text:
'My life for his': Thai mothers fight for activist children charged with insulting king
Sureerat Chiwarak, mother of arrested anti-government protest leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, attends a demonstration in Bangkok in April demanding his release. | REUTERS
by Patpicha Tanakasempipat
BANGKOK – Sureerat Chiwarak sat with calm resolve in front of a Bangkok court as her head was shaved in a protest to support her activist son, jailed for weeks without bail on criminal charges of insulting Thailand's powerful king.
It was a moment the 51-year-old business consultant had never foreseen, but she felt desperate to do something after her son, student protest leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, 22, was taken to a hospital after nearly eight weeks of hunger strike.
"My son is dying and I can't do anything about it. It's a terrible feeling. The people in power are letting my son die," Sureerat said in an interview.
"The head shaving was just a start. It's the least I could do when I'm prepared to risk my life for his."
As authorities locked up young protest leaders and largely brought their campaign to a halt, Sureerat came to forge an unlikely alliance with other mothers who are seeking freedom for their children and had never been particularly political before.
A core group of five mothers, from a business owner to a rice farmer, formed their bond as they met on trips to court and prison to see their children.
The focus of their campaign is the release of their children, not the causes the young activists have taken up. But for some, their efforts have become intertwined with some of the issues that got the youngsters into trouble.
The mothers have recently staged several quiet protests, standing together for one hour and 12 minutes — a reference to Article 112 in the criminal code on insulting the monarchy — next to cardboard cutouts of their children and showing the three-finger salute of defiance to demand that they be granted bail.
Six young protest leaders, including Parit, remain in jail. The court has repeatedly denied them bail, citing the severity of the charges against them, which include insulting the king.
Thai protest leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak flashes a three-finger salute as he arrives at the criminal court in Bangkok in February. | REUTERS
The protesters broke longstanding taboos last year by calling for reform of the monarchy — an unprecedented demand in a country where the king is constitutionally "enthroned in a position of revered worship" and insulting him is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The protesters also demanded the departure of former junta leader Prayut Chan-ocha as prime minister and a new constitution.
While the calls aimed at reducing the powers of the monarchy have struck a chord with young activists, many Thais are devoted to the king and resent the protests.
The Royal Palace has declined to comment directly on the issue but late last year, the king, in brief remarks on the protesters, said: "we love them all the same" and described Thailand as a land of compromise.
Government officials have said criticism of the king is unlawful and inappropriate.
The crackdown on the protest leaders brought their campaign to a halt but it fired up the mothers, most of whom were never particularly political before.
Several said they initially had a hard time understanding their children's call for reform of the monarchy, given the usual prosecution of such critics. Some dissidents have fled into exile and several have disappeared or died in mysterious circumstances.
The mothers of arrested anti-government protest leaders demand the release of their sons outside Remand prison in Bangkok on April 28. | REUTERS
"I was afraid for him at first, about everything," said Malai Nampa, 56, who left her rice fields to call for the release of her son, 36-year-old human rights lawyer Arnon, who was arrested alongside Parit in February.
Another mother, Suriya Sithijirawattanakul, got her wish on Thursday when her daughter Panusaya, or "Rung," 22, was released after nearly two months in prison and six bail petitions.
But Suriya vowed to continue the campaign alongside the other mothers for the release of their children.
"It would be much better if my daughters' friends are all released too," she said.
Sureerat said she regretted not supporting Parit enough before his arrest, but now she says she has started getting involved in activism, even joining a 247.5-km march — a nod to the year 2,475 in the Buddhist Era calendar, or 1932, when absolute monarchy came to an end in Thailand — to demand the release of political prisoners.
"I didn't get it then, why he had to sacrifice so much. But now I want to tell him I understand," she said.
"I've learned that if you don't fight back against these people, you will only be oppressed."
Parit faces 20 charges of royal insult, the most of any of the activists, and has been denied bail nine times. A court is due to rule on a tenth petition on Tuesday.
Sureerat said she had to remain hopeful even though Parit told her to prepare for the worst.
"Penguin told me that in every battle, there will be losses. I said I wasn't ready to lose him," she said, calling Parit by his nickname.
"I'm still not. No mother ever is."
Sureerat Chiwarak attends a demonstration outside the criminal court in Bangkok on April 30. | REUTERS
Thai prime minister survives no-confidence vote as protest looms
Thailand revives prison terms for royal insults to stop protests
As Thailand's troubles grow, the king moves to bolster his image
Thailand, Thai royalty


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text:
package tresc.benchmark.schemaGen;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.List;

import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
import org.vagabond.util.CollectionUtils;
import org.vagabond.xmlmodel.MappingType;
import org.vagabond.xmlmodel.RelationType;

import tresc.benchmark.Constants.ScenarioName;
import tresc.benchmark.utils.Utils;
import vtools.dataModel.expression.AND;
import vtools.dataModel.expression.EQ;
import vtools.dataModel.expression.Path;
import vtools.dataModel.expression.Projection;
import vtools.dataModel.expression.Query;
import vtools.dataModel.expression.SPJQuery;
import vtools.dataModel.expression.SelectClauseList;
import vtools.dataModel.expression.Variable;

//MN FIXED "K"; it had not been set correctly - 6 May 2014
//MN Enhanced genTargetRels to pass types of attributes of target relations as argument to addRelation - 6 May 2014
//MN Implemented chooseTargetRels - 17 May 2014
//MN Enhanced genSourceRels to pass types of attributes of source relation as argument to addRelation - 17 May 2014
//MN FIXED chooseTargetRels - 20 May 2014
//MN FIXED target relation names in genTargetRels - 20 May 2014
//MN MODIFIED genSourceRels to be able to evaluate MapMegre (Notice that this modification should be undone later) - 26 May 2014
//MN FIXED chooseTargetRels (F) - 2 June 2014
//MN ToDo FIX chooseSourceRels for circular FK - 2 June 2014

public class SelfJoinScenarioGenerator extends AbstractScenarioGenerator
{
	static Logger log = Logger.getLogger(SelfJoinScenarioGenerator.class);

	public static final int MAX_NUM_TRIES = 10;

