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The Ultimate guide to Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Shayan Rahman
Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that deals with the interaction between human languages and computers. The goal of NLP is to enable computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language in a way that is natural and similar to how humans communicate.
The Various Techniques by NLP
NLP is a broad field that encompasses a variety of techniques, including but not limited to:
Text classification: determining the category or sentiment of a given piece of text.
Named entity recognition: identifying and extracting specific information, such as people, places, and organisations from unstructured text.
Part-of-speech tagging: identifying the grammatical function of each word in a sentence.
Parsing: analysing the grammatical structure of a sentence.
Machine translation: automatically translating text from one language to another.
Speech recognition: converting spoken language into written text.
Summarization: generating a brief summary of a longer piece of text.
One of the key challenges in NLP is the vast variability in human language. Different languages have different grammar rules, vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions. Additionally, the same language can be spoken and written in different dialects, registers, and styles.
This variability makes it difficult for computers to understand and generate human language in a way that is natural and accurate.
To overcome these challenges, NLP relies on a combination of linguistic and statistical techniques. Linguistic techniques involve analysing the structure and meaning of language based on a set of predefined rules and categories.
Statistical techniques, on the other hand, involve training a model on a large dataset of text and using the patterns learned from the data to make predictions about new text.
One of the most popular NLP techniques is the use of deep neural networks, which have been shown to be effective in a variety of NLP tasks. These networks are trained on a large dataset of text and can be used for tasks such as text classification, named entity recognition, and machine translation.
The Many Uses of NLP
One of the most important application of NLP is the text processing, it's used in many different industries and scenarios, such as:
Social media: analysing and understanding the sentiment of tweets and posts.
Customer service: automatically answering customer questions and routing inquiries to the appropriate agent.
Healthcare: extracting information from electronic medical records to assist with diagnosis and treatment.
Legal: analysing legal documents to extract relevant information.
News: automatically summarising news articles and identifying key topics.
NLP is also a key component of many conversational AI systems, such as chatbots and virtual assistants. These systems use NLP to understand and generate natural language, allowing them to interact with users in a more human-like way.
How is NLP utilised by Data Scientists?
Text classification: NLP is used to classify and categorize large amounts of text data, such as emails, social media posts, and customer reviews.
Sentiment analysis: NLP is used to determine the sentiment or emotion expressed in a piece of text, such as whether a customer review is positive or negative.
Named entity recognition: NLP is used to extract specific information from text, such as the names of people, organizations, and locations.
Text summarization: NLP is used to automatically summarize long pieces of text, such as news articles or research papers.
Machine translation: NLP is used to translate text from one language to another, making it possible for people to communicate across language barriers.
Language generation: NLP is used to automatically generate text, such as in chatbots or virtual assistants, by predicting the next word or phrase based on previous input.
Top 10 FAQs about NLP
Q.1 What is NLP?
NLP stands for natural language processing, a field of artificial intelligence that deals with the interaction between computers and human languages.
Q.2 How does NLP work?
NLP uses a combination of machine learning, linguistics, and computer science to process and analyse human language, such as speech and text.
Q.3 What are some common NLP tasks?
Common NLP tasks include language translation, text classification, sentiment analysis, named entity recognition, text summarization, and language generation.
Q.4 How is NLP used in real-world applications?
NLP is used in a wide range of applications, such as chatbots, virtual assistants, sentiment analysis, speech recognition, and machine translation.
Q.5 What are some popular NLP libraries and frameworks?
Popular NLP libraries and frameworks include NLTK, spaCy, Gensim, CoreNLP, and TextBlob.
Q.6 How can I get started with NLP?
To get started with NLP, it's helpful to have a strong understanding of programming and machine learning concepts. You can also start by experimenting with existing NLP libraries and frameworks.
Q.7 What are some common NLP challenges?
Common NLP challenges include dealing with ambiguity, understanding context, and handling large amounts of data.
Q.8 What are some common NLP evaluation metrics?
Common NLP evaluation metrics include accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score.
Q.9 How is NLP related to other fields such as AI, Machine Learning and Deep Learning?
NLP is a subfield of AI, which deals with the interaction between computers and human languages. It is closely related to machine learning and deep learning, which are used to train NLP models.
Q.10 How can NLP help you?
NLP can help you by giving you approaches to get into the best emotional state for a particular task, and by giving you the most useful beliefs and most helpful strategies to achieve whatever you want.
Natural Language Processing vs Natural Language Understanding
NLP (Natural Language Processing) and NLU (Natural Language Understanding) are related but distinct fields within Artificial Intelligence (AI) that deal with the interaction between computers and human languages.
NLP focuses on the ability of a computer to process and analyze human language, such as speech and text, while NLU focuses on the ability of a computer to understand the meaning of the language.
NLP tasks include language translation, text classification, sentiment analysis, named entity recognition, text summarization, and language generation. NLU tasks include language understanding, dialogue management, and intent recognition.
NLP is considered as a low-level process that enables the machine to understand the input language, on the other hand, NLU is a high-level process that enables the machine to understand the meaning behind the input language.
In conclusion, NLP is a rapidly growing field that is making it possible for computers to understand and generate human language in a way that is natural and accurate.
The techniques and technologies developed in NLP are being applied in a wide range of industries and scenarios, from customer service and healthcare to social media and legal system.
As the field continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more impressive developments in the future.
Remember to check out our collection of Data Science resources to keep you learning and practicing, and you'll be well on your way to having a successful career in data science!
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It�s started already. The media have a story so they�ll run with it. Your paper is no exception. The article �Around world, massacres have spurred gun control.� When will we accept the fact that there will always be guns, legal or illegal, available to anyone willing to pay the price?
It�s started already. The media have a story so they�ll run with it. Your paper is no exception. The article �Around world, massacres have spurred gun control.� When will we accept the fact that there will always be guns, legal or illegal, available to anyone willing to pay the price? Guns don�t kill people. People kill people. A good example is the jewel thief New Bern police captured recently. These hoods can buy a gun without going through the investigative process. How about the gangs in Los Angles, New York and Washington? They all have guns. Changing our Constitution is not going to keep the criminals from having guns. God rest those children in Sandy Hook.


