When it comes down to trying to find the best NYC area MMA gym that actually offers MMA classes in their schedule, many people end up simply selecting the closest or cheapest gym option, simply to pick one without having to put forth the effort in finding one that is a good fit for their actual needs. That is exactly why we have taken the liberty out of narrowing down the top MMA gyms in NYC. In no particular order, here they are!
Longo-Weidman: LAW MMA is an incredibly note-worthy MMA academy based in NYC. The gym offers unmatched training for any skill level from beginner to advanced. Regardless of what you are looking to get out of your gym, from simply getting into shape, learning some self-defense or striving to compete, LAW has an MMA class built for your personal needs and desires. Their facility is top of the line and is comprised of 2000 square feet of mats, a regulation sized boxing ring, MMA cage, all in a 6500 square feet of industrial warehouse space. The academy also is home to several noteworthy trainers, including owner, founder and head trainer, Ray Longo, who has trained in multiple MMA styles since 1972.
The three main fundamental features of MMA fighting are taught individually and in the context of MMA training at Radical MMA NYC. They gym offers group classes in a complete striking program as well as No-Gi BJJ take-downs & wrestling. The gym is incredibly well-round and they have a fundamental belief in the importance of building their fighters from the ground up which is developed upon the basis of helping their fighters literally gain strength in their grappling prior to moving on to striking. Owner, founder and head trainer of Radical MMA NYC, René Dreifuss, was an incredibly active MMA fighter in the Tri-State area. Having trained extensively since 1975, in a wide array of various forms of martial arts in the US, Brazil and Japan, he additionally holds high ranks of instructing several different fighting styles.
Class One Mixed Martial Arts, located in Brooklyn, is a state of the art MMA gym. Their gym is of the highest quality and they provide MMA classes for all fitness and skill levels. The classes are taught by world renowned trainers, champs and personal practitioners, who strive to share their passion of the sport with those who seek to learn. Whether you are seeking to gain some knowledge of self-defense, get back into shape or build upon your existing MMA skills, they are sure to have a course that fits your needs and your schedule. Head instructor, Luis Azeredo is a legend in the world of MMA. He is a veteran of both Bellator and Pride championships and has fought and won against some of the most highly regarded fighters in the world, including Paul Daley and Anderson Silva. As a third degree BJJ black belt, he currently helps to train amateur and pro MMA and Muay Thai fighters at Class One.
The Williamsburg Mixed Martial Arts academy is one of the most well-rounded and trustworthy in the NYC area. It prides itself on offering MMA techniques that included substantial fight training in boxing, BJJ, Muay Thai, freestyle wresting, Judo and Greco-Roman, so regardless of which MMA style you are seeking to truly build upon you can be sure that you are going to have the incredible opportunity at Williamsburg MMA. Training under Prof. Roger Mamedov and Coach Diego Lopez, you can take heart in knowing that you are going to be trained under two of the finest instructors in the world, both of who have a ton of knowledge and complete understanding of the MMA world.
Conveniently located in midtown Manhattan, Ronin Athletics offers a super spacious MMA gym that specializes in offering to help develop and build upon the skills of individuals of all skill levels, backgrounds and body types in understanding the core features of MMA. Under the guidance of founder and head instructor, Christian Montes, you will be able to find and build upon the skills needed to take you through all walks of your growth as an MMA practitioner. Montes is a lifelong martial arts student with a career that spans over 2 decades and a passion to share his knowledge with students of all skill levels.
One the nicest attributes about the High Impact Martial Arts gym, is the fact that they understand and take into sincere consideration what the true differences are between what MMA is and what it is not. They strive to teach their students the importance behind understanding that essential piece of knowledge as well in order to allow them to grow within the sport while learning to respect the sport as well. Sensei Lester Martell, has an extensive knowledge and background in Judo and also holds a black belt in Karate-Do Joshinmon and is a widely respected Sandan (third degree black belt).
Laying claim as one of the top MMA academy's in Brooklyn is Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness. Since 2008, the academy has strived to help individual's who are seeking to get in shape, gain strength and build upon their MMA skills. The academy currently has a fast-growing amateur and professional fight team and they are dedicated to assisting their students in reaching their goals. Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness offers BJJ classes that are taught under 3rd Degree black belt Marcio Bittencourt and Coach Aldo Oranvil. And, head coach Terry Gold has gone above and beyond in bringing in some of the most noteworthy fighters from across the globe to assist in building their team and members of the gym. Some of the fighters who have come in to help are: Chris Weidman, Kyra Gracie, Nick Diaz, Dennis Bermudez, Ryan Laflare, Jake Shields, Al Iaquinta, Todd Duffee, and Luke Rockhold, just to name a few.
Fight Factory Gym is a school that provides something for everyone, and inspires people of all skill levels to come in and learn MMA techniques in an unbiased environment. Located in the heart of Brooklyn, the Fight Factory has an awesome layout that is uniquely laid out in six different zones. All of the different zones are guided under different, specific instructors who specialize in a certain fighting style. There are even three full size boxing rings for use in both Muay Thai and boxing training, and the area is surrounded by a huge variety of top of the line punching bags including Grant, Everlast, and Cleto Reyes. Not to mention the fact that you can build upon your MMA training skills firsthand pro UFC fighter, Jordan Radev, in an incredible full size octagon.
Based in New Rochelle, Westchester Fight Club offers all MMA skill settings along with the much-needed experience for aspiring fighters of all skill levels to succeed in reaching their goals. Many gyms strive to teach skills individually whereas the Westchester Fight Club provides technical classes each day that are taught by specialized trainers in the specific art and are never overlapped. This ensures that the fighter has the freedom and capability to work various martial arts at one time in order to create their own unique style of fighting. The gym is led under the guidance of two different teachers who are both highly skilled and accomplished pro fighters, one of which is head Muay Thai instructor is Kru Primo Bellarosa, a 14-1 Professional Thai Boxer who holds 7 Championship Title and was also head coach at Bomb Squad MMA where he closely and directly worked with countless top level pro MMA fighters who he has also cornered for in the UFC, Bellator, and Strikeforce.
Founded by Nick Sacoulas in 1995, Progressive Martial Arts has crafted isself into a leading MMA academy in the NYC area. This university-type setting provides their students with a number of various, comprehensive programs that include MMA, Muay Thai, BJJ and even Jeet Kune Do. And as they offer over 70 courses each week, you can be sure to find a class that will fit into even the most busy schedules. Students at Progressive Martial Arts are shown how to increase their levels of self-confidence and self-discipline, while living a more healthy and active lifestyle of which is the basis of growing in the MMA fight training. Their facility is top of the line and their trainers and staff are incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, patient and are very eager to assist their students in their MMA journey.
One thing that we have also taken into consideration is the fact that a lot of gyms claim to be MMA gyms, but in all actuality they only offer certain classes that pertain to various aspects of MMA, like grappling or striking classes. The following gyms that made the cut for this list are all actual gyms that teach all aspects of the mixed martial arts world to ensure that you get full on training to ensure success in the sport.
If you are the owner of a MMA gym, or are a representative or personal trainer and would like to be considered for our next 'best martial arts school list, you can submit your listing to our free martial arts school directory.


WOW! This house is in immaculate condition...Pride of ownership and it shows!! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a loft in the award winning neighborhood of Power Ranch! All tile downstairs and wood laminate upstairs....even in the bedrooms! Balcony off of master with great views! Great lot...with NO neighbors behind! Gorgeous waterfall pool- new cleaner installed and pool decking was recently restored. Newer water heater(2013)& AC units(2015) and recently painted exterior! Enjoy all of the amenities Power Ranch has to offer- community pools, parks, walking paths, catch and release fishing lakes, events at the community center and so much more!


SPOTSWOOD, New Jersey - Authorities say the suspect, Jason Hubbard, broke into a home in Spotswood and camped out under the bed in a spare room for three days.
Further investigation revealed that Hubbard entered the home through an open door three days prior, when the homeowner was taking out the garbage.
After entering the house, he proceeded into the spare bedroom, where he stayed under the bed for three days.


