Merry christmas and happy new year. We're done for the year and so it is time for me to write this blog post (I did the same last year by the way).
Without further adue, here is the list!
building lattice reduction (LLL) intuition from Kelby Ludwig is a must read if you want to understand how lattices and lattice reductions work. By the way, this post is the perfect example of a blogpost that fits all my criteria of a good blog post. Make sure to check Kelby's blog post of last year as well.
Introducing Miscreant: a multi-language misuse resistant encryption library from Tony Arcieri is the perfect introduction to key wrapping and SIV modes. AES-GCM-SIV from Adam Langley is a good addition.
How I implemented my own crypto is a trip report from Loup Vaillant about implementing his own cryptographic library.
Why TLS 1.3 isn't in browsers yet by Nick Sullivan is a good summary of the mess that TLS 1.3 is (specifically because it needs to support so many legacy versions). For more lolz, make sure to read Matthew Green's The strange story of "Extended Random".
Cloudflare has a lot more good blogposts: Privacy Pass - "The Math" from Alex Davidson goes through the math of one of the most crypto-y feature ever seen from a "normal" company, SIDH in Go for quantum-resistant TLS 1.3 by Henry de Valence does the same for the SIDH post-quantum key exchange. (A good addition to this is SIDH a quantum resistant algorithm for DH exchange by Shevek).
HTTPS on Stack Overflow: The End of a Long Road is a huge post from Nick Craver going into depth about the troubles of migrating towards HTTPS for large infrastructures. In addition, be sure to check Jan Schaumann's work on doing the same thing for yahoo: The Razor's Edge - Cutting Your TLS Baggage.
SSL Certificate Exchange from Joshua Davies is a really useful walkthrough of a TLS certificate. If you don't know much about TLS certificates and need to know more, it's a really good read.
Is SHA-3 slow?, Keccak: open-source cryptography and Why Keccak is not ARX . The Keccak team made an excellent job this year of talking (and debunking critics) about the new SHA-3 hash function. You can learn about the different concepts surrounding SHA-3 through these posts.
Why Replace SHA-1 with BLAKE2? on the other hand, written by JP Aumasson, tells you to replace your SHA-1 instances with his hash function BLAKE2. JP writes a lot of very good blog post, so check this one on Should Curve25519 keys be validated? (that launched the debate on Curve25519 key validation) or the ones on his submission to NIST's PQ crypto not-a-competition thingy: Improving the SPHINCS post-quantum signature scheme, part 1.
Cryptographic vulnerabilities in IOTA by Neha Narula and the follow up Our response to "A Cryptocurrency Without a Blockchain Has Been Built to Outperform Bitcoin" by Joi Ito (both from the Digital Currency medialab of MIT) because it shows you how hilariously bad some cryptocurrencies are (interestingly IOTA reached and lost to 4th place (in terms of market cap) in the cryptocurrency world a few months ago).
Confidential Transactions from Basic Principles from Michael Rosenberg is a pedogagical intro to ring signatures, range proofs and other cryptographic concepts. This is useful to dig into especially if you're keen on anonimity inside of cryptocurrencies. For an exploit of these, be sure to check Exploiting Low Order Generators in One-Time Ring Signatures from Jonas Nick.
What are zk-SNARKs?. Zcash has a series of articles about its underlying technology (anonimity inside of a cryptocurrency), it seems well written (like a lot of things on their website).
Survey of Discrete Log Algorithms is a good intro to the discrete logarithm problem.
Walking through an F* proof by Santiago Zanella-Beguelin seems like a good way to get yourself into F*.
Have I missed something? Please tell me in the comments.
If you want more links like these, be sure to subscribe to my link section here on this website.
The explanation of the math behind Privacy Pass was one of the best posts on the Cloudflare blog this year: https://blog.cloudflare.com/privacy-pass-the-math/.
This post has been sitting in my bookmarks for months and I haven't found the time to read it yet, but "SIDH in Go for quantum-resistant TLS 1.3" looks promising: https://blog.cloudflare.com/sidh-go/.
Hey David. I'm Shevek at /r/crypto.
Your list shines! I've read many of the items, some of them because you proposed them in /r/crypto. My contribution is an article of my blog that tries to fulfil points 1 & 2 (also 3, but I'm limited because English is not my mother language).
I'm humbled that my post made it into this very select list. We actually have an official F* blog (https://fstarlang.github.io/) that we should use more often. I'll try to turn my brain-dump into a proper blog post there.
Let's hang out at RWC!
Great and informative article on crypto space. Keep up the good work.
I will check out some of the resources you have highlighted.


text:
About The August Pollmann Mandoline Banjo
This wonderful little instrument is an example of the August Pollmann Royal Mandoline Banjo. It is essentially a 5 string banjo neck with a wooden mandolin or mandola body, and is also sometimes referred to as the banjo lute, or banjola. Mandoline Banjos were distributed by August Pollmann, who also distributed horns, guitars and other band instruments. The sound is sweet and mellow, resembling perhaps the sound of a mountain dulcimer.
The patent date is 1887 and they were probably made between 1888 and 1900, although information as to these dates is speculative, since there is little information available about the details of manufacture. I have not been yet able to determine the number of instruments produced and beginning end dates of manufacture, nor the names of the various builders Pollmann may have used. It is generally thought that Pollmann himself was the distributor and was headquartered at 70-72 Franklin Street in New York City. Pollmann seems to have contracted several builders to make these instruments, including Swedish luthier, Pehr Anderberg who appears to have been working in Boston building instruments for the Haynes company. Some sources list the Buckbee factory in NYC as a builder as well, and others have speculated that Lyon and Healy may have also built these for Pollmann. I have seen an instrument with the exact same specs and hardware that seems to have been made by the F.H. Griffith Co. of Philadelphia. My own observation of the few instruments I have handled shows that the materials, workmanship, and details vary widely. However, they are generally a flat backed mandola body with a banjo neck with either mahogany back and sides, or rosewood back and sides. I have only seen spruce tops, but there may have been other materials used, such as maple.
The particular Pollmann pictured above has a pear-shaped body (some are more teardrop shaped), is mahogany and spruce with a rosewood fingerboard, MOP inlays, ebony bridge, and bakelite tuners. The Wm. Gerke tailpiece is typical of the Pollmanns, although some appear to have used a daisy tailpiece. The Patent date on the Gerke tailpiece is 1888. There is a barely legible pencil marking inside the sound hole that appears to read 'June 96', which could indicate this particular instrument was made in June of 1896, but that is again just speculation. The top has an inlay between the sound hole and bridge, characteristic of European bowl-back mandolins. Some Pollmanns have no inlay, and the inlay patterns vary from instrument to instrument. The top has three transverse braces; the back also has three with one bearing a brand reading 'PAT MAY 3rd 1887′. The top has maple binding with purfling. It has the original banjo-style friction tuners marked 'PAT MAY 1888′. Ebony bridge with fretwire saddle. The tailpiece reads 'WM. GERKE PROV. R.I' and 'PAT'D Jan 31 1888′
-Catalog Link
-Advertisement

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: How to get the text using XPATH
<svg class="Mend(6px) Cur(d) Cur(p)" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 48 48" data-icon="traffic" style="vertical-align: middle; fill: rgb(51, 51, 51); stroke: rgb(51, 51, 51); stroke-width: 0;"><path d="M35.826 11.728c-1.102.044-1.96.975-1.918 2.078.045 1.102.975 1.96 2.078 1.918l3.73-.15.014.015-10.033 10.033L19.6 15.527c-.78-.78-2.047-.78-2.827 0-.142.142-.25.302-.338.47-.168.09-.33.197-.47.34L.585 31.714c-.78.78-.78 2.047 0 2.828.392.39.904.586 1.415.586s1.024-.196 1.414-.587L18.187 19.77l10.07 10.068c.39.39.9.586 1.413.586s1.024-.195 1.414-.586c.11-.11.2-.23.28-.355.167-.09.327-.197.468-.34l10.71-10.71-.148 3.7c-.023.58.204 1.112.585 1.493.343.343.81.563 1.333.584 1.104.044 2.035-.815 2.078-1.918l.44-11.003-11.004.438z"></path></svg>Bullish

I am trying to extract the text,'Bullish', using XPATH but it is not working out.
sentiment_search = '//*[@id="canvass-0-CanvassApplet"]/div/ul/li/div/div[3]/div/div/text()'
sentiment = driver.find_elements(By.XPATH, sentiment_search).text
try:
    for i in range(len(posts)):
        try:
            WebDriverWait(driver, 10).until(EC.presence_of_element_located((By.CLASS_NAME, sentiment_search)))
            if sentiment == 'Bullish':
                 print('Bullish')

A: To extract the text Bullish you need to induce WebDriverWait for the visibility_of_element_located() and you can use either of the following locator strategies:

*

*Using CSS_SELECTOR:
print(WebDriverWait(driver, 20).until(EC.visibility_of_element_located((By.CSS_SELECTOR, "#canvass-0-CanvassApplet > div > ul > li > div > div:nth-of-type(3) > div > div"))).text)

*Using XPATH:
print(WebDriverWait(driver, 20).until(EC.visibility_of_element_located((By.XPATH, "//*[@id="canvass-0-CanvassApplet"]/div/ul/li/div/div[3]/div/div"))).text)

*Note : You have to add the following imports :
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC

You can find a relevant discussion in How to retrieve the text of a WebElement using Selenium - Python

A: You don't need the "text()" in the xpath:
sentiment_search = '//*[@id="canvass-0-CanvassApplet"]/div/ul/li/div/div[3]/div/div'

and then get the text from the element:
sentiment = driver.find_elements(By.XPATH, sentiment_search).text

