Little Pushkin - Wow! Hey, the perfect spring break!
Let's imagine you've decided to spend this Spring break with ocean, sun and sea of activities. Do you know where you can get it all at once? We do! Welcome to Florida!
Florida is the third largest state in the US and the first by the number of theme parks. Add to this a long coastline with beaches close to ideal, a developed entertainment infrastructure, and get the direction of a dream for a holiday with children.
If you are traveling from another continent, then most likely you will have to do a few stops in order to arrive at the airport in Orlando. This is not fun, but the journey is totally worth it. At the site, we recommend you to rent a car (you can book it in advance, for example, through Alamo). And with the car you can afford more of the unobvious, but nevertheless important trifles - for example, to live in a secluded place on the ocean. We offer Satellite Beach – accommodation in this area is easy to rent via Airbnb. There you can relax from the road, watch with the kids fisherman and pelicans, and gain strength for future adventures. Strategically, Satellite Beach has a very advantageous location - it's a quiet corner where you can hardly meet tourists, but at the same time there are many restaurants and organic food shops, and just an hour's drive away - Disney World, Universal Resort, the J.F. Kennedy Space Center and the launch pad of Cape Canaveral. Ideally, of course, you should visit each park, but if you are limited in time, we will try to help you choose only one thing. Note that one is day absolutely not enough to walk over all attractions even in one theme park, so evaluate your strengths and schedule the route so that you get the maximum pleasure from the trip.
Which kid does not dream to meet Mickey Mouse, dance with Elsa or have dinner with Cinderella in her Castle? All of the above (and much more) becomes a reality in the world of Disney - a complex of amusement parks, stretching out on a spacious territory, the length of which is 101 km. It is easy to get confused here, therefore it is better to plan the visiting areas in advance. With the little ones, we recommend going to the theme park "The Disney Magic Kingdom", which has opened in 1971. Since then it is a quintessence of the Disney world with classic heroes and attractions. At the entrance, you can take a quick pass. This is a special pass that gives the right of priority passage (without tedious standing in queues) to all rides. A regular ticket gives you the right to walk along the fast corridor only three times. In the Magic Kingdom, you will meet all Disney Princesses, with whom kids could get acquainted personally, take pictures, take autographs in a special souvenir book and even have dinner! If you care about proper nutrition, then lunch and snack are better to be taken with you from home - of course, there are many restaurants and cafes on the territory, but the food is not the most healthy: here you and your family may have hot dogs or burgers with mandatory French fries. It is customary to finish the evening with a grandiose firework: the lights are pouring over the Cinderella Castle just like on the screensaver in front of your favorite cartoon.
If the princesses and Mickey Mouse are no more persons of the interest, go to the world of the universal film industry. Many thematic attractions here have been developed in close cooperation with the actual creators of the scenery of certain films. For example, Steven Spielberg put his hand to the creation of E.T. Adventure and advised the design of the pavilions dedicated to the films Men in Black, Back to the Future and Transformers. Undoubtedly, the main hit of the park is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened its doors in 2014. Here you can ride on the Hogwarts Express, go to the Olivander's store and drink a ginger beer (of course, non-alcoholic). Note that the attractions in the park are devoted not only to the production of the company Universal but also other studios.
Of course, the J. F. Kennedy Space Center is not a theme park. But this is really a place which is obligatory to visit, a place where the real history of mankind is being created. On the territory of the center, you can not only study the history of modern astronautics but also feel on yourself what it is like to be an astronaut. Various simulations, video presentations, attractions, as well as a rich exposition of real space shuttles - there is everything to tell the history of high technology. Do not forget about the bus sightseeing tour (only in English): you will be told how among the alligators and turtles the real zone of technologies of the future has grown; you will see the launch pad of SpaceX (hello, Mr. Ilon Mask!) as well as a real cosmodrome. At the end of the day, it's nice to snack a real "space" food - for example, dry ice cream.
But for those who have already had a lot of future fantasy fun, Orlando has prepared many surprises: if you forget about theme parks, you might think that this city is the result of the merger of Chicago and New York, in our opinion, the most vibrant US cities.
From Chicago here is the passion for the evening promenade: wine bars, jazz, and disco. Pay attention to the 3 famous wine bars that are located along Park Avenue: Wine Room offers more than 156 varieties of wine, and in CarmelCafé & WineBar it is possible to taste the wines of the New and Old World, combined with Mediterranean snacks. Eola Wine Company's wine list counts 70 positions, each of which has its own snack: wraps, tacos, smørrebrøds and other small delicacies will surprise you with its variety and unexpected taste contrasts.
From New York Orlando gets the best shopping: where else will you find a selection of Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom in one place? Not far from here are located an outlet zone, for example at Century21 lucky ones may find collectible models of eminent designers at bargain prices (Rochas shoes for $100. Prada dress from the collection SS14 for $220 - it is a reality!). Do not forget to visit the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in the Winter Park. The place hosts the richest collection of interior items from Tiffany. Yes, it was a surprise for us too!
In order to go deep into the atmosphere of Orlando, take the car and drive with the whole family to a dinner in one of the restaurants on lakes shores. Here the choice is yours, but we recommend dinner within a surreal modern art in the new Santiago's Bodega in Ivanhoe Village, where bold paintings and the interior of Robert Henry Thompson blends with the creative menu in tapas style inspired by the kitchen from the outpost in Key West.
And if the mainland is already completely over for you and it's time for peace and quiet - it's time to take a ferry to the Bahamas! When choosing pay attention to the cruise company Disney, which offers theme cruises – your kids will be amazed!


A colourful pop of blended Assam tea.
This Iced tea blend is a thick orange hued Assam black tea. It bears the fruity note of strawberry and pomegranate along with flowery hints of rose hip with a naturally sweet hint.
The liqour is light bodied with a citrus note. As it rolls, it brings out the fruity flavours of strawberry and pomegranate and finishes with rose hips. The liquor ends with a natural sweet note.
The aroma is fruity and citrusy with malty notes of Assam.
The leaves are mixed with evenly graded Assam black with pomegranade,strawberry and orange peel which stines owing to it's colorful presentation. The aroma is overpowered by raw strawberry and pomegrante mix.
The leaves bears a refreshing sweet citrus note, with strong fruity hints which feels like a fruit cake. Leaves are a mix of pomegrante, strawberry and Assam black medium graded leaves and small amount of orange peel and hibiscus.


Overall policing numbers in England and Wales are set to fall, policing minister Nick Herbert has finally admitted.
It came as he pledged to make police forces save money by making them procure equipment like cars and IT systems together.
Mr Herbert, writing for the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, said it was inefficient that 43 forces had their own procurement systems and pledged to "mandate" national procurement where savings can be made.
Officials hope as much as £1 billion from the annual police bill can be saved through these steps.
The Home Office is expected to suffer spending cuts of at least 25% in the impending comprehensive spending review, though, making cuts to total police numbers inevitable.
"Even with tighter budgets and fewer people, frontline policing can be protected if bureaucracy is attacked, resources are used more efficiently, and officers work more productively," Mr Herbert wrote.
"New York's police lost more than a tenth of their manpower in the last decade, yet crime fell by over a third. The police must be crime fighters, not form writers."
He pointed out that police forces faced 2,600 pages of guidance in the last year alone and that, as a result, just 11% of a police force's manpower was visibly available to the public.
Shadow chancellor Alan Johnson, the former shadow home secretary, told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show that Labour had been looking to protect the funding that goes to frontline policing so there would not be a reduction in policing numbers.
"This government have said there'll be a 25% cut from the Home Office, no protection for policing at all," he said.
"That's an example of a service which the public rely on where there's a big difference in approach between us and the government."
North of the border Mr Herbert's sentiments are already being rolled out. Strathclyde Chief Constable Steve House unveiled plans to roll out "old-style policing with a hard edge".
The number of police officers on the beat will rise from 500 to 2,600, the Daily Record newspaper reported.


text:
Q: Mimicking Bootstrap's Webpage's Navbar (with Angular) 1. The Problem
I'm trying to mimic Bootstrap's Webpage's Navbar but I'm having no success, despite having the same classes all around. I'm also using Angular and that got me wondering if that was related to something in the TypeScript framework and not with Bootstrap itself — that is the case for the dropdown button for example.
The main issue is that the uls with the menu items and social icons are not forming different rows when the screen width is reduced.
For example, this is what I expected with my website:

And this is what I got instead:

2. The Code
I'm not using anything fancy in Angular at this point, just plain objects' properties (I've tried it with a header instead of a nav also):

      Logo

              {{ itemNavbar[langNavbar] }}

A: Boy, do I feel stupid for this...
After a lot of time tinkering with the subelements, the mistake was at the top all along. I had accidentally copy-pasted the  element at the top from another page, and, thus, it lacked the flex-column and flex-md-row classes:

Anyway, thank you very much for those who tried to help.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
VIP Tower, 51/1, Naya Paltan, Dhaka
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According to Statistics Canada, the tuition fees for international students in 2020/21 are ranging from CA$16,000 to CA$25,180 per year.
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Fees for business and management courses are lower than the national average, from CA$16,000 to CA$25,180 per year.
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If you want to study at the postgraduate level, the tuition fees are generally lower, and again vary depending on your program. Statistics Canada puts the average postgraduate tuition fee at CA$16,252 in 2020/21, which is approximately US$13,250.
As is the case worldwide, executive MBA programs are generally the most expensive, averaging around CA$51,891 (~US$42,440), while regular MBAs cost CA$29,293 (~US$23,900) on average.
How much does student accommodation & food cost in Canada?
The three main types of student accommodation (Homestay, university accommodation, and private accommodation) vary considerably in costs, with students paying around CA$6,000 (~US$4,850) for accommodation each year.
Private shared accommodation can cost up to CA$8,400 per year.
University accommodation is often cheaper, with some universities offering meal plans to allow you to purchase food from the university's food outlets.
You should also remember to purchase compulsory health insurance while studying in Canada. This will cost approximately CA$600 (~US$485) per year.
What are the Job Facilities in Canada?
Basically, an International student in Canada can work up to 20 hours a week. Students are mostly paid minimum wage rate, i.e $10.25 per hour. After paying tax, you may earn around $200 per week and $800 per month. And international students can work full-time during semester break.
What are the Entry Requirements for Study in Canada from Bangladesh?
Minimum SSC or O Level for Foundation or Collegiate program.
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•All colleges & universities require a non-refundable administrative fee ranging from CAD $60 to $250
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Westcliff University was established in 1993 and is accredited under the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Westcliff University has three campuses
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Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is a public university located in Canterbury, Kent, England.
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Spoils: This spoils some of the Arrancar Arc, perhaps more of the anime version than the manga version.
Summery: After living together for a while, Rangiku takes Orihime shopping.
Author's Note: This was for the secret santa exchange for our_scriptorium. So no cross-posting for a little while, and it was fun to think about just girls for a while, not something I usually do. *laughs* And many, many thanks to akuni for betaing my in-the-van written fic! I appreciate her help with all the repeats I had, immensely.
"We must go shopping," Rangiku had proclaimed.
Orihime had simply clapped her hands and smiled.
After the Arrancar business in Karakura, still bruised and battered from her fight with Akeem, Rangiku had called on Orihime to heal her Captain after his fight was finished. The girl had responded admirably, bringing Toshiro back from his severe injuries, and then had gone on to heal Rangiku as well, with an attention and care that had impressed her.
She'd heard stories of the girl's abilities, and her bravery when Kurosaki had first met the Arrancar in the park. That the girl had been saved by Shihouin-sama had, at first, made Rangiku a little wary of her. A princess saved by a true Princess of Soul Society--how would such a girl treat a street rat like Rangiku?
Orihime had proven friendly, comfortable, and utterly unassuming. The night she'd confessed her love for Kurosaki, Rangiku had been touched, and everything Orihime had done since had only improved the Lieutenant's opinion of her.
So, of course she had to take Orihime shopping now that the next hard step in assessing the Arrancar's strength had been done. They'd gone to the Ginza District and Orihime's eyes were getting bigger and bigger with each shop Rangiku insisted on going into.
"Oooohhh... just look at those shoes!" Rangiku squealed and Orihime followed obediently after. Together they started trying on various boots, pumps, elegant heels, and summer sandals. Orihime looked delicious in a pair of white go-go boots that made her go nearly on tiptoe with their heels.
After Rangiku decided on which four pairs she wanted, she also bought the boots for Orihime over her protests.
"But... but... Rangiku-san, they are far too expensive for me to accept!" Orihime said with a blush. "And what in the world would I wear them with?"
Rangiku plowed through the eight--or was that ten--shops, raising a whirlwind that scattered skirts, makeup, purses, belts, shirts, stockings, scarves, lacy underthings, and shop clerks in all directions. When they came through it all, Orihime could barely see around the mountain of purchases in her arms, and Rangiku was feeling that happy shopping high that indicated a good day's work had been done.
Every man that walked by Orihime nearly had whiplash from trying to look at her wearing her tasseled go-go boots, tight plaid miniskirt, white blouse, deep russet scarf that fluttered in every breeze, and a blush as hot as a mid-summer day.
If that outfit didn't make Kurosake's head turn, he didn't have a head to turn.
Orihime's longing look at an ice cream shop made Rangiku smile. "Do you want some ice cream?"
"Oh!" Orihime looked surprised. "Uhm... I can't let you spend any more money on me..."
"How about we share something, then? It's pretty hot, and it'd be nice to have something more decadent than I'd eat on my own."
"Oh! May I have..." She looked down at her hands, which she'd twisted on themselves. "You should choose, Rangiku-san."
"No, sweetie, tell me what you'd really like," Rangiku said in her most persuasive voice, and was surprised and delighted when Orihime only blushed more fiercely.
"Oh..." Orihime hesitated again, but then she squeaked as Rangiku pushed open the ice cream shop door and wrestled all her packages in through it. Orihime followed and patiently stood there as Rangiku relieved her of all her bags before shepherding her to the counter.
"There... look at all the possibilities!" Rangiku said happily. "It's a little like life, isn't it?"
Orihime simply looked wordlessly at her, and encouraged, Rangiku continued along her line of thought. "Most choices in life are like choosing the ice cream you want to eat right now. It's not that important in and of itself, but each of them is an expression of who you are, what you like right now. Each reinforces who you are to yourself, and teaches everyone around a little bit more about what you might be."
She moved up next to Orihime, bending to look at all the flavors. "It's possible to give your choice up to someone else, or you can take charge and decide what you want right now, or can just use your imagination and come up with something completely unique to yourself. How you go about it is as telling as what you figure out."
Rangiku saw Orihime's eyes glaze over. She sighed and tried a different approach, "I mean... you want to help out Kurosaki, right?"
"So... you get to choose how to help him as well as with what. Do you want to give him a strength that is uniquely yours? Or do you really want to give him something that he already has? He can already fight like no one else, do you really think he needs more of just that? It'd be like serving everyone strawberry ice cream every time they came to an ice cream shop! Then there'd be no need for blackberry, butter pecan, the coconut pineapple swirl, the vanilla, the mocha, or the chocolate flavors at all."
Orihime blinked with the thought, and Rangiku slid in behind her and hugged her gently. "Choose, Orihime. You know you can."
She felt the girl press back as gently and then sigh. "Uhm... I... I..." The counter boy looked at her as if he were trying to help her come to an answer as well. "I'll... I guess I'll have a sundae with... uhm... a scoop of orange blossom, adzuki bean, and fudge ripple. I'd like... hot fudge, marshmallow, and oh.... black cherry toppings!"
The boy looked a little daunted by the combinations, but went ahead anyway after a fierce nod from Rangiku. The two girls ooo'ed and ahhhh'ed over the building of the super sundae and the addition of whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry on top. The boy handed it over to Orihime with two hands.
"Thank you very much!" she said with a smile that nearly knocked the boy over. Rangiku could see him sway. She accepted the bowl with two hands, and skipped with it over to the table by their teetering mound of purchases.
Rangiku paid for it, tipping the boy well, and then went over to their table where Orihime was looking at her creation. Rangiku handed Orihime a spoon, and then swooped in and scooped off the cherry with a dab of whipped cream. Instead of eating her prize herself, she moved the spoon so that it was just about to touch Orihime's lips. Orihime's eyes went wide and she looked at Rangiku in question.
"Here... your choice," Rangiku said softly.
Orihime opened her mouth, and Rangiku slipped in the bright red cherry nestled in its bed of cream. Orihime took the bite, sat back, chewed thoughtfully; and Rangiku crowed in delight as she spat the stem out with a knot in it.
"Wow... how did you do that?"
Orihime grinned and started to eat spoonfuls of her sundae. "It's something my brother taught me... but... you're right. It is unique to me, and I don't... maybe I can't... I don't know who to train with that would make me better at being myself."
Rangiku now dug into the sundae for herself, and had to admit that she really liked the bittersweet chocolate of the fudge against the creamy sweetness of the adzuki beans, the marshmallow with the delicate fragrance of the orange blossoms. "Maybe Rukia could work with you."
"Kuchiki-san?" Orihime looked puzzled. "She would have time to work with me? She's so much better than I am, though."
Rangiku shook her head as she finished swallowing another bite. "She's more your level than I would be, and my duties are such that it'd be hard for me to get away. Ukitake-taichou's pretty lenient, and should be glad to have you help her get stronger as well. I suspect all of Kurosaki-kun's friends are going to have to get stronger fast just to keep up with him."
Orihime nodded and sighed, and started to dig into the sundae in earnest. The two women sat and ate, and Rangiku savored the cream, the sweet, the crunchy nuts, the coolness, and the flavors as they mixed and mingled. At the very end of the dish they both dropped their spoons in and sat back and sighed contentedly.
"That was very, very good, Orihime," Rangiku said with a blissful sigh. "That was a very fine choice."
"Thank you, Rangiku-san," Orihime said with a smile. "I am very glad I could please. And... I think... I think I will take the Gotei 13 up on their offers to train me, as inadequate as I am. Maybe you're right, and I'll be able to help him simply by being better at being me."
Rangiku got up and hugged Orihime solidly, ignoring how the counter boy's eyes popped out at the sight. "You will. I'm sure you will."
Whee! I just love the idea of them having a girls' day out. Quite honestly, I think they both could use one.
I'm so glad you liked this and helped me out with the beta! Thank you!
Oh, that would be phenomenal!!
Mmmm... cherry blossom green... now I have to look up Perennial Tea.
Oh that was such a wonderfully painted day! Orihime's outfit tickled me no end. Very 70's sheik.
I loved how Rangiku slipped her little lesson in there amidst all the shopping and eating. And then just spelled it out when Orihime got completely confused.
The counter boy was a hilarious little addition!
Hee. I'm glad you liked the poor counter boy. *laughs* I had fun with him, too.
Aww that was great, thanks!
Anyway... glad you liked it anyway.
wow I love how you write Rangiku...many people forget that she actually has a brain. You don't, I love you for that.
I have to admit that I even liked Orihime...which is something that is very hard for me to do.
*beams* Yeah, she is brainful, I think... and very capable when she actually focuses.
I like Orihime for her strengths, though her weaknesses are many. Ah well... glad you liked it anyway!
So adorable! This is an amazingly sweet story. Thank you so much for sharing it!
*beams* I'm so glad you liked it!
Rangiku is such a fine woman, and what a good friend. Orihime needs a strong mentor like that. Great story.
Awwww... *laughs* Now we've made each other's day... this comment has me smiling big. I am so glad that you enjoyed those details... and the story.
I hope your holidays were bright, and your New Year is a lot of fun!!
I'm glad you liked! Thank you.
I enjoyed writing Rangiku in this, very much. It was a lot of fun, and, yeah, a little sad knowing what happens later. Still... it was nice to get the sweet part while I could.
I'm glad you cross-posted this! I missed a lot of stuff that was posted during the holidays. This is a delightful story. I adore friendship fics like this, and I really like how you had Rangiku use the ice cream to push a gentle life lesson. Also, that ice cream combo is so very, very Orhime (so I guess the lesson took).
Ah... good. This was a fun friendship fic to write, and I rather liked staying on this side of that line with them.
Yay! I'm glad you liked it and now I'm very glad I finally cross-posted it as well.
The mere thought of shopping with Inoue and Rangiku fill me with feelings of inadequacy, LOL! But at the same time it would be quite the adventure.
This is a lovely fic and gosh it would be nice for something good to happen to Orihime sometime soon.
LOL! Yes, the accumulated... uhm... endowments would be intimidating.


