Twice a year a group of volunteers from Ireland go out to Kenya to support the community and our team working in Londiani. Every experience is unique and the stories from our volunteers really bring to life the work we do and the impact your donations have. Here is Ciara and Tasha's Kenya diary.
As part of our three week Harambee in Londiani we were fortunate enough to get involved with the Girls for Girls (G4G) programme.
Developed by girls, for girls, the programme aims to make sanitary towels accessible and affordable, to educate communities on proper menstrual hygiene and to reduce the number of girls who miss school every month. Through our involvement with the programme, we can see that this programme is having an impact on girls and women's lives. G4G is a programme that teaches girls and women about their menstruation and proper hygiene. There is not a lot of education on menstruation around here so this programme really helps in preparing adolescent girls for their first period.
While we were in Kenya, Friends of Londiani opened up the G4Gs programme to the community by running workshops for women of all ages. The workshops strive to encourage women to speak openly about menstruation with both the men and women in their communities and for once and for all to put an end to the harmful taboos present. Being involved in the preparation and running of the first workshop was a great privilege.
We learned that girls miss school during their menstruation and women miss work and other commitments, due to them being embarrassed, ashamed and having a lack of sanitary pads or other means. Sanitary pads are very expensive to purchase locally so most people cannot afford them.
The part of the workshop that we enjoyed most was showing the women reusable sanitary pad packs that they can purchase. These packs contain two pairs of underwear, two waterproof liners, 6 reusable pads, two zip lock bags and a bar of soap. These pads last for 2/3 years and save the women so much money and can solve health problems as well. Every girl and woman we showed the pads to were amazed by them. We demonstrated how to properly clean them and how easy it is. The women are looking at how they might produce these pads themselves in Londiani.
The G4G programme also provides a lot of information such as male and female puberty changes, proper hygiene methods and it teaches the women that they do not have to be ashamed or embarrassed about such a natural thing and that it should never stop them from doing anything in life. G4G teaches them to speak freely about menstruation with everyone in the community. We both believe this is such an amazing programme that will have a life changing impact on so many people. We are so privileged we got to be a part of the first community training workshop to take the programme beyond the schools and reach more girls and women.
Ciara said: "It was a huge eye opener to me hearing the lack of knowledge and the alternatives to basic menstruation needs that I take for granted in my life. We had several information stations set up and one of them was to find out out what alternatives are used for sanitary pads. I found this the most shocking information of the day. We found out that they used things such as feathers, animal skins, dirt and cow dung. I could not get over it and the fact that they didn't know about the infections these alternatives could bring. It made me realise how easy I have it, I don't even have to worry or second think anything when my time of month comes".


