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http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NightmareFuel/RatchetAndClank
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Nightmare Fuel / Ratchet & Clank
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Just like Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank also tends to have some scary moments and enemies thrown in for good measure.
As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.
Games with their own pages:
Ratchet: Deadlocked
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
The Sewer Sharks in the first three games. They are gigantic, ugly fish that eat Ratchet and Clank in one bite. They mostly act as simple Border Patrol, and in that case, are not that frightening aside from their general appearance. In certain areas however, (Qwark's training center on Umbris in the first game, and the factory in Canal City on Notak in the second game) their areas actually had to be traversed. In the first instance, their water had to be drained so Ratchet could go down and defeat them to clear the waters before refilling them. While they were easy to defeat with the water drained, if the player missed one by accident and refilled the waters, they would be eaten almost instantly, which could provide quite a Jumpscare. In the second instance, the player had to freeze their waters to escape them. If the player's finger slipped and they thawed the waters, they would be eaten.
Most of the villain's schemes can be seen as Nightmare Fuel if you look past the humorous nature of the games:
Ratchet & Clank featured Drek ravaging and tearing apart numerous planets to use their resources to construct his own world - which he then plans on polluting so that he can do this all over again.
Planet Orxon fell victim to Drek's scheme sometime before the game begins, and it provides a terrifying glimpse into the kind of world that Drek will create if he isn't stopped.
Going Commando involves the Protopet - a genetically-engineered "perfect pet" for children that is actually incredibly violent and attacks anyone on sight. You visit a city that is literally overwhelmed by them, and see numerous [robot] citizens being destroyed. The fact that they can multiply very quickly does not help... Of course, this is all part of Captain Qwark's plan to rescue the Bogon Galaxy with the disaster he created in order to save his stained reputation.
In a bit of Black Comedy, one of Megacorp's commercials for the Protopet shows a boy named Billy interacting with the creature. The narrator blithely prattles on about how happy Billy is, oblivious to Billy's terrified screams for help and the way the Protopet is tossing him around like a ragdoll.
Up Your Arsenal has Dr. Nefarious seeking to turn the entire populace of the galaxy into robots via a doomsday device. But it goes beyond that - Nefarious and his allies (among them a Dumb Muscle race, a replica, and a sadistic Evil Diva) essentially see their plot as a genocide of all organic lifeforms.
Deadlocked sees heroes abducted and forced to compete in a reality TV show called DreadZone where they are forced to compete for their lives against impossible odds. The captured contestants have to fight thousands of enemy forces or each other in order to achieve their freedom and are forced to wear electroshock Deadlock Collars to keep themselves in line. The producers and hosts of the show want as many contestants to die as possible, and if a hero refuses to compete, or tries to escape, then their permanently-affixed Deadlock collar EXPLODES. The owner of DreadZone has been kidnapping dozens of heroes and many have died in his games before Ratchet came along.
Deadlocked also has the Reapers, a mutant gorilla hedgehog crocodile race.
Size Matters has the Technomites - a vast, microscopic race that is responsible for the development and operation of almost all technology in the known universe, which ends up turning against the galaxy because they feel that their accomplishments don't garner enough respect. The fact that the enemy is invisible to the naked eye and yet potentially controls every piece of machinery in existence would've allowed the Technomites to be a far more dangerous threat, if that'd been their plan. The main antagonist of the game, Otto Destruct, really planned on using his army of Ratchet clones to kidnap all the smartest beings in the universe and steal their intelligence so that he would become the most intelligent being in all of existence.
It also doesn't help that the whole thing is a Cassandra Truth (at first).
Ratchet (to Clank): "There ARE...NO...TECHNOMITES!!"
Tools of Destruction's main villain, Emperor Tachyon, has two aims: bring back a race of Always Chaotic Evil Cragmites so that they can resume draining and destroying entire planets of their resources and kill anyone who they happen not to like (which is pretty much everyone, given Tachyon is an Absolute Xenophobe), and kill every Lombax in existence - men, women, and children - and destroy all traces of their very existence.
A Crack in Time has General Azimuth, whose mad determination to undo his past mistakes and risk shattering the fabric of time and space can be quite horrific after seeing him as a hero for most of the game up until that point.
Ratchet & Clank (2002)
Planet Orxon. Once the homeworld of the Blarg race, the entire planet was reduced to a desolate, radioactive wasteland by Drek as part of his money-swindling scheme. Powerful mutants roam freely, pipes dump chemical waste into what remains of the planet's water sources, and the atmosphere is so toxic that the surface is blanketed in green fog. Ratchet can't explore at all without the O2 Mask. Appropriately, this planet marks the point where the game stops pulling punches; Clank goes on a grueling solo mission through the abandoned factories while Ratchet faces hordes of freakishly tough mutants.
Even the level's soundtrack sounds desolate and toxic. Clank's section is no better, with an incredibly foreboding track to go with it.
Planet Oltanis' Gorda City is a dark, rainy metropolis caught in a perpetual lightning storm, filled with dark alleyways and electric robots with glowing eyes. Previous locations in the game like Batalia were already war-torn, but Oltanis is utterly decimated; the sheer scale of the destruction is horrific. Charred husks of skyscrapers act as lightning rods, robot commandos swarm the streets, and the city is completely devoid of any living creatures except for a single salesman who has gone insane. Sadly Clank cannot leave the ship because of lightning, leaving Ratchet to go and explore the city by HIMSELF, missing some of his most useful maneuvers. The level is widely considered to be the most difficult in the game.
The unlockable "big head enemies" cheat. Fighting the game's menacing creatures may not be too scary, but just wait until their ugly heads swell to an unnatural size.
In the HD port, due to a graphical error right at the end of the PDA cutscene on Oltanis, Captain Qwark's pupils inexplicably disappear. While it doesn't sound that creepy on it's own, it can be a rather unexpected surprise for new players.
The Swamp monsters from planet Oozla. We first see one throttling a scientist before fighting Ratchet, while never showing more than two tentacles and an eye stalk. Kinda creepy, but it gets far worse when you face the second one as a Bonus Boss. You get into its lair by sliding down a pipe, and then falling, to end up trapped in a dark cavern with no solid ground and no apparent way out. And then the monster reveals itself: A horrific, slug-like thing (a giant version of the mutant swamp beasts fought throughout the level) with lots and lots of teeth, tentacles, and pincers. It tries to eat Ratchet alive, and if it succeeds, he takes a lot of damage.
Heck, Oozla itself as a whole. Dark, foreboding, and dotted with nerdish, teddy-bear looking mall employees who are all either eaten or liquified by the local wildlife with no chance of saving them... the planet may be the first real level in the game, but Green Hill Zone it ain't.
Later into the game is planet Snivelak, a dark, glowing lava world that is home to the Thugs' headquarters. It could be said that the planet is one of the darkest and scariest locations in the entire series, and it marks the introduction of a severe Difficulty Spike, even moreso than the infamous planet Boldan before it.
Up Your Arsenal
Qwark's Hideout is guarded by security robots that look like Qwark. As with many enemies their armor falls apart as they take damage, revealing the silver robot beneath the armor. The scary part is that when they fall down, you can't assume they're destroyed. They've lost their legs, but they will drag their torsos across the ground with their hands to try and swipe at you, looking like robotic zombies. And to cap it all off, the Qwark-bots take an insane amount of punishment before falling, furthering the zombie impression.
At one point, Ratchet is captured by the Technomites and sent to a research facility. As he's strapped to the operating table, doctors approach with sharp surgical tools and a chainsaw before he blanks out and gets sent to the surreal, freakishly difficult Dreamtime level, implied to be Ratchet hallucinating while the Technomites experiment on him. The mission description for Dreamtime more or less speaks for itself:
Mission description: "All the world's a stage, FIND / And all the men and women merely players, A / They all have their exits and entrances, WAY / And one man is in his time plays many parts, OUT!"
Tools of Destruction
In Kortog's Stratus City, the giant jellyfish do not hurt you but the way they are just there is unsettling.
The Mag-Net Launcher locks an enemy in place while dealing electrical damage to them. Imagine being stuck in place, incapable of striking back as you are slowly electrocuted to death...
A Crack in Time
A Crack in Time has the Tetramites, swarms of invincible insects that can kill Ratchet in just a few seconds. The only ways to kill them are with the Omniwrench or the Voltan Ivy. Nothing else will kill or even slow them down. Even with the wrench and ivy, the nests which respawn Tetramites are indestructible. There is scary music that plays around them, and if they touch Ratchet, his jump is severely limited, making it hard to escape them. With their invincibility, massive health draining, a musical theme straight out of a horror movie, and massive numbers, they can be very frightening.
Into the Nexus
Into the Nexus runs on Nightmare Fuel out of its aim to take a "spookier direction". Vendra in particular makes her entrance by shorting out all power and gravity to the Nebulox Seven, turning it against the heroes, kills Cronk and Zephyr and then tries to kill Ratchet as well.
The Meero Orphanage on Yerek is disturbingly similar to current-day Chernoybl, and is completely abandoned to boot. Plus, in front of it is an endlessly spinning merry-go-round and a disturbing hopscotch court that goes to seven, before reaching a square with a dead expression drawn on the very edge of the cliff. And let's not forget the creepy singing robots that are out front too.
Even if the 2016 Ratchet & Clank film and game are generally Lighter and Softer than their source material, they still have their moments of this:
Worth noting is the changes done to Quartu, given how it's the Blarg homeworld in this continuity. Forget the rather plain-looking planet with a jaunty tune from the original game—this Quartu is a dark, dreary looking world full of factories, obviously suffering from the very heavy pollution that Drek's father inflicted on it. It's like if the Blarg took the factory on Yeedil from Going Commando and hired Dr. Nefarious as their interior decorator.
Clank's initial escape is much more scary in the game, given the darker aesthetics and the presence of Victor Von Ion. He's a tiny, sentient little robot whose first conscious experience is being chased by a big, scary warbot eager to tear him to scrap.
In the game, Ratchet and Clank getting trapped in with the Blargian Snagglebeast in Nebula G34 is scary given the context and a little extra thought. The context is that Ratchet and Clank are utterly terrified by the monster in front of them. Okay, not too bad. The little extra thought is that it's important to remember that Qwark very likely knew this is what the Blarg were making, and yet sent these two on a suicide mission just so they could stop hogging his spotlight. And if we're going by the film's timeframe, this is well before he teamed up with Drek. Adaptational Heroism only goes so far sometimes.
Drek's Deplanetizer blows apart the entire planet of Novalis, on-screen. Although it's mentioned that the living inhabitants were evacuated in time, the sheer devastation wreaked on the peaceful, beautiful planet deals a serious blow to the resistance and sends Ratchet into a Heroic BSoD.
Many players have taken note that Drek—while still a Jerkass—is less evil in this version of the story, with his father being the one to pollute the Blarg homeworld this time and his desire to make a new planet for his people being slightly more genuine. However, even if the film downplays him into more of a Well-Intentioned Extremist, the way he's written in the game has him retain some of his original counterpart's wrath and malice. Even if he's still played for comedy, he's more outwardly aggressive towards his forces, and during the first visit to the Deplanetizer, we hear him admit that, like his original counterpart, he's not planning to stop at just New Quartu:
Drek: After I've built us a new home world, I'll make another, and another! (chuckles) Can you imagine? Dozens of Blarg-owned planets, forged not by nature, but by my company. We'll create an entire empire using your galaxy's wasted planets! I suppose this will leave many of your citizens homeless or, well, dead... but sacrifices must be made!
It's also worth noting that he gleefully rubs it in that he's destroying the home planet of one of the Rangers:
Drek: Is it true Cora Veralux is from Novalis? Oh, this is just too good! Not only do I get a choice piece of planet for New Quartu, but I get to destroy a Galactic Ranger's home? Talk about a win-win!
And as revealed in the film via throwaway dialogue, the only reason Novalis was evacuated in time was due to the Blarg, with Drek engineering it in advance in order to sway Qwark into joining their side. Drek would've been willing to blow up a planet with millions of sentient people on it regardless.
Beyond a more organic design, the film's version of Dr. Nefarious is also surprisingly less comedic than his canon counterpart, being more Faux Affably Evil as opposed to his usual hamminess. And after gleefully disposing of Drek, he's plans to destroy the entire star system just to spite the Galactic Rangers, ultimately not caring if he gets caught in the crossfire. Novalis may have been evacuated in time, but that sure as heck couldn't be pulled off with a disaster this big. And to think that his Start of Darkness here only happened because Captain Qwark mistreated him as a Galactic Ranger.
While she thankfully manages to overcome this by the end of the movie and game, Elaris, the new tech whiz for the Galactic Rangers, is shown to be at the same risk of Sanity Slippage that Nefarious went through, and it's shown that the stress and disrespect from the other Rangers is slowly putting a dent in her psyche.
Rakenzarn Tales
NightmareFuel/Video Games