If there's only one element I suggest to use find_element instead of find_elements which returns list of all matching elements.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Nearly twenty years later, in the summer of 2017, Nina Khrushcheva and journalist Jeffrey Tayler set out to travel in what would have been Putin's footsteps. Focusing on a town in each time zone, and examining how factors from politics to natural resources define each, the two create a portrait of the country, and in doing so measure the success of Putin's presidency. Khrushcheva, who has made New York her home, speaks about her cross country journey and whether Putin's promise to restore pride in Russia's greatness has ultimately been fulfilled. She will be joined by New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser.


text:
What is L-Cysteine and Is It Vegan? (2023)
L-Cysteine is a popular ingredient in many products, from hair-care products to simple foods like bread. It's made from a variety of different natural ingredients, although not all of them are necessarily Vegan.
Not all L-Cysteine is vegan as much of it is technically sourced from animal hairs and feathers, however an equal portion is sourced from human hairs. A smaller portion of L-cysteine is made from coal tar.
So whether or not the L-Cysteine in the product you're looking at is vegan cannot really be answered in this article, as some is, some isn't. The only way to know for-sure is to contact the manufacturer of the product, or search if the product its self is specifically vegan online, as many websites (including this one) search up and contact companies for you to ask such questions.
But is it Really Non-Vegan to Eat or Use Animal Hair?
Many people have asked this, and personally I'd say it isn't, however in many cases, such as L-Cysteine it's a "lesser crime" as generally the hair, be it human or non-human, is purchased for very little if anything and is basically just a by-product of other industries.
It's in the category where I'd say don't stress about it not being in the bread family bought for a family get together, however ideally you should avoid buying items that include L-cysteine without knowing whether or not it's Vegan. I'd recommend just googling the product, as odds are someone else has already contacted the company and figured out whether or not the L-Cysteine is vegan or not in that specific product.
What is Cellulose Gel and Is It Vegan? (2023)
Everything Vegan at Dave & Busters (2023)
Dave and Buster's has just enough vegan-friendly options to have a half-way decent vegan meal. Options include a Vegan-friendly burger, many sides, and many other
Everything Vegan at Qdoba (2022)
Qdoba is a restaurant like Chipotle, Uberrito, or Freebirds, and has that same assembly-line style burrito making magic. I love these places, and while my
Everything Vegan at Starbucks (2023)
Starbucks has fantastic vegan options, including tons of drinks of course, but also plenty of things that when paired with a drink make quite a


Lost a number of Office documents after a system crash? Formatted a disk or USB drive with something important on them, or simply deleted a bunch of documents and want to get them back? Magic Office Recovery will help you recover documents that go missing from all types of storage media.
Magic Office Recovery is designed specifically for making the recovery safe, easy and reliable. The tool will use every trick known to discover the missing Microsoft Word, Excel, Open Office, and Adobe PDF documents stored on your computer even if the disk they've been kept on is formatted, repartitioned or plain inaccessible.
Magic Office Recovery is not just another file recovery tool restricting itself to office stuff. Instead, it comes equipped with algorithms that can scan and validate recoverable documents, only adding a document to the list of recoverable files if the document is undamaged and not corrupted. The documents are conveniently displayed in the form of thumbnail-sized previews, allowing you to quickly pick ones you'd like to recover.
Magic Office Recovery comes with full pre-recovery preview and a guarantee that viewable files can in fact be recovered. The tool relies solely on built-in processing, and does not require Microsoft Office applications to be installed for previewing or recovering documents.


text:
Urbana Seminary Reformation History Tour
Tour RUS19, is an 11-day tour of the Czech Republic, Germany, and Switzerland, hosted by Dr. Joe Thomas and Dr. Mark Draper. Guaranteed departure
Grand Reformation Tour
Tour RJM19, led by Frank Drinkhouse, is a 13-day tour of Germany, France and Switzerland. Tour focus: Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Knox, Hus.
Silent Night Christmas Markets Tour
Tour RSN18, is a 9-day tour celebrating the 200 year anniversary of "Silent Night", including Christmas Markets in Austria, Germany, and Prague, hosted by Taree McGee. Guaranteed departure
Lutherland and Bavaria Tour
Tour RDM18 is a 12-day tour of Germany and Austria, from September 27-October 8, 2018, hosted by Rev. David Meggers. Tour Focus: Luther Waiting list only
In the Footsteps of Luther & Bonhoeffer
July 28 - August 10, 2019
Crossroads Baptist Reformation Tour
Tour RBM18 is a 14-day tour to the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Switzerland hosted by Bradley Morefield and Cory Bing.
Reformation and Beyond Tour
Tour RMX17 is a 13 day tour of Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovakia hosted by Pastor Woody and Linda Maxon.
Valleydale Reformation Tour
Oct 24 - Nov 2, 2017
Tour RCW17, led by Pastor Jason Dees, is a 10-day tour of Germany including Reformation Day in Wittenberg. Guaranteed departure
Reformation Celebration Tour
Tour RCT17, led by Frank and Rowena Drinkhouse, is a 10-day tour of Germany including Reformation Day in Wittenberg. Tour focus: Luther. Sold out
Christian Theological Seminary's Reformation Travel Seminar
Tour RLG17 for Christian Theological Seminary is a private 9-day Reformation Tour. Guaranteed departure


text:
Q: How can I pass Ansible playbook variables from a master playbook to a linked playbook? I'm trying to find out how I can pass Ansible playbook variables defined in a 'master' playbook into other playbooks that I've already referenced in my master playbook.
For example, with the below 'master' playbook, I'd like to pass the values of sethostname and setipaddress to playbook[1-3].yml referenced in my tasks section. This would be akin to calling functions in other programming languages.
---
- hosts: all
  become: yes

  vars_prompt:
   - name: "sethostname"
     prompt: "What will be the machine's hostname?"
     private: no

   - name: "setipaddress"
     prompt: "What will be the machine's IP address?"
     private: no

  tasks:
    - include: playbook1.yml
    - include: playbook2.yml
    - include: playbook3.yml

A: As of Ansible 2.4 you can now import playbooks, meaning they will get pre-processed at the time the playbook is parsed, and will run in the order you import them. Check out the docs for the full info on import vs. include here http://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/user_guide/playbooks_reuse_includes.html
You can pass vars to them just like you can to other include_* tasks.
  tasks:
    - import_playbook: playbook1.yml
      vars:
        sethostname: "{{ sethostname }}"
        setipaddress "{{ setipaddress }}"

A: Kellie's answer is not exactly accurate , playbooks may not be imported at task level only at the topmost level of a playbook. So this works:
- import_playbook: playbook1.yml
  vars:
    sethostname: "{{ sethostname }}"
    setipaddress "{{ setipaddress }}"


