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Alicia Vikander >
Alicia Vikander feels 'lucky' she never developed an eating...
Alicia Vikander feels 'lucky' she never developed an eating disorder
By Bang Showbiz in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 27 August 2020
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Alicia Vikander Michael Fassbender
Hollywood star Alicia Vikander has admitted she feels ''very lucky'' she never developed an eating disorder.
Alicia Vikander feels ''very lucky'' she never developed an eating disorder.
The 31-year-old actress trained in ballet from the age of nine, and Alicia thinks she's fortunate she never developed an eating disorder due to the pressures of the ballet lifestyle.
She said: ''Being in a leotard looking at your body in a mirror seven hours a day, six days a week and having people talk about your body in front of you and in front of other girls and boys, growing up with that is not healthy.''
Alicia feels her mother played an important role in helping her to navigate the pressures she faced.
The actress shared: ''I was very lucky to go through ballet school without having an eating disorder. I don't know how, I think it was my mum who talked about it to me every day.''
Alicia has been married to fellow Hollywood star Michael Fassbender since 2017, and she's now keen to work with him again, having met on the set of 'The Light Between Oceans'.
However, Alicia also sees their independence as a strength of their relationship.
The actress told the October issue of ELLE UK magazine: ''I would love to work with him one day, but we're very much individuals, which I love and I think is good in any relationship.
''We both take on parts because it's a film that is right for us, so it would have to be the same if we were ever to work together again.''
Alicia is also looking forward to returning to work following the coronavirus lockdown.
She said: ''I'm actually really excited. What we've gone through these past few months ... I realise how different it feels being back to what we used to call normality.''
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Home / Ica
Ica boasts characteristic dunes and a vast desert etched with enigmatic figures, the Nazca Lines, transformed into fertile fields by ancient cultures: The Paracas and the Nazca. Land of valleys, sun, beaches and a Natural Reserve inhabited by a lush variety of flora and fauna, it is also a mysterious land of villages, home of fine wine and «pisco», Afro-Peruvian music, and an oasis like the Huacachina, a patch of life in the heart of a blanket of sand.
The name of Paracas means "rain of sand"
Paracas is located in the department of Ica and the province of Pisco in Peru.
Paracas has been declared a regional reserve for migratory birds.
Paracas visitors like to observe the different ecosystems, the archaeological remains of the Paracas culture, and the great diversity of marine fauna that exists in the area.
About 3 hours from Lima by bus
Tour Ballestas Islands
Humboldt penguins and sea lions await you in the Ballestas Islands. Let yourself be captivated by its beautiful landscapes with this excursion from Paracas.
PRICE US$ 19
Tour Paracas National Reserve
Discover with this tour the fauna and landscapes of the Paracas National Reserve, one of the most prominent environmental spaces in western Peru.
wine center producing mainly pisco
Ica is a city in southern central Peru, capital of the department of Ica.
The oasis of Huacachina, located 5 km from the city of Ica, is surrounded by large sand dunes, suitable for practicing the sport called sandboarding, as well as other adventure sports.
About 4.30 hours from Lima by bus
Huacachina Desert Buggy Tour
Dare to cross the dunes of the Huacachina desert aboard some powerful buggies. Enjoy a tremendous adrenaline rush with this tour
Nazca derives from the Quechua word nannian which means "suffering"
Nazca is located in the department of Ica and the province of Nazca in Peru.
Nazca is a very active city, due to the influx of tourists who visit the ancient Nazca Lines daily, and also due to the development of mining, agricultural and commercial boom in the area.
over Flight the Nazca Lines
over Flight over the Nazca Lines
Discover the greatest enigma of world archeology while contemplating the Nazca Lines from the air, the most important geoglyphs in the world.
PRICE US$ 104