The NFL's conference championship Sunday turned into much-happier viewing for Vikings followers than it was a year earlier, when their heroes, riding the crest of the Minneapolis Miracle, were humbled 38-7 by the Eagles in Philadelphia.
This time, there was no such angst for the home-state favorites, having avoided the playoffs with a miserable effort vs. Bears in the regular-season finale inside The Zygi.
All the Purple crowd could hope last Sunday was coming out on the right side of grudges, and that turned out to be case for generations of Vikings fans young, middle-aged and old.
The bitterness had not subsided for any of these groups over the events of Jan. 24, 2010 in the Superdome, when the New Orleans Saints went after Vikings quarterback Brett Favre with great exuberance and wound up advancing to the Super Bowl with a 31-28 victory.
The Saints' theory seemed to be that they would keep clobbering Favre in questionable fashion, and the officials wouldn't call everything. It worked, as only two of a half-dozen hits on Favre that would have been no-doubt 15-yarders under today's roughing-the-passer ethic were called.
The high-low hit on Favre that came on an interception and went uncalled wound up being cited by the league office as the worst of the missed calls, and it's the one that still gets Vikings zealots riled up.
I found this out on Twitter on Sunday, when suggesting that what turned into "Bountygate'' really could not be classified as "cheating,'' not in my definition – not in the sense of taping another team's practice, or hacking into another team's computer system to gain information, or taking an obviously incorrect lie and claiming innocence in the Masters.
My opinion is the Saints would have gone after Favre with such vigor whether or not there was a bounty to be earned. This was about a trip to the Super Bowl, and a blustering, off-the-wall assistant convinced the defensive players that punishing Favre would help get them there.
Turned out, Favre played great, and Adrian Peterson's fumble-itis had more to do with the adverse result than the bruises administered to the old warrior at quarterback.
It was a bad look, for sure, but it's also football, and in January 2010, we were only a couple of years removed from ESPN's Monday night celebration of NFL players being "Jacked Up!'' in a weekly highlight video.
Turned out, with concussion lawsuits in the offing, the NFL was getting religion on the issue of excessive hits, and it undertook a bounty investigation of Williams and the Saints that started a couple of years later and led to suspensions for coach Sean Payton (one year) and the crazed assistant, Gregg Williams (lifetime, then waived).
The Bountygate punishments only increased the narrative of the NFC title game in January 2010 for Vikings fans: Our heroes lost because the Saints cheated.
There was a grand moment of revenge in Vikingland when the Saints were in The Zygi in an divisional game last January. The Saints rallied to take apparent control, Payton taunted the crowd with a mock "Skol'' gesture, and then Case Keenum and Stefon Diggs hooked up for the miracle.
One whack of monumental revenge wasn't enough. Vikings followers wanted another last Sunday, even though it involved their team not at all. There was great happiness late in the afternoon when the Saints got jobbed in incredible fashion late in regulation with an officiating blunder, and missed a second Super Bowl with an overtime loss to the L.A. Rams.
"Take that, Payton, you cheat!'' bellowed Purple loyalists.
And then came another treat, for vintage Vikings fans: The Kansas City Chiefs were playing at home against New England, and trying to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since Jan. 11, 1970, when they outclassed the heavily-favored Vikings, 23-7, in SB IV.
It was not anything the Chiefs did on the field that caused a lingering grudge, although there was a hit that caused quarterback Joe Kapp to walk off the field grasping his right arm in agony.
The Minnesota outrage came when coach Hank Stram showed up on NFL Films cackling over the moments when he had out-schemed the Vikings' magnificent defense. The problem wasn't Hank fooling the Vikings; it was Hank agreeing to wear a mic, allowing the cackles to still be heard on NFL Films highlight reels a half-century later.
On Sunday, the Chiefs also had some refereeing misfortune late in the game (there was not irrefutable video evidence that Julian Edelman didn't touch that punt) and lost to New England, 37-31, in overtime.
This continued K.C.'s lengthy history of postseason failures and gave Vikings followers from way back a chance to bellow, "Take that, Stram, you cackler,'' even though Hank last coached the Chiefs in 1974 and has been dead since 2005.
Grudges are hard to let go for sports fans. Heck, I'm still mad about the ref in Madison in November 1962, that called the roughing penalty on my all-time favorite Gopher, Bobby Lee Bell, and cost the Gophers an outright Big Ten title.
According to Bobby, coach Murray Warmath went to his grave upset about that call, and I don't blame him.
There's also my grudge with Duke basketball. Trouble is, I've been rooting against Duke so long I can't remember why. I just know that it's not going to change, as with old Vikings fans and Hank Stram … loathed, dead or alive.


