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I have finally managed to get some free time on my hands and released the latest update to TZDB containing the latest DB (from 14 March). As usual, no code changes, just data updates.
For those unaware: TZDB is an open source project that provides Delphi (7+) and FreePascal (2.0+) users with a "built-in" timezone database. The same source of data is used in most Unixes, Java, MacOS and multiple other projects out there.
There seems to be a bug somewhere, either in the database or in your extraction code. All the 'offset' values for GMT+x and GMT-x in the table are values in minutes, for example 60, 120, 180. But this field should contain the offset in seconds, and does for almost all the other entries that I have so far checked. See the definition of CZone_307_Arr for an example. The result is a four-minute time change when I call ToLocalTime for GMT-4, instead of four hours.
There are one or two other errors, such as a value of 300 for Cairo before 1900, and -70200 for Casablanca before 1913; but I do not need the historical data. In fact I would really like to have an option for the program that creates the .INC file, to include only data for years from the current year forward.
I have fixed this for now by editing the INC file, but you may want to check the extraction code.
… and the GMT-minus offsets are positive, too, as well as being in minutes.
Hm, maybe the format changed. I will check the code and post a fix.


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Bugatti Veyron Vitesse Jean Pierre Wimille debuts at Pebble Beach
Posted on Thursday, 25 July 2013 , 00:07:13 byTheodora
Filed under bugattibugatti-veyronpebble-beachBugattiEuropeanSupercarsSuperSportLimited Edition
Bugatti has always been the maximum standard of exclusivity, luxury, elegance, style, extraordinary design, and a great passion for automobiles. Unique visions, the strong legacy of legendary sports cars, and high-precision engineering in development, construction, and manufacture distinguish this outstanding automotive brand. All the brand's values have been set in the Bugatti Veyron, an aesthetic and engineering masterwork first introduced in 2005 and which is a match for contemporary racing cars. The brand will present at Pebble Beach the special edition of the Bugatti Veyron Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille.
The Bugatti Veyron Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille is the first special edition model in a line of six cars. Bugatti decided to come up with some limited editions that together are called "Les Legendes de Bugatti". The name is very suggestive, as these editions are created to honour some of the most important figures that had a great role in developing the brand. This Bugatti Veyron Vitesse is dedicated to Jean-Pierre Wimille.
Jean-Pierre Wimille was the first driver who won twice the 24 Hours Competition of Le Mans, representing the Bugatti brand. The first time was in 1937 and the second time, in 1939. The Bugatti Veyron Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille will be all covered in blue and it will be 360 ° different from the 57G Tank or the 57C Tank that Wimille used to win Le Mans. The carbon fiber car will be powered by an 8.0-liter, W16 engine producing as much as 1,200 PS and 1,500 Nm of torque. This way, the Veyron will be able to reach a maximum speed of 408.84 km/h and it will sprint from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 2.6 seconds. The price is yet unknown. However, this special edition vehicle does nothing else than to prove once again that Bugatti comes to reach perfection when it comes to sports cars.
Bugatti shows off their Grand Sport Vitesse 1 of 1 in Pebble Beach
Bugatti Veryon Grand Sport selling at Pebble Beach a Bugatti setting auction record
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport sets a top speed record at 431 Km/h
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Legend Edition teased
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse was presented in Geneva
Bugatti plans a more powerful successor of the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse
Bugatti Veyron Supersport is confirmed
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Debuts, Will Hit 10mph Less Top Speed than Record
You Tube user rides the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse WRC Edition
Bugatti prepares a special edition for Geneva
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille Edition
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Meo Constantini
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Jean Bugatti
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Cristal Edition
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Black Bess
Bugatti Veyron Ettore Bugatti
1200HP Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse
Home Bugatti cars specs Bugatti newsBugatti autocenter
Bugatti Veyron plunges into lake
One Bugatti EB110 GT is up for auction
Bugatti extends gearbox production contract with two years
Bugatti Veyron and Lamborghini crash in Germany

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The stereotypic preppers may be thought of as loner survivalists, though if you have been reading about them, you will have learned that cooperation and networking are critical success factors. What one prepper needs and doesn't have, another may and vice versa. Collaboration in emergency and disaster are essential for survival.
Still, the issue of "competition" will arise, sooner or later. Someone is more prepared than another. The less prepared may come knocking. How people respond to the needy is a matter of civility.
In an individualist culture that is reinforced by economic rules such as capitalism, there may be conflicts between what is best for an individual versus what is best for society. As the planet and its inhabitants realize resource limits and constrained capacity to sustain people, greater importance is given to economic rules such that increased priority is given to preserving and conserving the planet and its environment.
In some parts of the world in the 1960s and 70s, various cult movements developed from philosophers and leaders who were inspired to address better rules for living. Sakar was one philosopher who gained traction in India, working with impoverished communities to improve the lot.
From his work, he developed the Progressive Utilization Theory (PROUT). I have taken that theory and combined it with positive attributes of capitalism, preserving the dynamics of self-determination and self-reliance to produce the Optimized Sustainment Model (OSM).
For preppers seeking a better way to live and organize in a self-reliant community construct, I offer OSM for consideration.
• Coordinated cooperation. Gender relations, workplace relations, and other relations, should be based on coordinated cooperation, not subordinated cooperation.
• Unity in diversity. Diversity is the law of nature; humanity must value its diversity and achieve unity by giving all people scope to participate fully in society.
• Cultural autonomy. All nations or groupings of people should be free to develop cultural expressions that are authentic, empowering, unifying, and uplifting.
• Universalism. No limited ism should be adopted as a basis for human unity; only the sentiment of universalism is suitable to unite the planetary humanity.
Regulated and planned market economy. While the role of markets is primary, there is need for market regulation and for the supportive role of economic planning.
• Socio-economic decentralization. The locus of control of social and economic development should be local communities and bioregions.
• Localized economic self-sufficiency. The bulk of the basic commodities should be produced regionally, and local enterprises controlled by local people.
• Economic planning. Economic planning should supplement markets to promote purchasing capacity, increase productivity, and meet collective necessity.
• Economic democracy. Economic security and the decentralization of economic power are required for the proper functioning of democratic government.
• Bioregional nations. Nation-states should be replaced with natural nations defined by factors that create common identity and cultural unity among people.
• Planetary federation. Increasing authority should be given to a world governing body to ensure human rights, protect the environment, maintain peace, and oversee the equitable distribution of resources.
• Existential rights. The existential rights of all forms of life should be recognized so that ecosystems can have ample diversity and vibrancy of life.
• Liberty. People should have full freedom of expression in mental and spiritual spheres of life, but be constrained from excess accumulation in the physical sphere.
Here is a news story that shows another example that is an alternative to capitalism.
Really? We are to believe, with Margaret Thatcher, that an economic system with endlessly repeated cycles, costly bailouts for financiers and now austerity for most people is the best human beings can do? Capitalism's recurring tendencies toward extreme and deepening inequalities of income, wealth, and political and cultural power require resignation and acceptance – because there is no alternative?
I understand why such a system's leaders would like us to believe in Tina. But why would others?
Toward sustainable economics: Obama strategy, plan, anything?
Is raising taxes in a poor economy good economics or agenda based politics?