Continuing with last month's column on Strategies and Tactics, I want to spend a little time addressing service strategies.
Generally, players have two basic serves: a flat or more powerful first serve, and a spinned or less powerful second serve. Of the two, the latter is more important. Why? Well, you are only as good as your second serve is reliable. The problem is that we usually fall into a very simple service pattern that is predictable as the match unfolds. This allows for your opponent to have a better chance of winning points off of your serve. Remember, you can't lose if you win every service game and every tiebreak serve.
With this in mind, I will focus this month's column on the "best practices" associated with serving. Of course, this presumes two things. First, that you are able to direct your first and second serves to any area in the service box. Second, that you have more than one type of serve in your arsenal.
If neither of these are the case, as may be the true with beginners and/or intermediate players, the first requisite is to work on both of these in practice. It is my contention that players do not spend enough time on perfecting their serves in this wonderful game of ours. Given the fact that weather conditions may affect being able to play outdoors as the areas north of the equator head from autumn into winter, this may be the perfect time to work on your serve. You don't need a partner to practice serves, and the court conditions do not need to be pristine.
This said, let's start with the type of serves that you want to have in your arsenal and how one might develop these.
The flat serve is a starting point for even novice tennis players. Usually, beginners will use a forehand grip (eastern forehand) and hit a somewhat "badminton-like serve." This results in a fairly powerful serve and usually the ball has no spin or backspin. The flat serve is characterized by both power and an absence of spin.
If you produce your first serve in the manner described above, you are automatically a candidate for learning the backspin serve. In a previously published column, I discuss how to produce this unusual but very effective serve. See: The "Infamous" Backspin Serve.
Usually, the flat serve is produced with a continental grip and/or an eastern backhand grip as a player advances. The advantage to these grips is that they permit the server to "break" or bend the wrist. This is an important component when trying to impart spin, but the wrist bending can provide extra power to any serve.
Should the reader be confused about what each of the aforementioned grips may look like, I would refer you to my previous column, The Grip: Picture Perfect.
The second serve that each player should possess in her/his arsenal, is what is known as the slice serve. Normally, this is produced using a continental grip, but it can be effectively executed using an eastern backhand grip. Some players may actually be able to produce the slice serve with an eastern forehand grip, but this is certainly the exception... not the rule.
A sliced serve curves to either the left (if you are right handed) or to the right (if you are left handed). Once the ball bounces, it moves in curved direction that is the exact opposite of what was the previous curve. To help clarify what I mean by the above descriptions, I have included some diagrams. You will see the direction of the curves before and after the bounce by looking at the accompanying arrows.
You will note that I have created the illustrations where the right-handed player uses the slice serve when serving to the deuce court and the leftie uses it when serving to the ad court. These are the most effective use of the slice serve because they pull the opponent out of court. The opposite spin that is produced after the ball bounces makes the slice serve that much more difficult to return with authority.
Lastly, we have the kick serve. The kick serve is a serve that is hit in a manner that produces topspin. As always is the case with topspin, the ball bounces higher than would normally be the case. Most pros use this as their second serve. When a bit of side spin (slice) is added to the kick serve it is referred to as the American Twist serve or twist serve.
The goal for any serious player of this great game is to be able to produce each of these three serves. If you are truly proficient, you will be able to produce all three in a manner that uses a single grip, a similar toss and similar motion.
To reach this level of consistent delivery is not an easy task. Perhaps, the player who was best able to achieve this consistency was Pete Sampras in his prime. Having seen him play and photographed him in tournament competition, I was amazed. Whether it was a flat, slice or kick serve; Pete's service motion and toss were identical. This made his serve extremely deceptive and difficult to read.
I doubt that many who are reading this will be able to reach this level of deception. But truthfully at most levels of competition, it is not necessary. Rather, it is simply important that you are able to produce each serve, even if your toss, stance or motion give away what serve you are about to execute.
Assuming that you are able to produce these three serves, there are some basic rules that apply to each.
Flat serves should only be used as a first serve. They are generally more effective on faster surfaces that they are on slower surfaces such as clay.
Slice serves are a great first serve when used in moderation, and should be the normal second serve when playing on surfaces that do not allow for much bounce, as would be the case when competing on grass, carpet, and some indoor hard courts.
The kick serve is the normal second serve in the modern game of tennis. It should be used about 80% of the time when competing on slow to medium speed hard courts, and clay surfaces. Kick serves on grass and carpet are more of a liability because these surfaces do not allow for much bounce... the true advantage of the kick serve. If you can hit the kick serve with a bit of side spin (the twist serve), all the better.
Serve patterns are often times never varied. Generally, the first and second serve are directed to the backhand side of the opponent. The first serve is hit flat with lots of pace, and the second serve is hit with either spin or as a slower paced flat serve. It doesn't take long for an opponent to lock onto this pattern and anticipate your serves. What amazes me is how often I see players sticking to this basic pattern and never really deviating from it. If they do, it is usually because their serve has been in some way mishit, and results in a different spin or location within the service box.
Here are some ideas to consider in crafting different service patterns.
Most first serves should be hit flatly, but the direction of where you place them should be varied. I recommend hitting about two thirds of your flat serves to the opponent's backhand wing. The remaining 40% of these flat serves should be struck in such a manner where they are bounce directly into the body of the opponent. These latter serves tend to "jam" the opponent and result in less than effective returns. You will be amazed at how effective the "jammed" flat serve can be. Usually when I hit such a serve, I try to follow my serve to the net. Why? Well quite frequently, the returns from these "jammed" serves will result in a slow, less than powerful reply that passes high over the net. These are perfect conditions for hitting a volley put away.
When playing an opponent who uses a western forehand grip, use a slice serve to the forehand about 20 to 30 % of the time as your first serve. This is particularly true when you are playing on a faster surface. The right-handed player can pull the right-handed opponent wide when slicing the serve in the deuce court. Western grip players have a difficult time executing a solid return off of these serves. Lefty receives are probably not as vulnerable.
Left-handed players almost always know the benefits of the slice serve hit to the ad court. If the opponent is right-handed, this serve is very problematic. In that only 1 in 6 or 7 players is left-handed, most tennis players are not accustomed to the opposite spins that the left-handed strokes produced.
The kick serves and/or twist serves are extremely effective on slow surfaces. Why? Clay and gritty hard courts tend to make their high bounce even more pronounced. I have found that one-handed, backhand opponents have even more difficulty with the kick and twist serves. It is physically a bit more difficult and fatiguing for the one-handed, backhand player to return these high bouncing serves. Two-handed backhands are much more likely to return the kick and twist serve effectively without fatiguing the returning player.
If I find that an opponent's forehand is a weak wing, I have no fear serving a kick serve to the forehand wing... even as a first serve.
The only way to really know what patterns work well for you is to try different patterns and keep records of your level of success with respect to winning points and/or eliciting weak return of serves.
First serve to the deuce court... Flat serve hit down the T.
Second serve to the deuce court... Kick serve hit down the T.
First serve to the ad court... Flat serve hit down the T.
Second serve to the ad court... Kick serve hit wide.
First Serve to the deuce court... Slice serve hit wide.
First serve to the ad court... Flat serve hit directly at the opponent (jammed serve).
First serve to the deuce court... Flat serve hit directly at the opponent (jammed serve).
Second serve to the deuce court... Slice serve hit down the T.
First serve to the ad court... Kick serve hit wide.
Second serve to the ad court... Kick serve hit directly at the opponent (jamming the opponent).
First serve to the deuce court... Flat serve hit wide to the forehand.
Second serve to the deuce court... Flat serve hit directly at the opponent (jammed serve).
Second serve to the ad court... Slice serve that is hit as wide as is possible.
These are just four sample serve patterns. There are many combinations. Some will work better for you than others. The only way to know which ones are best is to keep a written record of their success or lack there of.
This serve "journal" should be kept all the time, and can be tailored toward specific players.
Whether you are a recreational, club, league or school/university competitor; it is likely that you will see opponents again and again. If you can find serve patterns that are most effective when playing an opponent, you are entering each encounter with a highly successful game plan before the match begins!
Using serve patterns is not always something that we tennis lovers really contemplate or explore. However, having different service patterns can allow you to confuse opponents, keep them "off balance," and provide you with a level of confidence in your service game.
Even if you discover successful patterns through trial and error (the error suggests that you will lose some points, sets and matches as you experiment), the long-term benefits are significant.
So, take some time to learn all three of the basic serves. If possible, try to develop similar looking deliveries for each. Work on placement and spin. Once these are in place, begin to record the patterns of serves that work best for you... given surface types and types of opponents.
I assure you that if you do that in no time you will become a tennis overdog!