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THEDACARE CELEBRATES VOLUNTEERS DURING NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK
Photo: ThedaCare Volunteers Charles, Shirley, and Paul.
THEDACARE CELEBRATES VOLUNTEERS DURING 'NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK'
Going Above and Beyond to Help Patients and Families
APPLETON, Wis. – The same day each week, you'll find Charles and Shirley Smith at ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center. The pair has been volunteering at various ThedaCare locations for decades. Charles began volunteering in 1988, two years after he retired from the phone company, where he was employed for 39 years. His wife, Shirley, began volunteering in 1978 with flower sales, Christmas craft sales and at hospitals.
"Volunteering is rewarding," said Charles. "You get more out of it than you put in. It feels good to help others, especially during their challenging times."
The husband and wife team currently deliver meals to those going through longer treatments at the cancer center. They explain the best part of volunteering is meeting the people.
"You get to know them very well," said Charles. "You see them week after week. We've even gotten to the point where we know what some people will order for their meals."
The volunteer bond is special.
"Sometimes they just want someone to talk with, listen to their problems," said Shirley. "It makes you feel like you're helping them through their illness."
Shirley recalls one patient who noticed an angel pin that she was wearing.
"I had an extra one at home, so I brought it to her. She appreciated that small gesture so much," Shirley said. "Now when I see her, she's always wearing the pin, saying she wears the angel near her heart."
More than 550 people volunteer their time at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, the Endoscopy Desk at Encircle Health and the ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center.
Both hospitals in Appleton and Neenah have a volunteer board of directors. The board oversees and makes policies for the volunteers. The two volunteer organizations also provide various scholarships throughout the year.
Shirley is in her 80s and Charles will be turning 90 in August, and say they have no plans to slow down, in fact, they say volunteering keeps them young.
"You have to stay active. This keeps us alert, both mentally and physically. We're walking about two miles every time we volunteer delivering meals," he laughed. "You can never slow down."
With five children, 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, it seems the two enjoy the "on-the-go" lifestyle.
"We're going to keep doing this as long as we can," said Shirley. "We want others to give it a try. You'll never regret giving back."
On this very special week, ThedaCare thanks all who volunteer in our hospitals, clinics and communities. Your generosity helps our mission of improving the health in the communities we serve. Volunteers make a positive impact on our patients and neighbors and are greatly appreciated.
For more information on volunteering at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, contact Joni Conrad at 920-738-6269 or joni.conrad@thedacare.org.
To volunteer at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, contact Brooke Techlin at 920-729-2207 or brooke.techlin@thedacare.org.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Cooper managed to prove me wrong last night. While he generally gets better from these episodes within 24 hours, he managed to only get worse. After a sleepless night with him, I made my way to Carlton Veterinary Hospital, which recently started opening on Saturdays.
Cooper immediately got excited when we pulled up to the front of the facility. After all, the one thing he loves more than PetCo is the vet's office. I know … I know … Most dogs hate the vet's office, but what can I say? My dog is that weird and Carlton Vets are that good.
Dr. Amy saw him and was puzzled by his painful posture and whining, yelping episodes. I told her I suspected he had eaten a cat toy. He's done it before and I have no doubt he will do it again and again and again. Dr. Amy nodded, examined him, took him out in the rain to see if he would pass whatever was bothering him and then escorted him in the back for an X-ray.
I positioned myself in the waiting room and listened to him complain. It's really unusual for him to protest anything they do, so I knew he was in pain.
After about 15 minutes, Dr. Amy walked out with a thoroughly ecstatic and bouncing pup. In her hand was a rubber glove with a small lump in it. She explained that after taking the X-ray and finding nothing, she took him out for another walk. He immediately passed a small, green, hard plastic piece in mucus.
"I know exactly what that is," I told her.
Cooper had managed to chew up and eat one of Gus' army men.
I really try to keep the cat toys away from Cooper. In fact, all of the cat toys are in my bedroom, behind a baby gate, which Cooper has been taught he can't pass.
Dr. Amy warned that Cooper likely had a few more pieces in his gut and would be in pain as he passed them, but she wasn't concerned that he would, in fact, pass each of them without the aid of the vets. She sent me home with some pain medicine (for him, not for me, darn it!) and the entire episode cost me $123.
Good thing I like him. I might have been tempted to leave him behind otherwise.
I knew it! I knew it ! I had a feeling it was going to be an army man!
LOL … Unfortunately, so did I.


"I have been making this recipe for almost 20 years. It was the recipe my mom always made for us. Now my kids love it, too! It's always a hit, even with friends and family who do not normally care for Stroganoff. Goes great with rolls. Also, I have tried using reduced-fat and fat-free sour cream. Turns out okay with reduced fat but I did not like it with the fat-free sour cream."
Crumble ground beef into a large skillet over medium heat; sprinkle with seasoned salt. Cook and stir until completely browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain excess grease from skillet and return to heat. Stir onion, nutmeg, and cloves into the beef.
Whisk hot water and flour together in a bowl until smooth; pour over beef mixture and mix. Stir mushroom soup into the beef mixture. Place a cover on the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stirring occasionally, cook at a simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.
Whisk sour cream, parsley, and dry mustard together in a bowl. Stir sour cream mixture into the beef mixture; season with salt and black pepper. Continue cooking at a simmer uncovered until hot, 15 to 20 minutes.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook egg noodles in the boiling water until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 5 minutes; drain. Transfer noodles to a large bowl. Ladle beef mixture over the noodles and mix.
The rich and delicious classic Russian dish.
I loved this recipe, the flavor of the sauce was amazing, I used slice filet instead of ground beef and served it with a crusty garlic bread!


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Q: C struct with pointers initialization When a struct that contains an array of struct pointers is instantiated,
am I guaranteed that all pointers in the struct array member will be set to NULL?
Here's an example struct:
typedef struct mmNode {
  int val;
  int board[2][NUM_PITS+1];
  int side;
  struct mmNode* children[NUM_PITS+1];
} mmNode;

IE: If I create an instance of the mmNode struct, will the elements of mmNode.children always be set to NULL?

A: It depends how you initialise your struct.
mmNode a;                              // Everything default-initialized

void foo()
{
    static mmNode b;                   // Everything default-initialized

    mmNode  c;                         // Nothing initialized
    mmNode  d = { 0 };                 // Everything default-initialized
    mmNode *p = malloc(sizeof(*p));    // Nothing initialized
    mmNode *q = calloc(1, sizeof(*q)); // Everything zero-initialized
}

"Nothing initialized" means that all members will just have random junk values.  "Default-initialized" means that all members will be initialized to 0, which for pointer members will be equivalent to NULL.  "Zero-initialized" means that everything will be set, bitwise, to 0.  This will only work on platforms where NULL is represented with bitwise 0.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Town Crier: Hopes for veggies and friendship to grow in community garden
Shawn Star
Residents in apartment buildings near Oriole Park will soon be able to get outside and do some gardening.
City council voted unanimously in April to release $47,000 in Section 37 funds stemming from a development on Merton Street in order to plant a community garden in Oriole Park. According to local councillor Josh Matlow, who got the ball rolling last fall via his website, the garden will serve as "an opportunity to educate children and others."
"It's a place for seniors, and it's a place for tenants who may not have a front or back yard," he said.
The garden will consist of several beds featuring a variety of vegetation. While the exact number of beds and what types of plants will be planted in them have yet to be decided, Matlow says he expects the building and planting of the garden to begin this spring.
Matlow says he is hoping that once residents get their hands in the soil and the seeds are planted more than just the vegetation will flourish.
"I put a lot of focus on projects in our local community that really build community and create common places," he said. "I think this is an example where people in the neighbourhood who have never met each other before can build relationships and build a community based on their love of gardening."


