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Fight On, a USC graduation
·11th May 2019
·George Somerville
·0 Comments
If you have been watching College football as long as I have you will almost certainly recall the day that Espn's College Gameday Live showed a feature about a little boy, aged 12 in Southern California who was about to lose his sight to cancer.
It was heart wrenching and tear jerking and when the feature finished the Director cut back to the live set where the crowd was silent and on set team were in tears. It was tragic.
That boy was Jake Olson and this week he graduated from the University of Southern California. Jake majored in Business Administration and was also a member of the USC Trojans football team as long snapper. A position he learned to play when he finally lost his sight in High School.
Jake Olson's story is far from tragic. It is one of the most uplifting and inspirational stories I have ever come across.
But lets turn the clock back. When I first saw that ESPN feature, Jake was 12 and at High School. He had already lost one eye to retinoblastoma when he was 10 months old. He was football mad and his team were the USC Trojans.
In 2009 Jake and his family received the news no family ever wants to hear – that his second eye would need to be removed due to the cancer. Jake's wish was that he got to see the Trojans in the flesh before that happen. In the month leading up to the procedure, Jake met with then Trojan's Head Coach Pete Carroll and the Team. Such was Jake's spirit and personality the team took to him straight away. Jake became a regular and was the adopted 54th man of the Trojan's that season. He attended practices and games throughout the season. The day before Jake had his procedure, his last day with any sight, he spent the day, a hugely emotional one with Pete Carroll and the team. Their bond remains strong today.
Fast forward some years and Jake Olsen graduated from Orange Lutheran High School. He was college bound. When he was accepted to attend the University of Southern California his full circle was almost complete. Almost.
Having learned how to long snap at Orange Lutheran, Jake decided to walk on at USC. Yes, at USC, one of the largest football programmes in the country.
In 2015 Jake Olson completed his first snap as a footballer in College football. The game was shown live on air and at the time ex USC coach Pete Carroll said
"that was an incredible moment. I'm so glad that (USC) Coach (Clay) Helton figured out a way to create the opportunity for Jake to show what he could do. This is just an extraordinary young man. Jake has done stuff throughout his life. From the time he was 10 years old, he has been doing remarkable things—he wrote his first book at 10—and onward. For a guy to go out there and play in a college football game, snap a ball, then kick the extra point and make it, that's just something, that's just something about Jake. Jake's a huge story. He's one for all of us about courage and character and grit and vision and special qualities that few people would be able to hold onto.
He's going to be a big factor. We're all going to see him do a lot of stuff in this world. There's nothing holding Jake back. I was so excited to see it, I couldn't stop crying. It was thrilling. It was good to see a Trojan win too, but it was really something."
On Thursday of last week Jake Olson graduated from USC. As did his guide dog Quebec. What the future holds for Jake Olsen? His future is bright, it is what he will make of it. This is a young man who personifies the Trojan's motto – Fight On. We could all learn much from his positive attitude and perseverance.
If you haven't watched the ESPN E:60 feature "Fight On", I urge you to.
#FightOn
Photo credits : CNN.com, USCTrojans.com, NCAA.com, Marshall.USC.EDU
#espn·#jakeolson·#petecarroll·#USC·#uscfootball·#USCTrojans·collegegameday


Fairways at Royal Oak allows up to two pets per apartment. There is no weight limit, we do have a breed restriction list. Any aggressive breed is not accepted; Doberman, Pit-Bull, Chow, Rottweiler. We charge a $300 Non-refundable pet fee for one pet, $400 for two. Pet rent is $20 per month for one pet, $30 per month for two.


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Grand jury indicts 75 in Carroll
HILLSVILLE — A Carroll County Circuit Court grand jury certified a total of 120 indictments issued to 75 individuals last week.
An indictment is a formal charge, and those charged are considered innocent until and if they are convicted.
The indictments included:
• Steven Michael Akers, 27, of Austinville; possession of a Schedule II drug (methamphetamine);
Grayson officer running for Wythe sheriff
WYTHEVILLE — Grayson County Sheriff's Office Investigative Sgt. Doug Carner is retiring from the Grayson County Sheriff's Office to run for the office of sheriff in Wythe County.
In a recent news release, Carner described law enforcement as more of a calling than a career.
He said that while he is a conservative Christian, he is running as an independent candidate because "citizens deserve fair and impartial enforcement of our laws."
Longest time in history without federal minimum wage increase
Holly Sklar is the CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a national network of business owners and executives who believe a fair minimum wage makes good business sense.
There are a lot of records that would be great to break. This isn't one of them: June 16 marked the longest period in history without an increase since the federal minimum wage was established in 1938.
Clinic chosen for telehealth program
LAUREL FORK – Tri-Area Community Health Center in Laurel Fork has been selected by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to host a Connected Care pilot program that will support telehealth for low-income Americans living in rural areas, including health care services to veterans.
The clinic was the stage for a press conference on Wednesday with FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, representatives from Gov. Ralph Northam's office and local officials to announce the $100 million project.
Locals among 191 indicted in meth bust
A Patrick County special grand jury has returned more than 650 indictments on 191 individuals, including a number from Carroll County.
In a news release, Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith said the indictments were the result of a large-scale undercover narcotics operation, led by his office, that spanned nearly two years.
The grand jury convened on June 6 and 7 to certify formal charges, most of which are for distribution of methamphetamine and heroin, along with several firearms charges related to drug distribution.
Galax receives nearly $1 million in grants
The City of Galax has received three grant awards totaling approximately $500,000, according to a news release from the city.
Mount Rogers Planning District Commission awarded $100,000 for the construction of water and wastewater infrastructure in the Galax Bottom Area Neighborhood Eastview Revitalization project, taking place near Meadow and Eastview streets. This grant will be matched to other state grant funds received from the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Reader's Hotline 6/19/19
Pothole report
When is the City of Galax going to repair the road where Fox Run Drive and Prospect Drive meet? It has been torn up since last winter and it has huge potholes and it has to be totally repaired.
Tax alternatives
GMS adds resource officer
A state grant will pay for a new resource officer at Galax Middle School, the school system announced this week.
The Galax Police Department has two SROs in place now — Vickie Taylor at Galax High School and Fred Bobbitt at Galax Elementary.
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is providing a $26,750 grant to establish a part-time school resource officer (SRO) at the middle school.
Friends raise money for crash victim's daughters
The staff of Creek Bottom Brewing Company in Galax is raising money to help the children of the late Ashley Lanier, according to Caci Higgins, one of Lanier's former coworkers.
Anyone who would like to donate can do so at the GoFundMe link listed below; at the Ashley Lanier Fund set up by Creek Bottom Brewing, at any Skyline National Bank location; at both Creek Bottom Brewing locations in Galax and at the Go with the Flow Music & Brewfest in Fries this Saturday.
O'Quinn wins 5th District nomination
In the Republican primary on June 11, Israel O'Quinn won the party's nomination to seek a fifth two-year term as the 5th District representative in the Virginia House of Delegates.
O'Quinn won 77.2% of the votes, defeating challenger Michael "Oz" Osborne, who received 22.7%. In total votes, the incumbent received 2,450 and Osborne received 721.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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The Tories won't be spared from the cleansing fire of Brexit
Brexit thus far has revealed several fault lines in British politics, particularly how much the metropolitan remainer set actively despises their fellow citizens and holds the country in contempt for not being the place they imagined it was from inside their cosy self-satisfied bubble. I have taken some considerable pleasure in watching them face defeat after defeat of their own making. They could have leveraged a softer Brexit but instead dug their heels in, played double or quits, and now they walk away with nothing having put Johnson in Number Ten.
This to me, though, is only half the job. What will be perhaps more delicious is the fallout when Johnson's mishandling of Brexit blows up in the face of Tories. The Tories have always had one fatal weakness and that's a galactic arrogance. When they're convinced they're right they can't be told anything. There is no creature on earth less teachable than a Tory drunk on their own self-regard. They have swept aside any and all expertise in favour of cranks who sing their favourite tunes. They are pathologically incapable of treating Brexit with the seriousness it deserves because they've got high on their own supply of propaganda.
The short of it is that regulatory harmonisation is a massive facilitator of commerce, as are the multiple tiers of intergovernmental cooperation built into the treaties. The cut and run "trade deal" the Tories have in mind comes nowhere close to replacing the single market, and still they can't assimilate the idea that there is a galaxy of trade instruments expanding far beyond matters of tariffs and quotas. As much as the Tories are about to blunder into an ambush they have no serious contingency ideas as to how to mitigate the loss of trade because they don't understand why there will be a loss of trade. They have no idea how approach the issues either with the EU or anyone else.
Because this is a tribal disease and they listen to no one outside their clan, branding any dissenting voices as disloyal, there is no means of self correction. Warnings fall on deaf ears. The product of this is a party of sycophants led by an oaf with the attention span of a hamster let loose with single most important trade relationship we have, capable of wrecking thirty years of progress in trade liberalisation. There is no way this ends well for the British economy.
So far Brexit has destroyed pretty much it has touched, and not before time. It has burned through two parliaments now, shattering the Labour party and tipping the metropolitan luvvie class over the edge. As wonderful as that is, there is no reason to believe the Tories are immune from its deathly touch. In a year or so that galactic Tory arrogance will be repaid in spades. The Tory party may look united now but when the depth of Johnson's ineptitude becomes impossible to avoid and the consequences visited on ordinary people, it won't take very long for them to start fighting like rats in a sack. Johnson's superficial charms will wear thin when the bottom falls out of the Tory Brexit delusion.
I had hoped for an amicable reasoned departure from the EU but if Brexit just end up being a nihilistic arson attack on British politics then that's fine too since there's nothing about it worth saving. When Brexit immolates the empty husk of the Tory party that's when I'll be celebrating. Then we can get to work on salvaging something from the mess.
Brexit trench warfare isn't over
Britain is at the mercy of Tory groupthink
The Brexit bubble will eventually burst
The Tories won't be spared from the cleansing fire...
Northern towns will attend to themselves. It's the...
A failure of media
Drop the "working class" baloney
A dangerous complacency
The battle for Britain is only just beginning.
And the nation roared... "Never Corbyn"
Brexit: Hell on wheels
British politics has become an ideas desert
Shifting battlegrounds