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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- Before You Call
- Request for Assistance
- IG History
- Non-Support
Home > Garrison > ISO > IG > Non-Support
Non-Support
Overview of Non-Support
The Inspectors General role in resolving cases relating to the non-support of dependents is sometimes misunderstood by members of the chain of command and family members requesting assistance. Resolution of cases involving nonsupport and indebtedness is a command responsibility. Inspectors General process requests for assistance in matters of nonsupport as follows.
A family member contacts the Inspector General and requests assistance.
The Inspector General confirms that the family member has attempted to contact the sponsor's commander.
If the family member has not contacted the commander, the Inspector General will provide the commander's address and phone number. The Inspector General may also assist the family member in drafting a memorandum to the commander, or direct them to legal assistance, which will also assist in drafting a memorandum.
If the spouse has contacted the commander and has not received a response (14 days after receipt), or the response is not in accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 608-99, the appropriate Inspector General Office will open an Inspector General Action Request. A commander's inquiry will be requested to determine why the requirements of AR 608-99 have not been met.
While conducting any inquiries regarding non-support issues, commanders are reminded that paragraphs 2-5 and 2-11 are punitive.
Interim Family Support Guidelines
AR 608-99 continues to establish interim family support guidelines when there is neither an agreement between the parties nor a court order for support. Department of the Army Message, Subject: Interim Family Support Guidelines, dated 131228Z Jan 98, establishes how to calculate the interim support requirement. Basic Allowance for Housing II and the most current BAH II rates can be found at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil. Finance related issues in general can be found on the DFAS web page at http://www.dod.mil/dfas.
Commander's Guide in Handling Cases of Non-Support
The purpose is to assist the commander in completing a commander's inquiry into an Inspector General allegation of non-support violation. This guide is a recommended procedure extracted from AR 608-99, Family Support, Child Custody and Paternity, dated 29 Oct 03. As per AR 608-99, commanders are responsible for thoroughly and expeditiously investigating claims of nonsupport against Soldiers in their command. Commanders can obtain a copy of AR 608-99 on the Internet.
Contact the IG point of contact (POC) to review the requirements, suspense and any additional background information. If an extension is required, contact the action officer listed as the POC on the request for commander's inquiry. Note: Commanders failing to provide a response by the suspense date may be in violation of AR 608-99, para 3-5a. The Battalion/Squadron commander will be notified concerning company commanders who fail to provide a timely response. The Battalion/Squadron commanders must also be informed of any allegation of repeated or continuing violations of AR 608-99 as stated in para 1-4f(5). For example, a Soldier who seeks to take advantage of a PCS move or change of command to stop support payments, in order to avoid those payments until the new chain of command becomes aware of the problem, could be considered a repeat offender.
Determine the Soldier's financial support obligation.
Read the Soldier his/her rights and complete a DA Form 3881, Rights Warning Procedure/Wavier Certificate. [See AR 608-99, para 3-3a(1)]. If the Soldier invokes his/her Article 31 rights, all questioning of the Soldier must stop, and the Commander should contact his legal advisor for guidance on the appropriate course of action.
Determine whether the Soldier has:
A financial support agreement. (See AR 608-99, para 2-3)
A court order. (See AR 608-99, para, 2-4)
If the commander finds that there is no support agreement or support order as stated above, the support provisions of AR 608-99, para 2-6, apply.
If the Soldier states that no financial obligation or support requirement exist, ensure all provided documents have been reviewed by SJA to relieve the Soldier from financial obligation. If the Soldier is receiving BAH at the "With Dependent" rate, you should verify what BAH rate the solider is entitled to receive.
If it is unclear whether the Soldier has a financial obligation in accordance with AR 608-99, the commander should contact the Administrative Law Section of the SJA Office and get a legal opinion.
If the Soldier admits that he/she has a financial obligation, determine the source of the financial support obligation and verify proof of payment. The following are valid proofs of payment.
Money Order receipts with proof of payment or command verification of receipt of payment by the spouse/recipient.
Verification of support payment by allotment.
Canceled checks with recipient's endorsement on the check.
Other monetary payment methods with command verification of receipt of payment. The command will provide details on the verification of payment when responding to the Office of the Inspector General. Note: AR 608-99, para 5-3 states that commanders will also ensure that voluntary allotment forms are promptly processed. Commanders can work through their Finance chain in order to check the status of allotments.
Direct compliance by counseling the Soldier in writing.
Confirm to the Soldier that a financial obligation to provide support exists.
Determine the appropriate form and timing of financial payments in accordance with AR 608-99, para 2-7.
Determine whether the Soldier is in compliance with the support requirements.
Compliance. Verify that all appropriate documentation that the Soldier provides is in accordance with AR 608-99. If the Soldier is in compliance, the commander will respond back to the IG with this determination and all pertinent documentation.
Noncompliance. For noncompliance, the provisions listed at para 3-10 (Enforcement) apply. Action should be taken to bring the Soldier into compliance with AR 608-99. If the Soldier is not in compliance, the commander will respond back to the IG with a complete summary of the Soldier's failure to comply with AR 608-99, as well as what actions will be taken to bring the Soldier into compliance.
The Soldier should make his or her support payment a priority above all other financial obligations. The Soldier could be directed to AER for a loan if he/she does not have enough money to provide support. This is very important, as in many cases there are children involved and the spouse has no money for their basic needs. In some cases the spouse moves out of quarters and the Soldier's BAH does not start, because the Soldier has remained in quarters. This does not preclude the Soldier from providing support at the BAH "With Dependents" rate (AR 608-99, para 1-7b).
Counsel the Soldier in writing on what his/her support obligation is under AR 608-99. Here are a few things to include as a part of the counseling:
Inform the Soldier that he/she has a legal obligation to support his/her family members, and may seek legal assistance through the SJA office.
Inform the Soldier that he/she has not fulfilled his/her obligation and is in violation of AR 608-99.
Explain what corrective action is necessary to be in compliance with AR 608-99.
Explain accepted forms and timing of payments, in accordance with AR 608-99, para 2-7.
Give him/her an order to comply with the provisions of AR 608-99. Provide a suspense date for compliance to the Soldier and request written proof of compliance [para 3-6b(3)].
Inform the Soldier of the actions available to the command when dealing with violations of the regulation. Listed are some actions available to the commander:
Letter of Reprimand or Admonition
Bar to Reenlistment
Nonjudical punishment
Court-Martial
Administrative separation
Note: A Soldier cannot fall into arrears without violating AR 608-99. (See AR 608-99, para 2-5c for the details on arrears.)
Verify compliance. The commander must verify that the Soldier initiates appropriate financial support. If the Soldier chooses to start an allotment, the commander is responsible for ensuring the Soldier makes interim payments until the allotment is in effect. Proof of this initial payment should be included in the response to the Office of the Inspector General. Call the IG POC to review steps two and three, evidence actions, results, and supporting documents.
Respond to the IG's request for Commander's Inquiry:
Provide a written response to the Office of the Inspector General. See AR 608-99, Chapter 3, for assistance in formulating the response. Also include a statement as to whether the allegation of non-support is either substantiated or not substantiated.
Provide copies of supporting documents to show compliance or corrective action taken in accordance with the provisions of AR 608-99.
In accordance with AR 608-99, para 3-6b(5), commanders should notify the appropriate Finance Office for BAH recoupement action against a Soldier who is drawing BAH, but is not in compliance and chooses not to pay arrearages. The Finance Office may then ensure that the appropriate BAH is returned to the government.
Hand carry your completed inquiry to the IG office. If hand carried by a courier, ensure the packet is in a sealed envelope.
Note: All IG documents (i.e., the original request from the IG for a commander's inquiry) are to be returned to the IG Office. Do not retain any copies of IG correspondence!
Continue to monitor the support requirements of the Soldier in the future months.
Sample Counseling Forms
Non-Support with Court Order
Non-Support without Court Order
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DSN: 464-7747
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Home » Figures » 10 Facts about Cesar Millan
10 Facts about Cesar Millan
Monday, November 16th 2015. | Figures
If you want to know the interesting information about the Mexican American self-taught dog behaviorist, check facts about Cesar Millan. He was born on 27 August 1969 as Felipe Millan Favela. In 2004 until 2012, he had a TV series with the title Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. This program was very popular in the world for it was aired in more than 80 countries in the world. Find out other facts about Cesar Millan below:
Facts about Cesar Millan 1: the career before The Dog Whisperer series
Millan established Dog Psychology Center in South Los Angeles. There were several of dogs rehabilitated by Millan before he worked on the Dog Whisperer series.
Facts about Cesar Millan 2: Dog Psychology Center
Dog Psychology Center was located in South Los Angeles in 2002 until 2008. Then he moved the center into Santa Clarita, California in 2009.
Cesar Millan Facts
Facts about Cesar Millan 3: a clinic
There is an East Coast Clinic established by Millan. The location is near Fort Lauderdale in Davie Florida at Country Inn Pet Resort.
Facts about Cesar Millan 4: New York Times best sellers
Millan is also a wonderful writer. Do you know that New York Times stated that the first three books of Millan were all best seller. They were sold in more than 14 countries in the world. In United States, the books were sold for more than 2 million copies.
Facts about Cesar Millan
Facts about Cesar Millan 5: Cesar's Way
Cesar's Way is not only a name of his book. He also chooses the title as the name of his monthly magazine. He worked with IMG in 2009. More than 50 percent of the American customers recognized him based on the report of the Wall Street Journal.
Facts about Cesar Millan 6: Millan Foundation
Millan Foundation was established by Cesar Millan and his ex wife, Ilusión Millan. Then it was called Cesar Millan Foundation.
Facts about Cesar Millan 7: a children's curriculum
Millan also cooperated with Yale University. Both worked together to establish curriculum for children. Get facts about American bulldogs here.
Facts about Cesar Millan 8: the purpose of his work
He wants to present a balanced relationship of canines and human being by training people and rehabilitating the dogs.
Cesar Millan Pic
Facts about Cesar Millan 9: the dog boy
When he was young, Millan was called the dog boy due to his natural way with the dog. Get facts about cats and dogs here.
Facts about Cesar Millan 10: the first job
Millan worked at a dog grooming store as his first job in U.S. Do you know that one of Millan's first clients was Jada Pinkett Smith?
Cesar Millan Image
What do you think on facts about Cesar Millan?
tags: Cesar Millan, Facts about Cesar Millan
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This three-piece band consists of Pete on piano, Philippa on fiddle and accordion, and Colin on whistles, flute, banjo and Spanish bagpipes (gaita). Between them they have many years' experience in playing for dancing. The band are joined by an expert caller for all their ceilidh gigs, so beginners and pro's alike can enjoy a range of set dances from around the world. The band perform Irish Ceilidh (ceili) for weddings in and around Cumbria.
played for many years and come highly recommended. A great band for an Irish Ceilidh (ceili) on St Patrick's Day's, or just to bring the flavour of Ireland to Cumbria. Having done various prestige functions and weddings over the years they can assure a good time for all.
This band offer entertainment ranging from exciting high energy dance music, slow gentle airs and inspiring songs. They perform a sizzling fusion of the acoustic with the electric, the traditional with the new. Cumbria is within this band's local area for Irish Ceilidh (ceili) .
The O S Band specialises in playing for ceilidhs, barn dances and hoedowns. The band's danceable and foot-tapping sound is based on a varied range of instruments - melodeon, banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and bass. The band perform Irish Ceilidh (ceili) for weddings in and around Cumbria.
The band specialises in the lively jigs, reels and hornpipes and the tuneful slow airs and waltzes which feature in the traditional music of Northumberland and the Borders. A lively band for an Irish Ceilidh (ceili) , to get a party in Cumbria really going.
The RT Band are an experienced ceilidh band who play venues throughout the North West of England. They play at folk festivals, parties, wedding receptions and other events. The band perform Irish Ceilidh (ceili) for weddings in and around Cumbria.
The band can offer all Irish Ceili, Scottish Ceilidh or a mixture including English or American. They are a group of talented musicians, who have been playing in bands for many years on Teesside and then decided to form this band after they realised they had something 'special' going. Cumbria is within this band's local area for Irish Ceilidh (ceili) . They are capable of catering for all musical tastes - Irish, Scottish, English or American (or a mix). They'll also throw the odd song in now and then to give everyone else a breather !
Theis band are a professional four piece Irish and Ceili Band, who play a fantastic and lively range of real Traditional and Contemporary Irish music, songs and tunes, as well as Celtic rock and Country rock & roll. They are all professional musicians who came together about 8 years ago from academic, formal, semi-pro and session music backgrounds, to form one of the most vibrant and lively bands on the Irish music scene today. A lively band for an Irish Ceilidh (ceili) , to get a party in Cumbria really going.
This is a budget band featuring a very accomplished accordion player plus caller. The band perform Irish Ceilidh (ceili) for weddings in and around Cumbria. As an offshoot of a larger band the performers are very used to playing for all types of events. Their caller is experienced in encouraging everyone to join in and have fun. the band can offer a good selection of traditional folk music, Scottish and Irish tunes, American and others.
The AJ Ceilidh band are a band made up of talented traditional musicians. A great band for an Irish Ceilidh (ceili) on St Patrick's Day's, or just to bring the flavour of Ireland to Cumbria. The members of the band have been playing for many years and are capable of catering for all musical tastes, Irish, Scottish, English or American. (or a mixture).
The band line-up includes melodeon, keyboard / guitar and bass/recorder. Cumbria is within this band's local area for Irish Ceilidh (ceili) .
The group perform a full show, which focuses on traditional Irish dance & music. A concert performance consists of several choreographed dance numbers to live music, interspersed with occasional songs, set dances, solo dances, mouth music, instrumental solos & arranged group pieces of music. A lively band for an Irish Ceilidh (ceili) , to get a party in Cumbria really going.
An extension of their top Irish band (The WJ Band ref:4206.1), they are joined by experienced callers like Roger Newton, Fred Lloyd and Geoff Miller, who go together to form the MG Ceilidh Band. The band perform Irish Ceilidh (ceili) for weddings in and around Cumbria.
Based on an Irish Ceilidh Band, they can also include Scottish, English, CelticRock , Country and Rock&Roll if desired. The Band are a professional four piece Irish Band offering a fantastic and lively range of Irish music. A great band for an Irish Ceilidh (ceili) on St Patrick's Day's, or just to bring the flavour of Ireland to Cumbria. They are all professional musicians who came together about 5 years ago to form one of the most vibrant and lively bands on the Irish music scene today.
Loosely based on an all Scottish Ceilidh Band, they can also include English, Irish, American, Klezmer Scandinavian, Eastern European and French. The DF Ceilidh Band are a two piece band who use loops to build up a full band sound, offering a broad repertoire of dances and music. A lively band for an Irish Ceilidh (ceili) , to get a party in Cumbria really going. Their infectious style and energetic performance suits all occasions, from weddings and festivals to corporate events and birthday parties.
The LN Ceilidh Band is a lively and vibrant band with a mix of folk and trad music. All the members of the band are from all over Scotland and got different styles and experiences in music. The band consists of Accordion, Piano , Fiddle , Drums & Vocals. Don't Know how to do the dances? the band can call & demonstrate. The band perform Irish Ceilidh (ceili) for weddings in and around Cumbria.
An all Scottish ceilidh band, the NR Band have a long track-record of performing top-quality, competitively-priced ceilidhs for weddings, parties, celebrations and corporate events. A great band for an Irish Ceilidh (ceili) on St Patrick's Day's, or just to bring the flavour of Ireland to Cumbria.
Whether they perform theatre, outdoor concerts or private engagements the MM Folk Band never fail to to captivate their audience. They can take you from having a tear in your eye to dancing a jig to crying with laughter in a matter of moments. Cumbria is within this band's local area for Irish Ceilidh (ceili) .