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President in the pews: DC churches offer Biden options
WILMINGTON, Del. — His motorcade thunders around Delaware, snarling traffic. Everywhere he goes, a security team envelops him and a pack of journalists trails behind.
Yet President-elect Joe Biden enters his church, St. Joseph on the Brandywine, with startlingly little interruption.
Wearing a dark suit and medical mask, Biden slipped into a polished wooden pew near the back of the sanctuary for a recent Saturday evening Catholic Mass. He was one of only about 40 worshippers with attendance limited by the coronavirus pandemic. His row was empty except for a Secret Service agent sitting on the aisle and others stationed around the sanctuary. They had flak jackets under their dress clothes.
This is one of the last places where Biden can at least try to blend in, a luxury that probably will fade away completely when he takes office next month. Once he arrives in Washington, the trappings of the presidency — and the eagerness of the city's residents to be near power — could make a casual church visit nearly impossible.
A Biden transition team official refused to say which church Biden might attend in the nation's capital or whether he might return to Delaware for services, at least to start. Washington's COVID-19 measures restrict large indoor services, and many churches have moved services online.
Biden says Americans should be allowed to attend church during the pandemic "safely," and his transition team has underscored the importance of heeding local restrictions. Still, if he does become a regular Washington churchgoer, Biden will have plenty of choices.
Four Catholic churches sit within 2 miles (3.2 kilometres ) of the White House. As vice-president , Biden attended Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington's tony Georgetown neighbourhood , where the nation's only other Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, frequently went to Mass before his inauguration.
Previous presidents have made a wide variety of choices — or none. Not far from the White House is New York Avenue Presbyterian, which maintains the pew where Abraham Lincoln once worshipped. Even closer is St. John's Episcopal Church, walkable across Lafayette Square from the White House for the presidents who have made a historic practice of worshipping there at least once.
St. John's was thrust into the headlines this summer when police forcibly dispersed protesters so President Donald Trump could pose with a Bible outside its butter-yellow front doors. But its status as the "Church of Presidents" dates to James Madison, and it's accustomed to the special scrutiny that comes with hosting commanders in chief.
The Rev. Luis Leon, rector at St. John's from 1994 to 2018, said congregants were very good about high-powered visits: "They treated the president's experience of worship as they would treat their own experience of worship."
The VIP presence nonetheless had its own specific effects on churchgoers' behaviour . Leon joked that, on days when the reserved "President's pew" was occupied, the church "would get tilted" because so many congregants wanted to sit on the same side of the sanctuary as the chief executive, hoping to shake his hand during the Episcopalian exchange of the peace.
While Trump often consulted with spiritual leaders in the Oval Office, he never adopted a home church in Washington. He preferred private prayer, including with the Rev. Jentezen Franklin, a Georgia-based megachurch pastor who recalled at least 10 visits with Trump on faith matters.
Franklin said the outgoing president "always was so receptive" of spiritual encounters.
"When we first started meeting with him, we asked him, could we pray with him? And he was very open to that, very thankful," Franklin said.
Former President Barack Obama and his family attended the historically Black Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in the early days of his administration. But a competition emerged among the city's houses of worship to attract the first family, and the Obamas ultimately never settled on a full-time church home in the capital.
Joshua DuBois, who was Obama's faith adviser during his first term, recalled the search for a church as "a beautiful challenge."
"On the one hand, President Obama wanted to worship as often as he could with local congregations, and to worship God and be in community with others in his new home," DuBois said. But "we were acutely aware of the disruption of a presidential visit and wanted to be mindful, to limit that disruption as much as possible."
President George W. Bush often opted to worship at Camp David during his years in Washington.
The Clintons were the last first family to regularly attend church in the city. They became members of Foundry United Methodist Church, just north of the White House on 16th Street, where then-teenage Chelsea was active in the youth group.
The Rev. J. Philip Wogaman, then-Foundry's pastor, said he would help minimize crowding by asking the congregation to remain seated at the end of the service for the Clintons to exit.
"Anytime he seemed to be a little sleepy I thought to myself, 'Well, at least today I can serve the people of the United States by giving their president a bit of a rest with my sermon,'" Wogaman said.
For now, Biden's churchgoing remains low-key.
He attends Mass nearly every week at St. Joseph's — a yellow church built in 1841 on land donated by manufacturing magnate Charles I. DuPont — less than five minutes by motorcade from his lakeside home in Wilmington. Biden sometimes goes on Saturday evening but most often on Sunday mornings, attending with his wife, Jill, or his adult grandchildren, though more frequently coming solo.
Biden attended Mass on Friday to mark the anniversary of the deaths of his first wife and daughter, who were killed in a 1972 car crash and are buried at the church cemetery. His son Beau, a former Delaware attorney general who died of brain cancer in 2015, is also buried there. Biden occasionally attends Mass at other churches, such as St. Joseph's in downtown Wilmington, or St. Edmund near his vacation house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
On this Saturday evening at St. Joseph's, the Rev. Glenn Evers didn't acknowledge the incoming president in the congregation's midst, instead cautioning anyone worried about "an opportunity to catch" the virus to stay away from the traditionally crowded Christmas Eve afternoon Mass. Most pews were roped off to ensure social distancing, but parishioners nearby could hear Biden softly reciting the Lord's Prayer.
When Evers asked them to turn and greet their neighbours , they tried not to gawk at the president-elect, who offered warm but quick smiles in return.
Biden's travelling press pool waited just outside the church grounds, and bomb-sniffing dogs checked the area long before anyone arrived. Biden entered the church a few minutes late and was the first to exit at the end of the service, keeping disruption to a minimum.
He did that so effectively that the only sign he had ever even been there was a Secret Service agent, who lingered to hold the door open for others who filed out a few minutes behind the president-elect.
"We've inconvenienced you enough," the agent said. "It's the least I can do."
Schor reported from Washington.
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Will Weissert And Elana Schor, The Associated Press
Scoreboard for Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021
Sunday's Games (All Times Eastern) NHL Pittsburgh 4 Washington 3 (SO) Florida 5 Chicago 2 Dallas at Tampa Bay, ppd. --- NBA New York 105 Boston 75 Chicago 117 Dallas 101 Utah 109 Denver 105 New Orleans 128 Sacramento 123 L.A. Clippers 129 Indiana 96 Philadelphia at Oklahoma City, ppd. Cleveland at Washington, ppd. --- NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Kansas City 22, Cleveland 17 Tampa Bay 30 New Orleans 20 --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published January 17, 2021. The Canadian Press
Vietnam gives Foxconn unit licence for $270 million plant to produce laptops, tablets
Vietnam on Monday awarded a licence to a unit of Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Co Ltd to build a $270 million plant to produce laptops and tablets, the Vietnamese government said. The plant, to be developed by Fukang Technology, will be located in the northern province of Bac Giang and will annually produce eight million units, the government said in a statement on its website. Foxconn has so far invested $1.5 billion in Vietnam and plans to raise its investment by $700 million and recruit 10,000 more local workers this year, the government said.
Vehicle parade in Mission draws strong support for student attacked and beaten by peers
Hundreds of vehicles festooned with pink balloons, rainbow signs and anti-bullying messages drove slowly through a riverfront area of Mission B.C. on Sunday to offer support to a teen who was beaten by two other students at their school on Monday. AJ Gopinath, one of the organizers of the rally, said when details of the violence emerged, he knew he had to do something in response. "For us, just standing by and watching someone get assaulted in a manner that is not accepted by the community and, as a person, I couldn't step back and allow it to happen," he said from the rally on Sunday while wearing a pink T-shirt with the message, 'Say no to bullying' on it. On Monday a video was posted on social media that showed the victim, who rally organizers describe as a non-binary transgender teen, being punched and kicked by two girls on school grounds of École Heritage Park Middle School. The two attackers were arrested and police are recommending charges against them including assault and uttering threats. The video and its aftermath have received strong reaction from residents in Mission and around the province. The Mission School District said the two girls who attacked their peer will face discipline from the school as will some bystanders who watched the attack. B.C. Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside has also commented on the attack saying she has asked her ministry to provide support to the school district and that students deserve to be safe at school. On Sunday at the rally to support the victim, participants cheered, honked and waved signs that said bullying was not acceptable in the community. "We wanted to show them that they have the love and support of everybody and all of Mission," said Gopinath about people who are bullied. Brad Vis, the MP for the area said he was overwhelmed by the positive response from everyone who attended the rally. "I'm just so proud of my community today and I'm just so proud of the victim and all the encouragement [they're] getting," he said. Mission Acting Mayor Jag Gill said the rally would help the community overcome the tragedy.
India's Reliance to embed e-commerce app into WhatsApp within six months - Mint
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries plans to embed its ecommerce app JioMart into WhatsApp within six months, financial daily Mint reported https://bit.ly/3oTRtPB on Monday, as the Indian conglomerate looks to ramp up its retail and grocery business in the country. Reliance, which has been trying to move away from its mainstay oil and energy business, had last year raised about $26 billion from investors like Google and Facebook for its digital and retail arms as it takes on Amazon.com Inc and Walmart-backed Flipkart in India. The move to integrate JioMart with WhatsApp will allow hundreds of millions of users to order products from Reliance without having to leave the app, Mint said, citing two officials aware of the development.
Exclusive: Southeast Asia's Grab considering U.S. IPO this year - sources
Southeast Asian ride-hailing and food delivery giant Grab is exploring a listing in the United States this year, encouraged by robust investor appetite for IPOs, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The IPO could raise at least $2 billion, one of the sources said, which would likely make it the largest overseas share offering by a Southeast Asian company. Singapore-based Grab declined comment on the potential IPO.
Moon urges Biden to learn from Trump's N. Korea diplomacy
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — South Korea's president on Monday urged the incoming Biden administration to build upon the achievements and learn from the failures of President Donald Trump's diplomatic engagement with North Korea. A dovish liberal and the son of northern war refugees, Moon Jae-in had lobbied hard to help set up Trump's three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but their diplomacy stalemated over disagreements over easing crippling U.S.-led sanctions for the North's disarmament. Biden has accused Trump of chasing the spectacle of summits rather than meaningful curbs on the North's nuclear capabilities. North Korea has a history of staging weapons tests and other provocations to test new U.S. presidents, and Kim vowed to strengthen his nuclear weapons program in recent political speeches that were seen as aimed at pressuring the incoming Biden administration. The South Korean leader has been desperate to keep alive a positive atmosphere for dialogue in the face of Kim's vows to further expand a nuclear and missile program that threatens Asian U.S. allies and the American homeland. And while Moon acknowledged that Biden is likely to try a different approach than Trump, the South Korean leader stressed that Biden could still learn from Trump's successes and failures in dealing with North Korea. During a mostly virtual news conference in Seoul, Moon claimed that Kim still had a "clear willingness" to denuclearize if Washington and Pyongyang could find mutually agreeable steps to decrease the nuclear threat and ensure the North's security. Most experts see Kim's recent comments as further evidence he will maintain his weapons program to ensure his regime's survival. When asked about the North's efforts to increase its ballistic capacity to strike targets throughout South Korea, including U.S. bases there, Moon said the South could sufficiently cope with such threats with its missile defence systems and other military assets. "The start of the Biden administration provides a new opportunity to start over talks between North Korea and the United States and also between South and North Korea," which have stalled amid the stalemate in nuclear negotiations, Moon said. The erosion in inter-Korean relations have been a major setback to Moon, who met Kim three times in 2018 while expressing ambitions to reboot inter-Korean economic engagement held back by U.S.-led sanctions against the North. During Trump's first summit with Kim in June 2018, they pledged to improve bilateral relations and issued vague aspirational vows for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula without describing when and how it would occur. But the negotiations faltered after their second meeting in February 2019 when the Americans rejected the North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for the dismantling of an aging nuclear reactor, which would have amounted to a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities. Moon said that Trump and Kim's agreement in their first meeting was still relevant and the Biden administration should take lessons from the failures of their second meeting. Kim Tong-Hyung, The Associated Press
Male dead after North York shooting on Sunday
Toronto police say a male is dead after a shooting that took place in North York Sunday evening. Police say they were called to the area of Duncanwoods Drive and Finch Avenue West, east of Islington Avenue. A male victim was found shortly after suffering from gunshot wounds, police said. Police said life-saving measures were performed on the victim, but he was pronounced dead on scene. The homicide unit has since taken over the investigation. Police say they are looking for one suspect last seen wearing a mask and a red jacket, who ran into a ravine in the area.
Global stocks waver as COVID-19 fears trump recovery hopes
Global stock markets wavered on Monday as soaring COVID-19 cases offset investor hopes of a quick economic recovery, even after data showing that the Chinese economy rebounded faster-than-expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. European stocks as measured by the STOXX 600 index struggled for direction, last trading 0.1% higher as of 1446 GMT, after failed merger talks between French retailer Carrefour and Alimentation Couche-Tard pulled the gauge lower at the open.
The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada
The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 6 p.m. Alberta is reporting 750 new COVID-19 cases and 19 related deaths over the past 24 hours. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says in a series of tweets that there are 12,234 active COVID-19 cases in the province, with 738 patients in hospital and 123 in intensive care. Hinshaw says there were 11,484 tests completed yesterday, with a test positivity rate of 6.5 per cent. --- 3:20 p.m. Saskatchewan is reporting 287 new COVID-19 cases and three additional deaths today. The province says it administered 3,232 COVID-19 vaccine doses on Saturday, which it describes as its highest one-day total to date. It says 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been sent to North Battleford this weekend, where clinics will begin delivering them to priority health-care workers on Monday. The next day, doses will go to long-term care residents and staff in North Battleford, Wilkie and Lloydminster. The province says 20,159 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far. --- 2:15 p.m. Manitoba is reporting 189 new COVID-19 infections and eight additional virus-related deaths in the past 24 hours. The province's daily pandemic report says seven of those who died were in their 70s or older, but one was in his 30s. The provincial update says there are over 3,000 active cases in Manitoba, with 292 of them receiving treatment in hospital. There are 39 people in intensive care who either have COVID-19 or are no longer infectious but continue to require care. --- 2 p.m. for The Latest: New Brunswick is reporting 36 new cases of COVID-19, the largest single day total in the province since the pandemic began. The new cases bring the province's total number of active infections to 292. Health officials say 24 of the cases are in the Edmundston region, which will be moved to the red alert level of virus precautions at midnight. Five of the new cases are in the Moncton region, four are in the Saint John area, two in the Fredericton region and one is in the Bathurst area. --- 1:30 p.m. Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting one new case of COVID-19 today, and now has six active cases. Health officials say the case involves a man in the Eastern Health region between 20 and 39 years of age. They say the case is travel-related, with the individual having returned to the province from work in Alberta. Officials say that as a result of the case, they are asking passengers who travelled on Air Canada Flight 7480 from Montreal to St. John's that arrived on January 13 to call 811 to arrange testing. --- 12 p.m. Nova Scotia is reporting four new cases of COVID-19 today and now has 29 active infections. Health officials say there is one case each in the western, northern, eastern and central health zones. The case in the central zone involves a student at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax who lives off-campus. All of the new cases are related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada and all are self-isolating. --- 11:20 a.m. Quebec is reporting 50 new deaths due to COVID-19 as well as a preliminary total of 1,744 new cases. The province says, however, that a data transmission delay means the number of cases is incomplete and will be adjusted in a future update. Hospitalizations declined for the third straight day, down 14 to 1,460. There were also 12 fewer people in intensive care, for a total of 215. --- 10:30 a.m. Ontario has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours. The province is reporting 3,422 new cases of the virus today and 69 associated deaths. More than a thousand of the most recent diagnoses were based in Toronto, 585 were in neighbouring Peel Region, and 254 in Winsor-Esssex County. Hospitalizations across the province declined by 62 to 1,570, with 395 patients in intensive care. Health Minister Christine Elliott says the province has administered more than 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine as of last night. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2021. The Canadian Press


