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Retired Topics | Energy/Sustainable Development
Powerful Trends: Public Power Utilities Meet the Reliability, Cost, And Service Needs Of Demanding Customers
By offering great rates, reliable service, energy-efficiency measures, and attentive service, public power companies are creating a win-win situation for their customers as well as the communities they serve.
Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development
Q1 / Winter 2013
Energy Availability & Costs: Impacted by Reliability and "Going Green"
Cities Weigh Taking Over From Private Utilities - NYTimes.com
Electricity is electricity, right? Well, not exactly. Your basic light bulb might not know the difference between one community's electric utility and the utility that's powering another town. But the needs of today's industrial customer are a lot more complicated than the 60 watts of juice that bulb is craving.
Consider the demands facing the Omaha Public Power District. "One of the things we're working on is attraction of data centers to our service territory," says Roger Christianson, OPPD's manager of economic development. That quest has been going well. In fact, last fall Fidelity Investments picked the metropolitan Omaha community of Papillion for a $200 million data center. Yahoo!, Cabela's, and CoSentry have chosen the area, too. And it's easy to see why such projects are attractive to economic development officials. As Christianson notes, "They've been great customers — 24/7, large amounts of power, including significant amounts of power in off-hours, allowing us to keep costs down for all customers."
Great Rates and Reliability, Too
Of course, such customers want great rates, and Christianson says OPPD's are 26 percent below the national average. But equally important, data centers absolutely must have power that's reliable. It has to be clean, uninterrupted power, or the sensitive equipment of a data center could be toast. For OPPD, reliability is a clincher. "We have a great record of reliability, 99.98 percent," Christianson says.
Attentive customer service is icing on the cake. Christianson boasts that the utility has a dozen J.D. Power and Associates awards for customer service. Indeed, when the Fidelity deal was announced, the local chamber CEO told the Omaha World-Herald, "OPPD's nationally competitive rate structure and recognized quality of service were crucial in our combined efforts to attract this project."
Here's the interesting thing — check that first "P" in "OPPD." It's short for "public." OPPD is a public power utility, not a private-sector, for-profit utility owned by investors. Though it has for years been politically fashionable to believe that the public sector can't deliver when it comes to quality, service, and cost, who can argue with J.D. Power or Yahoo! or Fidelity Investments?
A Message from the APPA Chair 2012
Public power utilities offer their customers the best of both worlds: the latest in sustainable energy advancements and technology; and reliable, low-cost electric service that few others can match. Combined with our longstanding principals of customer accountability and responsiveness, it is no wonder that across America, public power communities remain the first choice for businesses looking to thrive and grow.
As we have seen in recent years, a community's economic stability is directly linked to the vibrancy and strength of its local business sector. This is why each year, public power utilities and the American Public Power Association (APPA) work hard to bring forward programs and policies that will support local business development.
Businesses large and small benefit from our competitive rate structures that give them access to affordable, reliable power. We also work hand-in-hand with new businesses coming into our communities, assisting them in the planning and development process by providing energy-usage projections and cost-saving recommendations.
For members of the APPA, the work we do is not just a job, but also a passion. We are passionate about your success because it is integral to the future of the communities we serve. We value our business partnerships and remain committed to providing all of our customers with exceptional, reliable electric service at the lowest rate possible.
Phyllis E. Currie
Chair, American Public Power Association Board of Directors
General Manager, Pasadena Water and Power
America's public power utilities are out there on the forefront when it comes to meeting the precise and demanding technological needs of customers, as well as keeping up with other industry trends. "In recent years we have seen increased interest by organizations in not just the low-cost energy commodity, but also high-quality power requirements and significant redundancy in their electric supply," says Rick Nelsen, economic development manager for the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD). "A good example of this would be the needs of a data center when compared to a more traditional industrial customer." Ed Grant, economic development project manager for power and water provider Salt River Project in Arizona, has also found that reliability is of paramount importance for customers such as data centers. Some seek enhanced services such as dual feeds, and "in some cases we are able to provide multiple feeds from different sources," he says. Meanwhile, some customers install their own diesel backup generators to enhance reliability even further.
Tony Cannon, general manager and CEO of Greenville Utilities in North Carolina, agrees that for many companies seeking sites these days, "Power quality and reliability are the top issue." But he adds that the customers concerned with such things aren't just the obvious high-tech users. "There has been a shift over the past 10 years to more sensitive equipment, even in manufacturing operations. It's much more sensitive to power fluctuations," he explains.
The utility responds not only by striving to deliver that reliability, but also by delivering information to help customers stay informed about the quality of the power. Cannon notes, "We measure performance indicators directly related to power quality and reliability, and we're able to provide them with real-time information. They analyze the information to make sure the power is meeting their requirements."
And, Cannon's utility can assist customers that require emergency backup power. "We've done some onsite generation installations ourselves, where we own and operate the generation facility," he says.
Rodney Gonzales, deputy director in the Office of Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services for the city of Austin, Texas, has also found that power quality and reliability questions are not just for data centers. Samsung, for example, has invested large sums to develop manufacturing in the area. "With regard to Samsung, [the company was] looking for redundant power; it needs it for its high-tech manufacturing."
"We have two Prime Power Parks, one in Gastonia and one in Albemarle, offering redundant power for sensitive operations," adds Brenda Daniels, manager of economic development for ElectriCities in North Carolina. "The Prime Power Parks are ideal for manufacturers that have a critical need for continuous power supply."
Green and Efficient
Low rates are, of course, an obvious way to keep energy costs under control. But customers are also turning to these public power providers to help them use less power, and are finding their services helpful.
"NPPD and its wholesale partners work with all classes of customers as it relates to using energy efficiently and effectively," Nelsen explains. "We have a dedicated staff that are technically competent in the most current energy-efficiency applications and many times can offer incentive programs to our customers who utilize these practices, so their payback is accelerated." "Many businesses have shown an interest in energy-efficiency measures, which often provide a positive return on investment (ROI) in as little as two years," says Susan Borries Reed, manager of economic development for the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA). IMPA's manager of energy efficiency walks customers through various programs and connects them with rebates that help pay for energy-efficiency improvements, she explains. It's a win-win situation. "Businesses are able to use technology to produce the same end product while reducing their energy consumption, while IMPA is able to delay our need to build additional generation," she points out. "Often, it's more cost-effective to invest in energy efficiency than to build generation."
"For every kilowatt-hour that they don't use, that's a kilowatt-hour that we don't have to generate," Cannon concurs. "It helps with long-term capital planning, because the generation we have now is cheaper than generation we have to build."
The planet is a winner, too. Using less energy reduces the customer's carbon footprint — and such environmental concerns are also increasingly high on the list of customer demands that utilities are working hard to meet. Take the data centers, for example. Christianson points out that those data centers looking in the Omaha area are often part of companies based on the West Coast, where green is an especially popular color of business. That makes them eager to be earth-conscious even when they're picking sites away from home.
Public power utilities across the country are responding to the trend. "We have a goal of having 10 percent of our generation in wind by 2020, and we have a number of wind farms we're participating in," Christianson says. "Nebraska has very high wind potential in the central parts of the state; we have three wind farms in central Nebraska, and we're partners in another in the southeast tip of the state." The utility also has a power generation plant fueled by a landfill, churning out 6.2 megawatts of power from the methane venting off the decaying garbage.
"The concept of reducing an organization's carbon footprint comes up with increasing frequency when meeting with our business customers," Nelsen adds. "From that respect, NPPD is fortunate to have a highly diversified generation fleet, and in 2011 more than 40 percent of NPPD's generating resources were carbon-free. Additionally, we are well over halfway to our corporate goal of 10 percent renewable generation by 2020."
"We offer renewable energy options for those interested in reducing their carbon footprint," says Lisa Lewis, vice president of corporate communications and media relations for CPS Energy in San Antonio, Texas. "And we have a rebate program in place that aids businesses in replacing older technology with newer, more efficient options."
In a unique "green" arrangement, "We can allow [customers] to buy into a solar farm — they can buy shares in that," says Grant of Salt River Project. But just how green are customers becoming? It all depends on their priorities. As Grant points out, though green power pricing is becoming more competitive all the time, there are still usually cheaper ways to go. "The concept of keeping a low total cost of ownership is balanced with the need to be green. In a perfect world, you would be able to be green and cost-efficient, but they're very much independent of one another."
Grant has observed that among data center users, the ones most interested in environmental issues are those building their own centers. Collocation customers, those using some of the capacity of a shared data center, are often particularly keen on minimizing costs, while "enterprise customers are going to place a higher premium on being green and are looking for the associated public-relations benefit."
Next: Public Utilities Differentiate Themselves in Two Key Areas: Customer Service and Cost
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Steve Kaelble has written for Area Development for more than 20 years. His work has also appeared in numerous other magazines, newspapers, and online publications, as well as broadcast media. He has authored several books and has worked extensively in corporate and internal communications, including creating annual reports. An Indianapolis resident, he holds bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Indiana University.
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An Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Liz Mary Paul, Ashwini Hegde, Tanvi Pai, Subodh Shetty, Shrikala Baliga, Suchitra Shenoy
Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
Manipal Centre for Infectious Diseases (MAC ID)
OBJECTIVES: To identify the source of infection, to study the clinical profile and outcomes of neonates with Burkholderia septicemia and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates.
METHODS: The authors describe a 3 mo outbreak of nosocomial Burkholderia cepacia bacteremia involving 12 neonates. During the outbreak, ventilator humidifier water, intravenous solutions and other possible sources were taken from the concerned neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); cultured and isolates identified by standard microbiological techniques and VITEK system. Clinical details of affected babies were also obtained to ascertain the clinical significance of the isolates.
RESULTS: All neonates had clinical and biochemical evidence of sepsis and the source could be tracked to intravenous solutions of 5% dextrose, normal saline (opened bottles) and continuous positive airway pressure humidifier water. Strain relatedness of the environmental isolates with the clinical isolates is likely as antibiotic susceptibility patterns were similar.
CONCLUSIONS: The investigations revealed the source of the nosocomial outbreak which is crucial for initiating appropriate control measures.
Indian Journal of Practical Pediatrics
Burkholderia cepacia
Neonatal Intensive Care Units
Microbiological Techniques
Burkholderia
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Mechanical Ventilators
Paul, L. M., Hegde, A., Pai, T., Shetty, S., Baliga, S., & Shenoy, S. (2016). An Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Indian Journal of Practical Pediatrics, 83(4), 285-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-015-1855-7
Paul, Liz Mary ; Hegde, Ashwini ; Pai, Tanvi ; Shetty, Subodh ; Baliga, Shrikala ; Shenoy, Suchitra. / An Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In: Indian Journal of Practical Pediatrics. 2016 ; Vol. 83, No. 4. pp. 285-8.
@article{753d23ac03334b60838a8c1ef1006ec1,
title = "An Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit",
abstract = "OBJECTIVES: To identify the source of infection, to study the clinical profile and outcomes of neonates with Burkholderia septicemia and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates.METHODS: The authors describe a 3 mo outbreak of nosocomial Burkholderia cepacia bacteremia involving 12 neonates. During the outbreak, ventilator humidifier water, intravenous solutions and other possible sources were taken from the concerned neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); cultured and isolates identified by standard microbiological techniques and VITEK system. Clinical details of affected babies were also obtained to ascertain the clinical significance of the isolates.RESULTS: All neonates had clinical and biochemical evidence of sepsis and the source could be tracked to intravenous solutions of 5{\%} dextrose, normal saline (opened bottles) and continuous positive airway pressure humidifier water. Strain relatedness of the environmental isolates with the clinical isolates is likely as antibiotic susceptibility patterns were similar.CONCLUSIONS: The investigations revealed the source of the nosocomial outbreak which is crucial for initiating appropriate control measures.",
author = "Paul, {Liz Mary} and Ashwini Hegde and Tanvi Pai and Subodh Shetty and Shrikala Baliga and Suchitra Shenoy",
pages = "285--8",
journal = "Indian Journal of Practical Pediatrics",
publisher = "Springer India",
Paul, LM, Hegde, A, Pai, T, Shetty, S, Baliga, S & Shenoy, S 2016, 'An Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit', Indian Journal of Practical Pediatrics, vol. 83, no. 4, pp. 285-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-015-1855-7
An Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. / Paul, Liz Mary; Hegde, Ashwini; Pai, Tanvi; Shetty, Subodh; Baliga, Shrikala; Shenoy, Suchitra.
In: Indian Journal of Practical Pediatrics, Vol. 83, No. 4, 04.2016, p. 285-8.
T1 - An Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
AU - Paul, Liz Mary
AU - Hegde, Ashwini
AU - Pai, Tanvi
AU - Shetty, Subodh
AU - Baliga, Shrikala
AU - Shenoy, Suchitra
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To identify the source of infection, to study the clinical profile and outcomes of neonates with Burkholderia septicemia and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates.METHODS: The authors describe a 3 mo outbreak of nosocomial Burkholderia cepacia bacteremia involving 12 neonates. During the outbreak, ventilator humidifier water, intravenous solutions and other possible sources were taken from the concerned neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); cultured and isolates identified by standard microbiological techniques and VITEK system. Clinical details of affected babies were also obtained to ascertain the clinical significance of the isolates.RESULTS: All neonates had clinical and biochemical evidence of sepsis and the source could be tracked to intravenous solutions of 5% dextrose, normal saline (opened bottles) and continuous positive airway pressure humidifier water. Strain relatedness of the environmental isolates with the clinical isolates is likely as antibiotic susceptibility patterns were similar.CONCLUSIONS: The investigations revealed the source of the nosocomial outbreak which is crucial for initiating appropriate control measures.
AB - OBJECTIVES: To identify the source of infection, to study the clinical profile and outcomes of neonates with Burkholderia septicemia and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates.METHODS: The authors describe a 3 mo outbreak of nosocomial Burkholderia cepacia bacteremia involving 12 neonates. During the outbreak, ventilator humidifier water, intravenous solutions and other possible sources were taken from the concerned neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); cultured and isolates identified by standard microbiological techniques and VITEK system. Clinical details of affected babies were also obtained to ascertain the clinical significance of the isolates.RESULTS: All neonates had clinical and biochemical evidence of sepsis and the source could be tracked to intravenous solutions of 5% dextrose, normal saline (opened bottles) and continuous positive airway pressure humidifier water. Strain relatedness of the environmental isolates with the clinical isolates is likely as antibiotic susceptibility patterns were similar.CONCLUSIONS: The investigations revealed the source of the nosocomial outbreak which is crucial for initiating appropriate control measures.
JO - Indian Journal of Practical Pediatrics
JF - Indian Journal of Practical Pediatrics
Paul LM, Hegde A, Pai T, Shetty S, Baliga S, Shenoy S. An Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Indian Journal of Practical Pediatrics. 2016 Apr;83(4):285-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-015-1855-7