text:
Home > Summer 2010 - Volume 22 - Issue 2 > Sport-Specific Fitness Testing and Intervention for an Adole...
Thought you might appreciate this item(s) I saw at Pediatric Physical Therapy.
Sport-Specific Fitness Testing and Intervention for an Adolescent With Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report
Kenyon, Lisa K. PT, MHS, PCS; Sleeper, Mark D. PT, MS, OCS; Tovin, Melissa M. PT, MA, PhD
Pediatric Physical Therapy: July 2010 - Volume 22 - Issue 2 - p 234-240
doi: 10.1097/PEP.0b013e3181dba5e5
Background and Purpose: This case report describes the development, implementation, and outcomes of a fitness-related intervention program that addressed the sport-specific goals of an adolescent with cerebral palsy.
Case Description: The participant in this case was a 16-year-old African American male with spastic diplegia. The participant joined his high school wrestling team and asked to focus his physical therapy on interventions that would improve his wrestling performance. An examination was performed using the muscle power sprint test, the 10 × 5-m sprint test, strength tests, the 10-m shuttle run test, and the Gross Motor Function Measure. The intervention consisted of interval training, which focused on the demands of wrestling.
Outcomes: Scores on all tests and measures were higher after the intervention.
Discussion: The outcomes of this case report seem to support the use of a fitness-related intervention program for addressing the sport-specific goals of an adolescent with cerebral palsy.
This case report supports the use of a fitness-related intervention program to address the sport-specific goals of an adolescent with CP related to wrestling. SUPPLEMENTAL DIGITAL CONTENT IS AVAILABLE IN THE TEXT.
Department of Physical Therapy, Arkansas State University, State University, Arkansas (Ms Kenyon); Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois (Mr Sleeper); and Physical Therapy Program, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Dr Tovin)
Correspondence: Lisa K. Kenyon, PT, MHS, PCS, Department of Physical Therapy, Box 910, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 72467 (lkenyon@astate.edu).
This case report was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a PhD degree in physical therapy for L.K. Kenyon and M.D. Sleeper.
Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Web site (www.pedpt.com).
DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE
EXAMINATION PROCEDURES
INTERPRETATION OF THE EXAMINATION RESULTS
Description of the Intervention
DESCRIPTION OF THE OUTCOMES
Supplemental Digital Content
Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) often exhibit decreased levels of physical activity and physical fitness when compared with their peers who are typically developing.1–7 Research studies have found that measures of aerobic capacity,3 anaerobic capacity,6 and muscle strength1,7 are frequently decreased in children and adolescents with CP. Although the reasons for these deficits are not entirely clear, the lower levels of aerobic capacity observed in children with CP may be reflective of ineffective ventilation, compromised circulation, and difficulties with fatigue associated with spastic musculature.3 Research findings have also suggested that the submaximal anaerobic endurance and lower peak muscle power demonstrated by children with spastic CP may be related to quantitative and qualitative differences in spastic musculature.6 Disuse, as a result of decreased activity levels, may also contribute to the decreased anaerobic capacity observed in subjects with spastic CP.6 Although recognizing that muscle weakness in CP is a primary impairment,8 strength deficits in children with CP have been ascribed to decreased central activation,1,7,9,10 altered muscle physiology,7 and secondary myopathy.11–13
According to Verschuren et al,4 exercise programs for children and adolescents with CP have traditionally been avoided because of concerns that the demands of maximal exercise programs could negatively affect movement quality. Such concerns have yet to be validated through research studies. In fact, multiple studies support the use of exercise programs for children with CP and have found such programs to be safe, feasible, and effective.4,14–18 Verschuren et al15 found that children with CP who were randomly assigned to a circuit training program demonstrated significant training effects in aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, agility, and quality of life compared with a control group of children with CP. Unnithan et al17 found that a strength and aerobic interval training program for children and adolescents with spastic diplegic CP resulted in significant improvements in aerobic capacity and gross motor function. Dodd et al19 found that a strength training program for children with CP who were ambulatory, with or without an assistive device, resulted in improvements in strength and showed a trend toward improved gross motor function. A systematic review by Mockford and Caulton20 concluded that of the 13 studies reviewed, function and gait in children with CP improved more after isotonic rather than isokinetic exercise and that preadolescent children benefited more from strengthening programs than older children. In a qualitative study by McBurney et al,21 young people with CP who participated in a strength training program reportedly experienced an increased sense of well-being and their participation in school and leisure activities improved.
Despite evidence pointing to the potential benefits of improving the physical fitness levels of children and adolescents with CP, pediatric physical therapists may believe that they lack the time, resources, or knowledge to develop and implement such programs to meet the goals and needs of specific patients.22 The purpose of this case report is to describe the development, implementation, and outcomes of a fitness-related intervention program that addressed the sport-specific goals of an adolescent with CP. Informed consent for physical therapy services and permission to publish this case report were obtained from the participant's legal guardian. Assent was obtained from the participant.
The participant in this case report was a 16-year-old African American male with spastic diplegic CP. The participant's history was gathered through an interview with his legal guardian. The participant was born at 35 weeks of gestation after an uncomplicated pregnancy. The delivery was complicated by a nuchal cord. He was hospitalized at 4 months of age for an infection. During this hospitalization, he was placed on a ventilator for several weeks and was discharged home on supplemental oxygen after a 2-month hospitalization.
After this extended illness, the participant began to display delays in his motor skills and was subsequently diagnosed with spastic diplegic CP. At 3 or 4 years of age, he underwent bilateral heel cord lengthenings and surgical correction for overlapping toes. Bilateral heel cord lengthenings were repeated at the age of 10. In August 2007, at the age of 14, the participant underwent bilateral hamstring lengthenings. According to his caregiver, before this surgical intervention, the participant had marked difficulty ambulating without support from walls and furniture.
In September 2007, approximately 2½ weeks after his cast removal, the participant started outpatient physical therapy with the first author. At his initial outpatient physical therapy visit, the participant was able to ambulate for short distances with intermittent upper extremity assist. The initial goals of his outpatient physical therapy program were to ambulate independently, perform transitional movements without assistance, and ascend and descend stairs without assistance. The participant responded well to intervention, and by late spring 2008, he was able to ambulate independently on even and uneven surfaces, ascend and descend stairs, jump forward using a slightly asymmetrical pattern, hop on his left foot several times, and hop on his right foot 1 time. Jumping and hopping were skills that the participant reportedly had not previously been able to perform.
In late fall 2008, the participant was functioning at level I of the Gross Motor Function Classification System–Expanded and Revised (GMFCS-ER).23 At that time, he joined his high school wrestling team. This was reportedly the first time that he had participated in an organized team sports activity. In March 2009, he expressed his desire to improve his wrestling performance. Specifically, he wanted to be able to get up and down from the mat more quickly during matches, be able to perform movements more quickly, and improve his strength.
Consistent with his diagnosis of spastic diplegia,8 the participant presented with velocity-dependent increased resistance to passive movements bilaterally in the heel cords, hamstrings, hip internal rotators, hip flexors, and hip adductors. Intermittent ankle clonus was observed bilaterally. A positive straight leg raise and a positive Ely's test result were noted bilaterally indicating tightness in the hamstrings and rectus femoris muscles.24,25 Heel cord tightness was noted with ankle dorsiflexion limited bilaterally to less than −5 degrees with the knees extended.24,26 In a weight-bearing position, the participant's feet were noted to be pronated bilaterally.
Tests and measures for the examination were chosen based on the fitness demands of wrestling, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF),27 and the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice.28 Wrestling is a sport that requires a combination of flexibility, strength, power, agility, muscular endurance, and anaerobic conditioning.29 Preparticipation screening was completed using the physical activity readiness questionnaire.30 Answers to all questions on the physical activity readiness questionnaire30 were "no," indicating that there were no concerns related to an increase in the participant's level of physical activity. Examination results are provided in Table 1. A brief description of the individual testing procedures, including any modifications or changes to the testing protocols, is provided in the Appendix,44 which is available online at http://links.lww.com/PPT/A7.
Given the energy requirements of wrestling,29 assessment of anaerobic power was an essential component of the participant's fitness testing. The muscle power sprint test (MPST)31 is a valid and reliable tool for assessing anaerobic power in children and adolescents with CP who function at levels I or II of the GMFCS. The MPST was chosen over other protocols such as the Wingate32 because the MPST is a field test that does not require any specialized equipment and can be easily performed in the clinical setting.
Agility is defined as the ability to change direction in an effective and efficient manner.31 Agility is an important component of wrestling29 and an area in which children and adolescents with CP frequently demonstrate functional deficits.8,31 The 10 × 5-m sprint test31 has been shown to be a valid and reliable tool to measure agility in children and adolescents with CP who function at a GMFCS level of I or II.
Muscle strength of the trunk and extremities is another important aspect of wrestling performance29 and a functional area of concern for children with spastic CP.8 A literature search revealed that the validity and reliability of strength measurement methods are variable in children and adolescents with CP.16,20,33 To address muscle strength in the lower extremities, 3 functional lower extremity strength tests in a 30-second repetition maximum were used as outlined by Verschuren et al.33 The reliability of these tests for children and adolescents with CP has been established, and the tests require equipment that is readily available in the clinical setting.33 Although the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd ed. (BOT-2)34 was not specifically developed for use with children and adolescents with CP, the participant competed in wrestling against adolescents without known disabilities. A comparison of his performance on the strength subtest to the performance of the normative sample provided insights into the obstacles he faced during wrestling matches.
Given that wrestling is an anaerobic activity,29 it was anticipated that the participant's intervention program would focus on anaerobic activities. Partaking in an anaerobic training program however has been shown to potentially improve aerobic capacity both in children who are typically developing and in children with CP.15,35 Concerns have been reported regarding the use of classic treadmill protocols such as the Bruce or the Balke to assess aerobic capacity in children with CP because of gait deviations and related difficulties with increasing gait speed and increasing incline.36 The 10-m shuttle run test36 has been shown to be a valid and reliable tool to assess aerobic power in children and adolescents with CP who function at a level I or II of the GMFCS.
A literature search related to fitness testing in children with CP revealed a trend toward examining outcomes related to the activity component of the ICF.4,15,27 The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66)37 is an activity measure that is a standardized measure of gross motor function. It was developed specifically for children and adolescents with CP and has been found to be a reliable and valid tool for use with children and adolescents with CP aged 5 months to 16 years.
As part of the evaluation process,28 examination results were interpreted in light of the participant's goals, history, and functional level. Many of the tests and measures used in the examination process were criterion-referenced measures that provided a baseline of function at the onset of intervention but did not allow for comparison of the participant's performance with the performance of adolescents who are typically developing or of other adolescents with CP. Consultation was provided however by Olaf Vershuren, the principal investigator involved in the development of many of the tests used in this case report. Dr. Vershuren (personal communication, 2009) indicated that based on his experiences with children and adolescents with CP in the Netherlands and Switzerland, the participant's performance on the MPST,31 the 10 × 5-m sprint test,31 and the 10-m shuttle run test36 was below the typical performance of an adolescent functioning at level I of the GMFCS-ER.
The strength subtest on the BOT-2 provided the opportunity to compare the participant's performance with the performance of his age- and sex-matched peers. Scale scores derived from an examinee's raw score on the BOT-2 were used to describe the examinee's level of proficiency on each subtest. Typically, scale scores on the BOT-2 range from 1 to 35 with a mean of 15 and a standard deviation of 5. The participant's scale score on the strength subtest was 6, indicating that his performance on this standardized, norm-referenced measure was considerably different from the mean performance of his age- and gender-matched peers in the normative sample, indicating that he most likely faced wrestling competitors who would achieve higher scores on this subtest.
Intervention activities were chosen based on knowledge of the demands of wrestling, the participant's needs as determined through preintervention testing, and a literature search related to fitness programs for children with CP.4,15,17,20,29 Interventions centered on an interval training program were developed to mimic the anaerobic energy requirements used in wrestling.29 By focusing on the anaerobic system, it was thought that the participant's muscles would become more efficient in producing energy and eliminating metabolic byproducts.38 Studies have also shown that children with CP respond to interval training with improvements in strength, agility, and gross motor function.15,17
All intervention activities were performed with the participant wearing high-top sneakers. Although heart rate is not an accurate indicator of exercise intensity in young children, it becomes a more appropriate indicator in the mid-teen to late teen years.39,40 The intervention program consisted of walking on the treadmill for a 5- to 10-minute warm-up at approximately 50% age predicted heart rate reserve (100 to 110 beats per minute). After this warm-up activity, the participant completed 1 to 2 cycles of an 8-station interval training program. The specific activities used at each station of the interval program are provided in Table 2. Given that wrestling competition consists of three 2-minute periods per match,29 the duration of each activity within the interval program was increased by 15 seconds each week until the desired 2-minute duration was reached. Decisions to progress the duration of the interval activities were based on observations of the patient during the sessions of the previous week and the patient's responses to questions concerning the presence of pain or discomfort. The time between activities within the interval was set to allow for optimal training of the energy systems used in wrestling activities.38 The participant's heart rate during the execution of the interval activities typically ranged from 150 to 160 beats per minute. After the interval training, the participant carried out a 5-minute cool-down at 50% age predicted heart rate reserve. Each session ended with flexibility exercises focusing on the hamstrings, hip flexors, pectoralis muscles, and heel cords to address the flexibility needed to competitively wrestle.29
Intervention frequency and duration were determined based on a review of the literature4,15,17 and the scheduling needs of the family. Intervention was provided at a frequency of 2 times per week over a 10-week period with at least 48 hours between scheduled intervention sessions. Refer Table 3 for an overview of the intervention schedule. The participant was also asked to perform select activities at home on an additional day of the week. These activities included modified oblique sit-ups, push-ups, and activities such as sprinting either while running or when riding the bicycle. During the sixth week of the intervention program, the participant was out of town and did not complete any formal intervention sessions. When he returned to scheduled sessions during the seventh week of the intervention program, the interval activities were performed at the same duration as in week 5. The participant attended all other scheduled physical therapy appointments and participated in a total of 18 intervention sessions. Based on observations that the participant appeared to be having continued difficulties with agility tasks, additional agility tasks were added to the intervention program starting from week 5. These activities included tasks requiring rapid changes in direction with quick, alternating movements of the lower extremities.