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View cart "Rahmah In the Sunnah – Mokhtar Maghraoui (DVD)" has been added to your cart.
The Qur'an, Science and the Last Day – Munir El-Kassem (DVD)
The Qur'an, Science and the Last Day - Munir El-Kassem (DVD) quantity
A fascinating and compelling examination of certain apocalyptic verses in the Holy Qur'an that describe five major cosmological events immediately preceding the Day of Judgment. Munir El-Kassem puts you on the edge of your seat as he explains past, present and future natural phenomenon that coincide with precise descriptions in the Qur'an. From a practical scientific perspective, discover exactly how the following signs will occur: the sun rising in the West, the Earth being engulfed in smoke, the moon splitting in half, the oceans being set on fire, and the sun and universe being folded up. Not only is this lecture a great reminder of the last day, but it also serves to increase our faith in the Qur'an as the true revelation of the Creator of the universe. Other topics discussed: Islam as a proof of science not vice-versa, the pursuit of knowledge, earthquakes, electrolysis, and the big-bang theory. (Duration: 1 hour, 7 min) Munir El-Kassem has been involved in da'wah through interfaith dialogues and lectures, and is the author of many Islamic books. He was educated at Al-Maqasid Islamic Institute and graduated from the University of Toronto as a dental surgeon. After years of general practice he joined the University of Western Ontario as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
Our Attitude Towards Non-Muslims – Abdul Malik Mujahid (DVD)
Rahmah In the Sunnah – Mokhtar Maghraoui (DVD)
Parents, Youth and Family: Q&A Panel – Mokhtar Maghraoui, Mohammad Yunus, Zulfiqar Ali Shah and Tayyib Yunus (DVD)
Human Dignity and Courage – Jamal Badawi and Siraj Wahhaj (DVD)
Jihad / Islamophobia / 9-11
Life / Death / The Hereafter
Revival / Purification / Spirituality
Shari'ah


The Lorain Palace Theater's inaugural "Director's Series" kicks off TONIGHT with "Pulp Fiction"!
SMASH: The World's Greatest Food Truck will be serving the "le Royale" burger!
The Skip Werke Band will provide the pre-show entertainment!


Law Reform Commission relocating to Styne House, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2.
Due to our relocation to our new offices at Styne House, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2, the Law Reform Commission will be closed from noon on Wednesday 18th October 2017 and will reopen on Monday, 23rd October 2017.
You can still contact the Commission for urgent matters on 01 6377600.