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Coco Chanel, the founder of her eponymous fashion house, was known for her wit and nontraditional viewpoint on fashion. Her ingenuity catapulted her to fame in a way that was unheard of for women of her time. It was Coco's out-of-the-box thinking and knack for innovation that inspired her famous successor – Karl Lagerfeld – to execute her vision for the Chanel house for decades following her passing. After decades of work at Chanel, Karl passed in February 2019, but not before breathing much-needed new life into the brand. With the current direction of Chanel remaining unknown, come with us and delve into the years that shaped the house beyond the years of its founder.
By 1919, Coco's fashion house had become so successful that she invested her profits in purchasing 31 Rue Cambon, just steps away from her original shop on the same street. The building went through an extensive renovation and, once completed, she opened her doors to the public and set the bar for what fashion boutiques should be.
1922 would be the year that Chanel expanded its repertoire of products to include fragrances. Coco was introduced to Ernest Beaux who worked with her to create a new scent that combined two classes of fragrance into one. During the 1920s, it was common for lower class women to wear sensual animal musks and for wealthier women to wear the essence of single flowers. Chanel managed to combine both elements with perfectly balanced notes, creating the legendary Chanel No. 5 Eau de Parfum. At the time, Parfums Chanel was a separate entity from her fashion ventures and, interestingly, was owned by the Wertheimer Brothers of the Bourjois perfume house. Coco simply licensed her name to the product for a 10% stake in the company. Initially, the scent was sold exclusively to certain clients of Chanel, but the brothers took care of production and distribution of the scent, leading to an uptick in sales and making the products available to the masses. Coco, who was not happy with her share in the venture, began to claim that the current product was being made with inferior ingredients to save on production costs. This turned out to be inaccurate, but for the next several decades, she would fight to own Parfums Chanel. While it never came to the terms that she demanded, a new contract was negotiated that she was ultimately unable to turn down.
Over the next few years, Coco took on a few side projects for film and participated in a few collaborations, but eventually returned her focus mainly on her own couture designs. Soon, however, in 1936 and the following decade would prove to be the beginning of a tumultuous time for the house of Chanel. The once formidable couturier, with its extensive workforce, was feeling the tension and pressure of the political unrest amongst many of the European nations in the build-up prior to the outbreak of World War II. The maison was forced to let go three-quarters of its laborers and in 1939 the German occupation of France stifled much, if not all, of the economy, forcing Coco to close all of her stores. During the occupation, Coco began her relationship with a German representative. When the war finally came to a close in 1945, she then moved to Switzerland to avoid scrutiny stemming from her association with the Germans. It would be nine years until Coco moved back to Paris, ready to re-establish her place in the fashion industry, which was now dominated by the likes of Christian Dior and Cristobal Balenciaga. Fashion at the time still seemed too restrictive and unnecessarily impractical, so she set out to do what she did best: create elegant and comfortable clothing for women.
It was then an unlikely hero that came to her rescue: Pierre Wertheimer. The same Wertheimer whom Coco claimed swindled her out of her perfume line. It was at this time that Wertheimer renegotiated their original 1924 to favor Coco, including profits from during the war, and with the promise that, moving forward, he would fund all of her expenses for the rest of her life. Her first collection after her sabbatical was met with skepticism by the public that could be attributed to her ties during the war. However, British and American fashion editors raved about the collection, claiming it was a breakthrough for the designer.
While Chanel had used tweed previously, it was this collection where the house's quintessential tweed suit was debuted. Its fame far exceeded expectations, causing orders to flood in from around the world. Tweed was a practical alternative to many of the other heavy fabrics other designers were using at the time. Its diagonal broken twill allowed it to keep its shape even when hugging the body, and could be woven in several patterns and effects.
Not long after the success of the tweed suit came the invention that would not only change the house of Chanel, but the entire fashion world. In February of 1955, Chanel debuted the 2.55, a shoulder-carried handbag. At the time, handbags were carried by hand or tucked under the arm, depending on the preference and need of the wearer. This new bag had an adjustable chain that allowed for the versatility of length as well as a flap and lock closure. The aspects of the 2.55 were inspired by various parts of Coco's life. The quilting came from the jackets of stablehands, the red interior and chain are reminiscent of her time at Aubazine, and the Mademoiselle lock was a reference to the fact that she never married. The 2.55 evolved to other various handbags and eventually became one of the most recognizable accessories in the world, and what the Chanel name is now synonymous with.
At this point in the company's history, Coco was in her seventies; she remained industrious and continued to design and construct fashion that women flocked toward. However, it was in her eighties that her subordinates recollected that she began to run her house in an oppressive fashion, having outbursts and going on tangents that could only be described as tyrannical. In spite of this, the respect she had earned over the years allowed for her continued success until her passing in January of 1971 due to a heart attack.
Following Coco's passing and until the appointment of Karl Lagerfeld, the brand lost its appeal and fell out of focus in the fashion world due to creative directors who may not have been up to task for a reinvention. It is not surprising that the house of Chanel needed another creative director as soon as possible; someone who would continue the legacy but remain on brand. Karl Lagerfeld had been designing for Chloe in the 1970s and was well known by Chanel, but needed to finish out his contract with the competing couture house. It wouldn't be until the 1980s, when Chanel was semi-defunct and out of favor with the masses, that Lagerfeld would take the reigns.
Karl's first collection as creative director turned the house's reputation around. His drive and need for success brought about a rebirth of the brand. His elaborate sets were nothing new, as he was famous for them during his time at Chloe. For Chanel, this was entirely different and opposite from the intimate shows that editors and the elite were accustomed to. However, his daring clothing was a breath of fresh air, but he still managed to keep the silhouettes clean and continued to use the classic materials that Chanel was known for.
Early in his career at Chanel, Karl reintroduced the interlocking C motif, making it an integral part of the house's branding. It became instantly recognizable, especially when paired with the brand's famous quilted flap bag. Thus, the Chanel Classic Flap was born and has not made any indication it will be going anywhere any time soon. The demand has steadily increased over the decades allowing for a price increase as often as twice a year, which is steep in comparison to most price increases of similar bags by other brands.
Karl became paramount to the brand's success and reemergence into the luxury market. The details that each collection encompassed were nothing if not extraordinary. What is most surprising is that he was not only able to design for Chanel, but also for Fendi and his own namesake label at the same time. From here on out, Karl continuously designed 14 collections a year for the couture house. It was his ability to push boundaries, question norms, and shock the masses that hoisted him into the spotlight. He has been known for his shock value when it comes to his views and lifestyle practices, but it is also these things that made him an enigmatic powerhouse. His personal uniform of a tailored black suit, sunglasses, fingerless gloves, and low ponytail made him easily recognizable.
Karl had a penchant for theming his collections around luxury destinations around the world. From Dubai to Salzburg, each collection had a slight flair based on each location and each had a small token: a beautifully crafted minaudiere. Over the years, these would become collector's items, garnering the attention of the fashion-forward and die-hard collectors.
In 2005, Lagerfeld dug into Chanel's heritage and brought about the revival of the 2.55 handbag. Dubbed the "Reissue 2.55," it was released in February of 2005, the 50 year anniversary of the first release of Chanel's original design. Using the same chain, red interior, and Mademoiselle lock, the Reissue became a new favorite for Chanel lovers. Available in a myriad of colors, materials, and sizes, it was an immediate success. Even today these bags remain a staple for the brand.
For decades, Karl carried the Chanel name on his shoulders, keeping it relevant with an elite sense of luxury up until his passing in February of 2019. Following the death of Chanel's only other major creative director besides Gabrielle herself, it was not a surprise that they chose to keep it in the family. Namely, Virginie Viard, Karl's right-hand woman. With the appointment of Virginie there is much speculation as to what direction she will take the brand. While we have to wait to see what she will unveil in her coming collection, many are confident she will do as Karl did: update the Chanel look but not change its character.
Within the history of Chanel is an inspirational story of a strong woman with ambition, who against all odds brought her vision to life, only for it to crumble upon her departure but Chanel rose from the ashes with the appointment of Karl Lagerfeld. And now, with his passing, the story comes full circle. With the brand having been run by two successful creative directors who ruled the world of luxury for decades, the industry is patiently awaiting Chanel's next move, and hoping we will be as thrilled as we were with Coco and Karl.