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News & Events > Air Line Pilot Magazine
9/11 Scholarships: Producing New, Passionate Pilots
Recipients honor fallen pilots by carrying on their flying legacy
By Kevin Cuddihy
Airline pilots will never forget Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists used U.S. airliners as weapons to cause death and destruction, forever changing the airline piloting profession.
In the wake of the devastating attacks, pilots and families of the fallen searched for a way to honor the lost crewmembers that would help lead the next generation of airline pilots into the profession. In memory of the United Airlines pilots of Flight 93, which crashed into the Pennsylvania countryside, two charitable foundations were established—the Captain Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund and the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation—that support kids' dreams of becoming airline pilots. Both foundations awarded their first scholarships in 2003, and they continue to support the next generation of pilots.
The funds operate through donations received from friends, neighbors, and strangers alike, as well as through enormous support from United Airlines pilots. "United pilots have long honored the memories of our fallen 9/11 brothers by supporting these worthwhile funds, as well as other 9/11 charities and foundations," said Capt. Todd Insler, the United pilots' Master Executive Council chairman. "We consider it our duty to carry on the legacies of the four United pilots who lost their lives 15 years ago, and supporting these charities and foundations is a great tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice that day."
The Association will never forget the ALPA members who were victims of 9/11: Capt. Jason Dahl and F/O LeRoy W. Homer Jr. of United Flight 93 and Capt. Victor Saracini and F/O Michael Horrocks of United Flight 175. Click the photo to learn more about the lives and careers of these four heroes and never forget the sacrifices they made.
The Capt. Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund
F/O Justin Dean (United) [click the pilot names to learn more about them] received a scholarship from the Dahl fund in its second year of operation and today is not only a pilot for United, but also a board member for the Dahl fund. "Flying is my passion, and although 9/11 was a horrific day," he said, "it didn't dissuade me from wanting to follow my dream." He added, "I have a full understanding of what a huge difference this scholarship can make. I love being able to be part of a wonderful group of people and help young aviators achieve their dreams."
F/O Michelle Bush (Spirit) is also a past Dahl fund recipient and current board member. She noted that "My favorite part of being a board member is reading the essays from the students. It brings back memories of my own sparkle for aviation, and it's so exciting to see that same passion in the newest generation of pilots."
The Dahl fund has awarded 125 scholarships since 2003, including scholarships to five more ALPA pilots flying the line today: F/Os Craig Utas (Delta), Luke DeNooy (United), Daniel Schumann (Delta), Andrew Voss (JetBlue), and Scott Singleton (Compass).
Singleton interned for United before starting his airline career and learned about the more personal side of the tragedy as well. "I met many people, including friends of Capt. Dahl, who told me their stories about 9/11 and how the tragedy affected them," he explained. "Those are the memories that will stick with me for the rest of my life." The scholarship, he said, "gave me a sense of duty to do my part in making sure Capt. Dahl's legacy continues to live on."
It has also served as a helping hand for many following their dream to fly. "The Dahl scholarship helped me achieve my dream of becoming a pilot and getting into the aviation industry," said Voss. "Without this scholarship and others like it, many deserving students and prospective airline pilots would not be able to get as far as they do."
As a current United pilot, DeNooy acknowledged, "I was so grateful for the opportunity when I was hired at United," he explained, "not only because it had been a career goal of mine, but it also meant a great deal as a past scholarship winner. I'm honored to help in a very small way to carry on the legacy of Capt. Dahl at United."
Schumann shares that sentiment. "I received the scholarship in 2011, which really felt full circle—10 years after the events of 9/11.... To receive a scholarship named after someone who gave their life doing what they loved was a huge honor and meant a great deal to me. It still does, as it has allowed me to continue on my path and end up where I am today."
Utas was attending college on 9/11 and had already committed to becoming an airline pilot. "I was actually scheduled to start my first lesson toward my instrument rating the next day," he recalled. But he never had second thoughts after the tragedy and said the scholarship came at the perfect time—putting him in a position to start working as a pilot as soon as he graduated. "The Dahl scholarship fund is carrying on his legacy by helping so many people start their careers as airline pilots," Utas said. "As a result of all the help I received from them and others, I feel like it's my duty to do what I can to pay it forward."
That's music to the ears of Capt. Tom Bush (United), the acting president of the Dahl fund. Bush said that after 9/11 Dahl's friends, colleagues, and neighbors "came out of the woodwork" with stories of what he had done for them. "We felt that it would be a shame to not continue honoring Jason and all the heroes of 9/11," he acknowledged. "And what better way to honor him than to pay it forward to future aviators and help them attain their hopes and dreams?"
Bush recounted a story about how Dahl received a scholarship in college on the basis of an essay titled "Why I Want to Fly." "We want that same ambition, that same drive and passion from our recipients," he explained. That's why, he said, the Dahl fund application asks for an essay submission with the same title.
The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation
"LeRoy loved to fly," Melodie Homer, LeRoy's wife, said. "He was one of those kids who always knew what he wanted to be when he grew up," and the foundation looks to support people just like him. Capt. Josh Mech (Compass) received a grant in 2009, and his career took off. "Winning this scholarship is what really gave me my start in aviation and on the airline career path," he said. "And there's no doubt in my mind that without the help and support of the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation I would not be where I am today."
"We look to choose a recipient who, absent our support, just might not get a chance to realize the dream of becoming a pilot," said Capt. Brian Florence (United), a director-at-large of the foundation. "We're looking for that next LeRoy to help them achieve their dreams." Melodie Homer acknowledged, "We want the message to be that if you want to be a pilot when you grow up, it's possible—and the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation wants to help make those dreams a reality!"
As long as these dreams continue, the legacy of those lost will live on. "People who fly with me ask about my LeRoy Homer Jr. Foundation pin that I wear on my tie," said Mech, "and I always tell them that it's because of him and the foundation in his honor that I'm where I am today. I'm honored to have won the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation Scholarship, and I'm privileged to represent him and the foundation by continuing his legacy as an airline pilot."
Scholarships that Soar
According to its website, "The mission of the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation is to encourage and support young adults who wish to pursue careers as professional pilots. In addition, the foundation promotes awareness about aviation careers to disadvantaged youth." The scholarship is awarded to individuals pursuing a pilot license on their own and who are not part of any college, university, or aviation program, and is not used for college or university tuition, but rather to pay for completing flight training. Eighteen scholarships have been awarded since 2003, and all but one recipient currently works in the aviation field.
To apply to the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation, visit www.leroywhomerjr.org.
The Dahl fund provides "scholarships for qualified students who wish to attend accredited commercial flight training schools in the United States." To be eligible for the Captain Jason Dahl Scholarship, the recipient must
be a full-time student having completed at least one semester at an accredited four-year university.
be majoring in aviation, with an emphasis in pilot-related studies.
To apply to the Captain Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund, visit www.dahlfund.org.
"Donating to the funds is a way to pat the pilots' families on the back and say, 'We have not forgotten you,'" said Capt. Brian Florence (United). You can donate to either or both of these funds—plus memorials for two of the other victims of 9/11, Capt. Victor Saracini (United) and F/O Michael Horrocks (United)—at www.justabuck.info. United Airlines employees can learn on this site how to sign up for automatic payroll deductions of any amount to one or all four funds. Donations can also be made directly to the funds at their respective websites.
ALPA 9/11 Pins
ALPA is offering 9/11 memorial pins free of charge to active members in good standing. To order, please e-mail your name, address, and ALPA member number to SMDR@alpa.org. Quantities are limited, so orders (one pin per member) will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. To check the status of your request, e-mail SMDR@alpa.org. Please do not send multiple requests.
Living the Legacy
Want more information about these scholarship recipients, the impact the scholarship had on them, and their paths to the cockpit? Click on their names below or throughout the article for a more in-depth look.
"It's very humbling working with the very same people who helped me achieve my dream, and I look forward to years ahead helping countless more young aviators achieve their dreams."
F/O Justin Dean (United), Dahl Fund—2004
"My grandfather was a pilot and was always one of the men i admired most. He flew in the RCAF and later worked for Transport Canada. Listening to all of his stories is probably what planted the idea in my head."
F/O Craig Utas (Delta), Dahl Fund—2005
"My strongest memory of 9/11 is the immediate rise to action to help those in need. The country came together and opened its arms to anyone in need."
F/O Michelle Bush (Spirit), Dahl Fund—2006
"Even though I lived halfway across the country and didn't know anyone directly involved at the time of 9/11, I knew the impact it had on me, our country, and the aviation community."
F/O Luke DeNooy (United), Dahl Fund—2007
"While I was growing up, being a pilot was always an impossible dream for me. I was born with a severe to profound hearing loss, and for the longest time I didn't believe that I had the hearing to be able to fly.
Capt. Josh Mech (Compass), Homer Foundation—2009
"Capt. Dahl directly influenced my success and afforded me the chance to be where I am today. His life was cut short, yet he is still positively influencing the lives of those who are following in his footsteps."
F/O Daniel Schumann (Delta), Dahl Fund—2011
"I knew that i wanted to become a pilot when I was 10 years old.... I thought it was the most magical experience of my life, and from that point on I knew flying is what I wanted to do."
F/O Andrew Voss (JetBlue), Dahl Fund—2011
"I have always been asked about terrorism and why I still wanted to fly, and I always responded saying that I was born to fly and I would help make the skies safer."
F/O Scott Singleton (Compass), Dahl Fund—2012
This article was originally published in the September 2016 issue of Air Line Pilot.
Read the latest Air Line Pilot (PDF)
December Air Line Pilot
Giving Pilots One More Voice
10th Annual Pilot Photography Issue
ALPA's New Strategic Plan
Industry Issues Await Action from D.C. and Ottawa Decision-Makers
Behind the Scenes of the BOD Meeting
Flying as an Airline Pilot With Type I Diabetes
Delta Pilot Volunteers with Civil Air Patrol, Mentors Young Aviators
Five Questions for ALPA's Membership Committee Chair
Jumpseat Etiquette
Kalitta Air's Role in 9/11 Recovery
The Flu vs. COVID-19: What You Should Know
New Initiative Reassures Public Pilots Are 'Ready for Takeoff' When Travelers Are Ready to Fly
Board of Directors Convenes Virtually, Plans for Association's Future
Closing Ranks: How ALPA Pilot Groups Are Supporting Their Own
The Nine Freedoms of the Air
Pilot Training During a Pandemic
Government Inaction Continues to Cost Canadian Pilot Jobs

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The imaginative recordings produced by Mad Professor (born Neil Fraser 1955, Georgetown in Guyana) demonstrate a mastery of electronic gadgetry. Working from his own studios, Mad Professor has overseen more than two hundred albums including ground-breaking remixes for Massive Attack, Sade, and Pato Banton.
Born in Guyana, Fraser earned the Mad Professor tag from his childhood fascination with electronics. At the age of nine or ten he built a radio from scratch. Moving to London at the age of thirteen, Mad Professor continued to experiment with electronics. He bought a semi-professional reel-to-reel tape-recorder in 1975, but was unable to record in sync. This prompted him to purchase more and more equipment. By the following year, he had begun experimenting with dubbing.
Mad Professor has worked with a huge number of reggae artists both from the UK and Jamaica. These include Jah Shaka, Pato Banton, Johnny Clarke, Lee Perry and Horace Andy. His musical styles have included roots reggae, dub, and lovers rock. Mad Professor is perhaps best known for his dub albums, which include 12 installments of the Dub Me Crazy series and 5 albums under the Black Liberation Dub banner. The Ariwa website lists collaborations with The Orb, The KLF, UB40, Jamiroquai, The Beastie Boys and Rancid . He continues to release records and perform live all over the world.
Source: https://www.last.fm/music/Mad+Professor
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How your daily rush-hour commute could increase your chances of heart disease
University study links traffic pollutants to an increase in the heart's mass
The year-long University of Washington study involved 3896 participants
Were exposed to nitrogen dioxide levels similar to those found in traffic
Participants underwent an MRI scan before and after the study
Results revealed an average five per cent increase in mass and three per cent increase in volume of the heart's right ventrical
The changes are directly linked to heart failure and cardiac arrest
Traffic-related air pollution - the kind millions of drivers are exposed to during their twice-daily rush-hour commute - could trigger a potentially deadly change in the size of the heart, according to new major university study.
The University of Washington Medical Center study found prolonged exposure to car pollutants causes the heart's right ventricle to increase in both mass and volume, which is directly linked to cardiovascular disease, heart failure and cardiac arrest.
Going nowhere: A study has linked rush-hour traffic jams with serious heart disease
The study's 3896 participants were exposed to levels of nitrogen dioxide - a gas emitted from the burning of fuel - similar to those found in heavy traffic. The participants underwent an MRI scan before and after the 12-month study.
Results revealed an average five per cent increase in mass and three per cent increase in volume of the heart's right ventrical, even after accounting for variable factors like pre-existing conditions, diet or socioeconomic status.
The study's author, Dr. Peter Leary, said the changes were enough to drastically increase the risk of heart disease and heart failure.
'Although the link between traffic-related air pollution and left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and cardiovascular death is established, the effects of traffic-related air pollution on the right ventricle have not been well studied,' he said.
'Using exposure to nitrogen dioxide as a surrogate for exposure to traffic-related air pollution, we were able to demonstrate for the first time that higher levels of exposure were associated with greater right ventricular mass and larger right ventricular end-diastolic volume. Greater right ventricular mass is also associated with increased risk for heart failure and cardiovascular death.'
Pollutants can cause the heart's right ventricle to grow, increasing the risk of heart disease or cardiac arrest
While researchers can't categorically confirm that exposure to car pollutants caused the heart's mass to increase, Dr Leary said his study added more evidence to the connection between traffic jams and heart disease.
'The changes in the right ventricle of the heart that we found with increased exposure to nitrogen dioxide add to the body of evidence supporting a connection between traffic-related air pollution and cardiovascular disease,' he said.
'The many adverse effects of air pollution on human health support continued efforts to reduce this burden.'
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Action involving allegations of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress against client law enforcement officer (and co-defendant Steilacoom) arising out of arrest and use of force on plaintiff-motorist in the course of a traffic stop. Plaintiff also alleged wrongful conduct based on subsequent interactions with client. Plaintiff requested $800,000.00 in total damages from the jury.
Defense verdict issued following two-week trial.
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Defense verdict issued following a three-day trial.
Personal injury arising from a two-vehicle collision where liability was contested. Plaintiff claimed permanent injuries.
Admiralty/maritime personal injury claim where Plaintiff's right hand was caught in an automated crab pot puller being operated by Defendant, resulting in partial amputation of several fingers.


