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680 open access dissertations and theses found for:
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Characterization of Unbound Materials for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG)
by Thavathurairaja, Jeyakaran, M.S. University of Nevada, Reno. 2017: 168 pages; 10690026.
Development of a Comprehensive Analysis Approach for Evaluating Superheavy Load Movement on Flexible Pavements
by Nabizadeh Shahri, Hadi, Ph.D. University of Nevada, Reno. 2017: 389 pages; 10690267.
Statistical Validation Implementation in Pavement Construction Projects
by Nimeri, Mohamed A., Ph.D. University of Nevada, Reno. 2019: 278 pages; 22618024.
Oxidative Aging of Binders with High Recycled Asphalt Materials
by Pournoman, Sara, M.S. University of Nevada, Reno. 2017: 328 pages; 10282654.
On the importance of phase in improving detection of shared genomic segments
by Genovese, Giulio, Ph.D. Dartmouth College. 2010: 119 pages; 3404529.
Annealing single -walled metallic carbon nanotube devices in ultra-high vacuum
by Kane, Alexander Allen, Ph.D. University of California, Irvine. 2010: 266 pages; 3398599.
Post-fire stream channel processes: Changes in runoff rates, sediment delivery across spatial scales, and mitigation effectiveness
by Wagenbrenner, Joseph William, Ph.D. Washington State University. 2013: 157 pages; 3598132.
Revitalizing Romanticism: Novalis' "Fichte Studien" and the Philosophy of Organic Nonclosure
by Jones, Kristin Alise, Ph.D. Harvard University. 2013: 206 pages; 3566943.
The Cretaceous-Tertiary tectonic evolution of the Lhasa Terrane, Tibet
by Volkmer, John E., Ph.D. The University of Arizona. 2010: 213 pages; 3402091.
CLASP1 Regulated Endothelial Cell Branching Morphology and Directed Migration
by Myer, Nicole M., Ph.D. University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. 2016: 240 pages; 10631484.
Modeling and Assessing Lava Flow Hazards
by Gallant, Elisabeth, Ph.D. University of South Florida. 2019: 220 pages; 13904566.
Full Text - PDF (139.32 MB)
Exploring the Role of the Atmosphere on Wind-Energy Production: From Turbine Wakes to Varability of Wind Speed
by Lee, Cheuk Yi Joseph, Ph.D. University of Colorado at Boulder. 2018: 196 pages; 10790207.
How Quantitative Clinical Pharmacology Can Bring Value to the Patient
by Mangal, Naveen, Ph.D. University of Florida. 2017: 159 pages; 13847474.
The Effects of Discipline with African-American Males at an Alternative Middle School: The Perceptions of Parents/Guardians, Teachers, Administrators, and Other Academic Stakeholders
by Stout, Jewell, Ph.D. Northcentral University. 2017: 147 pages; 10269036.
The Wild Individual: Politics and Aesthetics of Realism in Post-Mao China (1977-1984)
by Xie, Jun, Ph.D. New York University. 2017: 316 pages; 10192412.
End user software product line support for smart spaces
by Tzeremes, Vasilios, Ph.D. George Mason University. 2016: 287 pages; 10249280.
Rapid Assessment of Ecological Resilience in Aspen Communities
by Kirkey, Jason, M.A. Prescott College. 2014: 204 pages; 1555581.
Seed Saving: A Comparison of Three Seed Saving Organizations in Support of Social-Ecological Resilience
by London, Jennie, M.A. Prescott College. 2013: 106 pages; 1549716.
Lateralization Effects of Brainstem Responses and Middle Latency Responses to a Complex Tone and Speech Syllable
by Anderson, Jill M., Ph.D. University of Cincinnati. 2011: 128 pages; 3475136.
Residential treatment for children and adolescents: Organizational practices as predictors of rates of recovery
by Stallings, Jena Helgerson, Ph.D. Northwestern University. 2009: 106 pages; 3352627.
Assessment of the Representational Accuracy of GlobeLand30 Classification of the Temperate and Tropical Forest of Mexico
by Carver, Daniel Peter, M.A. University of Colorado at Denver. 2017: 105 pages; 10275782.
Perceived Best Practices of Small Business Executives in War Zones
by Barton, Eric Wayne, D.B.A. Walden University. 2016: 144 pages; 10130782.
Efficient ray tracing architectures
by Spjut, Josef Bo, Ph.D. The University of Utah. 2015: 129 pages; 3727095.
Geophysical investigations of the origins and effects of density variations in the crust and upper mantle beneath the western and central United States
by Levandowski, William Brower, Ph.D. University of Colorado at Boulder. 2014: 171 pages; 3621364.
Awareness of malicious social engineering among facebook users
by Slonka, Kevin J., D.Sc. Robert Morris University. 2014: 140 pages; 3620246.
Electroencephalography (EEG) and measures of nociception in domestic cattle
by Drnec, Kim, Ph.D. University of Maryland, College Park. 2013: 169 pages; 3590860.
The Impact of Teacher Administered Positive Behavioral Support Interventions on the Behavior and Achievement of Intermediate Level Students Identified with Measured Moderate, Mild, and Low Disruptive Externalizing Behaviors
by Betts, Gregory W., Ed.D. University of Nebraska at Omaha. 2012: 133 pages; 3546517.
Water and oxygen line emission from star-forming molecular gas: Photodissociation regions and shocks
by Houck, Paul F., M.S. San Jose State University. 2011: 117 pages; 1500632.
Perceptions of superintendent behaviors that influence relationships
by Severson, Michele L., Ed.D. Edgewood College. 2011: 101 pages; 3472945.
Adding Value to Upground Drinking Water Reservoirs: What Makes a Good Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) Fishery?
by Crouch, Ryan Thomas, M.S. Bowling Green State University. 2011: 50 pages; 10817831.
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In following instructions to assemble a Tinker Crate project over the weekend, I realized that a list of parts (essential for assembly kits) is similar to a glossary in that it teaches you a new vocabulary. Software projects also involve new vocabulary terms, but software instructions often omit the glossary (or list of parts). However, if you look at the glossary as a dictionary for new vocabulary, its inclusion in software instructions becomes just as essential as a list of parts in an assembly manual.
This past weekend, as most people do in their free time, I put together some stuff by following someone's instructions. My wife ordered Tinker Crate kits for our kids. Tinker Crates are little science kits in a box that require you to follow instructions to make some cool little model, contraption, or other gizmo. In this case, I helped my 6-year-old build an infinity mirror.
This Tinker Crate project was beyond my 6-year-old's ability to follow the instructions, so it was mostly me assembling the project and having my 6-year-old stick adhesives on certain objects, uncovering sticky backings and placing little objects where they should go.
You probably assembled something this past weekend as well (from some store). My 16-year-old daughter also spent the afternoon assembling a new desk from IKEA in her bedroom — a task I was more than happy to leave entirely up to her to complete, from start to end.
While I was assembling the infinity mirror, I got stuck on a certain step. (Don't we all get stuck on some step or another in following instructions?) The instructions said to put the small silver circles onto the little circular adhesives. The only thing is, what "small silver circles"? How small is small? The size of a dime? The size of a silver dollar? I wasn't sure. I seemed to have multiple sizes of silver cardboard circles.
Finally, I figured it out, but not before feeling entirely stumped for a good 5 minutes and watching some NBA basketball in the downtime.
I asked my older daughter if she got stuck anywhere in putting together her IKEA desk. Not really, she said. She said she had some leftover pieces and wasn't sure if she'd missed something or if they were extras.
As you're now expecting, I did realize a few things in putting together my little infinity mirror project. Almost without fail, every assembly manual that accompanies a physical product starts by listing all the parts in the package.
It's not so important to know that you have all the parts. No, what's important here is to understand the names of all of the parts.
When you go to a step that might say, "Place the jellyfish decorations on the jellyfish felt piece," or "Place the doohicky on the thingamajiggle," or "Take the left hexapiece and insert it into the square knobkin," or whatever, without a map/dictionary correlating objects with names, you would have to guess what each name referred to.
Even with IKEA's wordless manuals, they still name their parts with 2x, 3x, and so forth names.
And yet, with software documentation, since we don't ship a package of "stuff" with a bag of "parts" to users, we often think we can get away with not describing a list of terms that corresponds with the steps users will be performing.
All too often, software instructions often omit the "list of parts." But in reality, we have our own list of special terms, and users will likely get stuck on some step where we tell them to do X, to configure the "thermacabobulator," and the user will be thinking, WTF is a thermacabobulator?
Ultimately, the glossary is our list of parts. It's the list of vocabulary the user will need to follow the instructions. If we look at the glossary just like that list of parts in assembly products, won't be so casual in omitting it or in using terms not on the list.
In addition to providing a glossary prior to instructions, it's also acceptable to define the terms along the way. In a step where you might say, "Now configure your thermacabobulator with the settings you want," you can include a description of the thermacabobulator, or provide a tooltip or expandable text that describes it.


