Who's bright idea was it to have x2 long distance (21 mile) fell races with a cumulative climb of over 6500ft the day after each other in the stunning Peak District? Really? Who's bright idea was it to enter both? Really?
I'd entered Grindleford Gallop before the announcement of the Edale Skyline Race which was to fall on the same weekend the day after. I had unfinished business with the Skyline Race – the race I nearly quit last year, the race I swore I would never do again. Yet I was back for more. This year I decided to 'race' Grindleford and 'run' Edale Skyline as Grindleford is more 'my sort of race'. I am not a fell runner as much I love 'training' on the Edale Skyline route I am rather useless when it comes to racing many parts of it. Yet give me Grindleford and I am as happy as a pig in muck.
Run with no expectations. Just run.
So Grindleford went well – cracking the sub 3 hour barrier and bagging 2nd Female (1st FV40). The legs were ok when I awoke on the Sunday morning and I was ready to brave the Skyline route. Forecast was nothing like the previous year of minus stupid degrees on top of Kinder, more so blue skies stretched right across the hazy looking Peak District as I drove the 20 minutes or so to Edale.
Edale was buzzing with fell runners as I arrived. This was an event to be taken seriously with full FRA checks. Map, compass, gloves, hat, waterproof top and waterproof bottoms that I borrowed from Grindleford Gallops' Winner Joe Fowler which got scrutinised to the last taped seam by the kit checkers, food in the form of a couple of 9 bars, and some fudge, yes its compulsory kit, plus appropriate footwear. Flip flops anyone? – what did they do with the guy who ran it bare foot last year? – and I passed kit check.
The race starts in a big open wide field with the beaming hills of Kinder reflecting down onto 300 or so runners. There were some well known names in this years' event, the female line up included the likes of Nicky Spinks (BG record holder), Sally Fawcett (GB trail runner) and winner Jasmin Paris (2nd in Dragons Back 2015). Amongst the starters were also Chris Baynham-Hughes who I had ran some of Ring O Fire with a couple of years ago.
With just a couple of minutes to go we were told not to eat yellow snow for the hills were still full of the snow fall from the previous year. I had come well prepared with sealskinz socks, 3 pairs of gloves, 2 hats and the kitchen sink strapped to my rucksack. No repeat of last year thank you very much.
I nestled myself around 3/4 the way back happy to just go with the crowds as we climbed the first hill zigzaging towards Ringer Roger, probably a 20 minute mile, there is really no point in even running up this bit. It involves quite a bit of scrambling near the top.
Once it leveled out runners came racing past me, I let quite a few past just happy to be running this enjoying the surroundings and trying to do my best to keep up straight. Down Jaggers Clough, and up the side of the Roman Road onto Win Hill I ran. I got chatting to a guy who had run from New Mills (12 miles) to Edale, doing the race and then running back (another 12 miles) – a full 45 miles in total – with far too much feet of climb you could mention. He told me about some upcoming races and recommended a few for me too. This kept me occupied on the long slog up to Winn Hill. The front runners came rushing down as we plodded up, the three girls Jasmin, Sally and Nicky in the lead. I gave a shout out and a wave to Chris as they went flying down the hill.
To know running is to love running.
Up we scrambled to the dibber and trigg at Winn Hill before embarking on the descent down to the bottom of the valley just outside of Hope in preperation for the climb up Lose Hill. A water stop and a strip off of my merino wool top which I proceeded to drop into a muddy puddle despite the lovely ultra boy holding my rucksack for me whilst I proceeded to strip right down to my bra to sort out my layers. Epic fail but hell no shame here.
The steep climb up Lose Hill is always challenging. Although I have run up this before, today there was no point, and I enjoyed the company of others as I took on a museli bar (9 bars are 4 for 79p at one of the cheap shops at the moment – bargain!) and some water and cheap salty fudge ready for the skyline trail that I really love – Lose Hill over Mam Tor onto Rushup Edge. A beautiful rolling trail with breathtaking views of the skyline and Peak District at its best.
I got chatting to another girl, her first skyline event and the chat got us up the flagging flagstone incline to Mam Tor. It was rush hour on Mam Tor as is when a bit of sun comes out. Down to Mam Nick – the last water station (only two en-route) where I re-organised out my rucksack, just in case the weather came down I ensured I had everything to hand. I was also ensuring that I was eating lots unlike last year scoffing down fudge, jelly babies and even more oaty bars. Yum.
The big bad bogs of Brown Knoll were looming. Jumping over heather clumps and diving down 3 foot cliff peat troughs. Due to the snow it was wet underfoot with troughs of snow making it hard work. Watching the guys in-front plummeting into the hidden bogs I tried to avoid them myself by taking a slightly different 'line' at times. The slightly uphill moorland ascent to Brown Knoll checkpoint was hard work as I passed a few guys, with Andy Buck and a few others just behind me. This section can seep every little bit of energy out of you as you are watching every footstep, jumping over peat infested streams, straggling wide 'peat rivers' and just simply peat bashing the soles of those trail shoes.
Once after dibbing in at Brown Knoll I fought my way through 2 foot snow drifts to scramble onto the paved path. Easy? Yeah right – slipping and sliding everywhere enforced by more snow, ice and peat.
Edale Cross check point was not too far, I dibbed in. It was much more welcoming than the previous year and then a steady climb up again a good chance to eat and drink again. Getting the idea of this? Eat drink and run.
16 miles in I was beginning to feel the effects of the milage in my legs, slowing down as the boys who I had passed on Brown Knoll now catching me up and overtaking me. This section is always a bit random, last year I took a very peaty trough route round up and down, this year I was trying to stick to a non existant path and came across lots of rocks that I wasn't able to cross. The rock formations are quite amazing but not when you suddenly freeze confronted by a 10 foot drop below. I couldn't move as I looked on in envy at the guys who jumped from one rock to another with no fear at all. A group of guys caught me up as I stood there frozen not knowing what to do, one of the kind guys felt sorry for me and helped me across. I thanked him profously as I picked myself and my mind up and started back running. Time for something to eat again I think as I stuffed my 'emergency' gel down me and some more fudge.
Still very boggy I followed the meandering pathway. Then the woman-eating bog struck. With runners infront of me and runners behind me I plummeted into a 3ft woman eating peat-bog stood up and presented mud all the way down my left hand side, from head to toe. Fantastic effort! Would I get a medal for that one?
Once I had fought my way out of the peat I lost sight of the other guys and was running on my own again. I did the same pathetic wimp as a waterfall came in sight and again I froze scared of slipping again I got help from a guy who caught me up (thank you!). Patheticness at its best.
I was beginning to feel the fear and tiredness was also setting in by this point, wobbly legs and slightly skewed mind. I was still going though, enjoying the views and the small dots of runners in an array of colours in the distance racing for time. Of course I had time to eat more food and take some more photos.
I was now running on my own, enjoying the peace and peat of the skyline. I turned the corner to find someone nestled in the deep depths of the heather looking a bit delerious. I asked if he was ok, obviously not as his speech was a little slurry. I gave him my water and a salt tablet which I always have on me whether its hot or cold. I asked fellow runners coming through if they had any water but the passing ones just passed without any water. Finally a very kind runner had extra water and we fed him with food until he came round. Once we were sure he was ok we went up to the last check point at Ringing Roger and let them know about the situation. The guy did finish the race in the end which I was pleased to hear.
Don't get so caught up in your goals that you forget to support your friends.
The final descent down to Edale required some scrambling down the rocks and then a hop skip and jump back down the zig zagged path that I had grunted up some four hours or so earlier. I had no idea about time I was just happy to whizz down the field to the finish line with a big smile on my face to have finished happy, dry and not injured. I finished bottom third, in a time of 4 hrs and 35 minutes – ish, only 5 minutes faster than the previous year. Who cares about the time, I care about the run, the experience and a fantastic day out in the hills. Would I do it again? Certainty for the pie and Hendo's at the end as well as the ample amount of cake. Did someone say cake?


text:
HomeAFPSurf's up: Sydney reopens its famous Bondi Beach
AFP / Australia / News
Surf's up: Sydney reopens its famous Bondi Beach
Hundreds of Sydney-siders rushed into the waves at the city's famous Bondi Beach on Tuesday as Australia took the first steps in easing coronavirus restrictions.
Dozens of eager surfers jumped railings and hit the water even before the beach officially opened at 7:00 am, five weeks after police sealed the area off because of large crowds ignoring social distancing orders.
More ruly swimmers and boarders lined up patiently and cheered as council workers moved fences aside to allow them through.
Although there were large numbers in the sea, the sand remained largely empty as people are still barred from sunbathing or gathering on the shore.
"Surf and go" signs urged people to move on when they had finished in the water.
The reopening of Bondi and a couple of neighbouring beaches came as several of Australia's states began slowly easing restrictions on public gatherings, spurred by a slowing of confirmed coronavirus cases around the country.
New South Wales signalled on Tuesday that it would follow other moves in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory in easing social distancing measures by allowing two visitors into people's homes in the state.
"Please, please do that responsibility, we trust everybody to do it responsibly; don't take risks," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said about the easing — which comes into effect on Friday.
"We don't want to see the numbers suddenly spike up."
She also cautioned that increased activity, including the return of schools and the reopening of some shops, would cause infections to rise but the health system was ready to cope.
Despite the early fence-hoppers, most people at Bondi Beach appeared to be embracing the added freedoms while sticking to distancing guidelines.
"I've been excited for like a week, I was like: 7:30 right here, definitely super exciting," Diane Delaurens told AFP, still dripping from the surf.
John Minto, standing with a board under his arm next to his son, said it was great to be back in the water.
"The surf's not great but, hey, no one's complaining today," Minto said.
Western Australia now allows gatherings of up to 10 people while Queenslanders will be given slightly more freedom to travel in the state from Saturday as the country eyes a way out of virus shutdowns.
Australia has confirmed some 6,700 cases of COVID-19, with 84 deaths for a population of about 25 million. There have been fewer than 20 new cases of the disease per day over the past week.
Le Courrier Australien and the Yve...
Australia marks 250th anniversary...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package com.cloud.api.command.user.vpn;

import com.cloud.api.APICommand;
import com.cloud.api.APICommandGroup;
import com.cloud.api.ApiConstants;
import com.cloud.api.ApiErrorCode;
import com.cloud.api.BaseAsyncCmd;
import com.cloud.api.Parameter;
import com.cloud.api.ServerApiException;
import com.cloud.api.response.DomainResponse;
import com.cloud.api.response.Site2SiteVpnConnectionResponse;
import com.cloud.context.CallContext;
import com.cloud.event.EventTypes;
import com.cloud.legacymodel.exceptions.ResourceUnavailableException;
import com.cloud.legacymodel.user.Account;
import com.cloud.network.Site2SiteVpnConnection;

import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;