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OSTEOPATHIC.ORG
Vol. 105, No. suppl_4
Incidence and Prevalence of Chronic Pelvic Pain
Anatomy and Structural Changes as Etiologic Factors
Articles | September 2005
An Osteopathic Approach to Treating Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain
Melicien A. Tettambel
From the Department of Women's and Child Health, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A. T. Still University, Kirksville, Mo.
Address correspondence to Melicien A. Tettambel, DO, FAAO, FACOOG, Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine of A. T. Still University of Health Sciences, 800 W Jefferson St, Kirksville, MO 63501-1443. E-mail: mtettambel@atsu.edu
Neuromusculoskeletal Disorders / Obstetrics and Gynecology / Pain Management/Palliative Care
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, September 2005, Vol. 105, S20-S22. doi:https://doi.org/
Figures Only
Data Supplements
Tettambel MA. An Osteopathic Approach to Treating Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2005;105(suppl_4):S20–S22. doi: https://doi.org/.
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Chronic pelvic pain is a common gynecologic complaint, affecting about 5% of American women. The differential diagnosis is broad, including many medical diseases, surgical indications, musculoskeletal problems, and somatic dysfunction. Women are more affected than men by pelvic pain because their bodies are subject to more changes. These changes include a cyclic hormonal milieu, major alterations in biomechanics during pregnancy, psychosocial stress, and other modifications during childrearing, and more adjustments during menopause. Both medical and surgical approaches to management exist, but integrative modes of therapy address the body-mind-spirit continuum. Osteopathic manipulative treatment is a valuable option for many affected women from childbirth to menopause.
View Original | Slide (.ppt)
Osteopathic philosophy embraces an approach to wellness through knowledge of interrelationships of structure and function, and a search for the causes of patients' problems. When applied to addressing pain in female patients, it offers a global approach to complex psychophysical and social factors influencing development of chronic pain. Throughout her reproductive life, a woman may perceive pain due to emotional factors linked to nociceptive stimuli. Also affecting such perception is a combination of peripheral pain signals integrated with the central nervous system and based on mood, circumstances, culture, and personal experiences.
The female body has been uniquely designed for potential roles of child-bearing and caretaker, which make it subject to a variety of gynecologic and structural stresses. During pregnancy, a woman's physique changes to accommodate her growing fetus (Figure 1). After delivery, her body continues to adapt to her role of caretaker—lifting children, groceries, disabled or elderly adult family members. A variety of opportunities challenge her strength and the stability of her musculoskeletal system to influence pain and dysfunction of her pelvis.
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP), a frequent complaint in clinical gynecology, is defined as cyclic or acyclic pain located in the pelvis, persisting for 6 months or more, and severe enough to cause functional incapacity that requires medical or surgical treatment (or both).1 Chronic pelvic pain is the reason for approximately 10% of all gynecologic consultations, 40% of laparoscopies, and 10% to 15% of hysterectomies, thus representing a significant public health problem.2,3 One in seven women has undetermined etiology of diagnosis of CPP.4
The exact incidence and prevalence of CPP in the United States are not well established. Estimates suggest that approximately 5% of American women are affected by CPP, but this prevalence increases to about 20% in women with a previous history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).5
Chronic pelvic pain may be related to one or more of several etiologic factors, such as endometriosis, sequelae of PID, ovarian cysts, pelvic vascular congestion, myofascial pain syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis, nephrolithiasis, primary dysmenorrhea, postural alterations, musculoskeletal diseases, and somatic dysfunction.1-7
The female body and pelvis are subject to considerable structural changes during development. During the years after menarche, the pelvis widens, gluteal muscles stretch, and there is internal rotation of the thighs, leading to lateral displacement of the patellas. During sporting activities, young women sustain knee and ankle injuries that can be attributed to ligamentous laxity, resulting from hormonal influences of the menstrual cycle. Some of these injuries can affect gait and contribute to structural pelvic pain.
Alteration in female pelvic anatomy to accommodate growing fetus.
Pelvic organs having shared common nerve pathways.
Osteopathic manipulative treatment may help prevent future pelvic pain in women by stabilizing the pelvic bowl or the structures contained within it.
Persistent internal rotation of the femurs may affect function of the pelvic diaphragm, putting women at risk for urinary stress incontinence in the future. Pregnancy (Figure 1) or weight gain may increase this risk. In health, the patellas are positioned over the second toes for proper balance when standing. In many women, because of lateral deviation of a patella, the ankle has decreased mobility, and the arch of the foot may become flattened. The structural changes of the lower extremity may become exaggerated in pregnancy and weight gain. Consequently, impaired gait can influence pain in the bony pelvis as a result of gravitational strain.
Females typically have looser ligaments than males. Women therefore need to develop muscle strength to keep their joints stable. Stronger muscles stabilize joints, reducing injuries and increasing ease of motion. Although pelvic ligamentous laxity is desirable in pregnancy (to facilitate normal vaginal delivery), continuous laxity may contribute to organ prolapse and venous congestion in the nonpregnant woman. The sacrum is suspended between the ilia by ligaments. Falling on the buttocks or pelvis may restrict sacral motion and lead to pelvic pain, through ligamentous tension on the uterus or the perineal floor. If untreated, dyspareunia may result.
The lower half of the body has more muscles than the upper half. Poor muscular tone may increase lumbar lordosis and exaggerate anterior pelvic tilt, with resultant crowding of viscera into the pelvic bowl. Pregnancy also may exacerbate lumbar lordosis. Thoracic kyphosis may also become greater as the result of increased weight of the breasts. If muscular and ligamentous tensions are not addressed after delivery, poor posture resulting from these changes may contribute to pelvic pain.
Hormonal balance assists in becoming pregnant, reduces premenstrual syndrome, and promotes bone health. Estrogen strengthens bones, but it does not increase muscle mass or strength. Exercise interacts synergistically with estrogen to stabilize bones during the premenopausal years and thereafter. After menopause, with reduced estrogen production, weakness of the pelvic floor predisposes to urinary incontinence. Incontinence may coexist with dyspareunia during the postmenopausal years. Abnormal changes in spinal curvature—loss of lumbar lordosis or pronounced thoracic kyphosis—may be a significant risk factor in the development of pelvic organ prolapse.8
Pelvic organs (Figure 2) are connected functionally through shared common nerve pathways, not just by anatomic proximity. Bowel and bladder symptoms often accompany gynecologic symptoms such as dysmenorrhea and vulvodynia. Disruption of the inferior hypogastric nerve plexus during childbirth may result in reinnervation changes that cause visceral pain years later. Quinn9 found collateral nerve sprouting and chaotic distribution of nerve fibers when special stains were used on gynecologic pelvic surgical specimens.
Other causes of injury to the inferior hypogastric plexus, such as laparoscopic gynecologic surgery, cesarian section, pelvic infection, or motor vehicular trauma, may eventually result in CPP. Hysterectomy may be offered as surgical treatment for chronic pelvic pain when abnormal nerve regeneration from previous trauma is restricted to the uterus. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) directed to stabilizing the pelvic bowl or the structures contained within it (or both) (Figure 3) may prevent future pain syndromes, including CPP. Examples of techniques that benefit pelvic stability are included in the "Management" section.
Women with CPP frequently present with psychological alterations and a life history that includes either one of the following alone or in combination: sexual abuse, family problems, divorce, or a history of violence.10 Although the chronicity of pelvic pain becomes the focus of a gynecologic visit, some women manifest other physical signs of stress. Muscle weakness, spasm, and pain from disruption of muscle contraction and relaxation become complaints of fatigue, back pain, face pain, bruxism, headache, or fibromyalgia, or a combination of these complaints.
Because many women tend to internalize stress, repeated alternation of muscle tension and relaxation may lead to nerve entrapment or alteration of circulation to muscles or other body structures.11 Weight changes also are modifying factors for posture, gait, and somatic complaints. Carrying extra pounds worsens spinal curves and stresses supportive structures of the pelvis, such as the extremities. When a woman loses weight as a result of stress, she increases her risk for the development of osteoporosis because of reduced calcium intake, altered estrogen production, and reduced bone mass.
While dealing with the psychosocial aspects of CPP, many women struggle with changing moods and altered sleep cycles. These fluctuations also compromise the immune system, and cause women to become fearful of other chronic diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, and fibromyalgia.12 Pain signals and other sensory inputs are amplified via central sensitization at the spinal cord level. Pain is not processed normally in the dorsal horn, which allows temporal summation of pressure sensations.12 Descending modulation from the brain-stem is impaired and contributes to excess spinal fluid levels of substance P and other neurotransmitters involved in nocioception. Lower spinal fluid levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine have also been associated with depressive syndromes.12
Sleep deprivation, depression, and pain may put a woman with CPP at risk for serious injury. For example, she may be running late for work, before which she must drop her children off at school. Because of muscle pain and stress, she may become distracted and become involved in a motor vehicle accident, sustaining injuries, which lead to more pain, depression, and tension. Additionally, she may be taking one or more medications for the foregoing problems, some of which may have side effects that may alter her judgment or alertness. These factors may perpetuate the cycle.
Management of CPP in female patients may involve a multidisciplinary approach. Stabilization of anterior and lateral pelvic curves through exercise or OMT that utilizes techniques of muscle energy, balanced ligamentous tension, myofascial release, and counterstrain to assist muscles to keep the spine upright and sufficiently flexible to support good posture.
Some women have already tried surgery or medical management; others have pain that is difficult to manage because their perception of pain may have exaggerated drug-induced side effects, making pharmacotherapy difficult. For example, leuprolide is associated with an increased incidence of hot flashes, altered sleep pattern, or bone pain (or a combination of these effects).13 Women with multiple symptoms may require multiple medications, resulting in polypharmacy that makes it difficult to distinguish a patient's reported symptom from a side effect of one of many drugs.
Osteopathic physicians, by virtue of their training and philosophy, are well prepared to participate in the management of CPP in women by addressing the emotional, psychological, and structural aspects of this complex phenomenon. Through their understanding of female anatomy and physiology, they can identify the biomechanical factors and somatic dysfunction contributing to chronic pelvic pain. They can administer OMT, which attempts to normalize structure and function, to address CPP.
Dr Tettambel discloses that she is unaware of any real or potential conflicts of interest regarding the subject matter of this article.
This continuing medical education publication supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Purdue Pharma LP
Gelbaya TA, El-Halwagy HE. Focus on primary care: chronic pelvic pain in women. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2001;56:757-764.
Kames LD, Rapkin AJ, Naliboff BD, Afifi S, Ferrer-Brechner T. Effectiveness of an interdisciplinary pain management program for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain. Pain. 1990;41:41-46.
Howard FM. Chronic pelvic pain. Obstet Gynecol. 2003;101:594-611.
Howard FM. The role of laparoscopy in the chronic pelvic pain patient. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2003;46:749-766.
Steege JF, Metzger DA, Levy BS. Chronic Pelvic Pain: An Integrated Approach. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co;1998 .
Scialli AR. Evaluating chronic pelvic pain: a consensus recommendation. Pelvic Pain Expert Working Group. J Reprod Med. 1999;44:945-952.
Almeida EC, Noguiera AA, Candido dos Reis FJ, Rosa e Silva JC. Cesarian section as a cause of chronic pelvic pain. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2002;79:101-104.
Mattox TF, Lucente V, McIntyre P, Miklos JR, Tomezsko J. Abnormal spinal curvature and its relationship to pelvic organ prolapse. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2000;183:1381-1384.
Quinn M. Obstetric denervation—gynaecological reinnervation: disruption of the inferior hypogastric plexus in childbirth as a source of gynaecological symptoms. Med Hypotheses. 2004;63:390-393.
Mathias SD, Kuppermann M, Liberman RF, Lipschutz RC, Steege JF. Chronic pelvic pain: prevalence, health-related quality of life, and economic correlates. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;87:321-327.
Gunter J. Chronic pelvic pain: an integrated approach to diagnosis and treatment. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2003;58:615-623.
Waxman J. The best approach to relieving fibromyalgia symptoms. Cortlandt Forum. April 2005:28-36.
Monthly Prescribing Reference. April2005;21:160 .
© 2020 by the American Osteopathic Association