Memo Status : Superseded	 Notes : Superseded by DSCA Policy Memo 01-21.
We are currently working on enhancements to the Defense Security Assistance Management System (DSAMS) which will allow us to electronically coordinate and countersign Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) documents. These changes will not only improve the timeliness of our coordination process, but will also increase the consistency and quality of our reviews. As part of the CCT enhancements, DSAMS will be updated to automate status progression for LOAs, amendments, modifications, Letters of Intent (LOIs), and leases. Rather than enter separate milestones for signature events and status changes, the system will automatically change the status when certain trigger milestones are entered. Since this may necessitate some changes in your implementing agency's review processes, the following information is provided to ensure you are ready for our planned August implementation of this capability.
The attached matrix provides a listing of milestones and their associated status changes that will be effective with CCT implementation. These status changes are dependent on a combination of factors including (1) the type of document (LOA, amendment, modification, etc.); and (2) whether or not DSCA countersignature and/or State Department approval are required. It is imperative that LOA document writers understand the scenarios in which State Department, DSCA, and implementing agency approvals are required and accurately capture those requirements in DSAMS.
Please note that some documents will be implemented in DSAMS immediately upon entry of the "MILSGN" milestone (i.e., modifications that do not require DSCA countersignature or State Department approval). Entry of the "MILSGN" milestone means that the implementing agency has completed all of its internal reviews and is satisfied that the document is signature-worthy. We understand some implementing agencies have previously allowed quality/financial reviews to take place after the implementing agency signature has actually taken place. With the implementation of CCT, all implementing agency reviews must occur prior to entry of the "MILSGN" milestone. The "MILSGN" milestone will signal to DSCA that the document is fully cleared by the implementing agency and ready for our review and action.
Automatic status progression will eliminate the need for duplicative milestone entries and permit greater standardization (and consequently more accurate metrics) since all implementing agencies' cases will move through status changes consistently. We appreciate your cooperation in making any internal procedural adjustments necessary to prepare for this change. If you have questions or need additional information regarding this policy, please contact Beth Baker, (703) 604-6612, or e-mail: beth.baker@osd.pentagon.mil.
* The current validations regarding the Absence of specific milestones (State Department Approval and Case Status Offered) still apply. However, the validation will be bypassed if a DSCA Reactivation Authorized (DREACT) milestone with an actual date is posted.


These are some textile cards I sent out recently, I made them using stitching and stamping on painted fabric.
I sent out two to Postcrossers, Jamie in USA and Richarda in Germany, both said they enjoyed recieving handmade cards.
and included one in an art swap to my friend Nancy in America.
This is some of the gorgeous mail I've received recently.
and a lovely birthday gift from Suzanne in Germany.


1. TNS could not Resolve Service Name or any TNS entry related error during ADI logon.
Check the TNSNAMES.ora file in the network/ADMIN and NET80/ADMIN folders of the ADI Oracle Home. The TNS file should have one entry for DB instance and once for the file server. Below are the sample TNS entries for DB and File Server. Just make sure that DB and File server entries should have different port numbers.
Also user should have full access on the TNSNAMES.ora files in the network/ADMIN and NET80/ADMIN folders of the ADI Oracle Home.
2. Unable to Publish Output of the report.
You are able to run the report in ADI but when you try to publish the output you get the error "File Server Failed to Initialize". This error is because the ADI application is not able to connect to the file server. Check if the file server port is open and you are able to connect to the port. File server port is the port number in the File Server entry in the TNSNAMES.ora.
If you are not able to upload Journals or Budgets through ADI and getting error "File Server Failed to Initialize" the issue is because the ADI application is not able to connect to the file server. Check if the file server port is open and you are able to connect to the port. File server port is the port number in the File Server entry in the TNSNAMES.ora.
You get error "The macros in this project are disabled" during upload through ADI. The reason for this issue is because the Tools > Macro > Security is set to high. As ADI macros are unsigned they cannot be added to the Trusted Sources. Solution is to set the Tools > Macro > Security to Medium and accept Enable Macros when the template (Existing Worksheet) is opened if the template is from a known source.