@APICommand(name = "resetVpnConnection", group = APICommandGroup.VPNService, description = "Reset site to site vpn connection", responseObject = Site2SiteVpnConnectionResponse.class, entityType =
        {Site2SiteVpnConnection.class},
        requestHasSensitiveInfo = false, responseHasSensitiveInfo = false)
public class ResetVpnConnectionCmd extends BaseAsyncCmd {
    public static final Logger s_logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(ResetVpnConnectionCmd.class.getName());

    private static final String s_name = "resetvpnconnectionresponse";

    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    //////////////// API parameters /////////////////////
    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    @Parameter(name = ApiConstants.ID, type = CommandType.UUID, entityType = Site2SiteVpnConnectionResponse.class, required = true, description = "id of vpn connection")
    private Long id;

    @Parameter(name = ApiConstants.ACCOUNT, type = CommandType.STRING, description = "an optional account for connection. " + "Must be used with domainId.")
    private String accountName;

    @Parameter(name = ApiConstants.DOMAIN_ID,
            type = CommandType.UUID,
            entityType = DomainResponse.class,
            description = "an optional domainId for connection. If the account parameter is used, domainId must also be used.")
    private Long domainId;

    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    /////////////////// Accessors ///////////////////////
    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    public Long getDomainId() {
        return domainId;
    }

    public Long getAccountId() {
        return getEntityOwnerId();
    }

    public Long getId() {
        return id;
    }

    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    /////////////// API Implementation///////////////////
    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    @Override
    public String getEventType() {
        return EventTypes.EVENT_S2S_VPN_CONNECTION_RESET;
    }

    @Override
    public String getEventDescription() {
        return "Reset site-to-site VPN connection for account " + getEntityOwnerId();
    }

    @Override
    public void execute() {
        try {
            final Site2SiteVpnConnection result = _s2sVpnService.resetVpnConnection(this);
            if (result != null) {
                final Site2SiteVpnConnectionResponse response = _responseGenerator.createSite2SiteVpnConnectionResponse(result);
                response.setResponseName(getCommandName());
                setResponseObject(response);
            } else {
                throw new ServerApiException(ApiErrorCode.INTERNAL_ERROR, "Failed to reset site to site VPN connection");
            }
        } catch (final ResourceUnavailableException ex) {
            s_logger.warn("Exception: ", ex);
            throw new ServerApiException(ApiErrorCode.RESOURCE_UNAVAILABLE_ERROR, ex.getMessage());
        }
    }

    @Override
    public String getCommandName() {
        return s_name;
    }

    @Override
    public long getEntityOwnerId() {
        final Long accountId = _accountService.finalyzeAccountId(accountName, domainId, null, true);
        if (accountId == null) {
            return CallContext.current().getCallingAccount().getId();
        }
        return Account.ACCOUNT_ID_SYSTEM;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Has anyone used spacers on a 500e? Any thoughts?
Generally speaking, be very careful and be selective of the manufacturer and the type of aluminum used. In 2014 I had a failure of a wheel spacer on a vintage Fiat. Luckily, I was only traveling at 40 mph when the failure occurred. The wheel tucked up into the wheel well as I skidded to a stop. The damage was minimal. The inner bolts that mount to the hub are critical as well. DONT hand calibrate tightening these.


My name is William Malone and I am an HTML5 game developer in the Denver, CO area. I created this site (www.williammalone.com) to provide a medium to test out the newest web technologies and give back to the design and developer community via open source articles.
I occasionally step out of the digital world and when I do my interests include: working on carpentry projects in my garage, mowing my yard into alternating diagonal stripes, organizing disorganized spaces, and watermelon duck! I have two fantastic black labs who, although quite different (according to their dna tests), are both great at keeping my life exciting.
Now that you know a little about me, go read my articles!


We invite you to attend this briefing to connect with the decision-makers that control the nearly $8.1 billion that Egypt has earmarked to modernize its' refineries and ports.
With more efficient infrastructure, Egypt could produce significantly more oil and gas. The Ministry of Petroleum has expressed strong interest in U.S. technology solutions to support refinery modernization projects. The ministry has already identified the Middle East Oil Refinery as a near-term expansion project and is also seeking to establish a new hydrogenic cracking complex for petroleum products of a low economic value, such as fuel oil, at the Assiut Petroleum Refinery. Egypt is also planning a number of petrochemical plant developments and modernizations.


text:
/* jshint mocha: true */

var assert = require('assert');
var fs = require('fs');
var path = require('path');

var pkg = require('./../package.json');
var dirs = pkg['app-configs'].directories;

var expectedFilesInArchiveDir = [
    pkg.name + '_v' + pkg.version + '.zip'
];

var expectedFilesInDistDir = [

    '.editorconfig',
    '.gitattributes',
    '.gitignore',
    '.htaccess',
    '404.html',
    'apple-touch-icon.png',

    'audio/',
        'audio/jump.wav',

    'browserconfig.xml',
    'crossdomain.xml',

    'css/', // for directories, a `/` character
            // should be included at the end
        'css/main.css',
        'css/normalize.css',

    'favicon.ico',
    'humans.txt',

    'img/',
        'img/bird.png',
        'img/pipe.png',

    'index.html',

    'js/',
        'js/main.js',
        'js/plugins.js',
        'js/vendor/',
            'js/vendor/jquery-' + pkg.devDependencies.jquery + '.min.js',
            'js/vendor/phaser-' + pkg.devDependencies.phaser + '.min.js',
            'js/vendor/modernizr-2.8.3.min.js',

    'LICENSE.md',
    'robots.txt',
    'tile-wide.png',
    'tile.png'

];

// - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

function checkFiles(directory, expectedFiles) {

    // Get the list of files from the specified directory
    var files = require('glob').sync('**/*', {
        'cwd': directory,
        'dot': true,      // include hidden files
        'mark': true      // add a `/` character to directory matches
    });

    // Check if all expected files are present in the
    // specified directory, and are of the expected type
    expectedFiles.forEach(function (file) {

        var ok = false;
        var expectedFileType = (file.slice(-1) !== '/' ? 'regular file' : 'directory');

        // If file exists
        if (files.indexOf(file) !== -1) {

            // Check if the file is of the correct type
            if (file.slice(-1) !== '/') {
                // Check if the file is really a regular file
                ok = fs.statSync(path.resolve(directory, file)).isFile();
            } else {
                // Check if the file is a directory
                // (Since glob adds the `/` character to directory matches,
                // we can simply check if the `/` character is present)
                ok = (files[files.indexOf(file)].slice(-1) === '/');
            }

        }

        it('"' + file + '" should be present and it should be a ' + expectedFileType, function () {
            assert.equal(true, ok);
        });

    });

    // List all files that should be NOT
    // be present in the specified directory
    (files.filter(function (file) {
        return expectedFiles.indexOf(file) === -1;
    })).forEach(function (file) {
        it('"' + file + '" should NOT be present', function () {
            assert(false);
        });
    });

}

// - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

function runTests() {

    describe('Test if all the expected files, and only them, are present in the build directories', function () {

        describe(dirs.archive, function () {
            checkFiles(dirs.archive, expectedFilesInArchiveDir);
        });

        describe(dirs.dist, function () {
            checkFiles(dirs.dist, expectedFilesInDistDir);
        });

    });

}

runTests();


Joanna Braithwaite was born in Halifax, England in 1962, and shortly after immigrated to New Zealand with her family. She graduated from the Ilam School of Fine Arts at Canterbury University in 1985, and has lived and worked in Sydney since 1999, receiving an MFA in 2000 from the College of Fine Arts Sydney.
Braithwaite is the recipient of numerous awards, including a finalist in the Archibald and Sulman Art Awards in Australia and was runner-up in the Portia Geach Art Award in 2006. Her work is held in many private and public collections such as, Artbank and Germanos Collection in Sydney, Tweed River Art Gallery and Dubbo Regional Art Gallery in NSW, Christchurch Art Gallery, and James Wallace Collection in Auckland.


This air chased silver pendant is approximately .75″ wide and 1.5″ long. Net weight of pendant about 9g.
This shimmering silver air chased pendant features three 4mm swiss blue topaz stone set in tube bezel settings. The pendant is approximately .75″ wide and 1.5″ long. Net weight of pendant about 9g.
The process of this technique begins with annealing (heating) a silver tube in order to soften it. After hammering the ends and clamping the tube to a table, a dabbing punch set is used to create the craters and valleys in the metal. This processes work hardens the metal, and requires it to be annealed a number of times in order to soften the metal enough to continue shaping it. Once completed, the edges are smoothed and then three round tube bezel settings are soldered and the 4mm swiss blue topaz stones are set. After polishing the pendant, I apply protective wax to reduce tarnishing.