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Opinion: Brexit and the importance of languages for Britain #5
In the fifth of a new series of comment pieces written by linguists at Cambridge, Dr John Gallagher, historian of early modern Europe, argues that Britain should look to its past to rediscover the importance of language learning.
To say 'This is England, we speak English' has always been historically ignorant. What better way to show hope for the future than to learn to communicate with a wider world.
Dr John Gallagher
The Elizabethan teacher and translator John Florio wasn't the sort of person who sugar-coated his opinions. In 1578, he complained about the Englishmen he saw in the company of foreigners, 'who can neither speak, nor understand with them, but stands as one mute' – this poor monoglot Englishman is 'mocked of them, and despised of all'. 'What a shame is that?' asks Florio – 'what a reproach to his parents? what a loss to him? and what heart's grief to think thereon?' Florio's England is not ours, but his exasperation might sound familiar.
When I tell people that I study the history of foreign-language learning in England, they often ask whether the English ever learnt other languages at all. Our idea of the English as a monoglot nation, though, is a modern one – Florio lived in an era long before English was an international lingua franca, when anyone who wanted to trade or to travel had to become a language-learner. Even English merchants, he wrote, had no use for English when they were out of the country: 'it liketh them not, and they do not speak it'.
Do we, in post-Referendum Britain, have anything to learn from Florio's England? Well, I've just read a report about sixth-form colleges dropping modern foreign languages – like Florio's monoglot Englishmen, we risk not stepping up to the challenges of a multilingual world. If we think only English is enough, and we allow foreign languages to wither and die in all but the wealthiest and most exclusive schools, we impoverish ourselves – literally, by restricting our ability to speak and do business with the wider world, and more broadly, by closing our ears and our minds to the languages and literatures of other nations.
The arguments for language-learning after Brexit aren't simply economic. A few years after Florio's words were written, two men – the glassmaker Marcantonio Bassano and the weaver Valentine Wood – were walking near Aldgate in London. They passed by a group of soldiers who heard Marcantonio utter some words in Italian, and responded threateningly; they would later claim that they had taken his language for Spanish, and thought that his words were the insults of a Catholic enemy of the English state. A brawl broke out between the parties, and Marcantonio only narrowly escaped with his life.
Reading back over the documents of the investigation that followed, it's hard for me to shake the thought of how people have been assaulted in the street – here, in Britain, in 2016 – for speaking foreign languages. Migrants living in Britain have reported being unwilling to speak their native language when out and about, for fear of drawing the wrong kind of attention.
When, seven years ago, I started to research the history of language-learning in early modern England, I never thought of my work as politically relevant. Today, looking at how the teaching and learning of languages is under threat, how multilingualism can be stigmatised, and how Britain's place in the world is changing radically – and not necessarily for the better – I'm coming to see how the questions addressed by Florio and his contemporaries were central to a debate about what kind of country their England was. They challenge us, too: as Britain embarks into the unknown, do English-speakers want to 'stand as one mute', tongue-tied and embarrased, or to become language-learners again?
To say 'This is England, we speak English' has always been historically ignorant. What better way to show openness to the world, hope for the future, and solidarity with the people of an international Britain, than to learn to speak, listen, and communicate with a wider world?
This series also includes contributions by Professor Sarah Colvin, Dr Heather Inwood, Jocelyn Wyburd and Professor Wendy Ayres-Bennett.
Studying languages at Cambridge
The University of Cambridge offers undergraduate courses in Modern and Medieval Languages; History and Modern Languages; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies;Linguistics; Classics and Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic.
Inspiring events for prospective students for these subjects are run by the University and the Cambridge Colleges throughout the year:
More information and advice for prospective students and teachers of Modern Languages and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Upcoming events organised by The University of Cambridge Language Centre are listed here
More information about Cambridge's Widening Participation programmes is available here
The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For image use please see separate credits above.
Now we're talking: the project helping teenage refugees and asylum-seekers build a new life in Britain
Opinion: Why policymakers should care about location
The menace of monolingualism
'Cognitive flexibility' associated with voting attitudes in EU Referendum, study finds
Gonville and Caius College


Construction projects can involve some extremely complex legal matters, and having a reliable Brunswick County construction law attorney representing you from the start can help to ensure that your interests are protected at all times. At the law firm of Watts Law Group PLLC, we work tirelessly to resolve all disputes quickly, effectively and in the most beneficial manner for our clients.
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Contact our office today to discuss your construction law case with a lawyer. We are available during regular business hours and by appointment during the evening. You can reach us by phone at 910-250-9346, toll free at 800-639-7671 or via email to schedule your initial consultation.


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Q: Reconstruct spectral signal of light from an image? im currently working on a project using the raspberry pi NoIR camera module. Basically what we want to do is: Make the infrared-spectrum visible for the human eye without just false-coloring it.
We got the tip to estimate the original incoming light frequencies for every pixel and shift those into human spectrum.
I need help understanding though, how to get that approximated function of the light when all i have is : the NoIR camera, a filter for just IR, a filter to block IR and the spectral response of the camera. ( Im trying to get into MatLab btw for this project)
Thank you for your help


Ice Cold in Alex (1958) | 'TAIN'T THE MEAT… IT'S THE HUMANITY!
Filmed in black and white, J Lee (The Guns of Navarone, Cape Fear) Thomson's direction is lean and tense. The crews growing suspicion of the South African (played ably by Anthony Quayle), and their increasing reliance upon him, is handled very well.


text:
Q: Implement linux/bash date snippet in java/groovy In bash I have:
  if [[ "$( date -d "${itemTime}" +%s)" -lt  "$( date -d "$1 days ago" +%s )" ]]; then
      echo "go do"
  fi

So basically do some operation if the ${itemTime} is more that $1 days old.
Example of ${itemTime} could be: 2018-02-19T13:39:15Z
In java I have:
String tt = "2018-02-19T13:39:15Z";
SimpleDateFormat sdf = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ssX");
Date dt = sdf.parse(tt);
long epoch = dt.getTime();
int res = (int)(epoch/1000);
System.out.println(res);

int days = 1;
LocalDate now = LocalDate.now();
LocalDate tenDaysAgo = now.minusDays(days);

ZoneId zoneId = ZoneId.systemDefault();
long epochs = tenDaysAgo.atStartOfDay(zoneId).toEpochSecond();
System.out.println(epochs);

it gives:
1519047555
1518994800

Now when I run this from bash (at the same time):
  echo $( date -d "2018-02-19T13:39:15Z" +%s)
  echo $( date -d "1 days ago" +%s )

I get:
1519047555
1519053480

So  the first value is identical. But why does the second value diff "so much":
1518994800 (java)
vs
1519053480 (bash)
?

A: If you really just want roughly a day and you don't care for all the things that can happen with timezones and DST etc, this is a straight forward solution:
def itemTime = Instant.parse("2018-02-19T13:39:15Z")
// ===> 2018-02-19T13:39:15Z
if (itemTime.isBefore(Instant.now().minusSeconds(60*60*24))) { println "TODO" }
// prints: TODO


Well, okay, let's talk about flossing as an example of forming a habit.
Habits can be formed with momentum and commitment, but sometimes it's hard to get there.
Enter a good trick for flossing that can be used elsewhere. Try this: just floss one tooth per night. That's your goal. One tooth.
You may find it does something more for you!


I had an accident at work. How do I file a workers compensation claim in my state?
Should my employer have workers compensation insurance? How do I know I am covered?
What are the conditions that enable me or prevent me from claiming benefits under my state's law?
What benefits might I be eligible to receive?
How much time do I have to file my claim? What are the stages of the claim process? What should I expect?
If I'm not happy with the determination, how do I appeal?
If you are injured at work or receive a diagnosis that you are suffering from an occupational disease, notify your employer as soon as possible. If the situation requires, seek the appropriate medical attention necessary, especially in an emergency situation and be sure to notify the medical professional that you have suffered from a work-related accident.
Should my employer have workers compensation insurance? How do I know if I am covered?
In Nebraska, most employers working in the state are expected to obtain a private insurance coverage program to handle potential workers' compensation claims by their employees. This is expected of non-resident employers as well.
Workers' compensation is a benefits system for employees who have been injured by an accident or occupational disease arising out of or in the course of their employment. The injury must not be the result of willful negligence and must have occurred in Nebraska or while doing work related to his employment in Nebraska. Workers' compensation applies to employers in the state who employ one of more employees in a regular trade, business, profession, or vocation. Virtually, all employees in the state are covered, with only a few minor exceptions (i.e. certain federal workers, household servants, independent contractors, certain individuals employed in the management of business organizations).
The workers' compensation system in Nebraska is designed to allow the employee to receive benefits from the employer so long as the employer has satisfied its legal obligation to secure potential compensation. This is usually facilitated by the employer purchasing an insurance policy. By accepting workers' compensation benefits, the employee waives his or her right to file a civil action against the employer for a claim relating to the injury or illness.
Medical: You employer, upon accepting liability, is responsible for all reasonable medical expenses related to the care and treatment of your injury or condition. Expenses for travel may be included in certain circumstances. Your employer is given the initial right of selection in deciding which physician will provide you with medical treatment unless the employer authorizes you to make the selection yourself.
Total Disability Benefits: These are payments for lost wages calculated as roughly 2/3 of your average weekly wage. You are entitled to receive payments for as long as your physician provides you are unable to return to work due to your injury.
Temporary Partial Benefits: You are able to return to work after your injury, but not to the same extent or at the same capacity as you did previous to the accident. These are benefits calculated as 2/3 of the difference between your former wages and your current wages. You are entitled to these payments for a period of up to 300 weeks.
Permanent Partial Loss of a Member Benefits: This is a payment made as compensation for the loss or loss of use of a body part. These are payments calculated as two-thirds (66.67%) of your wages multiplied by a statutory schedule giving value to the lost body part. A total loss or loss of use of two body parts in one accident is classified as total and permanent disability.
Permanent Partial to the Body as a Whole: These are payments made for the degree of permanent loss or impairment caused to you as a result of your injury. The amount you are entitled to is calculated as two-thirds (66.67%) of your former weekly wages multiplied by the percentage of disability you suffer from. You are entitled to receive these benefits for a period of 300 weeks, less the number of weeks you receive or have received temporary and permanent disability.
Death: If your injury results in your ultimate death, your surviving spouse is entitled to receive benefits calculated as roughly two-thirds (66.67%) of you average weekly wages for the period of your life, until the spouse gets remarried. If you leave behind children, your spouse will be entitled to receive seventy-five percent (75%) of your average weekly wages. Surviving children will be entitled to a percentage of the death benefit until they have reached the age of nineteen (19), or twenty-five (25) if they are enrolled in a full time accredited educational institution. Your surviving family may be entitled to receive approximately $6,000.00 to compensate for funeral expenses.
Vocational Rehabilitation: These are services and opportunities you may elect to use to help you get job re-training in the event that you are unable to return to the kind of employment you engaged in prior to your injury. You are not required to engage in vocational rehabilitation in all circumstances; however, a vocational rehabilitation counselor may be appointed to your case and may submit to the court a vocational rehabilitation plan to help you move toward sustainable employment.
How much time do I have to file my claim? What are the stages of the claims process? What should I expect?
In the event that you are unsatisfied with your employer's or your employer's insurance provider's determination regarding your claim, you may contact the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court to discuss possible avenues to resolve a dispute. Any party, you or your employer, may request an informal dispute resolution to settle issues of your claim. This resembles a mediation, where a neutral third party (a mediator) helps to steer both sides towards a mutually agreeable solution.
If an informal proceeding is unlikely to solve to issues involved, you may file a petition, essentially filing a claim for a lawsuit, with the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court. You are not required to seek the assistance of an attorney, however it may be to your advantage to consult with one at the very least.
You have two (2) years from the time of your accident or the last date of received benefits payments to file a petition with the court. Failing to file your petition within this two year time period will preclude you from bringing a law suit.
After receiving your petition the Court will issues a summons to the opposing party. The opposing party has fourteen (14) days to provide an answer. After the answer has been made, a hearing will be scheduled and a judge will be asked to listen to the case. The judge will make a written determination about the merits of the case.
If I am not happy with the determination, how do I appeal?
If you are not happy with the judge's determination you may appeal the decision by submitting an Application for Review within fourteen (14) days of the date of the decision. The appeal is administered by a three-judge panel which will review the case and issue a decision.
If either party remains unsettled with the determination at this stage of the appeal, either party may appeal the case to the state court system- starting first with the state court of appeals.