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Bill on GLBT issues
This blog will post detailed news items about GLBT issues. Some of the issues include the "don't ask don't tell" policy for gays in the military, and gay marriage. Please note that my main website is DOASKDOTELL.COM (link on my Profile).
adoption of children (2)
adult content with gay material (1)
animal sexuality (1)
anthropology and nature (3)
anti-gay attacks (1)
anti-gay groups (8)
anti-gay referendums (4)
antigay remarks by public figures (4)
bail bond litigation controversy (1)
bathroom bills (4)
benefit events (12)
blood donation ban (19)
book-related (6)
Boy Scouts and gays (23)
campus issues (7)
Catholic Church (20)
censorship of LGBTQ materials (6)
childlessness arguments (3)
children of gay parents (15)
Choi arrest (2)
circuit party benefits (1)
civil unions (10)
coming out (2)
conference events (1)
conflict of interest (17)
congregational votes on gay marriage (5)
constitutional law (5)
contractor discrimination (3)
conversion therapy ban (6)
corporate support (1)
crime and gay suspects (2)
CRWG Report (9)
DADT (5)
DADT repeal (15)
day of service (1)
DC issues (2)
defamation (3)
differential sacrifice arguments (2)
disaster recovery and LGBTQ (1)
Discernment of inclusiveness (2)
DOMA (21)
drinking age debate (1)
economic parity (2)
educational systems (5)
effect of military ban on civilians (11)
elderly LGBT people (4)
ENDA and employment issues (79)
epigenetics (1)
estate planning for LGBT (3)
ex-gay (20)
existential arguments (2)
fake First Amendment bills (1)
federal civil rights law cases (2)
federal employees (11)
filial responsibility (4)
film and lgbt issues (13)
fluidity (1)
foreign militaries (1)
foster families (7)
franchises and gay brands (1)
fraternalism (2)
gay adult children and eldercare (9)
gay clubs (308)
gay conservatives (9)
gay domestic partner benefits (12)
gay elected officials (4)
gay history (13)
gay journalists (4)
gay libertarians (16)
gay life overseas (27)
gay marriage (362)
gay parents (92)
gay performing groups (1)
gay political candidates (2)
gay press (37)
gay pride celebrations (43)
gay public officials (1)
gay Republicans (39)
gay resorts (3)
gay rights organizations (13)
gay rights overseas (50)
gay senior citizens (7)
gay shows (2)
gay statistics (3)
gay teachers (12)
gay values (3)
gay veterans (5)
gay-related curricula and gay students (3)
gays and security clearances (26)
gays and sports (38)
gays in the military (318)
gender fluidity (12)
gender roles (5)
geographic issues (1)
GLAAD (1)
glbt curricula in schools (3)
GLSEN (1)
gold star question (1)
hate crimes against gays (28)
hate groups (3)
HIV issues (76)
Holocaust and gays (1)
homeland security issues (3)
homophobia (11)
hospital visitation issue (2)
housing and hosting (5)
HRC (12)
identarianism (1)
immutability (12)
immutability and "ex-gay" debate (16)
immutability and equal protection (4)
insurance coverage (2)
Intersex (1)
jury duty service (2)
Kinsey scale and bisexuality (3)
KY clerk case (5)
Lambda Legal (1)
LGBT politicians (2)
LGBT youth poverty and homelessness (7)
LGBT50 (2)
libertarian arguments (21)
local gay organization events (4)
local government overregulation (5)
lookism (1)
mainstream assimilation (1)
major incidents (1)
Manning WikiLeaks incident (8)
manuscript drafts for DADT-3 (1)
Masterpiece Cakeshop (2)
MCC and similar (8)
media and gays (17)
mental illness model (1)
MGTOW (1)
military and Scouting common values (3)
military benefits for same-sex partners (2)
minority status arguments (1)
moral double standards (2)
museum exhibitions (1)
my scripts (2)
national guards (1)
No Justice No Pride (3)
Occupy movement and LGBT (1)
offensive speech (1)
online reputation overseas (1)
opposition to clubs (3)
OutWrite (2)
pagents (1)
parental rejection (2)
partisanship (4)
people with disabilities (1)
personal ethics (25)
personal values in relationships v bigotry (2)
Phelps protests (1)
photography courtesy (2)
Pink Pistols (6)
political asylum and refugees (71)
political campaigns (20)
politicians (12)
population demographics of LGBT (4)
post-DOMA benefits (3)
PrEP (12)
presidential address (3)
pride events (48)
privacy arguments (3)
procreation arguments (1)
products for sale (1)
Proposition 8 appeal (8)
protesting as political strategy (2)
pseudo religious freedom (27)
psychological growth and polarities (8)
public accommodations discrimination (7)
public school curricula (1)
race and attitudes toward LGBT issues (11)
radical and scruffy hospitality (1)
recoupment under DADT (1)
Reel Affirmations (2)
referendums and direct democracy (3)
Religion and homosexuality (131)
reparative therapy ban (8)
reproductive rights (1)
reverse discrimination (1)
right wing groups (2)
Russian anti-gay law (32)
S-and-M (1)
same-sex couples and legal issues (6)
scapegoating (2)
schools and lgbt issues (8)
second class citizenship (2)
security issues (6)
Service Academies (2)
sexual capital (1)
SLDN dinners (7)
SLDN publications repeal (1)
Smollett (2)
social distancing (1)
social events (6)
social media issues (5)
social non-conformity (3)
Social Security Administration issues (1)
socialism or communism and gay rights (1)
sodomy laws (41)
Solomon Amendment (1)
speech codes (2)
spiritual practice (1)
state legislation pending (1)
stats on gay couples (1)
surrogate parenthood (14)
the closet (1)
Thorne appointment (2)
transgender issues (144)
Trump presidency (30)
Trumps transgender military ban (33)
TSA issues (2)
university life (1)
upward affiliation (6)
violent incidents (2)
voluntarism (1)
war crises (1)
Westboro protests (3)
Bill Boushka
Since the 1990s I have been very involved with fighting the military "don't ask don't tell" policy for gays in the military, and with First Amendment issues. Best contact is 571-334-6107 (legitimate calls; messages can be left; if not picked up retry; I don't answer when driving) Three other url's: doaskdotell.com, billboushka.com johnwboushka.com Links to my URLs are provided for legitimate content and user navigation purposes only. My legal name is "John William Boushka" or "John W. Boushka"; my parents gave me the nickname of "Bill" based on my middle name, and this is how I am generally greeted. This is also the name for my book authorship. On the Web, you can find me as both "Bill Boushka" and "John W. Boushka"; this has been the case since the late 1990s. Sometimes I can be located as "John Boushka" without the "W." That's the identity my parents dealt me in 1943!
Lawyers speak about asylum for LGBT people at QA in Washington for a documentary on immigration
At the QA of a showing of "Documented" by Jose Antonio Vargas (reviewed tonight in the Movies blog), I was able to ask about the issue of asylum for LGBT people from countries hostile to homosexuals. Three immigration lawyers were present at the QA, at the West End Cinema in Washington DC, besides Mr. Vargas.
One lawyer pointed out that there are two scenarios: one is where the person is in the US and asks for asylum before a visa expires, and another is where someone goes to a US consulate overseas and asks for asylum. With gay issues, it is harder to prove you are likely to be persecuted to US authorities than it is to authorities of many other western countries (like Canada), so some of the other countries may receive more requests.
However another attorney said that asylum did not depend on having a sponsor or someone to support you. The attorney did recall the circumstances in 1980 with Cuban refugees, where there did seem to be an usual reason to require sponsorship, and many of the requests were made in southern cities, from Florida all the way to Houston and especially Dallas.
The meeting that I had said was to be held at the DC Community Center tonight had actually been held May 30, 2013. So I guess this gathering at the West End amounted to that meeting!
Regarding the "refugiados cubaos" of 1980, the Metro in Washington displayed an interesting ad sign last night.
Posted by Bill Boushka at 8:51 PM No comments:
Labels: immigration, political asylum and refugees
"The Tribe": video clubs in the upper Appalachian South
Cities vary as to how their "club scene" comes off. My favorite places around the country are probably The Saloon in Minneapolis, the Roundup (even though I'm not a CW person) and the Station 4 in Dallas, and probably the Scorpio in Charlotte. In NYC, "Therapy" (in Hell's Kitchen) works best for me. Smaller towns have some interesting spots, like the Lodge near Hagerstown MD (on top of the Blue Ridge).
The Tribe in Nashville, TN, (link ) on the narrow Church St, is easy to find (the straight bars are at the other end of that street, nearer the funky ATT skyscraper), and looks generous in space when you walk in, with various bars and lounges. But it is video only, no dance floor apparent, and rather repetitious music. (The old Boom on the East Bank in Minneapolis comes to mind.) The valet parking is quite efficient. Apparently bars close early in TN, at 1 AM. I think a relatively early last call with after hours for dancing is still a good idea. (It was like that in Minneapolis until the last call was extended to 2 AM in 2003.)
The name of the bar reminds me of the Cleveland Indians baseball team, and of Charles Murray's idea of eusociality. The bar owns another property in Louisville, KY (I know someone in Evansville, but have only passed through Louisville once that I can recall.)
Labels: gay clubs
PA, OR get decisions overturning gay marriage bans
A federal judge has struck down Pennsylvania's gay marriage ban, with New York Times story here "We are a better people than our laws represent", he said. Scribd has a PDF of the opinion here. This makes gay marriage legal in all northeastern states. Jones did not issue a stay. Marriage license applications could begin immediately, but require a 72 hour wait.
In 2004, PA Senator Rick Santorum had tried to propose a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, on CSPAN, while Feinstein complained that no work had been done on a terrorism bill.
In Oregon, a federal district judge overturned a ban on Monday, but there is concern that the National Organization for Marriage can try to force an appeal, link.
Labels: gay marriage
Should homophobic speech be "tolerated"? That question can lead to a curious moral paradox (like a gambit in chess)
The Care2 website has an interesting perspective by Steve Williams, "Why we don't have to tolerate anti-LGBT intolerance, link here. I found it on Facebook and tweeted it myself. I also got an email link to a piece in Chronicle Review by Suzanna Danuta Walters, "An Incomplete Rainbow", link here.
It's true, that in the US and most modern western countries, public homophobic speech is becoming almost as unacceptable as racism, and a Donald Sterling-type event can happen. Various performers and sports figures have been forced to apologize or threatened with loss of business for insensitive remarks. One reason right now that this is so sensitive is that rabid anti-gay measures, both in terms of laws and vigilantism, are occurring in much of the Third World and, most unfortunately and shamefully, in Russia. In practically all countries that have passed laws like this, other major instability or aggression has occurred in other areas, as in Nigeria and Russia. There is definitely a connection. The Pew Research Center has noted that homosexuality is becoming a proxy for a new divide between western and more collectivized (and usually authoritarian) cultures. And it could soon create an asylum and refugee crisis that can challenge individuals in the west to pitch in and provide "radical hospitality" and support (this is an evolving possibility; we saw it with the Cuban refugees in 1980).