All tickets include full access to the Hub at Plaza Mariachi for additional food tastings, live music and dance performances.
$40- Self-guided tickets come with both an online and printed map to the locations unique to your custom list of restaurants. Each list includes of a minimum of 8 restaurants and markets located at the Food Crawl Hub and throughout the surrounding neighborhood, which will all provide you with food or drink samples. You can move at your own pace as you cruise around South Nashville to visit each restaurant and market in-person. You will receive a wristband that you must be wearing to receive samples at each stop on your map.
$75 - Curated Food Tour tickets include a tour guide, drinks, and charter bus transportation to exclusive stops that can only be found on the Curated Food Tour! Note: please reserve the entire span of noon to 4 PM for the Curated Tour.
Buy a Bus! - Buy 50, 25, or 10 seats on the Curated Tour to share Nashville's most delicious food tour with a group. A $5 per ticket discount applies when buying a group of tickets.
If you encounter any problems with the ticket purchasing process, or to purchase a large number of tickets, please contact Erin at Erin@tnimmigrant.org or call 615.833.0384.


text:
Klay Thompson's best moment as a Warrior?…
Klay Thompson's best moment as a Warrior? It will surprise you
Andre Iguodala shares funny story about Thompson's highest moment on court
Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson (11) sticks his tongue out while warming up before the start of Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, May 18, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
By gqlshare | gqlshare@digitalfirstmedia.com |
PUBLISHED: June 19, 2019 at 12:18 pm | UPDATED: June 20, 2019 at 4:41 am
In his upcoming book, Andre Iguodala shared a priceless story about teammate Klay Thompson, the Warriors' unassuming and eminently likeable star who often times confounds us.
As relayed in a Time Magazine story, in his memoir "The Sixth Man," Iguodala, described a Warriors team-building exercise in which he and his teammates were asked to identify the moment they felt the most joy during a game.
"When Klay's turn came, we all assumed he was going to say that his highest moment was the day he scored 37 points in a quarter against Sacramento," Iguodala wrote. "I mean, that was an NBA record! But he didn't. Instead he said, 'My best moment was one night I caught a pass and I was like 50 feet from the basket and I was about to shoot it. And all of a sudden, I hear Andre being like, 'What the (expletive), Klay? You're fifty feet out.' And I thought about it for a second and shot it anyway. It went in, and I was like, 'Yeah, Andre, (expletive) you.'
"We all had a good laugh about that," Iguodala wrote. "I was like, 'Wow, really dog? That was your best moment?' "
Just Klay being Klay. And who would want it any other way?
Was Kevin Durant joining the Nets more a matter of him ditching the Warriors?
Online app that can age a face instantly even makes a geezer of Steph Curry
Chase Center's new food choices for Warriors games, concerts
gqlshare
Miss Manners: She insulted the bride, then asked to come to the wedding
Sports media: Former KNBR host diagnosed with cancer
Legendary Flint's Barbecue coming back to Oakland
More in Golden State Warriors
Video of Ayesha Curry doing the Milly Rock at her opening brought the internet trolls out of the woodwork, who mocked her mercilessly for her (clearly casual) moves.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst said the Warriors were concerned when, after winning consecutive NBA titles, Durant "didn't seem to have the joy."
Forever young on the basketball court, Stephen Curry ages instantly when his photo is run through the FaceApp app.


Job satisfaction is just as important to Londoners as monetary gain, according to the latest research from Sodexo Engage.
The research, conducted by One Poll, surveyed 2,000 UK employees and found that 35% of London employees saw job satisfaction as their biggest motivator at work and a further 35% said monetary gain. Only 18% of Londoners said career progression motivated them in the workplace.
The research also revealed that what motivates people in the workplace changes with age. For the 18-24 year olds, career progression is the biggest motivator. However, as age increases, career progression reduces, and job satisfaction becomes much more important. Monetary gain remains constant.
With the New Year approaching many businesses will be reflecting on the successes and challenges of 2017 and what to expect for the year to come. As 2018 strategies come together, employers must look beyond the numbers and consider how to raise, and keep steady, employee satisfaction.
"For many it is often assumed that those working in our nation's capital are driven by money. However, proving that job satisfaction is just as important to Londoners as money should be a serious wake-up call for HR teams wanting to attract and retain staff. Motivating employees doesn't just mean increasing wages – it is so much more than that. Job satisfaction differs from person to person, but it's all about the feelings of pleasure and achievement an employee gets from doing their job.


text:
Del Murder
Final Fantasy XIV PS3 Beta Code Giveaway!
Are you interested in joining some of your fellow EoFFers in playing the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Beta? Do you own a PS3? If the answer to both of those questions is 'yes', then you're in luck!
Square-Enix has been gracious enough to give us access to several PS3 beta codes for the upcoming FFXIV:ARR beta phase three so you can start playing this weekend! And I do mean several. ...
Read More 132 Comments
Final Fantasy Distant Worlds Concert Tickets Giveaway!
The folks at Square-Enix NA have been generous enough to provide us with two tickets to the upcoming Final Fantasy: Distant Worlds concert in Atlanta, Georgia! Here's some details on the event:
Atlanta Symphony Hall in Atlanta, Georgia ...
Lightning Returns First Look: A Skeptical Fan's Impressions
When I first heard the announcement of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, I had my reservations. Like many fans, I was disappointed with the ending to Final Fantasy XIII-2. For me, the ambiguous final scene did not instill thoughts of "I wonder what happens next," but rather "I'm done with this crap." So when Square-Enix announced there would be a third (and final) game in this series, I was far from thrilled.
Still, I followed every piece of news on Lightning Returns closely. I am first and foremost a Final Fantasy fan ...
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Collector's Edition Giveaway!
Final Fantasy Series,
Happy 2012! To get the new year started off right, Eyes on Final Fantasy will be giving away a copy of the Final Fantasy XIII-2 Collector's Edition to one lucky member. The English release of FFXIII-2 is right around the corner (January 31) and many of us are very excited to get our hands on it. One of you will be doing so for free! Along with the game, the Collector's Edition comes with special digipack packaging, the 4-disc Official Soundtrack, and a concept art book.
Entering is simple. To enter, post in this thread telling us what your favorite Final Fantasy game is and why. Keep it short, 1 to 2 sentences, or preferably, in a haiku! Don't worry, your entry won't be judged and all entrants have an equal chance of winning. On February 3rd we will hold a random drawing to determine the lucky winner. We will then ask you for your XBOX360/Playstation 3 preference. Only one entry per member please. And no second accounts, we'll be able to tell. Sadly, staff aren't eligible , but I pre-ordered my copy anyway.
Good luck to all of you! ...
My Thoughts on the First 3 Hours of FFXIII-2
Final Fantasy XIII-2,
On October, 21 I had the opportunity to visit Square-Enix at their offices in Los Angeles and got a sneak peek at Final Fantasy XIII-2. Below is my review from playing the first three hours of the game. It should go without saying that this only reflects my opinion. If you want to read a general overview of the event you can go here, and if you want to read a factual rundown of what we learned about FFXIII-2, check it out here. In general I had a great time at the event and enjoyed playing FFXIII-2. I cannot say enough how nice the Square-Enix NA staff was and how well they treated us. They were simply awesome. Even if this game turned out to be a steaming pile of crap I would still have enjoyed myself due to how friendly and professional they were to us. Fortunately it was not a steaming pile of crap.
Bear in mind that I only got to play the first three hours of the game, and my opinion will only be based on that time period. As we all know, many of the more fun features in these types of games often don't get unlocked until much later. For example, after playing Final Fantasy XIII for three hours you probably wouldn't even have met your full party ...
Eyeson Visits Square-Enix and Plays Final Fantasy XIII-2
Back on October 21, Eyes on Final Fantasy got to visit Square Enix at their North America offices for a Final Fantasy XIII-2 fan event. We (ShlupQuack and myself) hung out with their PR team, got to play a 3-hour demo of FFXIII-2 (which was basically the first three hours of the game), and even met FFXIII and FFXIII-2 producer Yoshinori Kitase and art director Isamu Kamikokuryo. It was loads of fun!
After taking diligent notes through three hours of gameplay and a Q&A session with Kitase-san and Kamikokuryo-san, we've got quite a list of Final Fantasy Facts to get you all warm and ready to once again save the citizens of Gran Pulse. The Story section will give you a quick run down of what happens from the prologue through the end of chapter two, but the other sections are spoiler free (they are in spoiler tags for organizational purposes). Enjoy!
There is a jump button! Feel free to jump around freely like I did!
Square Enix is making a real effort to step up the interactivity in this game, as evidenced by the frequency of "Cinematic Actions." Basically, a cut scene will often have a "LIVE" icon in the upper left-hand corner, which


hard winter hit them harder than I would have expected.
Can I store them as tubers over the winter?
roots. To which group do Calla fall?
be far warmer. What temperature would be best for Calla?
for the endless supply of foam packing peanuts?
the containers and encouragae them to rot.
if we experience a cool, wet winter and how these plants react.
their production, the balance of the tubers were held in cool storage.
spread the risk so a total crop failure doesn't occur.
> Can I store Callas as tubers over the winter?
> roots. To which group do Calla fall?
> be far warmer. What temperature would be best for Calla?
> for the endless supply of foam packing peanuts?
> hard winter hit them harder than I would have expected.
> altogether. Consequently, I'd like to keep them inside this winter.