	//MN join size - 17 May 2014
	private int JN;
	//MN primary key - 17 May 2014
	private int K;
	//MN source rel size - 17 May 2014
	private int E;
	private int F;
	private String[] keys;
	private String[] fks;
    private int[] keyPos;
    private int[] fkPos;
//    private int[] normalPos;

    //MN added attribute to check whether we are reusing target relations - 17 May 2014
    private boolean targetReuse;

    public SelfJoinScenarioGenerator()
    {
        ;
    }

    protected void initPartialMapping () {
    	super.initPartialMapping();
        E = Utils.getRandomNumberAroundSomething(_generator, numOfElements, numOfElementsDeviation);

        //MN modified the code so that K works correctly - 6 May 2014
        K = Utils.getRandomNumberAroundSomething(_generator, primaryKeySize, primaryKeySizeDeviation);

        E = (E < ((2 * K) + 1)) ? ((2 * K) + 1) : E;

        //MN join size
        JN = Utils.getRandomNumberAroundSomething(_generator, numOfSetElements, numOfSetElementsDeviation);

        JN = (JN < 1) ? 1 : JN;
        F = E - (2 * K);

        //MN BEGIN - 17 May 2014
        targetReuse = false;
        //MN END
    }

    //MN - implemented chooseTargetRels - 17 May 2014
    @Override
    protected boolean chooseTargetRels() throws Exception{
    	//MN we need two relations with the same size - 17 May 2014
    	boolean found1 = false;
    	boolean found2 = false;
    	RelationType rel1 = null;
    	RelationType rel2 = null;

    	if(K==0)
    		K=1;
    	//MN 2 June 2014
    	F =1 ;

    	int numTries =0;

    	while((numTries<MAX_NUM_TRIES) && (!found1) && (!found2)){

    		//find the first one - relation S
    		int minAttrs1 = K + 1;
    		rel1 = getRandomRel(false, minAttrs1, minAttrs1);
    		if(rel1 == null)
    			found1 = false;
    		else{
    			//MN FIXED - 18 May 2014
    			if ((rel1.sizeOfAttrArray() != K + 1))
    				found1 = false;
    			if(found1){
    				if(rel1.isSetPrimaryKey()){
    					int[] pkPos = model.getPKPos(rel1.getName(), false);
    					if(pkPos.length != K)
    						found1 = false;
    					else
    						for(int h=0; h<K; h++)
    							if(pkPos[h] != h)
    								found1=false;
    				}
    				else{
    					int [] primaryKeyPos = new int [K];
    					for(int i=0; i<K; i++)
    						primaryKeyPos [i] = i;
    					fac.addPrimaryKey(rel1.getName(), primaryKeyPos, false);
    					found1=true;
    				}
    			}
    			if(found1)
    				m.addTargetRel(rel1);

    		}

    		//find the second one - relation T
    		int minAttrs2 = K + K;
    		rel2 = getRandomRel(false, minAttrs2, minAttrs2);
    		if(rel2 == null)
    			found2 = false;
    		else{
    			//MN 18 May 2014
    			if(rel2.sizeOfAttrArray()/K != 2)
    				found2=false;
    			if((rel1 != null) && (rel1.getName()==rel2.getName()))
    				found2 = false;

    			if(found2){
    				if(rel2.isSetPrimaryKey()){
    					int[] pkPos = model.getPKPos(rel2.getName(), false);
    					if(pkPos.length != K)
    						found2 = false;
    					else
    						for(int h=0; h<K; h++)
    							if(pkPos[h] != h)
    								found2=false;
    				}
    				else{
    					int [] primaryKeyPos = new int [K];
    					for(int i=0; i<K; i++)
    						primaryKeyPos [i] = i;
    					fac.addPrimaryKey(rel2.getName(), primaryKeyPos, false);
    					found2=true;
    				}
    			}
    		}

    		if(!found1 && !found2)
    			numTries++;

    		if(!found1){
    			//create one
    			String[] attrs = new String[K + 1];

    			for(int j = 0; j < K + 1; j++)
    				attrs[j] = randomAttrName(0, j);

    			// create the relation
    			String relName = randomRelName(0);
    			rel1 = fac.addRelation(getRelHook(0), relName, attrs, false);

    			//set primary key
    			int [] primaryKeyPos = new int [K];
    			for(int i=0; i<K; i++)
    				primaryKeyPos [i] = i;
    			fac.addPrimaryKey(relName, primaryKeyPos, false);
    			found1 = true;
    		}

    		if(found2)
    			m.addTargetRel(rel2);
    		else{
    			//create one
    			String[] attrs = new String[K + K];

    			for(int j = 0; j < K + K; j++)
    				attrs[j] = randomAttrName(0, j);

    			// create the relation
    			String relName = randomRelName(0);

    			rel2 = fac.addRelation(getRelHook(0), relName, attrs, false);

    			//set primary key
    			int [] primaryKeyPos = new int [K];
    			for(int i=0; i<K; i++)
    				primaryKeyPos [i] = i;
    			fac.addPrimaryKey(relName, primaryKeyPos, false);
    			found2=true;
    		}
    	}

    	if(numTries>MAX_NUM_TRIES)
    		return false;

    	//set source relation parameters
    	keys = new String[K];
    	keyPos = new int[K];
    	fks = new String[K];
    	fkPos = new int[K];
    	E = K + K + 1;

    	//set keys
    	for(int i=0; i<K; i++){
    		keys[i] = rel1.getAttrArray(i).getName().toString();
    		fks[i] = rel2.getAttrArray(i+K).getName().toString();
    		keyPos[i]=i;
    		fkPos[i]=i+K;
    	}

    	//set FKs
    	addFK(1, fks, 0, keys, false);

    	targetReuse = true;
    	return true;

    }

    //MN modified chooseSoruceRels - 6 May 2014
    //MN Question: I don't get some parts of the code - 6 May 2014
    //MN the goal is to preserve value of Key - 6 May 2014
    @Override
    protected boolean chooseSourceRels() throws Exception {
    	int numTries = 0;
    	RelationType rel = null;
    	String srcName;