There is, however, a certain authoritarianism within some of the "gay establishment". And it covers a particular irony. This concerns loyalty to the idea that sexual orientation is immutable. It is true, it is like no other issue: controversial for reasons people can't explain, and yet so invisible. It seems like a plug-in, independent variable (or a "linearly independent component of a vector space"), that can occur randomly in any combination with any other personality and cognition-related traits.
Immutability would not be a relevant observation about something that can lead someone to harm others. A biological inclination for alcoholism (and probably a lot of drug absue) is probably genetic and immutable, but that doesn't mean it doesn't need to be treated. But that's partly because when people are intoxicated, they harm others (particularly when driving). I'm personally lucky in that regard. I didn't inherit any particular susceptibility to alcohol and drugs, or to obesity or diabetes. So sometimes I'm not real empathetic.
Yet, we often hear anti-gay speakers going out of the way to insist that homosexuality is chosen. I remember someone telling me that over dinner in Dallas in 1983, between games of a chess doubleheader in a club-sponsored match. (We had drawn the first game. I had "come out" during dinner. In the second game, after dinner, he got an early advantage and then blundered, probably from distraction, and allowed me to checkmate him quickly with a knight sacrifice.)
Why is this such a big deal? I think that male homosexuals, when open, used to make a lot of male heterosexuals aware of their own shortcomings and that they can fail physically. We seem to them like the referees as to who is the fittest to have a long lineage. And for some people, with limited opportunity in an increasingly individualistic culture, that's all they have. (It's relevant that I am an only child, so I stopped my parents from having an indefinite biological legacy.) I think that what is going on overseas has a lot to do with this. There's an accompanying irony, body fascism (or lookism) that is certainly common in the male gay community. It's a curious reflection of values, originating in smaller, often tribal cultures that really needed most or all men to look and act like "men" to protect the clan. So the freedom to "be oneself" and follow one's own sexual values, can invoke the freedom to hold personal attitudes about others that are still prejudicial, and to refuse to relate to others when perhaps openness is needed. It is indeed a moral paradox.
So the moral logic would be, if it is part of nature, it doesn't affect how others (straight men) see themselves in their own relationships. If it is a choice, it comes across as a way to step on other people's toes intentionally, and make them feel less secure. One time, back in the early 1970s, a coworker, whom I always beat at chess, had gained a lot of weight suddenly after getting married. He said, "I don't notice men's bods. I notice girls' bodies." (He said, girls, not women.) You can see where he was coming from.
Posted by Bill Boushka at 8:06 AM No comments:
Labels: homophobia
TownDC does major construction (outdoor patio?), making opening drag show very packed
In Washington DC, in the U Street Corridor, the Town Danceboutique ("Town-DC") is doing some new construction, The coat check has been moved into what used to be a lower level lounge area, so that (according to what I was told last night), a new outdoor area can be built in a lot that faces the Florida Ave. side. Outdoor areas are popular now, since smoking is banned indoors in establishments in most large cities. The Station 4 in Dallas has a huge outdoor dance area, for example. (And, no, I don't want to notice who smokes.)
As a result, the downstairs area was super-crowded last night, and it was almost impossible to move.
So the upstairs dance floor opened earlier than usual and filled up quickly. At around midnight, there was line, apparently to meet Ben DeLaCreme from RuPaul's Drag Race.
Still, the drag show downstairs had some real moments. Lena (I think it was) revealed all at one point. There was a birthday lineup, and this week most of the people with birthdays were women.
EC Eagle's Twitter feed suggests an opening in the new space on Benning Road NE late summer or earky Fall (link). . When a club loses a lease, it seems like it is an enormous challenge to get going again. A lot of links on the web are old and talk about the cllosed NY Avenue location, even Yelp.
Despite diversity and non-discrimination policies, top companies don't put openly gay people on top -- the "pink ceiling"
A column called "The Upshot" in the New York Times today reports that there is not one openly gay person as the CEO of any of the top 1000 companies in the US, link here. It's called the "pink ceiling".
It's certainly true that openly gay people have established themselves in major businesses and media companies. Look at Facebook co-founded Chris Hughes, CNN journalists Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon, and the Guardian's Glenn Greenwald. And Hollywood is certainly listening to the idea. On ABC's "Revenge" the bi-sexual character Nolan Ross is said to have created a competitor of Facebook, and is one of the drama's strongest and uniquely drawn characters.
Back in the 1970's, the "closet" was actually seen as part of a life strategy. Double lives were the norm. At the Ninth Street Center in New York, the guru Paul Rosenfels said to me one time there was no reason to aspire to be "president of your company". Times really have changed.
Posted by Bill Boushka at 12:58 PM No comments:
Labels: ENDA and employment issues
4th Circuit judges seem divided on Virginia gay marriage ban
A panel of judges at the Fourth Circuit seemed sharply divided today in oral arguments on the matter of whether Virginia's Marshall-Newman amendment and total ban on legal recognition of same-sex relationships is constitutional. The story by Robert Barnes is here..
One of the judges, Gregory, said that "the essence of marriage is the freedom to marry the person they choose". To say that marriage serves a higher collective purpose is the thinking of a totalitarian state, he reportedly said, as if to make a veiled allusion especially to Russia's Vladimir Putin. The idea that anti-gay laws are associated with totalitarian states and religious fundamentalism may be starting to reach even more conservative jurists.
The idea of marriage as a fundamental right (perhaps subject to due process jurisprudence as well as equal protection) is interesting. My own "Our Fundamental Rights" booklet (1998) does not list marriage as a fundamental right, but does list parenthood.
Also, late May 13 the Washington Blade reports that a federal judge has struck down Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage, link.
Picture, Pocatello (Wikipedia link), only visit was in 1990.
Update: May 16
A county judge in Arkansas struck down the states' ban on gay marriage, and refused to stay it for appeal (USA Today story here.)
Later information indicates that the Arkansas state supreme court stayed the implementation of the ruling.
Hippo in Baltimore has gay prom; NFL team drafts openly gay player; more on the past of DADT
The Hippo in Baltimore, MS held a "senior prom" Saturday night. The dance floor was reasonably full by the time I arrived, at 11:30 PM, possibly with the help of the Maryland Film Festival in the area.
The music during the evening featured an unusually percussive form of hip-hop.
A man, wondering about by Sunfish cap (a souvenir from my submarine visit in Norfolk in May 1993 when I was preparing to write on the debate on gays in the military) spoke to me mentioning that he was in the Army at Fort Meade and had a boyfriend in the Navy. He wouldn't have said that three years ago, probably. He thanked me for my Army service in 1968-1970 (which had started at Fort Jackson). I did say that I think that ordinary Americans have more to fear from terrorists and cyvercriminals than the NSA.
Late Saturday, the media announced the 7th round draft pick in the NFL by the Saint Louis Rams of openly gay player Michael Sam, the first draft in history.
Labels: gay clubs, gays and sports, gays in the military
Vox hire of a "gay conservative" writer stirs controversy in other media
Here we go with more controversy over politically incorrect, or perhaps antagonistic, speech in the gay community, with the protests over Vox Media and Ezra Klein's hiring of Brandon Ambrosino, as in this piece in The American Prospect, here. AmericaBlog called him "Falwell loving" in this piece.
Or try this critique on Media Matters, here. His having gone to Liberty University certainly affected his views. His idea of "post equality" may ring for me in a certain psychological sense -- because it causes new demands to be made on people who had previously led double and separate lives. But, as the article points out, it's hardly an accurate characterization of America as a whole today.
It's even more ironic right now for me to read this, because Monday I made a quasi-business trip to Lynchburg, not over Falwell, but to report on a homeland security issue (see Issue blog, May 6). I saw Falwell's name all over town, but I rather chuckled whenever I saw it.
I still remember a silly sermon that Falwell gave in Irving, TX in 1983 (when I was living in Dallas) where he linked "Herpes and AIDS" as if they were the same thing.
Friday, the New York Times has an important story by Kirk Johnson on the progress of the Boy Scouts: "Compromise on Scouts pleases no one, Scouts are learning", link here. The story is set near Seattle. Dismissals of gay leaders continue, but Scouts say they don't "ask" and don't listen to rumors.
Labels: gay press
Vox media reports LGBT people make up to 40% of the homeless, more likely to go to jail
Vox Media offers a shocking report, that LGBT people are 20%-40% of the homeless population and are more likely to go to jail, by German Lopez, link here. And that means hear in the United States, not Russia or Africa.
I do find the story rather shocking, and my own personal observation is that I'm not sure I believe it,
But the numbers are based on a study from the Lambda Legal Defense Fund, which I regularly support, link here.
There is also a report from Columbia University Law school here, "Federal Policy Recommendations for Addressing Criminalization of LGBT People and People Living with HIV", This might seem surprising in view of Lawrence v. Texas, the end of DADT in the military, and so much progress in marriage.
I can say that in the gay male community, higher income gays have relatively little social contact with those of lower income, much as in the general population. This trend seems to have increased since the 1990s.
Labels: economic parity, sodomy laws