text:
Why I Love Olives
Alison and Jeff Nathan
There are a handful of ingredients that not only strengthen the flavor of a dish, but also stand strong as an appetizer-like snack on their own. My favorite one is small, it's oily, it's a fruit, and it's harvested for its meat and oil. It is the quintessential olive.
There are dozens of olive varieties encompassing both size and flavor. Similar to the different nuances in grapes and the wines that grapes become, olives grown in different regions will pick up the fine distinctions of those areas. The leading growers of olives are the Mediterranean countries ~ Spain, Greece, Italy and Israel where there are groves with some fruit bearing trees dating back thousands of years. The United States can also claim rights to this delicacy with much younger groves in the Southwestern states.
Not only is the olive's unique taste affected by its birthplace, but the final flavor of the fruit also depends on how ripe it is when picked, as well as the processing it goes through. Interestingly, all freshly picked olives are bitter.
Although we are most familiar with the multitude of black olives, there are many that are offered in shades of green. The green olives are under-ripe when picked. As they ripen, olives change from green to straw-colored to red. They are black at full ripeness. Spanish olives are picked young and fermented in brine for six to twelve months. When bottled, they're packed in a light brine and sold in a variety of forms including pitted, whole, or stuffed with an array of delicacies such as pimientos, almonds, onions, carrots, blue cheese and cloves of garlic. Olives picked in a riper state contain more oil and are a deeper green color. The common black olive, or Mission olive, is a ripe green olive that obtains its characteristic color and flavor through processing. Greek Kalamata and the French Niçoise olives are two of the more popular imported ripe olives. Dry-cured olives have been packed in salt. The salt removes most of the moisture and creates dry, wrinkled fruit. These are sometimes rubbed with olive oil and packed with herbs. Both domestic and imported olives are available bottled, canned and in bulk year-round.
Next time you've got a few extra minutes at the grocery store, I recommend a culinary field trip straight to the olive bar. This is a great alternative to buying olives in a can ~ devoid of flavorful brine and packed with too much processing. My refrigerator is never big enough when I bring home all those plastic containers filled with a colossal amount of olives.
Olives are not just for nibbling one at a time. With the ready availability of pitted olives, they are nearly indispensable as an ingredient. Mediterranean dishes often call for the addition of olives as a flavor enhancer as well as a visual accompaniment. The variety of olives to choose from can be overwhelming when a dish cries out for them. One way to help me through this daunting chore is to pair up the type of olive with a dish from its indigenous background. For instance, when I prepare a French dish such as Sea Bass Niçoise, it's an easy call to use the olive with the same name. An authentic Greek dish of orzo, tomato and feta would easily call for a Kalamata olive. An Israeli Meze display would be incomplete without a selection of locally harvested and cured olives.
And speaking of the Mediterranean, the Spanish Tapenade delicacy of finely ground black olives, sun dried tomatoes, capers and extra virgin olive oil is a terrific foundation ingredient ~ great on its own, but even better when utilized within other dishes. A tray of crackers or small toast points placed to the side will coach any newcomer to this basic chopped olive spread. The Tapenade does double duty when spread over salmon fillet and baked to a glistening crust in Salmon Olivida ~ one of our award winning recipes from years ago. Or, turn your Friday night chicken on its thigh by inserting your hand under the skin and spreading the Tapenade between the flesh and skin. The skin will be succulent and flavorful; the meat will be tender and juicy.
By themselves, an assortment of olives in the middle of your table is always welcome. This delicacy is even healthy for you, filled with the good kind of poly- and mono-unsaturated fats. Olives are naturally salty, and even more so after being flavored in a brine. So keep in mind, not too much salt necessary when olives are incorporated into your cooking. Stick a Post-It onto pages 189 and 208 in my cookbook, Jeff Nathan's Family Suppers. There are several wonderful recipes utilizing olives including Black Olive Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato and Olive Butter.
While you're adding the finishing touches to this olive recipe, knock back a martini with an olive, not a twist!
Get the Recipe for Chicken Savoy with Olives
Gourmet and Kosherolive recipes
ENJOY! FRESH AND FREE RECIPES TO YOUR INBOX!
Why I Love Niçoise Salad
By Jamie Geller
The 411 on Mushrooms
By Alison and Jeff Nathan
How To Cook Turkey London Broil
The Bounty of Breads
613 Things To Do With Pomegranates (well, almost 613)
Why We Love Bacteria: Understanding Fermenting
By Steven Weinberger


The herbs in this kit are a powerful addition to your cleansing experience. They help open the channels of elimination and assist in gentle detoxification on a cellular level. These formulas are a perfect complement to the Probiotic POWER Cleanse, and can also be used for daily cleansing support. The ability to aid in our healing process is heightened by our capacity to understand what we bring into our body and what they offer us on all levels…mind, body, soul. The beginning of this relationship can be a smell, a taste, a feeling. I'd like to share a few notes on the herbs we have chosen for the blends in your kit in hopes that it heightens your relationship to these gifts from the earth and engages your curiosity. Enjoy them and let this encourage you to explore the world of making your own herbal blends as well.
Eleuthero, roasted Dandelion root, Astragalus, Licorice root, Codonopsis root, Chaga.
Enjoy 1-3 teaspoons daily in steeped in boiled water. To make a decoction: Bring water to a boil. Add your amount of detox tea and simmer 15-25 minutes. Remove the kettle/pot from burner & steep for an additional 10 minutes. Strain and drink.
This unique blend draws it power from deep within the soil. The relationship between this star line of of healing herbs will leave your cells clean, refreshed, and revived. Licorice, Siberian ginseng, and Chaga mushroom are added to this formula for their energizing and balancing effects, while Dandelion, Astragalus, and Dangshen help to maximize detox efforts. This antioxidant-rich digestive tonic is easy to make in advance and sipped hot or cold throughout the day during a cleanse to reduce hunger and minimize cleanse reactions. It is calming while energizing.
Enjoy 1-3 teaspoons daily in food or liquid. This delicious, high protein powder can be mixed with smoothies, added to juice, coconut water, or water at mealtime, and is packed with minerals & vitamins. During an effective cleanse, it is necessary to build alkalinity with a source of vegan protein and nutritive herbs.
Dense nutrients found in chlorella and spirulina are both great protein sources, while the nettles are packed with nutrients! We also knew that no great protein blend could do without kelp, the "highest source of potassium in the world" (Ryan Drum) and also important for its iodine content. Marshmallow is a digestive aid that doubles as a "molecular taxi" to move lipids, bile, and fatty acids, while regulating blood volume. We also included an all-time favorite source of Vitamin C—a very important factor in our detoxification pathways—with rose hips. We made sure to include Maca, a great energy booster tastes amazing in this formula.
Enjoy 1-3 teaspoons daily in food or liquid.
Draw out toxins and poisons from the colon with bentonite clay & activated charcoal, especially adept at absorbing endotoxins produced internally by bad bacteria. At the same time, bulk up on herbs high in fiber such as flax, chia seed, and fenugreek. The slippery elm was added as a demulcent to soothe and support the body in eliminating these toxins. Lastly, we added delicious Tulsi, also known as holy basil, to promote digestion, relaxation, and tie all of these ingredients together.
Boost energy naturally without caffeine or stimulants. The maca in this specially crafted herbal formula will help you wean off coffee without skipping a beat. The natural adrenal-healing qualities of roasted dandelion root and roasted carob will help you transition away from coffee while you are cleansing so you can get more out of your cleanse!
Enjoy 3-10 sprays on the tongue before, during, or after meals.
PLUS 2 pH Testing strip packets and 1 dry skin brushing scrubbie! *Products are free of common allergens: Gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, and egg. Non-GMO.
*Experienced cleansers tend to order an additional alkaline protein power to use for the duration of the cleanse.


Viictory . tomorrow777. GrannyAlisa. Marssela.
JohzahCurlySexa0ExquisiteBoylorena4usexy .AlisonAngelXxX1lucianatobonNEWBLOSSOMjimbono .AlisaAmazingMonishaMissonikimxxxashlesexualperversion .sexualperversionTiaMatteROSESacredRaeAndHugo .SweetPerfectBBMistressMoonstarMakeMeUndresslorena4usexy .ViolettahbellaliceNaughtyFuckCGiulianoLove .xxSweetDessertxxSEXcocoaAlisonAngelXxX1BrunetteBabyD0LL .AlizacatMakeMeUndressURHONEYTSMrGuySex .CurlySexNEWBLOSSOMCurlySexWildAmzgGroupLa .2foryou2JohzahSamanthaSprayAnnaAlexSexy .RamGama0ExquisiteBoyROSESacredandybony .
NEWBLOSSOMMarsselahornydays6969KissMeMore .AnnaAlexSexyMJaneSuperGrrrlMakeMeUndressCuteAronia .URHONEYTSNEWBLOSSOMxanalbaby18xxxAmiRose .MsDynamiteCumDeepInMeXXXsalilACoupplee .DavidReadyToPlayteedeemedesire1GiulianoLove .lorena4usexydavetest10000AlisaAmazingACoupplee .xxSweetDessertxxDisguisedAngelBoy25bellalice .jimbonomikyANDjolymikyANDjolyAnellysX .CuteAroniaGothKittyteedeePerfectBabyX .AlizacatteedeeMonishaMissoniSTRONGCOUPLESEX .SamanthaLauraaudreyhelmsCumDeepInMeXXXMarssela .


Are you a packaging and sheeting professional? Pyroll needs YOU!
Pyroll is a dynamic family business; we live and evolve together with our customers, in tune with the requirements of the business environment. We're constantly branching out to new areas, and redefining old tasks and duties. Therefore new industry gamechangers are needed on a regular basis.
Most of our staff are professionals from the packaging and sheeting industry, but our company also offers other work roles. We can provide an excellent work environment, along with opportunities to build and sharpen your skills, empowered by the positive Pyroll spirit.
Pyroll is an environmentally and socially responsible family business which employs over 600 professionals in Finland and abroad. If you would like to be a part of Pyroll, send us a location-specific application or an open application for forthcoming opportunities.
We'll get in touch as soon as the right job becomes available!