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Home > Arts > Magic Flute Revamp Rules Box Office
Magic Flute Revamp Rules Box Office
by Twin Cities Arts Reader - December 9, 2015
The Queen of the Night may not have succeeded in Mozart's The Magic Flute, but Minnesota Opera certainly did. The company's recent revival of its 2014 staging of the opera completely sold out, with 9,808 tickets purchased for the six public performances. Throw in about 150 people for the first dress rehearsal and 1,600 eager high schoolers at the second, and more than 10,500 people came out to see this silent movie comedy revamp of an opera classic.
This sold-out run is all the more impressive because of recent reminders of the potential pitfalls in reworking and re-envisioning opera classics. Just this Monday, December 7, the world-famous La Scala opera house in Milan opened its season with a gala performance of La Traviata. Traditionalists were so upset by the "contemporary reworking" that they booed loudly during the curtain calls, causing the star tenor to vow to never sing in Italy again. In the Internet Age, too, these decisions can have long-ranging consequences. When planning its second staging of Rameau's 1735 opera Les Indes Galantes, the French company Les Arts Florissants decided to incorporate more contemporary cultural idioms to try and make the staging seem fresh. The resulting inclusion of the chicken dance and other anachronistic choreography continues to be mocked on social media and earned the recording a place of (dis)honor in a 2009 scholarly presentation entitled "Staging the Baroque: Perils and Pleasures of Baroque Opera DVDs in the Classroom."
In an earlier interview, MN Opera's Dale Johnson stated, "I think Mozart would have loved it. I also firmly believe that we have to constantly stretch how we do opera in order for it to remain fresh for today's audience. That means we can't just keep doing the same old and stale production that was presented so long ago."
Audiences and box office receipts seem to agree.
REDUX: Joshua Bell and A Little Nightmare Music
Arts Practitioners, Educators Hail ESSA Passage


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World's Tiniest Spacecraft Reaches Low-Earth Orbit, Takes First Step To Alpha Centauri
The first iteration for a probe which might one day find alien life.
Breakthrough Starshot
Neel V. Patel
Breakthrough Starshot, the Stephen Hawking-backed initiative to look for aliens in the nearby Alpha Centauri star system, announced Wednesday it had pulled off its first ever successful spaceflight. Not that anyone would easily notice: The tiny test probes that just went into space measure 3.5 by 3.5 centimeters and weigh only four grams.
The successful test happened late last month, when Breakthrough Starshot launched a series of what it calls "Sprites" — the smallest functional space probes ever designed, which comprise of a single circuit board — into low Earth orbit. Although only half the size of a Post-It Note, the Sprites possess an array of solar panels for energy, computer and sensors to collect and process data, and radio instruments to send signals back to scientists on Earth.
These Sprites are the first step towards the development of similarly tiny "StarChips" — nanocraft capable of traveling the 4.37 light-years to Alpha Centauri to look for signs of extraterrestrial life and planetary habitability within the binary star system. The goal is to improve the design so the team can fit decent scientific instruments onto a single, ultra-small chip that can be flown into space.
The Sprite design. Breakthrough Starshot
All the nanocraft will be able to do is take a few pictures of the star system as they zoom by, and they will be going incredibly fast. The StarChip design is propelled using a solar sail, which pushes the probes into the far reaches of deep space at one-fifth the speed of light. It's still unclear whether this laser-driven technology is actually possible to build and operate, among other big questions about the feasibility of the mission.
If Starshot is successful, it means hundreds or even thousands of these cheap nanocraft can be launched towards Alpha Centauri and its exoplanet Proxima B and look for signs of life. The astronomy community has been generally very optimistic about the potential for Alpha Centauri to host a habitable world — for humans or for extraterrestrials.


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Legacy is a 1998 action film directed by T. J. Scott. The film stars David Hasselhoff and Donita Rose.

Synopsis
Jack Scott (David), an American war photographer, goes to the Philippines and helps Lana Cameron (Donita), an Asian American medical student, on a dangerous quest for her legacy and missing father.

Cast and characters
David Hasselhoff as Jack Scott
Donita Rose as Lana Cameron
Rod Steiger as Sadler
Corin Nemec as Black
Douglas O'Keeffe as Edge
Victoria Pratt as Ding
Chin Chin Gutierrez as Grace
Junix Inocian as Santiago
Benson Ventura as Hector
Naess Verano as Zero
Gary Lim as Bansot
Richard Joson as Tommy
Mon Confiado as doorman
Michele Rogers as The New York Times editor
Cary Kwasizur as photojournalist

References

External links

1998 films
1998 action films
1998 independent films
1990s English-language films
American independent films
Films directed by T. J. Scott
Films set in Metro Manila
Films shot in Metro Manila
Films shot in the Philippines
Quantum Films films
Star Cinema films
1990s American films

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Two people detained in case of missing man whose skeleton found scattered in woods
Published 8:18 am Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Authorities in Alabama have detained two persons of interest in the case of a missing man whose skeletal remains have been found scattered in a wooded area.
News outlets report authorities announced Tuesday that parts of Johnny Lee Rhodes were found this week in Boaz. Etowah County deputies say they received a report of a dog finding skeletal remains on Monday, over a month after Rhodes was last seen being dropped off in the area.
Authorities say the bones included a surgical steel plate that belonged to Rhodes. Authorities returned to the scene Tuesday and recovered more skeletal remains and a cellphone believed to belong to Rhodes.
Authorities haven't said how the detained persons are connected to the case. It's unclear when they were taken into custody.
Pair detained in Alabama girl's abduction charged in other cases; search for 3-year-old continues
2 questioned in Ala. girl's abduction charged in other cases BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — One minute, police said, 3-year-old Kamille... read more