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Anyone knows how long takes to credit the club points?
I all the sites that i play the points are credited instantly when they have been earned.
I played at Duck for a while and at the time it was the same. I really dont understand why your points are not credited in your account.
Did you tried to contact customers service to know what was happening.
Lately i have seen many bad comments about this site but i dont really know since i left this site a few month ago.
I wish you good luck in you effort.
I recommend you start taking/saving a screenshot of your cashier and club point balance before and after every session as evidence.
Hopefully, your points get credited to your account soon.
Again indignations apropos duck poker.
I though not strongly respect now this poker room but also I have against them no claims.
After implementation of their requirements money was removed immediately.
What you played the whole day dantec? If you play cash game than you should earned points but if you play SNG with T dollars you receave 0 points.
- DuckPoker Sit and Gos which are displayed in black in the Sit and Go lobby.
Lol, so is that, before i leave the room, i play a few sits, and i play for a hugde amount of points and i never saw, so i play to lose the money and leave the room, and i didnt care about the points, but now you say that, make sence, why i just have the same amount of points that time.
Now i dont care about that, because already leave the room, but if is that, you maybe have some problems and hard work to make points and cashout that money and leave the room.
Awww, duckiepoker - the neverending story of what an online gambling site would look like without a spine. I wonder why folks keep up with their sh1t so long still when even on this forum there are endless threads about mistreatment, bad experience with their support, general unfair bullsh1t, crookedness and such.


The Municipal Court provides a forum for the City of Harlingen and its citizens for consideration of matters within the court's jurisdiction. It accepts complaints of class "C" misdemeanors, bears and enters appropriate pleas, sets cases for trial and tries cases, prepares appeals, send appeals to the County Court at Law, conducts post-arrest hearings for defendants charged with serious offenses, sets bonds, issues arrests and search warrants, conducts driver license suspension hearings, accepts fines, maintains the Court's Docket, and reports convictions to the Department of Public Safety. The City retains one full-time presiding judge and four part-time associate judges, who preside over the Municipal Court.
DOT - "Teens in the Driver's Seat"


I've moved several times before, and this is the best company I have used. Ballantyne and Beyond Moving, quite literally, made things as easy as possible for me. They first gentleman that I spoke to went out of his way to make my move how I wanted it. They originally could not make it to me by the date that I needed them there (work reasons) and they were able to move things around in order to get there. I plan on using them three times! They were efficient, and hard-working.
I used Ballantyne and Beyond Moving two different times. They were incredible both times. No complaints! I did have one broken item, but they had a claims process that was handled immediately.
Ballantyne and Beyond Moving is THE BEST! They are honest, professional, understanding and really do care about their customers. I will never use another moving company no matter how big or small the move is! They arrived on time, they did everything they promised they would, the price did not increase and their employees were great! We did not have any issues with damaged or broken items. They arrived as expected again on the delivery end and even re-assembled our larger items!
Ballantyne and Beyond Moving has by far exceeded all of my expectations! They were reasonably priced, easy to work with, great at keeping me informed and stuck to their word when it came down to the delivery. Their office kept in touch with me during the pickup and the transit to make sure everything was going as planned. I will be using them again as well as referring family and friends to them!
Ballantyne and Beyond Moving began in 2014 in Indian Land, South Carolina. Whether you are preparing for a local move or you're moving to another country you can rely on these moving experts. With all of the experience this company has to offer, there is no need for you to worry. They always offer competitive pricing, so you will not need to feel like you are breaking the bank just for you move! The whole process is easy, just give them a call to see for yourself. You will surely be happy that you did!
They are the premier destination for residential, commercial and international moves. Their goal is to make the process as stress-free as possible. They offer comprehensive moving services to make your move as easy as possible. They can handle the entire move from packing to unloading or they can handle just the loading and unloading, it's completely up to you. Packing is a crucial task to complete perfectly. If moving a new process to you, you might want to consider having Ballantyne and Beyond Moving do it for you. All employees are professionals, not to mention they do this everyday. Your items will surely be safe and secure. If you do decide to do it yourself, and find yourself getting a little tired, try a partial pack. This company will pack as little or as much as you want! Even if it is just a few items.
Growing and sustaining a business is daunting. But coordinating a commercial move can be even more challenging. That's why it's important to find a moving company you can trust to handle your move while you continue to focus on reaching your business goals. They are accredited through the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating currently.


text:
Saying YES to coal and NO to Greenpeace
by drmu | Oct 3, 2012 | Environment, Marine protection | 1 comment
Our leaders recently denied a request for Greenpeace's vessel – the Rainbow Warrior – to access Port Louis harbour during its tour of the Indian Ocean. Are they justified? Let us examine the objections reported to have come from Government House to find out.
1. Greenpeace has given unconditional support to the UK's proposed marine reserve around the Chagos Islands thereby condoning the illegal excision of the islands from Mauritius during decolonisation.
In its submission to the consultation process, Greenpeace stated the following: "The establishment of the full no-take marine reserve should be without prejudice to the rights of the Chagossians or the sovereignty claim of Mauritius".
2. Greenpeace has been silent about the US base on Diego Garcia – the greatest environmental threat to the Chagos Islands – which is excluded from the marine reserve.
This is also at odds with the submission which reads: "Greenpeace is of the view that the Diego Garcia nuclear capacity military base represents a threat to the global and local environment, as well as world peace, and should be abolished."
3. Greenpeace is complicit in using the marine reserve as a subterfuge to block the return of the Chagossians to their islands.
While Wikileaks has revealed that the UK's intent in proposing the marine reserve was indeed nefarious, Greenpeace has been campaigning for a global network of marine reserves for many years. The UK may have committed the greatest treason by doing the right thing for the wrong reason, but how can Greenpeace renege on its mission as a result? Another quote from their submission: "The Chagossians have experienced an egregious and historic wrong for which the UK government should make full amends…Upon the return of the Chagossian people, Greenpeace would be happy to engage with them on how they can best develop small-scale, low-impact sustainable fishing practices, whilst continuing to ensure the effective protection of this globally important ecosystem."
4. Greenpeace is campaigning to end fishing by purse-seiners, which would have a detrimental impact on Mauritius' seafood hub.
Not long ago, purse-seiners killed countless schools of dolphins in the process of catching the most valuable tuna which like to swim beneath them. Greenpeace successfully fought against this practice and consumers were educated to buy only dolphin safe tuna. Now it is campaigning against the use of fish aggregation devices (FADS) which massively increase the by-catch of endangered species like sharks, rays and turtles. It targeted one of the worst offenders, Mauritius-based, but Japanese owned, Princes. As a result Princes issued a sustainability statement declaring that it is "aiming to purchase tuna from pole and line and FAD-free sources by the end of 2014". Intriguingly it adds that Princes will give "financial support of a feasibility study for the creation of a marine reserve around lagoons off the coast of Mauritius". Perhaps Greenpeace wants to see how this is progressing?
Greenpeace may be accused of hypocrisy in recent years by emphasising "green" to the detriment of "peace", campaigning more for environmental protection than against military injustice. However, a little research reveals that our government's charges against it have no basis in fact. Indeed, one might be justified in accusing our own leaders of hypocrisy. The only reason the Chagos islands were excised from Mauritius was for the US to have a military base there. How often does our government demand that it be closed? When was the last time it denied a US warship, undoubtedly en route to or from Diego Garcia, entry to Port Louis?
When BBC film-makers produced a documentary on Mauritius last year, local oceanographer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo had them record the plight of the remaining Chagossian refugees, further raising awareness in the UK. Surely it would make sense for Greenpeace activists to meet them too? Perhaps they might even be aroused to campaign on their behalf. Conversely, the BBC were denied access to the fishing port. If there are no secrets to hide, why the lack of openness and transparency?
We say we wish our youth were more motivated to protect the environment. What better way to inspire them than by encounters with role models who have dedicated their lives to this goal? Greenpeace has a formidable record of campaign victories such as ending nuclear weapons tests, preventing commercial whaling and outlawing the dumping of radioactive waste at sea. Perhaps this spirit might rub off on our younger generation. Or is this what the government is really afraid of?
FMV	on November 2, 2012 at 00:16
Interesting take on this subject — Thanks for offering some perspective on Greenpeace.
What do you think? Your comments count!	Cancel reply
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Mafia at work
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Name and shame