Digital cameras are expensive and if you are going to buy one you need to make sure that you make the right purchase. You work hard for your money and you need to know that you are getting your moneys worth. So make sure that you take the following into consideration before you make that final commitment.
Battery life The life of the battery is going to affect just how many pictures you can take. This matters if you are going to the lake for the day or you are taking pictures of your son or daughters birthday party. There is nothing worse than having your camera run out of batteries in the middle of the day. You need to be able to trust your camera to do the job the right way. So find out what the battery life is before you make the final purchase and compare the different cameras and batteries to find the one that is most suitable for your needs.
Megapixel count Depending on the use of your camera you may need a digital camera with more or less megapixels. These are what will allow your pictures to be sized. The more megapixels that the camera has the larger the pictures will be able to be without losing any detail. If you are a professional photographer and you often take pictures for posters and other large scale print materials then you need to have a camera that can handle taking pictures that clearly. User controls These are another important aspect of your digital camera. And again they will differ according to the camera.
The options that you need will depend on why you are looking for a new digital camera. If you are getting the camera for professional reasons then certain options are going to be more important than others. Find out exactly what your camera can do and how easy it is to use before you buy it.
There are plenty of user friendly cameras on the market for those who just want to be able to point and shoot. Just know your needs and you will have no trouble finding the digital camera that is right for you.
S. Stammberger is editor of Best Digi Cam. Get help buying a digital camera. Find out what things to look for and buy the right digital camera.


vavel.me - On this article we recommend you 17 images about Deckenleuchten Landhaus Modern that we have collected from any source about Wohndesign Einrichten. Wohndesign Einrichten Collection, and of course what we provide is the most best of images for Deckenleuchte Wohnzimmer Design Interior Modern Altmessing Landhaus At Deckenleuchten. If you like images on our website, please do not hesitate to visit again and get inspiration about Wohndesign Einrichten Collection of our images collection.
And if you want to see more images more we recommend the gallery below, you can see the picture as a reference image about Deckenleuchten Landhaus Modern.
Thank you for seeing gallery of Deckenleuchten Landhaus Modern, we would be very happy if you come back.


They come in every color but they're still all green: Cute, comfy, eco-friendly shoes to walk the Earth in every day.
What's a conference or convention without some schwag? The trick is to make those freebies socially responsible.
Join the Canvolution! Find out how to preserve the local harvest and take control of your food supply (it's easier than you think).
Biking to work is great if you live close enough, or your commute isn't too hilly, or you're not in business attire in the flush of summer. For the rest of us, that's where the electric bicycle comes in.
Does home gardening cost too much? We take a closer look at the economics of growing your own.
Psyched for Ken Burns' new documentary The National Parks: America's Best Idea later this month? Here's what you can do right now to help America's best idea.
Dr. Brazen Hussy's ongoing bird research, orcas and ecotourism, urban wildlife, and one very large snapping turtle: the best animal-science bloggers out there.


I'm on a wander today, subject wise. Coincidences are often said to be pure chance or that they are all down to probability. I don't believe this myself. Okay, I'll change my mind: some are but synchronicity isn't. But that's the trouble when you change your mind the odds or probability of being correct alter as well.
Lets look at the three doors above. You have to guess which one hides a big prize. You choose a door, say red, where you think the prize is behind. I then open one of empty doors, say yellow.
If I now ask you if you want to stick with your red chosen door or switch to the blue door what should you do?
The question is: Should you switch doors?
The Answer: Yes, you should switch doors.
If you swap, you win when your initial guess was wrong, probability 2/3.
If you stick, you only win when your initial guess was correct, probability 1/3.
The Cambridge University + Plus Magazine writes the following about this probability puzzle.
"This problem has been around for many years. A similar problem was published in Scientific American about 40 years ago. The author, Martin Gardner, went on to say that 'in no other branch of mathematics is it so easy for experts to blunder as in probability theory'.
This observation couldn't have been closer to the truth. Although the problem was picked up in 1975 and published in the American Statistician it did not become famous until 1990 when Marilyn vos Savant, reputedly the most intelligent person in the world, wrote about it in the American Parade Magazine.
In her column she described an American TV game show called Let's Make a Deal in which the compère, Monty Hall, presents the contestant with three doors. Behind one of them is a car, behind the others a goat. Once the contestant has chosen a door Monty Hall opens one of the other two doors to reveal a goat and then offers the switch.
Marilyn was inundated with thousands of letters, many from professional mathematicians, disputing her solution. Feelings ran so high that eventually Monty Hall himself became involved. It turns out that in the real show he wasn't obliged to offer the switch at all. If the contestant chose a door with a goat he might open it straight away - too bad! Even if he did offer the switch, he would use bribes to trick the contestant into taking the goat. "They'd think the odds on their door had now gone up to 1 in 2, so they hated to give up the door no matter how much money I offered." he said.
Still, if these ambiguities seem like an excuse then think again. People still get the problem wrong, even when it is stated carefully. The problem has spread from one discussion forum to another, it has appeared in numerous places on the Internet and has recently been discussed in the British magazine New Scientist.
Does all of this actually help us understand coincidences or synchronicity any better. Well, not really but it does no harm to give the mind a work out. Being switched on makes us more aware of coincidences and synchronicity in our lives - probably!
So what are the odds of these coincidences happening?
P.S. There is also another similar puzzle: A shopkeeper says she has two new baby beagles to show you, but she doesn't know whether they're male, female, or a pair. You tell her that you want only a male, and she telephones the fellow who's giving them a bath. "Is at least one a male?" she asks him. "Yes!" she informs you with a smile. What is the probability that the other one is a male?
Good one! It's a quantum wave that doesn't crash into physical reality as a particle until one door is opened. That's how I have seen it explained.
That's a bit too technical for me, Trish! but I get what you are saying.
Okay, I just came by to visit, and read something I might better understand. Just for giggles, I would have kept the red door... oops!
Actually I think people would be influenced by the colours of the doors - so ideally they should all be the same. I'd have chosen red.


text:
Q: Problema accediendo a un archivo en Android Estoy tratando de usar un archivo para enviarlo mediante Post con Retrofit, mi problema es que siempre tengo el error:

java.io.FileNotFoundException: /document/image:182 (No such file or directory)

El permiso lo pido en tiempo de ejecución, la aplicación tiene el API 23 mínimo, obtengo la URI desde el sistema de archivos.
El archivo tiene correcta la ruta, solo que tiene un nombre distinto ("papas.jpg") pero con la ruta (/document/image:182) OK.
Agrego el código:
case R.id.adjuntar_archivo:
            if (this.requireContext().checkSelfPermission(Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE)
                 == PackageManager.PERMISSION_DENIED) {
                String[] permissions = {Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE};
                requestPermissions(permissions, OPEN_PERMISSION);
            } else {
                openFile();
            }
            break;

private void openFile() {

    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT);
    intent.setType("*/*");
    intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_OPENABLE);
    startActivityForResult(intent, OPEN_REQUEST_CODE);
}

@Override
public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, @Nullable Intent data) {
    super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
    if (requestCode == OPEN_REQUEST_CODE && resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK) {
        if (data != null) {
            if (data.getData() != null) {
                uri = data.getData();
                //hasAttachment se usa para saber si se envía POST con o sin adjunto.
                hasAttachment = true;
            }
        }
    }
}

A: De acuerdo a este que comentas:
"El archivo tiene correcta la ruta, solo que tiene un nombre distinto ("papas.jpg") pero con la ruta (/document/image:182) OK."
la ruta es correcta, pero esta ruta es en realidad una Uri, una Uri como su nombre lo indica es un identificador de recurso uniforme.
Si deseas obtener la ruta del archivo, usa el método que se describe en esta respuesta.
https://es.stackoverflow.com/a/327168/95
public String getRealPathFromURI(Uri contentUri) {
    String[] proj = { MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA };
    Cursor cursor = managedQuery(contentUri, proj, null, null, null);
    int column_index = cursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA);
    cursor.moveToFirst();
    return cursor.getString(column_index);
}

Usando el método anterior podemos obtener la ruta del archivo:
String imagePath = getRealPathFromURI(uri));
File file = new File(imagePath);
Este es un ejemplo realizado por @Gowsik K C de como subir un archivo mediante Retrofit.
 @Multipart
@POST("myrecord")
Call<ResponseBody> addRecord(@Query("token") String token, @Query("userid") int userId,
                             @Query("name") String name, @Part MultipartBody.Part file);

 @Override
public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
    super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
    if ((requestCode == FILE_SELECT_CODE) && (resultCode == -1)) {

        File file = new File(getRealPathFromURI(data.getData()));

        RequestBody requestFile = RequestBody.create(MediaType.parse("multipart/form-data"), getRealPathFromURI(data.getData()));

        MultipartBody.Part multipartBody =MultipartBody.Part.createFormData("file",file.getName(),requestFile);

        Call<ResponseBody> responseBodyCall = service.addRecord(token, userId, "fileName", multipartBody);
        responseBodyCall.enqueue(new Callback<ResponseBody>() {
            @Override
            public void onResponse(Call<ResponseBody> call, Response<ResponseBody> response) {
                Log.d("Success", "success "+response.code());
                Log.d("Success", "success "+response.message());

            }

            @Override
            public void onFailure(Call<ResponseBody> call, Throwable t) {
                Log.d("failure", "message = " + t.getMessage());
                Log.d("failure", "cause = " + t.getCause());
            }
        });