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Community woodland's progress welcomed
The significant progress made at Gifford community woodland has been welcomed by Martin Whitfield MSP, following a meeting with the group's Chair, Roo Hardy, and Project Manager, Nev Kilkenny.
The community woodland, which is made up of Speedy and Fawn Woods at the end of Station Road in Gifford extends to 22 hectares (55 acres). They were purchased by Gifford Community Land Company (GCLC) in 2017 on behalf of the local community.
Mr Whitfield had visited the woods in the past but was highly impressed by the extensive developments that have occurred since his last visit. These have included the continued maintenance of the all-access pathways through the woods, further effort to clear rhododendrons, improved drainage, including the establishment of a new pond, and a comprehensive programme of events and activities in the woodland.
Substantial work has also been undertaken to enhance the group's consultation and engagement with local people on the running and development of the woods for the benefit of the local community. Mr Whitfield was joined on the visit by local ward councillor, Shamin Akhtar.
Speaking after the visit, Martin Whitfield MSP said:
"I was really pleased to visit Gifford Community Woodland again and catch up on the significant progress has been made on the aim of ensuring the sustainability of the woodland as an important asset for future generations.
"The various activities and improvements that have been made over the last few years are very clear when you visit the woods. The work that has been undertaken has contributed to further cementing the woodland's crucial place in the village and in wider action on sustainability.
"I'm particularly impressed with the way the project has sought to engage with the community, helping to ensure a high level of support and involvement from local people. I commend Roo, Nev and everyone else involved in the woodland on their collective efforts and wish them continued success."


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La zlabia, zlebia o zalabia (de l') és un dolç de la cuina oriental d'origen molt antic.

Descripció
Es tracta d'un pastisset de massa lleugera, amb forma d'espiral o de bretzel, fregit i banyat en un xarop aromatitzant. Normalment és d'un color que va del groc al taronja fosc. És lleugerament cruixent i molt dolç i tant es pot menjar fred com calent.

Els ingredients típics de la massa són farina de blat refinada, rent i iogurt. Normalment s'aromatitza amb cardamom, safrà i aigua de roses.

Variants
Al Magrib la zlabia es prepara sobretot a Algèria, on n'hi ha una variant especial a Boufarik, però aquest dolç és comú també al Marroc i a Tunísia, on la versió local de la ciutat de Béja es coneix amb el nom de mkharek. És especialment popular durant el mes del ramadà, encara que normalment aquests dolços es troben tot l'any. Era també un dolç molt apreciat per la població jueva que va ser expulsada d'Algèria, que actualment té un lloc web amb aquest nom.

Més a l'est, també se'n troba a l'Iran, on rep el nom de zulbía, i a l'Índia i el Pakistan, on es coneix com a jalebi o zalebi (; ) i com a jilapi (bengalí: ).

Referències

Enllaços externs

 Recepta .

Dolços
Gastronomia del Magrib
Gastronomia de l'Índia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
MATT POWER
Lungs and Limbs
"If you're a fan of electronic-pop music, then you've got to hear Lungs and Limbs."
-SF WEEKLY
Lungs and Limbs is an alt pop band from the San Francisco Bay Area. Known for their thick, hip-hop-and-80's-inspired beats, cowboy guitar licks and hook-laden vocals, the quartet's debut EP Lifelike (2015) garnered positive press from critics in the Bay Area, Boston, LA, Germany and beyond. "Less Ordinary" the first single off their upcoming sophomore EP BIG BANG premiered June 9, 2016 on SF Weekly. Lungs and Limbs write and record out of an old horse stable the band converted into a studio in Occidental Ca.
They are: Karina Rousseau (vocals, synth), Nick Tudor (guitar), Chris Casey (bass), Matt Power(drums).
LIFELIKE EP Available Here!
75a5f0_3985bad52ebe47f2911fba9947613a78
train1.jpg
chargedposter.jpg
© 2018 by Matt Power