The opening of school is almost upon us! This year promises to be a year filled with golden opportunities for all of our students, as we strive to find ways that we can be even better than we have before. We look forward to a very positive and productive year together. We extend a special yearlong invitation to our families to join us at school activities and events whenever possible. We value your involvement and support in your child's education. Your active participation is key to the success of your middle school student.
For the 2018-2019 school year, we will continue to move forward with a standards-based learning environment for our students. In this environment a student must show evidence of mastery of specific content standards. More information will be coming home with students in the opening day packet of materials, and a scheduled parent coffee later in the year will focus on this topic. As well, we have included in our daily schedule a "Storm Time" block for all students. Each day students will participate in a 40-minute flexible block. During this time, they will have the opportunity to participate in focused academic work that addresses their specific needs. Grade level teams/Administration will on occasion use this time to address a group issue, a team project, facilitate an upcoming field trip or run assemblies and various programs.
You will receive many forms on the first day of school! These forms should be completed and returned the next day. In particular, please review the computer printed Emergency Card. Needless to say, it is imperative that you verify this information so that our records on your child are accurate. Families new to the school district will receive information regarding the parent portal (username, password, etc.) during the student orientation process. For all others, if you have forgotten your username and/or password, please email David Sutherland, Assistant Principal, at dsutherland@londonderry.org., or Laura Lambert, Administrative Assistant at llambert@londonderry.org. At this time we ask that you update all contact information on the emergency card as well as on the X2 Parent Portal for accuracy. If you do not have internet access, please call the Guidance Office (432-6925 ext. 3140) to update your information.
In closing, I hope you enjoy the last week of summer break! I am looking forward to welcoming our incoming sixth grade students, and new seventh and eighth grade students/parents on Friday, August 24th, from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. (sixth grade orientation), and from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (new seventh and eighth grade students).
For everyone else, we will come together on Monday, August 27th, to begin our quest for knowledge! All students should report to Homeroom to begin the first day. Thank you for your support and continued cooperation!
NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 31ST AND MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD (LABOR DAY).
SCHOOL PICTURES ARE SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH.
7TH GRADE PARENT NIGHT - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH - 6:15 P.M.
6TH GRADE PARENT NIGHT - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH - 6:15 P.M.


Back in 2012, President Obama, already on record as being a fan of The Wire, was asked by ESPN to name his favorite character on the show, to which he replied "It's got to be Omar, right? I mean, that guy is unbelievable, right?" Fast forward to 2015, and we find Mr. Obama hosting David Simon (the creator of The Wire) at the White House, and having a frank conversation about the TV show and the war on drugs, and what lessons we've learned along the way. Of course, the conversation doesn't end without Omar getting a mention ... or without us getting to see Obama as TV host. A sign of what's to come after 2016?
It is fine to discuss adjustments to drug enforcement policy in the US, but it would be better to discuss the factors that lead to the criminal culture in the first place. For one thing, Obama and his colleagues on the left ignore the unbelievable decline on virtually every statistical measure in the black community after the so-called "War on Poverty" began in the 1960s. In 1965, three quarters of black children were born to a married mother; the exact opposite is true now. And while Obama sends his own children to private schools, he dooms other minority children to languish in poorly performing public schools, rather than upset a core Democratic Party constituency (the teachers' unions) and provide these children with similar educational choices. I find it very difficult to take this man's self-professed compassion seriously.


text:
Terence Crawford tells Bob Arum to RELEASE HIM THEN!!
ESPN's number #1 pound for pound King, Terence Crawford is wanting to opt-out of his Top Rank contract. Crawford just won his fight last week against Kell Brook via TKO in under 4 rounds. He retained his WBO welterweight title.
During the post-fight interview, Crawford said that he wants Manny Pacquiao as his next opponent. Manny Pacquiao holds the WBA welterweight title, so both fighters can unify two titles which Crawford is looking to seek. Fighting Manny Pacquiao also guarantees big PPV money as he is probably the most famous boxer in the division.
Crawford has shown no interest in fighting against Errol Spence Jr. He indicated that he is focused on getting the Pacquiao fight. According to Crawford, Spence is asking for a price that is too much and wants a bigger percentage for the fight to happen. It is a shame since both fighters are at their peak and tip-top shape right now.
It is pretty ironic since there is a video on youtube that both fighters teasing each other about fighting. Bob Arum, Spence's team, and Crawford's team were also there jokingly saying to sign the contract. Both of them teasing, to not keep ducking each other and their signature moves won't work against each other.
The Pacquiao fight is the one that Crawford wants and is willing to get a 50/50 share with the Filipino boxer. The target is for 2021 to happen but Pacquiao has not yet announced anything. Pacquiao is a senator in the Philippines and is focusing on helping the community at the moment.
With Manny Pacquiao, he has many options on who to fight. He could get the money fight with Conor McGregor (as of this moment Mcgregor is scheduled to fight Dustin Poirier). Mikey Garcia has also shown interest in fighting Pacquiao, it will be a classic Pacquaio vs Mexican fight.
The Terence Crawford and Bob Arum feud started when Arum indicated that he lost money in promoting Crawford. He said that Crawford is not like his former boxing stars that promote themselves in establishing the brand. Mayweather and Pacquaio may be the biggest names that Bob Arum had but both boxers have their own promotions now.
Arum said that he could have built a nice house in Beverly Hills with the money he lost in promoting the boxer. He said that Crawford is a great boxer but that is not enough to run a business. No matter how good Crawford is but no one is watching, it would still bankrupt or lose money. That is the rant of Bob Arum.
The biggest mistake for Bob Arum is that he is trashing his own boxers publicly, destroying his name. It would have been better had he told Crawford personally and not let the public know about the problems. Now Crawford wants out of his contract and fights other promoters that will promote him with respect.
UFC Promoter, Dana White also had his take on this in a press conference. He told Bob Arum that he is a piece of (expletive) and that he hates Bob Arum. "Pay the fighters" is what he said. He also said that what Bob Arum said about the Beverly Hills money is showing how disrespectful he is towards his fighters. It is worth noting that Eddie Hearn is also interested in getting Crawford.
Tyson Fury wants to fight Anthony Joshua...
Boxing John - Jan 18, 2021 0
It is pretty much obvious that both British heavyweight champions want to clash to unify all the heavyweight belts in the division. Tyson Fury...
Canelo Alvarez will face Avni Yildirim on...
Number one pound for pound boxer, Canelo Alvarez will face Turkish boxer Avni Yildirim. Canelo will be a huge favorite coming to fight and...
Manny Pacquiao wants Conor Mcgregor as his...
The Filipino Boxer/Senator is looking to get back in the ring for 2021 and wants the biggest name in MMA, Conor Mcgregor. The Irish...
Teofimo Lopez vs Devin Haney is the...
If the fight of Ryan Garcia vs Tank Davis happens, then they should be making Teofimo Lopez vs Tank Davis. All four rising undefeated...