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Sihle Zikalala has denied claims that he was not in support of former president Jacob Zuma. Photo: South African Tourism and GCIS / Flickr
Zikalala SLAMS claims that he did not support Jacob Zuma
Outgoing KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala has addressed rumours that he did not support former president Jacob Zuma.
by Reeshni Chaslyn Chetty
in KwaZulu-Natal
Departing premier of KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalala recently slammed claims that he did not support former president Jacob Zuma.
Zikalala solidifies his support for former president Zuma
Reports have revealed that Zikalala's loss at the African National Congress' (ANC) recent conference has been linked to his assumed lack of support for Msholozi when he faced jail time.
Zuma's arrest resulted in 2021 resulted in mass riots and violence in KZN. Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, 5 August, Zikalala reiterated that he has always been in support of the former president.
"I wish to make it clear that I have supported President Zuma from 14 June 2005 until today.
"I supported him as a leader and someone who sacrificed his life for South Africa to be liberated. My support has never been personal but always organisational. At no point have I ever tried to get position through being associated with him. Equally I have never badmouthed others because they did not support him,"
said Zikalala.
Outgoing premier addresses claims about President Ramaphosa
The outgoing premier also refuted claims that he had aligned himself with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
"It is the tradition of the ANC that dictate that members must always accept and work with the elected leadership whether they have supported the elections of that leadership or not. The ANC's principles of organisation democracy and discipline further underline that leaders must lead all members with the same and equal treatment," Zikalala said.
ECR News reports that the ruling party will be interviewing Finance MEC in KZN Nomusa Dube-Ncube as well as ANC MPLs Mbali Fraser and Amanda Bani for the position of the premier on Saturday, 6 August.
Sihle Zikalala RESIGNS as KZN Premier – here's who could replace him
Previously, it was reported that KwaZulu-Natal's (KZN) Premier Sihle Zikalala has resigned from his post, just hours after it was learnt from TimesLive that he had requested to be "released" from his position.
The search is now on for Zikalala's replacement as the ANC in KZN has put forward the names of Finance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube and ANC MPLs Amanda Bani and Mbali Frazer. Zikalala's move to resign follows his defeat at the ANC KZN's elective conference just recently.
Zikalala, who was looking to retain his position as ANC KZN Chairperson, lost to Siboniso Duma 665 votes against 930. Duma is aligned to the so-called "Taliban" faction of the party, which made a clean sweep of the top five positions. The faction is opposed to current party president Cyril Ramaphosa and sympathetic to ex-president Jacob Zuma and his allies. Read the full story here.
Sihle Zikalala

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Totobates microseta är en kvalsterart som beskrevs av Hammer 1968. Totobates microseta ingår i släktet Totobates och familjen Liebstadiidae. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Externa länkar

Spindeldjur
microseta

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Q: A better way to properly implement string 'in' array suppose you have an array with a number of strings in ActionScript3 and you want to test if a test string is "in" that array. "in" only works against the index with Arrays in AS3 (which is totally retardo if you ask me), though it does work with ojects, but we're not talking about objects.
Can someone improve (reduce) on this code I'm using now? I'm hoping to avoid defining a utility function - I'd like a nice elegant one-liner.
myArray.filter(function(item:*, i:int, a:Array) { return (item == testString); }).length

Since 0 == false we can use it in a test. Do note that testString's scope is defined in the containing function, encapsulated by the closure.
if (allowedProfiles.filter(function(item:*, i:int, a:Array) { return (item == name); }).length){ // yay! }

A: Use the Array.indexOf() method to see that the index of the string in the array is not -1 (not found):
var myArray:Array = ["hello", "world"];
trace(myArray.indexOf("hello")); // == 0;
trace(myArray.indexOf("goodbye")); // == -1

A: Why not just use indexOf()?
if(myArray.indexOf("testString") != -1) { // it's in there

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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ISRAEL BANS CHRISTMAS
Home/Catalyst/Features/ISRAEL BANS CHRISTMAS
Had it not been for Pope John Paul II, the Cuban people would still be barred from publicly celebrating Christmas. Now he needs to bring his message of tolerance to Israel as well.
This past Christmas all crucifixes and Christmas trees were banned from Israeli hotel lobbies because they were deemed offensive to Jews. It wasn't the prime minister who did this, nor was the legislators in the Knesset. It was Chief Rabbi of Israel Meir Lau who issued the edict. And this was a compromise!
Some rabbis have wanted to ban Christmas and New Year's celebrations outright. But the hotel and tour operators in Israel have been fighting the rabbis, saying it would cost them money by losing Christian guests. So in stepped the Chief Rabbinate with his compromise: Christians could only celebrate Christmas behind closed doors.
In actual fact, however, even this compromise didn't work. A manager of a leading hotel chain told reporters that "We could not put up a Christmas tree or hang decorations from in the foyer. We have been allowed to put aside a private room, out of sight, for anyone wanting to celebrate the New Year." However, even this concession was rescinded in 1999.
New Year's celebrations were also suppressed. Because New Year's Eve fell on the start of the Jewish Sabbath, no cooking, no lifting food and no music was allowed. Hotel operators were warned that they would have their kosher food certificates revoked it they allowed New Year's Eve parties. And Handel's Messiah was cancelled because the Finance Ministry wouldn't pay for security.
Moreover, fundamentalist Christians in Israel who believed that Jesus's second coming was imminent were deported as were Irish pilgrims who wanted to visit holy sites.
In a Gallup poll published at Christmastime, three out of four Israelis could not identify the date of Christmas and nearly two-thirds said they did not have a single Christian friend. Just under half said they either did not care about the pope's planned trip to Israel or were hostile to the idea.
By Bill|2013-08-16T19:42:49-04:00January 26th, 2000|Categories: Catalyst, Features|Tags: January/February Issue 2000|Comments Off on ISRAEL BANS CHRISTMAS
ABUSE LOBBY UPENDED; AGENDA EXPOSED
TENNESSEE TRIUMPH
BIAS AND BIGOTRY AT THE BBC PART II
SEXUAL ABUSE LOBBY IS AGENDA-RIDDEN


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What were the March 2010 Iraqi elections about?
For some time now, Joel Wing's Musings on Iraq blog has been one of the most reliably well informed, informative, and intelligent sources of information and analysis about Iraq. (And that assessment doesn't require that one always agree with Wing's judgments, though it may be worth noting that I generally find them pretty much on-target.)
On Friday Wing put together a useful overview of the background, both immediate and longer-term, to the just-completed national elections in Iraq, including a line-up of the major political forces contesting the elections. He added some musings on the political stakes involved and some prognoses about possible outcomes. While we wait for the votes to get counted and for the actual outcomes to emerge, Wing's overview provides a good starting-point for trying to understand what just happened in Iraq.
It would be a good idea to read the whole thing, but some key passages are given below. Meanwhile, let me just highlight one point early in Wing's discussion:
The January [2009] provincial elections set several trends in Iraqi politics that will likely carry over into 2010. First, the voters punished the ruling parties in every province.
Something important ought to be noted here, before we take it too easily for granted. Applied to some countries, the last sentence in that quotation might sound unremarkable. But in the Arab world, for ruling parties to get "punished" at the polls is a very rare event. In fact, the whole idea of having consequential elections whose outcomes aren't fixed in advance is pretty exotic, though examples have not been completely unknown in some Arab countries (especially but not exclusively in Lebanon).
Joel Wing (Musings on Iraq)
Lessons Learned From 2009 That Apply To The 2010 Iraqi Elections
In 2009 Iraq held two separate elections. First was the January provincial elections where voters in fourteen of Iraq's eighteen governorates elected new local officials, and then in July the three provinces of Kurdistan held balloting for its regional parliament. Both of those elections hold important lessons for Iraq's parliamentary vote that started on March 4, 2010 and will be completed March 7.
The January provincial elections set several trends in Iraqi politics that will likely carry over into 2010. First, the voters punished the ruling parties in every province. Many interpreted this as a return to Iraqi nationalism, and a rejection of the sectarian parties that had taken power in 2005, but that's not entirely true. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law list for example, led by his Dawa Party, was considered the big winner in the vote as they won pluralities across southern Iraq and Baghdad, but even they were kicked out of office in Karbala, the only province that Dawa controlled after the January 2005 local elections. The major reason was that the provincial councils and governors had failed to develop the local economies, provide jobs, protect the public, and were known for corruption. [....]
A second trend is the fragmentation of Iraq's large coalitions. In 2005 the country's main parties coalesced into three blocs, the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance, the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front, and the Kurdish Alliance. They won control of the provinces and the parliament in the 2005 elections. Beginning in late-2008, these alliances broke apart. The first list to do so was the Accordance Front. In December 2008, the Iraqi National Dialogue Council withdrew from the alliance. In 2009 Vice President Tariq Hashemi, who had been the leader of the Iraqi Islamic Party, the largest component of the Accordance Front, left and formed his own party, the Renewal. Next Maliki decided to form his own State of Law list to run in the 2009 provincial vote breaking in two the United Alliance. Finally, in the July 2009 Kurdish parliamentary vote, the Change list emerged as the main opposition party to the Kurdish Alliance. Today there are seven large lists that are likely to take the majority of seats in the new parliament.
Major Players In The 2005 Elections
United Iraqi Alliance – Made up of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, the Dawa Party, Sadrists, Fadhila Party. Won 128 of 275 seats in parliament.
Kurdish Alliance – Kurdistan Democratic Party, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Won 53 of 275 seats.
Iraqi Accordance Front – Iraqi Islamic Party, General Council for the People of Iraq, Iraqi National Dialogue Council. Won 44 of 275 seats.
State of Law – Dawa Party, Shiite Independents
Iraqi National Alliance – Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, Sadrists, Fadhila Party, former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari
Kurdish Alliance – Kurdistan Democratic Party, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Iraqi National Movement/Iraqiya – Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's Iraqi National List, Iraqi National Dialogue Front, Vice President Hashemi's Renewal, Al-Hadbaa Party, Ahrar Party
Unity of Iraq – Interior Minister Jawad Bolani's Constitution Party, Anbar Sheikh Ahmad Abu Risha's Awakening of Iraq and Independents
Iraqi Consensus – Iraqi Islamic Party, General Council for the People of Iraq
Change List – New Kurdish opposition party
[JW:And now more prognoses start getting mixed in.]
Last, voter turnout and who people support is still largely based upon ethnosectarian identity. In 2009 Shiites mostly voted for Shiites, Sunnis for Sunnis, and Kurds for Kurds. That is unlikely to change in 2010.
[JW: Yes and no. Early reports suggest that there was heavy Sunni Arab voting for Iyad Allawi's Iraqi National List, an avowedly cross-sectarian coalition headed by a relatively "secular" Shiite, Allawi. The extent to which that happened, and if so what it means, remain to be seen.]
Another pattern from last year was that Shiite participation went down, Sunni voting went up, and Kurds turned out in the same high levels. In 2005 Sunnis boycotted the provincial elections to protest the U.S. occupation. That meant in Anbar only 2% of the electorate showed up to the polls. In the governorate balloting in 2009 Sunnis voted in large numbers to make up for their lack of representation. Voter turnout in Salahaddin went from 29% in 2005 to 65% in 2009 as a result. At the same time, Shiite voting dropped, probably out of apathy due to the poor performance of their local officials. In Najaf for instance, voter participation went from 73% in 2005 to 55% in 2009. The Kurds on the other hand, continue to have the highest turnout in the country since they share many of the same interests, have not fragmented like the other large groups, and have a number of well-known politicians to choose from. In the July 2009 Kurdish parliamentary vote, 78.5% of the electorate participated. The lack of substantial issues being discussed in the run-up to the March vote may lead to another low turnout for Shiites, while Sunnis and Kurds could have higher numbers because they want to attain or maintain their current positions.
[JW: Early reports suggest that voter turnout among Shiite Arabs may not have gone down so sharply after all--but, again, this remains to be seen.]
[JW: Wing closes by risking some predictions,]
The patterns set in Iraq's politics in 2009 will likely continue to play out into this year. Maliki is still the most popular politician in Iraq according to the latest polls, but being an incumbent will hurt him. His claim to have brought stability back to Iraq has been challenged by the 2009 bombings of Iraq's ministries in Baghdad, and the nine provinces his State of Law controls have not been able to deliver the jobs and development that they promised due to budgetary constrains. He could still come out the winner, but only with a plurality slightly more than the runner-up. Second, the results of the election will reshuffle the lists in power, and the new ruling coalition will still be made up from the core of large parties that emerged after the fall of Saddam. Last, voter turnout will vary between Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds.
[JW: All that sounds fairly plausible to me.]
These will all mean that whatever new government comes to power will act and look a lot like the old one. Whatever real change that happens will be the result of who becomes prime minister. If Maliki gets re-elected, there will be more deadlock in the legislature as his opponents line up to block the passage of major laws as happened in 2009. If someone else becomes prime minister that could clear the way for some laws like the oil law to be passed, but that would still be difficult due to differences amongst the major parties again pointing to more continuation of the status quo.
[JW: Maybe ... though I'm not so sure.]
Iraqis defy terrorist violence to cast their votes
Pass the damn bill (#10) - Theda Skocpol
More purple fingers in Iraq
Suicide watch in Iraq (Harry's Place)
Obama announces the final push on health care reform
Health care reform by Easter? - It could happen
Health care reform - How the Democrats might still...
What happens if health care reform fails?
Pass the damn bill (#9) - Warren Buffett
Carl Dyke explains why atomistic reductionism and ...