Throughout the intervention program, the participant was monitored to ensure that he did not experience any negative consequences from his participation in the intense interval activities. The participant was specifically asked at the beginning and end of each session whether he was experiencing any muscle or joint pain. At no time did he report pain or discomfort. His overall quality of movement did not appear to be negatively affected during the execution of intervention activities.
Results of the postintervention testing are listed in Table 1. The participant's scores on all tests and measures were found to be higher after the intervention. As suggested in Table 4, sprint times for the six 15-m sprints in the MPST improved from a pretest range of 3.60 to 5.06 seconds to a postintervention range of 2.90 to 2.97 seconds. His peak anaerobic power, defined as the highest calculated power output,31 improved from a pretest level of 405.36 W to a postintervention level of 595.78 W. Mean anaerobic power over the 6 sprints in the MPST more than doubled from pre- to postintervention testing.
To accurately interpret changes in test scores, the amount of error associated with repeated measurements must be considered.41 Although not readily available for all measurements, SEM values are often useful in interpreting differences between pre- and postintervention test findings. Using SEM values and knowledge of the distribution within the normal curve, therapists can determine the range in which a participant's "true score" would lie if the test were perfectly accurate and free from error.41 SEM values for the MPST, the 10 × 5-m sprint test, and the functional lower extremity strength tests are provided in Table 5. Using these values to assess pre- and postintervention testing scores, the participant's improvement in peak power output of 318.81 W on the MPST and his decrease of 9.32 seconds on the 10 × 5-m sprint test exceed the minimal values needed to reflect change and indicates a true improvement in performance between pre- and postintervention testing. On the functional lower extremity strength tests,33 the participant's improvements of 12 repetitions in the sit-to-stand test and 9 repetitions in both the left and right lateral step-up tests also exceed the minimal values needed to reflect change and indicate a true improvement in the participant's performance between pre- and postintervention testing. The participant's improvement of 2 repetitions in attaining standing through both left and right half-kneel, however, does not exceed the minimal values needed to reflect true change. We therefore cannot be certain that the improvement is reflective of a true change in performance.
The SEM value for the 10-m shuttle run test36 is 0.42 minutes for children at level I of the GMFCS.36 Using the 95% confidence interval, a total increase of 0.84 minutes (2 × 0.42 seconds) would be considered to reflect a true change in performance. Given that this test is scored based on the number of intervals or half intervals completed, further interpretation is necessary to accurately interpret the SEM values. According to Dr. Verschuren (personal communication, 2009), as each level of the 10-m shuttle run test takes approximately 1 minute to complete, an improvement of 1 level (>0.84 minutes) reflects a true change in performance. The participant's improvement of 3.5 levels exceeds the minimal value needed to reflect change and indicates a true change in performance between pre- and postintervention testing.
In a similar manner, SEM values and the related confidence intervals provided in the BOT-2 manual34 allow for interpretation of pre- and posttest scale scores on the strength subtest of the BOT-2. At the participant's age, the 95% confidence interval on the BOT-2 is ±4. Using this confidence interval, his preintervention scale score of 6 indicates that his true scale score lies between 2 and 10 and his postintervention scale score of 10 lies between 6 and 14. Because the confidence intervals include both the pre- and posttest scale scores, we cannot be certain that the changes in his pre- and posttesting scale scores are reflective of true changes in his performance.
The gross motor ability estimator42 was used to score the GMFM-66.37 Based on the information provided by the gross motor ability estimator, the participant's preintervention score of 86.62 and postintervention score of 89.7 were both found to lie within the 95% confidence interval. The change between his pre- and posttesting scores is therefore not necessarily reflective of a true change in his performance. Given that, at pretesting, the participant was able to fully perform 61 of the 66 items per the stated scoring criteria, a ceiling effect may have affected the capacity of the GMFM-66 to accurately detect change at the postintervention testing.41
In addition to the changes in test findings, the participant reported functional gains during the intervention period. At several points during the intervention program, he reported that he was able to transition from the floor to standing more quickly. He also reported that he was able to ride his bicycle faster and for longer distances, run faster, and jump both higher and further. When he returned to wrestling practice during the final week of the intervention program, he reported that he was able to get up from the wrestling mat more quickly and that he was more difficult to bring down during practice wrestling matches. The participant also noted that his ability to perform training tasks such as jumping jacks and push-ups during practice had improved. He even reported that he was beginning to be able to jump rope with his teammates during practice. Informal observations of his movement and function during therapy sessions showed that he appeared to be experimenting more with movement as the intervention program progressed. For example, he would run and leap over mats or run and jump up onto a stack of crash mats, both activities that he had not previously attempted. His confidence in his motor abilities and motivation to participate in therapy sessions also seemed to improve in that he appeared to be more willing to attempt therapeutic tasks and activities.
This case report describes the development, implementation, and outcomes of a fitness-related intervention program that addressed the sport-specific goals of an adolescent with CP. Although not routinely used as part of a pediatric physical therapist examination, the testing procedures used in this case were easy to administer, provided pre- and postintervention measures of the participant's fitness levels, and allowed the therapists to devise an intervention program that addressed the participant's individual needs and goals. Use of tests that emphasized the participation level of the ICF,27 such as the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure,43 may have provided additional outcome information.
At the onset of the intervention program, the participant's performance on many of the fitness tests was thought to be below that of other adolescents with CP who function at level I of the GMFCS-ER. This may relate to the gross motor limitations that he experienced before his hamstring surgery in August 2007 and during his subsequent postsurgical rehabilitation period. At his previous level of function, he may not have been able to achieve activity levels that were of the intensity and duration needed to develop the fitness levels typically associated with an adolescent functioning at level I of the GMFCS-ER.
The outcomes of this intervention program seemed to reach beyond improvements in baseline testing and function. Before starting this intervention program, the participant often required extrinsic motivators to participate in therapy sessions. Once introduced to the concept of a specific program to improve his wrestling, however, his intrinsic motivation to participate in therapy sessions seemed to increase and extrinsic motivators were not needed during any of the testing or intervention procedures. He appeared to be excited by the connection between the therapeutic activities and his personal goals to improve his wrestling and frequently referred to activities as helping his performance in a specific aspect of wrestling.
Similar to the findings of various authors,4,15–17 the intervention program developed and implemented in this case appeared to be safe, feasible, and effective and did not seem to negatively affect the participant's quality of movement. The participant's improvements in aerobic capacity after the completion of an intervention program focused primarily on anaerobic training supports research findings that participating in anaerobic training programs may result in improved aerobic capacity.15,35 The participant's apparent motivation to participate in this individualized, sport-specific exercise program supports concepts raised by McBurney et al21 and further suggest the benefits of focusing intervention programs on patient-specific needs and goals.
Given that a case report lacks the control of a research study, there are many possible alternative explanations for the outcomes achieved in this case. The participant's testing improvements could be related to an increased familiarity with the testing procedures at the postintervention testing. His increased level of physical activity may have occurred without participation in the intervention program. His enthusiasm about the intervention program may have resulted in improved performance. Participation in the intervention may have also bolstered his confidence in his motor abilities and resulted in improvements in motor function.
Despite the absence of a definitive cause-and-effect relationship, the adolescent in this case demonstrated improvements in testing and function after participation in an intervention program that focused on improving his wrestling abilities. The tests used in this case were easy to administer and, coupled with the knowledge of the specific demands of wrestling, allowed for the creation of a sport-specific intervention program. Although the authors recognize that the participant's wrestling performance will continue to be affected by impairments related to his CP, it is our hope that wrestling will continue to provide him with increased opportunities for social interaction and community participation while laying the foundation for an active lifestyle that will help to support him throughout his adult years.
1. Wiley ME, Damiano DL. Lower-extremity strength profiles in spastic cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1998;40:100–107.
2. van den Berg-Emons HJG, Saris WHM, de Barbanson DC, et al. Daily physical activity of school children with spastic diplegia and of healthy control subjects. J Pediatr. 1995;127:578–584.
3. Hoofwijk M, Unnithan V, Bar-Or O. Maximal treadmill performance of children with cerebral palsy. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 1995;7:305–313.
4. Verschuren O, Ketelaar M, Takken T, et al. Exercise programs for children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review of the literature. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2008;87:404–417.
5. van Eck M, Dallmeijer AJ, Beckerman H, et al. Physical activity level and related factors in adolescents with cerebral palsy. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2008;20:95–106.
6. Parker DF, Carriere L, Hebestreit H, et al. Anaerobic endurance and peak muscle power in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Am J Dis Child. 1992;146:1069–1073.
7. Stackhouse SK, Binder-Macleod SA, Lee SC. Voluntary muscle activation, contractile properties, and fatigability in children with and without cerebral palsy. Muscle Nerve. 2005;31:594–601.
8. Styer-Acevedo J. The infant and child with cerebral palsy. In: Tecklin JS, ed. Pediatric Physical Therapy. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:179–230.
9. Rose J, McGill KC. Neuromuscular activation and motor-unit firing characteristics in cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2005;47:329–336.
10. Elder GCE, Kirk J, Stewart G, et al. Contributing factors to muscle weakness in children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2003;45:542–550.
11. Friden J, Lieber RL. Spastic muscle cells are shorter and stiffer than normal muscle cells. Muscle Nerve. 2003;27:157–164.
12. Foran JRH, Steinman S, Barash I, et al. Structural and mechanical alterations in spastic skeletal muscle. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2005;47:713–717.
13. Lieber RL, Steinman S, Barash I, et al. Structural and functional changes in spastic muscle. Muscle Nerve. 2004;29:615–627.
14. Fragala-Pinkham MA, Haley SM, Goodgold S. Evaluation of a community-based group fitness program for children with disabilities. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2006;18:159–167.
15. Verschuren O, Ketelaar M, Gorter JW, et al. Exercise training program in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161:1075–1081.
16. Schlough K, Nawoczenski D, Case LE, et al. The effects of aerobic exercise on endurance, strength, function and self-perception in adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy: a report of three case studies. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2005;17:234–250.
17. Unnithan VB, Katsimanis G, Evangelinou C, et al. Effect of strength and aerobic training in children with cerebral palsy. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;39:1902–1909.
18. Fowler EG, Ho TW, Nwigwe AI, et al. The effect of quadriceps femoris muscle strengthening exercises on spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. Phys Ther. 2001;81:1215–1223.
19. Dodd KJ, Taylor NF, Graham HK. A randomized clinical trial of strength training in young people with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2003;45:652–657.
20. Mockford M, Caulton JM. Systematic review of progressive strength training in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2008;20:318–333.
21. McBurney H, Taylor NF, Dodd KJ, et al. A qualitative analysis of the benefits of strength training for young people with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2003;45:658–663.
22. Goodgold S. Wellness promotion beliefs and practices of pediatric physical therapists. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2005;17:148–157.
23. Palisano R, Rosenbaum P, Bartlett D, et al. The gross motor function classification system—expanded and revised. 2007. Canchild Centre for Childhood Disability Research. Available at: http://www.canchild.ca/Portals/0/outcomes/pdf/GMFCS-ER.pdf. Accessed March 15, 2009.
24. Reese NB, Bandy WD. Joint Range of Motion and Muscle Length Testing. 2nd ed. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier; 2002.
25. Konin JG, Wiksten DL, Isear JA Jr, et al. Special Tests for Orthopedic Examination. 3rd ed. Thorofare, NJ: Slack Inc.; 2006.
26. Kendall FP, McCreary EK, Provance PG, et al. Muscles: Testing and Function with Posture and Pain. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005.
27. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: ICF. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2001.
28. Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. Second Edition. American Physical Therapy Association. Phys Ther. 2001;81:9–746.
29. Welker B. The Wrestling Drill Book. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2005.
30. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). 2002. The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. Available at: http://www.confmanager.com/communities/c574/files/hidden/pdfs/par-q.pdf. Accessed February 27, 2009.
31. Verschuren O, Takken T, Ketelaar M, et al. Reliability for running tests for measuring agility and anaerobic muscle power in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2007;19:108–115.
32. Bar-Or O. The Wingate anaerobic test: an update on methodology, reliability and validity. Sports Med. 1987;4:381–394.
33. Verschuren O, Ketelaar M, Takken T, et al. Reliability of hand-held dynamometry and functional strength tests for the lower extremity in children with cerebral palsy. Dis Rehabil. 2008;30:1358–1366.
34. Bruininks RH, Bruininks BD. BOT-2: Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. 2nd ed. Minneapolis, MN: Pearson Assessments; 2005.
35. Rotstein A, Dotan R, Bar-Or O, et al. Effect of training on anaerobic threshold, maximal aerobic power and anaerobic performance of preadolescent boys. Int J Sports Med. 1986;7:281–286.
36. Verschuren O, Takken T, Ketelaar M, et al. Reliability and validity of data for 2 newly developed shuttle run tests in children with cerebral palsy. Phys Ther. 2006;86:1107–1117.
37. Russell DJ, Rosenbaum PL, Avery LM, et al. Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66 & GMFM-88) User's Manual. High Holborn, England: Mac Keith Press; 2002.
38. McArdle WD, Katch FI, Katch VL. Essentials of Exercise Physiology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.
39. Plowman SA. Children aren't miniature adults: similarities and differences in physiological responses to exercise. Part 1. ACSM's Health Fitness J. 2001;5:11–17.
41. Portney LG, Watkins MP. Foundations of Clinical Research: Applications to Practice. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Publishers; 2009.
42. Russell DJ, Rosenbaum PL, Avery LM, et al. The Gross Motor Ability Estimator [CD-ROM]. High Holborn, England: Mac Keith Press; 2002.
43. Law M, Baptiste S, Carswell A, et al. Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. 3rd ed. Ottawa, Canada: CAOT Publications ACE; 1998.
44. Vershuren O. 10-m Shuttle Run Test—GMFCS Level I [CD]. Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 2008.
adolescent; athletic performance; cerebral palsy; exercise; exercise therapy; physical fitness; sports; wrestling
PPT_22_2_2010_03_03_KENYON_200255_SDC1.doc; [Word] (63 KB)
Pediatric Physical Therapy22(2):234-240, Summer 2010.
Keyword Highlighting
Highlight selected keywords in the article text.
adolescent, athletic performance, cerebral palsy, exercise, exercise therapy, physical fitness, sports, wrestling
Articles in PubMed by Lisa K. Kenyon, PT, MHS, PCS
Articles in Google Scholar by Lisa K. Kenyon, PT, MHS, PCS
Other articles in this journal by Lisa K. Kenyon, PT, MHS, PCS
Physical Therapy Management of Congenital Muscular Torticollis: An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice GuidelineFROM THE SECTION ON PEDIATRICS OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION
The Scope of Pediatric Physical Therapy Practice in Health Promotion and Fitness for Youth With Disabilities
Effects of Motor Control Intervention for Children With Idiopathic Toe Walking: A 5-Case Series
Functional Movement, Strength, and Intervention for an Adolescent With Cerebral Palsy
Description of Primary and Secondary Impairments in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy