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Amanda Knox Found Guilty By Italian Court, Sentenced To 28 Years Behind Bars
By Jenny Hollander
Pool/Getty Images News/Getty Images
In the latest development in a case spanning almost seven years, Amanda Knox was convicted of murder and sentenced to 28 years behind bars Thursday. Knox was sentenced by two judges and a jury in Florence, Italy for the 2007 killing of Knox' flatmate Meredith Kercher. This is the fourth verdict for Knox, and this one is even more severe than the 26-year "guilty" sentence Knox was handed in 2009. That verdict saw Knox spend four years behind bars, before her sentence was overturned by an appeals court last May. Knox' ex-boyfriend, ex-roommate and co-defendant, Raffaelle Sollecito, was also sentenced to serve 25 years Thursday.
Knox was in Seattle for the verdict, though Sollecito appeared in Italy's court Thursday. As Bustle reported earlier:
The verdict today might not be the end of the drama that's going on its seventh year. Under Italian law, either side can appeal the decision if they're unhappy with it. However, Knox isn't likely to be extradited to Italy to serve her time if found guilty: Although the U.S. has an extradition agreement with Italy, America has been known to simply not send over those found guilty in Italian courtrooms. Knox has said she'll become a fugitive if found guilty, but the U.S.'s double-jeopardy law, which exists in American law but not Italian, also protects Knox, according to CNN.
Knox has maintained her innocence of the murder of Kercher, a British exchange student who was found stabbed to death in 2007 in the villa she rented with Knox in Perugia, Italy. Both Knox and Sollecito were convicted of Kercher's murder, and acquitted four years later after Italy's high court declared that the original trial had been filled with "deficiencies, contradictions, and illogical" conclusions.
A retrial was demanded, and two judges and six jurors deliberated for less than a day before finding Knox and Sollecito guilty once again.
CNN on YouTube
As Bustle reported:
Though the Italian Supreme Court in their May 2013 demand for retrial said the evidence was inconclusive, this retrial hasn't cast any light on the discrepancies in previous testimony. As CNN pointed out, when Knox was found guilty the first time in November 2007, Americans said the Italian justice system was corrupt. But when she was acquitted in 2011, Italians said that the court had caved in to American pressure.


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Stop Yet Another Deportation from Canada to Torture
Secret Trial Detainee Mohammad Mahjoub Faces Imminent Deportation to Torture in Egypt
Come to Court Tuesday, Sept. 7 - Friday Sept. 10, 9:30 am
361 University Ave. Courthouse, Court 7-1
Mohammad Mahjoub, an Egyptian refugee held without charge since June, 2000 on secret "evidence" neither he nor his lawyers are allowed to see, received a notice of imminent deportation to Egypt on Friday, August 27 in his solitary confinement cell at Metro West Detention Centre. The note said the government intends to deport Mahjoub to Egypt within two weeks.
The federal government intends to deport Mahjoub even though its own immigration bureaucracy has come to the conclusion that he would be at substantial risk of torture if sent back to Egypt. Such a decision flies in the face of Canada's signed commitments to international law, including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, as well as Canada's own Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which states that the act is to be construed and applied in a manner that "complies with international human rights instruments to which Canada is signatory."
While the federal government is stating Mahjoub is an "exceptional case" (but without providing reasons, for those are all secret!), international law states clearly there can NEVER be a return to torture.
September 7 marks a continuation of a detention review which is challenging Mahjoub's indefinite incarceration in a situation one federal court judge has likened to "Canada's Guantanamo Bay." During the course of the week his lawyers, Barbara Jackman and John Norris, will also argue for a stay of deportation.
(It is worth noting at a time when secret trials and the so-called "terror" scares are under increasing scrutiny that as this appeal is sent out, yet another so-called "terror" case has fallen apart in the U.S. Four men who were allegedly part of a high-profile Detroit-area "cell" were the victims of what the U.S. Justice Department admits was its own prosecutorial misconduct and a "pattern of mistakes and oversights" that warrant the dismissal of the convictions.)
Here in Canada, it remains a scary proposition that the uncontested word of spy agency CSIS -- regularly criticized for getting facts wrong, for using feelings instead of facts, for withholding information which runs counter to its theories, and for trading information with known human rights abusers -- is all that's needed to send someone to torture.
1. Come to Court one any or all of the days next week when court is scheduled.
2. Write to Anne McLellan, urging her to reverse the deportation to torture decision and demanding that Mahjoub's indefinite incarceration without charge be brought to an end. You might want to add that your sentiments apply equally to all of the Secret Trial Five -- Mahjoub, Mahmoud Jaballah, Hassan Almrei, Mohamed Harkat and Adil Charkaoui -- who collectively, as of September 1, have been held 159 months in detention without charge, and all of whom face deportation to torture or worse.
Write to McLellan at:
Anne McLellan, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, c/o Solicitor General of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 OR fax 613-990-9077
Please cc tasc@web.ca if you can. Thank you!
3. At this time, a short note of support for Mahjoub would be appreciated as well. If you would like his mailing address, please inform tasc@web.ca and we'll send it on!
Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada
PO Box 73620, 509 St Clair Ave. West
Toronto, ON M6C 1C0
(416) 651-5800, www.homesnotbombs.ca


Here are 31 sample JPEG and 22 raw images taken with a full-production version of the brand new Leica S (Typ 007) digital medium format camera. Priced at £12,900, the Leica S (Typ 007) is a digital medium format camera. Today we had a brief opportunity to shoot with the Leica S (Typ 007) at an exclusive Leica UK press event in central London.
A gallery of sample images taken with the Leica S (Typ 007) camera.
Note: the first 5 JPEGs are official sample images provided by Leica.
The Leica S (Typ 007) enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Leica RAW (DNG) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).


text:
Q: Is it possible to create an array on the heap at run-time, and then allocate more space whenever needed? Lets say I do
char *a;
a = new char[4];

Now, is it possible to extend the size of the array further?
Say I want to keep any values I put inside a[0] to a[3] but now I want more space for a[4] and a[5] etc. Is that possible in C++?

At first I felt like maybe I could just make:
char* a[10];
a[0] = new char[size];

Whenever more space is needed I can go to a[1] and allocate more space. This is the only alternative I can think of at the moment.

A: Unfortunately it's not possible in C++. You have to allocate a new area and copy the old into the new.
However, C++ have other facilities, like std::vector, that alleviates the need to manually handle these things.

A: Instead of char* a , you can use char** a;
i.e.
char**  a = new char*[4];

for(int i=0; i<4; i++)
  (*a)[i] = new char(i);   /* feed values to array */

/* now you need a[4]? no problem */
char tmp = (*a)[3];
a[3] = new char[2];

a[3][0] = tmp;
a[3][1] = xyz;    /* this is you a[4] */

Though this is a work around, I would suggest to used vector.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: _.extend doesn't shallow copy elements to destination properly I've just started to write a Backbone library which goes like this,
(function() {
    var root = this;

    if(root && !root.Backbone) {
        console.log('BackboneJS does not exist!.');
    } else {
        Backbone = root.Backbone;
    }

    var Form = Backbone.View.extend({
        events: {
            'submit': function(event) {
                this.trigger('submit', event);
            }
        },
        initialize: function(options) {
            var self = this;
            var options = this.options = _.extend(options, {
                submitButton: false
            });
        }
    });
    Backbone.Form = Form;
})();

And I'm invoking this through jQuery (in my index.html) like this,
$(document).ready(function(){
  var myForm = new Backbone.Form({
  options: {
    hasTopButtons : true,
    hasEdit: false,
    hasPrint: true
  }
});

But, when I use the _.extend function to shallow copy additional keys to the options it doesn't seems to me including the new key into the existing options array, instead it creates a new one outside of the options array like this,

Instead of the below structure.

Can someone help me to find out what is going wrong here?

A: You're invoking the function incorrectly. You want:
$(document).ready(function(){
  var myForm = new Backbone.Form({
    hasTopButtons : true,
    hasEdit: false,
    hasPrint: true
  });
});

Your code explicitly passes an object that has a single property called "options".
Also, in your "initialize" function, there's a spurious var declaration:
        var options = this.options = _.extend(options, {
            submitButton: false
        });

That should probably be
        this.options = _.extend({}, options, {
            submitButton: false
        });

The _.extend function modifies the first object, and you probably don't want to be messing with client objects like that. Thus, you can pass in a new empty object, and _.extend() will shallow-copy all the client properties into it.