What to do: Try using toothpastes made for sensitive teeth. Brush in small circular motions with a soft brush; brushing sideways wears away exposed root surfaces. If this is unsuccessful, see your general dentist. If the sensitivity is coming from a decay you should see your general dentist.
What to do:See a dentist for evaluation. If the problem is pulp tissue damage, your dentist will perform a procedure that cleans out the damaged pulp and fills and seals the remaining space.
What to do: See your dentist to save the tooth with a root canal treatment.
What to do:See your dentist for evaluation and treatment to relieve the pain and save the tooth.
What to do: For sinus headache, see your physician. For bruxism, consult your dentist.
Myth — Root canal treatment is painful.
Truth— Root canal treatment doesn't cause pain, it relieves it.
Most patients see their dentist when they have a severe toothache. The toothache can be caused by damaged tissues in the tooth. Root canal treatment removes this damaged tissue from the tooth, thereby relieving the pain you feel. The perception of root canals being painful began decades ago when root canal treatment was painful. But with the latest technologies and anesthetics, root canal treatment today is no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed. In fact, a recent survey showed that patients who have experienced root canal treatment are six times more likely to describe it as "painless" than patients who have not had root canal treatment.
To know more about Common Dental Symptoms visit Village Family Dental office or call the Dentist in Myrtle Beach at 843-215-2599 for inquiries about the dental services.