Explaining the anti-gay views of Rick Santorum and his ilk (and the confusion over "right to privacy")
ThinkProgress has a recent story on Rick Santorum's painful retreat on his long standing opposition to gay marriage, here. Remember that in the summer of 2004, he tried to hijack the Senate's attention for a federal constitutional amendment banning recognition of gay marriage.
Wikipedia has an entry on Santorum's views on homosexuality (link). Santorum sometimes has said he has nothing against homosexual orientation but considers homosexual acts to be wrong (a common variation of Vatican teachings). But he has also disagreed with "Lawrence v. Texas" (2003) and said that he believes that the "right to privacy" in the UN constitution (as imputed from other more explicitly stated rights, as in the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment) does not cover all adult private adult consensual acts.
That's interesting to me personally, because the sixth chapter of my first ("Do Ask, Do Tell I" book) is titled "A Right to Privacy Amendment", which I proposed as "Amendment 28" in twelve parts. Until the ear of social media as we know them today, I had been used to the idea of a "quasi-double-life" and the somewhat "separate but (un)equal" lives with people in traditionally married couples (usually with kids). I had my own world. But all the debate on the military gay ban, the whole history of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to its repeal, and the rapid evolution of same-sex marriage, and emphasis on equality (rather than "just privacy") in most western countries and now many states in the US has changed all this. (HIV had created an enormous privacy threat in the 1980s.)
But Santorum was talking in circles (as does the Church). What he objects to (as do Russia, Nigeria, Uganda, and the like) is not so much homosexual acts as "gay culture", and the challenge it poses not just to political authority but to supposedly stabilizing (and gender-based) social structures. (Really, that was the case with the US military, too.) It's important to recognize that Santorum and some of the more credible of his ilk do have a "theory" of sustainability. Santorum has said that homosexuality is "antithetical" to the traditional family and its ability to provide nurturance (and "life value") to dependent or less competitive individuals (so that the government doesn't have to). Evangelical Protestant conservatives (Mero, Carlson, Scott Lively) say pretty much the same thing (the matter of a celibate – abstinent -- priesthood is tricky.) They do envision a certain "socializing" process that they think everyone should negotiate – most of all those of us who are "different" so we can't "cheat" the system or make others uncomfortable. I can see how this can become appealing when I have to contemplate how external threats (whether natural or because of "enemies") could force me into interdependence with other people and personal interactions that I would not normally have "chosen" or "consented to". The socialization starts with proficiency in gender-appropriate chores, and moves to learning to feel some reward in providing for the real needs of other people, first on a short term basis. But the emotional reward won't hold for most people without a lifelong relationship of one's own – traditional marriage with children, and the ability to "maintain passion" (I could be more explicit) as the partners age and face physical challenges that would diminish their attractiveness or draw from the viewpoint of original fantasy. That "sustainable passion" is a critical component of the entire "system", and it can be easily undermined. Part of the subversion simply comes from some heterosexual men having to deal with the belief that they can be sex objects, too, or that others can judge their own fitness on somewhat arbitrary, fantasy-related criteria. I recall how therapists would say (back in the 60s) that I wanted to "step on their toes", and they wouldn't recognize that others had stepped on mine first. But I can see how my "fantasy material" and "inner life" could be interpreted in a troubling way by others, and raise questions about my own psychological integrity. One of the most important aspects of my own "situation" is that I do remain aloof and resistance to showing affection (or giving it any significance) to those with whom I can find certain kinds of "fault".
An important part of "Santorianism" is that those "in command" must be absolutely faithful sexually in order to avoid corruption; otherwise they become self-serving, lose credibility and everything falls apart (and it usually does, at least in the Catholic Church). But this view also helps explain why "immutability" has become such an important argument. If homosexuality is a given fact of human nature, then the "tender little baby" part of heterosexual stability just has to deal with it. But if it can be "chosen", then gay people might be seen as being deliberately and knowingly destructive (the "stepping on toes" argument) of the emotional commitments of others. Surprisingly (or perhaps not) the gay establishment seems to go along with this view. I don't.
It seems that this idea says that patriarchal and fertile family heads will "nurture" someone like me but I am supposed to recognize my dependence on them and remain quiet and subservient, so they can get it up when the going gets tough. No, that's not a very acceptable idea.
Furthermore, it's not so much a matter that my private behavior or speech about the behavior harms others. It's more that if society and the legal system looks at it as OK, then the course of heterosexual marriage seems less remarkable and less interesting to "them". Therefore, it will tend to break down, as will other social ties that take care of people. That is how "they" seem to see it. It's an irony that the virtue of other men, insofar as I can perceive it visually, is actually important to me personally, and that corresponds to what we usually see as wanting "religious morality" to be applied to everyone.
Once certain political or religious leaders make homosexuality an issue, it grabs attention, as a proxy for deeper problems, about balancing individualism with the need to share the long-term needs and future of the group, in a somewhat concentric fashion (starting with some sort of family unit). Anti-gay social conservatives see actual physical intercourse in marriage, at least symbolically capable of procreation (with all its responsibilities and need to spread risk0-sharing), as essential to the socialization of everyone.
Posted by Bill Boushka at 11:19 AM No comments:
Labels: homophobia, Religion and homosexuality
HRC hosts booksigning for Kate Fagan and "The Reappearing Act"; meantime, gay big league players soothe controversy but a few owenrs' behaviors attracts attention
This evening, I attended a booksigning party at the Human Rights Campaign at Rhode Island Ave. and 17th St. NW in Washington DC, for author Katie Fagan, for her new book "The Reappearing Act: Coming out as Gay on a College Basketball Team Led by Born-Again Christians", published by Skyhorse. Kate is a columnist for ESPN.
The audience was mostly women, and the conversation tended to focus on the intricate internal politics of college sports. The author said that there only about 80 job openings a year in college basketball and relatively few go to women. She also indicated that at southern schools (especially in Texas) open lesbians who worked on university coaching staffs had been fired and had no legal protection.
I brought up the question of big league sports. That's especially timely on the race issue this week in the NBA because of the Donald Sterling situation. On sexual orientation, all major league sports franchises have been developing clauses to end discrimination based on sexual orientation (for links, see the posting here Feb. 25). The audience indicated that the NFL might be easier to accept gay players than MLB because all NFL players have gone to college. Baseball, by comparison, requires less physical contact in the sport itself and is more focused on individual performance (especially in pitching and batting). But it is true that many player come from conservative cultures (like in the Caribbean) and have less education. It was mentioned that Bryce Harper went to the Nationals with just a GED. But some players do have degrees and are articulate and well educated and came through college baseball (Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman and Tim Lincecum). Like the military, professional teams have to develop cohesion, in an environment where players are often traded and can become free agents. MLB teams seem more open to "gay nights" at stadiums than the NFL so far, but they have much longer schedules.
I bought a copy of the book, and gave here a business card for my DADT book. It was a little pricey in hardcover ($25). I will read it and review it soon. She mentioned during the reading that finding a publisher interested in women's sports was difficult, but she didn't mention self-publishing.
Another NBA owner, Richard DeVos, attracted attention for mildly anti-gay remarks (especially about asking for "favors" with gay marriage). CNN has called attention to his behavior in relation to the Sterling case (story). .
Today I wrote a post on my International Issues blog about the "Dear Russia: It's Not Okay" campaign on YouTube, with display of a video by Timo Descamps, and some more horrific news from Uganda.
Labels: book-related, gays and sports
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text:
create table HIDDEN (
    ID int not null,
    VALUE varchar(100)
);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Question: How did the pyramids in Egypt materialize, and why did it happen there of all places? How could they possibly have been built with such precision without powerful technologies? The First and Second Temples were destroyed, but the pyramids still stand.
My Answer: Nothing simply appears out of thin air, from "above," materializing out of nothingness. People built the pyramids, and they still stand because they represent the universal egoism that is alive and growing stronger. The Temples, on the other hand, were destroyed because the necessary mass of people for perceiving both worlds and connecting them together is lacking. In the future, when egoism becomes corrected, the common soul will appear, together with its earthly symbol: the Third Temple. However, after humanity's general correction, this world will start disappearing from our perception.
Question: On Israel's Independence Day, I saw a program with you speaking about the spiritual independence of Israel. Among other topics, you spoke about the spiritual geography of the Land of Israel. But to my regret, I was surprised that you did not mention the southern part of Israel – the Negev Desert. After all, it is a part of the nation. Does this mean that the spiritual forces only influence the part of Israel that extends from Ramat HaGolan to the Dead Sea?
My Answer: Of course not. The Negev Desert has always been a part of Israel, but this place is influenced by the minimal spiritual forces, and hence this part is naturally inanimate. For more on this, see Part 16 of Talmud Eser Sefirot.