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Maryland Disorderly Conduct Lawyer
Criminal Defense Lawyers Helping Individuals Charged with or Convicted of Disorderly Conduct in MD
Under the Maryland Criminal Code, disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor. However, a conviction can still land you in jail and subject you to monetary fines. In general, disorderly conduct is a very broad term and often serves as an "umbrella charge" for a myriad of public disturbances under the law.
Sometimes, people are wrongfully arrested for disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace. This is most common in cases where the accused is taking part in a lawful demonstration or participating in a peaceful protest.
The penalties upon conviction for disorderly conduct can be harsh. However, it is important to keep in mind that disorderly conduct charges – like all other criminal charges in Maryland – have potential legal defenses associated with them.
If the State of Maryland has charged you with disorderly conduct, you need a skilled criminal defense lawyer on your side throughout every stage of your criminal case. The Maryland criminal defense lawyers at Alpert Schreyer Poe, LLC may be able to help you formulate a successful legal defense to your disorderly conduct charge.
If you are ultimately found guilty or convicted of disorderly conduct, a Maryland criminal defense lawyer may be able to help you minimize the impact of a conviction on your personal and professional life. Call (301) 321-7277.
Purpose of Criminalizing Disorderly Conduct
Maryland disorderly conduct laws are in place for the purpose of protecting citizens from unreasonable or disruptive behavior by others.
Some of the most common types of behaviors which disorderly conduct laws protect against include:
Making loud noises or playing loud music – most especially during the nighttime hours
Fighting in public – including places of business or at sporting events
Stopping others from traveling in areas which are open to the public
Interfering with an athletic event, such as by throwing objects in the stands or onto the court or field
These disruptive behaviors are sometimes also referred to as "disturbing the peace." Disorderly conduct laws are also intertwined with public intoxication laws. These laws generally prohibit drunkenness in public – as well as causing public disturbances or property damage as a result of being drunk in public.
If you have been charged with disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace in Maryland, a criminal defense lawyer at Alpert Schreyer Poe may be able to help you formulate a good legal defense to your criminal charge.
Four Types of Disorderly Conduct
The Maryland Criminal Code criminalizes four different types of disorderly conduct. If you are caught committing one or more of these offenses, a police officer could arrest you. Moreover, if you are charged and convicted, you can face certain criminal penalties, including monetary fines and jail time.
Under Maryland law, disorderly conduct includes:
Intentionally preventing people from walking or moving freely into or out of a public place – In this context, public places may include public buildings, hotels, elevators, public streets, parking lots and garages, schools, amusement parks, and theaters. The law also precludes interfering with patrons on public transportation vehicles, including buses, trains, and airplanes. It is also against the law to block others from entering or exiting a designated medical building or facility.
Disturbing the peace – The disorderly conduct statute precludes individuals from intentionally engaging in activities which disturb the peace. Examples of disturbing the peace may include yelling or playing loud music during the night when people are trying to sleep.
Failing to obey a police officer's lawful orders – If a person intentionally disregards or disobeys a police officer's lawful orders when the officer is attempting to prevent a disturbance of the peace, the police officer can arrest the offender and take him or her into custody.
Making an unreasonably loud noise in a public place – The disorderly conduct statute prohibits people from making unreasonably loud noises in public places – including on public transportation – for the purpose of disturbing the peace. The same is true if the person makes the noise in another person's home or on his or her land.
Unlawfully entering another person's home for purposes of disturbing the peace – In Maryland, it is unlawful to enter someone else's home with the intention of disturbing the peace or behaving in a disorderly manner.
If the State has charged you with disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced criminal defense lawyer at Alpert Schreyer Poe may be able to help you formulate a legal defense, represent you in court, or work out a favorable plea deal with the prosecution.
Potential Penalties Upon Conviction
In the State of Maryland, disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor. If you are ultimately convicted of disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace in Maryland, a judge could sentence you to up to 60 days in jail, along with a monetary fine of up to $500.
Likewise, if you are found guilty of blocking access to a medical facility, a judge could sentence you to up to 90 days' incarceration, as well as a fine of up to $1,000.
If you are convicted of interfering with a sporting event, a judge could sentence you to three months' incarceration, along with a fine of up to $250. A public intoxication conviction can result in up to 90 days' incarceration, along with a monetary fine of up to $100.
Talk to a Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer Today for a Free Case Evaluation
Although disorderly conduct is only a misdemeanor in Maryland, a charge or conviction can result in a criminal record. A conviction can also result in significant penalties, including serious limitations on your personal freedom.
If you have been charged with disorderly conduct, you should not wait until right before your trial date to seek legal representation. The Maryland criminal defense lawyers at Alpert Schreyer Poe can review your case with you and may be able to offer you legal representation.
To schedule a free case evaluation with a Maryland criminal defense lawyer, please call us today at (301) 321-7277, or contact us online.
Felony Theft
Misdemeanor Theft

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This week, we also are scheduled for hand surgery. Braxton has bilateral syndactyly of his pinky and ring finger. The skin is webbed between the fingers, but the doctor is confident it's a simple snip to correct it. He will be in a splint for about a week and then just in a bandage for the next week. He will need a skin graft on one hand that they will take from the inside of his arm. Poor baby, think it's gonna be harder on mom and dad than him.
While he is in for surgery, we are supposed to have bloodwork done for Genetics and Endocrinology. Hopefully, this gives us some new information as to whether or not there are any abnormalities in his genes or growth hormones. Gah, so much to keep up with.


This week, President Trump sat down with the leaders of the three Baltic States at the White House to discuss the Russian 'threat' that prevents them getting a good night's sleep. Unreported however, was the fact that on the same day that its leader was being received in the White House, the Latvian government was decreeing that the children of its 40% Russian population must be taught in Latvian.
Before sitting down at the White House to complain about the so-called 'Russian threat' to his country, Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis signed a bill that outlaws teaching in Russian, even in schools for ethnic minorities. The only exception is Russian language and literature, or other subjects "connected with culture and history." Latvia's Social Democratic Party Harmony protested against the new law, saying that it contradicts both the constitution and the Council of Europe's framework convention on protection of minorities, ratified by the Latvian parliament in 2005. Harmony called for the reversal of anti-Russian education reforms, to no avail.
rules established in the majority of civilized nations.Russian lawmakers intend to appeal to the United Nations, the parliaments of European and Eurasian countries and the EU leadership, warning that the new law could lead Russia to issue a partial or full ban on financial opera-tions, increase import tariffs, restrict tourists and suspend certain bilateral trade agreements.
I'm sure his Baltic guests did not tell President Trump that Russian speakers make up to 40 percent of Latvia's 2 million population, and that all foreigners must pass a language test to become citizens. Although most non-citizens are ethnic Russians, there are also large numbers of Belarusi-ans, Ukrainians, Poles and Lithuanians. Although language requirements are common when it comes to citizenship just about everywhere, in Latvia, besides not having voting rights and being unable to serve in the military, the police, or as civil servants, Russians are also banned from being lawyers or working in pharmacies!
There is no historical record of an 'aggressive' Russia. Russia, Poland, the Baltic princes, Sweden and Norway fought each other for centuries. In order to understand how Ukraine has come to play such an important role in all of this, it's helpful to know that in the ninth century, the inhabitants of the vast area between Prussia and the Ural mountains invited the Viking King Ryrik (who became known as 'Rus') to impose order in the region. He founded a new city, ('Novgorod), south of what eventually became St Petersburg. His successor, Oleg, moved south from Novgorod and founded Kiev, which became known as 'Kievan Rus'. That much revered original Russian state disintegrated during the two centuries of Mongol rule, after which the Grand Dukes of Muscovy began taking over, according to a medieval theory that allowed monarchs to simply declare a transfer of power.
With Kiev no longer the center of the Russian state, the territories on its western periphery coalesced into several entities which evolved into Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltics. For hundreds of years, today's Baltic countries, facing onto the northern sea, were alternately Swedish Russian and Ukrainian principalities, as was at times, Poland.
Currently, with NATO troops and tanks currently poised along the entire length of Russia's Western border, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, the latest supine gesture of the European Union toward its master is to have agreed to strengthen its infrastructure to accommodate rapid military deployment needs. Was that also discussed at the White House meeting between the three mice and the eagle?