• PLC Systems based on SIMATIC S7 & SIMATIC-S5.
• HMI Systems based on Protool & WinCC Flexible.
• SCADA systems based on – COROS LS-B / WinCC.
• Drive Systems – AC / DC & Servo Drives.
• SIMADYN-D & SIMATIC-TDC Control systems.
• Migration from SIMATIC-S5 to SIMATIC-S7.
• Integration of Automation Systems with Web / ERP.


The Hayes are descended from the Gaelic sept of the Ó hAodha, although Hayes is also a common name in England where it derives from places of the same name. Ó hAodha comes from the personal name Aodh which means 'fire'. The name was very popular in early Ireland, hence the existence of at least twelve distinct branches of the family scattered throughout the country. Today in Ireland the name ranks as the fifty second most numerous surname. It is most popular in Co. Limerick, where it is fourth most popular surname, and is also numerous in Cork, Clare Tyrone, Monaghan, Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Galway, Meath and Wexford.


A cpn file extension is related to the CPN Tools, a tool for editing and analyzing Colored Petri nets. A cpn file stores model.
What is cpn file? How to open cpn files?
The cpn file extension is also used by CPN Tools, a tool for editing, simulating, and analyzing Colored Petri nets, created at Eindhoven University of Technology.
The cpn file contains model usable in the program.
Use compatible tools to work with *.cpn files.
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open cpn file, edit cpn file, convert cpn file, view cpn file, play cpn file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting cpn files.
Programs supporting the exension cpn on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about CPN Tools for open cpn file action.
Programs supporting the exension cpn on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about CPN Tools for create cpn file action.
Click on the software link for more information about CPN Tools. CPN Tools uses cpn file type for its internal purposes and/or also by different way than common edit or open file actions (eg. to install/execute/support an application itself, to store application or user data, configure program etc.).


text:
Das Oberlausitzer Forstmuseum befindet sich in der Gemeinde Sohland an der Spree im Landkreis Bautzen und wird vom Freundeskreis Forstmuseum Oberlausitz e. V. mit Unterstützung der Gemeinde Sohland an der Spree betrieben.

Lage
Das Museum befindet sich in der ehemaligen Lessingschule (Hainspacher Straße 21) in der Ortslage Obersohland. In unmittelbarer Nachbarschaft liegt das Heimatmuseum Altes Weberhaus.

Lessingschule
Die Lessingschule war die Dorfschule von Obersohland, seit 1923 trug sie den Namen "Lessingschule". Im Jahre 2000 wurde die Grundschule geschlossen. Im gleichen Jahr wurde der Verein Oberlausitzer Holzgestaltung e. V. (Ola-Ho) gegründet und richtete im Schulgebäude eine Werkstatt ein, in der vor allem Kinderspielgeräte gefertigt werden. 2001 wurde in einem Raum der Schule eine Ausstellung zur Waldarbeit eingerichtet, aus der das Oberlausitzer Forstmuseum hervorging.

Die Ola-Ho ist Veranstalter des seit 2002 jährlich auf dem Schulgelände stattfindenden Holz- und Waldfestes. 2004 wurde in der Lessingschule die 2. Pumphutt-Sonderausstellung gezeigt.

Im Jahre 2015 verkaufte die Gemeinde Sohland die Lessingschule an die Ola-Ho. Die ehemalige Schule hat sich zum soziokulturellen und musealen Zentrum im Sohlander Oberdorf entwickelt.

Museum
In der Nachwendezeit retteten ehemalige Forstleute Werkzeuge, Maschinen, Geräte und Bücher aus Forsthäusern vor der Vernichtung. 2001 wurde in einem ehemaligen Schulraum die Ausstellung "Waldarbeit" eingerichtet. Diese wurde 2005 um das "Försterzimmer" und 2007 um die Ausstellung "Forstvermessung und Forstkarten" erweitert.

In den Jahren 2014 bis 2015 entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit der Mittleren Forstschule Schluckenau die durch die Euroregion Neiße geförderte Ausstellung "Historische Waldnutzungen in der Oberlausitz". Zugleich wurde das Oberlausitzer Forstmuseum im Rahmen eines Projekts der Euroregion mit dem Forstmuseum im Schloss Schluckenau vernetzt. Zwischen beiden Museen wurde ein grenzüberschreitender Wanderweg angelegt, der über 6,5 Kilometer von Obersohland durch das Schebich und Neugrafenwalde (Nové Hraběcí) nach Schluckenau führt.

Weblinks
 Oberlausitzer Forstmuseum
 Grenzüberschreitenden Projekt "Forsthistorische Themen im Grenzland"

Einzelnachweise

Forstmuseum
Museum im Landkreis Bautzen
Sohland an der Spree

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Silicon Labs has launched the Z-Wave 700 on the Wireless Gecko platform. Z-Wave 700 delivers on Silicon Labs' vision and platform integration roadmap following the company's acquisition of Z-Wave technology in April 2018. According to Silicon Lab, the new smart home platform builds on Z-Wave's S2 security and interoperability by improving energy efficiency and adding higher performance, longer range RF capabilities. By leveraging the Wireless Gecko platform, Z-Wave 700 enables developers to create new classes of smaller, more intelligent smart home products at a lower cost and faster time-to-market.
Z-Wave 700 combines an ARM processor-based platform with large on-chip memory to enable greater intelligence at the edge and secure inclusion in less than one second. The Z-Wave 700 platform uses a 10-year coin-cell battery, enabling more wireless sensor applications. Enhanced RF extends Z-Wave 700 device range beyond traditional limits to the edge of the yard and throughout a multi-story home.
Z-Wave 700 is shipping pre-orders now to 150 beta customers within the Z-Wave Alliance, and production quantities are planned to be available in late Q1 2019. Here are all the specs.


text:
Q: Kendo subgrid deletion (with php) I use example like this:Tutorial for Kendo and PHP
And I use code in subgrid as in grid:
subDS = new kendo.data.DataSource({
        transport: {
            read: "data/channelName.php?acc="+e.data.userId,
            destroy: {
                url: "data/chMove.php",
                type: "DELETE",
                complete: function (e) {
                    $("#grid").data("kendoGrid").dataSource.read();
                }
            }
        },
        error: function(e) {
            alert(e.responseText);
        },
        schema: {
            data: "results",
            model: {
                id: "channelId"
            }
        }
    });
detailRow.find(".subgrid").kendoGrid({
        dataSource: subDS,
        columns: [
                {
                    title: "Channel Name", field: "channelname"
                },
                {
                    command: ["destroy"], title: " ", width: "100px"
                }]
    });

However, the code isn't fired in server side of PHP code,
I not sure it is client side code wrong or server side?
The read is return:
{"results":[{"channelname":"test"},{"channelname":"5413trret"},{"channelname":"d453"},{"channelname":"test3"},{"channelname":"ter"},{"channelname":"test5"}]}
and userId is in the read of the grid.
The server side(chMove.php) I try to test if it is fired use alert like:
<?php

    // determine the request type
    $verb = $_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"];

    echo "<script>alert('"."123"."');</script>";

?>

But the alert never be fired, needless to say I want to get the parse_str(file_get_contents('php://input'), $request );
later and parse the $request.
The final goal is delete what user click in the "Delete" button and the server side can delete it in database.
Any idea about my code?
Or is there any other method to do deletion of subgrid?
Any advice appreciate.

A: OK, I have alternate method.
I look the manual : Below show how to fired remove function
And the code is like:
var detailRow = e.detailRow;
    subDS = new kendo.data.DataSource({
        transport: {
            read: "data/channelName.php?acc="+e.data.userId
        },
        error: function(e) {
            alert(e.responseText);
        },
        schema: {
            data: "results",
            model: {
                id: "channelid",
                fields: {
                    channelname:{ editable: false}
                }
            }
        }
    });

    // create a subgrid for the current detail row, getting territory data for this employee
    detailRow.find(".subgrid").kendoGrid({
        columns: [
            { title: "Channel Name", field: "channelname"},
            { command: "destroy", title: " ", width: "100px" }
        ],
        dataSource: subDS,
        editable: true,
        remove: function(e) {
            //alert("Removing:" + e.model.channelid);
            var xmlhttp2;
            if (window.XMLHttpRequest) {// code for IE7+, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari
                xmlhttp2=new XMLHttpRequest();
            } else {
                xmlhttp2=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
            }
            xmlhttp2.open("POST","data/chMove.php",true);
            xmlhttp2.setRequestHeader("Content-type","application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
            xmlhttp2.send("channel="+e.model.channelid);
        }
    });

The most important is set your subgrid to be editable( I don't set the attribute before),
and the model of id can let you use in your data("results").
And I also show my trick to connect to PHP side :)
Then you can handle the server side as usual:
(in chMove.php)
$channel=mysql_real_escape_string($_POST["channel"]);

It takes me a lot of time to deal with it, I hope it is helpful.