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19. Comments and Submissions. The Company welcomes your comments. All comments, suggestions or other information submitted by you to the Company, either orally or in any other form, or sent by you to the Web Site for use by the Company or its advertisers or business partners in response to solicitations on the Web Site or Services will become the Company' property and you agree that all intellectual property rights therein are transferred to the Company. Further, you understand that any postings, or content submitted for posting, to publicly available portions of the Web Site or Services are non confidential for all purposes.
20. Compliance. The owner of this Web Site is based in the State of New Jersey, USA. The Company makes no representation that materials in this Web Site are appropriate or available for use in other locations. If you access this Web Site from other locations, you are responsible for complying with local laws.


Entry via UPVC double glazed door. UPVC double glazed windows to front and side elevations. Door to lounge.
UPVC double glazed bay window to front elevation. Radiator. Stairs rising to first floor landing. Opening to kitchen/dining room.
UPVC double glazed window and door to rear elevation. Radiator. Fitted with a range of wall mounted and base level units and drawers with work surfaces over. Built in stainless steel one and a half bowl sink and drainer unit. Built in oven, hob and extractor. Space for white goods. Tiling to water sensitive areas. Built in cupboard.
Access to loft space. Doors to connecting rooms. Cupboard.
UPVC double glazed window to front elevation. Radiator. Two built in wardrobes.
Obscure UPVC double glazed window to rear elevation. Heated towel rail. Fitted with a three piece suite comprising of low level WC, pedestal hand wash basin and panelled bath with mixer tap and electric shower over. Tiled floor and walls.
Predominantly gravelled with pathway to porch.
Paved to the immediate rear of the property, which in turn leads to a gravelled section. Enclosed by timber fencing. Gate to rear leading to garage in a block.