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Scientists Have Created a Vaccine for Cat Allergies, but You Can't Have It Yet
Scientists Talked to Cats to Figure Out If They Know Their Own Names
Ed Cara
Filed to:Cats
Soon, Professor Chonkers, soon.
Photo: Anton Strogonoff (Flickr (CC BY 2.0))
People unjustly kept away from feline companionship due to an allergy are rejoicing this week, after news resurfaced of a potential vaccine that makes cats less able to cause allergies. But while this research is promising, a finished product won't be available at least until 2022.
The vaccine in question is being developed by Swiss-based Hypocat and is the company's lead experimental and namesake drug. This April, Hypocat published results from a study on the vaccine. And it's this news that the internet has, for reasons lost to the void, started to buzz about again.
The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, details a very clever strategy to tackle cat allergies.
The vaccine doesn't try to desensitize the immune system of people allergic to cats, as other existing immunotherapies like allergy shots do. Rather, it attempts to train the immune system of cats to go after a specific protein, or allergen, that they naturally produce called Fel d 1. It's supposed to accomplish this trick by hitching a genetically modified version of the protein to a virus-like particle derived from a plant virus (only being a particle, it shouldn't be capable of causing disease).
Some 90 percent of people with a cat allergy produce antibodies to Fel d 1. So if successful, the vaccine would basically turn cats hypoallergenic by greatly reducing the amount of Fel d 1 they make and eventually spew into our noses and mouths.
Plenty of cat owners will happily tell you their felines are capable of responding to their own…
In the study, that's what the vaccine seemed to do. Across various experiments, more than 50 young cats were dosed with the vaccine, administered via a shot to their hind legs. In the latest experiment, cats were given three doses over nine weeks; some cats also got a booster shot six months later.
All the cats, they reported, developed a sustained immune response to the allergen, and the booster shot helped keep antibody levels high. Antibodies taken from the cats' blood also seemed to neutralize Fel d 1 in the lab, while the cats themselves produced less Fel d 1 in their saliva and tears. And when these cat samples were mixed with blood taken from real human patients with a cat allergy, they caused less of an allergic reaction.
Most importantly for animal lovers, the vaccine didn't appear to cause serious or long-term side effects in the cats. One likely reason for this is that Fel d 1 doesn't have a crucial function in cats, as far as we know. Some cats are already naturally very low in Fel d 1, without any apparent health problems. The vaccine also doesn't completely eliminate the protein.
This is exciting news, but it's also very early, "pre-clinical" data. Hypocat CEO Gary Jennings told Gizmodo via email that the company has been in discussions with both U.S. and European drug approval agencies, and that it's already started to conduct clinical trials and lay down the groundwork for mass production. But even if the vaccine passed these trials with flying colors, you'll still have to wait years before it could hit the market. A similar vaccine for dogs in development by the company, called Hypodog, is even further back in the pipeline.
"If all goes as planned then we hope to reach the market in 2022," Jennings said.
So by all means, go ahead and get giddy about someday owning a pet that won't turn you into a sniffly mess. Just know you'll have to be patient for a while longer.
This article has been updated to include comments from Hypocat CEO Gary Jennings.
A 14-Year-Old's Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis May Have Been Caused by Cat Bacteria
We Have to Do Something About Outdoor Cats
Stop Trying to Make Your Own Cat Food
Here's Some More Uncanny Cats Creepiness for You
Science writer at Gizmodo and pug aficionado elsewhere


I am a therapist Licensed Clinical Processional Counselor at Arlington Psychological Services. I specialize in anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and substance abuse. I believe that everyone has their own strengths, and that therapy can be a way to find and use those strengths to come to a more positive solution. I see therapy as a way to learn about yourself and receive feedback in a neutral, judgment-free environment.
I use a client-centered, cognitive behavioral approach to therapy, and I believe that having a genuine, attentive, and empathic therapist is the key to a true connection in therapy. I also work with clients to address errors in thinking in order to make a behavior change. I most enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families. Evening appointments are available, as well as Fridays from Noon to 6 p.m., and I am currently accepting clients.
To schedule an appointment with me, just ask for Dana.
Copyright 2010 Dr. D. Felix Casados. All rights reserved.


text:
Q: React Native, can't import custom components I'm new to React Native and I am currently trying to create a custom component called OpButton. It's just a button so that I can try to import and export components. However everytime I try to import it, I keep getting errors like "Imvariant Violation" and I have no idea how to fix it.
import React, { Component } from 'react';
import { Button, Alert } from 'react-native';
export default class OpButton extends Component {
  render() {
    return (
      <Button
       onPress={() => Alert.alert("Hello World")}
       title= "Hello World"
       color="#841584"
       accessibilityLabel="Learn more about this purple button"
      />
   );
 }
}

My button.js
import React, { Component } from 'react';
import { StyleSheet, Text, View, AppRegistry } from 'react-native';
import { OpButton } from "./src/components/button";
 export default class App extends Component {
  render() {
   return (
    <OpButton></OpButton>
  );
 }
}

My App.js

A: Try import OpButton from "./src/components/button"
Curly braces are used on an import when the file you're importing from is exporting the variable as a const (export const OpButton . . .) but when you export default OpButton, then when you import from that file without curly braces, you always import the default thing, no matter what you call it in your import. So you could do import AnyNameYouWant from "./src/components/button" and then use <AnyNameYouWant /> in your App.js

A: Though the answer was already accepted. I want to make you clear on few things. You need to understand two things here

*

*export default class

*export class

When you use export default class which means that component is exported by default and you can import that like below
  import component from './Component';

When you use export class without default, you can import that like below
  import {component, component1} from './Component';

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
EFL Championship votes to introduce five substitutes in a game to limit the impact of fatigue
Ume Elvis
The EFL Championship on Wednesday announced that it will reintroduce five substitutes, after members of the EFL put the decision to a vote.
The new rule will kick off on Friday in the Championship game between Coventry and Birmingham and is expected to last for the entirety of the 2020/21 season.
The EFL comprises of 72 teams from the EFL Championship down to League Two, and although it is affiliated with the Premier League on the same pyramid, it runs as a separate body from the top-flight.
The substitutes rule was amended by FIFA and IFAB when football returned post-lockdown in May to give clubs a chance to mitigate the effects of the congested fixture list and managers were allowed to make up to five substitutes in place of the former three, as well as name up to 20 players on their bench.
It was seen as a welcome development and the rule was extended to this season to cover international and club matches, although it was left at the discretion of individual leagues.
While most leagues opted to maintain the five subs rule, the Premier League was the only major European league to vote against this and reverted to the previous status quo of three substitutes per game, with smaller clubs fearing the advantage this would hand to bigger sides with more squad depth.
However, this decision has been criticized by several stakeholders in the game, with many managers, including Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, and Jose Mourinho all bemoaning the extra burden placed upon their players.
Jurgen Klopp has clamored for five substitutes
Matches have been played at an alarming rate as football authorities try to balance out the calendar and this coupled with the lack of pre-season, as well as international football has placed an incredible toll on the players' bodies.
Data shows that muscle injuries have increased by over 40% this season and almost all clubs have been hit, with Liverpool currently affected the worst.
Jurgen Klopp will have to do without his starting defence in the coming weeks, after they all picked up varying degrees of injuries in the space of a month and the fact that the England national team has also been affected is of great concern to manager Gareth Southgate.
Speaking on the need for Premier League to introduce five substitutes, the England manager said:
"We were able to make five changes against Belgium – we made four in the end – and clubs don't have that option,"
"What will it take for that to change? There were a couple of less serious injuries against Belgium but what do we do? Wait until we get a load of really nasty ones?"
He also bemoaned the lack of a winter break in England and the measures that the national team is taking to protect players.
I have to be fair to the club managers. They are their players firstly and they have the right to play them as they see fit,"
"(Injuries are) a worry in the longer term because with no winter break, something has to give."
It is unknown of the Premier League will follow the EFL Championship in reintroducing the five substitutes rule but the increasing rate of injuries has seen support for it grow in recent weeks.
Reds commemorate the inauguration of Liverpool's AXA training center
Related TopicsEFL ChampionshipEnglish Premier Leaguelatestnews
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Global FPSO provider Yinson Holdings Berhad said its wholly-owned unit has been awarded a US$578 million (RM2.357 billion) contract from JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (M) Ltd.
According to a stock exchange filing from the Malaysian floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO & FSO) service provider, the scope of the contract is to undertake O&M works for the Nippon FPSO facility.
The group said Yinson Energy Sdn Bhd, as the exclusive agent of Yinson Production AS, an indirect unit of the group, had accepted the letter of award on Feb 12, 2019.
"The tenure of the contract is effective from Feb 12, 2019 and shall remain in full force until termination of the contract for the provision of engineering, procurement, construction, installation & commissioning and leasing for the Layang FSPO facilities (charter contract). The charter contract is for a firm period of eight years and comes with options for 10 extension periods of one year each," Yinson said.
The group said the O&M contract would not have any effect on the share capital and shareholding structure of the company. It is, however, expected to contribute positively to the earnings and net assets per share of the group for the financial year ending Jan 31, 2020 onwards until the termination of the charter contract.
The value of the O&M contract is based on the assumption that all extension options would be fully exercised.