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Home COMMUNITY B.R.O. Group Rallies Against Gender-based Violence
B.R.O. Group Rallies Against Gender-based Violence
By Dr. Dhanpaul Narine
The funeral of Andrea Bharatt pulled at the heartstrings of a nation. There were calls for action to stop the mounting crime wave in Trinidad and Tobago. Andrea's death was senseless. It left many in Trinidad asking questions about themselves, as well as the political establishment, that promised security at election time, but has failed abysmally to protect its citizens.
Ashanti Riley was cited as another recent senseless murder in Trinidad, with the public calling for justice and an end to violence against women. A high crime rate is not unique to Trinidad and Tobago. There are other countries in the Caribbean in which crime is out of control, notably Guyana, and Jamaica. The majority of victims are women. They seldom have access to the criminal justice system, and as a result, suffer silently.
The United Nations estimates that 137 women are killed by a member of the family every day. The statistics show that those who seek help do so from family members, rather than from the established institutions such as the police, or health services. Many countries subscribe to free education for girls, but fail to tackle school related gender-based violence, that has become a major obstacle to their education. Violence against women is not only confined to the developing world. In Europe, one in ten women has experienced cyber-bullying with the high risk being among the 18 to 29 age group.
South Queens Women's March, led by Aminta Kilawan Narine, calls for an end to gender-based violence.
Women find themselves as the victims of violence in the highest levels of decision-making. Women parliamentarians, in a number of countries, report that they have experienced psychological violence that include humiliating sexual images or references to their bodies. When we take into account female genital mutilation, forced sexual contact, harassment at the workplace, early marriages and pregnancies, we find that the policies needed to protect women are long overdue.
It is this call for justice that an advocacy group known as B.R.O. or Brothers Reach Out, held a rally to lend support to the women's cause, and to advocate for an end to all forms of gender-based violence.
The group was founded by Vijay Ramjattan, who hails originally from Trinidad and Tobago. A number of persons braved the freezing weather and turned up in Queens, New York, to make their voices heard. Chitra Singh began with a chant for peace, and this was followed by Vijay Ramjattan, who also represented the United Madrassi Association. Mr. Ramjattan said that he decided to set up the B.R.O. group so that men can join together to support women. It also gave a platform to men to discuss their problems.
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar hands over a Citation to Vijay Ramjattan, president of B.R.O. (Brother's Reach Out group)
A statement by Vish and Ravi condemned the deaths of Andrea Bharatt and Ashanti Riley and a call was made for an end to all forms of gender-based violence. A Citation was presented by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar to the group. She said that, 'those who commit violence against women should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' She will continue to advocate for support services for women. She asked for people to channel their 'shakti' and slay the inner demons so that women could be treated with respect.
Aminta Kilawan Narine from South Queens Women's March said that we should hold men accountable. 'We are exhausted attending vigils. Enough is Enough. We need men to respect women. We need gender-based violence to stop.' Imam Safraz Bacchus, from the Masjid-al-Abidin, said that women's voices should be backed up by men, and he quoted verses from the Quran to show that women are exalted. Shivana Jorawar, from Jahaji Sisters, said everyone should speak out. Victims Donna Dojoy, Stacy Singh, and others, left a legacy that would not be forgotten, and it was the duty of the community to keep up the fight and advocate for change.
Mohamed Q. Amin from Caribbean Equality Project said, 'Caribbean LGBTQ immigrants have always been essential. We are not disposable members of the Caribbean communities. We deserve to co-exist and access services without fear of violence and discrimination. We deserve solidarity and not performativity and tokenization. We deserve love and family support. We deserve to live. We deserve justice. We deserve equity and liberation.'
Mohamed Q, Amin, of the Caribbean Equality Project, says that members of the LGBTQ community deserve to live free from violence.
The final speaker was educator Dr. Dhanpaul Narine of Queens Book Fair Inc. He thanked the B.R.O group for its initiative. He also highlighted the role of Rohan Narine who made it possible, in this pandemic, for more than a million masks to be given out to every community in the City, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Rohan was described as the 'million mask man' a job that he takes seriously, on behalf of the Mayor of New York City.
Dr. Narine also framed a resolution calling on the governments of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and India, in the first instance, to uphold the rights of women and to respect gender equality.
The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the position or policy of the THE WEST INDIAN.
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Impossible Until it Happens
In Pandemic
Some of the best aphorisms are misquotes of misquotes, but end up popular because they are honed down to as few simple words as can be. One such aphorism seems fitting in this moment in time, or at least a variation on the theme.
Nelson Mandela, sort of, see quoteinvestigator.com/2016/01/05/done
Three months ago, a global pandemic was "impossible". It was considered a scare tactic by politicians and others who don't read history, who dismiss science, and who don't understand statistics. The impossible of yesterday is the front page news story of today.
Friday, March 13th. Italy is closed. Parts of Spain are closed. New Rochelle, NY is closed. Multiple states have declared emergencies. Schools are closed in more than a half dozen U.S. states. Europeans are no longer allowed to enter the United States. The President this morning declared a National Emergency. And let's not forget, a day or two ago the WHO announced there is a global pandemic.
Now that all but the most ignorant people believe this is real and serious, what comes next? Over on Quora earlier in the week I answered the question "When does the COVID-19 end?.
What does the end look like? Today the CDC reported four potential scenarios for the epidemic in the U.S.:
New York Times, March 13, 2020
Between 160 million and 214 million people in the U.S. could be infected over the course of the epidemic, according to one projection. That could last months or even over a year, with infections concentrated in shorter periods, staggered across time in different communities, experts said. As many as 200,000 to 1.7 million people could die.
CDC, March 13, 2020
It's too soon to try and do the same projections globally. Big, scary numbers are no longer impossible. They will happen.
Meanwhile, the other big question is "What do we surely know?". I answered that question over on Quora too.
Seattle Times, March 13, 2020
Some local statistics to add to what we know. Ignore the number of cases. We know there is vastly insufficient testing in the whole U.S. Instead, trust that every critically ill person has been tested, and thus the reported mortality rate of over 5% is currently accurate. That is bad, but it is dropping as more cases are found.
Lastly, note how age and infection rate are highly correlated. This isn't what influenza looks like. That disease infects both the young and the old. The only (relatively) safe age range seems to be under 20, but the evidence is mounting that the young do catch this disease and to spread it to others, they just don't show any symptoms.
For the best daily update on the pandemic, subscribe to Dr. John's Campbell's YouTube channel:
More in this series:
Post #1: The 2020 Epidemic: Coronavirus
Post #2: Seattle, we have a (Covid-19) Problem
Post #3: Just Three (Viral) Weeks Ago
Post #4: Isolated in Seattle
Post #5: Impossible Until it Happens
Post #6: What a mild (and moderate) case of Covid-19 feels like
The rest in #Pandemic
"How stupid can one be?"
Sitting in my inbox today was an email whose subject asked "How stupid can one be?" The email seemed to answer the question itself. If interested in supporting me, I appreciate you forwarding this email along to help bypass the censorship of conservative/capitalist reports & opinions. With 100,000 followers on board, my team and I are committed to start changing the narrative in...
What have we learned 9 months later (Pandemic)
Nine months ago this week I was recovering from what seemed to be a mild case of the newly named Covid-19. What have we learned since then, what we've failed to learn, and what does the end game of this pandemic hold in store? What we learned Exponential growth is not intuitive. The 70 national daily cases looked troublesome back on March 9th. Today, 70 cases in a single city would be...
Time Traveling and Virtual Conferences
In Conferences, In the news, Pandemic
Last month I attended my first conference held in a timezone from the other side of the globe. That was a one day event, and an interesting experiment in timezone travel and virtual jet lag. This month the experiment grows, as I'm attending Sankalp Global, a week-long virtual conference, with the programming running morning through afternoon in India Standard Time and East Africa Time. That...
Time(zone) Travel and Virtual Jet Lag
Normally I'd be flying around the world to attend a handful of conferences between the end of summer and end of the year. Here in 2020, we instead get the global, online, virtual conferences. Earlier this week I attended The Future Summit, hosted annually by the Segal Family Foundation. Lovely event. Only trouble was that it was scheduled for East Africa Time, GMT+3, and I live in Pacific...
(A solution to) Zoom Fatigue
In Advice, Pandemic
Spending too many hours per day on Zoom? Finding Zoom calls far more draining than phone-based conference calls and face-to-face meetings? Yes and yes for me, and I've been experimenting to try and figure out how to overcome Zoom Fatigue. Over the summer (and before the unbreathable smokey air showed up), I took pleasure in any meeting that was by phone rather than Zoom, as that let me get...
By "Luni" 10 months ago
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Q: CoreAnimation & Cocos2D - Which one should I go with? So I am about to start a project for an application (Not a game application) that requires a lot of animation. For example a lot of pie and bar charts that animate on the screen.
If I use cocos2d am I still able to use UI elements such as UITableView, UIButton, UISegmentedControl, etc? Can you combine Cocos2d with normal iOS UI Elements on the same view?
Which one is better for creating simple animations?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using each for a non-game project?

A: There is the ability to combine Cocos2d and UIKit, but I don't know to what extent you can take it. Check out this tutorial on combining them: http://www.raywenderlich.com/4817/how-to-integrate-cocos2d-and-uikit
I'm fairly new to iOS programming and did the same research you are currently doing for my project which is very animation heavy, but not a game. I found much more information, forums and tutorials on doing animations with Cocos2d than I did for Core Animation. Not to say it's not out there, or that 1 is necessarily better than the other for what you're trying to accomplish, just my 2 cents and several weeks of Googling.