Post your stanced, hellaflush, slammed maxima here!!!!!
I'm in the process of slamming mine but i have a quick question.
The wheels i'm looking at are 17x8.5 -10 all around.
I'm aware that's an incredibly low offset, and i've used the tire/rim calculator and it says the wheels will stick out 75mm further than they do.
I do know i'll be forced to roll my fenders, but to what extent? Please help.
This is my slammed 5.5.
Now i can finally join the club!!!
Here is my lowered 97.
It's still looks the same. Different wheels up front now for whatever reason.
Id lose the grill bar, and replace with mat black or gloss black honey comb, or other messing. That cheap maxima plastic bar thru the grill kills the look for me.
I know theres kits, but even saws alling it out and replacing with honey comb (done proper) not ghetto, would look better in my eyes.
No finger gap no rubbing too which is good.
A good 3/4s of the cars in here either look like complete **** or have nothing hellaflush or stanced about them. If your going to do it, atleast do it right dont post an ugly work in progress, like look at the fool with his 2g he tried to go reverse carbon fiber look.
nothings perfect?, but yea just lowering and slammed on coils doesnt fit the bill in this thread..... oh well.... the threads dated at this point, and the fads of hella flush are evolving.
Nothing is perfect but its funny.
HI guys new to this blog thing but if i get 18x9.5 or 18x10.5 how much can i drop my fifth gen without rubbing i know for sure i have to roll the fenders.
To be honest it all depends on the tires size what your getting. I'm running 225/40/18 with 18x10 w/ 33 offset. I am laying frame everywhere I go.
Sorry for bad quality on rear photo because I was video recording and snapshot to save it. Hope this helps, and good luck.
Looking good guys! Can we get more pics? Need some inspiration for my 98.
Quick Reply: Post your stanced, hellaflush, slammed maxima here!!!!!


text:
Arts August 29, 2009
Indian Legend Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Plays NYC, Thanks Obama
New York, N.Y. Indian classical musician Ustad Amjad Ali Khanplayed the Indian Consulate of New York last week. He played in the grand ballroom of the former mansion on 64th and Fifth, built in 1903 for Ms. Carrie Astor.
Amjad Ali Khan plays the sarod, the most prominent stringed musical instrument used in northern India's classical Hindustani music. According to the Dalai Lama, "When Amjad Ali Khan performs, he carries with him a deep spirit, a warm feeling, and a sense of caring." Introduced by the Indian Consul General, Hon. Prabhu Dayal, as part of the Consulate's Jewels of India series, he was called "India's greatest diamond."
"When Amjad Ali Khan performs, he carries with him a deep spirit,
a warm feeling, and a sense of caring." – The Dalai LamaIntroduced by the Indian Consul General, Hon. Prabhu Dayal, as part of the Consulate's Jewels of India series, he was called "India's greatest diamond."The musician noted in his opening comments that classical music is a way of life. He dedicated the concert to those who died recently on the Air France plane bound from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, and expressed his heartfelt condolences to their families.The Consulate's ballroom was standing room only. Khan invited the overflow audience to sit on the stage with him and I joined them, sitting a few feet away. The look of concentration on his face was riveting, so deeply content and at peace. The Consulate's ballroom was standing room only.I noted Khan's gray hair set upon a youthful complexion. His turquoise tunic shimmered in the lights as he sang and played such haunting melodies.
His eyes shut, his head gently rocking in concentration, he began by demonstrating his instrument. He played with his fingers, and then he played with his nails. The nails producing a sound unworldly in tone.
Khan explained how the lack of frets and the tension of the strings make it very difficult to play, as the strings must be pressed hard against the fingerboard. The sitar, by comparison, has frets.
The look of concentration on his face was riveting and deeply content.The several hundred people crowded in the ballroom, dressed in suits and cocktail dresses, turbans and saris, sat in awe. Mesmerized, many sat with eyes closed, absorbing the musician's dramatic presence.
The orange, white and green flag of India with its wheel stood proudly next to the stars and stripes. The wheel represents the Buddhist Dharma Chakra (Wheel of Law), with its 24 spokes representing the endless cycle of life.
The 19-string sarod has a deep, weighty, introspective sound — contrasted with the sweet, extremely rich texture of the sitar — with strings that give it a resonant, reverberant quality.
The gifted musician spoke of two types of music – one of pure sound, and the other almost a language in itself.
Charlotte White, a 95-year old denizen of the arts in New York City, lived in India for many years. She praised his "rare, mystical patterns, which so superbly produces such a rich variety of tones.
"His expression of what is music is similar to Leonard Bernstein, who also said music is either pure, pure sound or verbalized into words, language."
The musician received flowers from Indian Consul General Prabhu Dayal.Following the event, Consul General Prabhu Dayal was extremely pleased, commenting to me, "I am just thrilled by tonight's performance." He noted that the concert was part of an on-going series of distinguished artists from India.
I was able to speak to Ustad Amjad Ali Khan after he finished playing, and asked him what he would like to convey to the American people. The Moslem musician caught me by surprise by switching from the arts to politics.
"I was happy this week to see the energy of your president, Barack Obama, and to hear of his dream to unite the word," he told me.
"I was so very happy with his speech in Cairo. I wish him luck to achieve all he is trying to do, with Israel and Palestine, with Africa, with the world. This is the time for humanity, with the help of Barack Obama, to unite us all for future generations. All of the hatred that we have held on to for hundreds of years may be let go now. All people should come together now as one."
A reception followed, where I chatted with India's Ambassador to the U.N., the Hon. Hardeep Singh Puri, who said, "It was truly a spectacular performance. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is indeed one of India's brightest jewels. We are so very proud of him."
Amjad Ali Khan explained that classical music is a way of life.Khan was a recipient of the UNESCO International Music Forum Award, UNICEF's National Ambassadorship, and The Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum. He was also awarded the Fukuoka Asian Culture Grand Prize.
His wife and two children, Ayaan and Amaan, were with him in New York. Both Ayaan and Amaan play the sarod, and a family concert may one day take place.
I spoke to his youngest son, Ayaan Ali Bangash. I asked Ayaan, now 30, about living and training with the world's greatest sarod player.
"For me, it's an honor to have been born to him. I am the only student who ever sat on his lap – since the time I was born. I know it sounds too sugary, but I could not have asked for a better dad – and a better teacher."
At 63, Amjad Ali Khan comes from a long line of distinguished musicians. He was taught by his father, Hafiz Ali Khan, a musician to the royal family of Gwalior. Khan is the sixth generation inheritor of this lineage.
His ancestors have developed and shaped the instrument over several hundred years. His forefathers came in the mid-1700's from Afghanistan to India's relaxed music atmosphere and brought the rabab, a string instrument that which later developed into the sarod.
Amjad Ali Khan's concert was sponsored by New York Life, which has a large number of Indian and Indian-American clients. New York Life frequently highlights Indian culture in its advertising campaigns and is a generous corporate patron to the arts.
All Photographs courtesy of Gunjesh Desai. Edited by Karen Davis. Published in The Huffington Post, Feb. 2, 2009.
Luce Index
100 – Barack Obama
98 – Dalai Lama
97 – Leonard Bernstein
93 – Amjad Ali Khan
Follow Jim Luce on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jimluce
Tags: Afghanistan, Africa, Air France, Ayaan Ali Bangash, Barack Obama, Buddhist Dharma Chakra, Cairo, Carrie Astor, Dalai Lama, Fukuoka Asian Culture Grand Prize, Gunjesh Desai, Gwalior, Hafiz Ali Khan, Hardeep Singh Puri, Hindustani Music, Indian Classical Music, Indian Consulate of New York, Islam, Israel, Leonard Bernstein, Masalajunction.Com, Moslem Musician, New York Life, New York News, Palestine, Prabhu Dayal, Sarod, Sitar, UNESCO International Music Forum Award, UNICEF National Ambassadorship, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, World Economic Forum Crystal Award
Daily Kos Interview with Secretary General of International Red Cross
Keiko Tsuyama: Japanese Woman of the World
About Jim Luce: Thought Leaders & Global Citizens
View all posts by Jim Luce: Thought Leaders & Global Citizens
Jim Luce (www.lucefoundation.org) writes and speaks on Thought Leaders and Global Citizens. Bringing 26 years management experience within both investment banking and the non-profit sector, Jim has worked for Daiwa Bank, Merrill Lynch, a spin-off of Lazard Freres, and two not-for profit organizations and a foundation he founded. As Founder & CEO of Orphans International Worldwide (www.oiww.org), he is working with a strong network of committed professionals to build interfaith, interracial, Internet-connected orphanages in Haiti and Indonesia, and creating a new, family-care model for orphans in Sri Lanka and Tanzania.