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PANAMÁ IFF—THE LINE-UP: First Time Directors and IberoAmerican Panorama
The first public announcement of the lineup for the Panama International Film Festival (Panamá IFF) was held March 8, 2012 at Casco Viejo's National Theater and included a rich program of films grouped into nine wide-ranging sidebars. The following program capsules are adapted from Panama IFF's website.
FIRST TIME DIRECTORS
Distancia / Distance, dir. Sergio Ramírez (Guatemala, 2010)—With over 150,000 killed, 45,000 disappeared, and a million people internally displaced over 30 years of ruthless war, the statistics of horror are even more harrowing when put in the context of a small country such as Guatemala, which didn't surpass 10 million inhabitants during the time of these events. A delicate and moving fiction portrait with an almost documentary precision and aching honesty, Distance tells the story of Tomás Choc, an older man who learns that his three-year-old daughter—who was taken from him during a military incursion on their K'iche' community—is still alive. Tomás decides to take a long trip to finally meet her after 20 years of separation.
Fecha de caducidad / Expiration Date, dir. Kenya Márquez (Mexico, 2011)—Ramona is a widow whose whole world changed when her only child disappeared. The only clue she has to find him is a minor cut she caused him when clipping his toenails. While looking for her son in desperation she meets the enigmatic Mariana, and at the morgue, the pathetic good-for-nothing Genaro. Expiration Date won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Miami International Film Festival. IMDb. Facebook.
Las Acacias, dir. Pablo Giorgelli (Argentina, 2011)—Rubén drives his truck from Asunción, Paraguay to Buenos Aires, Argentina. In this journey of 1,500 kilometers, he must take Jacinta and her five-month-old daughter, Anahí. The result of this trip turns out to be a triumph of the heart. It's clear to me why, at this point, Argentine filmmaker Pablo Giorgelli's debut feature Las Acacias has won 20+ awards on the festival circuit, including the Camera D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Las Acacias tells a spare but resonant story, hewing away all excess to reveal perfect sentiment. A film about fathers and loneliness and transformation; it is everything I love about Latin American cinema. Most audiences watching Las Acacias will presume it was easily made with a handheld camera, a couple of actors and a truck; but, this is the elegance of Pablo Giorgelli's artistry: he is a master at complicated simplicity. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
Octubre / October, dir. Diego Vega & Daniel Vega (Peru, 2010)—This award-winning film centers on Clemente, a middle aged loner who has made a living for years as a moneylender, a job that suits his almost neurotic, selfish way of seeing life. A master in taking advantage of people going through rough patches, Clemente is about to face a challenge for which he is clearly unprepared when he is entrusted with a baby girl. Enter Sofía, a devoted neighbor who can't help but care. As she becomes involved in Clemente's life, she will open a window for him to see beyond his own immediate needs, and maybe even start sharing other people's hopes and small joys. My interview with Diego Vega at October's North American premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was published earlier on The Evening Class. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
Rompecabezas / Puzzle, dir. Natalia Smirnoff (Argentina, 2010)—Puzzle tells the story of María del Carmen (María Onetto), a woman whose main purpose in life is taking care of her husband and children. Her routine has a drastic change when she receives a puzzle as a present on her 50th birthday. She's as surprised as everybody in her home with the natural talent she shows at solving puzzles, and begins to work towards winning an important national tournament. Puzzle won Best First Film at the 2011 Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards and Best Screenplay at the 2011 Cartagena Film Festival. IMDb. Wikipedia.
At Variety, Jay Weissberg described "this femme-skewed chamber piece [as] a low-key charmer for auds open to its honest subtleties, boosted in no small part by María Onetto's beautifully modulated performance." At The Flickering Wall, Jorge Mourinha concurred that Puzzle is a "sensible, charming character study that effortlessly overcomes its slight narrative through attentive performances and handling." At Slant, Nick Schager concluded that "the film ultimately recognizes that liberating escape—or others' acceptance of new social-order dynamics—is usually the stuff of daydreams, and that the best subjugated individuals can often hope for is simply an opportunity to carve out a small, personal nook for themselves."
Ruta de la luna / Route of the Moon, dir. Juan Sebastian Jacome (Panama / Ecuador, 2012)—Tito, an introverted bowling champion must, suddenly and against his will, travel from his native Panama to San José in Costa Rica to take care of Cesar, his father who has fallen ill. They have a disaffected relationship. Cesar and Tito barely know each other. Tito's only wish is to go back to Panama as soon as possible to be able to participate in a Bowling Tournament, but Cesar has different plans for him. Route of the Moon boasts its world premiere at Panama IFF. Official site. IMDb. Facebook.
Las malas intenciones / The Bad Intentions, dir. Rosario García Montero (Peru / Germany, 2011)—Only Cayetana knows what is going on inside her head. It's not just anger at her absent father or her pretentious high-class stepfather and mom, for whom she seems almost invisible. There is also her obsession with painful death, with the gruesome battles, the heroes of the independence wars, and the experiments with physical suffering and furtive stealing, that have consequences she doesn't seem willing to understand. In her loneliness, the intelligent and gloomy 8-year-old decides her life will end as soon as her little brother is born. As this happens, her family also remains oblivious to the change that's breeding in the mountains, where guerrilla forces prepare to take on the establishment for its disregard of the poor. A trip to the beach might be the beginning of a true journey for Cayetana. This offbeat drama tackles the tumultuous Peru of the early '80s through the point of view of a kid in need of a real connection and a new outlook on the life that surrounds her. It won amongst others the best Latin American Feature Film Award at the Mar del Plata Film Festival. Official site [Spanish]. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
At Variety, Alissa Simon describes The Bad Intentions as "atmospheric" and "death-haunted" but claims the film offers more to admire than engage, bearing seemingly stylistic leanings towards Argentine auteur Lucrecia Martel "with realist, claustrophobic slice-of-life visuals that offer viewers only sparse background information and few emotional hooks." At The House Next Door / Slant, Oscar Moralde praises Montero's "nuanced portrait of childhood, clear-eyed yet sympathetic" that uses the terrible violence of The Shining Path as "the backdrop for a darkly comic portrait of Cayetana's morbid childhood." At Smells Like Screen Spirit, Don Simpson writes: "Garcia-Montero's film functions as an absurd allegory for bourgeois feelings of ambivalence towards an uncertain future."
Los colores de la montaña / The Colors of the Mountain, dir. Carlos César Arbeláez (Colombia / Panama, 2011)—Manuel is a nine-year-old boy who dreams of becoming a great goalkeeper. Ernesto, his father, gets him a new ball for his birthday; but the ball falls in a mined field that same day. Manuel convinces his two best friends, Julián and Poca Luz, to help him recover the ball: an adventure for these kids that live amidst the armed conflict in Colombia. Arbeláez was given the New Director's award at the 2010 San Sebastian Film Festival. The Colors of the Mountain also won Best Colombian Feature at the 2011 Bogota Film Festival and Best Screenplay at the 2011 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
At Eye For Film, Amber Wilkinson writes: "Shot almost entirely from the children's perspective, Arbeláez tackles universal themes of conflict and its impact on ordinary people without getting mired in specific politics. He deftly shows how quickly normality can disintegrate when conflict appears on the horizon. And despite having serious subject matter, he has a lightness of touch, an avoidance of outright displays of violence and an eye for the comedic that means older children could enjoy this as much as adults." At Film Lounge, Neil Young praises the "outstandingly fresh child-performance in the central role by pint-sized newcomer Hernán Mauricio Ocampo (a real find)" and claims that Ocampo's work was as good as anything he saw from an adult actor at the San Sebastian Film Festival. At Slant, Chuck Bowen describes The Colors of the Mountain as "a poetic and striking experience" and praises Arbeláez's understanding of "the succinct power of images."
El Estudiante / The Student, dir. Santiago Mitre (Argentina, 2011)—Upon arriving in Buenos Aires from a small Argentinean town to attend university, Roque Espinosa soon gets involved in the political moves that are quietly shaking his faculty. He proves himself worthy of the trust but will face further ethical questions surrounding his militancy. My TIFF 2011 interview with Santiago Mitre was previously published at MUBI. IMDb. Facebook.
IBEROAMERICAN PANORAMA
Sangue do meu Sangue / Blood of My Blood, dir. João Canijo (Portugal, 2011)—This is a story of passion, adultery, incest and drugs from the reknown Portuguese director João Canijo. In Blood of my Blood, Marcia is a single mother of two, who works as a cook and shares her house with her sister Ivette. Claudia, Marcia's daughter falls in love with a married man, many years her senior; an affair that leads to disaster. Winner of the FIPRESCI prize at the 2011 San Sebastián International Film Festival. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
As Diana Sanchez synopsized for TIFF 2011: "Magnificently acted and orchestrated, João Canijo's family saga, Blood of my Blood, depicts the harshness of life in inner city Lisbon and the sacrifices that two women are willing to make for their family. Marcia is determined to end the cycle of poverty for her family and when she discovers that her daughter is dating an older professor, she will stop at nothing to end this unwelcome relationship." At Variety, Robert Koehler concedes the acting is "gifted" but, otherwise, finds Blood of My Blood to be "an overlong portrait of a family living in one of Lisbon's rougher districts" whose "actual material consists of little more than the customary tropes found in many urban melodramas." His final impression is that Blood of My Blood "is, fundamentally, a high-class telenovela." At The Flickering Wall, Jorge Mourinha counters: "Contemporary Portuguese cinema finds another potential breakout film in João Canijo's eighth theatrical feature—a remarkable dive into a struggling working-class family that extends the director's fascination with the structure of classical tragedy into what is possibly his masterpiece. Undoubtedly, some will look at the convoluted comings and goings of this family drama as high-end soap-opera miserablism with a side order of voyeurism; but that doesn't take into account both Mr. Canijo's poised handling of the scenes (mostly captured in long takes unfolding before a discreetly moving camera), and the astoundingly naturalistic performances of the ensemble cast, who had a hand in structuring and developing the shooting script through a series of workshopped improvisations à la Mike Leigh."
After watching the U.S. premiere of Blood of My Blood at the 2012 Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF), film companion Frako Loden turned to me and quipped, "What's a mother to do?" I responded by quoting Eleanor of Aquitane in The Lion In Winter: "Ah well, what family doesn't have its ups and downs?" As prurient as a telenovela, Canijo's sprawling overblown family narrative is redeemed by an effectively claustrophobic sound score and visual stylistics that overlap frames as near approximations of split screen, creating a tense soap opera dense with texture. With so much going on—drug crimes, sibling rivalries, incest, teenage pregnancy, you name it—the family unit becomes a site of exposure and suppression. There's no privacy to be had within this family.
Bonsái, dir. Cristián Jiménez (Chile / France / Argentina / Portugal, 2011)—Julio's story might not be that common. Out of his fear of sharing with his partner Blanca the fact that he didn't get the job he was counting on as a typist for a famous author's new manuscript, he starts writing his own novel, in which he recounts the relationship he had with Emilia, a fellow literature student eight years before. His memories set off a soul-searching process, as Julio realizes that he might just still have to find that woman he hasn't heard of in ages. Director Cristián Jiménez treats the original novel by Alejandro Zambra in a careful manner, visible in the detailed cinematography and thoughtful use of literary devices for pacing. Going from adult, present-time Julio who is probably facing disenchantment, while taking care of the title's delicate plant, to the intense feelings and the awkwardness of youthful romance, the story builds on the apparent need for petty white lies to be part of growing old. The solid performances from the three leads anchor a well-executed drama that will surely gain notoriety for Jiménez, after the film premiered in Cannes and won Best Ibero-American Feature at the Miami Film Festival, 2012. IMDb. Wikipedia.
At Variety, Robert Koehler characterizes Bonsái as "one of the finest accomplishments from the freewheeling new generation of Chilean filmmakers", adding that by turns it is "gentle, deadpan, droll and sarcastic." At The House Next Door / Slant, Oscar Moralde writes that Bonsái "throws out suspense as one of its tools with a flourish that makes it obvious it has far more at its disposal." Finessing the film's title, Moralde adds: "It may come as no surprise that the titular tree is used as a metaphor for Julio's writing; he's told that the goal of bonsai is to 'reproduce the effects of nature on the tree,' a process which aptly describes what the film accomplishes as well." At Eye For Film, Amber Wilkinson considers Jiménez "an imaginative—if occasionally unruly—talent to watch" and states "the film still has considerable humor and charm, particularly in its portrayal of the fumblings, posturings and overexuberance of student love."
Chico & Rita, dir. Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal, Toño Errando (Spain / United Kingdom, 2010)—Oscar® winner Fernando Trueba, who put together the now classic music documentary Calle 54 in 2000, has a history with Latin Jazz and its diverse roots. It comes as no surprise that he went all the way with the bold idea of producing an animated feature set mainly in Cuba in the 1940s and '50s. Chico & Rita is one of Panama IFF's Red Carpet galas. It won Spain's Goya Award in 2011 for best animated feature film. Official site. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