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The Finials are Back at St John's Episcopal
by Patriot-Bridge Staff • December 22, 2017 • 0 Comments
The final step in the restoration and painting of the Parish House of St John's Episcopal Church at 27 Devens Street began in late November with the installation of three new finials on the third floor dormers.
The work began over a year ago with the start of St John's capital campaign and a consultation with historic paint consultant, Sara Chase. The original, wood-frame chapel was built in the mid 1870s, designed by the important architectural firm of Ware and Van Brunt. Sara's task was to find evidence of the original paint colors. When that attempt was unsuccessful, Sara Chase developed three color schemes that would be consistent with the Victorian preference for earth tones and colors which highlight the decorative woodwork of this Carpenter Gothic building. According to the Boston Landmarks Commission, the Parish House is the only example of the stick-style in Charlestown. All together, seven different colors have been used in the color scheme that was ultimately chosen.
A substantial amount of restoration was completed on the original flush boards, horizontal and vertical boards, the apron panels with X-shaped "stick" ornamentation, and water table boards. What is a water table board doing between the first and second floors of the building? At the turn of the 19th century, needing more room and not wanting to disturb the pyramidal roof of the original 1½ story wood-frame chapel, the parish simply picked the entire building up and built the first floor in brick underneath!
Restoring wood that is well over 125 years old is challenging but the finials on the dormers were a particular puzzle. The wood was so deteriorated, the actual shape of them was difficult to determine. Instructors from the North Bennett Street School were called in to help. Researching other Carpenter Gothic examples and studying the remains of the existing finials, replacements made from mahogany were fabricated and painted in the same terra cotta color on the underside of the dormer roofs. Next time you walk down Devens Street, take a look at this well preserved part of Charlestown's history.
St. John's Episcopal Church, is a welcoming Christian community serving persons in Charlestown and surrounding communities. Sunday worship services are at 8 am and 10 am, with nursery care and children's programming starting at 9:45 am. The Rev. Thomas Mousin serves as rector of the parish.
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Back in May, Rogers' new CEO Guy Laurence introduced the new Rogers 3.0 plan and ever since then he has been making changes in the company. By July, he cut 15-percent of its upper management positions and several hundred middle management positions in an effort to 'reconstruct' its more than 10,000 employees across Canada. The savings was to be reinvested in areas like training and systems to better serve their customers, as they felt the need "overhaul the customer experience." This fourth quarter earnings may show some of his initiatives starting to pay off.
Laurence announced that the company shifted its attention "from volume to value this quarter" and this resulted in a 4-percent gain in operating revenues to $3.36 billion from all of its operations, which include wireless, cable, media and business operations. He stated in the 4Q report that "We saw a healthy acceleration in revenue growth and adjusted operating profit along with improvement in Wireless revenue and ARPU. We continued our shift from volume to value this quarter, and as expected we saw vibrations in both our Wireless and Cable subscriber metrics as we made certain commercial policy changes, consistent with our longer-term strategic goals."
On the wireless side of business, quarterly revenue increased by 3-percent to $1.9 billion and this comes after a reported loss of 53,000 subscribers for the quarter. Laurence claims that revenues would have been higher except for the decline in roaming revenues, "due to lower priced international roaming plans introduced in early 2014." Although the "rate of decline in roaming has slowed" because of the 'Roam Like Home' initiative introduced late last year.
Even after losing some subscribers, Rogers still remains as number one in Canada with 9,450,000 subscribers - 8,073,000 postpaid and 1,377,000 prepaid. They activated 836,000 wireless smartphones during the quarter and 28-percent of them were from new subscribers. One area that was less than stellar is the postpaid churn rate - it increased to 12 basis points from the previous year to 1.46-percent. This shows that their customers are not buying into their 'customer comes first' rhetoric.
Rogers' LTE network now covers about 84-percent of Canada's population and reported that their LTE-Advanced network launched in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Windsor, London, Hamilton, Toronto, Kingston, Moncton, Fredericton, Halifax and Saint John. Data revenue is still on the rise by 8-percent and represented about 52-percent of total network revenue during the quarter - up from 49-percent from last year's same quarter. The blended ARPU was up $1.27 for the quarter to $59.86, thanks to the higher-cost of the Share Everything plans.
Please hit us up on our Google+ Page and let us know how your experience with Rogers has been this year...as always, we would love to hear from you.