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text:
A Baixa de Coimbra ou Centro Histórico de Coimbra é a denominação dada a uma zona central da cidade de Coimbra, em Portugal, constituída pelas freguesias de São Bartolomeu e Santa Cruz.

A designação foi desenvolvida com a separação entre a "Alta", onde vivia a nobreza, o clero e, mais tarde, os estudantes e a "Baixa", predominada pelo comércio, artesanato e bairros ribeirinhos. Hoje, ambos são locais privilegiados da cidade, onde se misturam serviços (banca, seguros, comércio), séculos de História, habitação, cultura, espaços verdes e lazer.

A Baixa não tem limites definidos, mas pode-se considerar como limites genéricos: a zona verde e rotunda da Casa do Sal a norte, o Parque Doutor Manuel Braga a sul, o Mercado Municipal  a este e o Rio Mondego a oeste.

É aqui que se encontra uma parte do centro cívico da cidade, as grandes ruas comerciais (como a Rua Ferreira Borges), o tradicional Mercado Municipal D.Pedro V, a estação ferroviária de Coimbra-A / Estação Nova e importantes monumentos como o Mosteiro de Santa Cruz.

Declínio
Nas últimas décadas, a Baixa de Coimbra viu o seu protagonismo transferido para outras zonas da cidade como a Solum em Santo António dos Olivais, ou para as grandes superfícies comerciais, não só devido à supermacia dos centros comerciais mas também em função do elevado estado de degradação de grande parte dos edifícios e dos arruamentos, dando-se a chamada "desertificação da Baixa", fenómeno com que se depara também a Baixa do Porto. O estacionamento e a insegurança são outros problemas apontados por consumidores e comerciantes. A situação tem vindo a melhorar cada vez desde o reconhecimento de Coimbra como Património da Humanidade.

Reabilitação
Para promover a reabilitação urbana da zona de intervenção definida como Centro Histórico do Município de Coimbra, designadamente a área da Baixa, tal como foi definida no Relatório da Comissão Interdisplinar da Baixa aprovado pelo Câmara Municipal em 30 de Março de 2005, foi criada a Coimbra Viva, SRU – Sociedade de Reabilitação Urbana.

A Agência para a Promoção da Baixa de Coimbra (APBC) é uma Associação sem fins lucrativos constituída desde 2004 e que tem por objectivo promover a Baixa de Coimbra enquanto Centro Comercial a Céu Aberto dinamizando comércio e serviços, e enquanto área em que se conjugam Comércio, Cultura, Turismo e Lazer.

Ligações externas

Bairros de Coimbra
São Bartolomeu (Coimbra)
Almedina
Santa Cruz (Coimbra)

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text:
RivPE: Concealed weapons permits spark debate in Riverside County
Posted January 4, 2010 at 9:29 am
10:13 PM PST on Sunday, January 3, 2010
By JOHN F. HILL
The Press-Enterprise
An effort by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to make it easier for residents to carry concealed firearms isn't likely to change policy, the Sheriff's Department said.
In a 3-1 vote in November, supervisors passed a resolution asking the sheriff to consider applications for permits based solely on "personal defense."
Supervisor Jeff Stone, author of the resolution, pegged the issue to the potential release of thousands of California inmates as part of a plan to meet a federal mandate to reduce the state's prison population.
"I want to make sure that our citizens have the opportunity to protect ourselves with the release of 27,000 very dangerous people," Stone said.
Supervisor Bob Buster was the lone vote against the resolution. He said he believed that existing regulations were adequate.
Applicants must show they need a concealed carry permit. That could mean they have a job that requires travel to dangerous areas, or an order of protection against a stalker or assailant.
Stone's resolution would allow Riverside residents to get a permit for "personal protection."
A Moreno Valley man who spoke in favor of the resolution during the meeting said he never considered getting a gun until he was savagely beaten last year.
Keith Cunningham, 46, hadn't fired a gun since leaving the Marines in 1989. Despite a job operating several elderly care facilities that required him to collect rent payments in cash, he never felt like he needed to be armed, he said in an interview.
That was, until five young men beat him last April, knocking him unconscious for no apparent reason, he said. He was hospitalized and still uses crutches.
"I really don't think someone should have to suffer a beat-down like that before" they can arm themselves, Cunningham said.
Cunningham now has a permit, and his wife, who helps run the business, also plans to get one.
He said he's still not entirely comfortable walking in public with a loaded firearm. He's nervous someone will notice it and react the wrong way or that he'll mishandle it.
But he said he believes law-abiding citizens should be able to arm themselves without having to prove they are in immediate danger.
Cunningham probably would have been able to get a permit before the attack, considering his job. But someone else shouldn't have to prove they're carrying lots of money or valuables before preparing to defend themselves, he said.
"The logic of that escapes me, because I don't know anyone that carries anything that's worth more than their life," Cunningham said.
The Sheriff's Department has said it will not change the way it issues permits.
Filed under: Board of Supervisors - Riverside County, County of San Bernardino, In the News, Legal, Politics