At Variety, Peter DeBruge is troubled by Chico & Rita's "real 'good tunes / bad toons' quandary" and claims its screenplay "would have made a perfectly charming live-action movie", especially without what he considers "lousy" animation. Roger Ebert likewise suggests that the reason for Chico & Rita's 2012 Oscar® nomination for Best Animated Feature "is the story and the music ... not the animation." At Popcorn Reel, by contrast, Omar Moore is uninhibited in his enthusiasm. He describes Chico & Rita as "incredibly rich in detail and teaming with passion and emotion" and "a beautiful, vibrant love story that pulses with energy and wonderful music." As for its animation? Moore describes it as "a gorgeous, eye-popping spectacle of color and sparkle that pays great tribute to Cuban music and artists, to 1940s and 50s Hollywood, Las Vegas and the glamour and electricity of New York City."
Un cuento chino / Chinese Take-Away, dir. Sebastián Borensztein (Argentina / Spain, 2011)—Roberto, the bad-tempered owner of a hardware store, whose life is cold and monotonous, meets Jun, a Chinese citizen who is thrown out of a taxi near the Buenos Aires airport. The man, who only speaks Mandarin, is picked up by the bitter Roberto, and together they live through unimaginable events which characterize the bizarre relationship between these two characters. The absolute lack of communication between the Chinese and the Argentinean in this comedy keeps the audience drawn in, leading it to discover details about the lives of these two characters. It is a universal story that narrates the encounter between two people of different cultures who come together with feelings of solidarity and justice. Sebastián Borenztein brings out the best of the recognized Argentinean actor Ricardo Darín in this film seen by more than 900,000 people in Argentina. It was the winner of the Goya Prize for Best Iberoamerican Picture and the Marco Aurelio Prize for Best Picture at the International Rome Film Festival. It is one of IFF Panama's red carpet galas. Official site [Spanish]. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
At Variety, Jonathan Holland praises Chinese Take-Away's "warm heart, affecting final act and a gold-plated perf by the reliable Ricardo Darín", despite other noted reservations. At Eye For Film, Jennie Kermode writes: "Beautfully shot and benefitting from sumptuously detailed set design, Chinese Take-Away is a tragicomic tale that mixes traditional narrative with magical realist vignettes. Darín is superb in the leading role, sympathetic even at his most misanthropic. [Darín]'s meanness is often delightful to watch as a dry humor undercuts the most poignant of scenes."
También la lluvia / Even the Rain, dir. Icíar Bollaín (Spain / Bolivia, 2010)—Even the Rain deals with the relationship between a skeptic film director and an idealist filmmaker as they work together on a project about the conquest of the American continent. While shooting in their main locations in Bolivia, they find themselves in the middle of the indigenous struggle known as the Water Wars. My interview with Icíar Bollaín from the 2011 PSIFF was previously published on The Evening Class. Official site. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
Habana Eva, dir. Fina Torres (Cuba / Venezuela / France, 2010)—Out of necessity, Eva works in an industrial sewing shop even though what she enjoys doing is putting together more creative models instead of assembly line confections. Her dream: to have money for getting married and design models which will make the people who wear them feel good about themselves. Habana Eva has been one of the great surprises of film festivals in the United States and Latin America. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
Heleno, dir. José Henrique Fonseca (Brazil, 2011)—José Henrique Fonseca crafts an ambitious and long overdue homage to a central icon in Brazil's 20th century history. Reminiscent of film noir classics, the biopic tells the story of soccer player Heleno de Freitas, following the dramatic arc of rise and fall in a fashion that has gamered the film comparisons to cult film Raging Bull. Just as in Jake LaMotta's story, Heleno suffers his own punishing temperament and erratic love life, which will ultimately get him out of the game forever (an untreated syphilis and the abuse of ether make him an old and sick man who ends his days alone). The sumptuous black and white cinematography presents the chic life of Rio de Janeiro, a jewel city in the 1940's that fell under the spell of sports-royalty. Heleno was no doubt one of the most popular players for his bravura in the field leading the Botafogo team to the top. But the player's story is also that of the world at the time, and WWII kept him from playing in the two world cups he should have won for his century. IMDb. Facebook.
Juan de los muertos / Juan of the Dead, dir. Alejandro Brugues (Cuba / Spain, 2011)—On the day of the anniversary of the Cuban Revolution a mysterious plague unleashes on the streets of Havana, with zombies starting to be seen and multiplying exponentially by the minute. The authorities blame imperialistic maneuvers from the North on the vicious takeover, and are soon overwhelmed by the mounting chaos. The apocalypse seems irreversible. But before all hope is lost an unlikely team is formed that can possibly defeat the odds: Juan, a middle-aged man of unspecific occupation and his pal Lázaro are luckily on a fishing excursion at the beginning of the outbreak. The two men quickly realize there is a business opportunity if they stay alive, and start offering their zombie extermination and removal service to the living that can afford it. "Juan of the Dead, we kill your loved ones" is their slogan. Official site. IMDb.
At Twitch, Josh Hurtado writes: "The film is filled with clever dialogue, plenty of solid gore, the blackest of black humor, and geek humor for miles. There are very inventive zombie kills, including one in particular that involves a truck, a wire, and about three hundred of the undead that it really the piece de resistance of Juan of the Dead." Quiet Earth declares "how much fun it is to see the zombie apocalypse in yet another new locale, and the Havana alleyways, rooftops, tenement buildings, and beachfronts are consistently lush and brim with detail and character."
Lope, dir. Andrucha Waddington (Spain / Brazil, 2010)—Lope is a Spanish production that reenacts the life and works of one of the most important authors of the XVI Century, Félix Lope de Vega Carpio. In the film, Lope de Vega (Alberto Ammann, who also starred in the successful Celda 211) arrives in Madrid, looking to set free his art, the written word. This biopic is narrated with the dynamism of a film super production. With a budget of over thirteen million Euros, it is one of the best of the Spanish film industry. Described as a historical adventure, passionate and exciting—as are the texts of Lope de Vega's feverish imagination—the movie presents his constant struggle to satisfy his desires while love crosses his path. And so this writer's life is presented. The film makes the audience a witness of how Lope learns about love, how he is sought out by officials, jailed, threatened by hit men, and how he triumphs, leaving as legacy the most prolific works of the Golden Century in Spanish Literature. Official website [Spanish]. IMDb. Wikipedia.
At Variety, Jonathan Holland writes, "Wisely playing to its limitations, pic is compact and efficient rather than grand and sweeping, with little adventure but many striking setpieces and a clutch of fine perfs." At The Hollywood Reporter, Deborah Young characterizes Lope as "a classy production that rises above the swashbuckling television costumer it could have been."
Nostalgia de la Luz / Nostalgia For the Light, dir. Patricio Guzmán (Chile / Germany / France, 2010)—This documentary by Patricio Guzmán takes place in Chile's Atacama Desert. It makes a parallel comparison between the exploration of the ends of the galaxy by a group of astronomers through the translucent desert sky and the relentless search by a group of women for the remains of their relatives who disappeared during the dictatorship. My 2010 TIFF interview with Patricio Guzmán has been previously published on MUBI. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
El gato desaparece / The Cat Vanishes, dir. Carlos Sorin (Argentina, 2011)—Luis, a renowned academic, comes back home after spending time in a psychiatric ward due to a psychotic crisis. His wife Beatriz is happy to have him back, but after their cat Donatello fails to recognize the man and goes missing, the question of whether Luis is completely cured will take life-threatening dimensions. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
At Variety, Rob Nelson writes: "Playing with '40s-era Hitchcock as a cat would toy with a mouse, Argentine writer-director Carlos Sorin's The Cat Vanishes cleverly updates the likes of Spellbound and Suspicion with its slow-burning tale of a Buenos Aires woman (Beatriz Spelzini) whose fear of her psychologically recovering hubby (Luis Luque) gradually drives her as crazy as he was—and maybe still is. Subtly and acerbically funny, Sorin's pic also works as a dead-serious study of marital mistrust and potentially murderous impulses. This Cat might not have nine lives at the international B.O., but fests far and wide will undoubtedly want to pounce." At The House Next Door / Slant, Joseph Jon Lanthier dubbed The Cat Vanishes as the "first great movie" he'd seen at TIFF 2011. "The film's ambiguity eventually and icily topples over into a definitive reference point of danger," Lanthier writes, "but the action is ruthlessly internalized within Beatriz's shadow of a doubt throughout the most nail-biting sequences."
Las razones del corazón / The Reasons of the Heart, dir. Arturo Ripstein (Mexico / Spain, 2011)—Overwhelmed by monotony and the sense of meaninglessness, Emilia retreats steadily further away from her role as a mother and housewife. She regrets the life she has lived, which she finds as a contrived mise-en-scène of a well to do family that keeps them continuously in the red with creditors, and that has estranged their own disaffected daughter. The joy and hope brought to Emilia by her secret lover are fading as well. The scenery to all this couldn't be more telling: she suffocates in a cold, rundown apartment she never liked but is unable to leave (the almost theatrical setting and tension are masterfully rendered by cinematographer Alejandro Cantú in a stark black and white palette). The day comes when Emilia can't take it anymore: her lover leaves her and the bank takes action on the unpaid debts. It is time for a decision she has been considering for a while; one that can put an end to it all. Veteran Mexican author Arturo Ripstein tries his hand with the timeless question posed by French classic Madame Bovary: How much can we take or do for love? IMDb. Facebook.
La voz dormida / The Sleeping Voice, dir. Benito Zambrano (Spain, 2011)—Pepita (María León) is a young girl from Córdoba, Spain, who leaves her town and goes to Madrid in order to be near her pregnant sister Hortensia (Inma Cuesta), who is in jail during the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. Hortensia is condemned to death, but her sentencing will take place after she gives birth. Therefore, Pepita moves heaven and earth to receive pardoning for her sister's crime, and to get custody of her baby, instead of having it sent to an orphanage or put up for adoption. Adapted from a novel by Dulce Chacón, this Spanish drama recreates the horrors of the Francoist era. Inma Cuesta, the popular actress from Andalucía, heads the cast of The Sleeping Voice, which was awarded three Goyas for Best Leading Actress, Best Upcoming Actress and Best Song. Official site [Spanish]. IMDb. Facebook.
At Variety, Jonathan Holland observes: "A harrowing drama that transforms the sorry plight of female prisoners in post-Civil War Spain into a bleak examination of man's inhumanity to women, The Sleeping Voice magnificently tells a tale that needs to be told and retold. Shrewdly remaining mainstream while plumbing the depths of grief and violence, this engrossing pic is often unbearably intense in its depiction of atrocities, and affecting in its portrayal of its protags' doomed fight against politics and patriarchy." At The Hollywood Reporter, Deborah Young stages complaints about the film, but admits the "vivid performances by attractive leads María León, who won Best Actress kudos at the San Sebastian festival, and the fiery Inma Cuesta do add interest."
Violeta se fue a los cielos / Violeta Went to Heaven, dir. Andrés Wood (Chile, 2011)—This ambitious portrait of a complex and central figure in last century's Chilean and Latin American popular song and culture threads different timelines and aspects of the multifaceted artist's life, without a linear structure but like the lively quilts (arpilleras) she so loved and got to show to the world. Based on the biography written by her son Angel, the mesmerizing narrative covers Violeta Parra's modest upbringing and the trips she made to the heart of Chile's countryside to research and preserve autochthonous songs that were vanishing from the memory of elder peasants. It follows her on the tour as part of a small circus troupe that performed for miners, the time she spent in communist Poland, her residence in France, and her return home to build the tent where she devoted herself to showcasing and fostering the folkloric arts and national identity. Her contradictions and shortcomings, her romantic life, fears and dreams are all fundamental to complete a poignant and passionate life-story. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival, 2012. Official site. IMDb. Facebook. Wikipedia.
At Variety, Jonathan Holland writes: "The intense, remarkable life of the Chilean singer-songwriter Violeta Parra is explored with sensitivity and exquisite lightness of touch in Andrés Wood's Violeta Went to Heaven. Featuring a searching central perf from Francisca Gavilan, this beautifully lensed portrait moves elegantly back and forth in time to limn the life of a woman who perpetually struggled to find her place."
Posted by Michael Guillen at 4/10/2012 10:54:00 AM
Labels: Panamá IFF
PANAMÁ IFF—HORA MENOS (HOUR LESS)
PANAMÁ IFF—RUTA DE LA LUNA (ROUTE OF THE MOON)
ALREADY GONE (2012)—The Evening Class Interview Wi...
PANAMÁ IFF: JUAN OF THE DEAD—The Evening Class Int...
SFIFF55—14 Capsule Reviews by Michael Hawley
HBO: GIRLS (Or a Generation and its Discontents)—B...
PANAMÁ IFF: BONSÁI—The Evening Class Interview Wit...
PANAMÁ IFF—THE LINE-UP: Films From the Isthmus & I...
PANAMÁ IFF—THE LINE-UP: First Time Directors and I...
PANAMÁ IFF—The Founding Of A Film Festival
SFIFF55—Michael Hawley Previews the Line-Up: Part Two
SFIFF55—Michael Hawley Previews the Line-Up: Part One