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On Sunday, April 24th, Christians throughout the world will celebrate the most important day in history—the resurrection of Jesus, the long awaited Messiah, from death into life. Just what was the essence of Jesus' message to you and me, and why is Easter so important?
Forgiveness is the reason that Jesus came down from Heaven and was born as a baby in the manger in Bethlehem. Forgiveness is the one thing that you and I and the whole world need. It is Jesus' forgiveness that is our ticket to Heaven when we leave this world and go to the next.
Forgiveness was needed by Adam and Eve after they disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. The devil deceived them into believing they could be like God if they only ate from the one single tree that God told them they could not eat from. God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, but He sent them away with a promise that He would send His one and only Son to rescue them from their sins. And then, for thousands of years, prophets described in minute detail the Messiah to come. And finally, on God's time schedule, Jesus came and He fulfilled every single prophesy made about Him over thousands of years.
His mission was simple and straightforward—an offer of complete and full forgiveness. But what was the price for this forgiveness? Jesus only asks one thing, to believe in Him as the long promised Savior of the world. We call this forgiveness – grace. Songs like Amazing Grace remind us of this incredible gift from a God who epitomizes love, the kind of love which you and I can strive after, but never fully achieve.
Jesus forgives us for the many sins we commit each and every day. What kind of sins? Thinking mean thoughts about others, saying mean things, and doing mean things are just some of the sins we commit each day. Our failures to be kind, generous, and loving to others are sins too. Even our failure to forgive others when we are offended is a sin. Our lack of being forgiving strains relationships, hurts friendships, and makes us miserable. God forgives us, but we withhold forgiveness. All we need to do is to ask for His forgiveness and put our trust in Him.
Yes, forgiveness is the very essence of Christianity. It is God's forgiveness that allows us imperfect, sinful human beings to enter into a perfect place called Heaven. And it's free! Free to us, that is, but it cost Jesus a terrible price. He suffered and died in one of the cruelest and most painful ways ever devised so that you and I could leave this world and join Him in Heaven. Just imagine the love of God the Father who was willing to sacrifice His own Son for you and me so that we could escape the punishment we deserve for our sins. It's impossible to comprehend.
And what we can't do, live a perfect, sinless life, Jesus did. And although He was perfect and sinless, He gave Himself up on the cross into death to wipe out our sins. Finally, He rose triumphant from the grave to give us total and complete assurance that we, too, will not die, but simply move from this life into the next.
He invites us to love Him, trust in Him, and believe in Him. As Paul the Apostle says in Romans 10:9, "If you declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God brought Him back to life, you will be saved." It's as simple as that.
This coming Sunday, my wife, Kathi, and I and our family will be joyfully celebrating the most important event in the history of the world, the resurrection of Jesus, the Savior of the world. That's what we believe and put our hope in. I hope you will share in that joy too. We wish you a very happy and joyous Easter celebration.
Pickett's charge at Gettysburg is often referred to as the high water mark of the Confederacy. Like the famous Charge of the Light Brigade memorialized by Lord Alfred Tennyson, Pickett's charge was a nearly suicidal mission. On July 3, 1863, General George Pickett led more than 12,000 men spread a mile wide across 1,000 yards of open field directly into the face of entrenched Union troops. It was a slaughter. The result was more than 50% dead and wounded. And, for all intents and purposes, it was the last major offensive of the South against the North in the American Civil War. It is today considered the turning point in the war.
Pickett's charge was uncharacteristic for General Robert E. Lee, a man known as a brilliant tactician. Certainly in hindsight it makes no sense. But General Lee greatly miscalculated and was from then put on the defensive. Although there was an outside hope that the North would sue for peace if McClellan defeated Lincoln in 1864, ultimately Pickett's charge led to Lee's surrender in Appomattox, Virginia in April 9, 1865. Had Pickett's charge succeeded, the outcome of the war may well have changed.
Like Pickett's charge and the famous Charge of the Light Brigade by the British against the Russians in the Crimean War, the charge of the far left following the 2008 elections has been similarly suicidal. President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are in denial. They act as if they did not get slaughtered at the polls. They just can't accept the fact that the American people want absolutely nothing to do with their big government, less freedom agenda that has put the United States of America on the brink of fiscal insolvency.
Last November the far left charged forward, certain that Americans would be suckered in by Obamacare and that every American would thereafter become a ward of the state, bowing and scraping to their every whim and demand. But the election results turned their world topsy turvy. And yet they never noticed. They said they did a bad job of getting their message across. If the American people only heard them correctly, they said, they would embrace their far left agenda. And so as we march forward toward the 2012 election, the troika of Obama-Reid-Pelosi continues forward down the path of total political annihilation. They refuse to face the truth that they have reached the high water mark of American liberalism. They can't accept the notion that they have gone as far as they are going to go in their effort to transform America from a land of opportunity, decency, and compassion into a nation of lesser goals, lesser opportunities, less stature, and less freedom.
In reality, the left has achieved only one success in its long, dismal climb into power—the civil rights movement of the 1960s. All other efforts have either failed or have been detrimental to the well being of the citizens of the United States of America. In fact, their very philosophy of a big government of enlightened liberal elites running the world is the very antithesis of the world view of our American founders.
For some seemingly bizarre reason today's liberals or progressives think that a centralized government they create will not result in tyranny as all centralized governments in history have resulted. For some puzzling reason they think that they are a new breed of benign individuals who are not only more moral and more talented and smarter than anyone else, but also know better than you and I do how we should live our lives. There is not one scintilla of evidence that liberals are kinder, or gentler, or more tolerant, or more compassionate than anyone else. In fact, from the evidence it seems that liberals of today are in fact more callous, less civil, and less caring and compassionate than those they seek to rule. When volunteers or donors are needed to help the poor and infirm it is conservatives who wade into the fray while the vast majority of liberals stand on the sidelines or vote to spend other people's money to solve the problem.
Like the outcome of the last election, today's liberals ignore history. There are no instances of socialism working or delivering a better society for all. Yet the faith of liberals in socialistic schemes continues unabated. While the history of freedom, and economic freedom in particular, stands as a model of economic growth, scientific advancement, and widespread abundance, the history of socialism is one of drear sameness and of meager existence for all.
How can liberals deny the reality before their eyes? The amazing answer is that they truly believe that they stand unique in history. That they in particular have through education evolved into being better and more enlightened than the rest of the population. Never mind their thuggish political activities or their hate filled rhetoric against those with whom they disagree. Today's liberals see themselves as good and everyone else as flawed.
The mirror they are looking into is broken. Why did the Founders seek a government with limited power over its citizens? The root understanding of the Founders lies in the Bible. Books were rare at the time our Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written. The most widely read book leading up to the American Revolution was the Bible. A large number of the signers of the Declaration of Independence had formal seminary training.