Privacy Policy (Updated May 9, 2018) - Legal Disclaimer - Terms of Use - Open Access Policy - Ask a Question - Sitemap - RSS Feeds - LWW Journals
Copyright © 2019 Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association


text:
namespace MatterHackers.RenderOpenGl.OpenGl
{
	public enum TextureMagFilter
	{
		Nearest = 9728,
		Linear = 9729,
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
A.R.Rahman wins four awards at Mirchi Music Awards
By Rahman 360ºFebruary 12, 2010 No Comments
Mumbai, February 10th, 2010 The finest talent in Hindi film music was saluted at the second edition of the Airtel Mirchi Music Awards 2009 held last night with Radio Mirchi announcing the winners. Delhi 6 won the best song award for Masakali, best album, Mohit Chauhan won the best male vocalist for Masakali, Rekha Bhardwaj won the best female vocalist for Genda Phool. AR Rahman won the best music director award for Masakali Delhi 6 while Prasoon Joshi won lyricist of the year for Masakali. Rahman also won the best song arranger and programmer for Masakali. H Sridhar, S Sivakumar, Deepak P A and Vivianne Chaix got the best song mixing and engineering for Delhi 6.
The Airtel Mirchi Listeners' choice for best song went to Iktara from Wake Up Sid and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani took the award for Airtel Mirchi Listeners' choice for best album. The special jury award for exceptional non-film music achievement went to Saeen bina darad kareje haye sung by Rashid Khan. Raju Singh won the best background score award for Raaz- The Mystery Continues.
Gulzar won the lifetime achievement award and the jury award for outstanding contribution to Hindi film music went to Kersi Lord. Manna Dey won the KL Saigal Sangeet Shehenshah Award.
There were performances by singers KK, Sunidhi Chauhan, Rekha Bhardwaj, Himesh Reshamiya and Usha Uthup while Shahid Kapoor and Katrina Kaif performed on the best tracks of the year.
Speaking at the event, Prashant Panday, CEO, ENIL, said, "The integrity and dedication behind Mirchi Music Awards is what makes it unique. The Awards salute the hard work, passion and the immense creative talent of our music industry."
http://www.arrahman.com/v2/news/news-186.html


text:
Lydia Atim Draru Charged with Murder
Lydia Atim Draru has been charged with murder in a Makindye grade one court. She came to the limelight after she allegedly hit the former Army Commander Maj. General James Kazini on the head with an iron bar last Tuesday.
Lydia seemed not worried as she boarded the maroon bus to Luzira prison as journalists took pictures of her. Lydia's being charged has come in at this time as investigations were underway in trying to get to how a young lady could kill a general.
The Military joined forces with police in investigating the matter. They could not just look on as a General had been taken on just like that. Maj. Gen. Kazini was buried last Friday with full military honour. He is survived by 8 children and three wives.
Meanwhile Draru means death in west nile. A friend of Lydia who only learnt of the name Draru after Maj. Gen. Kazini was murdered said she could have advised her to change it to something else had she known earlier that she was called Draru.