While for some parents, sending their children to camp for the majority of the summer seems as natural as breathing, while for others it's an 8-week guilt trip.
It is difficult for us as parents to send our children away for extended periods of time, especially when the children suffer from being homesick – don't worry, homesickness is normal!
In the months leading up to leaving summer camp, do a couple of "dry runs" and spend time apart from your children. Send them to sleepovers at friends or even to spend a few days with grandparents or other relatives.
Let your child or children help in choosing the camp. The more they are involved with the process, the more excited they will be when the time comes.
Talk about what will go on at camp – using outdoor restrooms, keeping a flashlight handy, etc.
Send one of their favorite personal items from home – maybe their favorite stuffed animal and even send a letter to your child so that it arrives the first day of camp.
Do NOT bribe your child to stay at camp!
The inevitable "I hate it here and want to come home" phone call will happen. The best thing to do is stay calm, reassure your child that it will get better and to give it a few more days. Avoid that first instinct to "save" your child and rush right there to pick him or her up. When you talk to your child in a few days, you can re-evaluate the homesickness and see if it really is an urgent case or not.
Lastly, don't feel guilty about leaving your child at summer camp. This is their first chance to experience independence on some level – encourage them to make the most of it.
We offer a variety of summer camp programs here and would love to have you and your family be apart of them! Enroll early and receive half off your registration! Call our center for details- thank you for reading!