    	// fetch random rel with enough attrs
    	//MN do we need numTries here? - 17 May 2014
    	while(numTries < MAX_NUM_TRIES){
    		//MN two keys (one key set is referring to the other) + 1 (to be reasonable)
    		rel = getRandomRel(true, K + K + 1);

    		if(rel == null)
    			break;

    		numTries++;
    	}

    	//TODO try to reduce number of keys and foreign keys?

    	keys = new String[K];
    	keyPos = new int[K];
    	fks = new String[K];
    	fkPos = new int[K];

    	if (rel == null)
    		return false;

    	//MN BEGIN
    	E = rel.sizeOfAttrArray();
    	//MN END

    	F = rel.sizeOfAttrArray() - 2 * K;
//    	normalPos = new int[F];
    	m.addSourceRel(rel);

	    srcName = rel.getName();

	    // already has PK, get positions of PK attrs
	    if (rel.isSetPrimaryKey()) {
	    		keyPos = model.getPKPos(srcName, true);
	    		keys = model.getPK(srcName, true);

	    		// find attributes to use as fk
	    		int fkDone = 0, pos = 0;
	    		//MN I have trouble in understanding the following piece of code - 6 May 2014
	    		while(fkDone < K) {
	    			// is pk position?
	    			if (Arrays.binarySearch(keyPos, pos) < 0) {
	    				fkPos[fkDone] = pos;
	    				fks[fkDone] = m.getAttrId(0, pos, true);
	    				fkDone++;
	    			}
	    			pos++;
	    		}

	    		//MN addForeignKey or check types of foreign keys - 2 June 2014
	    	}
	    else {
	    		keyPos = CollectionUtils.createSequence(0, K);
	    		fkPos = CollectionUtils.createSequence(K, K);
	    		for(int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
	    			keys[i] = rel.getAttrArray(i).getName();
	    			fks[i] = rel.getAttrArray(K + i).getName();
	    		}
//	    		normalPos = CollectionUtils.createSequence(2 * K, F);

	    		fac.addPrimaryKey(srcName, CollectionUtils.createSequence(0, K), true);
	    		//MN removed the following line to be able to evaluate MapMerge - 2 June 2014
	    		//fac.addForeignKey(srcName, fks, srcName, keys, true);
	    }

    	return true;
    }

	@Override
	protected void genSourceRels() throws Exception {
		String srcName = randomRelName(0);
		String[] attrs = new String[E];

		//MN BEGIN -considered an array to store types of attributes - 17 May 2014
		String[] attrsType = new String[E];
		//MN END

		//MN BEGIN - 17 May 2014
		if(!targetReuse){
			keys = new String[K];
			fks = new String[K];
			keyPos = new int[K];
			fkPos = new int[K];
		}
		//MN END
//		normalPos = new int[F];

		String hook = getRelHook(0);

		// create key and foreign key attrs
		for(int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
			String randAtt = randomAttrName(0, i);
			keys[i] = randAtt + "ke";
			keyPos[i] = i;
			fks[i] = randAtt + "fk";
			fkPos[i] = i + K;
			attrs[i] = keys[i];
			attrs[i + K] = fks[i];
		}
		// create free attrs
		for(int i = 2 * K; i < E; i++)
			attrs[i] = randomAttrName(0, i);
//		normalPos = CollectionUtils.createSequence(2 * K, F);

		//MN BEGIN - 17 May 2014
		if(targetReuse){
			for(int h=0; h<2*K; h++)
				attrsType[h] = m.getTargetRels().get(1).getAttrArray(h).getDataType();
			int count =0;
			for(int h=2*K; h<E; h++){
				attrsType[h] = m.getTargetRels().get(0).getAttrArray(K+count).getDataType();
				count++;
			}
		}
		//MN END

		fac.addRelation(hook, srcName, attrs, true);
		fac.addPrimaryKey(srcName, keys, true);
		//MN removed the following line to be able to evaluate MapMerge - it should be undone later - 26 May 2014
		fac.addForeignKey(srcName, fks, srcName, keys, true);

		//MN BEGIN - 17 May 2014
		targetReuse = false;
		//MN END
	}

	@Override
	protected void genTargetRels() throws Exception {
		//MN modified the way that iBench generates names for target relations by adding curRep
		//MN in order to be able to support reusability - 20 May 2014
		String bRelName = m.getRelName(0, true) + curRep + "_b";
		String fkRelName = m.getRelName(0, true) + curRep + "_fk";
		String[] bAttrs = new String[K + F];
		String[] fkAttrs = new String[2 * K];
		//MN considered arrays to store types of attributes - 4 May 2014
		List<String> attrsType1 = new ArrayList<String> ();
		List<String> attrsType2 = new ArrayList<String> ();

		// add keys to basic table and keys and fks to fk table
		for(int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
			//MN BEGIN - 6 May 2014
			//bAttrs
			attrsType1.add(m.getSourceRels().get(0).getAttrArray(i).getDataType());
			//fkAttrs
			attrsType2.add(m.getSourceRels().get(0).getAttrArray(i).getDataType());
			//MN END
			bAttrs[i] = m.getAttrId(0, i, true);
			fkAttrs[i] = m.getAttrId(0, i, true);
			fkAttrs[i + K] = m.getAttrId(0, i + K, true);
		}

		//MN BEGIN - 6 May 2014
		//fkAttrs
		for(int i=0; i<K; i++)
			attrsType2.add(m.getSourceRels().get(0).getAttrArray(i + K).getDataType());
		//MN END

		// add free attrs to basic table
		for(int i = 2 * K; i < E; i++){
			bAttrs[i - K] = m.getAttrId(0, i, true);
			//MN BEGIN - 6 May 2014
			//bAttrs
			attrsType1.add(m.getSourceRels().get(0).getAttrArray(i).getDataType());
			//MN END
		}