text:
FIFA executives Blatter and Platini banned from soccer for eight years
FIFA corruption often described as organized crime
Last Updated On: October 6th, 2016	- By Jeff Burbank
Check out The Mob Museum's interview with journalist Andrew Jennings from our Video Vault
When lame-duck FIFA President Sepp Blatter emerged Monday from a car in Zurich, a reporter yelled, "Mr. Blatter, you've been kicked out in disgrace. How do you feel?"
Journalist Andrew Jennings attends a public hearing in Brazil in 2011. Reuters /Ueslei Marcelino
Blatter, his face unshaven, a bandage on his right cheek from the removal of a mole, did not respond. He saved it for a news conference minutes later in the Swiss-based world soccer organization's headquarters.
FIFA's ethics committee earlier that day had banned Blatter and Michel Platini, the president of the UEFA, FIFA's European division, from participating in soccer activities for eight years, citing ethics violations from a $2 million payment FIFA made to Platini in 2011. Blatter, FIFA president since 1998, was re-elected to the post this past May.
The ethics committee had ordered Blatter and Platini suspended for 90 days back in October pending an inquiry into the payment. The two men said the disbursement was based on a verbal agreement for Platini to work as a presidential adviser to Blatter from 1998-2002.
But FIFA made no payment on the deal as of 2002, and the statute of limitations on employee claims for money is five years under Swiss law, making the compensation to Platini nine years later illegal. Blatter, who did not account for the $2 million on FIFA's books, insisted that the matter was an administrative mistake and had "nothing to do with the ethics regulations."
The ethics committee said it was not convinced by the men's explanations. The money amounted to a conflict of interest and the pair violated their "fiduciary duty to FIFA," it stated.
Blatter and Platini, the committee contended, failed "to place FIFA's interests first and abstain from doing anything which could be contrary to FIFA's interests."
The body also fined Blatter $50,000 and Platini $80,000. However, it determined that the affair did not rise to a charge of corruption.
It was yet another unfolding scandal for FIFA, which stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Founded in Paris in 1904, FIFA is soccer's official governing body. It oversees the World Cup and many other international tournaments and arranges for television and sports marketing rights for matches worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
This year, FIFA's leadership flow-chart has been exposed as a veritable organized crime ring. Corruption-related charges have been filed against 39 former FIFA officials. Federal prosecutors in the United States charged FIFA executives and outside business people this year with racketeering in connection with more than $100 million in bribes allegedly paid by sports marketing companies going back to the 1990s. Further inquiries are said to center on the FIFA's awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
For Blatter, his eight-year suspension from soccer may be the tip of iceberg. He is currently the focus of parallel criminal investigations by the Attorney General's Office in Switzerland and the FBI in the United States.
David Bernstein, former chairman of the Football Association, FIFA's British affiliate, told an English media outlet that the suspension marks "the end" for the 79-year-old Blatter's tenure as head of world soccer. "He's a drowning man," Bernstein said. "Blatter has presided over a corrupt organization for many, many years."
Undaunted by his suspension, Blatter, a Swiss national who earlier this year agreed to step down as FIFA president in February, claimed Monday that he was a victim and didn't deserve the punishment.
"Let me say that I'm really sorry," said Blatter, who has worked for FIFA for 40 years. "I'm sorry that I am still somewhere a punching ball but I am as president of FIFA the punching ball and I'm sorry for football. … I'm also sorry about me, how I am treated in this world of humanity and (my) humanitarian qualities."
"I am now suspended for eight years," he said. "But I will fight. I will fight for me and I will fight for FIFA. … I'll be back."
Bernstein described the FIFA president's pronouncement as "a typical Blatter statement" and "maybe he's in denial."
"He hasn't gotten to where he is without being a very tough guy," Bernstein said. "So he will fight, but he will not win."
FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks during a press conference at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 2, 2015. The Associated Press / Ennio Leanza
Swiss authorities in September announced they had launched a criminal investigation into Blatter on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation.
Meanwhile, Blatter said he plans to appeal to FIFA to restore his rights to participate in soccer. He further hopes to convince representatives of FIFA's 209 soccer federations from around the world to assemble in Zurich and elect him honorary president.
Platini, 60, once considered Blatter's successor as head of FIFA, is seeking to clear his name to resume campaigning as an official candidate for the presidency.
Last week, the BBC News reported a Swiss newspaper's claims that U.S. authorities have asked Switzerland to freeze 50 accounts in 10 Swiss banks linked to FIFA amid an investigation into the spread of $50 million to $100 million in "corruption money." As many as 12 of the accounts are controlled by Nicolas Leoz, head of FIFA's South American confederation, the BBC reported.
Andrew Jennings, the author of two books on alleged FIFA corruption, is a reporter for BBC's Panorama news program and has been writing about corruption at FIFA – sometimes the only journalist to do so — for the past 15 years.
On December 7, BBC Panorama aired an hour-long program, "FIFA, Sepp Blatter and Me," in which Jennings reviewed his years of reporting on Blatter and other top FIFA executives. Jennings in the show dubbed FIFA as "an organized crime syndicate."
"Sepp Blatter is the Godfather, and silence is his code," he said.
In a television news interview Monday outside FIFA headquarters in Zurich after the suspension announcement, Jennings said that his patience has paid off.
"This is a day of righteous justice as far as Mr. Blatter is concerned," he said. "He's got away with it for a bundle of reasons, including he should have had more unfavorable media coverage than he's had. But today, the roof fell in. And you know, it's a historic day for us to be here. Behind this FIFA house you might hear the sobbing."
Jeff Burbank is content development specialist for The Mob Museum. Contact him at jburbank@themobmuseum.org.
← Slaying of singer Barbara McNair's Mob-connected husband in Las Vegas remains a mystery since 1976
Author disputes Mafia witness testimony in Lufthansa robbery case →


text:
Australia Carefully Watching Unrest in Hong Kong Unfold
India's Protesting Farmers Aren't Going Anywhere
'Journey to the West': The Buddhist Reimagination of China
China's Vaccine Diplomacy in the Middle East
How Biden Can Navigate a New Era in South Korean Politics
India's Invisible Women Farmers
Can Singapore Keep Its Precious Hawker Culture Alive?
J-20: The Stealth Fighter That Changed PLA Watching Forever
Dhanushkodi Fisherfolk: 50 Years of Life on the Edge
What If the Afghan Peace Process Fails?
'Global Britain': The UK in the Indo-Pacific
What Are Asian Governments Saying About the Storming of the US Capitol?
Oceania | Diplomacy | Oceania
Countries like Australia need to assess their stakes in Hong Kong.
By Grant Wyeth for The Diplomat
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The ongoing protests in Hong Kong show little sign of abating. Measures that symbolize Beijing's authoritarian impulses — like invoking emergency laws to ban face masks — only exacerbate the fears of Hong Kongers and entrench the sense of unease. Without any signs that the crisis is heading toward a resolution, countries like Australia will need to assess their stakes in Hong Kong and calculate how its shifting political landscape could change the country's interactions with the city.
At the core of Australia's approach to the situation is guarded affinity with the aims of the protest movement. While Australians in general are wary of protests, the values that the protesters are seeking to maintain (and strive toward) align well with Australia's own approach to political organization. The maintenance of the rule of law and respect for human rights, as well as the promotion of democratic values, are broadly understood as universally positive. These values were outlined in Australia's 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper as critical components of the country's internal stability and its global influence.
Over the weekend, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne stated that the invoking of emergency laws by the Hong Kong government was "very concerning to Australia" and urged "the Hong Kong authorities to seek to resolve the current situation by listening and responding to the legitimate concerns of all its citizens." The minister's statements gave an indication that the Australia government was, alongside the people of Hong Kong, wary of Beijing's encroaching influence in the city. In June, Payne issued a statement welcoming the suspension of the Hong Kong legislature's consideration of the Extradition Bill that had ignited the protests. Her statement affirmed that "Australia values Hong Kong's unique advantages and freedoms under 'One Country, Two Systems,' the rule of law and its independent judiciary. Australia supports freedom of speech and peaceful protest."
Alongside this understanding of shared values is a blunt assessment of Australia's interests in its relationship with Hong Kong. In 2018 Hong Kong was Australia's 12th largest trading partner, with two-way trade amounting to $12 billion. As well as this trade in goods and services, Hong Kong is Australia's fifth largest source of foreign investment, with stock worth $80 billion invested in Australia at the end of 2018. For outward Australian investment, Hong Kong is its 11th largest destination, with value totaling $35.2 billion in 2018. There are also around 100,000 Australian citizens living in Hong Kong, and 96,000 people from Hong Kong living in Australia. Over 600 Australian companies have a presence in the city.
Diplomat Brief
Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific.
In order to preserve these interests, the Australian government is invested in maintaining the certainty of Hong Kong's Basic Law, the framework implemented in 1997 that is designed to protect the city's economic system for 50 years from any interference by Beijing. Any movement from Beijing that undermines this agreement could produce a serious economic cost to Australia, as well as threaten the livelihoods of many Australian citizens living in Hong Kong. The prospects of those people from Hong Kong currently living in Australia being able to return to the city could also be at risk.
Enjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Just $5 a month.
There have been calls by Hong Kong-Australian community groups to the Australian government to allow citizens of Hong Kong on temporary visas to remain in the country indefinitely (currently around 19,000 people). While this could be deemed an extraordinary measure — and conditions in Hong Kong many not yet warrant such an action — it does have a precedent. In 1989 after the Tiananmen Square massacre, then-Prime Minister Bob Hawke granted permanent residency to all 42,000 Chinese nationals who were in Australia at the time on temporary visas. However, a similar action today by the Australian government would most likely be deemed provocative by Beijing.
Yet many citizens of Hong Kong may already be suspicious enough of the changing situation in the city to be seeking to use Australia's skilled migration program to emigrate. Through this channel, the Australian government wouldn't need to make any bold statement that could irritate China, it could simply look kindly on Hong Konger applications. Many people from Hong Kong already have the education and skills necessary to fulfill the requirements of Australia's points based immigration system. As unfortunate as it is for Hong Kong, this increase in skilled immigrants would be to Australia's advantage.
The other pressing dilemma for Australia in regards to the ongoing unrest is how to proceed with the Australia-Hong Kong free trade agreement. The agreement was signed in March this year prior, to the start of the present unrest, but is yet to be ratified by the Australian parliament. It is presently under consideration by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. The agreement was negotiated with an understanding of Hong Kong's regulatory framework being guided by the Basic Law. If these laws are further encroached upon by Beijing it may significantly alter the trading — and labor — conditions in the city. At this moment, ratification seems unlikely as long as the present situation persists.
This could quickly turn from unlikely to impossible should Beijing see fit to more forcefully intervene in Hong Kong. The prospect of more severe Chinese intervention in the city remains an ever-present possibility in the city. Jamil Anderlini, Asia editor of the Financial Times, wrote over the weekend that the lesson Beijing learned from the 2014 "Umbrella Movement" was that with their pressure on the Hong Kong government to imprison protest leaders and expel politicians from the legislature they were too soft on the movement. This time, when China considers the time right, they will instead "ruthlessly punish" Hong Kong. Should this eventuate Australia would not be caught in a dilemma of interests versus values; its interests would be its values.
Grant Wyeth
Grant Wyeth is a Melbourne-based political analyst specializing in Australia and the Pacific, India and Canada.
Australia-China relations
Australia-Hong Kong free trade agreement
Australia-Hong Kong relations
Hong Kong protests 2019
Sky High: How the Asia-Pacific Sees Space
Zhang Jian Vs. Jack Ma: CCP Capitalism
By Mercy A. Kuo
Insights from Elisabeth Köll.
North Korea Without Nukes: How Does It Measure Up?
Vietnam's Coming Leadership Change
The Future of US-India Digital Relations
The Asia-Pacific in 2021: What to Expect
The emergence of a much more contagious variant of COVID-19 comes as Australia rolls out vaccines.
By Sebastian Strangio
The announcement comes as confirmed COVID-19 infections continue to spike across the archipelago.
By Eleanor Albert
With its first homegrown vaccine approved for general use, China aims to vaccinate 50 million people by the Lunar New Year in February.
What Is the Truth About COVID-19 in North Korea?
By Mitch Shin
North Korea insists there have been no coronavirus cases in the country. So why does it keep tightening restrictions, despite the heavy cost?
What Changes in Hong Kong Could Mean for Australia
Countries like Australia need to prepare themselves for the consequences of the shifting reality in Hong Kong.
Is It Safe for Australians to Travel to China?
This week, Canberra issued a travel warning that Australians could face "arbitrary detention" in China.
Australia Aims to Combat Disinformation
A new taskforce underlines Canberra's efforts to push back again Chinese disinformation, in particular.
US Weighs in on Australia's BRI Controversy Amid State and Federal Divide
U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo inserted himself into an ongoing dispute between the Australian federal government and the state of Victoria over China's BRI.
By Sudha Ramachandran
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not a leader given to compromise. Has he finally met his match in India's farmers?
By Amitav Acharya
The Nirvana Route: How early encounters between India, China and Southeast Asia shaped Asian civilization.
By Austin Bodetti
Gulf states like Bahrain and the UAE are using a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine, highlighting a new type of cooperation with China.
The Unending Saga of India's Retrospective Tax Debacle
By Abhishek Dwivedi
India finally has an investor-friendly image after almost a decade and should strive to maintain that.
'Timber Mafia' from India Running Amok in Bhutan
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
Illegal logging is depleting forest cover in the region, aggravating the fallout from climate change.
China's Foreign Ministry hit a group of outgoing officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, with sanctions.
Why Some in Japan Are Still Unsettled About a Biden Administration
By Carlos Ramirez
The favorable view of Trump's policy combined with a pessimism of Biden as it relates to Japan is both unfounded and misguided
North Korea's New Economic Plan Looks a Lot Like the Old One
By Jonathan Corrado
The five-year economic plan laid out at the Party Congress is no course correction for the country.