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Q: Rebase and changing branch is including all merged commits in pull request I'm coming from a SVN background. I've forked and branched a git repository. Then I changed the branch (let's call it my-branch), committed, pushed and sent a Pull Request.
It happens that the upstream repository has been changed and my PR became invalid due to conflicts generated by the master changes.
How should I proceed to rebase my branch to solve the conflicts and update the PR?
I tried fetching changes from upstream master to local master then rebasing my branch to local master:
git checkout master
git fetch upstream
git merge upstream/master
git push origin master
git checkout my-branch
git rebase master

The problem is that when I resolved the conflicts and committed/pushed the changes, all commits from upstream are also being included in the PR, as if I have made these changes. So, again, how should I proceed to really "rebase" my branch and PR, so I can safely change and commit to the PR only the files I've changed?

A: Let's have these conventions :

*

*upstream is the remote name of the forked project

*origin is the remote name of your github fork

Here's the correct worflow to update a feature branch with new commits from upstream/master :

*

*git checkout my-branch // Switch onto your feature branch

*git fetch --all // Fetch new commits from all your declared remotes

*git rebase upstream/master // Rebase your feature branch onto the last commit of upstream/master

*git push -f origin my-branch // Overwrite your remote my-branch (mandatory since a rebase rewrites commits)

Your PR should be updated with the new commits of my-branch


text:
About the project List of books Translators National bureau of translations Events Mass media about us Blog Faq
National bureau of translations
Anthologies of Kazakh literature translated into 6 official UN languages
Signal copies of the Anthologies of contemporary Kazakh literature, both prose and poetry, have been published into the six official UN languages. The project has been carried out under the «Modern Kazakh Culture in the Global World» programme, aimed at introducing to the world Kazakh literature and culture since its independence, Kazinform has learnt from the Kazakh Embassy in the UK.
Anthologies of modern Kazakh prose and poetry to be distributed in 70 countries
Work is nearly complete to translate anthologies of modern Kazakh prose and poetry into Arabic, English, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish for distribution in 70 countries. The authors and translators met recently to finish the venture.
OpenU platform to give access to worldwide-recognised textbooks in Kazakh language
The Kazakh National Translation Bureau is working on translating internationally recognised textbooks in social sciences and humanities into the Kazakh language in accordance with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's state-of-the-nation address. Based on their work during two years, the bureau is developing the online platform Kazakh Open University (OpenU) to make the books available for Kazakhstan citizens.
Kazakh literature to be translated into United Nations languages
As a part of the Contemporary Kazakh Culture in a Global World project, the Kazakh National Translation Bureau is facilitating the translation of Kazakh literature into the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish and Russian languages.
Books of 30 Kazakhstan's writers to be translated into Spanish
In frames of a project, Modern Kazakhstan culture in the global world under the Rukhani Zhangyru program Anthology of modern Kazakh poetry and Anthology of modern Kazakh prose will be translated into Spanish.
Cambridge University to translate and publish anthology of Kazakh literature
In July 9, the University of Cambridge (Great Britain) held the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the National Commission for the implementation of the Rukhani zhangyru programme and the publishing house of Cambridge University for the project on translating, publishing and promoting an anthology of contemporary Kazakh literature into the English language, BNews.kz correspondent reports.
In April 2017, a policy article «Course towards the future: modernisation of Kazakhstan's identity» by President Nursultan Nazarbayev was published. Among many, there is one specific project called New Humanitarian Knowledge. 100 New Textbooks in the Kazakh Language, which envisages the translation and introduction of the best international educational literature into the programmes of Kazakh universities.
Nur-Sultan, 18 Dostyk street, BC «Moskva», 6th floor
Your name and surname:
Offer a book for translation
The book title :
The book language:
Branch of the book: Phylosophy Sociology Psychology Economics Мanagement Entrepreneurship Religious studies Linguistics Cultural studies Anthropology History Political science Innovation Media Art Music Political science Literature studies Pedagogics Legal studies Business Marketing


Reaching your goals isn't easy - whether you're an athlete, a gym owner, or the parent of an aspiring athlete.
I mean, really, it's not easy, and sometimes facing the hard truths about training, performance, and business can be even harder than the physical work itself. Facing the truth was a common and important theme from this past week's writing, so here are my picks for your must-read articles.
Don't like running? Guess what? Specialized military service is probably not for you. Coach Andrew Read, a former special forces guy himself, gives some sage advice in this article for how to prepare yourself - and it does indeed include a lot of running.
Doping: A Growing Problem for Youth Athletes?
The possibilities are endless for young athletes, but the pressures can feel endless for them, as well. More and more teenagers are turning to performance-enhancing drugs to bolster their athletic dreams. Coach Jeanne Goodes explains why GH and other drugs are particularly dangerous for young people.
Alli Moyer has competed in a variety of sports over the course of her athletic career. She has become familiar with the darker days of training, and the hard work required to even aspire toward her goals. But in the end, she feels the hard work and the hard days is what makes it all worthwhile.
When money comes into play, then even the best laid training plans can go awry. Did distraction by self-promotion and sponsors get in the way of some athletes as they competed for a slot at the CrossFit Games this year? Coach Patrick McCarty theorizes.
Are These Two Google AdWords Mistakes Costing Your Gym Money?
That money you're spending to market your gym might be going down the drain. What if everything you're doing on Google to advertise is wrong? Coach Teddy Kim gives detailed instructions on what you should be doing.
Even the sport of Olympic weightlifting isn't immune to the negative impact of money. With CrossFit expanding the popularity of the sport, an influx of officials and business people are showing up at tournaments - and their motivations might be questionable. Long-time weightlifting official Dresdin Archibald explains.
Photo 1 by U.S. Army Europe Images from Heidelberg, Germany (1st Lt. John Tidwell Running Uploaded by GiW) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons.
Photo 2 courtesy of Shutterstock.


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Q: How to find client_device_id and client_wallet_account_id for adding a credit card into google pay wallet in flutter? I want to add a credit card into Google Pay wallet in flutter.
I need these information client_device_id and client_wallet_account_id.
client_wallet_account_id is a stable identifier for a physical Android device.
client_wallet_account_id is an unique 24-byte identifier for each instance of a [Android user, Google account] pair.
How I can find these informations in flutter ?
Thank you for your reading.


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Q: Entity Framework Include performance problems Good Morning,
I have a problem with the performance if i use include.
Have a look at the following query, if I load the data from the include (x.Server_Item.itemType) the query needs like 980ms.
If i remove them, the query needs 51ms.
980ms:
using (var db = new dbContext())
{
    var items = db.Characters_Inventory
               .Where(x => x.charId == charId && x.itemLocation == ItemLocationInventory)
               .Include(p => p.Server_Items)
               .AsSplitQuery()
               .Select(x => new
    {
        itemId = x.id,
        x.itemName,
        x.nameTag,
        x.itemAmount,
        x.itemLocation,
        x.isItemEquipped,
        x.itemCategory,
        x.metaId,
        x.metaTag0,
        x.metaTag1,
        itemType = x.Server_Items.itemType,
        itemSubType = x.Server_Items.itemSubType,
        itemClothesType = x.Server_Items.Server_Clothes.type,
        itemPicName = x.Server_Items.itemPicSRC,
        itemWeight = x.Server_Items.itemWeight,
        itemGender = x.Server_Items.Server_Clothes.gender,
        isItemUseable = x.Server_Items.isItemUseable,
        isItemDroppable = x.Server_Items.isItemDroppable,
        isItemGiveable = x.Server_Items.isItemGiveable,
        isItemStorable = x.Server_Items.isItemStorable,
        isItemStackable = x.Server_Items.isItemStackable,
        isItemShowable = x.Server_Items.isItemShowable,
        isItemNameable = x.Server_Items.isItemNameable,
        isItemPlaceable = x.Server_Items.isItemPlaceable,
        //isClothesTypeEquipped = IsClothesTypeEquipped(charId, x.id),
        isClothesSwitchable = x.Server_Items.Server_Clothes.altClothesName != "" ? true : false
        //isWeaponTypeEquipped = IsWeaponTypeEquipped(charId, x.id),
        //charName = Characters.GetCharacterName(x.metaId)
    }).AsNoTracking().ToList();
    return JsonConvert.SerializeObject(items);
}

50ms:

using (var db = new dbContext())
{
    var items = db.Characters_Inventory
                .Where(x => x.charId == charId && x.itemLocation == ItemLocationInventory)
                .Include(p => p.Server_Items)
                .AsSplitQuery()
                .Select(x => new
    {
        itemId = x.id,
        x.itemName,
        x.nameTag,
        x.itemAmount,
        x.itemLocation,
        x.isItemEquipped,
        x.itemCategory,
        x.metaId,
        x.metaTag0,
        x.metaTag1
    }).AsNoTracking().ToList();
    return JsonConvert.SerializeObject(items);
}

I tried with AsSplitQuery and without AsSplitQuery.
Maybe nice to know: On the included table (Server_Items) is alrdy a table included.
Thanks in advance.
Sincerely


주메이라 모스크는 아랍에미리트 두바이에 있는 모스크이다. 무슬림이 아닌 사람들을 위한 투어 서비스를 제공한다.
The ticket includes water, dates, Arabic coffee, tea, and traditional pastries. Modest dress is preferred, however, traditional attire can be borrowed from the Mosque.