    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


* In 2005 the Secretary General of Guinea told the company that "further review" of its concession was necessary. On August 1, 2006, the company's CEO founded the NGO American Friends of Guinea and on September 22, 2006, the government approved a renegotiated concession.
* On September 11, 2009, the Guinean government and the company signed a memorandum affirming with modifications its oil concession. On September 29 Hyperdynamics donated stock in the company to American Friends of Guinea.
* In September 2011 after a new, transition government was installed, a further dispute about the concession arose. That year the firm donated $20,000 worth of computer equipment to the Ministry of Mines and some $8,000 -$10,000 to the Guinean Offshore Department of Environment.
Assuming these allegations are true, do they amount to a "payment . . . to [a] foreign official for purposes of influencing any act or decision of such foreign official in his official capacity" and thus constitute a violation of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act?
The Guide offers two examples to illustrate the difference between a genuine act of charity and one that is a pretense. In the first the subsidiary of a large pharmaceutical company contributed to a small, domestic charity dedicated to restoring a castle in the country where it was seeking business. The charity was headed by an official who could direct business to the company, and internal company documents termed the contributions "dues" its local subsidiary had to pay to get the official's help. The "contributions" were a significant portion of the subsidiary's promotional budget, did not comply with the company's charitable giving policies, and were structured to avoid internal accounting rules.
In the second case, as a condition of getting a license to do business as a bank, a firm was required to make a grant to a local micro-finance institution. Before making an almost $1.5 million contribution the firm undertook what the Guide calls "an extensive, three-stage due diligence process" that involved determining who ran the institution and whether it had the capacity to manage such a large grant. The donor imposed significant conditions on the grantee including requiring independent monitoring and auditing of its funds, an agreement to train staff on fund management, a prohibition on compensation to board members, and the adoption and implementation of an anticorruption compliance program.
1) What is the purpose of the payment?
2) Is the payment consistent with the company's internal guidelines on charitable giving?
3) Is the payment at the request of a foreign official?
4) Is a foreign official associated with the charity and, if so, can the foreign official make decisions regarding your business in that country?
5) Is the payment conditioned upon receiving business or other benefits?
The Hyperdynamics case itself suggests several more. What is the nature of the regime? Are entrepreneurial opportunities, as a former U.S. Ambassador to the country has written, "embedded in a crony capitalism feeding on official bribery?" Was public corruption at the time of the contributions "deep-seated" as several commentators assert? At the time Hyperdynamics secured its concession was there a history of corruption in the grant of concessions — as an FBI investigation that led to the cancellation of the largest mineral concession ever awarded in the country and ongoing investigations in multiple jurisdictions of the concessionaire wold suggest?
This entry was posted in Commentary and tagged charitable donations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, resource curse by Rick Messick. Bookmark the permalink.
I look forward to the second installment . . . From a resource-allocation perspective, is it possible for FCPA enforcers to successfully distinguish between donations made by good corporate citizens and those made to evade the FCPA? It seems that distinguishing questions the DOJ and SEC might ask could, with minimal effort, be answered affirmatively even by those who are trying to break the law without the consequences. On the other hand, deeming all charitable donations a payment in violation of the FCPA would clearly be over-inclusive, making illegal a number of genuine donations that are no doubt having a positive impact in foreign countries.
Thanks for the comment. I think the DoJ/SEC Resource Guide does a nice job of suggesting how to distinguish genuine charitable contributions from disguised bribes, at getting at whether the contribution was a quid in return for quo.
In addition to the questions listed, I think it would be useful to know whether the funds benefited the official personally. In Hyperdynamics, on the facts written here, it seems like donations, while undeniably valuable, could have served broader purposes than merely enriching an official with influence over the relevant business in the country. The extent to which asking that question is relevant might depend on the goals of FCPA enforcement. To me, on the one hand, regardless of who contributions enrich, if they're part of a quid pro quo, that seems problematic, but on the other, like Nathan, I imagine that deeming all charitable donations would be over-inclusive, particularly when those donations confer a broader positive impact rather than enrich one individual. On that thought, while I can see why a history of corruption in concessions is relevant and vital to understanding the nature of a payment, I wonder how that consideration can be designed so as to not create a system in which effectively any charitable contribution in an area with a corruption-heavy history would be deemed improper.
Thanks for your comment. I think the best approach to distinguishing genuine donations from bribed masquerading as bribes is to ask if the contribution is a quid in response for a quo. If it is, then it should be considered a bribe. For example: "our company will make a $1 million contribution to charity X if the government will give the company an oil concession." I see your point: Suppose the charity were a genuine charity. It provided health, education, or some other basic service to citizens that the government simply couldn't afford to provide. But I think such a scenario is quite unrealistic. Why wouldn't the government simply demand a $1 million fee or advance royalty in return for awarding the concession and then provide the service itself? Or take the $1 million and then donate it the charity itself? Why would it do something indirectly that it could do directly?
My guess is that "American Friends of Guinea" was told by those with the power over oil concessions to see that the medicine went to a certain region or certain ethnic group. Yes, some Guineans were better off as a result, but offsetting that is the harm from the corrupt award of the concession.


text:
Brilliant! Rugby'd out yet? No ways! And it's only going to get better. Round three of the Tri Nations was completed with a result quite similar to a Madonna equestrian outing – there was a fractured limb, lots of bruises and the thoroughbred came out on top… oops!
The no. 1 ranked team in the world, the All Blacks beat a dilapidated Wallabies side in Sydney on Saturday. The home boys started up like a Rolling Stones record with new boy on the block, Drew Mitchell providing some scintillating breaks and an excellent try to race 13-0 ahead. Many of the All Blacks must have sensed a bit of déjà vu as they were in exactly the same position a week ago. Like the week before, they fought back but this time they continued to apply the pressure and score 30 unanswered points – in the process blowing more scoring opportunities than Brad Pitt.
A quick observation about Drew Mitchell, (and nothing to do with 'chef' Stephen Larkham's grisly recipe…) he seemed to break the All Black defensive line almost at will. Yes, he is a wonderfully talented and balanced runner but how often do we see a new face in international rugby perform miracles one week only to be analyzed and contained the next. Not taking anything away from this kid especially after that excellent performance but he will now be 'marked' and will find the gaps a lot smaller. His challenge is to do it week in and week out – he is certainly good enough.
The match was a good one, not one of the great vintage tests as we have seen in the past but then, the Wallabies suffered more injuries than extras on a Steven Seagal movie set. At one stage, Chris Whitaker was playing flyhalf and somehow Gregan re-appeared after being subbed – not sure if it is allowed but hey maybe it was a bloodbin. The personnel changes did not curb the rapid recycling pattern employed by the Aussies but merely the effectiveness of it. They were every inch as determined but the Al Blacks coped easily with the pressure and made their first time tackles. Hats off to the Wallabies for never stop trying.
As for Eddie Jones and his position being under threat, the appropriate advice would be to tread carefully Eddie. Usually when management say they are 'right behind you' or words to that effect it translates to, 'we are lining up to stab you in the back'. Rather have them in front of you, where you can see them!
This weekend the Springboks line up in Perth for their fourth shot at the Aussies this season. The notions that they (Aussies) are under strength and in trouble must be dismissed not by a mere shirk but rather violently cast aside. There might be a certain degree of vulnerability but that will make the team all the more determined to perform and right the wrongs. One only needs to cast an eye up north to their cricket team to witness what sportsmen from downunder are made of.
Despite all that, it will be a great opportunity for the Springboks to clinch their first victory in Australasia for years. The All Blacks, ensured with their victory that the Springboks must not only beat the Wallabies but also the big dogs in Dunedin to successfully defend their title. Jake White and his team has certainly learnt a few valuable lessons from last year and the earlier Sydney debacle – never take a Wallaby side or All Black for that matter lightly on home soil. This writer believes they are best prepared now than ever to make that breakthrough; it is all about how well they cope with expectation and pressure.
So, this weekend a phenomenal game awaits and it will certainly meet expectation as we have become accustomed to (how things have changed!). This supporter will be on his couch hoping to have a few quiet beers during the game and a lot of noisy ones after, regardless of the result! Enjoy.
Visit www.rugbyforum.co.za
World Beaters or Pretenders? by Desmond Organ
Saturday 20 August is one of the dates against which Jake White and his band of merry men will be judged by future generations of Springbok supporters. A win will go down as the day we won away from home against a major team for the first time in nearly a decade. A loss will go down as the day the potential world beaters became pretenders for yet another year.
It might be a bit harsh to expect Jake White to deliver the desired result in such a short time since taking up his tenure as national coach; many have commented on his job being the toughest in the world of rugby and nothing much has changed in that regard. We had the proverbial squealing from SARU that the press and media are ill informed and that it is a well run organisation. What an oxymoron that is, crowd attendance has absolutely nothing to do with Van Rooyen and his cronies and everything to do with the team coached by Jake White.
There are also those that will say that Australia have fielded 30 odd players so far this year and that surely means that they are there for the taking in Perth; again not the right statement to make as the Springboks themselves can attest to: It is very difficult to beat them at home and we have the same record when it comes to their visits to South Africa. Saturday is a great opportunity that will not come that often and we absolutely have to make the most of it; even if that means a one point victory through a three pointer in injury time. The Wallabies achieved the same thing in Durban several years ago and with it they won the Tri-Nations and became even bigger World beaters than some of the teams before them.
Should the Springboks fail to come away with a win it will not be a case of change the coach or forget about winning the World Cup; what it will say to all is that they have yet to turn the corner and become real world class performers. England faced the same dilemma under Clive Woodward and he delivered victories against South Africa, Australia and New Zealand on route to putting together the squad that won the World Cup. Jake White has to achieve the same thing before the World Cup in 2007 and this is the time to do it. He has to remove the barriers that exist in the minds of the players and the rugby public and winning away from home against Australia would be the perfect start. A victory will allow him to focus on other areas of the team's performance as he attempts to take us on the path to a semi-final appearance in 2007.
Teams that win the World Cup are seldom built in a matter of months, there is a need for talent, commitment and continuity; something that South Africa has only flirted with in the last ten years. I remember Kitch Christie and Nick Mallett and I am looking forward to having a reason to remember Jake White. His predecessors excelled in similar circumstances and against incredible odds and now he has the opportunity to continue walking down the same road. All South Africans should manage their expectations and look at the bigger picture and a victory would be the ideal tonic for just that, even if the fellows at SARU take the credit for such an outcome in the process of hiding their greed and incompetence.
Finally it would be absolutely fantastic to be able to tell the World that we can win away from home and that despite quality players leaving our shores in order to play for others we still have the talent and ability to win without them.
Yes, we've won one and drawn one in seven years in Perth, but it certainly does not represent a success story. Perth is still home to Australia. It is a part of Australia and they remain the home team in Perth. Jake White
The experience I've had with the Wallabies, it doesn't matter who's on the field, when you think they're down, they come back and burn you, I guess 2003 [World Cup semi-final] was a classic example. Richie McCaw.
They'll be hurting after a couple of losses over in South Africa so we're expecting a Wallaby team that's the same as always, bloody tough. Richie McCaw.
Quite rightly, I am the villain of the piece. I had been on this rugby show in New Zealand to give my opinion on the Springbok victory (at Newlands) last week. When asked about the Kelleher incident, I suggested that the tackle was not late. When pressed, I suggested that if they were to look for any fault, the only question would be about the 'steel plate' in his arm. This was a gaffe by me because I meant to say 'fibreglass', not steel, which he wears as protection for an old injury. The slip obviously has had a huge impact. Thankfully it was immediately
dismissed as laughable by both the Boks and Kiwis and, quite rightly, the only person with egg on his face is me. Apologies again. Kevin Putt
We look forward to them giving each other a good few 'klaps', while we relax with a quiet beer and watch on the big screen. Jake White
We've got two matches to go in the Tri Nations tournament and this is the time when our coaching staff needs our full support. And they are getting it. ARU managing director Gary Flowers
All I'm concerned about is coaching the side as well as I can. When someone makes the decision that I'm not the right person, I'll happily step aside. If someone tells me I'm not in the job, I'm not going to sit in my seat and not move. Eddie Jones
I wasn't surprised by New Zealand's performance and how they got up tonight, but I think it puts our win last week in perspective because we have seen just how good they are. They beat the Lions 3-0 and now have recorded a convincing away win. Jake White