Heart Conversations is a collection of FREE inspiration and teachings, from a spiritual yet down-to-earth nature, for awakening the heart and voice - through audio, written word, and video.
The meaning behind 'Heart Conversations' - anytime we hear another person express straight from their heart, whether it be shared stories, words of wisdom, poetry, speaking a truth, or teachings from personal experience, it inspires and opens up our own heart for more authentic inner conversations, inner questions, deeper self-discovery and self-evolution.
Real, raw, passionate, inspiring talks of a spiritual nature in a very open-hearted and down-to-earth approach.
A collection of Gaia's videos, teachings, poetry, and all other 'Heart Awakening' messages.
"Gaia's way of writing really touches the readers hearts. She has a beautiful way of expressing herself and connecting, simply through her written words, which is vary rare"


text:
Q: Why can I not install SQL Server Express 2016 on Windows 7 Professional 64 bit SP1? When trying to install SQL Server 2016 Express in Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1 in VMware I get the following message.

What can I do to solve this?

A: Here is a workaround for users that need SQL 2016 on a Windows 7 development PC.  This will allow the developer to develop and manage them by using using MDFs in LocalDB:

*

*If you don't have Visual Studio 2015 then get it or the 2015 Community Edition

*Download and install SQL Server Data Tools.  SSDT
Note:

When I initially installed Visual Studio 2015 I chose custom install and selected all options.  I was assisting someone else troubleshoot their installation so I installed Visual Studio 2015 Community Edition on another Win 7 Computer.  I chose custom Install and under Windows and Web Development options I chose Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools.  It stated 2012 SQL Server, but after install and restarting I had both the 2014 and 2016 SqlLocalDB (under 120 and 130 folders respectively).  SQL Server Data Tools install may not be needed unless you need SSIS, SSAS or SSRS which I do need.

After all of this you will need SQL Server Management Studio 2016 or higher to connect to the local db and access the 2016 functionality.
After you have installed this there should be a SQL Local DB command Line tool installed.  My install location was D:\Programfiles\130\Tools\Binn\SqlLocalDB.exe
The default install location as pointed out by Discosultan may be:
D:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\130\Tools\Binn\SqlLocalDB.exe

My install path was different, but that may be due to the several versions and related components of SQL server that I have installed on the PC and the manner of my installs.  Once you have done the install you can search for SqlLocalDB.exe if you have multiple versions and navigate to the 2016 version,  (product version 13 in the 130 subfolder).

You can find the install folder path in the registry for SQL 2016 by reviewing the following Registry Entry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (Abbreviated to HKLM below):

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Local DB\Installed Versions\13.0
You can run the command line from there or add the directory to the path statement.  I have multiple versions so I just go to the directory.  Then you create a localDB instance and start it:
SqlLocalDB create "LocalDBExample2016" -s
SqlLocalDB Utility Command Line Reference
From that point if you prefer the GUI you can open SQL server Management Studio 2016 or through Visual Studio and connect to server:
(localdb)\LocalDBExample2016

From there you can add databases, etc.
The mdf and log files will default to C:\Users\[UserName], but they can be moved when creating the databases or copied elsewhere and given to the DBAs, etc.  Some of the features won't be available like in memory OLTP tables.  Here are the edition comparisons: Editions and Supported Features for SQL Server 2016

A: As the error message states SQL Server 2016 is not supported in Windows 7. You will have to upgrade to Windows 8 or higher or switch to a Windows Server operating system. Here is a list of all the operating systems (and other hardware and software requirements) in which SQL Server 2016 can be installed.

A: Late to the party, but while you can't install SQL 2017 Express or 2016 Express on Windows 7, you can install SQL 2014 Express. This may not work for compatibility purposes if you're dealing with a newer version of SQL (although I've been able to install the non-express version of SQL 2016 and 2017 to Windows 7) but if you're supporting something that uses an older version of SQL Express (which, frankly, is likely if you don't have access to a newer OS) this should work well enough.


Jennie K. Salerno Snider, 94, of Hutchinson, passed away Friday (July 22, 2016) at Fairmont Health and Rehabilitation Center.
George "Eddie" Glasscock, 74, of Shinnston, passed away at 2:05 a.m. Thursday (July 14, 2016) at the United Hospital Center.
Lydia Mae "Peggy" Hardesty, 88, of Shinnston, passed away peacefully on Tuesday (July 12, 2016) at the United Hospital Center after a long battle with an extended illness.
Loraine J. "Pooch" Basnett, 95, of Idamay, departed Thursday (May 19, 2016) at her residence.
Loraine was born Feb. 11, 1921, the daughter of the late James Russell Martin and Maude Nay Martin.
Anita Ruth Sandy, 72, of Enterprise, passed away at 12:40 a.m. Friday (May 13, 2016) at her residence following a brief illness.
Donald R. Wilson, 78, of Farmington, passed away Monday (May 2, 2016) at his residence.
John Paul Anderson, 78, of Tarpon Springs, Florida, formerly of Francis Mines, passed away Thursday (April 7, 2016) in Tarpon Springs.


Peanut Butter flavor is extremely attractive to mice!
SOLVE YOUR RAT PROBLEMS TODAY!
Catchmaster Goldstick Fly Traps 962 (24-inch) or 912 (12-inch) when available!
These traps do all that they say they will do. I have caught snakes, mice and scorpions on them. Too bad I didn't have a camera then to show you. I just wish I could find them at WalMart agin.
my mom marie had my recieved them from my brother who is a carpenter and knows about these gadgets and as we were cleaning for the winter we found them .he had placed them in certain places of interest to the inhabitants that thought they where at the ritz. work great bought enough for both our homes. thanx your site is on my fav. list.