text:
DBATE
Are cybersecurity threats on the rise? If so, how can we protect ourselves?
Society has been moving online for some time. This shift may not always be noticeable from day to day due to its incremental nature, but when we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, the change has been immense. Very few elements of our modern lives have escaped digitisation.
From details about our employers to our personal affairs (think everything from shopping and banking to medical records tracked by apps), most of us now enter and store a wealth of sensitive and potentially valuable information across multiple devices.
While this is not necessarily a problem, it's clear that the need to educate ourselves about how our data is stored and managed – and the measures we can take to protect ourselves and our businesses from cybersecurity breaches – has never been more important.
But are cybersecurity threats becoming more common? And if they are, what can we do to mitigate the risks they pose?
The downside of remote working
The short answer to the first question is "yes". Cybersecurity threats are on the rise globally, in part due to a shift in attitudes towards remote working expedited by the COVID-19 pandemic. With more people than ever adopting a "Work from Home (WFH)" culture, corporate cyberattacks are at historically high levels.
This is predominantly because home networks tend not to be as secure as their corporate counterparts, which usually feature additional safety measures such as firewalls. Moreover, companies' online activities are often monitored and supported by cybersecurity professionals, both in-house and external. Unsurprisingly, individuals seeking out such expertise remain the exception rather than the rule.
The use of employee-owned technology to complete work-related tasks also poses a potential hazard, with many workers taking a more casual approach to security on their devices than their employers would deem appropriate. Indeed, research suggests that one in 36 mobile devices has at least one high-risk app installed.
Ultimately, this leaves organisations in both the public and private sectors more exposed and vulnerable to online threats and attacks than they were before working from home became commonplace. The Middle East, for example, is currently experiencing unprecedented volumes of cybersecurity threats.
Statistics from Help AG show that the UAE saw a staggering 183% uptick in "distributed denial of service" (DDoS) attacks in the period 2019-20. Unfortunately, the global fightback against COVID-19 has done nothing to alleviate this trend, with a further 37% increase recorded during the period 2021-22.
Worryingly, the sophistication of such attacks is also on the rise. In June of this year, web performance and security company Cloudflare detected and mitigated a 26-million-request-per-second DDoS attempt – the largest attack of its kind on record.
Ransomware is another online threat that has been growing in the UAE in recent years. Hackers are now able to steal and encrypt data to prevent its use through increasingly complex extortion attempts, many of which also involve DDoS attacks.
The prevalence of ransomware rose by a jaw-dropping 435% globally in 2020 compared to the previous year. Naturally, these malicious activities can prove extremely costly. The average recovery cost for businesses that fall victim to such schemes is nearly $2 million.
Global ramifications
Whichever way you look at it, cybersecurity is a big deal. In my opinion, the fact that the aforementioned spikes coincided with the global pandemic and the rise of remote working is far from coincidental. While I fully acknowledge that working from home can offer some advantages if employed effectively, we cannot afford to ignore the dangers that this trend poses to data security and, in turn, Gulf economies.
These dangers are placed in even sharper focus when we consider the primary industries of the Middle East. Our region is home to some of the largest oil-and-gas-producing nations in the world and, just like many others, these sectors are becoming increasingly digitised in the name of efficiency.
It's needless to say that threats to smooth and continuous operations within the energy sector could prove catastrophic, not only for the nations that depend on the associated revenues but also for markets that import their fuel from the Middle East.
If we wish to gauge the potential ramifications of an attack on the GCC's oil and gas infrastructure, we need to look no further than similar events that have taken place elsewhere in the world. For example, last year, Colonial Pipeline, one of the largest oil pipeline operators in the US, was shut down for several days by a ransomware attack on its digital systems.
When one considers cases such as this, it's not exactly difficult to imagine the level of disruption that would result from a successful cyberattack on Middle East supply lines, not to mention the financial losses that would be incurred by global economies more generally.
How can we fight back?
Given that the stakes are so high, and the risks are seemingly everywhere, what can we do to mitigate cyber threats?
Here in the UAE, our government is keenly aware of the need to develop robust cybersecurity systems, especially as our nation's digital infrastructure continues to transition to Web3 and investment in Industry 4.0 gathers pace. In consultation with experts from around the world, the UAE is determined to combine the latest research and innovations while developing homegrown talent capable of spearheading solutions within an ever-evolving digital landscape.
In 2020, the UAE Cybersecurity Council was established, with responsibility for the development and maintenance of a national cybersecurity framework. This followed the National Cybersecurity Strategy of 2019, which sought to develop more than 40,000 local cybersecurity professionals to keep the UAE's digital borders safe and secure.
It's hardly surprising, therefore, that our nation has succeeded in climbing the ranks of the Global Cybersecurity Index during recent years, placing in the top five in 2020 compared to 33rd the previous year.
Essentially, UAE residents and organisations are already benefiting from one of the most secure cyber environments on the planet. Timely government investment and a willingness to collaborate with researchers and innovators have served to create a culture of cyber awareness across our nation.
The long-term challenge is that malevolent actors are doing everything in their power to keep pace with cybersecurity developments, meaning there is absolutely no room for complacency. The UAE may have achieved significant progress in this field, but it cannot afford to rest on its laurels. By the same token, we must all acknowledge our responsibility for maintaining security standards, both within our private and professional lives.
After all, corporate cybersecurity is only as strong as the individual links in the chain, meaning that a single weak spot can result in widespread losses.
Copyright @2023. All Rights Reserved by Amira Sajwani


Hi, I would like to add information to Huizar Descendant report for my second great grandmother.
Her name was Dolores Huizar (Also spelled Wiser, Wizer, Guiser, Huezer). She was born abt 1832 in Texas.
She was the daughter of Sefarino Huizar and Trinidad Garcia.
1850 - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLJ-VVW This census Dolores and her brother (Juan) are living with Uncle Bruno and Grandmother Teodora. Dolores's father Sefarino is also on the same Census page with his second wife and family.
1860 - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXF1-C6B Dolores and Rosaleo. Her Brother Juan is also on the same page. According to this census, they both owned property around Mission San Jose.
I am still researching and especially interested in finding more information on Rosaleo Guerrero. He seemed to disappear around the time of the US Civil War. Any assistance would be appreciated.


For the process of losing weight, there are a lot of products for women, but when it comes to men you don't have too many choices. Now it's different. We can say that the first product just for men appeared and is multifunctional as men love to be. It's about a new product on the market from Canada, which is called AminoFitin. I'm very happy to say that the product was launched on the Asian online market and even men from Philippine can have it. You just don't miss a product like this and you'll find out why in the next lines.
Why AminoFitin is special for men?
What ingredients a product for men has to lose weight?
How I discovered AminoFitin Powder on forums?
Men need this to be in shape with a great health and muscles. Most of the men say that women are much more helped to lose weight and for them is easier because they really don't need to have muscles like men. It's important to say that a man looks more masculine when he has no fat and sculpted muscles. Thanks to AminoFitin this is possible. It is known that when we lose weight, the muscles decrease and men don't love that.
The product is a fat burning powder which is dissolved in water to obtain a special drink. I must say that it won't be any side effects, because all the ingredients are natural. Additionally, this powder has 3 quality certificates and an efficiency of over 80%. Customers said that it is possible to burn fat without losing muscles and in only 4 weeks you can get rid of fat belly, side fat and even visceral fat which is very dangerous.
It's amazing that a product only for men appeared, so we are all interested to know them to understand why women can't try it. For sculpted muscles, men need a lot of testosterone and AminoFitin can favor the natural production in the body. It has a special ingredient as brown algae which help you have a faster metabolism and high testosterone levels. At a simple search on Google, you'll discover that this algae has all the vitamins and minerals for the men's health. The formula is based on the AminoPlastQ9, which combines both nutrition for losing weight and for muscles.
You must know that the product is a powder and you can obtains an efficient and delicious drink if you dissolve a tablespoon in a glass of water. It's necessary to drink a glass once per day till you'll be in shape.
The news that a product is efficient and all natural are spreading quickly, so it wasn't a problem for me to discover AminoFitin. I must say is very popular in the online market and it's not because is a Canadian product in Asia. The product really helped a lot of men and it's appreciated that is natural, you lose weight, you decrease your food appetite and you'll have sculpted muscles.
For now, I say that the product is sold online only on the official website, so many people have emotions to order it because of that. But there is nothing to be afraid. The producers assure you that the product is certificated, all the ingredients are natural and efficient and the shipping is FREE. They also have 50% discounts so the price is quite affordable. You must pay only when the order arrives at you and nothing till then. You'll also receive your money back if the product won't do the best for you.
I think that for a revolutionary product, AminoFitin is well presented, so I don't have concerns. The producers gave us a lot of details, so men can understand how this product works for them. But I have to mention one thing. There is no phone number on their website. I only saw an e-mail address and I must say that for me it's easier to call, but I'm ok with this.
Customers recommend it, doctors too, so it's clear that is an efficient product. Most of men also said they were active to favor even more muscles definition. How AminoFitin worked for you if you have tried it?


Join an AIA Knowledge Community and connect with others who share your passions and commitment—and start a project that advances the profession and your work.
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With webinars, workshops, white papers, newsletters, in-person events, and active discussion boards, you will find the information you need to stay on top of your interest areas.
Share your reports, help students, develop grants, conduct courses and presentations, lead a forum, and more with over 90,000 members from around the world.
AAH advocates for innovations in design that help improve healthcare and shares the latest research through webinars, conferences and publications and works with allied organizations.
Justice facilities present architects with unique challenges. AAJ connects members with professional organizations and outside experts in a continuing quest for quality, efficiency and justice.
Building Performance promotes architects as leaders in designing for better building performance, including criteria, codes, standards, programming and managing. The result: Buildings that are healthier, more energy efficient and more durable.
CAE convenes architects, designers and allied professionals for interdisciplinary work: How to design, build and use educational, cultural and recreational facilities to meet the needs of students of all ages.
The COD promotes design excellence among members, the broader design community and the public.
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CRAN is the leading resource and voice for architects who focus on collaborative design with homeowners. It provides support, advocacy and education for custom residential projects and professional development for its members.
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Resilience, climate change and natural disasters are at the top of many municipalities' watch list. RUDC helps architecture professionals keep pace with changing conditions and improve regional and urban environments through excellence in design, planning and public policy.
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As new technology emerges and becomes increasingly critical to practice, planning and building, TAP keeps members ahead, serving as a resource for the profession and the public in the use of technology in the practice of architecture.


text:
Q: How do I get an exact answer for this? A breeding group of 20 bighorn sheep is released in a protected area in Colorado. It is expected that with careful management the number of sheep, N, after t years will be given by the formula:
N = 220/(1 + 10(0.83)t )
and that the sheep population will be able to maintain itself without further supervision once the population reaches a size of 80.
Write a program (using a for loop) that writes out the value of N for t starting at zero and going up to 25. How many years must the sheep heard be supervised?
Here is my code:
import java.lang.Math;

class SheepHerd {

public static void main(String[] args){

    for(double t = 0; t <= 25; t++) {

        double N =  220 / (1 +10 * (Math.pow(.83, t)));
        System.out.println(N);

    }
  }
}

The terminal shows me the numbers, and I can see that it takes between 9 and 10 years, but how can I get the exact years?

A: Since you are already using a double as counter, you could try incrementing it not by 1, but by a smaller value like 0.1:
for(double t = 0; t <= 25; t+=0.1) {
        double N =  220 / (1 +10 * (Math.pow(.83, t)));
        if (N >= 80) {
            System.out.println(N + " sheep after " + t + " years");
            break;
        }

    }

This way you can adjust the granularity of time you want, but with each step you're moving into the more exact direction, computation takes longer.