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text:
Wahlenbergia krebsii är en klockväxtart som beskrevs av Adelbert von Chamisso. Wahlenbergia krebsii ingår i släktet Wahlenbergia och familjen klockväxter.

Underarter

Arten delas in i följande underarter:

 W. k. arguta
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Klockväxter
krebsii

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
VINdecode
VINfix
VINocr
VINbarcode
VINqrcode
License Plate Recognition API 2.0 LPR API 2.0 Live Demo
Trained on our huge collection of images with Tensorflow 2.X and YOLO V4, our LPR API 2.0 offers a core technology to meet the growing need for affordable LPR technology. It processes images of license plates; performs sophisticated optical character recognition (OCR) to transform the image of the plate into alphanumeric characters. The ability to acquire license plate information in ASCII text format opens up many diverse and utilitarian applications. With this web-based real-time technology, it becomes possible with small budgets to automate vehicle entry and exit from a parking lot or a secure zone and to use the recoginized license number for inventory management. Automated bluring of license plates can be done automatically with ease. The sky is the limit. With our LPR Web Service, large sum of initial investment is no longer required. One doesn't have to break the bank to take advantage of this state-of-the-art technology.
License plate recognition (LPR) is a key technique to many automated systems such as road traffic monitoring, automated payment of tolls on freeways (in the US), highways (in Canada) or bridges, security access, and parking lot access control. LPR technology tends to be jurisdiction (state or province) specific, due to plate variation from place to place. Our LPR engine is specifically designed to work in/for USA and Canadian jurisdictions.
LPR Technology: The Core Technology Behind the LPR API 2.0
LPR is a multi-stage process comprising plate localization, character segmentation, optical character recognition (OCR), and identification of originating jurisdiction (state or province).
To obtain the maximum license plate recognition accuracy, you need to take a clear image. The image is sent to our system that analyzes the image and extracts license plate information
While the whole process seems simple enough, consistent challenges affect the accuracy of the system – jurisdictional license plate designs, varying fonts, graphic designs, cleanliness, coverings, and the presence of only one license plate to name a few. The inconsistencies can result in misreads, these misreads can impact the accuracy of the data being extracted.
OCR Subsystem: The Core Technology Behind the LPR Technology
The OCR subsystem in our LPR engine accepts individual character images as input and runs algorithms to classify the image as one of 32-36 (depending on jurisdiction) class labels such as A-Z and 0-9. Resolving the so-called "close-character" ambiguity is critical to maintaining high accuracy in the OCR results. These "close character" errors includes: "I" incorrectly recognized as "1"("I/1", vice versa), "B" incorrectly recognized as "8"("B/8", vice versa), "D" incorrectly recognized as "0"("D/0", vice versa), "O" incorrectly as "0"("O/0", vice versa), "A" incorrectly as "4"("A/4", vice versa), "W" incorrectly as "H" ("W/H", vice versa), "M" incorrectly as "H" ("M/H", vice versa), etc.. These close character errors become even more prevalent when the captured license plate image has more extensive blur in it.
One method to resolve this close-character ambiguity is to use knowledge of the valid character sequences for a given jurisdiction and/or plate type. For instance, in NY the standard passenger car license plate is formatted as three letters followed by four numbers (LLLNNNN). Thus, if the OCR of a NY license plate produces a result of A8C567B, the mistakes in the "8" and "B" locations can easily be corrected. The same would be true for the "0" and "D" close-characters since they too cross a letter-number boundary.
An extremely challenging aspect of the overall LPR problem is the segmentation of the individual license plate characters into separate images in preparation for OCR. The accuracy of the OCR process can be negatively impacted by inconsistencies in the segmentation. One particular challenge with segmentation is separating valid characters from logos and other symbols on the license plate.
A related challenge is the ability to identify valid characters versus extraneous content, like logos and border artifacts, which may also appear in the plate image. It is desirable to pre-screen these candidate characters prior to OCR in order to prevent erroneously recognizing a non-character as a valid symbol. In our LPR engine, a second stage machine learning classifier is used to screen these candidate character images.
LPR Algorithms: The Core Techniques Behind the LPR Technology
There are six primary algorithms that our LPR engine requires for identifying a licence plate:
Plate localization – responsible for finding and isolating the plate on the picture
Plate orientation and sizing – compensates for the skew of the plate and adjusts the dimensions to the required size
Normalization – adjusts the brightness and contrast of the image
Character segmentation – finds the individual characters on the plates
Optical character recognition
Syntactical/Geometrical analysis – check characters and positions against country specific rules
LPR API 2.0 Recognizes State/Provincial Jurisdictions
US/Canada license plate formats are something of a mixed salad when compared to other countries, especially the EU countries. While fonts and spacings for the main number of a license plate is mostly standard across the states/provinces, other aspects of a plate vary widely from one jurisdiction to another. One of the main problems is the fonts and styles used for the jurisdiction of issue of the plate as well as color schemes and custom designs. Contrast across the plate can vary wildly with graphic elements creating such poor contrast between the number and the background that it is barely readable.
The use of state/province approved slogans such as "YOURS TO DISCOVER" or "EMPIRE STATE" as additional little quips which clutter the plate only serve to complicate the process of automated recognition and reading.
Once the LPR engine has managed to sort out the fonts, graded background color scheme, custom reflectivity, random prose, tax stickers, decals and assorted images of palm trees, medals and other paraphernalia, the engine then has to make sense of the information it has received. The number itself has different meanings in different states/provinces with no standard format. A letter or number position in one state/province could mean the month of issue while it could mean the county of issue in another state/province.
LPR API Use Cases
Our LPR API may be used for/by:
Section control, to measure average vehicle speed over longer distances.
Gas stations to log when a driver drives away without paying
Parking lots or road entry systems to control access
A marketing tool to log patterns of use
Traffic management systems, which determine traffic flow using the time it takes vehicles to pass two LPR sites
Operators of used car sale/auction websites can use it to blur license plates automatically
LPR API 2.0 Examples
Our LPR Web Serivce works reasonably well on still pictures. It has never been tested on videos.
Copyright © 2006 - 2022 VINquery.com - Auto Databank, Inc. All rights reserved.