text:
Q: laravel or lumen, which one to choose? I am a student and I'm making a project, an application which will show data to users on web end and also on android application. but I am confuse which one to choose for backend development, Laravel or Lumen ? My application will have signup function and displayed data from mysql against search queries. There will be 4 to 5 tables and multiple columns in each table. also images to show. So which one I should choose?

A: From what you have described so far Laravel seems like a perfect fit. Start off with laravel, if you need more speed and a framework focused towards building web services give lumen a try. If you haven't worked with PHP or any other backend app before, go with vanilla PHP.
Goodluck with the app!

A: If you only need to build an API use Lumen, otherwise Laravel

A: Well, I recommend Laravel rather than Lumen (Frankly speaking, CI framework may be more suitable, which is simpler and friendly to new user). About 1.5 years ago, I experienced the same dilemma, just like you. For lacking of enough document, I have to migrate my project from Lumen to Laravel when I came across some problems.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


N.B. This board is updated on a weekly basis using results available from the CricHQ website. If for any reason an eligible performance is not recorded here, please email the details (name, team, date, opponent and performance) to Terry Hills - terry.hills@xtra.co.nz.


text:
Tonight: Nas and Damian Marley
The performers unite at the Wiltern, ahead of the JazzReggae Fest.
By Alysia Gray Painter	• Published May 27, 2010 • Updated on May 28, 2010 at 12:15 am
NAS AND DAMIAN MARLEY: Their album "Distant Relatives," which melds the legacies of hip-hop and reggae, debuted last week; now the stars are performing at the Wiltern tonight. If you can't catch the show, they'll be headlining the JazzReggae Fest at UCLA on Monday, May 31.
LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE OPENS: It's a four-day fest that includes acts like the Album Leaf, yoga classes, bee workshops. It's all happening in a tree-nice spot at Oak Canyon Ranch in Irvine. Look for Nico Vega and Ricochet, a group of "poetic acrobats," to perform tonight.
RICH FULCHER: If you follow "The Mighty Boosh," you enjoy this comic. And if you enjoy this comic, you should get to Largo at the Coronet, where he is performing "Tiny Acts." "Rebellious acting out" is promised. Oh, and Eric Stonestreet of "Modern Family"? Yay! 8 p.m.
Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media


"The forgotten art of Venice -- promoting the conservation and awarenes" by David Francis Finnegan, James Peter Koniers et al.
The forgotten art of Venice -- promoting the conservation and awareness of external sculpture.
This project completed a decade's worth of work by WPI students on the external sculpture of Venice. To help preserve this art, this project updated and completed a computerized catalog of the 2929 pieces. Through analysis never before possible, we determined the overall state of the collection. We identified the most endangered pieces and recommended corrective actions. To create awareness of this art, we designed a school program, walking tours and a web site.


Tetbury Hospital Trust is a Charity, our Patron is HRH the Prince of Wales. Our President is the 12th Duke of Beaufort, whose family have been long term supporters of the hospital since it first became independent. As an independent healthcare provider we deliver high quality services on behalf of the NHS and for private patients. We provide outpatient consultations, day surgery and physiotherapy. The hospital has a walk in facility for minor injuries, and an X-ray department which takes referrals from the hospital clinics and GP practices.


text:
Peter Frans Martha baron Carmeliet, né le  à Louvain, est un médecin belge, professeur à la Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Louvain, Belgique). Il est également directeur adjoint au département de technologie transgénique et thérapie génique du  (VIB). Parmi ses intérêts de recherche figurent la , l'angiogenèse et le facteur de croissance de l'endothélium vasculaire.

Prix et distinctions
 2002 : Prix Francqui en sciences biologiques et médicales
 2005 : Prix de la santé Artois-Baillet Latour (avec )
 2010 :  en médecine
 2018 : Concession de noblesse héréditaire avec le titre personnel de baron

Notes et références

Liens externes

Médecin belge
Étudiant de la Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Professeur à la Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Baron belge
Lauréat du prix Francqui
Membre de l'Académie allemande des sciences Leopoldina
Naissance en décembre 1959
Naissance à Louvain

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Live, realtime 3 ways data-binding date-time input on AngularFire I have the following simplified version of my code:
tr(ng-repeat='entry in ds3.entries | orderBy:orderByField:reverseSort | filter:query as results')
    td
      input.screen(type='datetime-local', ng-model='entry.date_received', datetime="MM/dd/yyyy hh:mm a" )
      span(ng-hide='') {{entry.date_received | dateFormat }}
tr.screen
    td
      input.screen(type='datetime-local', ng-model='new_entry.date_received', datetime="MM/dd/yyyy hh:mm a", date-parser="MM/dd/yyyy hh:mm a")
    td
      button.btn-xs.btn-success(ng-click='insert()')
        span.fa.fa-plus-square
        |   Insert

That is the Jade part for HTML view, allowing supposedly adding new datetime-local data and updating it live (like an GoogleDocs Excel table).
I'm trying to wire things up using AngularFire (AngularJS 1.x and Firebase database). I had been able to have Auth and things worked for text input field. Problem is as we know Firebase doesn't accept DATETIME value. So, I'm trying to sort out alternatives and workaround solutions for live, realtime changing and editing of datetime input using 3-ways data binding for a collection.
My planning is to have datetime sent to Firebase as integer string (unix_timestamp) and feed back as a datetime format. So, I try 2 directives.
1- to filter display result from integer string for the view.
angular.module('workspaceApp')
.filter('dateFormat', ['$moment', function($moment) {
    return function(time) {
      return time ? $moment.unix(time).format('MM/DD/YYYY - hh:mm a') : time;
    };
}])