The country was plunged into a political crisis in January when Juan Guaido, head of the opposition-controlled congress, invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency, arguing Nicolas Maduro's 2018 re-election was not legitimate. Bachelet told the U.N. Human Rights Council that she had information, without elaborating, that the National Police's Special Actions Force (FAES) had executed 37 people in January in Caracas in illegal house raids in poor areas supporting the opposition. "... my office documented numerous human rights violations and abuses by security forces and pro-government armed groups, including excessive use of force, killings, arbitrary detentions, torture and ill-treatment in detention, and threats and intimidation," she said.


text:
Nepal doubles the number of tigers thanks to the Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation
In 2009 Nepal had 121 tigers; in 2018, there were 235. The Himalayan nation is the first to reach the goal of doubling the population of the endangered species by 2022.
Kathmandu (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The number of tigers doubled in Nepal thanks to the support of the Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation, a philanthropic organisation founded and chaired by the famous Hollywood star who is committed to animal and environmental protection. The information was announced as Nepal celebrated National Conservation Day on 23 September.
According to official data, the Himalayan nation had 121 tigers in 2009. This year, that number stood at 235. For the World Wildlife Federation, this is very significant in terms of saving the endangered species.
For Nepal, it means that it could be the first country in the world to double its tiger population since it adopted TX2, with the aim of doubling tiger numbers in the wild by 2022, a target set in 2010.
The survey to count the number of tigers was conducted with the help of camera traps in the transboundary Terai Arc Landscape along the border with India.
The Leonardo Di Caprio foundation funded the conservation programme in the Bardia National Park.
Upon hearing the news, the actor wrote on Instagram: "Nepal has been a leader in efforts to double tigers within its own borders and serves as a model for conservation for all of Asia and the world. I am proud of my foundation's partnership with WWF to support Nepal and local communities in doubling the population of wild tigers."
His fans reacted with elation, some hoping that other Hollywood celebrities might follow suit.
Beijing backtracks, bans trade in tiger and rhino parts
World Tiger Day: Nepal wants to save big cats from Chinese market
Cambodia, WWF: border highway threatens flora and fauna of a protected forest
Cambodia, "environmentally sustainable" tourism to save Mekong dolphin
Ghanaian environmentalists sue their government over China-backed mine


RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority (PA) told the United States that if the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act 2018 comes into force, it might as well stop sending the security aid money.
US President Donald Trump signed the act into law in October which is expected to go into effect at the start of next month. Under this act, recipients of US security aid could be sued in US courts for acts committed in their countries that caused death or injury to US citizens and therefore will be compelled to pay millions of dollars in compensation for their families if the courts rule so.
In an interview with Palestine TV, Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Executive Committee, Saeb Erekat, said that the Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, at the request of President Mahmoud Abbas, has delivered a letter to the US administration a few days ago informing it to stop sending security aid, the only remaining US aid to the Palestinians after cutting all other aid, if the anti-terrorism act goes into force.
Erekat reiterated that the US has cut $844 million in aid to the Palestinians last year, including $359 million that were allocated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), $231 million for infrastructure projects carried out by USAID, including shutting down the agency, $90 million that were allocated to hospitals in occupied East Jerusalem, and $175 million to Palestinian civil society organizations and projects.
Erekat said, "This administration believes that pressuring and blackmailing the Palestinian leadership and using tools for pressure such as aid are going to get the Palestinians to accept what the US administration and the administration of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are trying to impose on the Palestinian people," noting that the Palestinians will never allow this to happen.
The Palestinians have cut all contacts with the US administration after Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December 2017 and moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018.
Since then, the US also ordered the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) office in Washington late 2018.


text:
Q: Where is the sound file of Installer success stored? I've tracked Installer.app to be located at /System/Library/CoreServices/ but I can't find the sound that plays after a successful installation.
I've looked at the following paths:

*

*/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Install.framework

*/System/Library/CoreServices/Installer.app

*/System/Library/Sounds
Where is that sound file located?

A: The file you are looking for (on El Capitan) is located in: /System/Library/Components/CoreAudio.component/Contents/SharedSupport/SystemSounds/system/
Specifically, the file is burn complete.aif (or burn failed.aif, they're identical).
Older versions of OS X (unknown when it changed) have it at (source):
/System/Library/Components/CoreAudio.component/Contents/Resources/SystemSounds/system/

A: The install success sound is usually just your default system notification sound (i.e., Glass or whatever you have set).
If you want to set a custom sound, make sure it's in AIFF format, place it in one of these locations and choose the sound from System Preferences > Sound > Sound Effects
/System/Library/Sounds/
/Library/Sounds/
/Users/< username >/Library/Sounds/


DePuy has announced that it is voluntarily recalling the ASR™ XL Acetabular Head System and DePuy ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System. DePuy is providing the information below to help visitors with questions and concerns. Visitors are also invited to visit the DePuy website at www.depuy.com.
DePuy makes patient safety and health a top priority and is continually evaluating data about its products. Most ASR hip replacement surgeries have been successful. However, data recently received by the company shows that more people than expected who received the ASR hip experienced pain and other symptoms that lead to a second hip replacement surgery, called a revision surgery.
For this reason, DePuy Orthopaedics is recalling its ASR™ XL Acetabular Head System and DePuy ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System. This recall means additional testing and monitoring may be necessary in hip replacement patients. In some cases, patients may need additional surgery.
DePuy is working closely with health care professionals worldwide to contact patients with ASR hip implants. Most people with ASR Hip System implants do not experience problems, but it is important that patients with ASR Hip System implants be evaluated with by a surgeon. Patients with problems reported different symptoms with their ASR hip implant, including pain, swelling, and problems walking.
DePuy intends to cover reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment for services, including revision surgeries, associated with the recall of ASR.
Patients with an ASR Hip are asked to complete the form and bring it with them to the appointment to give their surgeons permission to share information directly with DePuy.


text:
Q: Nearest neighbour distribution empirical discrepancy in high dimensions I'm attempting to use the nearest neighbour distribution to understand the separation between uniformly distributed points in a high-dimensional space.
I find that there is discrepancy between empirical results and the analytic distribution and density functions when I look at high-dimension.

*

*How do I modify the analytic derivation to accurately reflect the empirical observations shown below?

*Am I violating some assumption in the empirical setup?

Nearest neighbour distribution derivation

*

*Consider a homogeneous point point process with constant rate $\lambda$, then the Lebesque measure of a point falling in a spherical shell $(r,r + \mathrm{d}r)$ is,

\begin{align}
\mu(r) = \lambda S(r)\mathrm{d}r
\end{align}
where $S(r) = V'(r)$ is the surface area of the hyper-sphere of radius $r$.
The probability of a nearest neighbour (NN) falling in $(r, r+\mathrm{d}r)$ is the probability of a point falling in $(r, r+\mathrm{d}r)$  and no points falling in $(0, r)$,
\begin{align}
P(NN \in (r, r+\mathrm{d}r)) \mathrm{d}r = (\lambda S(r)\mathrm{d}r) \left(1 - \int_0^r P(NN \in (r, r+\mathrm{d}r)) \mathrm{d}r \right)
\end{align}
The second factor is the probability of no points falling in $(0, r)$, and is one minus the probability of a point falling in $(0, r)$. Differentiate both sides, and then it becomes simple to arrive at,
\begin{align}
\log P(NN \in (r, r+\mathrm{d}r)) = -\lambda V(r) + \log S(r).
\end{align}
From this we can solve, and arrive at,
\begin{align}
P(NN \in (r, r+\mathrm{d}r)) = \lambda S(r) e^{-\lambda V(r)}
\end{align}
and the cummulative distribution function,
\begin{align}
P(NN \in (0, r)) = 1 - e^{-\lambda V(r)}.
\end{align}
This cumulative distribution function is the nearest neighbour distribution function.
Comparing to empirical results
One of the most powerful tools in statistics is that we can often cheaply simulate the results and see if our analytic results are correct.

*

*I simulate $N$ points in $\mathcal{U}[0,1]^n$, so that $\lambda = N$.

*Then I compute the nearest neighbours and plot the histogram.

*For low dimensions I find a good agreement.

*For high dimensions I find a large discrepancy.

agreement on low dimension

discrepancy on high dimension

A: I'm able to generate data which matches the theoretical  result: for n=10, N=1000:

Perhaps your nearest neighbors algorithm doesn't correctly handle toroidal boundary conditions? Here's my code.
D = 10
N = 1000

xs = np.random.random(size=(N,D))
tree = cKDTree(xs, boxsize=1)
distances,_ = tree.query(xs,k=2)
distances = distances[:,1]

plt.hist(distances, bins=20)
plt.show()

Just for fun, I was able to get n=25 working pretty well with N=50000 points, although it starts to break down once n gets any larger.