If a business hires a CPA to prepare financial statements, and the CPA delivers financial statements, she's done her job, right? Maybe. Or maybe not. The consensus in the room was that CPAs who do so aren't doing their whole job, or at a minimum are letting the opportunity for providing additional value–maybe for additional fees–slip away.
My initial thought was that this illustrates the difference in point of view that often separates professional advisors from our clients. As lawyers, for example, we're trained to view everything through a prism of risk. If you buy a business without turning over every stone in due diligence, you're opening yourself up to the risk that your new business will have unanticipated issues. If you take back a promissory note when you sell a business, you might not get paid everything you're owed.
My natural inclination as a lawyer is to conduct thorough due diligence. And if you're taking a seller note, you should get a security interest in the business assets, and the stock, and a personal guarantee from the buyer, and his wife, and his neighbor, plus a deed of trust in his home, and his vacation home, and in his investment properties.
Although my clients usually appreciate the risks that I point out to them, what they really want is to get the deal done without worrying that they're getting screwed. That's not to say that they don't want to address the risks prudently, but that they desire a sense of proportionality and they look to me to help them decide what's important. They don't want a list of potential issues without analysis. They want to know which ones are a big deal, which ones can be mitigated, and which ones should be deal breakers.
As far as my role goes, I think the consensus in the room was correct: people hire lawyers for advice, not just information. It's a rare client who wants a purchase agreement drawn up and nothing more. They want analysis, they want judgment, and they want advice. It's easy to deliver information, and it's easy to spot issues. It's much more difficult–and much more valuable–to go beyond the raw information and provide advice.
What do you think? Do people hire lawyers for advice or just information?
Brian, you raise a great question. In my experience clients want you to identify all the potential risks, but then want reassurance that doing the deal a particular way will result in minimal risk. Then, if that minimal risk eventuates, they want your malpractice insurance to cover their losses. Oops.
Identifying risk is something we business lawyers do pretty well. Assessing risk usually involves our own experience and things we've heard about, as well as evaluating the cost of a particular liability in the context of the particular deal. There are ways, of course, to manage risk, such as limitations of liability, exclusive remedies, and sometimes insurance (and drafting contracts to cabin the liabilities and the conditions under which they arise to situations clearly under the client's control). But the client should always understand–and be told as often as necessary to be certain it does–that legal risk is ultimately a business risk. A client with little bargaining power against a large counter-party should at least know what it's walking into if it can't make any negotiating headway.
Clients frequently fume that a deal is being over-lawyered, but lawyers aren't cautious in their advice without reason, and sometimes I think the reason is as much to protect themselves *from* the client as to protect the client. One thing we business lawyers can do to help the people we work with is to understand the approval hierarchy within the client organization and make sure the person we're working with boots things upstairs as circumstances warrant, to get a broader perspective on acceptable levels and types of risk.
Financial statements have multiple users, sometimes with conflicting agendas. What one person considers good, another might consider bad.
For example, a banker, looking to make a loan, may judge that a lot of cash held by the prospective borrower is good, in that it helps assure repayment. A prospective minority investor, looking to invest alongside the principal owner, may find that operationally inefficient, and judge it to be bad. Which opinion would you have the CPA state, good or bad?
You are so right !! Great article. There is a serious difference between information and knowledge. People confuse the two. Knowledge is not a commodity.
Thanks for the information. I've been thinking that I should probably hire a lawyer, but I haven't been sure about whether or not it's a good idea. After reading this, it seems like I probably should. Would you recommend it? I guess I could use a lawyer for both advice and information, like you suggested.
I would have imagined that the lawyer, when hired on by a company and after completing its due diligence, was to present that information to the company. I am surprised by what you said when all they want is just advice. Yet it does make sense as they themselves want to ensure that what they are doing is the right direction of where to go or not.
It seems like a good idea to hire a lawyer for their expertise, not just their ability to draw up an agreement. The longer I've been alive, the more I can tell you about what I don't understand, and if I ever get into a legal situation that I don't understand, you can bet my first reaction will be to call a lawyer. Thanks for sharing!
I like what you said about viewing everything through a prism of risk where you have to look under every stone in due diligence to avoid unanticipated issues. I try to use the same philosophy in my business as well. Based on everything else I've read here I've found a lot of great information on due diligence and also learning the main reason why people hire lawyers: advice, not just information. That's a very valuable service for those who don't know the law to avoid being taken advantage of by those that do. Thanks for the helpful post.
I agree, advice is a huge part of the legal industry for small business owners. I'd say one of the most valuable aspects of lawyers is advice on contracts, disputes, partnerships, etc. Possibly not just the act of being a lawyer but to help in the overall decision process.
I think it is a good thing that business owners look for advice from their lawyers. It takes a lot of work to understand business deals. So, if a company is planning a merger, I would hope that they took every opportunity to make sure they are making the right choice. So, if you don't ask your attorney for advice, considering how much he has to look at, you are missing out on a key asset to your decision making.
Great article. There is a serious difference between information and knowledge. People confuse the two. Knowledge is not a commodity.
I think my main reason in hiring an attorney would be for advice. I want to make sure I am doing everything right and everything I need to be doing. I think that the lawyer would be able to help out with that!
You raise a good question. I feel like it depends on each individual situation and that is what makes good lawyers valuable. They are able to adapt and evaluate what the client needs. I know if I hired a lawyer I would want all the advice I can get, but some people may not feel the same way.
In my case, i'm focusing mostly on immigration; that's why the "information clients" are so high.
I personally know lawyers that took the personal injury as main area profess and almost none of their clients are asking for information.
I really like these tips on what to look for in an attorney. I think that experience is very big, I've heard of one of my friends who had a lawyer that was not very experienced and things did not turn out the best.There is a serious difference between information and knowledge. People confuse the two. Knowledge is not a commodity.
I always thought that people only hired lawyers for advice. I didn't know that you could use them to get information as well! It makes sense that you might want to speak with a lawyer if you have any questions about legality.
Practical article, The factors you have actually mentioned serve to work with an intelligent litigation attorney for company. Yet as a lawyer I suggest you to employ a lawyer who has sufficient experience in this area.
I'm usually not a risk taker, so it's scary for me when I do take risks. It's been risky for the past few days because I haven't found myself an attorney yet, but I'm hoping that I'll find one soon. I'll have to start asking my family and friends for any referrals that they may have.
Thanks for this helpful post about how to hire a defense attorneys, and how they can help, first i will ask to search online as there are many attorney directory site that have complete detail of the all lawyers according to area.
I think that people do hire lawyers for advice and information! Lawyers are experts in the law, whereas most people are not, it isn't a surprise that they would want advice when they go to a lawyer. I think people do want that expert to give them that advice on a subject that they know nothing about. It's the same as a student going up to a teacher. They want the best help and advice they can get on a subject they know nothing about.
I think that you make an interesting point that people want advice from their lawyers to help them figure out which risk are big deals, which should be deal breakers, and which can be mitigated. I would think that this advice would be especially important in business law for new companies. That way you wouldn't accidentally make a legal mistake that would cost you; your lawyer would help you figure it all out beforehand.