A: Add after System.out.println(N);
If (N >= 80)
   break;

This will cause your program to exit the loop after the target number (80) is reached.
The original problem is asking how many Years, so we can only assume it's asking for a whole number of Years. At year 9, you will not have enough sheep, so it cannot be year 9. It must be year 10.

A: You can solve the equation for t (or let others do this for you: Wolfram alpha solution) and implement the resulting formula:
class SheepHerd
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        for (double t = 0; t <= 25; t++)
        {
            double N = 220 / (1 + 10 * (Math.pow(.83, t)));
            System.out.println(
                "for t=" + t + " result is " + N +
                " check: " + computeYears(N));
        }

        System.out.println(computeYears(80));
    }

    public static double computeYears(double N)
    {
        double a = Math.log(22.0 / N - 0.1);
        double b = Math.log(100.0 / 83.0);
        return -a / b;
    }
}

A: You could definitely invert that function. If my math doesn't fail me, it would be:
          a
N = -------------
     1 + b * c^t

       1    /  a      \
c^t = --- * | --- - 1 |
       b    \  N      /

              /                        \
       1      |    /  a      \         |
t = ------- * | lg | --- - 1 | - lg(b) |
     lg(c)    |    \  N      /         |
              \                        /

Where in your case a = 220, b = 10, c = .83 and get the exact value of t.


text:
Isolation and Characterization of Thermostable Α-Amylase From Afar Regional State of Ethiopia
Duga, Abdi
Thermophilic microorganisms could be isolated from harsh environments where the environmental conditions are not favorable for most microorganisms. Enzymes isolated from these microbes could have higher activity and stability. Thermostable enzymes can be extracted from thermophilic microbes and be employed for industrial purposes. The isolation and characterization of these enzymes are crucial steps in biotechnology and enzyme sciences. In this study, five (5) water samples and five (5) soil samples from Afar, a regional state in Ethiopia. Isolates in all the samples were grown at 70 0C to screen for thermophilic microorganisms. Among these thermophiles, thirty five (35) colonies from each sample which showed a positive amylolytic response were selected and the ratio of the clear halo created to the colony size (HCR) was compared. Based on the HCR, isolates from ALS and MS were selected for further characterization. The optimum fermentation temperature was found to be 65 0C for both isolates with a fermentation period of 48 hours under the normal pH of the basal medium. The pH optima for the production of the enzymes were pH 6 for MS and pH 8 for ALS. The enzymes isolated from both isolates were found to be very active at high temperature. Enzyme from ALS had a maximum activity at 90 0C while the enzyme from MS had its maximum activity at 85 0C. pH optimum for ALS was 8 and it was functional in a pH range of 6- 11. The enzyme from MS had maximum activity at pH value of 6 and it had amylolytic activity in a pH range of 4-9. Both enzymes showed good stability for pH and temperature. The enzyme from ALS retained 62% of its original activity (2.3817 ± 0.11 U/ml) after 40 minutes of incubation at 900C however, maintained 6% of its activity at 100 0C. The enzyme was deactivated after 30 minutes (retaining only 5% at 105 0C of its original activity). This enzyme was fairly stable for 30 minutes maintaining more than 50 % of its activity at pH values of 6-9, with no activity at pH values less than 6. The ion Zn2+ and higher concentrations (10 mM) of Mg2+ strongly inhibited enzyme iv activity while 5mM concentration of Ca2+ and Ba2+ induced higher catalysis on the enzyme from ALS. The enzyme from MS retained 65% of its original activity (2.5782 ± 0.56 U/ml) after 40 minutes of incubation at 85 0C however, maintained 4% of its activity at 100 0C. The enzyme was fairly stable for 40 minutes maintaining more than 50 % of its activity at pH values of 5-7, with no activity at pH values higher than 9. It had 69 % of its activity at pH value of 6 after 40 minutes of reaction time and maintained 53 % of its original activity at pH value of 4 after 30 minutes of reaction time. The ion Zn2+ and higher concentrations (10 mM) of Mg2+ strongly inhibited enzyme activity while 5mM concentration of Ca2+ and Ba2+ induced higher catalysis. Considering the requirement of starch liquefaction process of an enzyme with a low pH optimum, the enzyme isolated from MS may offer an advantage since it functions well in acidic pH value of up to 4. Even though the enzyme activities of ALS and MS improved with the addition of CaCl2, they had good amylolytic activities in the absence of Ca2+ which is a requirement in large-scale starch hydrolysis processes. Therefore, the enzymes from ALS and MS can be employed for starch hydrolysis in large-scale processes.
Name: Abdi Duga 2013.pdf


Karen Bentley is a bestselling author, educator, and the world's only stopping Sherpa. She's also the founder of The Sugar-Free Institute and the creator of The Sugar-Free Miracle™ Diet, an easy weight loss program that stops out-of-control eating. For more information, please visit Karen Bentley's other websites: www.karenbentley.com and www.sugarfreemiracle.com.
If you wish to know the road up the mountain, ask the man who goes back and forth on it.
Sherpa's prepare the way and make a difficult passage more navigable for others. They prevent mistakes and hasten a recovery when mistakes crop up. They get people unstuck and keep them moving until the goal is achieved. They prepare for every contingency. By walking the stopping mountain with me every day and by following in my footsteps, you'll learn how to get a stopping result and hold it. Karen Bentley shows you where to plant your feet, how to hold your heart, where to set your sights. She is your stopping Sherpa.
A song in the heart that must be sung!
"When I was younger I was constantly searching for a stopping solution for myself," says Karen Bentley. "I attended seminars. I went to meetings. I read hundreds of self-help books and articles. I listened to psychologists, psychiatrists, and other experts. I got counseling. I went to a hypnotist. I cruised into a few AA and OA meetings and heard lots of testimonials. I even went to a hands-on healer. Bits and pieces were helpful, but nothing was quite right for me.
Bentley is a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a dog mother to three basset hounds. She lives in the Lakes Region of NewHampshire, the live free or die state, with her husband and dog family. Formerly, she was co-founder of a consulting company and host of her own radio show. Bentley aspires to have a pennies from heaven faerie garden for sick and sad children and to be the Guinness Record holder for the world's largest collection of heart objects, each one symbolizing love.
The Power to Stop is a tool for spiritual recovery, substance abuse self-help, food addiction self help and do-it-yourself rehab. The Power to Stop is not a 12-step program and advocates stopping as a fundamental life skill to be learned rather than as a disease to be cured.
MUST Read In This Lifetime.


What a sweet old-fashioned ice cream cart! This block is so easy to make with it's simple piecing and easy fusible applique used to create the adorable sun umbrella and the yummy ice cream cones. There's some extra embroidery details on the cones to create the "waffle" look on the cone. This block is just a sweet delight!
CLICK ON THE PHOTO of the block to see a larger image of "Double Dipped".
The "Ice Cream" Sign fabric was designed especially for this block. You can purchase the "Ice Cream" Sign in our "Summer Fun" Accessory Fabric Packet(ITEM #Summer Fun 107)!


Maisy has inherited her aunt's old house which just so happens to be overrun with books. As it turns out, her aunt was a bit of a romance book hoarder. Maisy decides to take what her aunt left her and turn it into something fun and exciting, a romance-only bookstore. When she hired Ryder to help renovate the house and make her dream come true, she wasn't planning on falling in love. However, nothing goes as planned, especially when love is involved.
I loved the idea of a romance bookstore owner and a single father finding love. I have read and enjoyed the author's Point Bluff Romance series and was really looking forward to diving into this. However, and I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just didn't enjoy this story. I never felt drawn to the characters, their connections, or their romance. If anything, I felt more attached to the tiny kitten that they nurse back to health. Maybe it was the fact that we are told that Maisy and Ryder have a connection instead of feeling it. Maybe the slow pace left me a bit bored. All I know is that I struggled to read this and kept pushing myself to pick it back up, only to put it down after only reading a couple of pages.
Normally I read a book in a day or two, but it took me a week just to get to the halfway point of The Good Ones. I hate throwing in the towel, but sometimes you just have to do it.
Oh no, sorry to hear you struggled with this one.
I've read some of her Library Lovers mysteries, but not her romances. Too bad this one didn't work for you, because I agree, the premise sounds delightful.
Oh no…it's rare when I don't finish reading a book. Sometimes the ending can make it worth it, but if it takes me a week…I'm done with it. Too many books out there I know I will like.