		// create relations and foreign keys
		//MN - 6 May 2014
		fac.addRelation(getRelHook(0), bRelName, bAttrs, attrsType1.toArray(new String[] {}), false);
		fac.addRelation(getRelHook(1), fkRelName, fkAttrs, attrsType2.toArray(new String[] {}), false);

		fac.addPrimaryKey(bRelName, keys, false);
		fac.addPrimaryKey(fkRelName, keys, false);

		addFK(1, fks, 0, keys, false);
	}

	@Override
	protected void genMappings() throws Exception {
		String[] keyVars = fac.getFreshVars(0, K);
		String[] fkVars = fac.getFreshVars(K, K);
		String[] fVars = fac.getFreshVars(2 * K, F);

		MappingType m1 = fac.addMapping(m.getCorrs(0, false));
		fac.addForeachAtom(m1, 0, CollectionUtils.concatArrays(keyVars, fkVars,
				fVars));
		fac.addExistsAtom(m1, 0, CollectionUtils.concatArrays(keyVars, fVars));

		MappingType m2 = fac.addMapping(m.getCorrs(1, false));
		fac.addForeachAtom(m2, 0, CollectionUtils.concatArrays(keyVars, fac.getFreshVars(2 * K, E - K)));
		fac.addForeachAtom(m2, 0, CollectionUtils.concatArrays(fkVars, keyVars,
				fac.getFreshVars(E, F)));
		fac.addExistsAtom(m2, 1, CollectionUtils.concatArrays(keyVars, fkVars));
	}

	@Override
	protected void genTransformations() throws Exception {
		SPJQuery genQuery = new SPJQuery();
		Query q;
		String mapId;
		genQueries(genQuery);
		String creates;
		//TODO check
		creates = m.getRelName(0, false);
		q = (Query) genQuery.getSelect().getTerm(0);
		q.storeCode(q.toTrampString(m.getMapIds()));
		q = addQueryOrUnion(creates, q);
		mapId = m.getMaps().get(0).getId();
		fac.addTransformation(q.toTrampStringOneMap(mapId), mapId, creates);

		creates = m.getRelName(1, false);
		q = (Query) genQuery.getSelect().getTerm(1);
		q.storeCode(q.toTrampString(m.getMapIds()));
		q = addQueryOrUnion(creates, q);
		mapId = m.getMaps().get(1).getId();
		fac.addTransformation(q.toTrampStringOneMap(mapId), mapId, creates);
	}

	private void genQueries(SPJQuery generatedQuery) {
		String nameS = m.getRelName(0, true);
		String nameTB = m.getRelName(0, false);
		String nameTFK = m.getRelName(1, false);
		String[] sAttrs = m.getAttrIds(0, true);
		// create the first query mapping to the K, F table
		SPJQuery query = new SPJQuery();
		Variable var = new Variable("X");
		query.getFrom().add(var.clone(), new Projection(Path.ROOT, nameS));

		// generate the keys in the source and Basic target table
		// add the keys constraints to the source and to the target
		SelectClauseList select = query.getSelect();
		//Variable varKey = new Variable("K");
		// the key constraint in the source
		for (int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
			// add the keys to the select clause of the query
			Projection att = new Projection(var.clone(), keys[i]);
			select.add(keys[i], att);
		}

		// generate the free elements in the source table and in the Basic
		// target table only
		for (int i = 0; i < F; i++) {
			// add the free elements to the select clause of the query
			String attName = sAttrs[2 * K + i];
			Projection att = new Projection(var.clone(), attName);
			select.add(attName, att);
		}

		// add the first query to the final query
		query.setSelect(select);
		SelectClauseList pselect = pquery.getSelect();
		SelectClauseList gselect = generatedQuery.getSelect();
		pselect.add(nameTB, query);
		gselect.add(nameTB, query);
		pquery.setSelect(pselect);
		generatedQuery.setSelect(gselect);
		generatedQuery.addTarget(nameTB);

        // create the second intermediate query
		SPJQuery query2 = new SPJQuery();
		// create the from clause of the second query
		for (int i = 1; i <= JN; i++)
			query2.getFrom().add(new Variable("X" + i), new Projection(Path.ROOT, nameS));

		// generate the first part of the Select clause of the second query
		// add as attr all the keys that belong to the first relation
		// that appears in the From clause
		SelectClauseList select2 = query2.getSelect();
		for (int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
			Projection att = new Projection(new Variable("X1"), keys[i]);
			select2.add(keys[i], att);
		}

		// generate in the Join target table the pointers to the keys
		// of the source; RE stands for Reference element
		// also generate the second part of the Select clause of the second
		// query by adding as attr all the keys that
		// belong to the last relation that appears in the From clause
		for (int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
			Projection att = new Projection(new Variable("X" + JN), fks[i]);
			select2.add(fks[i], att);
		}

		// generate the Where clause of the second query; that
		// constructs the joining of the source for JN times
		AND where = new AND();
		for (int j = 1; j < JN; j++)
			for (int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
				Projection att1 =
						new Projection(new Variable("X" + (j + 1)), keys[i]);
				Projection att2 =
						new Projection(new Variable("X" + j), fks[i]);
				where.add(new EQ(att1, att2));
			}

		// add the second query to the final query
		query2.setSelect(select2);
		query2.setWhere(where);
		pselect = pquery.getSelect();
		gselect = generatedQuery.getSelect();
		pselect.add(nameTFK, query2);
		gselect.add(nameTFK, query2);
		pquery.setSelect(pselect);
		generatedQuery.setSelect(gselect);
		generatedQuery.addTarget(nameTFK);
	}

	@Override
	protected void genCorrespondences() {
		// keys from source to both target relations
		for(int i = 0; i < K; i++) {
			addCorr(0, i, 0, i);
			addCorr(0, i, 1, i);
		}
		// FKs from source to target FK relation
		for(int i = 0; i < K; i++)
			addCorr(0, i + K, 1, i + K);
		// free attrs from source to basic target relation
		for(int i = 0; i < F; i++)
			addCorr(0, i + (2 * K), 0, i + K);
	}