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100 urn:ogc:def:uom:EPSG::9001
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UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) meteorology data: 1992-2012
[THIS DATASET HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN]. Meteorology data from the UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) terrestrial sites. Variables measured include albedo (ground and sky), temperature (dry bulb, wet bulb and soil (at 10cm and 30cm)), relative humidity, radiation (net. and solar), rainfall, surface wetness, soil moisture, wind direction and wind speed). These data are collected by Automatic Weather Stations at all of ECN's terrestrial sites using a standard protocol. They represent continuous hourly records from 1992 to 2012. ECN is the UK's long-term environmental monitoring programme. It is a multi-agency programme sponsored by a consortium of fourteen government departments and agencies. These organisations contribute to the programme through funding either site monitoring and/or network co-ordination activities. These organisations are: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru - Natural Resources Wales, Defence Science & Technology Laboratory, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Llywodraeth Cymru - Welsh Government, Natural England, Natural Environment Research Council, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/e1d33b37-f1d4-4234-a0d5-8bf4e657f653
Campanula rotundifolia cytotype, distribution and first flowering dates v2
Data were collected to determine the geographic distribution of different cytotypes of Campanula rotundifolia L. Most sampling concentrated on Britain and Ireland, but samples from mainland Europe, the Russian Federation and North America were also analysed. Following these observations, a common garden study of tetraploid, pentaploid and hexaploid cytotypes representative of Britain and Ireland was set up at a CEH Edinburgh (where the local cytotype is tetraploid), to determine whether climatic factors were limiting the distribution of the hexaploid cytotype through effects on growth, survival or flowering phenology. The geographic distribution study ran from 2006-2019. The common garden study ran from 2008-2010. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/673b2b31-562c-4604-8776-4a92988867b8
Radionuclide data for vertebrates in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Data comprise radionuclide concentrations in soils and a range of terrestrial vertebrate species (reptiles, small mammals and birds) sampled in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) between 1999 and 2008. Reptiles were collected in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2007, birds, bats, and small mammals were collected in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008. Dose rate data are provided for one study, both as ambient dose rate measurements and also as recorded by thermoluminescent dosimeters attached to small mammal species. The isotopes measured include: Americium-241, Caesium-134 and 137, Cobalt-60, Europium-154 and 155, Potassium-40, Plutonium-238, -239 and -240, Strontium-90. The data were used to assess the concentration of radioactive contamination in soil, consequent uptake of radionuclides by wildlife living in the CEZ and to test prediction of the ERICA Tool assessment model. The data were used to assess the uptake of radionuclides by wildlife living in the CEZ and to derive transfer parameters, and also to test predictions of the assessment model the 'ERICA Tool'. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/518f88df-bfe7-442e-97ad-922b5aef003a
UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) soil solution chemistry data: 1992-2015
Soil solution data from the UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) terrestrial sites. Variables measured include pH, conductivity, alkalinity, aluminium, calcium, chloride, ammonium, nitrate nitrogen, phosphate phosphorous, potassium, sulphate sulphur, sodium, total nitrogen and total dissolved phosphorous. These data are collected by suction samplers at all of ECN's terrestrial sites using a standard protocol. They represent continuous fortnightly records from 1992 to 2015. ECN is the UK's long-term environmental monitoring programme. It is a multi-agency programme sponsored by a consortium of fourteen government departments and agencies. These organisations contribute to the programme through funding either site monitoring and/or network co-ordination activities. These organisations are: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru - Natural Resources Wales, Defence Science & Technology Laboratory, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Llywodraeth Cymru - Welsh Government, Natural England, Natural Environment Research Council, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/b330d395-68f2-47f1-8d59-3291dc02923b
Element and radionuclide concentrations in representative species of the ICRP's Reference Animals and Plants and associated soils from a forest in north-west England
This dataset presents the results of an initial sampling exercise conducted at a terrestrial site in northwest England in summer 2010. The following samples of terrestrial Reference Animals and Plants (RAPs) were obtained from an area of circa 0.4 km squared: Molinia caerulea (ICRP RAP Wild Grass defined as Poaceae); Picea sitchensis (ICRP RAP Pine Tree defined as Pinaceae); Apis spp., Bombus spp., Nomada spp. (ICRP RAP Bee defined as Apidea); Apodemus sylvaticus (ICRP RAP Rat defined as Muridae); Earthworms (species in the Family Lumbricidae as defined for the ICRP RAP Earthworm); Deer (belonging to the Family Anatidae (i.e. the ICRP RAP Deer). Soil samples were also collected from throughout the sampling area. All samples were analysed for multiple elements using ICP-MS/ICP-OES and most for gamma-emitting radionuclides. Results have been used to derive biota-soil concentration ratios. The ICRP have published their framework for radiation protection of the environment (ICRP Publication 108). This describes the use of RAPs as the basis for their framework. The RAPs are generalised to the taxonomic level of Family. Publication 108 presented dose coefficient values for the selected RAPs and also reviewed data on the effects of ionising radiation to suggest Derived Consideration Reference Levels for each RAP. In summer 2010 the ICRP released a further report on their protection framework for consultation. This report presented transfer parameter values (organism-media concentration ratios) for Reference Animals and Plants. The report also raised the possibility of identifying a series of sites where samples of each Reference Animal and Plant, and their different lifestages, could be collected and analysed. It was suggested that the resultant data would constitute a set of reference values analogous to approaches used by the ICRP for human radiological protection. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/e40b53d4-6699-4557-bd55-10d196ece9ea
Peatland vegetation: field and laboratory measurements of carbon dioxide fluxes and spectral reflectance
This dataset includes laboratory and field measurements of carbon fluxes and spectral reflectance for peatland vegetation including Sphagnum species. It also includes satellite data relating to the development and use of a Temperature and Greenness (TG) model, and an annual Temperature, Greenness and Wetness (TGWa) model. The laboratory data includes Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) and respiration data from samples of Sphagnum capillifolium and Sphagnum papillosum which were collected from the Forsinard Flows RSPB reserve (Northern Scotland) and subjected to different rainfall simulations, including total drought, in the laboratory. Spectral reflectance of the samples was also measured throughout the experiment, and the vegetation indices calculated are recorded. The field data includes carbon fluxes and spectral reflectance measurements, in this case taken from collars located at three sites within the Forsinard Flows Reserve during the main growing season of 2017 (March to September). Associated measurements of temperature, Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), and moisture content were recorded. The species composition of the collars is also given in the data. The satellite data include Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) used to develop a TG model over the Forsinard Flows reserve, and the Glencar bog in Ireland. The dataset also includes bands used to calculate the Normalised Difference Water Index (NDWI) to develop the TGWa model. The MODIS data used in the implementation of this model to assess restoration progress, and also upscaling effectiveness, are included in the dataset. The work was carried out during a PhD project part-funded by the NERC SCENARIO DTP (Grant number: NE/L002566/1) at the University of Reading, and part-funded by The James Hutton Institute. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/ab9f47f9-9faf-4403-a57e-25e31f581ed0
Ammonia measurements from passive samplers at Ballynahone Bog field site, Northern Ireland (2018)
This dataset consists of ammonia (NH3) measurements from a set of ALPHA (Adapted Low-cost Passive High Absorption) sampler sites at Ballynahone National Nature Reserve, a designated Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Ramsar (wetland of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention) site in Northern Ireland. The park is an ammonia sensitive peatland ecosystem managed locally by Ulster Wildlife Trust (UWT). The data were originally collected due to concern that Ballynahone Bog may be adversely affected by NH3 emissions arising from local livestock installations. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/9c87edc2-a9be-4d4c-ae86-827bfeecd20c
Impact of grassland management on biomass production and nutritional quality, invertebrate communities, and soil health in Berkshire (UK) 2009-2012
The dataset describes the effects of different management techniques on grassland biomass production (dry matter yield), nutritional quality (herbage nitrogen content), pollinator communities (abundance and species richness), predatory beetle communities (abundance, species richness and biomass), and soil health (bulk density, total soil carbon and nitrogen). Data was collected from a site in Berkshire (UK), where a field-scale, randomised block experiment had been implemented to investigate how the establishment of a variety of plant functional groups (grasses, legumes, and other flowering forbs) using different cultivation (minimum tillage and deep ploughing) and management (cutting, grazing and their intensity) techniques, affected the provision of various ecosystem services. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/984b1001-82f1-4ba0-aa1e-412f85d9d24f
Calluna vulgaris root length and fungal colonisation data from the Climoor long-term climate change experiment in Clocaenog forest, UK (2015)
This dataset contains root length, biomass and fungal colonisation data for Calluna vulgaris from control, drought and warming treated soils from the long term climate change experiment in Clocaenog forest. Soil samples were collected from the climate change experiment in Northeast Wales during April 2015. Roots were separated from the soil, their length and biomass measured and then analysed using microscopy for Ericoid mycorrhizae (ErM) and dark septate endophyte (DSE) colonisation of Calluna vulgaris. The experimental field site consists of three untreated control plots, three plots where the plant canopy air is artificially warmed during night time hours and three plots where rainfall is excluded from the plots at least during the plants growing season (March to September). The Climoor field experiment intends to answer questions regarding the effects of warming and drought on ecosystem processes and has been running since 1999. The root length and fungal colonisation data aims to understand how changes in soil hydrological and chemical properties have influenced Calluna vulgaris rooting behaviour and interactions with the soil microbiome. This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/3d468857-f5d0-4dc4-88f3-6be6df19608b
Plant cover in a Floridian foredune following hurricane Irma in 2017: effect of experimental wrack removal
The dataset contains plant cover by species sampled on three occasions using a grid of 0.5 x 0.5m quadrats within experimental field plots. The percentage cover of each species was estimated visually within each of the nine, 0.5 x 0.5m quadrats in each plot. The total percentage cover was the sum of all individual species' covers within a quadrat. This study was conducted in the foredune area of Anastasia State Park, located south of St Augustine in Florida, USA between March 2018 to January 2019 Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/0c93703a-c185-4dd9-b8d7-8d3698535245