A: Check out Core Plot maybe you can use that to build your app.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Q: rectangle collision detection xna Hi everyone I've recently started to make my own platform game, I've managed to create the map using a 2d array and have also created my player with movement.
I'm now stuck on how to approach the rectangle collision side any help is greatly appreciated.
Here is how I have created my map and now I just need to figure out how to approach the collision.
    List<Texture2D> tileTextures = new List<Texture2D>();
    private const int tileWidth = 64;
    private const int tileHeight = 64;

    public void Draw(SpriteBatch spriteBatch, Camera camera)
    {
        int tileMapWidth = tileMap.GetLength(1);
        int tileMapHeight = tileMap.GetLength(0);

        for (int x = 0; x < tileMapWidth; x++)
        {
            for (int y = 0; y < tileMapHeight; y++)
            {
                int textureIndex = tileMap[y, x];
                Texture2D texture = tileTextures[textureIndex];

                spriteBatch.Draw(
                    texture,
                    new Rectangle(x * tileWidth - (int)camera.cameraPosition.X,
                        y * tileHeight - (int)camera.cameraPosition.Y,
                        tileWidth,
                        tileHeight),
                    Color.White);
            }
        }
    }

A: You can use the Rectangle of your object and use it's Intersect method to check wheter they have collided or not.
You can find a really simple example of how to check rectangle collisions on my blog, where the user clicks over an enemy to destroy it:
if (mouseState.LeftButton == ButtonState.Pressed)
{
   for (int index = this.enemies.Count - 1; index >= 0; index--)
   {
       if (this.enemies[index].Intersects(
              new Rectangle((int)this.mouseCoordinates.X,
                            (int)this.mouseCoordinates.Y,
                            this.mouseTexture.Width,
                            this.mouseTexture.Height)))
       {
            this.enemies.RemoveAt(index);
       }
    }
 }

A: What @Nahuel Ianni said is great for detecting collision. Now, you didn't specify what you need collision for, and I can see that you will most likely need it for destroying enemies and bullets, which @Nahuel Ianni explained wery well, but I think you'll also need collision between player(s) and walls.
Shaun Spalding made a great point in this tutorial (for GameMaker) on how to detect and resolve collision in a platformer, which can also used in birds-eye-view game. In short, in his tutorial he explains you how you should get the nextRectangle* of your player and check if its colliding any walls, and if it is, just move the player right next to that wall. This way you won't see player(s) inside a wall for a frame / player(s) won't be stuck in walls.
*nextRectangle stands for the Rectangle (body) of your player, moved by the speed/force (whatever logic works for you). That's the body in the next frame. So you can say that you'll need to look into the future of your gameflow to get the best result for collision (and avoid players inside walls).

A: Each Object that you want to check for collisions should have a Rectangle in it. That way, you can do
bool isHit=obj1.Rect.Intersects(obj2.Rect);


1. In Satan's world, the broad and easy path is the one that leads to destruction.
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it" (Matthew 7:13).
2. Just because something seems right, that doesn't mean it is.
3. Our natural tendency is to seek the smooth and easy things.
"Who say to the seers, 'Do not see,' and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits'" (Isaiah 30:10).
For information about choosing the hard but better way, see "Christianity Isn't for Wimps."


Are you spending your funding on product development?
At the latest Entrepreneurship 101 lecture on Financial Planning, MaRS Advisor Kerri Golden answers frequently asked questions and examines the financial plans of both successful and failed companies – see how yours compares.
In the video and presentation, Kerri shows you how. She also refers to Alexander Osterwalder's Simple Business Model Canvas. Look it up: you need a business model before you even start on your financial plan.
To learn more, check out the video and articles below.
Also at Entrepreneurship 101 this week, Suresh Madan President of TiEQuest Toronto reminded interested applicant that the submission deadline for Canada's largest business venture plan competition is fast approaching: January 31, 2011.
Entrepreneurship 101 2010/11 – Financial Planning from MaRS Discovery District on Vimeo.


text:
The Dixie Hummingbirds announce plans for their 90th anniversary celebration
Bruce Warren August 27, 2018 Blog, Home Row 1, Read
The Dixie Hummingbirds are about to celebrate their 90th anniversary, and today at a press conference at the African American Museum in Philadelphia announced a yearlong celebration of live concerts, a reissue of their 2011 album, Gospel Praise Songs – Powered by Gospel, a number of celebratory and tribute events, and a 2019 United States touring stage production, From Streetlights to Spotlight. The year long celebration, called "The Magnificent Flight of the Dixie Humminbirds," was announced by Ira Tucker Jr., the leader of the Dixies, whose father Ira Tucker, Sr., became the group's lead singer in 1938. The year long celebration begins Wednesday, August 29th when the Dixie Hummingbirds perform a live concert from World Cafe Live in Philadelphia as part of the Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul project. The show will be webcast live on this site below, and on WXPN via VuHaus.
Formed in 1928 in Greenville, South Carolina, the Dixie Hummingbirds made their recording debut in 1939 on Decca Records. In 1942 they relocated to Philadelphia, where they have since become one of gospel music's most important and significant groups. When they moved to Philadelphia, founding member James B. Davis bought a house at 23rd and Girard Avenue, used it as a rehearsal space, and in 2017 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia commemorated it with a historical marker.
Ira Tucker Jr., | Dixie Hummingbirds press conference at African American Museum
Speaking at the press conference on "behalf of every man that ever wore a uniform of the Dixie Hummingbirds," Ira Tucker Jr., was upbeat about the group's place in gospel music and the upcoming celebration, however was concerned about the disappearance of the music. Urging folks to keep the music alive, he said: "We are about to lose a genre of music because gospel music – at least traditional gospel music – doesn't get any airplay. They don't pick our songs to do commercials, but they did for one – and that was a choir song, "How You Gonna Play The Rent?" What we're hoping is that with our 90th anniversary is you to tell our story." That story, said Tucker, includes what it was like driving through the South with six men in a big Cadillac and "enduring all types of racism," and how with gospel they overcame the hardships, of how it built community and how it "brought us closer to who we are and what we do."
Tucker continued: "Traditional gospel music is not just something that people sit around for years and just clap their hands and enjoy. This music has meaning as a message of spirit and we need you to tell it. We need you to tell how in 1928 when Mr. Davis started the Dixie Hummingbirds that he he did have a clue that they would last as long. He said that all they wanted to do was just to try to make a living and they stayed with that and as different members of the group left, ohers replaced them. They came in with the same feeling and with the same drive and that's what kept the group going for all of these years. That's what keeps us going."
Joining the press conference by phone where he's performing in Atlantic City was the legendary Stevie Wonder. Reminiscing about how he used to listen to gospel radio in Detroit on WJLB where he first heard the Hummingbirds, Wonder praised the group for being able to "sustain the message of God's music" for so many wonderful years. Wonder called in to sing their praises and to thank them for their music and for working with them over the years, specifically performing with the group and Paul Simon on Simon's "Loves Me Like A Rock" a number of times. He apologized for not being at the conference in person, however hailed the band's gift of song. "The gift of music is the gift of praise," said Wonder.
On hand to make comments at the news conference were WXPN General Manager Roger LaMay who said that while the Hummingbirds stood on their own as gospel giants, LaMay quoted Dixie Hummingbirds biographer Jerry Zolten and discussed how they were influential on secular bands like The Temptations. A mural of the Hummingbirds on Dixie Hummingbirds Way was created in collaboration with WXPN and Mural Arts Philadelphia was created as a testimony to the band. Cathy Harris, Mural Arts Philadelphia's director of community murals, was also on hand and spoke about the band's importance.
The current lineup of the Dixie Hummingbords is: Ira Tucker Jr., Carlton Lewis III, Lyndon Baines Jones, Torrey Nettles, Troy Smith, and Roy Smith.
This article was written for WXPN'S GOSPEL ROOTS OF ROCK AND SOUL. GOSPEL ROOTS OF ROCK AND SOUL has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
Dixie Hummingbirds
Copyright 2018 | WXPN-FM / The Trustees of The University of Pennsylvania, All Rights Reserved