	@Override
	public ScenarioName getScenType() {
		return ScenarioName.SELFJOINS;
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
CLADnews
Les Mills unveils new "future-focused" studios at Auckland City Gym, designed by Monk Mackenzie, Rufus Knight and Alt Group
by Tom Walker | 02 Jul 2019
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We want people to get excited about being in these spaces, so we've designed them as a sensory experience and put an intimate focus on design
– Les Mills Jnr
Fitness giant Les Mills has launched three new studio spaces at its iconic Auckland City Gym in New Zealand.
The new spaces were designed by New Zealand architects Monk Mackenzie and interior designer Rufus Knight, working in partnership with design studio Alt Group.
According to Les Mills Jnr, who led the development of the new studios and workouts, a key objective was to partner with New Zealand's best designers to create spaces that work at both a practical and aesthetic level.
"We've put an intimate focus on design to create the most incredible end-to-end experience for members," Mills Jnr said.
"We want people to get excited about being in these spaces, so we've designed them as a sensory experience. They look good, smell good, and are places they feel they belong. We want to be a cultural hub for our members."
The fresh additions include a "highly tactile" functional studio – which will host a newly-developed training workout called Ceremony – and a design-led boxing studio created around the needs of a new boxing conditioning workout called Conquer.
The third new space is an immersive indoor cycling studio – which Les Mills says is the largest of its kind in the world – featuring a 100-bike terraced theatre environment. It is accompanied by a wall-to-wall curved screen and a five-projector, cinema-quality audio-visual system that delivers Les Mills' bike workout, The Trip.
Ceremony is a 45-minute functional training workout with a focus on a whole-body exercise mixing strength, cardio and conditioning within a shared community experience.
"Ceremony is our take on functional training," said Les Mills product innovation team member, Ezra Fantl.
"We use all sorts of equipment; SkiErgs, rowers, agility ladders, sleds, kettlebells – but we aren't stuck in a mindset that doesn't let us innovate. We also incorporate explosive exercises, balance and coordination drills, and whole-body flow-based movements like bear crawls.
The other new exercise product, Conquer, is a 45-minute boxing conditioning workout that uses a trio of treadmill running, aquabag punching and resistance-based cardio exercises – such as ball slams and skipping. The workout is structured like a boxing match: three minutes of work, with one minute to recover and transition to your next station.
"We've designed the space so that the atmosphere is intimate as you walk into the room, the lights are low and the workout is completely your own," said Les Mills product innovation team member Adam Lazarus.
"You can be a professional boxer, or never have thrown a punch, and you will get a great workout."
Mills Jnr added that Ceremony and Conquer will now be trialled at the Auckland site, but didn't reveal any details of a possible rollout as yet.
"At the Les Mills Auckland City Gym we're passionate about designing the best experience we can," he said.
"The facilities are stepping into a premium space, with more focus on spatial design. We are really trying to provide a great fitness experience – one that represents the essence of Les Mills and what it stands for."
As well as acting as the "laboratory" space for the new training styles, the new workout spaces are the first stage of a long-term project to transform the home of Les Mills in Auckland – which in its long history has been an industrial building, a nightclub and a boxing gym.
Rather than completely renovate the original space, architects Monk Mackenzie have designed an interior box, essentially creating a boutique gym inside a gym.
The new studios are a response to changing demographics and exercise trends, as well as an aesthetic makeover of a tired area of the gym.
The design of the space has been led with the expectations of the Gen Z and Millennial demographics in mind – due to the two generations currently driving much of the global fitness spend.
The box-like structure containing the Immersive Cycle studio is designed like a mini-building, with its own roof and its own acoustics.
"Rather than being about gyms, it was about creating something experiential," said Monk Mackenzie partner Dean McKenzie.
"We wanted to make the whole experience feel kind of theatrical, in terms of when you walk in, the spaces we've created and the sub-spaces. The Immersive Cycle studio is theatre-like; when you are in the functional studio and the boxing studio, the lighting is calibrated to be moody. The spaces feel intimate.
"It's an inclusive space, not trying to be masculine like many gym spaces. The brief from Les Mills was very clear about that, moving it away from being an intimidating space. The 'materiality' plays into that, making it feel less 'sweaty and grunty'."
Les Mills Monk Mackenzie Rufus Knight Alt Group
One of the two new exercise products is Ceremony, a 45-minute functional training workout
The additions include a studio with 100 indoor bikes, set out in a terraced theatre environment
FEATURE: Industry insights – Body language
Les Mills™ Virtual group exercise classes are successfully integrating international students into the campus community at the University of Leeds
FEATURE: People profile – Clive Ormerod
Incoming CEO: Les Mills International
Fitness giant Les Mills has launched three new studio spaces at its iconic Auckland City Gym in New Zealand. The new spaces were designed by New Zealand architects Monk Mackenzie and interior designer Rufus Knight, working in partnership with design studio Alt Group. According to Les Mills Jnr, who led the development of the new studios and workouts, a key objective was to partner with New Zealand's best designers to
CLD,HAF,FIT,IND,SAM
News stories: 1 - 30 of 6949
Architect Bill Bensley to speak about sustainability at Global Wellness Summit
by Lauren Heath-Jones | 17 Jul 2019
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) team has announced that designer Bill Bensley will deliver a keynote speech on hospitality design and sustainability at this year's summit in Hong Kong (15-17 October). Bensley's keynote will challenge delegates to rethink how hotels and resorts are designed and built, by posing questions he believes that the conscientious traveller of the future will be asking, such as: Does this hotel respect its environment? Does
FaulknerBrowns Architects and LDA Design reveal Olympic-size ice rink for London
FaulkerBrowns Architects and LDA Design have unveiled designs for a new ice rink and urban park in east London. Featuring an Olympic-size, twin-rink ice centre, the £30m project is being driven by client, the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, which wants the new complex to replace the ageing Lee Valley Ice Centre. The existing, 34-year-old ice centre attracts around 279,000 visits a year, but the venue is reaching the end
Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim museum achieves UNESCO World Heritage status
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Virgin Galactic merger brings commercial space travel (and space hotels) closer to reality
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New Zealand's Auckland Zoo has revealed a timetable for opening each part of its new South East Asia Jungle Track project ‒ a NZ$58m (US$39m, €34.6m, £31m) investment that's part of the zoo's wider 10-year, NZ$150m (US$100.9m, €89.5m, £80.4m) evolution programme, funded by Auckland Council. The zoo has worked with Studio Hansen Roberts on the design of the South East Asia Jungle Track, with NZ Strong (builders), Jacobs Engineering and
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Linzi Coppick of Forme creates interiors for new COMO Metropolitan residences in London
by Jane Kitchen | 11 Jul 2019
COMO Metropolitan hotel in London has opened ten luxury residences, offering private apartment-style accommodation adjacent to the hotel and opposite Hyde Park. The Residences offer the same five-star facilities and service as the hotel, which is a one-minute walk away, including access to the hotel's holistic wellness centre, COMO Shambhala Urban Escape. Inside, designer Linzi Coppick of Forme UK has prioritised a sense of home. Natural daylight floods the apartments,
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André Fu tapped into childhood memories of Hong Kong to inspire his designs for the new St. Regis hotel
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Piscina & Wellness Barcelona (PWB) has launched an international contest for architecture students to conceptualise a new aquatic centre. According to the company, the future leisure facility will be designed for public bathing and will occupy a tract of land on Barcelona's waterfront, between "Drassanes Quay and the Rambla del Mar of the Port Vell". "The space includes a large area of water, thus providing the possibility of even imagining
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Dornbracht GmbH
Dornbracht is turning the bathroom into a LifeSpa: Dornbracht's LifeSpa vision has taken the idea of health-oriented bathroom design to a new level.
Biophilic: Rooted interest
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Table top exhibition of religious artefacts at a charity cafe. Cafe open to public with tea, coffee, etc at a very reasonable price. Exhibition of artefacts from the many faiths in Great Yarmouth. Opportunity to discuss their meaning and relevance with members of the Interfaith Network.
Greater Yarmouth Inter Faith & Belief Network.