When I saw my house for the first time, I fell in love with the wrap around porch and the cedar columns and railing. My previous home was all brick so it was nearly maintenance free as far as exterior upkeep. This house, however, needed a face lift. After nearly four years, everything needed to be re-stained. I had ordered stain a few months back, but the weather had not been so cooperative until this weekend.
Up on the rooftop I went to paint my shutters. I am grateful I had a nice roof landing to stand on. Getting on and off the ladder to paint the columns were exhausting enough. In the end, it was worth the effort.


School & College Bangla Medium - Bangladesh.
Sylhet Cadet College, One of the most renowned school/college level educational systems in the country.
SOS Hermann Gmeiner college is an education Projects of SOS Children's Village International in Bangladeshis. It is a good school and college where students study in non politics and no smoking institution.
It is one of the leading bangla medium colleges in Dhaka. It is run by Bangladesh Air Force.
Welcome to Milestone College. We, being backed up by a number of specialist teaching staffs and excellent facilities and resources, offer a wide range of courses in the college.
Aim of Establishment: To provide a sound liberal public school education. To provide elementary military training to Cadets. One of the most renowned boarding schools in Bangladesh.
Daffodil International School is an English Medium school and a part of Daffodil Group. Daffodil Group has a long tradition of leadership in ICT and educational development in Bangladesh.


The 2015 Nissan NV200 is a city-friendly cargo van that hauls an impressive amount of goods yet has the easy driving manners and efficiency of a sedan. Slotting below the Nissan NV, the NV200 is part of a wave of new compact vans that includes the new and more powerful Ram ProMaster City and revamped Ford Transit Connect.
Nissan nv200 - the little work van that could.
It's a great car that is very useful, low gas usage.
Lacks stability and easily affected by weather conditions.


I usually use the very time consuming coffee-bath technique for aging my books, but I´ve met a colleague necronomicon-prop-maker that has a super fast method that get the job done very very nicely, so here I leave you the tutorial. Of course it depends a bit on a good starting paper but that is a LOT of friking time saved.
Will most certainly be my next experiment!


text:
Man wanted in deadly 2018 shootout on Queen St. W. busted in B.C.
Chris DoucetteMore from Chris Doucette
Updated: August 23, 2019 3:59 PM EDT
Abdulkadir Handule, 22, of Toronto, is accused in the June 30, 2018 triple-shooting on Queen St. W. near Peter St. (Toronto police handout)
One down, one to go.
A 22-year-old man sought for one of last summer's more brazen and high-profile shootings that left two dead and one injured in the city's busy Entertainment District has been nabbed on the West Coast.
But a second suspect — who was just 16 when rapper Jahvante "Smoke Dawg" Smart, 21, and music producer Ernest "Koba Prime" Modekwe, 28, were killed in a running gun battle over the 2018 Canada Day long weekend — remains on the loose.
Jahvante Smart, 21, aka Smoke Dawg, a rapper with ties to Drake and Regent Park's Halal Gang, and Ernest Modekwe, 28, aka Koba Prime, were killed in a shootout near Queen and Peter Sts. on June 30, 2018.
Toronto Police say Abdulkadir Handule, who was wanted on a warrant issued soon after the June 30, 2018, double murder, was arrested in the area of Burnaby, B.C. on July 5.
"He was arrested by the RCMP on unrelated charges and the Toronto Police Service was notified," Const. David Hopkinson said in a statement released Friday.
He said Handule has since been returned to Toronto and made his first court appearance at Old City Hall on Thursday.
He's been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
Police investigate a brazen daylight shooting on Queen St. W. near Peter St. just before 8 p.m. on June 30, 2018. (Victor Biro photo)
The second suspect, who cops named last summer after seeking a special court order that has since expired, is still sought in connection with the murders but can't be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
"The Toronto Police Service encourages the young person to contact their lawyer and make arrangements to surrender themselves," Hopkinson said.
The deadly shootout unfolded in broad daylight on a hot summer's evening shortly before 8 p.m. near Queen St. W. and Peter St. As the bullets flew, some people ran for their lives while others took cover in a nearby TTC streetcar.
When the dust settled, Smart and Modekwe were found suffering from gunshot wounds.
Both men were rushed to hospital where they died. And the Sun later learned a loaded gun was recovered from Smart.
A woman, believed to have been an innocent bystander, was also hit by gunfire but survived.
Smart, aka Smoke Dawg, was an up-and-coming rapper who was well-known on Toronto's hip-hop scene and joined Drake during the European leg of his Boy Meets World tour in 2017.
Toronto rapper Jahvante "Smoke Dawg" Smart, 21, who was gunned down in the city's Entertainment District on June 30, 2018, wears a Halal Gang pendant hanging from a gold chain in his video Fountain Freestyle while sitting out front of a Gerrard St. E. apartment building in Regent park. (YouTube)
In the wake of his death, Drake took to social media and posted photos of himself with Smoke Dawg along with messages of condolence.
"All these gifts and blessed souls and inner lights being extinguished lately is devastating. I wish peace would wash over our city. So much talent and so many stories we never get to see play out. Rest up Smoke," Drake posted.
Drake via his IG story. RIP Smoke Dawg 💔 pic.twitter.com/xRnKVZzncX
— Drake Direct (@DrakeDirect_) July 1, 2018
Smoke Dawg was also a suspected member of Regent Park's Halal Gang — believed to have been involved in a feud with another Regent Park street gang, the Sick Thugz, which saw six people killed in 2016 and 2017.
Modekwe was the brand manager for a hip-hop collective called Prime.
Smart and Modekwe were among four victims killed — three shot, one stabbed — over the 2018 Canada Day weekend. Another six were injured by gunfire.
By the end of 2018, Toronto endured a record-high 96 murders — surpassing the previous record of 89 homicides set back in 1991.
And while murders are down significantly in 2019, about 40%, the number of shootings and shooting victims is currently outpacing the record levels seen in the city last year.
cdoucette@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @SunDoucette
Facing Blue Monday head on


Mature, purplish red, glossy rosette to 30cms. diameter. Erect branched spike to 50cms. tall with vermillion bracts .Grex sibling = V. 'Isobell'. Named in honour of Cairns, Queensland grower Lynn Hudson. Reg. Doc. 12/2013.


Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, speaks during the 2019 CERAWeek by IHS Markit conference in Houston.
This week, the U.S. Senate took a consequential vote for Texas, and the Houston region in particular — a vote on a resolution calling for America to adopt a "Green New Deal." Not a single Senator voted in favor of it.
Framed as a way to fight climate change and invigorate the already thriving economy, the Green New Deal mentions things like creating high-wage jobs, investing in infrastructure and industry and promoting justice and equality.
But if you are looking for a roadmap for how to reach these laudable goals, you are likely to be disappointed. Though supporters of the Green New Deal are long on utopian buzzwords, they're short on details of how to actually achieve these goals. Even more concerning is a lack of ways to pay for them.
The Green New Deal is a grab bag of socialist policies, heavy environmental regulations and unprecedented government handouts. Unsurprisingly, most moderate Democrats aren't rushing to sing its praises.
Just when you think things can't get any crazier, they do. According to this document, the plan also commits to overhauling every building in America to meet strict new efficiency codes. Every home, airport, courthouse, grocery store, school — every single building would have to be updated.
Adding to the list of taxpayer-funded expenses is "Medicare for All." This proposal sounds good in theory, but the possible negative effects — higher taxes, no more private insurance companies, harm to the current Medicare system and possible delays in treatment — quickly turns "Medicare for All" into "Medicare for None." It would hollow out the current health care system that seniors rely on, and force the American people to give up their insurance for a government-run plan.
One of the most outrageous parts of the Green New Deal — and where this hits home for Houston — is that it calls for an unachievable energy industry overhaul. Forget reducing greenhouse gas emissions — the Green New Deal says we must completely eliminate them within 10 years. Instead of embracing oil and natural gas — our most reliable and affordable energy sources — they propose generating 100 percent of America's energy from renewable sources. Last year, renewables accounted for only 17 percent of our total energy sources, but don't waste time looking through the Green New Deal for a tenable strategy on how to quickly scale that number — it's not there.
If the government overreach doesn't concern you, the price may. One report found that the Green New Deal could cost as much as $93 trillion. To put that number in perspective, it's more than the United States has spent in its entire existence.
Promoting policies that are unaffordable, unfeasible and unworkable is hardly a good use of time in Washington. Instead, let's start talking about solutions that actually have a chance of becoming law.
I recently spoke at the CERAWeek conference in Houston — one of the largest energy industry gatherings in the world — where I discussed how to reduce the industry's carbon footprint using bottom-up solutions. America's entrepreneurial minds are our greatest natural resource. We have to get government out of the way and double down on innovation — not regulation. Washington must do more to promote the research and development of new technologies that can lower emissions while strengthening our economy and keeping costs low for consumers.
Instead of flipping the kill switch on the energy sources that power our country, we should follow an example set by Texas and unleash the power of the private sector.
Last month, I visited NET Power's demonstration plant in La Porte to see how the company is using a first-of-its-kind power system to generate affordable electricity from fossil fuels with zero emissions.
By encouraging the research and development of new technologies that reduce emissions or capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, we can lead the world in smart climate policies without raising the price tag on Texas taxpayers.
I voted against the Green New Deal because it is a solution in search of a problem. It would tighten the grip of government and bankrupt our country in the process. It is counter to our Texas values and an insult to hard-working Americans.
Cornyn represents Texas in the U.S. Senate.