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The PDF/UA Foundation Launches New PDF Accessibility Checker – PAC 2021
TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The PDF/UA Foundation is thrilled to announce the launch of the newest iteration of the compliance validation tool, the PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker) 2021.
"We will serve the community by ensuring that document accessibility tools are always free and available to end users. This will help us achieve our mission of striving for a barrier-free digital world" This latest free release is an important step forward in PDF accessibility. The design allows users to quickly identify the machine verifiable success criterion of ISO 14289-1 (PDF/UA) and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
"We couldn't be more excited to launch the new home of PAC 2021. Together with our global Ambassadors, the PDF/UA Foundation will ensure the perfect place to promote the PDF/UA standard," said Markus Erle, a director of the PDF/UA Foundation. "We will serve the community by ensuring that document accessibility tools are always free and available to end users. This will help us achieve our mission of striving for a barrier-free digital world," continued Erle.
PAC 2021 has several upgrades compared to previous iterations, including:
Being available in five languages (English, French, Danish, German, and Spanish);
Validating between the two most globally accepted standards and guidelines related to document accessibility, PDF/UA and WCAG;
Providing both a summary view and in-depth report on compliance issues within documents;
Offering an intuitive user interface that makes it easy to check documents for compliance; and
Providing a colourful screen reader preview that simplifies the manual reviewing of files
Initially released in 2010, PDF Accessibility Checker was the first PDF/UA compliance validation tool of its kind. Since then, three additional versions were released, each adding new and improved features to the application.
To download PAC 2021, visit the PDF/UA Foundation website at https://pdfua.foundation/en.
About the PDF/UA Foundation
The PDF/UA Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on being the definitive place on the internet to find the latest and most accurate information about what an accessible PDF is, along with how to create, read and test them. In addition, it's committed to ensuring the best end-user experience for the world's most widely used document format.
For media inquiries, please contact contact@pdfua.foundation.
Stephanie Costa
contact@pdfua.foundation
Original at https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210809005144/en/The-PDFUA-Foundation-Launches-New-PDF-Accessibility-Checker-%E2%80%93-PAC-2021
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Gamification in the workplace
By Liam Butler 17 February 2016
The concept of gamification stirs up a significant amount of controversy within enterprises across the globe. Its combined use of positive engagement concepts from gaming and applied behavioural economics has made it extremely popular in creative workspaces. That being said, opinion has long been divided between liberal business leaders, driven by motivation and productivity, and those who believe that the traditional disciplined environment is ultimately more productive.
Some critics claim that gamifying the workflow removes professionalism and trivialises serious projects whilst failing to improve commercial performance; however, there is a general consensus between both supporters and critics alike that poor implementation and programme management is often to blame for a decline in productivity.
Gamification was originally coined in 2002 by a British computer programmer but the term didn't fully catch on until around 2010. It describes the process whereby game-like mechanics are introduced into the workflow to increase employee engagement by stimulating their curiosity, competitiveness, and desire for reward, or at least in theory. Though at first the term may seem to suggest elements of play integrated into work, the reality is actually closer to the incorporation of social reward structures into work processes to provide workers with a more direct sense of achievement.
One of the most notable supporters of gamification, Gabe Zichermann, stated in a 2013 blog that employers who implement gamification techniques can see increases in productivity of around forty per cent.
In stark contrast, a 2014 TechCrunch article entitled 'Gamification' Is Dead, Long Live Games For Learning, asserted that gamification is merely a lacklustre implementation, which cannot hope to drive greater efficiency and engagement among learners. However, Enterprise Gamification Consultancy's 2015 report refutes this claim, indicating that not only is gamification alive and kicking, it is only just maturing into a fully constructed technique for increasing engagement and performance in the workplace.
The fundamental problem with this argument against gamification is that most critics take the game aspect too literally. The real purpose is not to replicate the fun which one would have when playing an actual game, but rather it is a way to utilise our desire to see and be rewarded for our progression and development towards a specific goal.
The work game
Gamification, therefore, is most effective when it introduces virtual goals which can be physically perceived, using tools like progression metres, levelling, and experience points. These tools are highly effective motivators, as they keep the user engaged regardless of how much they actually enjoy the task itself. As discussed in a 2014 article for The Guardian, the art of keeping game players engaged is not in the game itself, but rather how reward is perceived and granted.
The well-known game Candy Crush became a highly addictive phenomenon because once it had convinced players that they could win, it increased the difficulty of the game and provided fewer rewards but enough to fuel the desperation needed to complete more levels and achieve more points. In essence, this is exactly what gamification represents for the workplace: a perceived reward that can help sustain motivation, regardless of the complexity and nature of the task. It is also the reason why it has such potential in learning and development platforms.
One of the most common issues with online learning and development platforms is the lack of adoption among those meant to benefit from the resources. There are a variety of reasons for this: many workers find they are too busy to make time to access learning resources during work hours and once they have left the discipline of their office environment, they simply cannot motivate themselves to engage.
This is where the true power of gamification reveals itself. By introducing reward mechanisms, learners have an additional drive to complete training programmes, which is more tangible and immediate than the concept of self-development. Once they are engaged, the mechanics will assist in maintaining focus by promising a string of increasingly intermittent rewards in exchange for the learner's undivided attention.
The success of these tools is in assisting the learner to stay focused on the content, allowing them to learn more effectively whilst fuelling their desire to keep progressing to more difficult concepts. For the learner, they inspire a sense of immediate achievement as well as an opportunity to track progression and evaluate the benefits of having undertaken specific training modules.
The future is engagement
By harnessing the natural competitive drive of employees and manipulating the power of perceived progression and reward, it is possible to increase levels of motivation and engagement in learners without having to turn the delivery of the content itself into a game.
Businesses in particular have a lot to gain from such methodology, as it ensures maximum learning efficiency and minimises the effects of potential diversions or distractions, by motivating the user to remain engaged in the content. Learners with a strong motivation to progress will complete more modules and gain more experience, retaining more of the content, thus validating the success of the learning experience as a whole.
More importantly, once learners begin to develop their competencies under their own volition, they take on the responsibility for their own professional development, fuelling self-empowerment and considerably increasing their value in the eyes of their employers.
Liam Butler, VP Sales EMEA of SumTotal


HBO has reached over 5 million online subscribers in the US, according to Bloomberg.
The company has more than doubled its online subscriptions in the past year, in part by making its content available to Amazon and services like DirecTV Now.
HBO's subscription revenues increased 11% in 2017, according to a year-end earnings report from its parent company, Time Warner Inc.
HBO has more than doubled its number of online subscriptions in the past year, reaching over 5 million online subscribers in the US, according to a report from Bloomberg's Gerry Smith.
The network's online growth has reportedly been driven in part by making its content available to Amazon users and online-TV streaming services like DirecTV Now.
While around half of the network's subscriber growth in the past year came from its standalone streaming service, HBO Now, the other half came from new users to the network who signed on to HBO through its Amazon channel or application add-ons to streaming TV packages like DirecTV Now.
Time Warner Inc., which owns HBO, saw its revenue increase 7% in 2017, while HBO's subscription revenues increased 11% over the year, according to a year-end earnings report.
"Led by its great content, Home Box Office delivered its highest increase in domestic subscribers ever in 2017 and its best subscription revenue growth in over 20 years," Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said in a statement for the earnings report.
HBO Now, the company's direct-to-consumer streaming service, is currently outpacing the products of its cable and legacy media competitors in domestic subscribers, according to a recent report from Morgan Stanley.


The Netstor NA333TB3 is a 16-bay Thunderbolt 3 Storage and PCIe Expansion solution designed for power users that need high local bandwidth with the ability to access multiple PCIe cards over a USB-C interface. The NA333TB3 does just that; Netstor has ensured that organizations and professionals can use virtually any RAID card model as well as other PCIe devices, allowing them to customize their builds based on their own use cases and demands. With a 16-port storage bays and three PCIe slots, the NA333TB3 can be used as an enterprise RAID storage solution with room for networking cards or other devices as well.
The 16-bay chassis features hot-swappable drive trays that support SSD/2.5" HDD and 3.5" hard drives. When each bay is outfitted with a 10TB HDD, the NA333TB3 is capable of presenting a massive total usable storage pool of 160TB in RAID0. In addition, its three internal PCIe 3.0 slots allows organizations to expand the NA333TB3 via a range of specialty PCIe cards. Though the RAID adapter card will need to take up one of those spots, users can still add two additional cards such as video capture, video transcoding, audio accelerator, or a network card.
Using the Thunderbolt 3 interface, Netstor claims the NA333TB3 can offer bandwidth speeds up to 2.75GB/s.
The NA333TB3 is of a 3U form factor that sports a rugged, cold-rolled steel housing chassis. All drive trays are accessed from the front panel, which takes up the vast majority of this heavy-duty storage solution. Each has its own individual tray lock, and HDD power and HDD status LED.
Both sides of the NA333TB3 have a sturdy handle to help move the device into a rack, while the top right is home to the mute button as well as a fan status and temperature LEDs. There is also ventilation that runs along the top center of the front panel next to the Netstor branding.
Turning around to the back side shows the two power supplies on the left, each of which has its own dual fans, power switch, and power cord receptacle. At the center is the 90x90mm hot-swappable cooling fan next to the two Thunderbolt 3 connectors.
Opening up the top cover shows the Thunderbolt 3 target card, which comes already installed. The three remaining slots include the PCIe slot #2(open-type; supports PCIe card x16/x8/x4/x1). Netstor recommends using the RAID card in this particular one since it's the closest to HDD backplane connectors. The two remaining slots 3 and 4 support closed type PCIe x8/x4/x1 and open-type PCIe x16/x8/x4/x1, respectively.
To test the NA333TB3, we connected it to the most recent HP ZBook 15 G4 workstation through an Adaptec RAID 81605ZQ RAID card. We ran RAID0 across 16 x Toshiba HK3R2 SSDs. We also tested its performance via the RD400 M.2 SSD, which was installed inside its own M.2 sled.
Looking at our large file 2MB sequential performance, the NA333TB3 was able to reach 2,506MB/s read and 2,457MB/s write when populated with the Toshiba SSDs in the drive bays. As expected, the RD400 m.2 SSD did well with 1,252.90MB/s read along with equally fast write performance at 1,228.56MB/s.
In random 2MB performance, the NA333TB3 continued to show solid performance. When testing the transfer speeds of the Netstore device via the drive bays with the Toshiba HK3R2 SSDs, we saw 2,505MB/s read and 2,465MB/s write. The M.2 drive showed 1,252.36MB/s read and 1,232.341083MB/s write.
The Netstor NA333TB3 is a 16-bay DAS solution that features Thunderbolt 3 connectivity for some pretty speedy performance, as demonstrated above, along with a massive storage pool of up to 160TB. This makes it ideal for businesses and power users that require fast, locally attached storage. Netstor has also made this a highly versatile device, as it supports pretty much all brands and models of RAID cards. The extra PCIe slots give users a ton of options to work with as well.
We tested the NA333TB3 in a variety of different configurations connected to a HP ZBook 15 G4. Leveraging the 16 drive bays connected to an Adaptec SAS3 RAID card, we recorded some great transfer speeds, with 2,506MB/s read and 2,457MB/s write when populated with enterprise Toshiba SSDs. Results made it clear that (as expected) a M.2 expansion slot adds a ton of flexibility and would certainly be a viable option to store hot data on. For example, when we equipped the NA333TB3 with an RD400 M.2 SSD, we recorded transfer read and write speeds with 1,252.90MB/s and 1,228.56MB/s, respectively, during our 2MB sequential test.
Overall the Netstor NA333TB3 gives users some lots of choice when it comes to expanding storage on devices with USB-C connectivity. This could include notebooks, such as the HP ZBook 15 we tested, or workstations that don't have the room to fit additional storage. To that end the NA333TB3 offered plenty of flexibility as well as excellent performance potential.
The flexible and powerful Netstor NA333TB3 is ideal for organizations with demanding use cases while offering massive potential storage pool of 160GB.