Tom Sherbourne, a WWI veteran, returns to his homeland, Australia and takes a job as a lighthouse keeper at Janus Rock, an island off the southwest coast of Australia. Though Tom is able to take shore leave very sporadically, every couple of years, he goes through a whirlwind courtship and weds young Isabel Graysmark. The marital spark burned brightly but fate dealt Izzy a cruel blow, not once, not twice, but three times. Two miscarriages and a stillbirth. Somehow Izzy survived and Tom encouraged her in every possible way as they lived their isolated life on the island.
When a dinghy is washed ashore on the island, the couple's lives are changed dramatically. Tom finds two bodies in the dinghy, an adult male, dead and an infant girl, miraculously alive.
The couple raise the child as if she is their own but within a couple of years, Tom and Izzy learn who the child's biological mother and now the stage is set for a significant moral question: should the child be torn away from the loving step mother who is the only mother she has ever known and returned to her real mother ?
Izzy has no difficulty with the question, Lucy is her daughter! Tom, whose moral compass has been honed by his brutal war experience, is polarized by the dilemma which he faces: return the child to its rightful mother and crush his wife's heart or keep the child and reject that she belongs with her real mother.
The moral question is a universally popular theme used by many authors and plotted into many movies. Ben Affleck's directorial debut film, Gone Baby Gone poses a very similar dilemma. Should a child now living with good step parents in a loving home be prevented from being returned to her rightful mother by the court system. The biological mother is portrayed as a drug using, drug dealing addict who seems to care little about her own daughter's welfare though she claims love for the child and that she should be returned to her legitimate mother. Again, the husband is the one caught on the horns of the moral dilemma. The movie's ending is less palpable than the one of the book.
M.L. Stedman's debut novel is based on the author's native Australia, years of working as a lawyer in London, England and exhaustive research at the British Library, the national library of the United Kingdom. Stedman scratched her writing itch by finding a writing tutor who helped her develop her budding career as a writer.
Stedman's research went beyond the library stacks. She actually visited lighthouses and researched logbooks and correspondence of lightkeepers of the era in which her story is set.
One would think setting a story with just two people on a isolated island might be very limiting as to scope of material, but Stedman keeps her plot developing with descriptions about the imaginary island and the ever deeper love the couple has for their step daughter. It becames an endearing and warming facet of the book as the step parents raise their daughter as if their island seems actually very unlimited in wonder and beauty even though it is isolated from society and people of the mainland.
Stedman manipulates her readers well. The real mother, Hannah is made less attractive for the return of the daughter because of her marriage to an Austrian, who all the townspeople see as being one of the Teutonic enemy. Even Hannah's wealthy father who wishes his daughter to wed, opposes and even disowns Hannah for years when she chose who she did. Her husband is far from a German villain as pictured by the bigoted minds of the town and is portrayed as a gentle caring sort even when tested by taunting and bullying by the villagers.
After one harrowing incident of violent assault, Hannah's husband likely sought refuge with his infant daughter in a dinghy in the town's harbor. Carried out to see by the tides, we never learn how he died and yet, the infant survived.
The suspense and tension are developed well by the author when the true identity of the child is uncovered and Tom Sherbourne is jailed as a kidnapper. As the impending trial develops the tension, the reader is constantly reminded of the moral question as to who should be the mother of the child.
One cannot help but sympathize with Izzy, the loving step mother who has lost three babies before fate gave her another. She devotes her heart and soul to her stepdaughter but again the moral question arises. Hannah is the real mother. She too is portrayed as a caring and loving woman but begins to have doubts whether restoring her daughter to her real mother is possible or should be done. Again, the author opens the door to new possibilities with manipulated rationalization.
This book as polished and well written. The story is plausible and believable with characters who are charismatic and personable and it unfolds in a way that a reader wants to hear more, read more. The story becomes captivating pulling the reader along more deeply into the plot, and making the characters more colourful and attractive page after page.
On the surface, the story seems very simple and straightforward: couple finds lost infant and raises the child for a number of years as if she is their own; the real mother's identity is discovered; should the child be returned to her true mother or left with the only mother she has ever known, one who has loved her and cared for her as if she were her very own flesh and blood.
You will be torn yourself with the difficult dilemma. But you will be assured of one thing: this book an excellent book.


Charleston Plan - Popular 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with covered front and back porches. Open concept with island separating kitchen from great room. Kitchen has 5 burner gas cooktop, wall oven, wall microwave, and walk in pantry. Master suite features double sinks, walk in shower, free standing soaking tub, and walk in closet. Split to other side of downstairs is utility room, full bath, and bedroom. Back stairway leads to 2 bedrooms (one being 19x12), full bath, large bonus room with closet, and walk in attic space. ENERGY STAR RATED FOR LOWER UTILITY BILLS. Enjoy community pool! Kids can walk to top rated Lewisburg Schools! Great lot backing up to trees. Make your next home a Classic with Classic Homes!


text:
Q: Checking for multiple image extensions? I would like to format a directory of images by removing the file extensions. I'm using basename() to do so but I can only check for one suffix. How can I also check for .png & .jpeg with my code below? Is it possible to use a regex here?
function sanitize_items($value) {
    $base = basename(strtolower($value), '.jpg');
    $temp = explode('-', $base);
    return $temp[0];
}

foreach ($list[1] as $f) {
    $file_sanitized[sanitize_items($f)] = $f;
}

A: Use pathinfo instead:
$temp = explode('-', pathinfo($value, PATHINFO_FILENAME));
return strtolower($temp[0]);

A: Make your life easy - use glob():
$pictures = glob("/your/path/*{jpg,png,gif}", GLOB_BRACE);

$result = array();
foreach ($pictures as $pic) {
    $tmp = pathinfo($pic);
    $result[] = $tmp['filename'];
}

var_dump($result);

A: try pathinfo()
$ext = pathinfo($value, PATHINFO_EXTENSION);
return str_replace('.'.$ext, '', $value);


text:
L'empereur Tang Taizong (r. 626-649), le deuxième empereur de la dynastie chinoise des Tang, s'était allié au début de son règne avec les Xueyantuo, un peuple vassal du puissant Khaganat des Turcs Orientaux, afin de détruire ces derniers, qui représentent alors une grande menace sur la frontière nord de la Chine. Lorsque les Turcs Orientaux sont vaincus en 630, Yi'nan, le Khan des Xueyantuo, prend le contrôle de l'ancien territoire des Turcs et, alors qu'il s'était formellement soumis aux Tang, il commence à transformer son nouveau Khanat en puissance militaire.

En 639, l'empereur Taizong tente de recréer le Khaganat des Turcs Orientaux en tant qu'État vassal des Tang dirigé par le Qilibi Khan Ashina Simo (également connu sous le nom de Li Simo). En agissant ainsi, il espère contrecarrer la montée en puissance des Xueyantuo, tout en se débarrassant du clan Ashina, dont certains membres ont tenté de l'assassiner. Mais le Kahn des Xueyantuo ne l'entend pas de cette oreille, et lance régulièrement des raids contre les Turcs afin d'éviter le retour du Khaganat. Les Tang réagissent en envoyant Li Shiji, leur général le plus talentueux, aider temporairement les Turcs de l'est contre les Xueyantuo. Si ces derniers stoppent leurs raids après avoir été vaincus en 641, cela ne dure qu'un temps et dès 644, ils profitent du fait que l'empereur Taizong est occupé par la préparation d'une guerre à venir avec le royaume coréen de Koguryo pour lancer une nouvelle campagne. Les Turcs orientaux sont vaincus et Ashina Simo est obligé de s'enfuir pour venir se réfugier chez les Tang. Par la suite, le royaume de Koguryo sollicite l'aide des Xueyantuo, mais Yi'nan refuse, car il préfère éviter d'entrer en guerre ouverte avec les Tang. Mais la situation évolue après la mort de Yi'nan en 645, car son fils, le Duomi Khan Bazhuo commence à se battre ouvertement contre les forces Tang. Ces derniers ripostent en 646 et infligent une lourde défaite à Bazhuo, qui finit par être tué à la suite d'une révolte des Huige, un des peuples vassaux des Xueyantuo. Son cousin, Yitewushi Khan Duomozhi, se rend aux Tangs, mettant fin à la guerre et à l'existence des Xueyantuo en tant que peuple.

Coopération entre les Tang et les Xueyantuo contre les Turcs

Les Xueyantuo ont longtemps été une tribu membre de la Confédération Chile, cette dernière ayant été soumise par les Goktürks. Les Chile n'en restent pas moins des vassaux turbulents, car ils se révoltent contre leurs maîtres aussi bien avant qu'après la division des Goktürks en deux factions lors de la création du Khaganat des Turcs Orientaux et de celui des Turcs Occidentaux durant la décennie 570. À la suite de cette division de l'empire Goktürks, les Chile deviennent les vassaux du Khaganat des Turcs Orientaux, contre lesquels ils se rebellent à nouveau durant les années 600. Rejetant l'autorité d'Ashina Daman, qui règne alors sur les Turcs Orientaux sous le titre d'Heshana Khan , les Chile se déclarent indépendants sous la direction de Geleng (歌楞), une chef Qibi qui prend le titre de Yiwuzhenmohe Khan (易勿真莫賀可汗), et de Yishibo, un chef Xueyantuo qui prend le titre de Yiedie Khan. Cette indépendance dure peu de temps, car ils sont de nouveau soumis par Shekui Khan, le successeur d'Heshana Khan, qui refait des Chile des vassaux des Turcs Orientaux.