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text:
Auditors: 30M taxpayers will owe more due to low withholding
FILE - This May 8, 2008, file photo shows blank checks on an idle press at the Philadelphia Regional Financial Center, which disburses payments on behalf of federal agencies, in Philadelphia. Congressional auditors say about 30 million people will have to come up with more money to pay their taxes next year because their employers withheld too little from their paychecks under government tables keyed to the new tax law. New tax withholding tables for employers were put together by the government early 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File),FILE - This May 8, 2008, file photo shows blank checks on an idle press at the Philadelphia Regional Financial Center, which disburses payments on behalf of federal agencies, in Philadelphia. Congressional auditors say about 30 million people will have to come up with more money to pay their taxes next year because their employers withheld too little from their paychecks under government tables keyed to the new tax law. New tax withholding tables for employers were put together by the government early 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional auditors say about 30 million people — 21 percent of U.S. taxpayers — will have to come up with more money to pay their 2018 taxes next year because their employers withheld too little from their paychecks under government tables keyed to the new tax law.
New tax withholding tables for employers were put together by the government early this year. About 30 million workers received pay that was "under-withheld" — making their paychecks bigger this year but bringing a larger bill at tax time next spring, according to the Government Accountability Office's report.
About 27 million taxpayers would have been affected even if the new law hadn't been enacted. The changes, however, added an estimated 3 million to that number.
Millions of American workers started getting fatter paychecks early this year, as employers withheld less money in anticipation of lower income taxes under the law. According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, a middle-income household should on average get a $930 tax cut this year, lifting its after-tax income by 1.6 percent.
But many taxpayers will end up paying more, because of complications in the new tax law that may not have been taken into account by employers in estimating workers' tax obligations.
The Treasury Department and the IRS are responsible for updating the tax withholding tables each year. Highlighting the importance of accurate tables, the GAO said Treasury and the IRS currently don't lay out in writing their roles and responsibilities for annual updates. The auditors recommended that they do so, in accordance with federal standards for internal controls.
Treasury and the IRS agreed with that recommendation, the report said.
Treasury and the IRS "worked to update withholding tables, worksheets and instructions," Jeffrey Tribiano, IRS deputy commissioner for operations support, said in a letter to the GAO responding to the report. He noted the "tight time constraints" that the agencies worked under.
The report by the independent auditors was requested in January by the senior Democrats on the Senate and House tax-writing committees, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts. They asked the GAO to analyze the withholding tables under the new Republican tax law to make sure workers' paychecks weren't being widely under-withheld.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, speaking at a White House press briefing early this year, dismissed that notion as "ridiculous."
Wyden on Tuesday called the GAO report "an alarm bell for the nearly 30 million households that are expected to owe more money come tax time this spring."
"Withholding tables directly affect the size of paychecks earned by Americans all across the country, and millions of American taxpayers have gotten bad advice under this administration on how much to withhold," Wyden said in a statement.
He said the lack of written documents on Treasury and IRS roles "is an opening for future abuse."
Tax experts suggest that all taxpayers look at the online tax withholding calculator issued by the IRS in February, to ensure they are having the correct amount withheld. Taxpayers also should update the information on their W-4 forms, experts say.
The IRS has said the new withholding tables should produce an accurate withholding amount for people with simpler tax situations. But experts say those who will still itemize under the new law, or have larger families or more complicated tax situations may want to take a closer look.
The GAO's assessment came as news emerged that the Trump administration is considering bypassing Congress to give a big tax break to wealthy Americans by reducing taxes levied on capital gains. Administration officials said no decision has been made on whether to proceed.
Cutting capital gains taxes was one of only a few items on the wish list of conservatives and Republicans that didn't make it into the massive tax law hustled through Congress late last year by Republicans, which became President Donald Trump's signature legislative achievement. The $1.5 trillion package provides generous tax cuts for corporations and wealthy Americans while offering more modest reductions for most low- and middle-income individuals and families. No Democrats voted for the legislation.
House Republicans last week launched an effort to expand the tax law, aiming to make permanent the individual tax cuts and small-business income deductions now set to expire in 2026. The solid Republican majority in the House nearly ensures passage of the proposals before the November elections, but Senate passage is considered unlikely.


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Extreme Craft: A License to Print Munny!
A License to Print Munny!
Customized vinyl figures may be the new black, but not many can step to the level of excellence that black velvet artist Tony Shore achieves with his trompe l'oeil Elvis figurine. First, the Munny: Why is KidRobot so darn smart? in addition to making great vinyl figures of their own (and figures for artists like Frank Kozik), they rouse the geek masses by encouraging good old fashioned tinkering, remixing and defacing. Finer stores near you are all climbing over each other to sponsor KidRobot contests that encourage you to repaint a "Munny" figurine. The current Easter Munny contest is being sponsored by Shoparooni in Cleveland.
Back to Tony Shore. His chosen medium is....Black Velvet! His paintings would make even the most jaded Tijuana black velvet painter abandon their profitable trade in Elvis and dogs playing poker and move to urban Baltimore, where Shore finds his muse. Shore's paintings exploit the natural beauty of black velvet as a material. Black Velvet is actually BLACKER than paper, paint or canvas ever can be. Shore exploits this by choosing subjects illuminated by porchlights, buglights, lanterns and other unsexy light sources. He captures the ambience of hanging out on a summer night on a porch or patio in a muggy place like Baltimore. The paintings don't exactly avoid the kitsch territory of the traditional black velvet painting, but neither does he mine them for his ideas. Instead, Tony Shore makes us take a second look at the possibilities inherent in black velvet....the promise that black velvet holds.