Well, we're back. In fact we've been back in the UK for ages now.
We had a week and a bit in Cleethorpes with my parents (including a visit to see Grimsby Town beat Chester). While in Cleethorpes we also bought a car, 1999 Volvo S40 1.6 XS which has been behaving itself since.
After Cleethorpes we spent a week in Bury St Edmund with Vic's folks. We arranged to share a house with Vic's mate, Lisa, who lives in West Ham, East London.
So we've been here for two and a half weeks, and Vic started a temp job last week. I'm starting a 3 month contract on Monday working in one of the data centres at East India Dock.
I've got a DSL connection in the house through the "UK Free Software Network who are an Entanet reseller. They do a monthly contract with a generous download limit so that suits me fine.
I've set up my old Linux server with a new copy of Ubuntu Linux and a cheapy wireless card. That'll be going somewhere out of the way shortly as it's a bit noisy for the hallway.
Can't say that we've been overly delighted to be back in the UK. The weather has been grim, London seems to have become even grumpier than it was when we left and everything seems so expensive.
We'll see how things go with work and decide what we're doing next after we've been here a while.


Albany is a historical part of Australia dating back more than 4.28 billon years. Its home to the legend of ANZAC, the departure point for the first fleet of ships from Australia at the start of WWI. Albany is the oldest settled site in WA, with just over 30,000 residents Albany has been called home by many for decades. Just by looking around you can see how much of the site's history is still present and beckoning to be explored. A unique town with such a rich interesting history, gorgeous blue water with white sandy beaches, a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, is it any wonder it's a popular destination for travellers and holiday goers from around the world? Read more about ANZAC Albany here.
Albany's great history of whaling is a catch with the old whaling station being converted into a museum now open to the public. A few of the all-time number one natural attractions would be The Gap, Natural Bridge and Blow Holes which display the beauty and power of mother nature. The sheer cliffs and coastal region of Albany is so spectacular it has to be seen to be believed. But it's not all about History and rocks, Albany has a shopping plaza with all the big name outlets from the city and an abundance of restaurants to tantalise your tastebuds.
Albany is a place where there is something for everyone of all ages to enjoy. Just have a look at some of the things to do in Albany and the different Albany attractions and tours available for you to experience whilst staying here. Book a whale watching tour in Albany and make sure you see our famous whales.
Whale world was the last operating whaling station in Australia situated on the site of the old Cheynes Beach Whaling Company. The station has under gone dramatic changes to convert into an interesting interactive museum for the whole family to learn something from. It is open 9 to 5 daily. Allow at least 2 to 3 hours to view everything.
75% of Albany's Electricity is generated by the 18 Wind turbines located on the coastal stretch called Sandpatch west of Albany. There are beautiful walking tracks around the areas leading up to the foot of some of the turbines. With information bays it's a great place to learn about the turbines as well as the plants and animals in the area.
Indulge your senses at The Sandalwood Factory... With a range of facilities including award winning showroom, a gourmet Café, free tours, video theatre and relaxation centre, you'll find something for the whole family.


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Rules to attend the National Day military parade on December 1
POLITICSTOP NEWS
By Romania Journal	 Last updated Dec 1, 2021
400 people the most will be able to attend the military ceremonies that will take place on Wednesday, on Romania's National Day, in the official area in Bucharest, no more than 200 people in each of the county seat municipalities.
All participants must be vaccinated against COVID or must have gone through the disease.
For those who want to take part in events outside the official area, a COVID-19 certificate is not required.
In Bucharest, about 1,500 soldiers and employees from the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Special Telecommunications Service and the National Administration of Penitentiaries, joined by foreign soldiers, with about 100 technical means will participate, on Wednesday, starting with 11.00 , at the Military Parade organized by the National Day in the Arc de Triumph Square, according to the Ministry of National Defense. An exhibition of military equipment will be organized in the area of the Arch de Triumph, which can be visited after the official ceremony, until 14.00.
In Alba Iulia, starting with 15.00, wreaths will be laid at the "Great Union" Monument, then the military ceremony will take place in the area of 1 Decembrie 1918 Boulevard, in which approximately 550 soldiers will take part.
According to a government decision adopted on Friday, the organization of official ceremonies dedicated to the National Day will be allowed with the participation, in the official area, in Bucharest, of at most 400 people, and in the county seat municipalities of at most 200 people who are vaccinated against -COVID or have gone through the disease.
At these ceremonies, a distance of at least one meter between the participants must be ensured, with the attendees having wear protective masks. Activities specific to the National Day can be held at the headquarters of central public authorities and institutions with the participation of up to 300 people, and at the headquarters of local authorities and public institutions – with the participation of up to 150 people, with an area of at least 2 square meters for each participant. Also, only people who are vaccinated or have passed the disease are allowed to attend these events.
Alba IuliaBucharestCOVID-19 certificateDecember 1military paradenational dayrulessoldiers
Over 1,600 new Covid cases, 147 deaths, 1,146 patients in ICU
UK Ambassador in Bucharest on Romania's National Day: Those 1 million Romanians in Great Britain represent our strategic partnership
President Iohannis summons CSAT. Russia asks NATO forces out of Romania, Bulgaria.…
19,600 daily Covid-19 infections, 49 related deaths
Health minister: Digital certificate for those who have not taken the booster within…
U.S. National Security Advisor welcomes close coordination with B9 countries on NATO…


Marilyn Brumbaugh (defendant) operated a business in Florida called Marilyn's Secretarial Service, in which she performed typing services for do-it-yourself divorces, wills, resumes, and bankruptcies. Brumbaugh, who was not licensed to practice law, prepared legal documents for her customers in uncontested marriage dissolutions, and advised the customers regarding the costs and procedures that needed to be followed in order to obtain marriage dissolution. Brumbaugh charged her clients $50 for her services. Brumbaugh did not provide her customers with blank forms, but typed the documents herself after obtaining information from her customers. The Florida Bar (plaintiff) filed a petition charging Brumbaugh with engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, and sought an injunction prohibiting Brumbaugh from engaging in the allegedly unlawful acts. A referee appointed by the Supreme Court of Florida determined that Brumbaugh had engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. Brumbaugh objected to the referee's findings, arguing that her civil rights had been violated and that she had been denied the right to make an honest living.


Make sure your rods arrive intact and ready for action.
They'll keep your rods organized and easy-to-carry from your vehicle to the boat, and when storing.
Show your colors! These are great rod wraps from Shimano. Made from durable nylon with quick fastening Velcro hook-and-loop closure. Easily holds 3 to 8 rods securely.
EVA cushioned lining for protection of rods.
Great for looking after your 2 or 3 piece surfcasting rods while travelling, and keeping other rods together, securely so they don't damage each other in transit.


Honeywell manufactures many sensors and switches that may be used in rail equipment. These products provide repeatable and accurate sensing, lower failure rate and operational costs, and increased engineering support. They are designed to help control and sense both the train, rail, and communication network.
VRS sensors generate analog voltage output when target rotates past sensor. Separate electrical interface needed to process output to digital signal.


text:
Q: Counter-intuitive practice problem to group and operation Determine if $\ast$  is a binary operation and if$ \left ( G,\ast \right ) $is a group. Explain.

Question: $G=\mathbb{N}$ and $a\ast b$ is the smallest integer greater than both a and b.

For instance, if a=4 and b=5 then $a\ast$ b=6

Definition: G is a set. A binary operation on a set G is a function that assigns to each ordered pair of element $\left \{ a,b \right \}\subseteq G$ an element $a \in G$

Indeed, $\ast$ is a binary operation.
$\forall a,b\in G$
$a\ast b=c$ such that $c>a$ and $c>b\ \exists c \in G=\mathbb{N}$

Group axiom:
Associativity:
  $\forall a,b,c \in G$
$\left ( a\ast b \right )\ast c=a\ast \left ( b\ast c \right )$
Identity element:
$\forall a \in G$
$a\ast e=e\ast a=a$
Inverse element:
$\forall a \in G$, $\exists b \in G$
$a\ast b=b\ast a=e$

Proving G is a group is a bit tricky.
Say, $a\ast b$=$b\ast a$ then $b=e$
$a > b=e$ but $a\ngtr a$
so by this counterexample, G is not a group.
Does my above explanation suffice? Or can further explanation be built upon?

