gardner is a Team with a Vision sighted guide and member of the Heartbreaker Running Club, and he has guided Robidoux several times. A screening of the short film will follow, and then Robidoux and Gardner will take questions from audience members.
"Narrow Vision" was produced by CLIF Bar, the company that provided Robidoux with a sponsor's entry bib into Western States. He had already proven his ability to run the distance by completing three 100-mile races, first at the Vermont 100 in 2017, then the Ghost Train 100 and the Yeti 100.
Robidoux has spent much of his running career advocating for making the sport more inclusive for people of every size, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and more. His efforts led to the creation of an Athletes with Disabilities Division at the Vermont 100, a race that has now had a handful of finishers within the division.
Following Western States, Robidoux has spoken to running groups throughout the country. In October, he was a guest speaker at the U.S. Trail Running Conference in Estes Park, Colo., where he spoke about diversity and inclusion in the sport.
Attendance at the film screening is free, but an RSVP is requested. For more information or to RSVP, click this link.
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Daniel Platt
Department of Legal Studies
University of Illinois Springfield
I am a historian of the United States, with interests in law, cultural history, and the history of capitalism. My current research considers how Americans debated the moral boundaries of indebtedness in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
This work has been supported by the Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowship, the John E. Rovensky Fellowship in U.S. Business and Economic History, and the Cromwell Fellowship from the American Society for Legal History. Two articles drawn from my research have appeared in the Journal of American History and History of the Present.
I am an assistant professor of legal studies at the University of Illinois Springfield. Previously, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University at Buffalo School of Law and a graduate fellow at the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University.
dplat2@uis.edu


Austin Federal Credit Union is headquartered in Austin and is the 213th largest credit union in the state of Texas. It is also the 2,763rd largest credit union in the nation. It was established in 1967 and as of December of 2018, it had grown to 10 employees and 2,800 members at 1 location. Austin Federal Credit Union has a B health rating.
Austin Federal Credit Union membership is open to those who live, work, volunteer, attend school or worship in a select area of Austin, Texas.
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Life is complicated. And while we believe Jesus is the key to navigating life, we believe it's better follow him in community. Life Groups are just that- groups of people that do life together, meeting to help each other take whatever their next step with Jesus might be. Groups are full of people from all different walks and stages of life and meet at various times and locations throughout the City. Wherever you're at in your relationship with Jesus, we think it would be a great idea to connect to a life group. If you're interested, fill out this form HERE and we'll be in touch with you soon.


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Orange increases dividend as revenue rises
By Mauro Orru
Orange said Thursday that revenue for the third quarter increased as growth in France and Africa and the Middle East offset a decline in the other segments, and it raised its interim dividend to be paid out in December.
The French telecommunications company said revenue rose to 10.58 billion euros ($12.43 billion) on a comparable basis from EUR10.50 billion a year earlier.
Analysts had expected revenue of EUR10.54 billion for the quarter, according to FactSet.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization after leasing, or Ebitdaal, fell slightly to EUR3.58 billion from EUR3.60 billion on a comparable basis. The company began using Ebitdaal as a financial indicator in January 2019 to account for the adoption of the IFRS 16 accounting standard.
Orange said its board of directors backed the return to a 2020 dividend of EUR0.70 a share, adding the company would pay an interim dividend of EUR0.40 a share on Dec. 9, representing an increase of EUR0.10 from the amount it announced in July. The company will make a final proposal at its annual general meeting in May 2021, it said.
Orange said it continues to expect a slight decline in 2020 Ebitdaal of about 1%, including all the effects linked to the coronavirus pandemic.
Write to Mauro Orru at mauro.orru@wsj.com; @MauroOrru94


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Tudyah Lake Provincial Park
Tudyah Lake Provincial ParkDonald Lovegrove2019-01-15T14:23:23-07:00
Tudyah Lake Provincial Park lies on the western perimeter of the Rocky Mountain Trench, between the Nechako Plateau on the west and the Hart Ranges of the Rockies to the east.
It has 36 vehicle/tent sites to its credit, in an open grassed meadow and far enough apart to ensure privacy. All basic amenities are provided. The campsite also provides a day-use picnicking areas, some of the parks facilities are wheelchair accessible. The campground is open from May to September and fees are collected. No fee or services provided after September 30th; campers may stay in self-contained units and be user maintained until snow closes the park.
A smaller, Forest Service campground lies farther north along the lake, accessible from the Finlay Forest Service Rd. The road continues beyond Tudyah Lake, and is the main access road for areas on the western side of Williston Lake, where hundreds of miles of arterial gravel roads, most of which eventually end in either bush or clear-cut, lead to nearly two dozen small Forest Service campgrounds scattered across the landscape, including a trio of sites around the popular Germansen Lake.
You'll enjoy good squawfish angling, with some rainbow and bull trout in Tudyah Lake Provincial Park. From here, a rat's nest of Forest Service roads bring the angler into a fisherman's paradise far too expansive, and too difficult to describe without a good map. Or you can just head for Finlay Bay on Williston Lake, you can't miss it; it's the largest body of water in the province. Whether or not you can catch a fish here, well, that depends on your skill and if the fish are biting when you cast a line. Talk to local outfitters for information on where to catch what in this gigantic lake.
Tudyah Lake Provincial Park is located in Northern British Columbia, 6 miles (9 km) north of McLeod Lake on Highway 97.
McLeod Lake
Alaska Highway 97