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Q: How can I show my ads an equal number of times? I'm building my own advertisement platform, and I have a little problem. How can I show my ads an equal number of times?
So for example:
Name    |    Views

Ads 1   |    100

Ads 2   |    98

Ads 3   |    99

So my system need to show the ads with the least views, in this case "Ads 2 or Ads 3".
So all my ads follow each others views. So when my 3 ads have 3.000 views total, there should be 1.000 views on every view.
I'm coding in PHP, and I don't have an example, because I need inspiration how to fix my problem.

A: Select your least viewed add like this:
SELECT * FROM ads ORDERBY views ASC LIMIT 0, 1

This way, all the ads with less views will slowly catch up.
-- Edit, using your next requirement
probabilityForHighestScore = 30;
random = rand(0, 100);

if (random > probabilityForHighestScore)
    SELECT * FROM ads ORDERBY views ASC LIMIT 0, 1
else
    SELECT * FROM ads ORDERBY score DESC LIMIT 0, 1

If you need something else, you'd better explain you whole requirement first. Because if it is not clear for you, it won't be clear in your question, and the answers won't do what you want.

A: I'm assuming you have a database table containing information about these ads. You could add, if you don't already have it, a views field to that table. Then, whenever you need to display an ad, you just grab the one with the lowest view count, add 1 to it's view counter, and display the ad.
Edit:
The problem with @MarvinLabs solution, as I explain in the comments, is that it's giving a huge bonus to a single record.
Let's say you have 50 separate ads in your system. Let's also say that your highest scoring record has a score of 9.9/10, and your second highest scoring record has a score of 9.8/10. Both of these are very high scoring items, but if you use @MarvinLabs code, the highest scoring record will get 30% of all views, while the second highest scoring record will get 1.4% of all views (70 percent of all views divided across the 49 non-highest scoring ads).
What you might want to consider is allowing for a larger range of high scoring ads to be included. You can do this in any one of three ways:
First, you can set a threshold, or multiple thresholds, which divide a certain percentage of views to certain ranges of scores. For example, you could have it so that ads which score more than 9/10 get 30% of all views. You would do that like this:
$random = rand(1,100);
if ($random > 30) {
  $sql = "SELECT * FROM ads WHERE score >= 9 ORDER BY views ASC";
} else {
  $sql = "SELECT * FROM ads WHERE score < 9 ORDER BY views ASC";
}

The problem with this is that if you don't have any ads with a score above 9, you won't get anything back. For that reason, you probably don't want to use this method.
Second, you could spread your 30% of views across the top 5 or 10 ads:
SELECT *
FROM ads
WHERE id IN
   (SELECT id
    FROM ads
    ORDER BY score DESC
    LIMIT 10)
ORDER BY views ASC;

This solves the problem of "what if I don't have any records above the threshold" while still spreading the "high score bonus" across more than just a single record. The problem with this, if you consider it a problem that is, is that it doesn't scale with the volume of ads you have on record. Whether you have 10 records or 10,000 records, you'll still give the bonus to just 10 (or 20, or 50.. whatever you set) records.
If you want to scale, you'll want the third solution.
The third solution is to set your limit based on a percentage of the total number of records in the table. Since MySQL doesn't have a built-in way of handling this, you'll need to workaround this in one of two ways:
One way to do it the lazy way and run two queries - one to get the current record count, and another to create a query based on it. For example:
$query1 = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM ads";
//store result in $count
$percentage = round($count * 0.10); //get 10% of records
$query2 = "SELECT * FROM ads WHERE id IN " .
              "(SELECT id " .
              " FROM ads " .
              " ORDER BY score DESC " .
              " LIMIT " . $percentage . ") " .
          "ORDER BY views ASC"

A better way would be to avoid the second round-trip to the database and use a prepared statement:
SELECT @percentage := ROUND(COUNT(*) * 10/100) FROM ads;
PREPARE PERCENTAGE FROM
   SELECT *
   FROM ads
   WHERE id IN
      (SELECT id FROM ads
       ORDER BY score DESC
       LIMIT ?)
   ORDER BY views ASC;
EXECUTE PERCENTAGE USING @percentage;

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text:
40 of the funniest jokes and one-liners from North West comedians on Lancashire Day
Camelot Rises: Prices, times, film listings and more as new zombie 'experience' and drive-in horror cinema comes to Chorley
What's OnArts and Entertainment
Leyland Festival cancelled until 2022 due to Covid-19 pandemic
Organisers of Leyland Festival have confirmed the event has been cancelled for a second year running.
By Julia Bennett
Tuesday, 9th February 2021, 3:45 pm
Updated Tuesday, 9th February 2021, 3:58 pm
With a legacy spanning more than 150 years and an annual attendance of around 10,000 people, Leyland Festival is a key date on the South Ribble calendar, but the ongoing impact of
Covid-19 has forced a hiatus this summer.
A date has been set for the event to return on June 18, 2022.
Leyland Festival started with the spectacular 'Greatest Show in Lancashire' parade in 2019
Martin Carlin, chairman of the board of Leyland Festival directors, said: "The cancellation of the festival for a second year brings huge disappointment for everyone involved.
"Although we have wrestled with this decision and made every effort to go ahead, it has become evident that we cannot continue to plan for an event in such uncertain times.
"The logistical and financial pressure on the shoulders of everyone involved in bringing the event to life – our dedicated participants, stallholders, volunteers, organisers and sponsors – is
too great to bear in a climate of such uncertainty.
"We exist to showcase the very best of what our town and wider county has to offer, and sadly this year that means hitting pause in order to protect and care for each other.
"There is hope on the horizon, and with great excitement we are able to announce our plans to return with another spectacular event on June 18, 2022.
"We are overwhelmed with inspiration and dedication, and are working towards an action-packed agenda filled with events to suit our growing and diverse community.
"We're asking everyone to stay safe, hopeful, and excited, and to prepare to party when we finally make it back!"
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Jaks in the village of Caister-on-Sea near Great Yarmouth is a small and welcoming unisex salon offering cuts & colours with a friendly service.
On arrival in Great Yarmouth follow signs for the A149 towards Caister-on-Sea, proceeding past Yarmouth Stadium and over the mini roundabout towards the village centre. Jaks is located just beyond the next mini roundabout at Beach Road, on the left hand side.