A: Your explanation does not make any sense to me, but it's not a group. Suppose $e$ is an identity, then $e\ast e = e$. On the other hand $e\ast e = e+1$ by definition of $\ast$. Thus $e=e+1$ which is obviously a contradiction.
$\ast$ is also not associative, because $(4\ast2)\ast3=5\ast3=6$ and $4\ast(2\ast3) = 4\ast4=5$.
Addendum: The inverse element is undefined, since no identity exists.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


that looks like a pretty tasty heart attack…its only missing the stick of butter on the top to complete it.
OH MY GOD! I think you would puke all over yourself half-way through.
Migh rupture my guts, but wouldn't waste a beauty like that on a puke.
What, no side items? french fires or anything?
I can definitely see the bacon, but I fail to see the heaven.
I'd eat this, if I wasn't planning to leave the house for the rest of the day. And if I had a sufficient supply of Tums.
Since I still have my surgical modifications from the Super Andy Burger (www.myconfinedspace.com/2008/01/24/super-andy-burger/), I can eat this in one bite.
I'd hit it. err… eat it.
bacon that will send you to heaven, one way.
I'd prefer all of that spread out into smaller sandwiches.


text:
#pragma once

#include <stdio.h>

typedef char** t_cw_line;
typedef struct {
  FILE *io;
  int padding;
  int colcount;
  // private members
  t_cw_line *_lines;
  int _linecount;
  int *_colwidths;
} t_col_writer; // all fields must be 0 at init

/**
 * Buffer a line.
 * `line` must have `colcount` entries in it, and each entry must be a
 * null-terminated string.
 */
void cw_add_line(t_col_writer *writer, t_cw_line line);

/**
 * Flush buffered output to `io`.
 */
void cw_flush(t_col_writer *writer);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Mesh / Curtain led display series could be applied in exterior wall of building, heterogeneous cityscape, CBD, lounge display and stage, etc.
1. Corrosion resistant, high intensity aviation alloys material to make the cabinet and modules in light weight, 6.5kg per cabinet.
2. Transparent design, small wind resistance, windproof reach 12grade, light transmittance rate reach 39%-70%.
3. Energy saving, the maximum consumption is 400w/m2, the average consumption is only 126w/m2.
4. The smallest pixel of outdoor mesh led display.
5. Easy for installation, there is no need to use steel structure, saving installation space.
6. Convenient installation, use hook to install and fix, quick assembly, each unit less than 10 seconds.
1. Exclusive and unique solution can be provided to our customer by our well-trained and professional engineers and staffs.
2. Free training for the customers who shopping from our online mall how to maintain, install and debugging led display would included in training.
3. Advanced machinery and equipment to guaranty the quality.
4. Customized design is available,OEM & ODM are welcomed.
5. Provide free installation guidance and technical supports.
Q1: What is your lead time?
A: 3-7 work days for sample delivery; 20-25 work days for mass orders.
Q2: What is your payment method?
A: T/T and L/C at sight for option.
Q3: What is your shipping and packing way?
A: Wooden box or flight case as per customers' requests. For the mass order ( fit for a container), we do shipment by Sea and for others usually by express or airline.
Q4: Is it possible to print our logo on led display product?
A: Yes, of course. OEM & ODM are welcomed.


text:
Courtesy of Tribune News Service
Opinion: TikTok does not replace Vine
By Monique Holland
I recently gave into my friends' demands to download TikTok, an app that may seem very similar to a deceased and beloved app: Vine. I quickly became obsessed with the app and have spent way too much of my time watching short clips of various topics and types.
TikTok was previously named Musical.ly before its purchase at the hands of the company ByteDance in August 2018. Since its rebranding, the app's success has risen astronomically, with more than 500 million active users monthly. The app allows users to post videos up to one minute long and contains videos that range from lip syncing popular songs and audio to people complaining about trivial things loudly in their cars.
This may seem like a replacement for Vine, a similar app where users could post six-second videos, but there are many differences between the two apps.
One of the main differences involves the ability to repost videos that aren't made by you personally. Vine users didn't have to make original content to have videos on their profile. They could just share someone else's Vine to share with their followers.
In contrast, on TikTok you can duet with someone else's video, which shows users reacting to others videos side-by-side, but there is no reposting ability.
Personally, I think this encourages users to be more creative than Vine used to. If you want to have content to view, you are forced make it yourself. There is still an ability to share videos you think are funny with friends, as you can share TikToks through private message, a link and even Snapchat if the video is short enough.
The length of the videos is the other way the two apps differ. Vine left its users with only six seconds to make a funny video that everyone can enjoy, while TikTok allows its viewers up to a minute of content. The brevity of many vines added to the humor for its viewers, but a longer video may be preferred as there is the ability to have more content in one video.
I don't think TikTok will ever come close to the iconic vines that are still references on the internet today, but it could take on its own identity as an outlet for creativity and comedy without being referred to as an app that "replaced" Vine.
Opinion: McMaster is making a coward's mistake
By Elizabeth Stiles | 07/11/19 12:26pm
Letter to the editor: Board of Trustees should not bow to McMaster's pressure
By Hakeem Jefferson | 07/10/19 12:33am
Opinion: Trump's Fourth of July celebration twists the meaning of Independence Day
By Elizabeth Stiles | 07/05/19 8:55pm
Opinion: Boycotting brands can only do so much damage
By Alexis King | 07/03/19 12:41am
Opinion: LGBTQ+ community reclaims 'Q'
By Clara Bergeson | 06/29/19 4:00am
Opinion: Journaling is transformative
By Alexis King | 06/24/19 5:48pm


text:
Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity
Doing more for sick kids
Pay In Funds Raised
Schools fundraising
Penny's Story
Four-year-old Penny Powell is a regular visitor to Birmingham Children's Hospital, with three heart conditions, chronic lung disease and renal failure, she can often be found in the cardio ward, respiratory ward and renal ward; as well as outpatients for hearing, dental, ophthalmology & endocrine.
Sutton-born Penny underwent a renal transplant in June last year after she was born weighing 1lb 7oz and diagnosed at birth with renal failure. First time parents Michelle and Stuart were keen to be Penny's donor, but after tests revealed they were unfortunately not a match, Granddad John Powell stepped in.
Since her transplant just over six months ago, Penny is doing extremely well. She is a happy little girl who loves nothing more than walking to the park where she feeds the ducks, and dressing up as a Disney Princess. Mum and Dad describe her as 'the bravest little girl they know'.
Published: 12th January, 2018
Updated: 23rd January, 2018
Author: Zoe Pope
Big Bandage
Krazy Races
Build your own soap box and race.....
City Apprentice Challenge
Laura Gives Up Her Luscious Locks After Life-Saving Operation
A seven-year-old girl from Telford has braved the chop by cutting off her long hair and raising over £700 for Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity after receiving a life-saving operation there, when she was five-months-old.
Lauren's Legacy
A mum from Aldridge, Walsall has been named as this week's charity champion after using the power of Facebook to raise over £1,700 for Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity, in memory of her daughter.
Video: Amaru's Story
Amaru is backing Big Bandage
Our patients go through a lot during their time with us, showing the most incredible amounts of bravery every single day. One of these children is five-year-old Amaru from Great Barr.
Yusef is backing Big Bandage
Our Big Bandage campaign has gained lots of brave supporters from right across our hospital this year. One of those backing the campaign is four-year-old patient Yusuf (pictured).
Download your Big Bandage materials and be brave in bandages on Friday 9 March!
Join in the fun on Friday 9 March for our Big Bandage Day and help fundraise for the Birmingham Children's Hospital charity by being brave!
A gallery of our past supporters of Big Bandage.
Your single or regular gift helps provide the best possible environment to support our young patients and their families. Ongoing contributions allow us to plan ahead for new projects, research or equipment to ensure we continue providing world-class care. Thank you. Please tell us more about why you're donating, or let us know if you have any additional comments.
We often receive donations of toys and games for our patients, particularly around the festive seasons such as Easter or Christmas, and whilst we are incredibly grateful for these, we do have some guidelines around what we can or cannot accept.
At Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity, we believe there's always more we can do for our sick kids.
Join us for this very special evening of classic Christmas carols, mince pies and mulled wine in the beautiful surroundings of St Martin at the Bullring Church.
Why We Need Volunteers
A fun, rewarding voluntary role helps us give even more support to young patients at Birmingham Children's Hospital and their families
Sahara Trek - Various dates
Join us on this superb trekking adventure taking you deep into the biggest desert in the world, the Sahara.
About our events
Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k - 31 May
Join #TeamBCH and walk, jog or run the Great Birmingham 10k on 31 May 2020.
NHS Big Tea
Join us on Friday 5 July for a Tea Party
Your support ensures the sick children in our care get the very best treatment, the latest equipment and the most comfortable environment possible as we undertake pioneering research to cure their illnesses.
© BCH Charity 2019 | Registered charity number 1160875


Johannes Müller - Why not have it all?
The tone of the travel brochure has an imperative touch ("You will say: I could not agree more!" and "Let's do it all!"). This is not a promise that you could have fun, but that you will have fun. And this promise is kept, guaranteed, as a luxury cruise can bring out the worst in you. There is always more: more fun, more room service, more relaxation, more luxury, more cynicism, more hatred, more envy, more seafood.
In "Why not have it all?" we work with towel and iPod, the equipment for a relaxing afternoon on deck and look into the psychological depths of a holidaymaker with a longing for deep relaxation and a desire to devour all at once.
Produced as part of Berlin del Mar by sophiensæle.
With kind support of TUI, Dinamix and AV Tour.
As media support by taz - the daily newspaper, rbb radio one and zitty Berlin.