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Tag: Wildlife Conservation
NHBS Field Sessions: Waterway Surveys for Daubenton's Bats
NHBS' staff members are wild about wildlife! To showcase this, we are encouraging our team to write blogs about their experiences with nature.
During the Summer months, Jon Flynn, a member of NHBS' Wildlife Equipment Team attended a number of Waterway Surveys for Daubenton's bats (Myotis daubentonii). Read more about his survey experiences below:
Stretch of the River Teign captured by Westcountry Rivers Trust via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).
"On Monday 6th July I took part in a Waterway Survey for Daubenton's bat along a stretch of the River Teign in Devon. The survey is completed twice per year in conjunction with the Bat Conservation Trust and is part of an ongoing data collection programme for bat species around the UK. The lead for this particular survey was John Mitchell who has been surveying this particular length of the Teign, near Teigngrace, for a good number of years. It was my third survey there.
The survey was due to start 40 minutes after sunset, so we met at 9.00pm and made our way along the edge of a maize field to arrive at our first stopping point. This was to be a transect survey which meant walking a length of the river bank and stopping at ten predetermined points to record bat activity at each one. We stood at the river's edge and immediately noticed that the river level was a lot lower than it was during our last visit a year or so ago. We recorded air temperature and cloud cover and, as we prepared, various species of bats could already be seen zooming around the trees and openings as they commenced another night of nocturnal foraging. The air was very warm, still and humid, and flying insects were everywhere including a host of moths and some less welcome biting species.
As the light faded it was time to start. With bat detectors switched on and earphones in place, we directed a torch beam on the river's surface and awaited the arrival of the first Daubenton's.
Looking for bats at twilight by Nic McPhee via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).
The Daubenton's bat is a species which typically occupies riparian woodland. They often roost in trees along the river bank and hunt by skimming low over the surface of the water for insects. They can take prey from the water's surface using their feet or tail membrane.
As bats skimmed through the torch beam we were able to count them. We counted the number of passes that we observed and for this a clicker counter is always useful! The bats that we heard but did not see were also recorded as additional information. I set my Magenta 5 at 50hz and listened whilst John relied on his trusty and more accomplished Bat Box Duet.
After four minutes on the stopwatch we finished counting, compared counts and wrote down results. At stop number 1 there were certainly bats present, but they were swooping around quite high above the water surface and not showing the typical behaviour of Daubenton's – John was dubious that they were our target species so we recorded them only as potential sightings.
Using GPS devices and torches we left for Survey Point 2 further down the river bank and repeated the same process as before. At this location there was no denying that these WERE Daubenton's bats, as the torch beam caught their pale almost white ventral fur, confirming their identity. Our detectors were full of noise too, including the typical intense zap as a bat homed in on prey.
A close-up of a Daubenton's bat. Image captured by Gilles San Martin via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).
On we progressed with eight more stopping points to go. Occasionally our river bank scrambles took us through thickets of invasive Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)– a sobering reminder of how our countryside is changing. The night remained still and warm and it almost felt like we were in a different country.
After eight more stops my watch said 11:20pm. It was good to see that bats were in profusion that night, as John stated 'It was one of the best ever totals, with one stopping point recording over 50 passes!'.
Two weeks later and we repeated the process. But this second night felt noticeably cooler and there were fewer insects on the wing. Nevertheless bats were still out and about in reasonable numbers and an average score was calculated between the two Waterway surveys. Overall there were encouraging signs that the Daubenton's bat continues to do well along this particular stretch of the Teign."
To find out more information about the various bat detectors available, go to our website. To find out more about how you can help bats in your local area, have a look at our handy guide.
If you like the idea of taking part in Waterway Surveys (or other kinds of bat surveys) then contact the Bat Conservation Trust or have a look at their website here. It's great fun and you can put your bat detector to important use!
Author Bryony JamesPosted on 16th October 2018 5th June 2019 Categories Supporting ConservationTags Bat detector, bat survey, bats, ecology, NHBS Staff Adventures, Wildlife ConservationLeave a comment on NHBS Field Sessions: Waterway Surveys for Daubenton's Bats
Conservation Volunteering at Ambios Farm and Wildlife Fayre
At NHBS, all members of staff have the opportunity to partake in conservation volunteering days as part of the company's philanthropic initiative to carry out nature conservation locally. As part of this initiative, I recently chose to volunteer at an event for a cause that is close to my heart nearby in Totnes.
On Friday 8th June, I volunteered at a Farm and Wildlife Fayre run by Ambios, an organisation that provides education and volunteering opportunities in nature conservation in the UK and abroad. Set in the beautiful Sharpham Estate, with the river Dart and rolling hills surrounding the farm, it was the perfect setting to engage others in nature conservation. This place is special to me, as this is where my initial nature conservation training began before I joined NHBS in 2017. Below is a video of the Wildlife Fayre filmed by Ross Gill of Fresh Ground Films.
At the Wildlife Fayre I worked alongside conservation volunteers, knowledgeable experts in the field and the charity, United Response, who provide a range of support services for individuals with physical and learning difficulties. The aim of the event was to get a wider audience of people involved in nature conservation by allowing them to take part in accessible activities that help individuals to get up-close and personal with local wildlife. More than 200 children and young adults from special needs schools and colleges attended, in addition to young families from the local area.
Engaging and educational activities drew in crowds, including bug hunts, bird box making, forest school sessions, green woodworking and plant identification. The air was filled with excitement as children and adults alike rushed around with their newly carved spatulas and bird boxes. Footsteps hurried as groups rushed between activities with freshly picked produce from the farm in their hands.
Photo by Ross Gill of Fresh Ground Films
The farm office was transformed into a wildlife information hub, which hosted an array of interesting finds. Through microscopes you were transported into another world where you could view bumblebees and Garden Chafer Beetles at close range.
Tanks held Palmate Newts hiding amongst curtains of pond weed and field guides lay next to plaster-cast footprints of creatures who had visited the farm. In one corner, a table was covered with flora found locally for anyone wishing to test their plant identification skills. In another, an array of uncommonly seen finds were lined up including the skulls of animals and tightly woven dormouse nests.
Something that really drew me in were the screens in the wildlife information hub which displayed stories of the wild residents of Sharpham, including nest box inhabitants and various small mammals. You could watch a timeline of Blue Tits building their nest and sitting on eggs. Later you saw the chicks being fed, strengthening their wings and finally fledging!
My responsibilities whilst volunteering at the event revolved around providing support and an extra pair of hands. I helped groups to move between activities and demonstrated how to use tools and equipment such as nets and pooters. At NHBS I work as a Wildlife Equipment Specialist, so it was great to be able to show others first-hand how to use the equipment that we have access to every day. It was lovely to see how excited the children got about using the equipment to get closer to nature.
The Farm and Wildlife Fayre was a fantastic success! The event proved to be a brilliant way of captivating young minds and introducing them to the natural world. By partaking in accessible activities, each person felt confident enough to try something new and learnt a great deal along the way.
Ambios Director and Farm Manager said,
"Our farm and wildlife fayre was a huge success – we are delighted! We had nearly 200 people over the day, from all walks of life experiencing what we do at lower sharpham farm, and getting up close and personal with wildlife as well as getting to know our farm animals. Our farming practice aims to prioritise wildlife, and we are delighted to share our work and our story with a wide audience. Our next event will be a barn dance in the late summer, so watch this space!"
It was great to be involved and I love to think that if this event has inspired just one person to appreciate and protect nature a little further, then it was all worth it!
Stay tuned for more volunteer event posts from my colleagues at NHBS as they embark on their own conservation volunteering days.
To find out more about NHBS's approach to philanthropic work, please follow this link. For more information about the work that Ambios does, please follow this link.
Author Bryony JamesPosted on 27th June 2018 5th June 2019 Categories Supporting ConservationTags Environmental Awareness, Environmental Conservation, NHBS Volunteers, Wildlife ConservationLeave a comment on Conservation Volunteering at Ambios Farm and Wildlife Fayre
Inheritors of the Earth: An interview with Chris D. Thomas
Chris D. Thomas on a field expedition in Danum Valley, Sabah, 2015.
Chris D. Thomas is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of York and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in July 2012. He has an interest in understanding how humans have changed the biological world, and how we might protect the biodiversity that remains. His first book, Inheritors of the Earth, is a very interesting and thought-provoking read on the current mass extinction crisis, and conservation philosophy in general, focusing on the proverbial winners, and calling out conservationists for holding viewpoints that seem more driven by nostalgia than by logical thinking about the biological future of our planet. Sure to ruffle some feathers, NHBS nevertheless believes that this book makes an important contribution, and that his arguments are more balanced than a cursory glance might suggest. We contacted Chris with a list of questions that arose after reading it.
1. In your book, you quite rightly argue that, despite species going extinct, there are species who are benefitting from our presence and the changes we have wrought to our ecosystems. You acknowledge that our influences largely seem to result in an accelerated introduction of species in new areas. Will the net result of this great reshuffling not be a world that is suited only to generalist species (the proverbial rats and pigeons) at the expense of specialists?
This is not quite how I see it. Take your two examples. The Asian brown rat was a regular rodent (granted it was omnivorous, but so are many other rodents), before it hitched a lift with us around the world. Today, the brown rat mainly lives in and around human habitation and farmland, except on islands that lack native rodents, so you could simply call it a specialist on human-modified environments. The feral or town pigeon originated as a specialist cliff-nesting pigeon (the rock dove) in western Europe, the Mediterranean, and into western Asia. It is still a cliff-nesting bird, living on our buildings. Neither the feral pigeon nor the brown rats are unusually generalised, relative to many other birds and mammals. It is their proximity to us that makes us think of them as generalists. I don't think we should synonymise 'successful' or 'living in human-modified environments' with being a 'generalist'.
2. In Chapter 6, "Heirs to the World", you mention that most current conservation efforts focus on trying to defend the losers. You argue that, though honourable, it will be more effective to back the winners, i.e. those species that will make up future biological communities. An important theme in the recent book Never Out of Season: How Having the Food We Want When We Want it Threatens Our Food Supply and Our Future is that the loss of wild crop varieties through extinction is threatening our future food supply. Many of these wild varieties might have the potential of providing new food sources when our current crop varieties will inevitably succumb to new insect pests or pathogens, or can provide other benefits (e.g. pharmaceuticals). This is why projects such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and other seed banks are so important. Do you see any value in the conservation of threatened species, or is this crying over spilt milk?
I argue that we should in most instances continue to protect 'species'. Rare species may become common and hence fulfil important roles in future ecosystems, and species that we currently ignore (or have not yet discovered) may become economically, medically or socially important to us in the future. Hanging onto as many species as possible is not a preservationist agenda, but rather a means of maintaining the building blocks of future ecosystems, fuelling biological changes that will take place in the coming centuries. Similar arguments apply to rare genes that belong to wild relatives of plants and livestock that we already use. They provide long-term resilience and flexibility.
3. In Chapter 11, "Noah's Earth", you call for a new conservation philosophy that acknowledges that life is a process, not a final product. In your view, this philosophy would rest on four overarching principles: a) accept change, b) maintain flexibility for future change by conserving species wherever possible, c) accept that humans are natural and that anything we do is part of the evolutionary history of life (this includes not shying back from employing any and all solutions at our disposal, including genetic techniques – none of them will make the world less natural), d) live within our natural boundaries. In the remainder of that chapter you elaborate on the first three principles, but not the fourth. How do you envision realising this fourth principle?
As I say: "We know that we cannot expect the bounty to continue if we carry on killing animals faster than they can breed or cut forests down faster than they grow. This strategy failed when our ancestors drove most of the world's largest land animals to extinction, and it has played out in the last few centuries as whale and fish populations have collapsed under the pressure of over-harvesting. We need a resilient and sustainable approach. We should aim for maximum efficiency, by which I mean that we should pursue strategies that fulfil all human needs – and, where possible, desires – of every citizen on Earth while generating the least possible collateral damage to the global environment."
Harvesting a species faster than the survivors can reproduce can be thought of as a relatively 'hard' natural boundary (once a species is extinct, it is no longer a resource), but other bounds are much softer (a forest with one fewer species still grows), and hence we often need to specify tolerable levels of change, rather than catastrophic points of no return. These issues deserve book-length treatment on their own, which is why I did (deliberately) somewhat duck the issues!
When I refer to the 'least possible collateral damage to the global environment', I am thinking about the development of technological and social 'game changers'. For example, most meat production is based on filling our fields and barns with cows, sheep and chickens, which we then kill for food. If we could switch to the consumption of 'factory-grown' cultured meats, powered by renewable energy, it would dramatically reduce pressure on the land; although admittedly not by as much as if we all became vegetarians.
4. Your book makes many valid points as to how our current thinking around species conservation is in conflict with itself, or simply illogical (e.g. the distinction between native and invasive species, because, seen over long enough time scales, species distribution has always fluctuated. Or the idea that there is no one period in the history of life that we can take as a benchmark of the idealised pristine state the world should be in. Or simply the idea that conservation means "freezing" the world in its current (or a former) state – after all, the only constant of life on our planet has always been change). You also, provocatively I would say, argue that many island species that have gone extinct were effectively already evolutionary dead ends, having evolved in environments free from predators and pathogens. We have merely hastened their demise, but they would eventually have gone extinct anyway. Should we really give up on them?
I don't think it is particularly controversial (or provocative, therefore) to say that most flightless and disease-susceptible terrestrial birds (as opposed to seabirds) that live on oceanic islands represent evolutionary dead-ends, on a time scale of ten or so million years. What are the alternatives? They would never be able to establish viable populations on continents because pathogens and predators are present. Confined to their island homes, they would eventually have died out, either when the islands eroded away, or when additional continental species arrived without human intervention (for example Darwin's finches have 'only' been on the Galapagos for two to three million years). In most cases, we have accelerated the extinction of such species but not altered their eventual fate.
What we should do with the few remaining survivors is another issue. What I argue in Inheritors of the Earth is that we should think quite broadly. Can we introduce new genes to disease-susceptible birds that will make them resistant (for example to save the remaining Hawaiian honeycreepers)? Can we cross predator-susceptible birds with related species that reproduce fast enough to survive the new levels of predation (for example to save New Zealand black stilts)? Could we introduce new strains of bird malaria that are less potent, and displace the existing fatal ones? In other words, can we make the endangered island forms more resistant in some way and the continental invaders less virulent, so that long-term coexistence becomes possible? If not, then maybe we should indeed abandon some of the losers, and contemplate releasing continental walking birds (which can resist pathogens and predators) and pollinators, rather than dwell too long attempting to recreate a biological world that was inherently unstable.
5. One argument in favour of trying to conserve the "charismatic megafauna", such as elephants and rhinos, are that they function as flagship species, and that conservation efforts aimed at them can benefit whole ecosystems. In your book, you don't really go into this. What are your thoughts on the concept of flagship species, especially in light of your argument that "defending the losers" is ultimately a lost cause?
I am generally in favour of large, flagship species because they require large areas to protect, and this indirectly benefits many other species (though flagship conservation is not sufficient because it may miss areas of endemism). They are also culturally important to conservationists as well as to the general public, gaining public and political support for conservation. The giant panda has been globally important, and critical to the conservation of Chinese forests, despite being a slightly 'dodgy species'!
When I discuss losers, remember that I then add the question "can we turn them into winners" (or at least into survivors). For the large megafauna that still survive, this is easy. We can choose not to hunt them to extinction any longer. It is already the case that large birds and large mammals are tending to recover in Europe and North America, and this is also true of the Great Whales. They were losers in the context of historic human culture, and there is no necessary reason why they 'must be' losers. Once ivory and rhino horn 'culture' is turned around, there will be nothing 'wrong' with these species either.
6. If you were put in charge of a major conservation organisation, say WWF, what would you do differently? Would you, for example, have greenlighted their recent campaign to try and protect the last remaining individual vaquitas (the threatened porpoise endemic to the Gulf of California)?
I'm not going to answer your first question because that would be a whole new book (or job if they offer it to me!). I'll just say that, on day one, I would request a review of activities, and for every measure currently being undertaken to prevent change or decline, I would ask for the staff to develop an additional measures to promote changes that would increase diversity (or the status of an endangered species).
As for the vaquita, I am no expert. However, it is evolutionary distinct, and it is a perfectly viable species if we were stop killing it (including through gillnets). It is not a species that one should necessarily give up on. More broadly, it is a symptom of the mismanagement of the world's marine resources. We sorted out farming on land a long time ago, but we are still more or less acting as hunter-gatherers in the marine realm. It is hopelessly inefficient.
If I had an infinite supply of money, I would be looking to invest in fish farms (they can be locally damaging, but humans still need food), and I would also invest in new GM crops which produce fish oils so that the farmed fish could be fed on terrestrial plants rather than 'wild caught' marine resources. Beyond that, I would invest in cultured fish meat (factory grown muscles), further reducing the need to catch wild fish. The aim would be for virtually all fish consumed in the year 2100 to be farmed or, ideally, cultured as tissues in factories.
Whether or not the vaquita itself can be saved, these strategies are all about generating permanent means of providing a global supply of fish meat without causing anything like as much collateral damage as takes place at present.
7. As mentioned above, I think your book makes excellent arguments. And yet, reading it also brought with it a certain sense of unease. It almost feels a bit defeatist, as if we might just as well give up on fighting to save threatened species and just go with the flow. I can see this argument not being popular. A lot of people feel we have a moral responsibility, as an intelligent, thinking species, to not drive other species over the edge, and to put a stop to our destructive ways. Isn't saying "everything we do is natural, we are just another step in the evolution of life" a bit of a cop out?
I'll leave others to discuss morals!
Saying that everything is natural, including all conservation actions we take, allows us to take 'affirmative action' for wildlife in a manner that some conservationists would historically have been nervous about ("I can't do that, it would not be natural"). So, I see it as an opening up of new conservation opportunities, not a cop out.
8. It is perhaps a bit early to ask you how the book has been received. But, clearly, when a book like this is written, it is often based on years of work and research that has led up to it. These ideas did not just appear. So, how have your viewpoints been received so far?
The response to the book seems good so far, but it is far too early to judge. You are right, I have put some of these views out there previously, and they have received a mixture of responses. Many people seem very supportive. However, invasive species biologists are mostly negative, I think fearing that non-native species legislation could be undermined, more than genuinely questioning the biological thesis (that may just be my interpretation). There are also those, such as E. O. Wilson, who consider that I and others are being Anthropocene apologists. I understand their point, but we cannot simply continue to wish that we live in an unchanged world. We have to develop an understanding of biology, and an approach to conservation, that works with change rather than against it.
9. Obviously, there are many parties in our society who stand to gain a great deal from ignoring conservation concerns and steam-rolling ahead with "business as usual", continuing to destroy natural habitats for corporate gains. With this book now poised to be published, do you not worry that your narrative will be hijacked, the way has happened with the debate surrounding climate change? I can already see people using your arguments to legitimise their actions, arguing along the lines of "this biologist said that the extinction crisis really isn't such a big deal. See? Lots of species doing really well!". Have you considered strategies to prevent this from happening?
I nearly didn't put fingers to keyboard for this very reason. However, if we build a case for conservation based on a loss-only view of the world, eventually it will fall. The edifice is already creaking. A more balanced view that admits to the reality of biological gains as well as losses should, in the end, lead to more rational decision-making.
In terms of conservation, I have stated my own views. In the Epilogue, I write: "If [existing conservation] efforts were abandoned, the extinction rate would escalate. A major task of conservation is to keep the losses towards the lower end of the likely range – as well as to encourage biological gains. Although I have been advocating a more flexible approach to the environment, and specifically to conservation, nothing I have said should be used to undermine attempts to save existing species or maintain protected areas."
As for the extinction 'big deal', biological gains of the Anthropocene do not let us off the hook. A simple linear extrapolation of the current rate of extinction wipes out about three-quarters of all species in the next ten millennia. This is risky, given that species represent our planet's biological parachute. All future ecosystems will be formed from the descendants of existing species, and we do not know which of today's currently-rare species will be important components of future ecosystems (especially if humans alter the planet in yet another, unexpected way). Letting rare species go could have major long-term consequences. My advice would be not to discard the biological building blocks of our planet lightly.
Inheritors of the Earth is available to order from NHBS
Author LeonPosted on 6th July 2017 7th June 2019 Categories Author InterviewTags biodiversity, Extinction, species conservation, Wildlife ConservationLeave a comment on Inheritors of the Earth: An interview with Chris D. Thomas
Wildlife in a Changing World – Now Available at NHBS
Wildlife in a Changing World: An Analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has just been published and is available at NHBS. This new volume brings updated information across all threatened species and in particular new data on freshwater and marine species.
Wildlife in a Changing World provides the most up-to-date information on the patterns of species facing extinction in some of the most important ecosystems in the world and the reasons behind their declining status. For managers this information will assist in designing and delivering targeted action to mitigate these threats. From a policy perspective, the IUCN Red List offers a progressively more valuable tool. Increasingly it provides the fundamental information needed to deliver indicators for tracking. Order your copy today
Other recent wildlife and species conservation titles include Species Richness, The Game of Conservation, Restoring Wildlife and Rewilding the West.
Browse New Wildlife and Species Conservation titles
Author KatherinePosted on 4th September 2009 10th June 2019 Categories Book CollectionsTags conservation, Decline, IUCN, Red List, species conservation, Wildlife ConservationLeave a comment on Wildlife in a Changing World – Now Available at NHBS