Avec le temps, les Chile deviennent des sujets soumis et fidèles du Khaganat des Turcs Orientaux, pendant que les Xueyantuo sont gouvernés par Yi'nan, le petit-fils d'Yishibo. À cette époque, le Khaganat des Turcs Orientaux est dirigé par Ashina Duobi, qui porte le titre d'Illig Khan. Selon les sources et les chroniqueurs de l'époque, Duobi est un mauvais dirigeant, au point qu'en 627, plusieurs tribus membres de la confédération Chile se révoltent, dont les Xueyantuo, les Huige et les Bayegu (拔野谷). Ashina Duobi commence par envoyer son neveu Ashina Yugu mater les Huige, mais ce dernier est vaincu par le Chef Huige Pusa (菩薩), tandis que les Xueyantuo défont quatre autres généraux turcs. Finalement, Ashina Duobi se révèle incapable de ré-assujettir les rebelles Chile. Pourtant, en 628, lorsque ces tribus Chile offrent le titre de Khan à Yi'nan, au début, ce dernier n'ose pas l'accepter. Cependant, lorsque l'empereur Tang Taizong est mis au courant de la situation, il décide d'établir une alliance avec les Xueyantuo contre les orientaux et pour cela, il envoie son général Qiao Shiwang (喬師望) chez ces derniers pour donner officiellement à Yi'nan le titre de Yi'nan Zhenzhupiqie Khan, ou ZhenZhu Khan en forme courte. À la suite de cela, un grand nombre de tribus Chile et Tujue rejoignent Yi'nan pour en faire leur chef. Après cette première réussite, les Tang et les Xueyantuo s'envoient régulièrement des émissaires, et les tribus Xueyantuo deviennent de plus en plus puissantes, aux dépens du Khaganat des Turcs Orientaux.

En 629, l'empereur Taizong charge le général Li Jing de mener une grande expédition contre les Turcs Orientaux, qui se conclut en 630 par la capture d'Ashina Duobi et la destruction du Khaganat. Une grande partie du peuple des Turcs Orientaux se rend aux Xueyantuo, tandis qu'une minorité fait le choix de se rendre aux Tang. Après cet événement, les Xueyantuo deviennent la puissance prépondérante au nord de la Chine, tout en demeurant théoriquement soumis aux Tang. En 638, l'empereur Taizong octroie à Bazhuo et Jialibi (頡利苾), les fils de Yi'an, des titres de Khans subalternes, tout en les laissant sous l'autorité de leur père. Cette double nomination, qui se fait avec l'accord d'Yi'nan, est une manière pour Taizong d'honorer ostensiblement les fils du Khan, tout en espérant créer des dissensions entre eux. En 639, lorsque l'empereur Taizong charge le général Hou Junji de lancer une campagne contre la ville-royaume de Gaochang, Yi'nan lui propose d'attaquer la cité en même temps, bien que la conquête rapide menée par Hou semble n'impliquer aucune aide réelle de la part des Xueyantuo.

Le conflit de 641
Mais c'est également en 639 que les relations entre les Tang et les Xueyantuo commencent à se dégrader, à la suite d'une initiative des Tang. Après la capture de Ashina Duobi, l'empereur Taizong avait installé à l'intérieur des frontières de la Chine les Turcs Orientaux qui s'étaient rendus aux Tang, sans pour autant choisir un nouveau Khan pour les gouverner. Cependant, l'empereur Taizong change d'avis après avoir failli être assassiné en 639 par Ashina Jiesheshuai (阿史那結社率), le neveu d'Ashina Duobi. La même année, il donne à Ashina simo, un prince des Turcs Orientaux loyal aux Tang, le titre de Qilibi Khan, ce qui fait de lui le nouveau Khan des Turcs de l'Est. Taizong veut installer les Turcs dans un nouveau Khanat situé au sud du désert de Gobi, pour servir d'État-tampon entre les Tang et les Xueyantuo et aussi éviter une nouvelle tentative d'assassinat. Cette tentative de refondation des Turcs Orientaux irrite Yi'nan au plus haut point, mais il commence par accepter la volonté de Tang Taizong.

Ce n'est qu'en 641 qu'Ashina Simo passe finalement au nord de la Grande Muraille avec son peuple pour s'installer à Dingxiang (定襄). Au même moment, Yi'nan a entendu dire que l'empereur Taizong est sur le point d'offrir des sacrifices au ciel et à la terre au mont Tai. Persuadé que toutes les troupes Tang seront avec l'empereur Taizong, Yi'nan envoie son fils Dadu (大度) lancer une attaque de grande ampleur contre le nouveau Kaghanat des Trucs orientaux, espérant ainsi détruire Ashina Simo et son peuple avant que les Tang ne puissent venir aider ce dernier. Dès le début de l'attaque, Ashina Simo se replie derrière la grande muraille, se prépare à se défendre dans le Zhou de Shuo (朔州) et demande une aide d'urgence aux Tang. L'empereur Taizong répond à cette demande en envoyant le général Li Shiji, assisté par les généraux Zhang Jian (張儉), Li Daliang, Zhang Shigui (張士貴), et Li Xiyu (李襲譽), attaquer les Xueyantuo. Li Shiji engage Dadu en premier et le vainc, le forçant à fuir. Pendant ce temps, Yi'nan envoie un émissaire à l'empereur Taizong pour proposer de faire la paix avec les Turcs Orientaux. Li Shiji ayant eu le dessus sur Dadu, l'empereur Taizong renvoie l'émissaire avec une réprimande pour Yi'nan mais ne prend pas encore des mesures contre les Xueyantuo. Par la suite, les relations entre les Tang et les Xueyantuo restent officiellement celles d'un seigneur et de son vassal, mais cet épisode semble les avoir affaiblies irrémédiablement.

Fin du règne d'Yi'nan
En 642, Yi'nan tente de renforcer ses liens avec les Tang en envoyant son oncle Nishou (泥熟) à la Cour Impériale pour organiser un mariage entre lui et l'une des filles de l'empereur Taizong. Nishou amène avec lui un tribut composé de chevaux, de manteaux de vison, et d'un miroir fait d'ambre. Dans le même temps, Yi'nan fait capturer par ses propres hommes et emprisonner le général Qibi Heli (契苾何力). Ce général des Tang est le chef de la tribu Qibi, un peuple qui fait partie de la Confédération Chile. Si Heli est fait prisonnier, c'est parce qu'il est fidèle aux Tang, alors que ses hommes préfèrent se soumettre aux Xueyantuo. Une fois amené devant Yi'nan, Heli refuse de se soumettre aux Xueyantuo, préférant se couper une oreille pour montrer sa détermination. Fou de rage, Yi'nan est alors à deux doigts d'ordonner l'exécution de son prisonnier. Lorsque l'empereur Taizong est mis au courant, il est immédiatement préoccupé par la sécurité de Qibi Heli. Pour débloquer la situation, il décide d'accepter la proposition de mariage et envoie Cui Dunli, un de ses hauts fonctionnaires, pour en négocier les termes avec Yi'nan. En fait, Taizong accepte que sa fille, la princesse Xinxing, épouse Yi'nan, en échange de la libération de Qibi Heli.

En 643, Yi'nan envoie son neveu Tuli (突利) pour offrir un tribut composé de ,  ou chameaux, et , qui doit faire office de prix de la fiancée. L'empereur Taizong accueille Tuli avec une grande cérémonie, et en retour ce dernier convie l'empereur à un grand banquet. Ce dernier accepte l'invitation et assiste personnellement au banquet avec ses fonctionnaires. Mais, malgré cet accueil chaleureux, l'empereur Taizong envisage de renoncer au mariage, à la suite des demandes pressantes de Qibi allant dans ce sens. Il commence par donner l'ordre à Yi'nan de le rencontrer personnellement, ainsi que la princesse Xinxing, au Zhou de Ling (靈州) pour épouser cette dernière. Taizong donne cet ordre en croyant qu'Yi'nan refuserait et qu'il aurait alors une bonne excuse pour rompre le mariage. Lorsque Yi'nan accepte de se rendre à Ling, l'empereur Taizong trouve une autre excuse pour annuler le traité de mariage, en arguant que le prix de la fiancée n'a pas été intégralement payé. En effet, pour rassembler le bétail prévu dans le prix de la fiancée, Yi'nan a dû se procurer des bêtes auprès des tribus vassales des Xueyantuo. Cette opération a été plus longue que prévu et donc Yi'nan n'avait pas encore toutes les bêtes prévues à cette époque. De plus, une partie du bétail n'avait pas survécu à la traversée du désert de Gobi. Taizong agit ainsi en dépit d'une forte opposition de son fonctionnaire Chu Suiliang, qui souligne qu'en agissant ainsi, l'empereur dévalue la valeur de sa parole et de ses serments. À ces critiques, l'empereur Taizong répond en présentant sa décision comme étant purement rationnelle, et soutient que si Yi'nan avait épousé une princesse Tang, il aurait eu une plus grande légitimité sur les tribus chile et ce qui l'aurait rendu plus difficile à contrôler.