2-(tough one)- to convert and save integer string to Firebase database without showing error on the view (because things tied together in 3-ways data binding [concept] so I'm stucked and struggling at figuring out how to do it properly). For text field, I would only do ng-change='ds3.entries.$save(entry)' in the input tag.
.directive("input", function () {
return {
    require: 'ngModel',
    /* scope : {
                   entries : "="
    },*/
    link: function (scope, elem, attr, modelCtrl) {
      if (attr['type'] === 'date' || attr['type'] === 'datetime-local') {
        modelCtrl.$formatters.push(function (modelValue) {
          if (modelValue) {
              return new Date(modelValue * 1000);
          } else {
              return null;
          }
        });
        elem.bind('change', function () {
          scope.$apply(function() {
            var str = elem.val();
            var time = new Date(elem.val());
            var unix_time = Math.floor(time.getTime() / 1000);
            console.log(str, unix_time);
            scope.entries.$save().then(function(ref) {
              ref.key() === scope.entry.$id; // true
            }, function(error) {
              console.log("Error:", error);
            });
            modelCtrl.$setViewValue(unix_time.toString());
            modelCtrl.$render();
            // $scope.entry.update(unix_time.toString());
          });
        });
      }
    }
};

})
.directive('fetchDate', function(){
return {
  link: function($scope){
    $scope.$watch('date_received', function(newVal, oldVal){
      if (newVal){
        $scope.entry.date_received = Math.floor(newVal / 1000);
        console.log($scope.entry.date_received);
      }
    });
  }
};

})
I went with ng-change=UpdateFunction() in the datetime input and went to directive and controller to write the function but not yet solve it. I tried $watch too but usually see undefined either old date or new date in the console.
$scope.$watch('entry.date_received',function(newVal, oldVal){
  console.log(Math.floor(newVal / 1000) , Math.floor(oldVal / 1000));
  // $scope.update(newVal);
});

But hardly get it solved. Any ideas?

A: Putting this on your <input type="date" date-conversion/> will handle 3 way binding with AngularFire and dates.
app.directive('dateConversion', function () {
return {
    restrict: "A",
    require: "ngModel",
    link(scope, element, attributes, ngModel) {
        ngModel.$formatters.push(value => {
            let output = null;
            if (value) {
                scope.stringValue = value;
            }
            if (value) { output = moment(value).toDate(); }
            return output;
        });

        ngModel.$parsers.push(value => {
            let output = null;
            if (value) { output = moment(value).format(); }
            return output;
        });
    },
}

});


Make a lot of cute pretty bunnies using our free crochet pattern!
Crochet fabulous bright pink crochet flamingo toy. It's the perfect companion for a fashionable baby.
Amigurumi Pattern - Lisa the Fox. I know it's not a knit, but I thought it was cute enough to maybe try making sometime.
Cat Amigurumi - Free Russian Pattern here: http://handmade-paradise.
Crochet Amigurumi Bunny Free Pattern | Look how little and adorable it is!


Bleisure travel is an awful contraction but, if industry experts are to be believed, it's a growing trend as business travellers add a little personal downtime at the start or end of their work-related trips.
While bleisure travel probably isn't as defined a trend in South Africa as it is in the United States, South Africans may increasingly be inclined to mix business and pleasure to make their travel rands stretch further, particularly if they can get a few days relaxation at a corporate rate.
Getting to know the culture in the cities or foreign countries where you do business.
Coping with the stress of a connected, always-on world.
A reward for being away from home.
Adding a day or two at the end of a trip can also mean that you arrive back at the office feeling refreshed and enthused, rather than wrung out and exhausted.
Combine airfare, hotel and car hire to avoid any surprises, such as taxes.
See if you are eligible for discounts or specials if you book through a single portal.
Use your loyalty points if you belong to any programmes.
Compiled by: Melissa Jane Cook. Source: Meropa.


text:
<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use App\Item;
use App\Collection;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Input;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Validator;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Redirect;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Session;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\File;
use Intervention\Image\ImageManagerStatic;
use App\SpiceHarvesterRecord;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\App;

class ItemController extends Controller
{

    /**
     * Display a listing of the resource.
     *
     * @return Response
     */
    public function index()
    {
        $items = Item::orderBy('updated_at', 'DESC')->paginate(100);
        // $collections = Collection::orderBy('order', 'ASC')->get();
        $collections = Collection::lists('name', 'id');
        return view('items.index', array('items' => $items, 'collections' => $collections));
    }

    /**
     * Find and display a listing
     *
     * @return Response
     */
    public function search()
    {

        $search = Input::get('search');
        if (str_contains($search, ';')) {

            $ids = explode(';', str_replace(" ", "", $search));
            $results = Item::whereIn('id', $ids)->paginate(20);
        } else {
            $results = Item::where('title', 'LIKE', '%'.$search.'%')->orWhere('author', 'LIKE', '%'.$search.'%')->orWhere('id', 'LIKE', '%'.$search.'%')->paginate(20);
        }

        $collections = Collection::lists('name', 'id');
        return view('items.index', array('items' => $results, 'collections' => $collections, 'search' => $search));
    }

    /**
     * Show the form for creating a new resource.
     *
     * @return Response
     */
    public function create()
    {
        $prefix = 'SVK:TMP.';  // TMP = temporary
        $last_item = Item::where('id', 'LIKE', $prefix.'%')->orderBy('created_at', 'desc')->first();
        $last_number = (int)str_replace($prefix, '', $last_item->id);
        $new_id = $prefix . ($last_number+1);
        return view('items.form', array('new_id'=>$new_id));
    }

    /**
     * Store a newly created resource in storage.
     *
     * @return Response
     */
    public function store()
    {
        $input = Input::all();

        $rules = Item::$rules;
        $rules['primary_image'] = 'required|image';

        $v = Validator::make($input, $rules);

        if ($v->passes()) {

            $item = new Item;
            $item->fill($input);
            $item->save();

            if (Input::hasFile('primary_image')) {
                $this->uploadImage($item);
            }

            return Redirect::route('item.index');
        }
        return Redirect::back()->withInput()->withErrors($v);
    }

    /**
     * Display the specified resource.
     *
     * @param  int  $id
     * @return Response
     */
    public function show($id)
    {
        $item = Item::find($id);
        return view('items.show')->with('item', $item);
    }

    /**
     * Show the form for editing the specified resource.
     *
     * @param  int  $id
     * @return Response
     */
    public function edit($id)
    {
        $item = Item::find($id);

        if (is_null($item)) {
            return Redirect::route('item.index');
        }

        return view('items.form')->with('item', $item);
    }

    /**
     * Update the specified resource in storage.
     *
     * @param  int  $id
     * @return Response
     */
    public function update($id)
    {
        $v = Validator::make(Input::all(), Item::$rules);

        if ($v->passes()) {
            $input = array_except(Input::all(), array('_method'));
            // $input = array_filter($input, 'strlen');
            $input = array_map(function ($e) {
                return $e ?: null;

            }, Input::all()); //prazdne hodnoty zmeni na null

            $item = Item::find($id);
            $item->fill($input);
            $item->save();

            if (Input::has('tags')) {
                $item->reTag(Input::get('tags', []));
                $item->index(); //pre istotu. lebo ak sa nic ine nezmeni, tak nepreindexuje
            }

            // ulozit primarny obrazok. do databazy netreba ukladat. nazov=id
            if (Input::hasFile('primary_image')) {
                $this->uploadImage($item);
            }