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Chip Mason
Sumeet Mathur
Plenary Session: Speeding Up the Response to Critical Infrastructure Breaches: Are Enterprises Equipped?
Presented by 2020 New Delhi Security Summit
Nation-state attacks are inevitable. In a recent example, India's Kundankulam nuclear power plant apparently was attacked by North Korea's Kimsuky Group, which was attempting to steal information on the latest design of the "Advanced Heavy Water Reactor," a design for a next-generation nuclear reactor that burns thorium into in the fuel core.
In light of the growing nation-state threats, organizations must be better prepared to mitigate the risks and respond in real time. It's critical to understand the existing gaps and bottlenecks within organizations that make the infrastructure vulnerable to attacks and make detection difficult.
This session discusses:
Effective ways to align your resources to enhance your incidence response effort;
How to protect your critical infrastructure by enhancing your security posture;
Who should be accountable for protecting critical data;
How to determine if you're equipped to handle a breach scenario.
OnDemand access to this webinar is restricted to Premium Members.
Join Now to Access
Autonomous Response: The Threats Darktrace Antigena Finds
Cyber AI for SaaS Security Protecting Your Dynamic Workforce
Why Automating Encryption and Decryption Makes Good Cybersecurity Sense
Defending Against Credential Based Attacks – Protecting the Keys to the Front Door
OnDemand Webinar | The Third Question: What CISOs Aren't Asking, and What's at Stake
Kuppingercole Leadership Compass for Governance - IGA
DivvyCloud Cloud and Container Security
Dr. Gulshan Rai
Former National Cybersecurity Coordinator-PMO, GoI
OnDemand Webinar | Are Your Cloud Solutions Multi-Taskers?
Encryption is Worthless Without Protecting Your Keys
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Dr. Rai has over 25 years of experience in different areas of Information Technology which include Cyber Security, e-Governance, Legal Framework and the Information Technology Act for e-commerce, and several related fields. At present, Dr. Rai is the National CyberSecurity Coordinator, Government of India. Prior to this he was Director General, CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) and Group Coordinator of E-Security and Cyber Law Division in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. He has also been an Executive Director, ERNET India for over 7 years and was instrumental in setting up of the first large scale education and research network in close collaboration with the leading educational and research institutions in the country.


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South Jersey Sports Varsity Living Dining Obituaries E-Edition Legals
BOYS' SOCCER: Q&A with Trent Hall of RV
Q-and-A with Trent Hall, a senior defender for Rancocas Valley
Kevin Callahan
@CP_KCallahan
As part of our season look into boys' soccer, we want to know a little bit more about some of the region's players. Trent Hall, a senior defender for Rancocas Valley, talked over a variety of things with reporter Kevin Callahan.
KC: What college and major are you looking at?
TH: Right now I'm looking at Rutgers-Camden and to major in business. I'm hoping to play soccer, too.
KC: What do you like most about Rancocas Valley as a school?
TH: The diversity. You get to deal with people from all walks of life.
KC: What would you like to do for work?
TH: Probably sales. I enjoy talking to people.
KC: Do you play any other sports?
TH: Not anymore. I played lacrosse my freshman year.
KC: Who is your toughest competitor?
TH: As a team, definitely Cinnaminson. They play hard every time we play them.
KC: What is your favorite food in the cafeteria?
TH: I bring my lunch every day since freshman year — two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day.
KC: Who is your favorite teacher?
TH: My health teacher, Ms. Thornton; she is always asking me how I am doing and looking out for me.
KC: What do you like most about the coaching staff?
TH: They definitely listen to the players, and they come to us for ideas when things aren't going right.
KC: What did you learn from last season?
TH: That every game can be your last. We were knocked out of the Coaches Cup in the first round against Moorestown.
KC: What is your favorite book?
TH: The Ranger's Apprentice series. It's about an archer in the medieval times.
KC: What is your favorite movie?
TH: "Warrior." It's about two brothers who end up fighting each other in the UFC final.
KC: What music do you listen to mostly?
TH: Probably rap or hip-hop.
KC: Who is your most inspirational teammate?
TH: Luis Rivadeneira. He's my boy, he's always talking to me trying to get me prepared for the game.
KC: Who is your funniest teammate?
TH: Ameer Payton. His approach to everything is serious, and when you think he's kidding, he's not.
KC: Does your coach, Damon Petras, listen to cool music?
TH: I wouldn't say he listens to cool music because he's always complaining about what we listen to. But he's a cool guy.