text:
package net.roboconf.core.dsl.parsing;

import java.io.File;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

import net.roboconf.core.model.ParsingError;

/**
 * A bean that contains information about a configuration file.
 * @author Vincent Zurczak - Linagora
 */
public class FileDefinition {

	public static final int UNDETERMINED = 0;
	public static final int GRAPH = 1;
	public static final int INSTANCE = 2;
	public static final int AGGREGATOR = 3;
	public static final int EMPTY = 4;

	private File editedFile;
	private int fileType = UNDETERMINED;
	private final List<ParsingError> parsingErrors = new ArrayList<> ();
	private final List<AbstractBlock> blocks = new ArrayList<> ();

	/**
	 * Constructor.
	 * @param editedFile not null
	 */
	public FileDefinition( File editedFile ) {
		this.editedFile = editedFile;
	}

	/**
	 * @param editedFile the editedFile to set
	 */
	public void setEditedFile( File editedFile ) {
		this.editedFile = editedFile;
	}

	/**
	 * @return the editedFile
	 */
	public File getEditedFile() {
		return this.editedFile;
	}

	/**
	 * @return the parsingErrors
	 */
	public List<ParsingError> getParsingErrors() {
		return this.parsingErrors;
	}

	/**
	 * @return the blocks
	 */
	public List<AbstractBlock> getBlocks() {
		return this.blocks;
	}

	/**
	 * @return the file type, {@link FileDefinition#GRAPH} or {@link #INSTANCE}
	 */
	public int getFileType() {
		return this.fileType;
	}

	/**
	 * @param fileType the file type
	 * <p>
	 * {@link FileDefinition#GRAPH} or {@link #INSTANCE} or {@link #AGGREGATOR}
	 * </p>
	 */
	public void setFileType( int fileType ) {
		if( fileType != GRAPH
				&& fileType != INSTANCE
				&& fileType != AGGREGATOR
				&& fileType != EMPTY )
			throw new IllegalArgumentException( "The file type was expected to be GRAPH, INSTANCE, AGGREGATOR or EMPTY." );

		this.fileType = fileType;
	}

	/*
	 * (non-Javadoc)
	 * @see java.lang.Object#toString()
	 */
	@Override
	public String toString() {

		StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
		sb.append( this.editedFile.getName());
		sb.append( " with " );
		sb.append( this.blocks.size());
		sb.append( " block" );
		if( this.blocks.size() > 1 )
			sb.append( "s" );

		return sb.toString();
	}

	/**
	 * Transforms a file type into a string.
	 * @param fileType a file type
	 * @return a string version of the file type (never null)
	 */
	public static String fileTypeAsString( int fileType ) {