And what is the theme of the Bible? Genesis tells the story of man and woman sinning in the Garden of Eden and being driven out into a corrupted world. All men are corrupt and evil. We are saved only by the grace of God. That's the message of the Bible in a nutshell. Only when we fear and love God are men capable of doing good. The Founders knew the natural tendency of man is to gain power over others and thus they created a system of government which limited the power of the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive branch. And they limited the power of government itself over its citizens. It was this understanding of human nature that enabled the Founders to create the first truly free nation in the history of the world. Wisely, they did not make the same mistake as Europe and nationalize the Christian religion. Instead, they guaranteed freedom of religion, knowing that faith prospers best when government is absent.
No wonder less than 5% of Europeans attend church on Sunday. They feel they have fulfilled their religious obligation by paying their taxes. What more should they do? Government support, which means control of churches in Europe, has led to churches that have lost the true message of the Bible.
In stark contrast, nearly 40% of Americans attend worship services at least once per month. Another 40% proclaim that they listen to a Christian radio broadcast, watch a Christian television program or read Christian literature once per month. By establishing a state religion in the various countries of Europe, government has undermined Christianity. By keeping government out of religion in the US, it has prospered as in no other previous society.
It is the Christian and Jewish understanding of the frailty of man that keeps our nation on track. The understanding that man's tendency is toward evil and not good has created a nation that respects life, property, and individual freedom. It is the silliness of liberalism that has led to its impending demise. Freedom simply cannot exist in a society where there is not a consensus among its citizenry of the weakness of human nature. It is this understanding of human nature that allowed the Founders to erect a government that resists a concentration of power into the hands of a few. If the United States of America ever loses its majority of citizens with this basic understanding, our republic will die.
Freedom itself is not a virtue, it is a blessing from the God who loves us and sent His Son to take away our sins so that we can live forever in a perfect place. All attempts to create a utopia on earth are doomed to failure because all men are flawed and incapable of perfection. When we fail to recognize this, we stray from the understanding that enabled our forefathers to create this special land of freedom in the first place.
Let's not only share the Good News of Jesus with those around us, but also act as good citizens and use our freedom to resist those who lack an understanding of human nature and who seek power over us.
A political victory by nature is a temporary victory. But temporary victories are important to the preservation of freedom and to keep the United States of America a beacon of hope to the world. You and I have been bequeathed a legacy of freedom by our parents and by those that came before them. We did not create this great land, but thankfully, wise, God fearing men set this nation on the path of freedom and opportunity unprecedented in human history. It is, therefore, our solemn duty to preserve the American dream for the next generation of Americans. To do less would expose us as unfaithful heirs of the freedom passed along to us by those who came before us. When the roll call sounds, let us not be found wanting.
After a clearly deranged person, Jared Lee Loughner, shot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona, the mainstream media and their liberal cohorts did everything possible to blame the shooting on the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, etc. It didn't stick because the shooter was a nut who had a copy of the Communist Manifesto in his possession as well as other far left books like Mein Kampf (by Adolph Hitler, head of the German National Socialist Party). Sarah Palin was criticized because some of her 2010 campaign literature had a bull's eye on candidates they wanted to defeat, even though other liberal groups used similar bulls' eyes on their literature.
New York Times writer and noble prize winner, Paul Krugman, was unhinged by the shooting. Just so you can appreciate the over-the-top rant of Krugman, here is a small taste of his angry outburst:
We don't have proof yet that this was political, but the odds are that it was. She's been a target of violence before. And for those wondering why a Blue Dog Democrat, the kind Republicans might be able to work with, might be a target, the answer is that she's a Democrat who survived what was otherwise a GOP sweep in Arizona, precisely because the Republicans nominated a Tea Party activist. (Her father says that "the whole Tea Party" was her enemy.) And yes, she was on Sarah Palin's infamous 'crosshairs' list.
Just yesterday, Ezra Klein remarked that opposition to health reform was getting scary. Actually, it's been scary for quite a while, in a way that already reminded many of us of the climate that preceded the Oklahoma City bombing.
You know that Republicans will yell about the evils of partisanship whenever anyone tries to make a connection between the rhetoric of Beck, Limbaugh, etc. and the violence I fear we're going to see in the months and years ahead. But violent acts are what happen when you create a climate of hate. And it's long past time for the GOP's leaders to take a stand against the hate-mongers.
Subsequent to this and other attacks on responsible conservative spokesmen, the President of the United States, Barack Obama, called for more civil discourse in our nation. He's right, civil discourse that sticks to the facts is the best. So why has he been silent about the violent acts of the anti-Governor Walker crowd in Madison, Wisconsin?
Where was the civil discourse in the debate in Wisconsin over reigning in the benefits packages of government workers to a level more in keeping with that provided by those who produce goods and services in the free market? Where was the public outcry against violence and violent threats when Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin were threatened with death if they voted for Governor Walker's modest reforms? After all, Madison, Wisconsin has a long history of violent acts including blowing up a building on the University of Wisconsin campus in protest of the Vietnam War.
Here's a sample of the threats Republican lawmakers received and which you undoubtedly did not see in your local newspaper or on television. Nor did you hear an admonishment from the President for civil discourse.
We will hunt you down. We will slit your throats. We will drink your blood. I will have your decapitated head on a pike in the Madison town square. This is your last warning.
- An e-mail to Wisconsin Republican State Senator Dan Kapanke after voting to enact Governor Walker's modest reforms into law.
Another hate e-mail directed to a Republican legislator in Wisconsin…
Subject line – Attention Death threat!!!! Bomb!!!!
We feel that you and your republican dictators have to die. This is how it's going to happen:…We have all planned to assult [sic] you by arriving at your house and putting a nice little bullet in your head. However, this isn't enough…So we have built several bombs that we have placed in various locations around the areas in which we know that you frequent. This includes your house, your car, the state capitol, and well I won't tell you all of them because that's just no fun.
Yet another…
YOUR STAFF MEMBERS HAVE NOW BEEN ADDED TO THE HIT LIST…PLEASE ADVISE THEM OF THE IMPENDING DANGER LEADING TO THEIR [sic] DEATHS.
These three threatening messages are just a small sample of the many death threats that the Republican Senators in Wisconsin endured. Where was the outcry by the national news media? Where were the calls for reason and civil discourse?
As I have said before, if it were not for double standards, liberals would have no standards at all.
Not only did the Democratic State Senators in Wisconsin flee the state and refuse to do their job, they had the gall to act self righteous about their failure to do their duty. But it got worse than that.
After a 60 hour debate on Governor Walker's reforms that were needed to save the state of Wisconsin from bankruptcy, the state legislature voted to approve the legislation. Upon passage of the bill, Democratic State Representative Gordon Hintz turned to Republican State Representative Michelle Litjens and said…
"You are [expletive] dead."
Where is the civil discourse? Where was the national news media to condemn such talk?
The violent language was just the tip of the iceberg. For some reason unknown to me, demonstrators were allowed inside the beautiful Wisconsin State Capitol Building. Not only did this allow the union mob to physically intimidate legislators and to interfere with the legislative process, they ended up doing much damage to the State Capitol Building.
There was leadership on the left. US Congressman Mike Capuano of Massachusetts spoke to a Boston rally in support of the union bosses in Wisconsin. This is what he said, in part…
I am proud to be here with people who understand that it's more than just sending an e-mail to get you going. Every once in awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary.
Where is the outrage against such violent talk? Does someone have to be killed or die from a bomb set by union thugs before someone speaks up?
Silence is, as they say, not always golden, sometimes it's just yellow.
Shame on liberals for such a double standard. Shame on the news media for their silence. Shame on the President for keeping quiet.