SYDNEY (Reuters) - Customers of a cafe credited with pioneering Melbourne's famous coffee culture piled flowers and condolences outside on Saturday, mourning its well-known co-owner who was stabbed to death in an attack police have called an act of terrorism.
Sisto Malaspina, 74, a familiar face behind the coffee machine at the city-centre Pellegrini's cafe, was killed in the attack on Friday, his business partner Nino Pangrazio told The Age newspaper.
Pellegrini's, a cosy corner bar with 50s-style chequerboard tiles on the floor, was closed on Saturday but dozens of customers gathered outside, leaving flowers and tributes on the doorstep. The phone rang out when Reuters called.
They have hardly changed a thing about it since - serving espresso coffee and fresh pasta that Malaspina said in the video learned to cook from his grandmother.


text:
Here's for Hope - Howard Zinn
History is and always has been one of my passions. Reading about the past has helped me understand where we come from, and why and how the world is today. At the same time history has always been written by the victors, never by the defeated or oppressed. This is perfectly expressed in one of Bertol Bretch's poems "Questions from a worker who reads".
Who built Thebes of the seven gates?
In the books you will find the names of kings.
Did the kings haul up the lumps of rock?
And Babylon, many times demolished
Who raised it up so many times? In what houses
of gold-glittering Lima did the builders live?
Where, the evening that the Wall of China was finished
Did the masons go? Great Rome
Is full of triumphal arches. Who erected them? Over whom
Did the Caesars triumph? Had Byzantium, much praised in song
Only palaces for its inhabitants? Even in fabled Atlantis
The night the ocean engulfed it
The drowning still bawled for their slaves.
The young Alexander conquered India.
Was he alone?
Caesar beat the Gauls.
Did he not have even a cook with him?
Philip of Spain wept when his armada
Went down. Was he the only one to weep?
Frederick the Second won the Seven Year's War.
Who else won it?
Every page a victory.
Who cooked the feast for the victors?
Every ten years a great man?
Who paid the bill?
So many reports.
So many questions.
Looking at history with critical eyes, and retelling the story from a different point of view is essential and Howard Zinn understood that. It is not about rewriting history for our own purposes but rather retelling history and filling the huge gaps that official history has left throughout time. The perfect example of this is Howard Zinn's most successful and influential book, "The People's History of the United States" where he retold the 'discovery' of America by Columbus focusing on the indigenous point of view. Where he wrote of the expansion of the settlers to the west destroying the lives of the indigenous from the natives' point of view. The struggles of black people and workers from their points of view.
Howard Zinn's parents were migrants from Europe. They worked in factories. They had very limited education. Howard lived through the great depression, and worked in the shipyards. He joined the army corps and went to Europe as a bombardier during World War II, where amongst other things he participated in the first ever use of napalm. It has often been referred to as "the good war", but he never saw it as such. At his return he put all of the medals that he had received inside an envelope and labeled the envelope: Never again.
Years after the war, and having finalised his studies as historian, he returned to some of the sites he had bombarded to do some research. What he found confirmed his deepest fears. Most of the victims of the bombings were civilians (civilian casualties in WWII have been estimated to be 50% of the total). Here's a fragment from Wikipedia.
On the ground, Zinn learned that the aerial bombing attacks—in which he participated—had killed more than 1000 French civilians as well as some German soldiers hiding near Royan to await the war's end, events that are described "in all accounts" he found as "une tragique erreur" that leveled a small but ancient city and "its population that was, at least officially, friend, not foe." In two books, The Politics of History and The Zinn Reader, Zinn described how the bombing was ordered—three weeks before the war in Europe ended—by military officials who were, in part, motivated more by the desire for career advancement than legitimate military objectives. He quotes the official history of the U.S. Army Air Forces' brief reference to the Eighth Air Force attack on Royan and also, in the same chapter, to the bombing of Pilsen in what was then Czechoslovakia. The official history stated, that the famous Skoda works in Pilsen "received 500 well-placed tons, and that "Because of a warning sent out ahead of time the workers were able to escape, except for five persons."
This marked him for the rest of his life. Howard Zinn had seen poverty, had seen the suffering of workers, he had seen the horrors of war first-hand, and now the consequences of war.
In an interview with Mark Gordon Howard Zinn talks about how unacceptable war is and how we have come to justify the unjustifiable. You can watch the video here. As a sample, here is a transcript of Howard Zinn's answer to Mark's first question: Can we ever have a just war?
I don't think so anymore. If we ever could in the past, the technology of warfare has reached a point where war is always the indiscriminate killing of huge numbers of people. Wars were at one time fought between armies, soldiers killed soldiers. Now, and we heard tonight doctor Gino Strada, the Italian war surgeon tell us, that the victims that he takes care of in the hospitals in Afghanistan and Iraq are 90% civilians, 30% of them children. In a situation like this war can not be accepted any more as a way of solving any of the problems we have in the world.
As the History teacher in the Spelman College in the 50s, a college for black women, he witnessed the beginning of the civil liberties movement and joined the sit-ins and protests, for which he was expelled from the college.
He was also one of the first intellectuals to oppose the Vietnam war (see the photo above: Howard Zinn being arrested on the right) From then on, Howard Zinn has not only been a tireless anti war activist, but also a historian who has been able to build bridges between intellectuals and the general public. His works have been read by millions of people.
Looking at the world, it is easy to despair, Howard said, but we should not, and he explained why when he was invited back to Spelman College to address the students in 2005, fifty years after he was sacked. His address was entitled Against Discouragement, and it has been widely published, you can find the address here.
The latest article that Howard Zinn wrote was recently published in The Nation, where he delivered a very sharp and critical assessment of Barack Obama's first yeas as president. He started the assessment saying:
I've been searching hard for a highlight. The only thing that comes close is some of Obama's rhetoric; I don't see any kind of a highlight in his actions and policies. As far as disappointments, I wasn't terribly disappointed because I didn't expect that much.
And he finishes the article in a typical Zinn way.
I think people are dazzled by Obama's rhetoric, and that people ought to begin to understand that Obama is going to be a mediocre president--which means, in our time, a dangerous president--unless there is some national movement to push him in a better direction.
Howard Zinn died last week. We will miss his sharp insights. His fierce activism. His messages of peace. His warnings against war. His words of encouragement and hope. But his writings will stand the test of time.


I am committed to providing excellent quality of care in a dynamic and fun environment. I am passionate about not only treating symptoms and returning patients to previous level of function, but addressing the underlying imbalances that lead to their injuries in the first place. I achieve this through my treatment approach which follows the three R's.
Board certified specialist in orthopedics and sports with an emphasis on returning the athletic population to the activities that drive them. When we think of sports we often think of shoulders, knees and ankles. Functional movements link together these interdependent regions, meaning we always need to include "core" connections to treat the whole person. This applies to all injuries from sprains/strains, chronic injuries or post-operative care.
Affiliated with multiple physical therapy schools as a clinical instructor including University of Washington, Mayo School of Health Sciences, Northwestern University, Eastern Washington University and University of Kansas Medical Center.
Jeff enjoys spending time with family and his two young children. Jeff enjoys an active lifestyle with all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. You are most likely to spot him on a mountain bike on any given weekend.


I would guess the main improvement in gas mileage comes from the psychological factor of putting a highly visible gas saving device on your car reminding you behave and drive in ways that help save gas. This includes use of a lot of the tips Dan mentioned including slower acceleration, not accelerating up hills, gentler use of the brake and gas pedal, etc. It might also be possible that before people bought the device they didn't know these tips, but then became more interested in other ways to save gas which led them to learn and use these tips. This is likely especially true for people who have elected to be a part of a self-logging group. As Dan pointed out, all else being equal, science doesn't support the savings people are seeing.
I'm sorry, but the entire explanation is nonsense. The MAGNETS holding the fins on are what gives the benefit. The spin of the atoms is reversed and thus (thus is science talk) energy is saved by the inversion of the anti-bosons. These are obviously not effective when using automotive tape to mount them, Dan. Duh.
BTW, I keep reading that as Gaspode. Yeah, I'm a Discworld junkie.
I did too. Still do.