		String result;
		switch( fileType ) {
		case AGGREGATOR:
			result = "aggregator";
			break;

		case GRAPH:
			result = "graph";
			break;

		case INSTANCE:
			result = "intsnace";
			break;

		case UNDETERMINED:
			result = "undetermined";
			break;

		default:
			result = "unknown";
			break;
		}

		return result;
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


This story originally appeared on the USGA's website in April 2010.
Certified in 2009 as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, Neshanic Valley is one of only a handful of golf courses in the Garden State to be cited as River Friendly by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority. The course also has been formally recognized for Environmental Stewardship by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
And as of 2010, Neshanic Valley is a Groundwater Guardian Green Site, which means the facility does everything in its power to protect groundwater, along with the river and wildlife. It is the only facility in New Jersey that holds this distinction.
It's great, said Andrew Hojnowski, Neshanic Valley's manager of golf course maintenance. Any kind of good publicity we can get is good, especially being a county operation. We're always under fire. We're always in the spotlight. Golf courses in general are under fire.
Anywhere we don't have to [water], we don't, said Hojnowski. We have a limitation on how much we can use each year, but our goal is to use as little as possible.
Just because they say you can use 50 million gallons doesn't mean we do. Last year, we only used 20-something. We'll average around 40 million [gallons].
The 32-year-old Hojnowski, who has been at the facility for five years, has spent half his life working at golf courses. His second job came 17 years ago at Cape May National on the New Jersey shore and he's loved golf course maintenance ever since.
But at Somerset County-run Neshanic Valley, which opened in 2004, Hojnowski has to carefully balance management programs that not only protect the environment but also keep the course in proper condition. Strict Environmental Protection Agency guidelines must be followed. The county dictates the amount of annual water he can use and Hojnowski monitors the situation on a daily basis through the use of a computer weather station and common sense.
The drier the better, said Hojnowski of the course, which will host the 2012 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. The course has been a previous host site for U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Amateur Public and Women's Amateur Public Links sectional qualifying. I like to let it … play hard and fast. As you can see, this course is wide open. It dries out super fast.
The Go Green philosophy goes far beyond golf course maintenance. Something as simple as more efficient light bulbs are used to save energy.
Park rangers have also assisted prospective Eagle Scouts with wildlife projects at the facility. One individual built 15 bluebird boxes in 2009. Four years ago, another person constructed wood duck boxes and placed them all along the river. There are also five purple martin boxes and bat houses that the staff created.
We do as much as we can to enhance the wildlife habitat around here, said Hojnowski. We monitor all of the nests each year.
While some see golf courses as environmentally unfriendly, Hojnowski and other agronomists understand that's simply not the case. As he drove around the course with a visitor, Hojnowski had to quietly admonish a player for entering an environmentally sensitive area during a ball search.
It happens all the time, he said. Our rangers do a good job of policing it. Nobody is allowed in there, not even our staff.
In my mind, a golf course is one of the best things for the environment," said Hojnowski. "It's just a lack of education. Most people don't realize what we do. We are out here to protect the environment.


text:
Yvonne Lindqvist, född 1959, är en svensk översättningsforskare, professor i översättningsvetenskap vid Tolk- och översättarinstitutet, Institutionen för svenska och flerspråkighet, Stockholms universitet.

Lindqvist arbetar företrädesvis med översättningssociologi och är känd för sina studier av översättning som social praktik. I sin doktorsavhandling jämför hon två olika översättningspraktiker, översättning av nobelpristagaren Toni Morrison och översättning till svenska av Harlequin serien passion, av Lindqvist benämnda som högprestige- respektive lågprestigelitteratur.

1973 vann hon Vansbrosimningen.

Referenser

Kvinnor
Födda 1959
Översättningsforskare
Levande personer
Personer verksamma vid Stockholms universitet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


RLTV has teamed Mom Brady up with Meals on Wheels to create a new cooking series for RLTV.
Ever heard of Meals on Wheels? How about the Brady Bunch? Well, RLTV has teamed Mom Brady up with Meals on Wheels to create a new cooking series for RLTV. The series focuses on the fun side of creating healthy, appetizing meals for folks of all ages while also addressing the very real issues around senior hunger. Bully! was pleased to create the open for the series, which premiered on RLTV recently (check local listings).
For more information on the series, watch Florence Henderson (aka Mom Brady) and co-host Joy Bauer talk about what making the show means to them.
Good Food Good Deeds from Bully Entertainment on Vimeo.


text:
Q: How do I change a panel with mouselistener? I'm wanting the panel to expand and display buttons and stuff when the mouse is hovered over, then apon mouse exiting the panel must return top original size.
So far I can only print a message:
public JPanel GUI()
{
     final JPanel totalGUI = new JPanel();
     totalGUI.setBackground(Color.blue);
     totalGUI.setLayout(null);

    //+++++++++++++++
    //  -   -   -   -   -   -   PANEL 1!
    //+++++++++++++++

    JPanel SearchPanel = new JPanel();  //Create new grid bag layout
    SearchPanel.setLocation(5, 5);
    SearchPanel.setSize(420, 120);
    totalGUI.add(SearchPanel);

    SearchPanel.addMouseListener(this);

    return totalGUI;
}

public void mouseEntered(MouseEvent e) {
       System.out.print("Mouse entered");
    }
public void mouseExited(MouseEvent e) {
        System.out.print("Mouse exited");
    }

private static void createAndShowGUI()
{
    JFrame.setDefaultLookAndFeelDecorated(true);
    JFrame frame = new JFrame("RWB");

    gay3 demo = new gay3();
    frame.setContentPane(demo.GUI());

    frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    frame.setResizable(false);
    frame.setSize(650, 500);
    frame.setVisible(true);

}

public static void main(String[] args)
{
    createAndShowGUI();
}

A: You could do this inside the mouseEntered and mouseExited methods:
JPanel source = (JPanel)e.getSource();
//Edit the searchPanel here

If searchPanel isn't the only component that uses this MouseListener, you may first have to check if the source really is an instance of JPanel:
Object o = e.getSource();
if(o instanceof JPanel) {
    JPanel source = (JPanel)o;
    //Edit the searchPanel here
}