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Home News Pop
JC Stewart Shares a New Melodic Single 'Break My Heart'
Irish global star JC Stewart returns with a brand new alt-pop single 'Break My Heart' featured along with an official video
JC Stewart is set to make an immediate impact on the year ahead as she shares his new single 'Break My Heart', which he co-wrote with Niall Horan. It's accompanied by an official video which was directed by Charlie Sarsfield (Stormzy, DermotKennedy), who also directed the video for JC's previous single 'I Need You To Hate Me'.
The new single 'Break My Heart' is a melodic firecracker of exuberant alt-pop energy. His gift for exploring the nuances of relationships remains a key strength, this time with a tale of a romance that has to be all or nothing.
JC Stewart shares about the new single, "'Break My Heart' is big, fast and fun," says JC. "It's about someone who can catch you so off guard that they can ruin a city for you and tear your life apart. But sometimes that can be addicting."
Matching the song's bursts of energy with rapid fire cuts and a cinematic sheen, the video features JC as one-half of a couple who share an erratic relationship. It switches between a whirlwind of ups and downs: the joy of hitting the open road and blissed out moment home alone, juxtaposed with awkward silences and icy stares.
'Break My Heart' also represents JC's first ever vinyl release. The 7" vinyl is packaged with a personally signed poster and features an acoustic version of 'Break My Heart' on the b-side. It's available here.
JC reached a new audience with his 220 Kid collab 'Too Many Nights'. His quarantine-themed parody of the 'Friends' theme also went viral with the help of Jennifer Aniston, as it raced to over 5 million views and resulted in him appearing on 'Good Morning America'.
The young Northern Irish musician crafts songs which somehow both feel timeless and contemporary, and tell stories that reflect the day-to-day experiences of his generation. While he's an exemplary songwriter, as further evidenced by co-writing 'Hollywood' from Lewis Capaldi's smash hit debut album, his interviews and social media demonstrate a self-deprecating sense of humour. That combination of emotive, addictive songs delivered by a big personality shines through at his live shows, which we'll hopefully be seeing a lot more of as the year progresses.
Carlie Hanson Takes Us on a Ride in New Single "Fuck Your Labels"
Martin Jensen, Cheat Codes and Theresa Rex Releases a New Single "Running"
Erika Tham Returns With a New Fantastic Single "Shhh"
Tenille Townes Unveils a New Fantastic Single "When's It Gonna Happen"
MSPUIYI Teams Up With Goldfish On a New Hot Pop Single "Men-Mory"
Zach Hood Reaches Out on Heartfelt New Song "I Miss My Friends"


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[ January 20, 2021 ] After the USSR, the USA collapses	World Affairs
[ January 20, 2021 ] Biden has Maybe 2,000 Attendees at Inauguration — and 25,000 Military — Just Like They Do in Lawless Banana Republics	Government
[ January 20, 2021 ] The New Domestic War on Terror is Coming	Commentary
[ January 20, 2021 ] BREAKING: McConnell Allegedly Threatened President Trump If He Chose to Make Certain Pardons	Government
[ January 20, 2021 ] America's First Revolution Is Happening Now – Paul Craig Roberts	Commentary
HomeCommentaryThe Corporate Thought Police
The Corporate Thought Police
July 2, 2020 TFD Commentary 0
Sweden has been steeped in political correctness for decades; its failed immigration policies, which have had multiple negative consequences, as reported by Gatestone Institute, have long been taboo.
The idea that free speech is not a fundamental liberty that must be defended at all costs runs deep in Sweden.
Radio personality and NBA announcer Grant Napear was fired from his radio show at KHTK radio and resigned as the Sacramento Kings play-by-play TV announcer after tweeting on June 1, "All Lives Matter… every single one!", in reference to protests by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.
A young Democrat data scientist, David Shor, was fired by the research firm for which he was working, Civis Analytics, after tweeting about the electoral effectiveness of peaceful protest as opposed to violent protest.
Corporate America has appointed itself the thought police over employees who do not adhere strictly to the "rules" of current orthodoxy. It administers ruthless justice — Cultural Revolution style — through the destruction of employee livelihoods and careers. (Image source: iStock)
Our corporate thought police have been working overtime, and from the look of it, they are only beginning.
Mats Skogkär, a journalist and editorial writer at one of Sweden's largest regional newspapers, Sydsvenskan, was recently demoted from editorial writer to a non-writing position for tweeting the following:
"When you see the Left's almost sexual excitement over the riots in the United States, over the looting, fires and violence, it also becomes easier to understand its desire to create similar conditions here with a large… segregated underclass of migrants".
"A tweet way over the line," wrote Jonas Kanje, editor in chief at Sydsvenskan, after receiving backlash on Twitter. "A way to express yourself that Sydsvenskan can never support. I dissociate myself from it."
According to the Swedish publishing house Bonnier, which owns Sydsvenskan, "Bonnier defends freedom of expression… a diversity of voices and perspectives should be heard in our media".
Less than a week later, Sören Åkeby, who had an advisory role on the board of the Swedish football team, ÖFK, was let go by the board for sharing a Facebook post that "directly violate[s] ÖFK's values". The post that Åkeby shared contained the following:
"Another Swede murdered by a racial stranger!… [The boy] was stabbed when he helped a Swedish girl who was being raped by a Somali… Don't stand by and watch your own people get murdered, raped and humiliated. Organize and resist this alien invasion. We are at war!"
"I read it too quickly and just [shared it]," Åkeby apologized.
"I certainly don't have those (thoughts)… I have trained foreign players for more or less all my life… For me, this became so surreal… I'm definitely not a racist. I'll take it back. I will delete the posts immediately if it is interpreted this way. I didn't mean to."
Alexander Bard, a Swedish artist and author was fired from Swedish TV Channel 4, after tweeting:
"If black lives want to matter, then black lives get their fucking shit together, study hard, go to work, make their own money instead of depend on welfare, stop lying, get out of prison, and become heroes instead of self-appointed victims for the world to laugh at. That matters!"
Bard's tweet was also reported to the Swedish authorities for "inciting hatred".
Sweden has been steeped in political correctness for decades. The country's failed immigration policies, which have had multiple negative consequences, as reported by Gatestone Institute here, here, here, here and here, have long been taboo and those who criticized the policies were, in the words of Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderate Party, reviled and frozen out. In addition, Sweden's hate speech laws have seen people who have criticized Swedish migration policies and their consequences on social media sentenced and fined for "inciting hatred".
The idea that freedom of speech is not a fundamental liberty that must be defended at all costs runs deep in Sweden. So deep, in fact, that in 2018, Tomas Åberg, founder of the private organization, "Näthatsgranskaren" ("The Web Hate Investigator") was nominated for a prestigious prize, the "Swedish Hero" award, by one of Sweden's largest national newspapers, Aftonbladet. The nomination came after Åberg's organization reported no fewer than 750 Swedish citizens in 2017 to the authorities for "web hate". Åberg's organization has been generously funded by government grants, another telltale sign of the scant value placed on free speech.
In the United States, people used to stand up for freedom of speech as an inviolable liberty — until recently. While free speech has been highly unappreciated on US campuses for years, it still appeared to be a liberty that most Americans appreciate. This appreciation no longer seems to be generally the case, at least not in corporate America.
The riots in the US since the killing of George Floyd, or more specifically the debate about the riots, have exposed the stunning extent to which corporate America is willing and able effectively to shut down speech that does not conform to the orthodoxy of the moment.
In the past two weeks alone, corporate America got rid of the following people for their "thought crimes":
KHTK's parent company, Bonneville International Corporation, said in a statement that Napear's comments "do not reflect the views or values" of the company, and the timing of his tweet was "particularly insensitive."
Apparently, as one Twitter user told Napear, "All lives matter" is the "go-to response from racist individuals, when they're asked about BLM". Napear apologized. "I'm not as educated on BLM as I thought I was," Napear told the Sacramento Bee. "I had no idea that when I said 'All Lives Matter' that it was counter to what BLM was trying to get across".
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago terminated its contract with University of Chicago economics professor Harald Uhlig, after a tweet he wrote criticizing Black Lives Matter's desire to defund US police departments:
"Too bad, but #blacklivesmatter per its core organization @Blklivesmatter just torpedoed itself, with its full-fledged support of #defundthepolice : 'We call for a national defunding of police.' Suuuure. They knew this is non-starter…"
The termination of Uhlig "reflects our determination that his views are not compatible with the Chicago Fed's values and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion" said the bank. The termination came even as Uhlig apologized for his tweet. Uhlig was also suspended from his position as editor at the Journal of Political Economy at the University of Chicago at the urging of several professors who said that Uhlig was "trivializing the Black Lives Matter movement."
New York Times opinion page editor James Bennett was forced to resign from his position, after he ran an op-ed piece by Senator Tom Cotton, titled, "Send in the troops". The article argued that the U.S. military should be called in as a backup if police failed to get the recent riots under control. Bennett's resignation came after more than 800 Times staff members signed a letter protesting the publication of Cotton's op-ed, and many claimed it "puts Black @NYTimes staff in danger". Bennett apologized for the op-ed, saying that it should not have been published. The New York Times said it would make changes to its opinion section.
A young Democrat data scientist, David Shor, was fired by the research firm for which he was working, Civis Analytics, after tweeting about the electoral effectiveness of peaceful protest as opposed to violent protest. He referenced the work of a Princeton assistant professor, Omar Wasow, that violent protests turn voters away from the Democrat Party.
Shor experienced a backlash on Twitter, where he was accused of racism and "anti-blackness". In addition, "at least some employees and clients on Civis Analytics complained that Shor's tweet threatened their safety", according to New York magazine.
"I regret starting this conversation and will be much more careful moving forward" Shor apologized — to no avail. One Twitter user, Trujillo Wesler tagged Dan Wagner, the CEO of Civis Analytics, telling him to "go get your boy". That was all it took. Shor was fired.
Serbian soccer player Aleksandar Katai was also fired from the Los Angeles Galaxy team. Not because of anything he said or wrote, but because of his wife's social media posts. The Instagram posts made by Tea Katai, according to The Guardian, "showed a police SUV attempting to drive through protesters in New York. A caption in Serbian read, 'Kill the shits!' while a second showed a picture of an individual carrying boxes of Nikes with the caption 'Black Nikes Matter'".
Galaxy fans immediately called for Katai's dismissal. He posted a message on Instagram in which he apologized "for the pain these posts have caused the LA Galaxy family and all allies in the fight against racism". He added, "This was a mistake from my family and I take full responsibility. I will ensure that my family and I… learn, understand, listen and support the black community".
The vice-president and executive editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Stan Wischnowski, resigned after being hit with a backlash for running an article with the title, "Buildings Matter, too." Although the newspaper apologized almost immediately for running the headline, the staff and the public demanded still more. According to the newspaper's publisher, Lisa Hughes:
"We will use this moment to evaluate the organizational structure and processes of the newsroom, assess what we need, and look both internally and externally for a seasoned leader who embodies our values, embraces our shared strategy, and understands the diversity of the communities we serve,"
The United States nominally enshrines the most far-reaching freedom of speech, thanks to the First Amendment of the Constitution:
Corporate America has circumvented the first Amendment by appointing itself the thought police over employees and associates who do not adhere strictly to the "rules" of the current orthodoxy. It administers its ruthless justice — Cultural Revolution style — through the destruction of employee livelihoods and careers.
The new corporate thought police are merciless; they do not accept apologies, however groveling. Perhaps, in the future, corporations will have "reeducation" departments, as in China or the former Soviet Union, for those who still have the courage to open their minds and their mouths.
Judith Bergman, a columnist, lawyer and political analyst, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
Corporate Thought Police
Corporate Tyranny
After the USSR, the USA collapses
Biden has Maybe 2,000 Attendees at Inauguration — and 25,000 Military — Just Like They Do in Lawless Banana Republics
BREAKING: McConnell Allegedly Threatened President Trump If He Chose to Make Certain Pardons
America's First Revolution Is Happening Now – Paul Craig Roberts
2,000 U.S. Marshals Just Deputized In D.C., Here's Why!
1776 Commission Report Released
Major Airstrikes Rock Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias Near Baghdad, Casualties Reported
STORM SEASON HAS BEGUN – AMAZING POLLY
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text:
function simpleFunc() {
    return "this is my simple func";
}
var simpleFuncVar = simpleFunc;
function anotherFuncNoReturn() {
}
var anotherFuncNoReturnVar = anotherFuncNoReturn;
function withReturn() {
    return "Hello";
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function withMultiParams(a, b, c) {
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var withMultiParamsVar = withMultiParams;
function withOptionalParams(a) {
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function withInitializedParams(a, b0, b, c) {
    if (typeof b === "undefined") { b = 30; }
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var withInitializedParamsVar = withInitializedParams;
function withOptionalInitializedParams(a, c) {
    if (typeof c === "undefined") { c = "hello string"; }
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}
var withRestParamsVar = withRestParams;
function overload1(ns) {
    return ns.toString();
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var withOverloadSignature = overload1;
function f(n) {
}
var m2;
(function (m2) {
    function foo(n) {
    }
    m2.foo = foo;
})(m2 || (m2 = {}));
m2.foo(function () {
    var b = 30;
    return b;
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var f2 = function () {
    return "string";
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////[0.d.ts]
function simpleFunc(): string;
var simpleFuncVar: () => string;
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var anotherFuncNoReturnVar: () => void;
function withReturn(): string;
var withReturnVar: () => string;
function withParams(a: string): string;
var withparamsVar: (a: string) => string;
function withMultiParams(a: number, b, c: Object): number;
var withMultiParamsVar: (a: number, b: any, c: Object) => number;
function withOptionalParams(a?: string): void;
var withOptionalParamsVar: (a?: string) => void;
function withInitializedParams(a: string, b0, b?: number, c?: string): void;
var withInitializedParamsVar: (a: string, b0: any, b: number, c: string) => void;
function withOptionalInitializedParams(a: string, c?: string): void;
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function withRestParams(a: string, ...myRestParameter: number[]): number[];
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module m2 {
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var f2: () => string;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Campbell Soup has invested in Habit, a nutrition-focused startup founded by Plum Organics co-founder Neil Grimmer.
Campbell Soup has invested in a new nutrition-focused startup that uses data from an at-home test kit to make personalized food recommendations tailored to an individual's unique DNA.
On Wednesday, the Big Food maker disclosed it was the sole investor in Habit, which is just now launching with the purpose of tailoring personal nutrition recommendations that aim to avoid one-size-fit-all fad diets. The Habit kit won't be available until early next year. In the meantime, Habit and Campbell (cpb) have set up a waitlist for those interested in the system.
The investment in this startup is part of a broader push by Big Food makers to place small bets on disruptive foodie startups at a time when consumers are increasingly interested in newer brands. In just the past year, Campbell, Kellogg (k) and General Mills (gis) have all set up venture capital arms (all operating under different business models) as a way to participate in those trends. They've placed bets on kale chips, nut-based yogurts, and home-growing food kits.
In general, these investments have thus far focused on traditional food startups. Campbell's stake in Habit is further afield from that trend.
The relationship is also a reunion of sorts. Habit is steered by founder and CEO Neil Grimmer, who previously started Plum Organics. Plum grew to become the second-largest baby food brand in the U.S. after Gerber and sold to Campbell back in 2013.
While the specifics about the Habit launch aren't fully clear, it is a futuristic-sounding approach to offering users personalized nutrition tips based on their body's biology. The at-home test kit—which looks at your DNA, blood, body metrics, and other details—aims to determine what nutrients are most ideal for your body. From there, "coaches" will aim to help users achieve their health goals.
There's a physical food component as well. Habit is also a meal-kit delivery service. It wants to send personalized meals to users based on their specific nutrition diet types.
Grimmer, in a blog post about Habit's launch, touts a science-based approach as the best way to tackle health. He claims he was able to lose 25 pounds in six months by using data as the root to his weight-loss journey—a process that meant he took genetic tests, took blood work, and analyzed how his body processed foods. He wants that experience to become more mainstream.