text:
BRP reports Fiscal Year 2020 first quarter results and authorization of substantial issuer bid
Highlights for the quarter vs Q1 FY19:
Revenues of $1,333.7 million, an increase of $197.0 million or 17.3%;
Strong growth in all regions with revenues up 19% in the United States, 12% in Canada and 17% at International;
Gross profit of $300.6 million representing 22.5% of revenues, an increase of $19.0 million;
Net income of $23.8 million, an increase of $10.4 million, which resulted in diluted earnings per share of $0.25, an increase of $0.12 per share or 92.3%;
Normalized net income [1] of $52.7 million, a decrease of $0.8 million, which resulted in normalized diluted earnings per share [1] of $0.54, an increase of $0.02 per share or 3.8%;
Normalized EBITDA [1] of $146.7 million representing 11.0% of revenues, an increase of $20.1 million or 15.9%.
In addition, during the three-month period ended April 30, 2019:
The Company amended its $575.0 million revolving credit facilities to increase the availability by $125.0 million for a total of $700.0 million, to extend the maturity from May 2023 to May 2024 and to improve pricing.
On May 1, 2019, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 80% of the outstanding shares of Telwater Pty, Ltd ("Telwater"), Australia's leading manufacturer of aluminum boats and trailers.
The Company today announced the authorization of a substantial issuer bid (the ''Offer'') to purchase for cancellation up to $300 million of the Company's subordinate voting shares. The SIB will be funded with a combination of cash on hand, drawing on existing credit facilities and planned incremental term loan issuance.
Valcourt, Quebec, May 30, 2019 – BRP Inc. (TSX:DOO; NASDAQ:DOOO) today reported its financial results for the three-month period ended April 30, 2019. All financial information is in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. The complete financial results are available at Sedar, as well as in the Quarterly Reports section of BRP's website.
"We have experienced strong retail momentum in North America and Europe with all our sectors trending positively, and we are very satisfied with our year-over-year revenue growth of 17%, even while operating in a dynamic environment. We have continued to outpace the competition, and are positive about the outlook for the rest of this year," declared José Boisjoli, BRP's President and CEO.
"Our quarter after quarter strong performance is testament to our ability to execute on our strategic priorities : growth, agility and Lean enterprise. With our industry leadership position and our quality of our execution, we are confident to deliver the guidance for the year", concluded Boisjoli.
Highlights for the Three-Month Period Ended April 30, 2019
Revenues increased by $197.0 million, or 17.3%, to $1,333.7 million for the three-month period ended April 30, 2019, compared with $1,136.7 million for the corresponding period ended April 30, 2018. The revenue increase was primarily attributable to higher wholesale of Year-Round Products. The increase includes a favourable foreign exchange rate variation of $13 million.
The Company's North American retail sales for the three-month period ended April 30, 2019 increased by 10% compared with the three-month period ended April 30, 2018, mainly due to an increase in 3WV following the introduction of the Can-Am Ryker.
Gross profit increased by $19.0 million, or 6.7%, to $300.6 million for the three-month period ended April 30, 2019, compared with $281.6 million for the corresponding period ended April 30, 2018. Gross profit margin percentage decreased by 230 basis points to 22.5% from 24.8% for the three-month period ended April 30, 2018. The decrease was primarily due to higher commodity, production and distribution costs and an unfavourable product mix of 3WV sold, partially offset by higher volume of 3WV and PAC sold.
Operating expenses increased by $16.2 million, or 8.3%, to $211.6 million for the three-month period ended April 30, 2019, compared with $195.4 million for the three-month period ended April 30, 2018. The increase was mainly attributable to support for the launch of various products such as the Can-Am Ryker, continued product investments and costs related to the modernization of information systems, partially offset by lower variable employee compensation expenses.
QUARTERLY REVIEW BY SEGMENT
Year-Round Products
Revenues from Year-Round Products increased by $100.4 million, or 19.1%, to $627.0 million for the three-month period ended April 30, 2019, compared with $526.6 million for the corresponding period ended April 30, 2018. The increase was primarily attributable to the introduction of the Can-Am Ryker, a higher volume of ATV sold and a favourable foreign exchange rate variation of $9 million.
North American Year-Round Products retail sales increased on a percentage basis in the twenties range compared with the three-month period ended April 30, 2018.
Revenues from Seasonal Products increased by $25.0 million, or 7.1%, to $375.4 million for the three-month period ended April 30, 2019, compared with $350.4 million for the corresponding period ended April 30, 2018. The increase resulted primarily from a favourable product mix and price increases in PWC and from a favourable foreign exchange rate variation of $3 million.
North American Seasonal Products retail sales increased on a percentage basis by high-single digits compared with the three-month period ended April 30, 2018.
Powersports PAC and OEM Engines
Revenues from Powersports PAC and OEM Engines increased by $29.0 million, or 18.6%, to $185.3 million for the three-month period ended April 30, 2019, compared with $156.3 million for the corresponding period ended April 30, 2018. The increase was mainly attributable to a higher volume of 3WV, SSV and PWC accessories and a higher volume of snowmobile and PWC parts.
Revenues from Marine segment increased by $37.9 million, or 33.4%, to $151.3 million for the three-month period ended April 30, 2019, compared with $113.4 million for the corresponding period ended April 30, 2018. The increase was mainly due to the acquisition of Alumacraft Boat Co. ("Alumacraft") and Triton Industries, Inc. ("Manitou"), partially offset by a lower volume of outboard engines sold.
North American outboard engine retail sales decreased on a percentage basis in the high-teens range compared with the three-month period ended April 30, 2018.