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"In this research project, a software package was developed to select the number and type of sectionalization devices and their locations on a radial distribution feeder in order to optimize the reliability performance of the feeder with respect to user specified criteria"--Abstract, leaf iii.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-101).
© 2002 Jingyu Wang, All rights reserved.
Wang, Jingyu, "Designing protection of a distribution feeder to maximize reliability" (2002). Doctoral Dissertations. 1591.


The wedding season in India has begun, and so has the search for the best places to visit in April in India for honeymoon. It is that time of the year when it seems that all the beautiful couples you have ever met have chosen the same window of the time to get married. It's great that your wedding day has been finalized, but what about your honeymoon? Still confused?
Sort the confusion with this list of the most romantic places in India in April. Read on to figure out which one is your dream destination before you plan a honeymoon in India.
Planning for a honeymoon? Well, April is surely the time of bringing the best fresh and charming vibes to your relationship. Scroll down to know what all awaits you in the glorious land of India!
So here is the combined list of the best honeymoon places in India in 2019.
April is a wonderful time to be in Darjeeling, as long sunny days and majestic green mountains welcome you. This is one of the best places to visit in April in India for honeymoon, for it offers pleasantly cool weather and clear skies that offer sublime views of Kanchenjunga snow peaks.
April marks the end of the dry and chilly weather making is comfortable for sightseeing. The ropeway offers panoramic vistas of the snow-laden peaks. Another attraction is the iconic toy train which is worth taking time out for.
Why honeymoon in Darjeeling in April?
In this month, the Rhododendron and Magnolia jungles are in full bloom painting the hills of Darjeeling red and pink – the colors of love and passion.
It's the time of the year when most of the snow melts away leaving the magnificent mountains behind.
When your heart strongly desires to escape to a timeless zone to spend some time with the love of your life, you go to Lakshadweep. You and your partner get to experience a wonderful sunset backdropping the skyline. Clear blue skies, alluring lagoons, blue waters, picturesque islands, dramatic sunsets, and the most beautiful resorts with alluring views to give you memories to cherish. The island gets slightly hot in summer, but come on, that's not a valid reason to say no to Lakshadweep.
Why honeymoon in Lakshadweep in April?
April sees a balanced mix of sunlight, sandy shores, sea breeze, wonderful lagoons, and the clear blue skies.
Lakshadweep is easy on the pocket in April, for it's not packed with tourists this time of the year.
You can have the resort all to yourself, that too, at a reasonable price.
Surrounded by the mighty Mana, Kamet and Nanda Devi peak, Auli is a breathtaking hill station, and its clear skies spread beyond the snow-clad mountains. It is the kind of place which inspires poets, writers, and painters to create their most beautiful creations. In the month of April, Auli's temperature ranges between 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, which means it is extremely pleasant for sightseeing and to take long walks through the woods with you love. This is surely one of the best places to go for honeymoon in April in India.
Why honeymoon in Auli in April?
The pleasant temperature allows honeymoon couples to explore the hill station at ease.
Not crowded with people and couples interested in adventure activities will love it.
Manali has been and will be one of the most romantic places for honeymooners. If you want a budget-friendly and romantic vacation, then this is the best place to visit in April in India for honeymoon.
For adventurous couples, there are sports, including paragliding, zorbing, and mountain biking. Couples who want to relax can experience delight in the serenity of the lush green Himalayan and Dhauladhar hills. In April, the weather is inviting and nice with sunny days and nippy nights.
Why honeymoon in Manali in April?
As May begins, people start flocking to Manali which means a lot of traffic and packed resorts. In April, it's not that crowded and you can leisurely explore the place.
The region's flora is in full bloom lending it the most pristine natural beauty which makes it ideal for honeymooners.
You and your spouse can go for fun activities without shivering like a leaf.
Many honeymooners love the idea of long walks under the tall oak and deodar trees along the waterside. Taking long walks in the hills of Nainital and Bhimtal in the month of April, when the breeze is kind to you is definitely romantic. The towns come back to life once again and the rhododendron forests paint the towns scarlet.
The weather in April is not only gentle but romantic too. Heaven for nature lovers, Nainital and Bhimtal offer wonderfully romantic resorts by the lakeside.
Why honeymoon in Bhimtal & Nainital in April?
The best time for paragliding, rappelling, and trekking in Bhimtal is April & May.
Boating in Naini Lake is one of the most romantic things to do with your partner, and you'll enjoy it the most in summer.
The scarlet color of rhododendron flowers impart a picturesque look to the town making it extremely stunning.
A leisurely walk through the Thandi Sadak will give you a soothing sensation.
You can experience the thrill and romance in the valleys of Shillong in April. This is a great month to visit Shillong when the skies are clear, the countryside is greener than ever, and the temperature is just right. Also, by April it stops snowing and the bright sun sets on the ridge of the mountains of Shillong making the town warm and pleasant to explore.
Why honeymoon in Shillong in April?
Shillong celebrates its thanksgiving dance festival called Shad Suk Mynsiem in April. You can see locals dressed in traditional attires dancing to drums and flute.
The temperature is just perfect for sightseeing and long walks with your partner.
This small hill town is far enough north to ensure temperatures in the low 30s. It is a beautiful and fascinating hill station with much more to offer than just mountains. There's a fantastic range of resorts for honeymooners to ensure utmost comfort and luxury. You can spend moments of peace by the side of Avalanche Lake, Upper Bhavani Lake, and Emerald Lake with your partner.
If both of you are up for some religious festivals, then Ooty Mariamman Temple Festival and Coonoor Mariamman Temple Festival won't disappoint you.
Why honeymoon in Ooty in April?
If you are a couple being laid-back about your honeymoon, then Wayanad is your heaven. It's a peaceful and incredibly beautiful place lost in the undulating green mountains. There is no dearth of beautiful resorts for a memorable and comfortable stay. The bamboo rafting on the waters of Kuruva Island with your partner will be an unforgettable experience.
Since April is the onset of the summer season in Wayanad, it will be slightly hot; it also depends upon the area you choose to stay in. Places like Kuruva Island and surrounding forests have a cooler climate in April. However, the nights are extremely romantic and pleasant with the clear star-studded sky and cicadas singing in their highest pitch.
Why honeymoon in Wayanad in April?
Ditch the sultry North Indian summer and get lost in the tropical forest.
Less crowded in the month of April, so you can leisurely explore the wonders of Wayanad.
The trek to Wayanad's heart shaped lake at Chembra peak is extremely pleasant in this month.
Yes, it is a popular place to visit near Pune with friends and family, but Matheran is also one of the best honeymoon places in India in April. You can add an interesting chapter to your love life by spending your best days in Matheran. Romance resides in each corner of this majestic place. The views from Lord Point, Panorama Point, Prabal Fort, One Tree Hill Point, and Louisa Point will amaze you. Don't miss the opportunity to take a tour of the town in one of the best toy trains of India.
Also, Matheran is Asia's only automobile-free hill station. Obviously, I don't need to explain the tranquility you'll experience in the air of this town!
Why honeymoon in Matheran in April?
Madikeri is that mystical place you always wanted to run away with the love of your life. It's a small hill town nestling in the lap of the Western Ghats in Coorg. There is a strange kind of bliss in the hills of Madikeri which is just perfect for couples. The best thing is that you'll have the resort to yourselves, as there are not many people in Madikeri at this time around. The place is famous for its homemade chocolates; it's a heaven for your chocoholic partner.
Why honeymoon in Madikeri in April?
Madikeri is greener, quieter, and calmer than ever in April, which makes it the perfect hideaway for couples.
The perfect time to enjoy Chelavara Falls and Abbey Falls is the beginning of summer.
When Amir Khusro witnessed the hypnotic beauty of Kashmir, he said "Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast, Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast." It means that if there is any heaven on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here.
places to visit in April in India for honeymoon. April is the time when the valley and its meadows come to life. Festivals are celebrated and once again the water in the rivers start flowing while welcoming the spring season.
Why honeymoon in Kashmir in April?
You get to experience Asia's largest Tulip festival.
Mother nature paints Nishat, Chashma Shahi, and Mughal Garden with all the vibrant colors making a perfect background for those amazing pictures.
Spoil your partner with shopping opportunities at the floating market on Dal Lake.
The coldest place in the entire southern Indian region, Lambasingi is among the best honeymoon destinations in India in April in south India. Also known as "Kashmir of South", this little hamlet offers plenty of things to do and hidden places to explore. The foggy weather, the lush green hills, and calm jungles of this village is now attracting many newlywed couples from south.
Why honeymoon in Lambasingi in April?
Ideal for couples who want to keep their honeymoon low key while enjoying the solitude and peace amid nature.
Dotted with numerous waterfalls and serene places to spend some quiet time in nature with your partner is what this place offers! Even if you're not a nature lover, you're bound to fall in love with this place. What can be more romantic than sipping a hot cup of coffee with your partner and just stay in the moment? Well, don't forget to check out the famous Nohkalikai waterfalls here on your next trip!
Why honeymoon in Cherrapunji in April?
Just getting to know your partner? Well, this city of Lakes will surely help you with it and what can be better than having a romantic lit dinner with your partner with a mesmerizing view? Not just a place for nature lovers, Udaipur stands proud of great architectural work and who can surely miss out on the famous the City Palace of Udaipur!
Why honeymoon in Udaipur in April?
It can be slightly warm or humid in some of the places during April, but if you're prepared for either, there are plenty of honeymoon destination in India in April. So get your bags packed and plan a surprise trip to India to woo your partner amid these scenic landscapes of India!
Thinking about a serene honeymoon experience and don't know where to go? Well, here are some of the common queries to help you set your mind on one destination and have a reviving holiday with your partner!
Q. Which place is best to visit in April in India?
A. Auli, Wayanad and Coorg are some of the best places to visit in April in India.
Q. Which place is best for honeymoon in India in May?
A. Andaman, Leh and Kerala are some of the best places for honeymoon in India in May.
Q. Which is the most beautiful place for honeymoon in India?
A. Andaman, Goa and Srinagar are amongst the most beautiful places for honeymoon in India.
Q. Which hill station is best in April?
A. Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh and Ooty in Tamil Nadu are some of the best hill stations to be visited in April.


1 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods Mark T. Smith KTH: Swedish Royal Institute of Technology School of Information and Communication Technology msmith@kth.se II2202: Research Methodology and Scientific Writing 2012. Mark Smith KTH School of ICT 2 Quantitative Research Methods � Quantitative methods are those that deal with measurable data. It is data that is codified, � definition of child labor pdf extension, quantitative research, are best known as logical positivism and post-positivism. The lantern, inquiry from the inside and qualitative research, represent an approach known as interpretivism (Crotty, 1998; Denzin and Lincoln, 2000).
There are various definitions of research presented by various scholars and authors. In general, research is a way of thinking and finding answers to the questions that come into your mind.
extension, quantitative research, are best known as logical positivism and post-positivism. The lantern, inquiry from the inside and qualitative research, represent an approach known as interpretivism (Crotty, 1998; Denzin and Lincoln, 2000).


text:
'use strict';

/**
 * Masks a buffer using the given mask.
 *
 * @param {Buffer} source The buffer to mask
 * @param {Buffer} mask The mask to use
 * @param {Buffer} output The buffer where to store the result
 * @param {Number} offset The offset at which to start writing
 * @param {Number} length The number of bytes to mask.
 * @public
 */
const mask = (source, mask, output, offset, length) => {
  for (var i = 0; i < length; i++) {
    output[offset + i] = source[i] ^ mask[i & 3];
  }
};

/**
 * Unmasks a buffer using the given mask.
 *
 * @param {Buffer} buffer The buffer to unmask
 * @param {Buffer} mask The mask to use
 * @public
 */
const unmask = (buffer, mask) => {
  // Required until https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/9006 is resolved.
  const length = buffer.length;
  for (var i = 0; i < length; i++) {
    buffer[i] ^= mask[i & 3];
  }
};

module.exports = { mask, unmask };

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Proving Row-Equivalence I have a problem that asks:
If A, B, and C are m x n matrices, show that:
A ~ A
If A ~ B then B ~ A
If A ~ B and B ~ C then A ~ C
Now I know the definition of row equivalence is that two matrices are row equivalent if one can be converted into the other using elementary row operations. My question is how do I show this as a proof?
Let's take the easy first one as an example. If I were to say:
Proof:
By the definition of row equivalence, for two matrices to be equivalent, one must be able to be converted into the other using elementary row operations. Therefore it suffices to show row equivalence through elementary row operations.
Using the elementary operation: $R_i -> kR_i$
In particular: A -> 1A = A
Since A can reach itself through elementary operations, A ~ A.
END OF PROOF
Would something like this work? If not what would a formal proof showing row equivalence look like?

A: According to JMoravitz, the approach to A ~ A is correct.
For the other two it suffices to show that:
Symmetry: show the reverse of each operation, and comment how the reverse sequence of operations are valid and thus means that the statement holds.
Transitivity: Since A ~ B and B ~ C holds then there exists a sequence that goes from A to B and from B to C so if you were to use the sequence from A to B starting at A and adding on the sequence from B to C will yield a sequence of operation that goes from A to C and thus that statement holds.
For a more rigorous proof one may want to take Prasun Biswas' approach explained in the comments.