This isn't necessary if you know the source is a JPanel.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
jamescalumcampbell
Winner, Impress New Writers prize 2014
First of the Few
Posted on February 17, 2020 by jamescalumcampbell
In Thames, Coromandel, while waiting for a friend to come off the bus from Auckland, I found myself standing beside a life-size bronze statue of Sir Keith Park. Sir Keith was born in Thames. He served in the First World War, in the RFC, and then stayed on in the RAF so that by the outbreak of the Second World War he had risen to senior rank (Air Vice-Marshal), and took command of No. 11 Group, defending London and south-east England during the Battle of Britain. By all accounts he was a much admired and respected leader, taking care of his pilots, dropping in on them in his personal Hurricane to ask them what they needed.
September 15th is traditionally Battle of Britain Day. In Their Finest Hour, the second volume of his history of the war, Churchill describes vividly his visit, on that day, to the 11 Group Operations Room at Uxbridge. He observed the WAAFs pushing the models of the advancing Luftwaffe squadrons across the channel on the large map below him. Radar indicated influxes of enemy aircraft, 50+, 80+, sometimes even 100+. All the RAF fighter aircraft of the south east were scrambled. Churchill asked Sir Keith what reserves were available and he was told there were none. Apparently he looked grim. At the conclusion of the battle when it became evident that the RAF had won the day, Churchill coined his remark, "Never in the field of human conflict…" in his car on the way back to London. He thus created the legend of "The Few", then went home for a four hour nap. As you do.
Not quite. Actually Henry V, or more accurately Shakespeare, first conjured the idea of "We Few, we happy Few" on the eve of the Battle of Agincourt. While with Hal the notion of the Few was something of a PR stunt, I suspect with Churchill the sentiment was entirely sincere, even if simultaneously he recognised the potency of the expression. I doubt if he would have appreciated Messrs Cook, Moore, Bennett and Miller taking the mickey in Edinburgh in Beyond the Fringe twenty odd years later. "Sir, I want to join the Few." – "You can't, there are far too many."
Shakespeare's Few and Churchill's Few get conflated in the wartime film of Henry V with Lawrence Olivier in the title role. William Walton composed a wonderful score for that film, and it is no surprise that he was approached again to supply music for the 1969 film, "The Battle of Britain". But the collaboration this time was not entirely successful. I suspect that Walton's music simply dwarfed the screenplay, and so it could only be utilised in a prolonged shot of aerial combat almost divorced from the rest of the film. Yet Walton remains, it seems to me, the archetypal composer of the Second World War, and such marches as Crown Imperial and Orb and Sceptre seem to capture the idea of the Few legend, even if that legend is somewhat removed from reality.
But I believe the 1969 film of the Battle of Britain does actually capture something of the reality of the events it records. I was in the University Air Squadron and the RAF Volunteer Reserve long enough ago to have experienced something of the atmosphere of the time. I spent a fortnight flying out of an RAF base in the south of England in 1971, when the base's Commanding Officer was in fact a Battle of Britain Ace. One of our flying instructors flew a Spitfire in the making of the 1969 film. There is a particularly painful scene in which a rather feckless rookie pilot narrowly avoids landing with his undercarriage up, and is mocked behind his back by his fellow pilots. His squadron leader, played impeccably by Robert Shaw, gets him back in the air, pretends to shoot him up from behind, and gives him a right good bollocking. Never fly straight and level for longer than ten seconds! But you know, education by intimidation doesn't work, and it's no surprise that in the end, the rookie pilot doesn't survive.
Does the doctrine of the stiff upper lip survive? At the weekend I was on the playing fields of King's College in Auckland, where King's were playing Auckland Grammar – always a grudge match – at cricket. (Incidentally, Keith Park was a pupil at King's.) The atmosphere felt more English than England. I don't know the first thing about cricket but I couldn't help but be enormously impressed by the players' skills, the sheer speed of delivery, and the accuracy of the fielding. Yet there was a gentleness about the ambience. I happened to catch sight of a vade mecum carried by one of the boys. "Mr McKay's 10 tips that may not seem important, but are actually vital." There followed some sound advice about the importance of being polite, courteous, sensitive, and kind. I guess one or two of them seemed a bit dated. "Always give up your seat for a lady." These days that might earn you a slap.
"Always tuck your shirt in."
Anyway, Kiwis in my experience remain sensitive and kind. At least until they get behind the wheel of a car. Then some appalling Jekyll and Hyde metamorphosis takes over. My friend whose boy goes to King's thinks it's a rugby mentality. Driving a car is a contact sport. The yearly NZ road fatalities are just shy of 400. The NZ population is less than that of Scotland. Last time I looked, the road toll for the whole of the UK was of the order of 1800. But the UK population is of the order of 66,000,000. So NZ has a problem. I have a problem, because currently I'm a road user. All I can do is say a prayer, buckle up, adhere to the speed limit (they think I'm certifiable), and then prepare for the utterly unexpected. Scramble, chaps.
New maIn Thames, Coromandel, while waiting for a friend to come off the bus from Auckland, I found myself standing beside a life-size bronze statue of Sir Keith Park. Sir Keith was born in Thames. He served in the First World War, in the RFC, and then stayed on in the RAF so that by the outbreak of the Second World War he had risen to senior rank (Air Vice-Marshal), and took command of No. 11 Group, defending London and south-east England during the Battle of Britain. By all accounts he was a much admired and respected leader, taking care of his pilots, dropping in on them in his personal Hurricane to ask them what they needed.
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Hosted by Charles Lowell, Jeffrey Cherewaty, Robert DeLuca on March 16th, 2017.
03:57 - At what point does UI stop?
CHARLES: Hello everybody and welcome to The Frontside Podcast, Episode 62. My name is Charles Lowell. I'm a developer here at The Frontside and I'm here today with Jeffrey Cherewaty and Robert De Luca, also developers here at The Frontside. We're going to do a little bit of navel gazing today. We're just going to talk about how we roll and who we are and because we've there's been a lot of conversations about that, as we had a couple of different projects come in that use different tool sets so what is it about us that is constant and what is it about us that changes? I just wanted to talk a little bit about that. The core idea is about UI. The shop has always been about UI and I'm curious for you guys, what does UI mean to you all?
ROBERT: The frontend to the frontend?
JEFFREY: That's a loaded question.
CHARLES: Okay, let's step back a little bit from that because we've been in business for a long time and right now, we're doing mostly Ember, a little React. Before that, we were doing all Ember. Before that we were doing mostly Rails. Before that we were actually doing a little bit of wxWindows stuff and before that we were actually doing stuff in Java. But all of it fell under the rubric of UI -- user interface. What is constant? I mean, there's some radically different tools. When you look back and you think, "My goodness." What could possibly connect those things that I just listed? But I think there is a common thread so I wanted to explore that a little bit.
JEFFREY: The common thread, I guess at the simplest level is always that in a lot of programming, you're dealing with the interface to the end-user of your code is simply text. It's a call-in response or they're consuming a library of yours that's where the code is the end product. What we focus on instead is the the end product of what we build is the interface as the graphic representation instead of a code or a text-based interface.
CHARLES: I'm curious. In terms of all the software that gets written, how much do you think- because I think that's a key distinction. There are certain software that interfaces with other software. The connections to other software, there's a very unique set of problems when dealing with that. But there is also a different class of software where it's interfacing on one side with other software but on the other, it's interfacing with human beings. What proportion of software they get? How much of it is actually interfacing with human beings? How much is actually interfacing with other software?
JEFFREY: I think the most software developers underestimate how much other human beings are interfacing with other software. Even if it is a simple HTTP protocol Rust type interface, it's still being used by human beings even if it's human beings writing code.
ROBERT: Like the developer experience versus user experience?
CHARLES: Yeah but it's true. There's probably very few pieces of software where the ergonomics aren't important to actual people. That's true. There's definitely like a [inaudible].
JEFFREY: What you're getting at is that there's typically much more code underneath the surface than there is that actually is visible to a human.
ROBERT: That makes it all work.
CHARLES: Yeah. The part that's lying just beneath the surface is an ocean in of itself, I would say. It certainly seems like because that's the ocean we swim in it, seems vast at times.
JEFFREY: Where does that UI stop? At what point does it stop becoming UI engineering and becomes more like API side of your server side? Obviously, you can say like, "Right when you start talking to an API. That's the end of it." But all of the code that goes on the frontend, the people refer to this as the frontend of the backend. All that code that is just there to get data and then massage that data so then somebody can go and present it to the user is at all UI at development. It's gotten a lot murkier in the last three years.
CHARLES: Yeah it's a lot murkier because the thing is the way we structure our server technologies are changing so that they can support various interactions. For example, one thing that springs to mind is treating the data that we have inside of our client and I'm thinking of a browser tab, for example. Just one browser tab, one browsing session, you load data from the server and you write data back to the server but what we're seeing is that degrades the UI experience if you treat it just like that.
I feel like the general trend is to treat the data that's housed in that browser tab is merely one partial replica of some distributed data set that's being replicated across a whole bunch of nodes where your storage nodes are one of those things, the node that other people are might be using in participating as application or other nodes and then that one browser tab in itself is a node in this distributed database. But that's crazy because that's what you would consider a classical server work. But to get around the fact that application state is updating and changing rapidly and trying to keep up with it in a non-buggy fashion can be really, really difficult.
I know the waters are getting a lot murkier but I think that example does touch on something that I would say is kind of classical UI problem. You have some sort of stateful something. You have some sort of long running process that's just sitting there that's kind of moving with the user because the users holding a lot of state in their head as they're interacting with your application. A lot of the context is stored in their head so the UI needs to be able to dance with them and be in lock step with them and kind of mirror the context and their understanding of where they are in the system so it's usually very stateful. At least the ones that we've been working on over the past years.
JEFFREY: I think another core principle of UI engineering is responding to events in a way that just doesn't happen as much in classical server engineering. You have to respond to a message or some kind of request every once in a while but the level of responding to changes in state and changes in how the human is interacting with the interface is a whole another level in UI engineering.
CHARLES: It is really is a dance, in the sense that as the human moves their virtual hand throughout your application, you have to be tracking that state at all times.
JEFFREY: It's like it really shines itself there. If you compare a state machine for the server side and then a state machine for the client side because we've built both and the client side is way more complex because there's just way more that's going on, impossible things that can happen. With an API, it's like almost crud in a way with an API and then on the UI side, we have to take a lot of user interaction and boil it down in order to persist that on the API side. There's more for us to take care of, on the UI side in track and it just more complex.
CHARLES: That's true. I think there might be some people who work primarily on the server. They're being like, "Wait a minute."
JEFFREY: At least on the server side, you have one runtime that you can deal with and for frontend developer, there's just so much to contain.
CHARLES: Yeah so in terms of tracking that state, certainly one of the things that I think is also unique problem for user interface is that you have to constantly be taking in those events, that you're talking about, like you're constantly having to update your state so that you keep in lockstep with where the users at. That can also be part of that information that you'd be reacting to where other users are at, besides just that user so that they can absorb that context. Yes, so reacting to where they are but then also radiating information constantly to the user so that they're both inputting at extremely high rate but they're also receiving information. Like you said, it got to be extraordinarily high bandwidth so that state that you're tracking has to be represented accurately at any given time.
I think, basically the core driving principle of NBC is you have this model and that represents your state and you have these events which then update that state and then you somehow managed to instantaneously reflect that state change to the user in that tight loop. I feel like that pattern, despite people tried to bastardize it, or maybe not bastardize it but adapt it for their particular use case but it has been persistent. It's like a cockroach, man. Always live and never die. I feel people are trying to assign new acronyms and new names for it but the fundamental pattern has proven to be effective over and over again.
I would say that if you're using NBC, if you're building like a system with React or you're building a system with Java Swing, like we did back in the day, you're using the same basic pattern even though the mechanics and the tools are completely different but you have this abstract representation, this model of either your state or your interactions. You can model a swipe or you can model a mouse move then you're basically reflecting that to the user and then taking updates to the model.