DECLARATION OF DIVIDEND
The Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share for holders of its multiple voting shares and subordinate voting shares. The dividend will be paid on July 12, 2019 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 28, 2019. The payment of each quarterly dividend remains subject to the declaration of that dividend by the Board of Directors. The actual amount, the declaration date, the record date and the payment date of each quarterly dividend are subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF A SUBSTANTIAL ISSUER BID
The Company announced today that the Board of Directors has authorized the launch of a substantial issuer bid pursuant to which the Company will offer to purchase for cancellation up to $300 million of its subordinate voting shares. The Company anticipates that the Offer will commence, and the terms and pricing will be determined, during the next two weeks and will be completed before the end of July 2019. The Company intends to fund the Substantial Issuer Bid with a combination of cash on hand, drawings on existing credit facilities and, subject to market conditions, the planned incremental term loan issuance.
Under the proposed issuer bid, which remains subject to regulatory approval in the United States and Canada, shareholders wishing to accept the Offer will have the opportunity to tender their shares through a modified Dutch auction tender at a specified price within a range to be proposed by the Company, or through a proportionate tender at a price determined by the Dutch auction tenders and that will result in them maintaining their proportionate equity ownership. The maximum and minimum prices to be proposed under the Dutch auction tender will be determined in the context of the market price of the Company's subordinate voting shares at the time of commencement of the proposed issuer bid. The Offer will not be conditional upon any minimum number of shares being tendered and will be subject to conditions customary for transactions of this nature.
Holders of multiple voting shares will be entitled to tender the subordinate voting shares underlying their multiple voting shares in the proposed bid. Multiple voting shares taken up by the Company will be converted into subordinate voting shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to take up. Beaudier Inc., 4338618 Canada Inc. and Bain Capital Luxembourg Investments S.à r.l., which collectively hold approximately 51.1% of the Company's outstanding shares, have advised the Company that they intend to make proportionate tenders in connection with the Offer in order to maintain their proportionate equity ownership following the completion of the bid, but neither is commited to taking any action with respect to the Offer. As of May 30, 2019, the Company had 42,313,579 subordinate voting shares and 54,101,384 multiple voting shares issued and outstanding. All shares purchased under the Offer will be cancelled.
This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Company's shares. The Offer referred to in this news release has not yet commenced. The solicitation and the Offer to buy the shares will only be made pursuant to a separate issuer bid circular, which will contain full details of the Offer and will be filed with the securities regulatory authorities and mailed to the Company's shareholders.
Fiscal Year 2020 Guidance
The table below sets forth BRP's financial guidance for Fiscal Year 2020 which reflects the adoption of new IFRS 16 - Leases ("IFRS 16") standard effective as of February 1, 2019. Under IFRS 16, operating lease expenses are recorded as depreciation and interest expense rather than operating costs within Normalized EBITDA[1]. No restatement of prior periods was made.
The financial guidance targets have been adjusted as follows:
The above targets are based on a number of economic and market assumptions the Company has made in preparing its Fiscal Year 2020 financial guidance, including assumptions regarding the performance of the economies in which it operates, foreign exchange currency fluctuations, market competition and tax laws applicable to its operations. The Company made a number of economic and market assumptions in preparing and making forward-looking statements. The Company is assuming reasonable industry growth ranging from flat to high-single digits, moderate market share gains in Year-Round Products and Seasonal Products and constant market share for the Marine segment. The Company is also assuming interest rates increase modestly, currencies remain at near current levels and inflation remains in line with central bank expectations in countries where the Company is doing business. The Company cautions that the assumptions used to prepare the forecasts for Fiscal Year 2020, although believed to be reasonable at the time they were made, may prove to be incorrect or inaccurate. In addition, the above forecasts do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or other special items or of any new material commercial agreements, dispositions, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or other transactions that may be announced or that may occur after May 29, 2019. The financial impact of such transactions and non-recurring and other special items can be complex and depends on the facts particular to each of them. We therefore cannot describe the expected impact in a meaningful way or in the same way we present known risks affecting our business. Accordingly, our actual results could differ materially from our expectations as set forth in this news release. The outlook provided constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and should be read in conjunction with the "Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" section.
Conference Call and Webcast Presentation
Today at 9 a.m. EDT, BRP Inc. will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its FY2020 first quarter. The call will be hosted by José Boisjoli, President and CEO, and Sébastien Martel, CFO. To listen to the conference call by phone (event number 4304845), please dial 514-392-0235 or 1-800-564-3880 (toll-free in North America). Click for international dial-in numbers.
The Company's first quarter FY2020 MD&A, financial statements and webcast presentation are posted in the Quarterly Reports section of BRP's website.
Press Release pdf 357.1 KiB
+43 7246 / 601 2202 andrea.veitschegger@brp.com