The perfect Cisco 650-128 dumps from Certleader are conducted to make well preparation for your exam and get the desired result. Certleader 650-128 dump updated on Apr 21, 2019 contains actual Cisco 650-128 exam questions and study guide, which simulates the real Cisco 650-128 exam, to ensure you pass Cisco exam successfully. Free Download 650-128 dumps Demo available before purchase, you can download 650-128 dumps Demo free and try it. The whole 650-128 braindumps are available for downloading if you purchase them. You can enjoy one year free updates from the date of buying. Get it Now!
I just completed my 650-128 test. I used your study guides and wrote all my exams with no sweat! The most amazing part is that I passed with really good scores! WOW, you are the greatest and I will always use your products when preparing for any exam.
One needn't look any further for the 650-128 study guide. certleader.com has the best there is to offer. Their products helped me score 996/1000 on the 650-128 exam.
I just found out my exam results. I passed my exam. After only three weeks of studying with the certleader.com 650-128 braindumps, I scored highly. This is great! Thank you for your support.


People will always complain about flying, but one airline appears to have surpassed the rest in sheer high-profile annoyance. Thanks to epic delays, rows of seats coming undone, and a scathing op-ed from a literary star in The New York Times, American Airlines—slogan: "We Know Why You Fly"—may have sealed the title of the country's least liked airline.
People will always complain about flying, but one airline appears to have surpassed the rest in sheer high-profile annoyance. Thanks to epic delays, rows of seats coming undone, and a scathing op-ed from a literary star in The New York Times, American Airlines—slogan: "We Know Why You Fly"—may have sealed the title of the country's least liked airline. Let's walk through the recent history of the airline's publicity nightmares.
Late November/December 2011: Bankruptcy. If you're looking for the root of all evil, it's here. Last year American Airlines filed for bankruptcy, which was no surprise since other American airlines that aren't American (har har)—like United and Delta—have in the past also filed for Chapter 11. But American's situation was a bit different in that the bankruptcy filing allowed them to change up their contracts with unions (pilots included). This would come back to haunt the airline on September 5.
December 2011: Alec Baldwin Throws a Temper Tantrum. Yes, that was an American Airlines flight.
September 4, 2012: Remember Those Contracts? We Don't. Back in December when American filed for Chapter 11, they managed to reach new deals with most of their unions (flight attendants, maintenance workers, etc.), except for one very important group: the pilots. Last month, a judge finally threw out American's standing pilot unions contract. "The decision by Judge Sean H. Lane will now let the Fort Worth-Texas airline lower its pilot payroll," reported the AP at the time. "The judge rejected the union's contention that American is doing much better financially than when it entered bankruptcy protection and didn't need to void the contract." Of course this did not make pilots or their union very happy.
An American diplomat based in Moscow tells me he prefers flying Aeroflot to Delta. But Delta is a futuristic paradise of working altimeters and braking brakes when compared with you, dear American Airlines. So what can you do? Empires rise and empires fall. A metaphor you may need to consider closely.
October 1, 2012: Slate's Domestic Horror Story. Inspired by Shteyngart's column, Slate's Matthew Ygelsias came forward with one of his own: "Friends Don't Let Friends Fly American Airlines." His delayed-ridden trip from Tulsa to Dallas to Baltimore which then became a Dallas to D.C. flight hit on that anxiety we all feel about not making a connecting flight and the actual toll on humans from all of these delays. There's also more insight about those unions and those pilots: "Long story short, American is totally screwed. What management is discovering right now is that formal contracts can't fully specify what it is that 'doing your job properly' constitutes for an airline pilot," Yglesias reminded us.
October 1, 2012: And Then, the Wheels Seats Came Off. Not only has American faced numerous delays and been forced to scrub a lot of flights from its docket in the last month, it now has to face the reality of being the airline that now has to explain why a row of seats came unbolted and "slid around like a carnival ride" as reported by The New York Post's Bill Sanderson and Chuck Bennett. "With turbulence, you have to be cautious. That's why everyone has to stow everything under the seat to prevent loose objects from flying around the cabin—and you've got a whole row of seats unbolted," a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association told The Post. "It's a head-scratcher, the first time I've heard of it in 24 years with American."
At the risk of angering Louis C.K. apostles, we want to make clear that this is more than a flight being delayed once or twice, nor is it about the lack of free Wi-Fi 35,000 feet in the air. We love airlines and the wonderment of air travel and being able to get from one side of the country to another to go see our loved ones or take a break from people we don't love in just hours. It's just that, for now, we won't be using American to do that.


Need more information about booking Home 9104644 ?
Near to most tourist main attractions & high education institutes. (5-30 mins drive). Minimal interior design, no hanged art on the wall to clear your mind. Hope we can bring you a home-like comfort stay. We do not allow alcohol, pets, pork or party.
Its a quiet location, peaceful and is on the way from Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang.
We can recommend places that you should go during your stay according to your liking, hobbies or activities that you love. We are mostly available through w.a apps.
You can get in touch with HERA (the owner) through the contact form on this page.
Send HERA (the owner) an email through the contact form on this page. Alternatively, if there's a phone number on this page, you can call them.
How do I contact HERA (the owner)?
If you've already booked, go to Manage your holiday booking to view HERA the owner's contact details or send them a message.
Or send HERA (the owner) an enquiry through the Contact the owner/manager form if you'd like a quote or more info first.
When you pay online through the Book your stay form, a booking request is sent to HERA (the owner). You'll find out within 24 hours whether they've accepted - no money will leave your account before then.
You can also request a quote from HERA (the owner) through the contact form. The owner will email you the total cost for your dates and a link to book and pay online.
Use the Book your stay form to pay provisionally online. You can pay by credit/debit card or PayPal. HERA (the owner) will have 24 hours to accept the booking and no money will leave your account before then.
Why can't I call HERA (the owner) before booking?
You'll need to contact HERA (the owner) to do this. Send them a message in Manage your holiday booking or through the contact form on this page.
You can request to change the dates or number of people on your booking via the Manage your holiday booking page. To change your holiday dates use the Edit booking button. If you need to change the number of guests staying then send HERA (the owner) a message.
If HERA (the owner) agrees, they'll send you a revised quote outlining the changes. You can review and accept/decline this from the Manage your holiday booking page. You'll have 48 hours to take action before the revised quote expires.


text:
Michigan City commits $2.2 million to Double Track aesthetics
Doug Ross, Senior Reporter, (Munster) Times of Northwest Indiana
Friday, December 3, 2021 6:50 PM
Workers begin dismantling the historic facade of the South Shore station in downtown Michigan City. The facade will be incorporated into the new train station to be built on that site. Staff photo by Doug Ross
MICHIGAN CITY — The city's Redevelopment Commission is planning to spend up to $2.2 million to make projects done for the South Shore Line Double Track NWI project more aesthetically pleasing.
"It's the way the federal government works," Planning Director Skyler York said. "If you want something to look better, you have to pay for it, because they're going to use the base design."
The "betterments," as they're called, are meant to maintain the downtown's character instead of introducing plain designs.
"Chain link fences and the like is not what we wanted," commission attorney Alan Sirinek said.
Among the upgrades are special paving treatments at a string of intersections, a stain finish on a concrete traffic barrier and ornamental railing on that barrier, York said.
The upgrades are listed as alternatives in the bids the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District and the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority sought for the massive project intended to speed travel between Michigan City and Chicago, putting the two cities within easy commuting distance.
"We have committed to provide an additional sum of money to make those improvements look better," York said.
The upgrades are meant to make the downtown more attractive to developers.
"It will be stamped to look like bricks, and it will be stained to look like bricks," York said.
Near the train station, the concrete barrier will be replaced in favor of fencing.
"The expansion of the Double Track project is an economic development tool that supports the entire city, which is how this is justified," York said. The city's bus and transit routes will connect to the train station.
"We want it to be attractive and be a place that people want to be and want to invest," York said.
The commission also agreed to York's plan for help with reviewing requests for proposals for a mixed-use structure built by a private developer, incorporating a parking garage, as part of the train station. "We really need to kind of vet that through some various people," York said.
A selection committee will make a recommendation to the Redevelopment Commission on which the developer should be invited to offer a presentation to the commission.
People from various walks of life are included on the committee. Among them are interior designer Rose Tejeda; Purdue Professor Emeritus Matt Kubik, who taught numerous courses in urban design and architecture; Park Board President Phil Latchford; Redevelopment Commission President Chris Chatfield; Councilman Bryant Dabney; commission Vice President John Hendricks; Mayor Duane Parry and York.
© Copyright 2022, nwitimes.com, Munster, IN
Northern Indiana Commuter Transist District head calls awarding of South Shore Double Track main contract 'truly historic'
New Northwest Indiana RDA chief left teaching for new public service: 'We need to continue to be bold'
South Shore welcomes new, lower bids for Double Track project
Michigan City sends out request for proposals for transformation of area around 11th Street Station