JEFFREY: What's changed about the tooling, say back when Frontside was primarily on Java? We're like, "That was the tool." It kind of a blunt instrument for some of the UI challenges we have now. What was working well in that arena and where we come [inaudible]?
CHARLES: I think there's just so many exciting things that have happened since then. Especially in the past, like three years because Swing which was the Java UI framework which was fabulous, just absolutely magnificent, was at its core an observation-based system. You had a lot of observers. You can basically have these models and your view was a separate object but then you had your model. This was definitely a watershed moment. At least for me, from inside your code, you never actually updated the view. You never said I want to paint this thing. You never said I want to change this componentry.
Only thing you did in reaction to events was set properties on your model. It was a mutable model so you basically had your state which is like a chalkboard but your code, the key thing there was you could paint things in Swing, you could render things but you never actually did. You had your components that always render off of a model and you never call those imperative like draw this line here, draw this line there. You always update your model and the view reacted to it. That's fundamental and that's something that we still see today but we were using mutable models. The models themselves just got overwritten every single time.
The other thing is they were observer-based so you would observe this model, you observe properties on this model and when those properties changed, you're view would rerender essentially but I guess the paradigm was the view pulled data off the models and I feel like in the last three years, really with the advent of React, I think really popularized this pattern now and everybody else is adopting this.
CHARLES: Well, yeah. It's like a push model. Instead of having the view pull from the model but via observation, you have your controller essentially push a new model onto the view. But I still think the basic components were there, where there's two things that I think have change. One is this push model -- the pull view observation versus push from an event like event generates a new model and pushes on it and then the second thing which is probably coupled to it which is the idea of having your model be immutable.
The magic of that is that you essentially unbraiding time from your model so that you the programmer are managing time instead of the CPU clock, which sounds weird to say. See, you guys are like, "What the hell are you talking about?" But that's fundamentally when you have something that's mutable, you're saying this is one object. It's the same identity.
ROBERT: That you've changed over time.
CHARLES: That you change over time but you're writing it to it where is when you use a different model each time, you the programmer is essentially saying, "This is the same object. You are managing identity of the objects not the computer. Does that make sense? You're saying here are a bunch of states but the identity of this thing is like an abstract concept and I'm saying all the states represent the same object or same entity just over time. What you're doing is you're essentially decoupling time from your model and that's I think a key innovation because then it gives you control over time so you can actually represent time, however you want to and that allows you to do things like history and what's the time travel debugging, which I think is very different than undo/redo. I think people conflate those unnecessarily but it allows you to do undo/redo history type stuff because the timeline is totally orthogonal now.
Whereas, if you have immutable state, it's like, "What this looks like if that time is absolutely coupled to right now?" I think those are key innovations but I think that the fundamental pattern is still there. You have models, you have views and you have control code that manipulates. I think the key thing that's happened over the last three years that have switch between having the views pull the model versus having the controller push on there.
For example, using essentially what amounts to an observable interface. I think observables as in ES7 observables are one of the coolest innovations to come around because it gives you that convenience of having a single reference point but access to all of the states that then you can react to it.
Anyway, that's a long winded thing of saying that I feel those core entities are still there, where you have this and then everybody who listens to me long enough will probably get tired of me saying this but I think that the primary one is the model, like understanding that.
ROBERT: Because your UI should be eventually derived from the data that you get?
ROBERT: And it should be because it is a source of truth.
CHARLES: Right and everything else can flow from that. Understanding how you're going to represent it, whether we are representing it as speech, whether you're representing it as touch, whether you're representing visually, whether you're representing it with your ears, to understanding what is it. There's still one thing that can be projected into a bunch of different media so getting at that thing is the thing.
ROBERT: That was a long, winded way of saying of what is UI engineering and what is unique about it but why would you want to plant your business in UI engineering?
CHARLES: Right. That's a great question. Why is it a good business to be in and why is it a good feel to study? I think I'll quote one of my favorite video games from my youth, which was Mortal Kombat 2. At the very beginning, they would say, "There is no knowledge that is not power." That was the big quote in Mortal Kombat 2 and I'm pretty sure that the knowledge of Kung Lao, I think, being able to throw his hat by hitting some key sequence of joystick and buttons, I don't think that's knowledge that's going to give me power. Sure enough that I don't think that knowing those key sequences really had much power in them but I still think it's a good saying.
JEFFREY: As they inevitably will.
CHARLES: As they inevitably will, right. We mentioned Java, we mentioned C, we mentioned Rails, Ember, React like back down knock out, all those things, those are transitory and they're ephemeral. But that knowledge isn't and it's a rock that you can cling onto as the change of storm over the landscape of the development community. If you understand that, your transition to the next thing will be a lot easier. I think that's the business value, at least from my perspective, the ability to [inaudible] those storms and be like, "Oh, this is the same thing. It's got different clothes. It's got some nice updated patterns but I understand fundamentally what's going on. I can work with it. I can find out what the things are."
CHARLES: Yeah, there are patterns and they know them and they understand them and they just absolutely have intimate knowledge of them so the stuff that gets put on the window dressing, they can see beneath that like X-ray vision and they can pick that up and work with it and run with it and it becomes mostly just an exercise in learning vocabulary.
ROBERT: And for as long as users will be interacting with the things that we build, there will always be UI engineering. There will always be somebody out there needing work.
JEFFREY: This kind of brings us back around full circle to what originally started this conversation on our office is how The Frontside brands itself. We have, for the past few years, been doing almost exclusively Ember work. We love Ember as a tool and a framework that's done really good things for us and we've enjoyed working with. But we want to not marry ourselves so tightly to a tool like that because we believe in the problems and the concepts more than the tools themselves.
CHARLES: Exactly. We want to be married to the problems not the tools because what we're really looking for is for when someone has a special interaction that they want to see made real when they have a special product that they've maybe spent a lot of time and energy and thought and maybe money on crafting the user experience. We want those people to think of us because they're saying, "Now it's time to build the UI."
Before there is even an inkling of what the toolset will be, what the implementation strategy will be, we want to be at the first and foremost at people's minds. Regardless of how it's going to pan out, we know that these folks can get it done. They are going to implement this thing that is going to be as good or not even as better than the way that we envisioned it. I think that's important so we've been trying to transition towards that type of message.
CHARLES: Exactly. We love all of those frameworks and we think that they have their individual tradeoffs but we have to think about what those tradeoffs are. Also, think about how can we share as for example, this Ember app. What can be shared between an Ember app and React Native app and you might think, it's not much. But my guess is probably a lot, like most of it could be. That's kind of a radical idea but at the same time, it's a very simple one and seeing that pan out, I feel we've actually been accomplishing that and this isn't just something that's like smoke and mirrors, this is what we've been doing and the strategy has been working and it's been paying off.
ROBERT: We do UI well and it doesn't matter what way we write the code, at the end of the day we're still producing this interface that users interact with and that's our bread and butter. That's what we do really well. The framework is just the thing that we're using as the flavor of the month, year or whatever it might be, to get the job done but we are betting on UI and we do it well.
ROBERT: Remember earlier when I mentioned the state machines between the server side and the client side?
CHARLES: Yeah and they're so incredibly portable. I think, Ember back in mid-2015 wasn't so great at hosting these simple objects. Now in the early part of 2017, it actually is. It's very easy to write those things. If you're using Redux or React, we're kind of more friendly to POJOs from the get-go but I would say this. I think there's clear value in not putting logic inside your reducers. Like what is a reducer for?
CHARLES: Yeah, exactly. You need Redux to manage the current state to basically manage your concept of time but maybe think twice about coupling your actual interaction model to a framework because it's going to be portable. This is a lot of pain that people had surrounding like active record. I remember for people in the Ruby, there was kind of 'aha' moment in the Rails communities like, "Wait, we literally don't have to dump everything into active records.
There was this, I think mass awakening, followed by this mass sign of relief. Once kind of people realized that everything you do doesn't have actually have to fit into a one of these kind of framework archetype objects, whether it'd be a reducer or a component or a route or whatever. If you have something that's truly separate, that's portable like make it portable. Once people kind of started treating active record as just, "I want to persist on something. This is what use," and things became a lot easier.
ROBERT: Because you're separating yourself from Rails and using Ruby, the language.
CHARLES: Right. I think, you said it perfect, Rob. It's not to disparage any tools. The tools are absolutely critical. In fact, the tools are most of the code. The amount of code, for example an Ember application provides to you is just massive and it's all very high value. Some people would debate that but the point is either all things that you're going to need to do but they're not things that are unique to the interactions that you're trying to provide.
I would actually like to see a version of Ember Data that doesn't depend on the Ember object model. I think being able to really separate that. It's pretty amazing library and if it saves an enormous amount of time, it would be fantastic.
ROBERT: But only Ember can ever use it.
CHARLES: But only Ember can ever use it but it is definitely a common problem and something that we miss like the 90% use cases that it covers. It's something that we miss when we're working in other frameworks. I actually think there is one more thing to touch on and this is really what separates, I think what we do from a lot of maybe agencies that are heavy on the design side but not super heavy on the UI side. I think is a major differentiator between the UX and the UI. Obviously, UI is very implementation-centric as opposed to vision-centric. I think, a good comparison is architect making blueprints versus the builder that actually has to construct the skyscraper.
ROBERT: Yeah, it has to make it real and that's what we do is make it real and There is an engineering component to it. While we have a very heavy focus on design and beauty and elegance and smooth interaction with the user and we study a lot of key user experience principles, there is a component to UI engineering which supersedes framework, supersedes design -- sorry, not supersedes but it's present, it's ubiquitous and that is bringing to bear all of the industry best practices around making quality, robust software. I think that's an important thing to point out.
It kind of goes without saying but I think it's important to mention is if you want to have all those good things and if you want to have good models, in views, in your controller, you want to work with a bunch of different frameworks. It's all for not. If you're not using all of those things that keep quality software quality, if that makes sense -- having continuous integration, having test suites, having continuous deployment and thinking about all the operations surrounding the software.
Ultimately, the UI is software just like any other system and something that we could go off and talk about for ages is how to test UI software because they are. When you've got these big stateful applications, they have their own unique testing.
ROBERT: But there's a lot of engineering problems here that are to be solved.
CHARLES: Right and I think it's important to be every bit as that. Anyway, I think that's about it on these subjects. It's just been kind of bouncing around the walls here and we're kind of think like, "Who are we? What is it that we do? What would you say that you do here?"
JEFFREY: We have access [inaudible].
JEFFREY: That's what we do here.
CHARLES: Right. UI engineering, man. It's taking those UX dreams, right? And it's bringing them to life. It's making sure that they're scalable, that they're maintainable, that they're testable, that all of those things can become real, regardless of the tool.
ROBERT: That's the hard part. We can throw something together and match the conf.
ROBERT: But, "Will it continue to match the conf in three months?" is the question.
CHARLES: Hopefully so, we think so. I think we hit that mark.
ROBERT: Absolutely. It's the engineering, that's the tough part. That's the hardest part. Making it happen and making it sustainable.
CHARLES: All right. Thanks everybody for listening. We are going to be back next week. We've got some pretty neat folks stopping by so be sure to check it out.


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