            Session::flash('message', 'Dielo ' .$id. ' bolo upravené');
            return Redirect::route('item.index');
        }

        return Redirect::back()->withErrors($v);
    }

    /**
     * Remove the specified resource from storage.
     *
     * @param  int  $id
     * @return Response
     */
    public function destroy($id)
    {
        Item::find($id)->delete();
        return Redirect::route('item.index')->with('message', 'Dielo bolo zmazané');
        ;
    }

    public function backup()
    {
        $sqlstring = "";
        $table = 'items';
        $newline = "\n";

        $prefix = 'SVK:TMP.';
        $items = Item::where('id', 'LIKE', $prefix.'%')->get();
        foreach ($items as $key => $item) {
            $item_data = $item->toArray();

            $keys = array();
            $values = array();
            foreach ($item_data as $key => $value) {
                $keys[] = "`" . $key . "`";
                if ($value === null) {
                    $value = "NULL";
                } elseif ($value === "" or $value === false) {
                    $value = '""';
                } elseif (!is_numeric($value)) {
                    DB::connection()->getPdo()->quote($value);
                    $value = "\"$value\"";
                }
                $values[] = $value;
            }
            $sqlstring  .= "INSERT INTO `" . $table . "` ( "
                        .  implode(", ", $keys)
                        .    " ){$newline}\tVALUES ( "
                        .  implode(", ", $values)
                        .    " );" . $newline;

        }
        $filename = date('Y-m-d-H-i').'_'.$table.'.sql';
        File::put(app_path() .'/database/backups/' . $filename, $sqlstring);
        return Redirect::back()->withMessage('Záloha ' . $filename . ' bola vytvorená.');

    }

    public function geodata()
    {
        $items = Item::where('place', '!=', '')->get();
        $i = 0;
        foreach ($items as $item) {
            if (!empty($item->place) && (empty($item->lat))) {
                $geoname = Ipalaus\Geonames\Eloquent\Name::where('name', 'like', $item->place)->orderBy('population', 'desc')->first();
                //ak nevratil, skusim podla alternate_names
                if (empty($geoname)) {
                    $geoname = Ipalaus\Geonames\Eloquent\Name::where('alternate_names', 'like', '%'.$item->place.'%')->orderBy('population', 'desc')->first();
                }

                if (!empty($geoname)) {
                    $item->lat = $geoname->latitude;
                    $item->lng = $geoname->longitude;
                    $item->save();
                    $i++;
                }
            }
        }
        return Redirect::back()->withMessage('Pre ' . $i . ' diel bola nastavená zemepisná šírka a výška.');
    }

    private function uploadImage($item)
    {
        $item->removeImage();

        $error_messages = array();
        $primary_image = Input::file('primary_image');
        $full = true;
        $filename = $item->getImagePath($full);
        $uploaded_image = \Image::make($primary_image->getRealPath());
        if ($uploaded_image->width() > $uploaded_image->height()) {
            $uploaded_image->widen(800, function ($constraint) {
                $constraint->upsize();
            });
        } else {
            $uploaded_image->heighten(800, function ($constraint) {
                $constraint->upsize();
            });
        }
        $uploaded_image->save($filename);
    }

    /**
     * Destroy selected items
     *
     * @param
     * @return Response
     */
    public function destroySelected()
    {
        $items = Input::get('ids');
        if (!empty($items) > 0) {
            foreach ($items as $item_id) {
                $item = Item::find($item_id);
                $image = $item->getImagePath(true); // fullpath, disable no image
                if ($image) {
                    @unlink($image);
                }
                $item->collections()->detach();

                SpiceHarvesterRecord::where('identifier', '=', $item_id)->delete();

                $item->delete();
            }
        }
        return Redirect::back()->withMessage('Bolo zmazaných ' . count($items) . ' diel');
    }

    /**
     * Refresh selected items with data from OAI-PMH source
     *
     * @param
     * @return Response
     */
    public function refreshSelected()
    {
        $items = Input::get('ids');
        if (!empty($items) > 0) {
            foreach ($items as $item_id) {
                $item = Item::find($item_id);
                App::make('\App\Http\Controllers\SpiceHarvesterController')->refreshSingleRecord($item->record->id);
            }
        }
        return Redirect::back()->withMessage('Pre ' . count($items) . ' diel boli načítané dáta z OAI');
    }

    public function reindex()
    {
        $i = 0;

        Item::with('images')->chunk(200, function ($items) use (&$i) {
            $items->load('authorities');
            foreach ($items as $item) {
                $item->index();
                $i++;
                if (App::runningInConsole()) {
                    if ($i % 100 == 0) {
                        echo date('h:i:s'). " " . $i . "\n";
                    }
                }
            }
        });
        $message = 'Bolo reindexovaných ' . $i . ' diel';
        if (App::runningInConsole()) {
            echo $message;
            return true;
        }
        return Redirect::back()->withMessage($message);
    }
}


Inspired by childhood memories of working in the garden with Papa, our soapmaker lovingly created this "perfect garden companion". This 4-ounce bar is packed with cornmeal and poppyseed for a vigorous scrub and extra moisturizing oils to prevent dry skin. Soap is creatively packaged in a wrapper bearing Papa's picture on a background filled with recollections of working in the seaside garden with Papa.


In tantra relationship between sound and visual form is expressed in the maxim that every mantra has its corresponding yantra. A yantra is essentially a geometrical composition, but its true nature lies beyond geometry. It is a dynamic visual image of the energy conveyed by mantra. It is not an arbitrary, artificial arrangement, but a psychological tool used to facilitate concentration.
Tantra is the method by which man can arouse his inherent energies in order to propel himself to the heights of human potential. It is a system which recognizes that the material universe has its basis in vibrating energy, and that this energy is one with transcendental consciousness, being its kinetic or dynamic aspect. To the tantric, matter, energy and consciousness are one. Consciousness can be heightened by amplifying our individual energies, causing them to resonate in harmony with the forces of the cosmos. Tantra accelerates personal vibrations by manipulating specific forms of cosmic sound energy, mantra, and reinforcing these with the corresponding visual symbol, yantra, which acts as a template for the visual coding of the unconscious.
It has been said that tantra is the science of consciousness expansion and liberation, and that mantra and yantra are the audible and visible symbols of expanded consciousness. Rather, mantra and yantra are tantra; tantra is liberated consciousness.
Tantra can be performed with the unique combination of Mantra & Yantra in relation to your personal chart readings for highly effective solutions to any problems : Contact us to know more and make use of this blessing in the form of ancient science.


A challenge won't be filed against recall petition wording involving three Howell Public Schools Board of Education members, allowing recall efforts to proceed.
"We're going to let the people decide," board member Michael Moloney said.
Monday was the last day to challenge recall petition wording in Livingston County Circuit Court.
Moloney, current school board President Mike Yenshaw and board member Deborah McCormick are being targeted for their Nov. 12 votes to fire former Superintendent Ron Wilson.
This year, Moloney and Yenshaw successfully challenged previous petition wording in an appeal before Circuit Judge Michael Hatty.
Don Cortez of the Howell Recall campaign said the petitions would begin circulating as soon as possible once official word comes from the county election commission.
Commission members approved recall wording Feb. 5.
However, petition wording is also subject to Circuit Court appeals under 2012 revisions to state laws governing recall elections.
Another revision mandated that recall elections will be run simultaneously with elections to select replacement officials.
The recall campaign is working to put the issue on the November ballot.