No chest pain that is suspected to be ischemic.
Mentating well with no evidence of encephalopathy on exam.
Adenosine 6 mg IV push with flush afterwards administered.
Adenosine 12 mg IV flush with flush afterwards administered.
EKG: Normal Sinus Rhythm. No arrythmia (no PACs, no PVCs), no brugada wave, no prolonged QTc, no delta wave/no shortened PR, no episilon wave, no evidence of ischemia. Interpretation: No cardiogenic etiology for arrhythmia obvious on EKG.
Will evaluate for underlying precipitance that may have caused arrhythmia as above.
BMP and Magnesium and phosphorus to evaluate for electrolyte abnormalities.
to evaluate for occult infections that were not elucidated on review of systems or examination.
Evaluate for myocardial ischemia resulting from episode of arrhythmia.
Will administer rate control to prevent subsequent episode.


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General.-The clause follows section 29(1) to (7), P.T.A. and section 38(4) to (7), P.A.
Sub-clause (1).-A provision has been added that the notice will be given in the prescribed manner1.
Sub-clauses (2) to (5).-Need no further comments.
Sub-clause (6).-It may be noted that while under section 29(5) of the Presidency Act, security has to be given for the payment of not less than four annas in the rupee, under section 38(5) of the Provincial Act, it must be for the payment of not less than six annas in the rupee. Adopting the provision in the Presidency Act, the clause substitutes 25 nP. for six annas.
2. It is suggested that the notice should be published in newspapers, (besides any other mode of publication that may be suitable).
General.-This corresponds to sections 30 and 32, Presidency Act and section 39, Provincial Act.
Sub-clause (1).-Is based on section 30 of the Presidency Act (which corresponds to section 39 of the Provincial Act).
Sub-clause (2).-There is nothing in the Provincial Act, corresponding to section 30(2) of the Presidency Act, which provides that the provisions of the composition or scheme may be enforced on application to the court. This is adopted as a useful provision, and amplified by providing that the enforcement should be in the manner provided for the execution of decrees. There is a further provision in section 30(2) of the Presidency Act that the disobedience of an order made on the application shall be deemed to be a contempt of court. As the clause will apply not merely to the High Courts in the Presidency Towns, but to all the courts, it has been omitted.
Sub-clause (3).-Follows section 32, P.T.A.
General.-See section 40, Provincial Act and section 31, Presidency Act.
Sub-clause (1).-The words "on application", etc., and the mention of vesting of the property have been added on the lines of the Presidency Act.
Sub-clause (2).-Needs no further comments.


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Drew Leshko: The Only Constant at Thinkspace
DREW LESHKO THE ONLY CONSTANT JULY 8 - JULY 29, 2017 Opening Saturday, July 8, 2017 on view in the Thinkspace Project Room is The Only Constant, featuring new sculptural pieces by Philadelphia-based artist Drew Leshko. Leshko's highly detailed sculptural works in paper and wood depict architectures and urban spaces, combining a documentary impulse with a nostalgic desire to immortalize the overlooked and the forgotten recesses of the cityscape. Made to scale at a 1:12 ratio, these miniaturized buildings, replete with every imaginable authenticating detail from signage to refuse, are inspired by the artist's immersion in the onslaught of urban change. In an attempt to preserve the structures and histories of his home city, Leshko creates painstakingly detailed pieces based on photographs and hewn from memory. From gentrification to historic preservation, the artist explores the city's momentums of conversion, destruction, and conservancy. Leshko's phenomenally technical works are about transformation and safekeeping. Unassuming buildings, often neglected and bearing the vestiges of their past prime, are somehow reconstituted when miniaturized. The artist deliberately plays with the transformative potential of scale. When preciously fabricated, these minutely detailed works become valued and rarified facsimiles of an otherwise forgotten or degraded original. As depictions of real spaces, Leshko's work is an archive of time and place, in one sense, in that it captures the specificity of an actual moment. But it is also something of a homesick dedication, elevating an otherwise forgotten and "un-special" remnant of the city's ongoing, and irrevocable, pace of urbanization. The only constant is…
Art, Gallery, ExhibitionsCreate! Magazine July 5, 2017 Thinkspace, California, Sculpture, Architecture, 3-d, Realism
Stephen Eichhorn
Articles, ArtChristina Nafziger July 5, 2017 Collage, Plants, Cats
Jan Brandt
Issue V, ArtCreate! Magazine July 5, 2017 Textile, Fabric, Sewing, Installation, Recycle, Clothing, Assemblage


Courtney Tisch has read 18 of 50 books.
Courtney Tisch read 48 books of her goal of 45!
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" you will have to let me know how this is "
" omg this absolutely makes my day "


Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin took part in the 127th meeting of Committee of Ministers of the European Council at the level of Heads of Foreign Ministries, which took place in Nicosia, Cyprus, on May 19. Klimkin announced during the meeting that Donbas and Crimea are the most troubled grey zones in Europe. This was reported by the press service of Ukrainian MFA.
Pavlo Klimkin drew attention of the Foreign Ministers to the unacceptability of existence of grey zones on the territory of European continent, where people de facto are outside the protection under European Convention on Human Rights.
Ukrainian diplomat noted that Donbas and Crimea are the most troubled grey zones in Europe, stressing that the current situation clearly shows how one particular state can deliberately and consciously destroy the human rights protection system on the continent.
Pavlo Klimkin welcomed the importance of adoption of decision regarding situation in Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol city on May 3 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and stressed, that such decision should serve European Council as signpost towards the restoration of all violated human rights in Crimea, as well as being another step towards de-occupation of peninsula.