Pendant ce temps, Yi'nan continue d'attaquer périodiquement les Turcs Orientaux, et lorsque l'empereur Taizong envoie des émissaires pour tenter de l'arrêter, Yi'nan lui répond :

À la fin de l'an 644, le peuple des Turcs orientaux, qui n'a jamais vraiment soutenu Ashina Simo, s'effondre à cause de la menace des Xueyantuo et s'enfuit vers le territoire de Tang, où ils sont réinstallés. Ashina Simo retourne également auprès des Tang et est de nouveau nommé général, mettant ainsi fin à la tentative des Tang de recréer le khaganat des Turcs Orientaux comme un État vassal. Cet échec provoque un profond mécontentement chez l'empereur Taizong, qui n'est pas dupe sur la part de responsabilité d'Yi'nan. C'est ainsi que, lorsque Yi'nan envoie par la suite un émissaire offrir un nouveau tribut à l'empereur Taizong, ce dernier, qui était alors très occupé par la préparation d'une attaque contre le royaume coréen de Koguryo, lui répond :

Yi'nan, craignant la colère de l'empereur Taizong, envoie un autre émissaire s'excuser et offrir son aide pour l'attaque contre Koguryo; une offre que l'empereur chinois décline. En 645, après que l'empereur Taizong ait vaincu le gros des troupes du Koguryo au pied du mont Zhubi (駐驆山), près de la forteresse d'Anshi (安市), Yeon Gaesomun, le mangniji (régent) du Koguryo, demande à Yi'nan d'attaquer les Tang, en lui promettant de lui verser de très gros tributs s'il le fait. Yi'nan, craignant la puissance des Tang, refuse. Finalement, ce refus ne change rien à la tournure de la guerre, car l'empereur Taizong a finalement été contraint d'abandonner la campagne, après s'être embourbé dans le siège sans fin d'Anshi.

Mort d'Yi'nan et chute des Xueyantuos
Yi'nan meurt en 645. Selon les chroniques de l'époque, à cette date le territoire des Xueyantuo est divisé en deux parties, chacune gérée par un des fils du défunt:
 Bazhuo, un fils de l'épouse de Yi'nan, gouverne la partie occidentale du territoire des Xueyantuo, celle où se trouve le peuple Xueyantuo
 Yemang (曳莽), qui est plus âgé que Bazhuo mais n'est pas un fils de l'épouse de Yi'nan, gouverne la partie orientale du territoire des Xueyantuo, là où se trouvent les différentes tribus vassales.
Toujours selon ces chroniques, Yemang serait violent et perturbé, et aurait aussi de mauvaises relations avec Bazhuo. Après les funérailles, Yemang, craignant que Bazhuo lui fasse du mal, quitte soudainement la capitale des Xueyantuo pour retourner dans la partie orientale du khanat. Bazhuo le pourchasse et le tue, avant de monter sur le trône avec le titre de Jialijulixueshaduomi Khan, ou Duomi Khan en version courte.

Une fois au pouvoir, Bazhuo décide d'attaquer les Tang, croyant qu'avec l'empereur Taizong bloqué en Corée par sa campagne contre le Koguryo, les frontières de la Chine seraient sans défense. Cependant, l'empereur Taizong avait anticipé la possibilité d'une telle attaque des Xueyantuo en confiant au général Zhishi Sili (執失思力) le commandement de soldats turcs pour défendre le Zhou de Xia (夏州). Ainsi, lorsque Bazhuo lance son attaque, Zhishi Sili et Tian Eliane (田仁會), un autre général des Tang, lui tendent un piège pour l'inciter attaquer Xia et lui infliger une défaite. Devinant le piège, le Khan se replie, avant de revenir attaquer à nouveau Xia.

Peu après le nouvel an 646, l'empereur Taizong ordonne, qu'en plus des soldats de Zhishi et Tian, d'autres troupes soient mobilisées et mises sous les ordres des généraux Li Daozong, qui est aussi le Prince de Jiangxia, Xue Wanche (薛萬徹), Ashina She'er (阿史那社爾), Song Junming (宋君明), et Xue Guwu (薛孤吳), pour contrer l'attaque de Bazhuo. Ce dernier, après avoir atteint la grande muraille, se rend compte que les Tang ont mobilisé de puissantes armées contre lui. C'est ainsi qu'au printemps 646, Zhishi et Qiao Shiwang contre-attaquent, battent Bazhuo et le forcent à fuir, provoquant la confusion la plus totale chez les Xueyantuo.

Selon les sources d'époque qui nous sont parvenues, à ce moment-là, Bazhuo était intolérant, de mauvaise humeur et suspicieux. Il renvoie les principaux conseillers d'Yi'nan et les remplace par des gens proches de lui, ce qui conduit les nobles à le mépriser. À ce mépris, il répondu en exécutant un grand nombre d'entre eux, jetant la Cour des Xueyantuo dans la terreur. Yaoluoge Tumidu (藥羅葛吐迷度), le chef de la tribu Huige, alors vassaux des Xueyantuo, se rebelle avec l'aide des tribus Pugu (僕骨) et Tongluo (同羅) et inflige une cuisante défaite à Bazhuo. L'empereur Taizong saisit l'occasion qui se présente à lui et donne l'ordre de lancer une attaque de grande ampleur contre les Xueyantuo proprement dit. Il confie le commandement des opérations à Li, Ashina, Zhishi, Qibi Heli, Xue Wanche et Zhang Jian. Alors que l'attaque commence, par le plus grand des hasards, un officier Tang nommé Yuwen Fa (宇文法) va réussir une action d'éclat qui va quasiment décider du sort du conflit. Au début des hostilités, Fa est envoyé en tant qu'émissaire auprès des tribus Wuluohu (烏羅護) et Mohe. Alors qu'il revient chez les Tang, il rencontre le général Abo (阿波), un des chefs de l'armée des Xueyantuos. Yuwen attaque alors ce général avec les soldats Mohe présents avec lui et défait Abo, ce qui entraîne une confusion encore plus grande chez les Xueyantuo. En effet, ces derniers sont alors persuadés que le gros des troupes des Tang est déjà arrivé, personne n'imaginant que ce coup d'éclat est l'œuvre d'un petit groupe isolé. Dans la panique, Bazhuo s'enfuit pour se réfugier chez la tribu vassale des Ashide (阿史德). Quand les Huige l'apprennent, ils attaquent les Ashide et tuent Bazhuo, ainsi que tous les membres du clan impérial Xueyantuo qu'ils peuvent trouver. Après ce massacre, de nombreux généraux Xueyantuo se rendent aux Tang.

Les Xueyantuo restants soutiennent brièvement Duomozhi, le neveu de Yi'nan, qu'ils prennent comme nouveau Khan sous le titre de Yitewushi Khan. Ils espèrent que le nouveau Khan va restaurer la puissance des Xueyantuo, mais ni les Tang ni les autres tribus de la confédération Chile ne sont prêts à accepter cela. C'est ainsi que l'empereur Taizong envoie Li Shiji avec une armée vers l'emplacement du campement de Duomozhi, dans les monts Khangaï,avec comme instruction d'accepter la reddition de ce dernier s'il veut se rendre, et de l'attaquer s'il refuse. Li Shiji arrive rapidement sur place et dès qu'il est mis au courant, Tizhen (梯真), le bras droit de Duomozhi, capitule. Le Khan des Xueyantuo s'enfuit alors vers le sud, pour se réfugier dans un canyon. Lorsqu'il est mis au courant de cette fuite, Li Shiji envoie son subordonné Xiao Siye (蕭嗣業) auprès du fuyard pour le tranquilliser et, conformément aux ordres de Taizong, lui laisser la possibilité de se rendre. Finalement, Duomozhi choisit de se rendre à Xiao, mais certains de ses hommes préfèrent continuer à lutter contre les Tang. Conformément aux instructions de l'empereur, Li Shiji attaque et tue ou capture ceux qui refusent de se soumettre. Après ces ultimes combats, Duomozhi est emmené à Chang'an, la capitale des Tang, où il est fait général, ce qui marque la fin des Xueyantuo.