text:
Pope: Step outside comfort zone, get involved
Pope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 29, the feast of the Holy Family. (CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters)
VATICAN CITY — The new year will be brighter only if everyone steps outside their safe havens, gets involved and works together to solve local problems with generosity and love, Pope Francis said.
As 2013 comes to a close, let everyone ask God for forgiveness and thank him for his patience and love, the pope said as he presided over a Dec. 31 evening prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica.
May Mary "teach us to welcome God made man so that every year, every month, every day be overflowing with his eternal love," he said on the eve of the feast honoring her as Mother of God.
Leading the annual "Te Deum" prayer service to thank God for his blessings in 2013 and the gift of salvation in Christ, the pope asked people to reflect on how they have spent the past year — the precious days, weeks and months the Lord has given as a gift to everyone.
"Have we used it mostly for ourselves, for our own interests or did we know to spend it for others, too? How much time did we set aside for being with God, in prayer, in silence, in adoration?"
People should also reflect on how they used their time to contribute to their communities.
The quality of life in a community — how it runs and looks — depends on everyone, he said in his homily, which he delivered standing from a lectern.
"A city's face is like a mosaic in which the tiles are all those who live there," he said.
While public officials and other leaders certainly have more responsibility, "everyone is co-responsible, for the good and bad."
"Have we contributed, in our small way, to making (our communities) livable, orderly, and welcoming?" the pope asked. "What will we do, how will we act in the new year to make our city a little bit better?"
As the bishop of Rome, the pope looked at the Italian capital in particular, noting its "extraordinary" spiritual and cultural riches.
"And yet, Rome also has many people marked by material and moral poverty, people who are poor, unhappy and suffering, who prick the consciences of every citizen," he said.
"In Rome, perhaps we feel this contrast more strongly" with such a stark difference between its "majestic setting, loaded with artistic beauty" and the difficulties people struggle against.
A city of opposites, Rome is teeming with tourists, "but is also filled with refugees. Rome is full of people who work, but also people who can't find work," who are underpaid or have jobs that harm their dignity, he said.
"Everyone has the right to be treated with the same attitude of welcome and fairness because everyone possesses human dignity" and are part of the same human family, he said.
Pope Francis said Rome, like all communities, will be more beautiful, hospitable, welcoming and kind "if all of us are attentive and generous toward whoever is in difficulty; if we know how to collaborate with a constructive and caring spirit for the good of all people."
Every community will be a better place "if there are no people who watch it 'from afar,' like a picture postcard, who observe its life only 'from the balcony' without getting involved" directly with the many problems of the men and women who, "whether we want it or not, are our brothers and sisters."
The pope underlined the important work and duty of the church in contributing to people's lives and future, and how, with the leaven of the Gospel, the church is a sign and instrument of God's mercy.
After the prayer service, Pope Francis was scheduled to travel by car to St. Peter's Square to get a close look at the Nativity scene.
The Texas Catholic
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Father Esposito: The Sabbath Rest is for you, not God
Father Bayer: Seeing Stress in Light of the Gospel
Father Esposito: Traditionis custodes and faithful opportunities


As you can imagine, we had a couple of days to explore all Disney offers. I must admit, I love the creativity and imagination of Disney theme parks. And who can refute their ability to create an environment into something truly magical? Even the fireworks are simply breathtaking.
It didn't stop there. We stood in line to meet Rapunzel from the movie "Tangled" and had pictures taken with Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Cinderella. There were a lot of princesses running around the Magic Kingdom that day.
Back at the Coronado Springs Resort, I met a bunch of other princesses. They were girls representing several states and countries. They didn't wear crowns or have diva attitudes, but came in t-shirts, shorts and big smiles. They worshipped with great abandon and listened intently about the power of the Holy Spirit, not the power of a wish. They listened to women encourage them on how to fight human exploitation and how God is moving among the nations to make His glory known. These are the women of tomorrow–young women who have a passion to fight injustice and to live on mission with God. These are young women who are wearing another crown–a crown of righteousness.
I think every girl loves the fairy tale story of a young princess waiting for her Prince Charming. I just pray we're teaching girls their forever prince is not in a Disney movie, but in the God who loves them more than they can imagine and cares about the intimate details of their life.
What kind of princess are you raising?


Filed to: g.l.o.w.Filed to: g.l.o.w.
Trailers are out of control. We have teasers for trailers and trailers for teaser trailers, and now, here is a video date announcement for Season 2 of GLOW. That being said, it's a delight!
The video features the cast of wrestlers glamming up in their dingy locker room and dancing to "Maniac," a long riff on the iconic scene from 1983's Flashdance. Marketing is out of control, but when something's fun, it's fun. The show returns June 29.