Based on long-term soil studies in Karelia the average carbon storages in soils of pine and spruce forests were estimated: 122.3 t ha-1 and 117.9 t ha-1, respectively. Higher values of the average storages in soils of pine forests are due to a high share of water-logged forest types. We found that average carbon storages in forest litter grows with soil moisture content from 7.6 to 24.3 t ha-1 in pine forests and from 11.1 to 61.3 t ha-1 in spruce forests. The storages in the layers 0-25 cm (9.1-170.4 t ha-1 in pine forests, and 31.2-228.6 t ha-1 in spruce forests), 0-50 cm (18.8-329.9 t ha-1 in pine forests, and 36.4-345.1 t ha-1 in spruce forests) and 0-100 cm (23.9-434.3 t ha-1 in pine forests, and 38.9-402.4 t ha-1 in spruce forests) were estimated. Total carbon storages in soils of Karelia were estimated: 614.6 Mt in pine forests and 276.2 Mt in spruce forests. Such a difference was due to the area of the forests: pine forests grow at more than 5 Mha, and spruce forests at 2.3 Mha. Our estimates differ from the total carbon storages estimate in soils of Russia.


It's risky to take insightful words meant for one discussion and apply them to another. I'm going to do that now, though, because when I read the lines above in an article by Ta-Nehisi Coates about different ways that African-Americans process their history, culture, and politics, it nearly broke my brain because it seemed completely applicable to a basic duality for the disability community.
On the one hand, there are things we as people with disabilities can do, and ways that we can behave, that can help us navigate this world successfully. We can educate ourselves, master our disabilities as best we can, plan the accommodations we need so its easier on everyone else, dress well, and practice ignoring the stares and always smiling. These things will help, and not doing them usually makes life harder for us.
On the other hand, the problems we face aren't primarily because of things we fail to do or how we act. "Putting our best foot forward" doesn't remove the fundamental barriers that confront us. They exist independently of us. The world isn't designed for people like us, and it's getting better only very slowly. Being polite doesn't cause ramps to materialize. Education does't guarantee a job or even a decent shot at one. Smiling in the face of prejudice is often impotent, or worse, complicit. People have misguided and even hostile impressions of disabled people that they've learned on their own, whether they've met lots of disabled people or not. The roots of ableism are very, very old, lodged still deep in the lizard brain.
1. Every disabled person has available to them tools and strategies for making their lives better, and we are individually responsible for locating and using those tools to the best of our ability. If we aren't sure what those tools are, or where to find them, there are a lot of us around who are willing to help each other. I believe this to be true.
2. The most significant barriers we face aren't of our own making, and nothing that we do individually is going to shift them an inch. There is hope for change if we work together, but it won't always be fun, it won't be easy, and it will sometimes make people uncomfortable. But if we don't engage and try, then the only successes we'll see for disabled people will be the kind of anomalies and one-off lucky breaks that get featured on slow news days. And thank God for them! They remind us of what success can look like, and chip away at non-disabled peoples' preconceptions. It's just that there are hard realities and quantitative facts at play that individual moral fortitude alone isn't going to change. I believe this, too.
The first is about self-help, and you could say it's our religion. It's a faith that if we try to be the best people we can be, we will see some reward. Also like religion, we commit to it for it's own sake, even when we can see that it makes little difference to objective reality.
The second is the objective reality that resists attitude, pluck, and even hard work, but can be analyzed, mapped out, and understood. And if understood, changed or at least shifted with smart, thoughtful collective action.
It has never been clearer to me that we need both in the disability community, and that we need to evaluate each effort differently, by different criteria, because they have different, though complimentary goals. It's why Centers for Independent Living do both services and advocacy.
For what it's worth, it feels good to be able to think about it this way.


I had a wonderful weekend with friends. Helping my friend Ty celebrate her birthday with a couple of drinks at Mohawk House, Mini Golfing with Awesome Girlfriend Megan and her kids (Congrats to Robbie for beating me by 2 strokes, I'm usually a shark out there,) and now we have pics from when Chazz Palminteri came here up on our site. Life is great! I hope you had a wonderful weekend too.


Thanks to John McBride for helping me with this.
1. In SQL Management Studio, make sure you are connected to 'master' in the available databases drop-down box.
2. Click 'New Query' to open a query window.
d. Note the name of the log file.


The wonderful world of Threads. Browse our resources to gain insight into what Threads can do for you.
Some useful resources on all things Threads.
Got questions on Threads? Check out our frequently asked questions.
A 1 minute video explaining what Threads is and how it can help your business.
By registering for a free trial or subscribing for Threads you are hereby agreeing to be bound by our Terms & Conditions of use.
An explanation of the privacy settings available within Threads and the security mechanisms used.
What better way to test the power of Threads than with some real corporate emails - and scandalous ones at that.
A published peer-reviewed paper for the Institute of Engineering and Technology discussing the evolution of Threads and what it can do for you.


Enlarged veins that appear right beneath the skin surface and usually are characterized by purple, red, and blue colors are known as spider veins or telangiectasia or venulectasias. The appearance of these veins commonly occurs on the face and other parts of the body. Since they resemble a spider's web with short unconnected lines or seem to appear like a sunburst, they are easily identified as spider veins. These veins are unsightly in appearance and they can take place in small obscure corner of the skin or they can also be visible on a large patch of skin. Spider veins are commonly noticed on women but they can also take place in men.
The task of veins is to carry the blood back to the heart. Within these veins there is a one way passage or valve that assures that the blood is carried towards the heart and also balances the blood pressure as it passes through the vein. In the case of spider veins, there might be a deficiency in the performance of these veins and thus these can result in the development of enhanced surface veins also known as venules. Normal veins seem to appear that they have a diameter of approximately one millimeter but in actuality their actual diameter could be three mm under the surface of the skin.
Spider veins are often confused for bruises. Hence most people wait and watch whether the bruise would fade away on its own. However spider veins do not disappear but some instances of spider veins are just a cosmetic issue, no other symptoms are associated with it. However in some cases when the spider veins arise deeper into the skin and not just superficial beneath the skin, then such appearance are often followed by deep and dull throbbing sensation and pain. Genetics play a major role in the formation of spider veins. If the walls of the veins are weak and are experienced by the mother it is highly likely that her offspring would also suffer from it as vein characteristics are genetically passed on. This condition is also seen in pregnant women as fluctuations in the hormones causes the vein walls to soften and become weak. There are a variety of therapies for this condition ranging from sclerotherapy where in chemical irritants are injected into the skin initiating blood clots and thus causing the veins to disappear. However this slow long drawn process could take several weeks for results to show. Laser treatment is also used to get rid of the skin condition and this is increasingly used by patients as it has minimal effects post treatment.


Banshee's tasting room feels like going over to your cool, artsy friend's house. The decor is eclectic with mid-century modern furnishings, a record player and comfy leather chairs. Basically its everything I want my home to be, ha! That feeling conitunes into their tastings, with their fun, friendly employees who will pull up a chair and chat wine.
They are best known for their delicious Pinot Noir, but don't skip their Rosé if it's in season and their surprising Chardonnay. Truly all of the wines are great and easy to drink. We enjoy trying through all of the wines they're currently serving, it's always a great mix of styles.
Banshee is a tasting room in downtown Healdsburg, so it's a great option if you're staying in the area or are trying to hit a bunch of wineries without driving. We also love spots like Banshee when it's really hot out, hello AC!, and as a stop at the end of the day. They're even open later as a wine lounge, when you can enjoy small bites and wine by the glass.
Hot Tips: Reservations strongly recommended, especially on weekends. Tastings run until 5:30pm, from 5:30-7pm they're open as a wine lounge.


When I moved to the desert in 2010, I was helping my 89 yr. old mother with lots of little frustrations with her computer and other techie gadgets. I love all things techie and really enjoyed being able to help.
My mom said she was sure there were a lot of other people in the valley who could benefit from my help. Many of them have children or grandchildren that are techie like me, but they live too far away or are too busy or too impatient to teach.
I decided to start a tutoring service and it turned out that my mother was right. Almost everyone I meet, tells me that they have a bunch of issues and frustrations with their computers and gadgets.
It's so rewarding to see my clients' relief as they get over little obstacles and start to fully enjoy the many benefits of modern technology.
Computers, tablets, smartphones, apps and operating systems, are changing all the time. It's a challenge to keep up….even for a geek like me. However, I love following the trends and learning new things. As a credentialed teacher, I know how to make it simple and understandable for my students.
Sometimes it takes just one session for clients to get a jump start on a new device or app and they are "good to go" on their own. Often, they get so inspired and confident that they continue to learn more about all the ways their gadgets can provide entertainment, information and increased productivity.


text:
Q: Have the new bounty changes caused more bounties to appear? With the new bounty changes have more bounties appeared? Can anyone experienced with OData etc tell me?
Is this a good thing? Why do you think the bounties have increased(if they have) ?

A: Improvements to the Bounty System just rolled out in June, so it's too early to tell from the data dump.
I created the Bounties Awarded by Month query on SEDE so we can watch and see what impact the changes have in the coming months though.  I'll be interested to see what happens in the first couple of months after the changes and in the long term.  Great question!
Update:
@shahkalpesh was able to help me combine my queries (see the comments below) to add the total number of questions asked in each month, so now we can track that along with the bounties in Bounties and Questions by Month.

A: Anecdotally, without a doubt, it has.
I haven't had time to run queries, but I've noticed an increase... which was definitely part of the intent. Bounties were underused, partly because the system was too inflexible, but also because people are oddly hesitant to sacrifice any rep.