text:
January 2023 Update: Collar Cases #4 Release Date and Family News
by Amanda Trumpower | Jan 19, 2023 | Collar Cases, Family, My Books, Video Blog | 0 comments
What a start to the new year, friends.
I'll lead with book news first: Collar Cases #4: Case of the Stolen Scarab comes out Sunday, February 5, 2023!
As always, it will be available in audio, print, and ebook formats. The ebook is available for preorder, if you're into ebooks for your kids and grandkids.
Otherwise, the print and audio formats will be available on February 5th.
Visit the book's detail page (which includes the themed Bowwow Barker junior detective assignments) here.
Now, the family news.
On January 1, 2023, Mom Trumpower reached the end of her years-long battle with a rare lung cancer. At about 10:30 pm, she was taken home to start eternity with God–cancer free–in heaven.
Our family had the tremendous honor of ushering her into her new home, praying for her around her hospital bed and celebrating all the way until she was there.
Josiah's sister had called us late in the evening on Dec. 30 to warn us Mom was being taken to the hospital with medical complications. We rang my parents for emergency babysitting services, packed our bags, and drove down to Columbus.
I am so glad we went.
For the next two days, we took turns keeping Mom company in her hospital room. We talked about her memories of raising Josiah and his siblings. We talked lots about her fun times with her grandkids and all the photos we took.
On New Year's Eve, she was adamant Dad watch the OSU football game with her. Never mind the unfinished preparations at home so that she could return on hospice support!
It ended up being her final night, and I don't think she had any objections to how she spent it.
On January 1st, she had a wonderful procession of family and friends rotate through her room. The bulk of us entirely took over and filled to capacity the family lounge on the hospital's cancer floor.
(If there had been any more visitors, I would have been forced to start selling tickets in the lobby!)
It was a beautiful final day, filled with laughter, love, and a visual testament of how many lives Mom Trumpower touched during her time here.
By evening, she passed peacefully and started a new chapter of perfect living that those of us left behind can only imagine.
Josiah and I spent the rest of the week with his siblings and dad in the family home. We don't have the opportunity to be together in that way often, so it was a special time.
And now it's January 19th! Already!
Josiah and I have spent the last couple weeks trying to reconstruct our routine: wash the laundry so everyone has clean underwear; get back into a schedule with our kids; buy groceries and actually cook food.
I have the laundry under control (for now) and the meals organized. I'm also several days in on a nice consistency streak with the kids' school work in the morning.
Book stuff is also falling into place.
Today I'm announcing the release date for Collar Cases #4
I'll announce the release date for Power Pup #1 imminently
Power Pup #2 will be close on its heels after I pick up the late-stage production balls I dropped when all of this family stuff went down
If you're not on the Collar Cases newsletter yet, you want to be. In a few days, I'm sending an email re: what you can expect from Collar Cases in 2023.
(Barring any more family emergencies!)
And that's about it! We're going into the year, sad at losing Mom but so incredibly happy she is healed and happy in heaven.
We're also excited to see what this year brings our book business as we launch the Power Pup books while continuing to produce new Collar Cases mysteries.
We can't wait to share it all with you!


Natali Downing of Roem Bags designs and makes gorgeous one-of-a-kind bags and sells them on bidorbuy.
If you are the kind of person who likes to wear unique things that no one else has, or could ever replicate, them Roem bags are for you.
Find out what makes these bags so interesting in the mini-interview below and have a look at her beautiful bags on bidorbuy.
What was it that got you into designing and creating bags in the first place?
I have been sewing and designing since I was four years old. After completing my degree I couldn't see myself in that kind corporate environment. I loved the idea of having a handbag that was rare, it drew attention and compliments and added "zoosh" to any outfit. An interesting non-commercial bag also has a great way of complimenting your personal style. I have always tried to fill my cupboard with unique handbags and I only knew of one or two ways of going about it. I saw a huge gap in the market and started thinking of ideas to make bags even more unique and by having a bag that was just one of a kind. Off-cuts and second hand clothes was the obvious answer! If a bag's fabric is limited there is no way of reproducing it. Added advantages turned out to be that it was environmentally friendly, functional and affordable.
What goes on in your head when you design a bag? Does each bag have it's own story?
The texture and patterns are always the starting points. When I find a piece of fabric that I think is suitable to my market, is of good quality and good condition, I normally have an idea on the spot of what I am going to create. I have a vast collection of handbag pics from magazines; I keep in touch with international fashion trends and even décor books or textures that I have seen while snorkelling have inspired me. I also notice every pleat, bow, knot or pattern I see on the street and make plenty of mental notes. I never draw a bag beforehand; the design is in my head.
A bag on its own doesn't usually have a story but the fabric, the design or trimmings almost always has a history in some way or the other. I have used buttons that are more than twenty years old. I have found fabrics that have lived the test of time through the eighties and nineties and to this day remain gorgeous and fashionable.
Where do you find the materials for your bags that give them their unique edge?
I do love the off-cuts that I find at décor shops, they turn out to be fantastic by adding some decorations, their texture and durability is also incredible. I also love finding antique fabrics in the cupboards of ladies that have been hoarding fabrics over decades. There you find the most unique materials with endless potential.
What kind of person do you design your bags for?
I've had many diverse ladies buying from me. From chartered accountants with a conservative taste to the more fashionably concious and artistic types. Some buy it more for the functionality; while others for the uniqueness, flair and the statement it makes. I always try to find out from my clients what and why they buy the handbags they do. I just makes perfect sense to know what your clients needs are and I also try to design for as many diverse styles and preferences as I can imagine.
What's it like selling online?
It has been a bit tough. I think many South Africans don't have enough faith in buying any type of clothing online yet. On the other hand I strongly believe that shopping on the web is growing fast in South Africa and we will be joining the likes of first world countries soon. It is the fastest and most efficient way of finding exactly what you need and want. I saw the potential of selling online a couple of years ago and still believe that purchasing online is the future.
I have an online website and would like to show case your bags.
I'm going to forward your details to Natali from Roem Bags, I'm sure she'd love to get hold of you.
On another note, I'm going to send you some details to see if you would be interested in getting your clothing items on your website onto bidorbuy.


Sung, Minkyu (2015), "The Biopolitic of North Korea: Political Crisis, the Body, and Visual Power," Seoul Journal of Korean Studies 28 (2), pp. 31-55.
Sung, Minkyu (2015), "An Abuse of Culture: North Korean Settlers, Multiculturalism, and Liberal Democracy," Asian Social Science 11 (4), pp. 48-54.
Sung, Minkyu (2013), "The Psychiatric Power of Neoliberal Citizenship: North Koreans in South Korea," in Kyung-Sup Chang (ed.) South Korea in Transition: Politics and Culture of Citizenship. London and New York: Routledge.
Sung, Minkyu (2013), "Social Darwinism in Modern Korea: A Rhetoric of Historical Inquiry," Korean Journal of Rhetoric 18 (1), pp. 143-165.
Sung, Minkyu (2012), "Recasting the 'Inter-Korea' in National Reconciliation," Acta Koreana 15 (1), pp. 201-219.
Sung, Minkyu (2012), "Perfomativity of Ethical Practices in an Era of Neo-Liberalism: Television Courtroom Shows, Governmentality, and Television Culture," Social Science Review 43 (1), pp. 151-170.
Sung, Minkyu (2012), "Book Review: Witness to Transformation: Refugee Insights into North Korea," Pacific Affairs 85 (2), pp. 422-424.
Sung, Minkyu (2012), "Social Media's Cultural Politics: the Aestheticization of Journalism in an Era of 'Excessive' Communication," Communication Theories 8 (1), pp. 30-60 (in Korean).
Sung, Minkyu (2011), "Information Access Rights and Digital Culture," Journal of Image and Cultural Contents 4, pp. 27-44 (in Korean).
Sung, Minkyu (2010), "Questioning the Neo-Liberal 'Dromocratic' Regime: Politics of 'Speed' and Urban Communication Networks in Neo-Liberal Restructuring," Communication Science 27 (2), pp. 3-34.
Lee, Young-Suk and Sung, Minkyu (2010), "A New Direction on Korean Buddhist Culture Studies in the Digital Ubiquitous Communication: An Understanding of Religious Character Classifications," Korea Design Forum 29, pp. 421-430 (in Korean).
Sung, Minkyu (2010), "The Psychiatric Power of Neo-liberal Citizenship: the North Korean Human Rights Crisis, North Korean Settlers, and Incompetent Citizens," Citizenship Studies 14 (2), pp. 127-144.
Sung, Minkyu (2009), "The 'Truth Politics' of Anti-North Koreanism: the Post-Ideological Cultural Representation of North Korea and the Cultural Criticisms of Korean Nationalism," Inter-Asia Cultural Studies 10 (3), pp. 439-459.
Sung, Minkyu (2009), "Trends in U.S. Television Production: Hollywood Runaway Production and 'Location Interests,'" in Ho-Jin Yoon (ed.) Understanding the HD TV Drama Production Infrastructures. Seoul: Korea: Korea Broadcasting Institute, pp. 207-226.
Sung, Minkyu (2008), "The Freedom of Information Act: A Lesson to New Conservative Liberal Democracy in South Korea," Bangsong Munhwa (Broadcasting Culture), November, pp. 30-34.
Sung, Minkyu (2007), "U.S. Broadband Policy Regulations on the "White Space" and the Production of Digital Culture," Korean Broadcasting Institute Broadcasting Trend and Analysis, no. 260, pp. 1-9.
Sung, Minkyu (2007), "How Can We Construct the Grassroots Network of Digital Culture? Revisiting the Network Neutrality Debate," Korean Broadcasting Institute Broadcasting Trend and Analysis, no. 259, pp. 1-10.
Sung, Minkyu (2007), "Is Media Convergence Promoting Market Competitions?" Korean Broadcasting Institute Broadcasting Trend and Analysis, no. 248, pp. 3-9.
Sung, Minkyu (2006), "Social Digitalization and Digital Populism: Keywords in the US Network Industry," Korean Broadcasting Institute Broadcasting Trend and Analysis, no. 245, pp. 42-48.
Sung, Minkyu (2006), "A New Participatory Democracy? Interactive Television and Mass-Customized Culture," Korean Broadcasting Institute Broadcasting Trend and Analysis, no. 236, pp. 30-38.
Sung, Minkyu (2006), "The Privatization of Public Memory: Independent Documentary Production and the Smithsonian-Showtime Project," Korean Broadcasting Institute Broadcasting Trend and Analysis, no. 231, pp. 11-19.


text:
Q: Why do people use the term "free gift'? I see and hear the term "Free Gift".  Are not all gifts free?

A: A "Free Gift" may sound tautologous, but it also sounds profitable.  Advertising copy writers know that people respond to the word "free" the way a hungry dog responds to a meatloaf.
The Huffington Post cites a book by Dan Ariely, Predictably Irrational, in which a study demonstrated the selling power of the word free.
(See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gregory-ciotti/copywriting-for-business_b_2286336.html)
For what it's worth, the "free gift" probably isn't, at least if the putative giver has their way!"