Notes et références

Bibliographie
 Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198.

Dynastie Tang
Histoire de l'Asie
630
640
Histoire de l'Asie centrale
Histoire de la Chine impériale
Histoire de la Mongolie
Ancien peuple de Chine
Peuple turc
Peuple d'Asie
Guerre du VIIe siècle


Virginia Postrel points to an article from the Long Beach Press Telegram showing the false dichotomies presented by modern liberals like Calpundit between government programs and 'vital services'.
"I can accept higher state taxes if it means preserving my police services and educating my children."
We're hearing this, or statements close to it, quite often lately as the state grapples with a $38-billion budget deficit.
We know why it's making the rounds. It is exactly what happens when politicians and special interests anyone other than taxpayers frame the budget debate, and its supposed solutions.
By presenting the public with only two choices, higher taxes or dramatic cuts in vital services, state politicians and special interest groups are taking a page from an age-old political storybook, absolving themselves of blame and scaring the public into believing it's up to them to solve the state's budget problems. Take your pick, people: Either pay more or prepare for a crime wave. Pay more or deal with a generation of uneducated kids. Pay more or get ready to toss frail seniors into the gutter. Are you really that cold-hearted?
Classical liberals realize that the true dichotomy here is between the mechanisms of the state that redistribute resources to those in political favor vs. mechanisms of civil society that respond by increasing resources to meet demand. The fixed-sum worldview of the left is a consequence of its placement of the state, rather than civil society, at the center of social interaction. After all, as praxeology tells us, voluntary exchanges have the potential for, and come with the expectation of mutual benefit, whereas involuntary relations without fail benefit one party at the expense of the other. When the world is seen a fixed-sum game, it leads to statements such as, "They're proposing to eliminate dog food for blind people? I can see the TV ads already."
Submitted by Sage (not verified) on Tue, 1999-11-30 00:00.
Little mention is ever made, of course, of cutting NON-essential servies as a viable option. And if what I think I know about California is at all accurate, there's more than 38 billion bucks of superfluous crap that could be cut out of the budget without causing a catastrophe.
Submitted by Dave (not verified) on Tue, 1999-11-30 00:00.
There's a hell of a lot more than $38 billion of superflous crap that can be cut. First - let's cut the salaries and perqs of everyone working at the statehouse. They don't do anything except whine and point fingers anyway. Same with the governor's mansion.


I am fun (apparently) and looking to meet a man who can join on my quest for fantastic food, great theatre and lasting conversations that conclude on average at 5am.
Someone to make me question the world through different lenses, someone fun and outgoing who isn't afraid to hold a man's hand in the street.
Theatre_Lad hasn't asked any friends to write a recommendation yet.


Is your former racehorse thriving in a second career hunting? If so, entries are open for the Ri-Dry RoR Racing to Hunting Challenge.
The winner will also be awarded the Meriel Tufnell Trophy at the prestigious annual RoR Awards held at The Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket. The 2018 winner was Amy Brown who whips in for the Berwickshire Hunt on the 20 year old Kasilia.
Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is British Horseracing's official charity for the welfare of retired racehorses. The charity promotes the versatility and adaptability of former racehorses with a view to increasing the number of horses that go on to have active and fulfilling lives after racing.
The RoR Racing to Hunting Challenge celebrates those former racehorses that have adapted to a life in the hunting field. The panel of judges will review entries based on their all-round behaviour and manners out hunting.
Owners are asked to nominate their former racehorse for the Challenge. Entry is free and entries close on 30th April 2019. The first 50 nominations received will go forward to the first round of judging.
The final will take place at Aintree on Countryside Raceday, Sunday the 27th October 2019 at Aintree, supported by the Countryside Alliance.
The Challenge is open to all horses that have raced in Great Britain (Point-to-Point or Under Rules) and that are registered with an RoR Competition Membership. Horses can be registered at any point up to the closing date for entries. To register, simply visit members.ror.org.uk/register.


New hires will join world-renowned researchers leading groundbreaking development of bioelectronics materials and novel electronic devices to treat chronic disease.
Aix-en-Provence, FRANCE, and Toronto, CANADA, June 5, 2018. Bioelectronic medicine company Panaxium SAS today announced an aggressive hiring push to complete the team that will lead efforts in the commercialization of revolutionary bioelectronic medicine treatments.
The roles the company is currently looking to fill include: Bio Mechanical / Bio Medical Test Engineer, Analog Electronics Test Engineer, Process Engineer: Development / Industrialization Microfabrication, and Senior Electronics Design Engineer – Electrophysiology.
Details of job descriptions can be found on the company's website.
A full listing of current job opportunities can be found here. For further information, please contact careers@panaxium.com.


I would guess that the person who showed up at the Family Research Council headquarters in Washington DC today with Chick-Fil-A materials, ammo, a gun and what appear to be very bad intentions is a hate-filled nut.
Does that about cover it? I hope so. Because I am not going to waste one more virtual word on this person.
I will say that I am very grateful in an almost personal way to the security guard who stepped up and stopped what might very well have been yet another tragic shooting. Bless him. I pray for his full recovery and long happy life.
I have partnered with the Family Research Council on legislation in the past, and I hope to do so again. They are great people who have zero problems crossing the Democrat-Republican divide to help a pro-life Okie pass pro-life legislation. I'm not going to mention any of their names here because I don't think it would be a kind thing to do under these circumstances.
Another thing I am not going to do is start pointing fingers at everybody from the President of the United States to the doorman at Fox News in an attempt to blame them for something they obviously did not do. These horrible acts of violence against innocent people are tragedies. They are not opportunities for political demagoguery.
My prayers go with my friends at the Family Research Council. I've been thinking about you all day. I know that you are going to have trouble sleeping tonight, and that you will re-live this like a tape going in front of your eyes for a while. Just talk it out with your friends, hug your loved ones and say your prayers. It gets better in time.
Also, hug that security guard for me, will you?
He saved your lives. He also saved me and the rest of the world from losing you.


Coral reefs and sea grass beds, which are primary real-estate for seahorses, is quickly deteriorating, and therefore reducing viable habitats for seahorses. By being able to reproduce this animal in-house, we are able to educate the public about the declining numbers of seahorses without having to directly obtain these animals from the wild. Georgia Aquarium is also in a position to donate these animals to other aquariums and spread the message of conservation.


Much has been written on the positive psychological and physiological effects of appreciation. Yet, in some industries, particularly in manufacturing, many executives exhibit the attitude that workers are paid for their work, and that is the extent of the employment relationship.
What optimism does is raise the human potential by unleashing human energy and organizational performance while treating workers with faith, trust, and respect.
There has been a major disconnect between management and labor in our country for over 80 years. That disconnect first became apparent at the end of the sit-down strike that took place at a General Motors plant in Flint, Michigan, in December 1936.
The layoff of workers from their jobs has been a common practice since the early days of industry in the United States. It is one of the strategies used by employers who want to cut expenses when their company's revenues are threatened.
Job security is one of the most sought-after benefits that job seekers search for. There are many definitions of job security, but a reasonable one that we propose is the assurance that if an individual meets the performance standards set by management, he or she will keep his or her job without the risk of becoming unemployed.
This blog, is authored by Dr. Gustavo Grodnitzky, a leading proponent of culture as the key to organizational effectiveness. It was recently published on his website, www.drgustavo.com. In it, Dr. Gustavo reinforces the message presented in our book, Unleashing Human Energy through Culture Change. We couldn't agree more.
Leading a culture change is a courageous undertaking. It is fraught with challenges and resistance by those who believe they will lose something they value. In this blog, we will summarize some of the essential initiatives and obstacles a change agent faces in creating culture change.
Human energy is not easily measured. Even within the discipline of industrial engineering, we do not currently have any valid way to measure it in units. Yet, it can be inferred that once released, human energy can make something happen. We all possess a certain amount of energy that can be called upon when we have a task to perform, and, depending on the magnitude of the task, we can probably complete it and then go on to another task. Whether we are willing to limit our energy output or expend it beyond what is normally called for is an open question that every organization must deal with. Clearly, whichever of these paths is taken will make a difference in productivity and performance.