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FUTA Don Gets International Academy of Astronautics Appointment.
An erudite professor of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems in the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA Professor Joseph Akinyede has been appointed as a member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Technical Study Group 6. The study group will work on 'Multicultural Foundations and Influences of Human Space Exploration'. The report of the study group will assist the France based Academy in policy, standards and procedure formulations that could be used in future International Space Exploration and activities. In the letter of appointment signed by Jean Michel Contant, IAA Secretary General, Akinyede, who is one Africa's leading expert in space technology, will actively participate in the study through attendance of meeting and regular correspondence with members under the auspices of the IAA Commission 6 on Space and Society. FUTA is the second Institution member after University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, to be admitted into the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in Africa.
In a congratulatory message, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape lauded Akinyede, who had previously served as Director of FUTA's Centre for Space Research and Applications, describing the appointment as a commendable feat. He said FUTA Scholars are always setting the pace for the country in intellectual discourse, cutting edge research and technological advancement.


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Home News Republic Tobacco Rebrands; Unveils 50-Year Vision
Republic Tobacco Rebrands; Unveils 50-Year Vision
Republic Tobacco, a global leader in all-natural rolling papers and premium accessories for the roll-your-own (RYO) and make-your-own (MYO) markets, rebranded itself as Republic Brands to propel its brand portfolio and introduce new product offerings to address the rapidly growing RYO/MYO market.
With the new name comes a new vision for the next 50 years. To fulfill this new vision, Republic Brands will leverage its global production footprint that upholds ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 and GMP standards of sustainability, ethics, and environmental responsibility to meet rising demand for cones, rolling papers, rollers, injectors, accessories, and more. Thanks to Republic Brands' dedicated sales and service staff, the company is rapidly expanding into omnichannel retailing, while maximizing existing channels to bring the strongest brands in the world into the hands, hearts, and minds of consumers flocking into the alternative RYO/MYO space.
"The creation of Republic Brands represents a massive opportunity for our multinational company that has built its reputation as a trusted manufacturer and developer of sustainably sourced products," said Don Levin, chairman and founder of Republic Brands. "We're on the vanguard of the next era in the roll-your-own category building on our core portfolio and our high-growth brands such as OCB®, JOB®, TOP®, Abadie®, JOKER® and E-Z Wider®."
Consumers appreciate being able to take a moment to enjoy the little things in life, which is what rolling your own is all about," said newly-appointed president and chief marketing officer Paul Marobella. "The historic shift in market dynamics we are now experiencing in the United States and beyond opens valuable growth opportunities and the ability to connect with consumers in new ways."
Most recently the chairman and c.e.o. of Havas North America, Marobella brings decades of executive experience guiding growth for large enterprises and consulting with 21st century marketing leaders in data-driven growth for iconic brands such as Coca-Cola, Adidas, Progressive, Jim Beam, and more.
rolling tobacco rolling paper Republic Tobacco
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Professional arc: With early training in law and politics I have sought opportunities and learning experiences with people who want to improve their community's integrity and success. Most recently, I have pursued the concept of civic resilience through Center for Resilient Cities, a not-for-profit based in Madison, Wisconsin, in practical application of the world's best/continuously improving community practices. I have served as Chairman of the Board for nearly a decade.
Systems Thinking Extended consulting with state and local governments into systems view of government activities. Worked with governments and colleagues in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Resilience / Civic Virtue / Engagement Developing organizations and methods to integrate world-class partners in intensive urban agriculture (Will Allen / Growing Power), energy conservation (Madison Gas & Electric, LEED Platinum design), educational reform (Badger Rock Middle School (charter school)), neighborhood support (Boys & Girls Club), neighborhood civic metrics (Professor Michael Bell, University of Wisconsin-Madison) and regulation of attention and emotion (Center for Investigating Healthy Minds – UW-Madison). The Badger Rock Center serves as a working pilot, the first of its kind to bring together this unique mix of partners and activities. The Center opened its doors to the community in August 2012.
Joe was recently recognized by In Business magazine as "Visionary of the Year" for 2012.


The Fayetteville Police Department does our best to keep its roadways safe. If there is a specific recurring traffic issue, please provide the information below to send it to us directly.
Don't Run – Call 9-1-1!
In 2014 Georgia legislators passed House Bill 965, "Georgia 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law," with overwhelming majorities. The law provides limited immunity from arrest, charge, and prosecution for possession of certain drugs and drug paraphernalia for individuals who experience a drug overdose and are in need of medical care and for those who seek medical care in good faith for a person experiencing an overdose. The bill also provides limited immunity from certain underage drinking offenses for minors who seek help in the event of an alcohol overdose. The links below are for organizations dedicated to preventing drug use/overdose. More detailed information on the law and ways to help can be found there.
The Fayetteville Police Department partners with Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta to gather information on unsolved crimes. If you have any information regarding a crime and want to remain anonymous, please click the link below and be eligible to receive up to a $2,000 reward.


Sometimes I think of methotrexate this way: in our war against Rheumatoid Arthritis, methotrexate cuts the enemy army down to a more manageable size. Methotrexate is a powerful weapon. I have used it because an RA warrior needs to use every weapon which proves useful.
Recently, I was questioned by someone I know who still sees the use of a chemotherapy drug for Rheumatoid Arthritis as heavy-handed. Obviously, this skeptic has not experienced severe Rheumatoid Arthritis first hand. I believe that he fails to understand the fundamental dangers that the disease itself presents.
When all is said and done, in my estimation, it is best to fight. And if the Rheumatoid Arthritis brings its strongest weapons, we should bring ours. Often, that includes methotrexate.
Part 1: Should I Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis with Methotrexate?