text:
SNP claims Theresa May doesn't want live TV debates because she'd LOSE to Sturgeon
THERESA MAY ruled out TV debates during the General Election campaign because she knows Nicola Sturgeon would beat her, an SNP lawmaker has claimed.
By Lizzie Stromme
PUBLISHED: 12:39, Wed, Apr 19, 2017 | UPDATED: 15:41, Wed, Apr 19, 2017
John Nicholson took a swipe at the PM after she announced yesterday she would seek Parliament's approval to have a General Election on June 8.
Speaking to talkRADIO he suggested Mrs May was dodging the live TV debates because it could post the Conservative Party their leading in the polls.
Mr Nicholson said: "From her perspective, she is so far ahead in the polls what's the point of risking anything?
"Why put yourself in a situation where something unexpected might happen?
Nicola Sturgeon would win in a live TV debate against Theresa May, it was claimed
McDonnell ROASTED for dodging questions about Labour's Brexit stance
Labour doesn't have enough support to win general election MP admits
"I watch her in the Commons, she's not a great debater, she's not that quick on her feet.
"She can handle Jeremy Corbyn because he's even worse but I don't think she'd do well against the First Minister - and she knows that."
Theresa May called for a snap election to be held on June 8 to secure her position heading into exit talks with the European Union.
According to the latest YouGov poll, the Conservatives would win 44 per cent of the vote - almost double Labour's dwindling 23 per cent.
The astonishing figure could mean Mrs May could see her win the powerful Tory majority in post-war history.
I don't think she'd do well against the First Minister - and she knows that
No Tory party in Government has been so far ahead in the polls this close to a General Election – and, if the figures translated into votes, the result would eclipse even Margaret Thatcher's famous post-Falklands victory in 1983, which saw the Tories secure 397 seats.
Meanwhile Tim Farron trailed behind Labour on 12 per cent, with Paul Nuttall of Ukip on just ten per cent.
Harry Carr, Sky's data analyst, said: "It's looking really quite gloomy for Jeremy Corbyn and really quite rosy for Theresa May.
"This is a low poll for Jeremy Corbyn but it is not really out of kilter with what the averages are saying."
Live from 10 Downing Street: Theresa May calls snap general election
Theresa May has made the announcement to call for an early general election to be held on June 8 2017
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to the media outside 10 Downing Street, in central London
He added that "for Jeremy Corbyn, for Labour, this would be a blood bath for this to come out."
Ms Sturgeon, however, appeared to brush off the predictions of a Tory landslide as she claimed Mrs May's block on a second Scottish independence referendum will "crumble to dust" in the wake of another SNP election victory in Scotland.
At the last General Election, Ms Sturgeon's party secured 56 of Scotland's 59 seats at Westminster to turn the country into a near one-party state.
Addressing her MPs outside Parliament this morning, Ms Sturgeon accused Mrs May of putting her party's interests ahead of the national interest with her U-turn on calling an early election before 2020.
The First Minister said: "Today we state our clear intention, we intend to win this election in Scotland and for Scotland because now more than ever Scotland needs strong voices.
"Yesterday it became clear beyond any doubt that for Theresa May party comes before country.
"For months the Prime Minister has said a snap early general election was, in her view, the last thing the country needed.
"Now was not the time, she said, to be distracted from the job at hand. But yesterday she changed her mind not for the good of the country but for reasons of simple party advantage."
General election will give Theresa May Brexit mandate – David Davis
Theresa May Nicola Sturgeon Conservative Party Election 2017


The second most essential requirement is to choose a color that will bring the sort of adjust you want in your life. Door method features like protection against forced entry in the jamb, lockset & deadbolt locations are additional enticing. If your whole property has a classical appear to it and you go in for a door style which is far more modern in look, then however beautiful the door might be in itself, it would look odd in relation to your home. Created of strong metal, they'll improve the appear of your strong wooden front doors with out compromising the safety they give. It is for confident that these climate conditions have an effect on the front entry door the most.
If your door hinges will not separate or you can not remove the door hinge pin, I would recommend that you use some WD-40 or yet another metal cleaning lubricant and then attempt to pop the pan out of the hinge bracket, after the cleaning agent has soaked in for at least a couple of hours. At Rockdoor we think that every person ought to have the choice to add style, safety and energy efficiency to their residences and that is why we have developed three Rockdoor series', a door for each taste and every single spending budget!
Not enough thought is place in to the finer details, such as additional protection or hardware, leaving the door vulnerable to any potential troubles. Just as effective insulation and electronics will cut your living expenses, a door from our Ultimate series is an investment in the energy efficiency of your house. For example, components which make up a front door can range from wood to fiberglass to steel to vinyl.
The size of the door ought to be well balanced to the dwelling, not too little or oversized in proportion to the rest of the property. For doors which open internally, with normal hinges visible only from the inside, there is nevertheless the risk of having the door forced open and off of its hinges. Most directions are good, but doors facing North and particularly North-East are not auspicious.
As well as being appropriate for exterior doors, vinyl can be used for other doors about the property to create a uniform design and style for your property improvement project. Numerals can also be added to the door later on in most cases, even though some doors call for the screw holes to be specially made if the surface is too challenging for regular drills. If you decide on double glazed doors and you have a lot of glass in your front door then you can have patterned glass for extra privacy. Some wood doors are designed from a composite center covered with a wood veneer material.


The Local Service Award is awarded for displaying at the Local level a consistent and continuing involvement in Local leadership, professional development or long-term service to education or the teaching profession. It is awarded to active members by the Provincial Executive on the recommendation of a Local Executive.
Click here to view biographies for the 2013 Local Service Award Recipients.
To recognize the outstanding contribution of members who provided leadership and service at the Local level of the NSTU.
(d) Recipient must be an active member or newly retired (i.e. within two years following retirement).
(a) Candidates must be recommended by the Executive of the Local.
(b) The Local President must write a letter to the NSTU President seeking the approval of the Provincial Executive. The letter must outline why the member is deserving of this Local Service Award. The letter must be accompanied by a biographical description indicating the number of years of service in the teaching profession and with the Local, and any specific Local, Regional or Provincial involvement with the NSTU. The biographical description should be approximately 125 words in length (must not exceed 150 words) and will be used for publication purposes.
(c) Application letters with biographies (one per member) must be received by no later than one week prior to either the March or April meeting of the Provincial Executive. Applications may be forwarded earlier than the dates noted above.
(a) Local Service Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the NSTU Provincial Executive.
(b) The Provincial Executive member representing the Local(s) from which the names have been submitted will be responsible for notifying the President of the Local of the outcome of the decision of the Provincial Executive. [Note: Some Locals like to keep the Award a surprise, if possible, until the time the Award is to be received at Annual Council.] All notification to the individual is the sole responsibility of the Local Executive.
(a) The Local Service Award consists of a certificate and special pin which are given to recipients at NSTU Annual Council by the NSTU President on behalf of the Provincial Executive.
(b) The biographies of the recipients will be provided to Council delegates.
(c) All costs associated with the attendance at Annual Council of the recipients (accommodations, travel, etc.) are the responsibility of the Local unless the candidate is also a Council delegate.


Celebrate your vibrant life and stand out with the Candy Crush Collection. Get lost amidst this candy-colored paradise where glamour meets sophistication. This zippered clutch perfectly pairs Candy Crush's colorful, quilted, patent textiles with black dot printed ConsuelaCloth™. Each portfolio clutch is trimmed with all natural, dye-free leather that burnishes and molds to you over time, enhancing its beauty. Use the portfolio clutch to stash your tablet and small notebooks, or just as a haute punch to your look.


Sketching digitally is on the rise for many reasons - tablets and apps are becoming more powerful, making all sorts of truly mixed media options possible - watercolors on pastel, oil and ink washes - go beyond the limits of normal chemistry! The era of too-smooth, crude, synthetic-looking work is ending, making way for effects that can look wonderfully organic without the mess. This is an incredibly versatile medium that makes your bag lighter and is lightning fast to set up. Like learning any medium or tool however, it takes a little getting used to.
As digital sketching is still relatively new, we will begin with getting to know Procreate, the best art app in the iOS store. We'll look at gear options including styli, cases and stands. Whether you use the latest iPad Pro or earlier iPads, I'll show you how to set up your digital toolkit and customize the interface to your liking.
Digital workflows differ somewhat from traditional ones, and we will next go through some quick exercises that help you get to know Procreate and what it can do. Learn about working in layers, tweaking brushes and various process options for planning and executing your sketches.
With your new-found understanding of Procreate and its possibilities, we'll then go on location and apply what you've learned. I'll also show you what to do to prepare your files for print and show examples of printed work so you can see how digital work translates to paper.
and discover supplementary gear you can purchase to take digital sketching to the next level.
We'll begin the workshop indoors at The Manchester School of Art, as we explore the possibilities of Procreate on your iPads, then head up to the lovely rooftop terrace and get to the main event -sketching! Whether you're into drawing people, plants or places, there are subjects up there for everyone.
We will begin with an introduction to the possibilities of digital sketching, and the best equipment to use, including stylus options and additional helpful equipment.
A series of demonstrations and quick exercises will familiarize you with Procreate and its interface. You will then learn how to customize important settings, set up favorite tools for optimal use, see what effects are digitally possible, and learn to create a digital toolkit to suit your analog style.
You'll do a quick sketch while exploring your digital tools to ensure you're familiar enough with Procreate to sketch on location anywhere.
Apply what you've learned and sketch. I will go among participants to help and guide you, and we will end the session with a review of work, sharing and Q&A.


Walking down the isles of South Melbourne Market on our way to the food hall we were greeted by the sweet smell of baking pastry. The closer we got, the stronger the smell, until it was all consuming and we had to have a piece of what ever was cooking. It was at that point that we stumbled across the ever popular Agathe Patisserie.
The brainchild of French native Agathe Kerr, she has brought us authentic French pastries in both traditional and modern forms, particularly gaining recognition for her range of colourful croissants. Offering a mix of sweet and savoury pastries, fillings change on a regular basis however staples such as plain croissants are available on all market days. Having developed quite a following for her quality and inventive product, it's not uncommon to see queues outside her market stall with popular flavours quickly selling out.
Knowing how busy it can be on weekends, we visited midweek and were lucky enough to get our hands on a classic almond cream croissant as well as an almond and chocolate croissant. I say lucky because I popped by at 11am and there were still a fair few of each flavour available, but when I came back an hour later after completing my shopping, both flavours had sold out.
Once I sank my teeth into the almond croissant I immediately understood all of the hype. With each bite came the crunchy sound of the flaky pastry coming apart. It was a crispy parcel of rich buttery goodness. The light and flaky pastry encased the smooth almond cream, that was surprisingly subtle. The chocolate and almond version was just as good, only with an added level of richness, thanks to the generous chunks of dark chocolate.
Agathe is a little piece of France in Melbourne making a trip to the market that bit more enjoyable, just make sure you get in early.