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Whenever you need shelter
Posted on September 15, 2013 February 17, 2017 by Mairi
I've visited my fair share of religious buildings in my travels, but I've never seen anything like what I saw in Phnom Penh this week.
We walked through a laneway crowded with dark, cramped homes, with children playing, washing strung out on lines and motos parked against walls. Filled with the buzz of inner-city life.
If I hadn't been told to look up, I might have passed through the area intent on all the activity at ground level and missed the real gem.
A glimpse upwards revealed that this was no ordinary urban lane. We were actually standing inside a historic Buddhist temple.
Built by Hokkien settlers in the 1930s, what's left of the Jade Mountain Temple still has all the hallmarks of a traditional Chinese temple. The ornamental ridge caps, the slatted eaves, the gold-on-black lettering of the large ceiling plaques.
But in this case, the roof now provides shelter to a ramshackle series of huts and shacks. They have been built side-by-side and in some cases on top of each other so that they take up the space inside the temple and spill out the sides.
There's another discovery to be made after just a few more turns in the alley, past a family bathing from buckets, a barking dog and a young girl heading out on her moto.
It's another religious building, this time a Christian church, that has also been slowly consumed by the surrounding neighbourhood.
Built around 1920, the Sisters of Divine Providence church is more intact than its timber temple neighbour. However, other structures have been added to the outside of the church in a labyrinth of low-cost housing.
When you step inside the old church, there are a dozen or so dwellings inside. They're makeshift but they're not flimsy.
The distinctive arches of the original ceiling in the nave of the church are still visible above the shelters that have been added to the darkened space below using brick, timber and corrugated iron.
This occupation of the church is apparently more recent than the temple. The church has reportedly had a variety of purposes since the 1970s, from a Vietnamese community centre during that country's occupation of Cambodia to an orphanage.
These aren't the only buildings that have been occupied by squatters in Phnom Penh, but as religious buildings they are symbolic of the cultural destruction and religious persecution that took place during the murderous reign of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s.
When survivors flooded back into the capital city in the years after the fall of the regime in 1979 and after the departure of the Vietnamese a decade later, they occupied empty buildings, rooftops and anywhere they could find a piece of vacant land to set up home.
Some of these families have occupied these squats for decades and in some cases one or two generations may have been born there. It's natural these families would come to consider these buildings their permanent homes.
Their legal status seems less clear and cases of compulsory land acquisitions, and the forced evictions of people have been a lightning rod issue between human rights advocates and the government.
These squat homes also present an interesting question for the preservation of Phnom Penh history.
It may not be the city's prettiest chapter, but the history of these squatters marks a significant phase in the country's transition from fear to freedom and from tyranny to democracy.
The fact that these buildings feature so prominently in an architecture tour of Phnom Penh says something about their historical interest, not to mention what it says about the resilience and adaptability of human beings.
It makes you wonder how the priests and monks who once served here would feel about the way their places of worship are now being inhabited.
There's a long history of both religions providing shelter for the poor and homeless – just not usually quite this front and centre.
My first glimpse of the roof of the Jade Mountain Temple. Built in the 1930s by Hokkien settlers, the temple was overtaken by squatters after the fall of the Khmer Rouge.
A look upwards between the squatter houses at the ceiling of the former Jade Mountain Temple, with its distinctive slatted structure and huge plaques bearing Chinese characters.
Squatter homes lined up under the Jade Mountain Temple roof.
The Sisters of Providence church has gradually been consumed by the surrounding neighbourhood.
The distinctive lines of the original church architecture are still visible above the walls of the squatter homes which have been built inside.
A glimpse in the door of one of the homes that now occupies the inside of the church.
The floors in the old church have been devoted to many different uses over the decades.
Local life, including getting the washing dry, goes on underneath the former church.
From this angle, the historic building might be mistaken for a working church.
Built circa 1905, the Hotel International building in Phnom Penh was taken over by squatters in the years after the downfall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979. Like many buildings during this period, squatters built shacks across the rooftop which are visible in this picture.
The former police headquarters in Phnom Penh, built in the 1930s, and now derelict.
A charming corridor in the former police headquarters.
There are a couple of squats in the derelict old police headquarters building.
The Post Office in downtown Phnom Penh is a well-preserved example of French colonial architecture from the early 1900s.
Formerly the Hotel Manolis, this building opposite the Post Office now houses about 100 families. The building was taken over by squatters after the Khmer Rouge lost power. As well as squatters, there seem to be a few resident monkeys!
The historic former Hotel Manolis is falling into a state of disrepair.
A section of wall with original shutters and floor with original tiles inside the former Hotel Manolis that show the wear and tear on the building over the years.
Posted in My creative break, Travel writingTagged adaptability, Cambodia, developing world, history, home renovating, identity, new beginnings, resilience, squatters, travel4 Comments
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4 thoughts on "Whenever you need shelter"
Dionne (@beyourwholeself) says:
This was so interesting – and the photographs beautiful
I'm glad you enjoyed it Dionne. After five visits I'm still learning so much about this place and its history. Aren't the old Police HQ and the Hotel Manolis in particular so full of beauty and character? M
Steve Ingram says:
Some nice pics there for your coffee table book
A book about coffee tables? 🙂 Thanks for reading Steve. Cheers, M


Question on 12 string string gauge.
I was looking at the Strings by Mail site and they have a custom set as ordered by a customer "Phillip." This set has the two unison courses with different gauges of string. So instead of have 10-10 or 09-09 they pair a 09 with a 10 and a 12 with a 13. I would think that this would give the two strings a slightly different sound and add to the fullness.
I'll try this next change.