CASPIAN OIL & GAS - We are extremely pleased with the President's attention!
We are extremely pleased with the President's attention!
- We have been participating at the International Caspian Oil & Gas Exhibition for 23 years. Turkish Petroleum has shares in various projects which are currently being implemented in the Caspian basin. This means that we have many points of contact with our Azerbaijani counterparts.
This event has provided us with an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the work of many local and foreign oil & gas producers and service companies. And, probably, with some of these companies, we will be cooperating in future.
Yesterday our stand was visited by the President of Azerbaijan H.E. Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. Such attention of the head of the state is a great incentive, and I believe it is the same not only for us but for each and every company represented here! Solid motivation causes an influx of confidence, positive, and we begin to work with even more enthusiasm.
The exhibition, as always, is at the highest level and full of pleasant innovations. We were very pleased with the ceremony of the grand opening of the event and with the congratulations received from the Organizers and guests of Caspian Oil & Gas 2017.
From the 29th of May until..
Equinor reveals time of starting drilling..
Minister: growing interest for Southern Gas..


text:
How Manna Foods Is Working towards a 'Harvest' Period In FY18
F&B 20 Published on April 10, 2017
I.S.A.K. Nazar, its founder, was focused on consolidating the company's activities in FY17 by creating proper systems and addressing distribution challenges. This year, the company aims to hit revenues of Rs. 140 crore, on the back of a strong product mix (pickles, dry fruits, smart kitchen range and baby foods) and renewed brand positioning.
I.S.A.K. Nazar, founder, Manna Foods
With two decades of experience in marketing, I.S.A.K. Nazar turned entrepreneur in 2000, with health foods company, Southern Health Foods Pvt. Ltd., the maker of Manna Foods. The past two years saw the company take strong strides towards its growth. "The equity participation from Fulcrum Ventures in April 2015 gave us a fresh start and allowed us to pursue opportunities aggressively," admits Nazar. While the Manna Health Mix continues to do well, the company spent a fair amount of time consolidating its activities in FY17.
To accelerate its growth further (through brand exposure), in the first quarter of FY17, the team roped in cricketer, Ashwin Ravichandran, as its brand ambassador. Commenting about this move, Nazar says, "Manna is a natural health products company and not just any FMCG company. Similarly, Ashwin is a special cricketer, a top-notch spinner and an emerging all-rounder. So, we felt this partnership will augur well for the organisation." So far, Manna has involved the cricketer in several ATL and BTL activities.
In terms of turnover, the company has grown from Rs. 36 crore in 2014-15, to Rs. 47 crore in 2015-16. It is completing FY17 with Rs. 70 crore in turnover.
The fact that we ironed out distribution challenges, roped in Ashwin, introduced new products and strengthened our export presence will attribute to the expected jump in the revenue; to Rs. 140 crore in FY18
An Eye On Repositioning
The company had a lot of floor products with regional appeal, but it withdrew these from the market to bring in a positioning of Manna being a specialised food products company, rather than being perceived as a commodity.
Furthermore, in a move to strengthen its base in health and nature, in FY17, it introduced a series of multi-category products with health tag – starting with olive oil pickles, unpolished ethnic millets in proper packaging and dry fruits like apricots, figs and special black dates. It also introduced a sub-category called Manna Smart Kitchen range, with products like natural coconut milk, tomato puree, ginger garlic paste, sautéed onion paste and tamarind concentrate. "As these are healthy, home-based products, this gave us an entry into the kitchen, as majority of these products are marketed by MNCs," says Nazar.
Foraying Into Newer Markets
While the company was predominantly a South-based brand, it decided to expand its horizons by entering Mumbai, NCR region in New Delhi and the entire Eastern region starting from Orissa, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand to West Bengal, Bihar and UP. This apart, the company also entered the global markets in a big way by exporting to the U.S, Middle Eastern countries, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. Currently, export contributes to almost 10 per cent of the total sales and the company is working towards increasing this number.
Working Towards A Harvest Period
Apart from launching a range of new products in FY17, the company has also created proper systems and addressed its distribution-related challenges. Moreover, Manna continues to work on its baby food range which has grown by almost 200 per cent despite the international ban on advertisements. "We are working on some strategies to directly reach gynaecologists and paediatricians," states Nazar. And, it also plans to launch new products in women's health food category and children's snacks category this year. "This apart, we are likely to raise second round of funds too this year," adds Nazar. All these, the founder hopes, will help the company touch revenues of Rs. 140 crore by FY18. "The fact that we ironed out distribution challenges, roped in Ashwin, introduced new products and strengthened our export presence will attribute to the jump in revenue," he states. With all the strategies in place, the founder believes that it is harvest time in FY18.
Entrepreneurial Know-How
Marketing Approach: The company has roped in cricketer Ashwin Ravichandran, as its brand ambassador. It has implemented many ATL and BTL activities with Ashwin, which has augured well for the brand.
Product Development Approach: It Introduced a series of multi category products with health tag in FY17 – starting with olive oil pickles, unpolished ethnic millets in proper packaging and dry fruits like apricots, figs and special black dates. It also introduced a sub-category called Manna Smart Kitchen range, with products like natural coconut milk, tomato puree, ginger garlic paste, sautéed onion paste and tamarind concentrate.
Market Development Approach: Earlier, while the company has predominantly remained a South-based brand, it has now entered newer markets like Mumbai, NCR region in New Delhi and Eastern regions such as Orissa, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and UP. It has also entered the global market in a big way by exporting to the U.S, Middle East, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.
Poornima Kavlekar
Poornima Kavlekar has been associated with The Smart CEO since the time of launch and is the Consulting Editor of the magazine. She has been writing for almost 20 years on a cross section of topics including stocks and personal finance and now, on entrepreneurship and growth enterprises. She is a trained Yoga Teacher, an avid endurance Cyclist and a Veena player.
The F&B 20 Collection
Narratives, anecdotes and insights from entrepreneurs at the helm of twenty food & beverage startups, each at different stages in the company building process. For a layman to understand the growth India's food
Amuleek Singh Bijral started Chai Point as a retail business. Over time, the company expanded into serving corporate clients with its 'Chai @ Work' business unit. In late 2016, the company launched Boxc.in,
Kanwaljit Singh backed Goodness! Beverages aims to make a mark in the diary-based beverages segment
The founders of Dropkaffe decided to launch an FMCG company, after a failed education tech venture. But, it is the key learnings from the first stint that is coming in handy, as Chaitanya
Saurabh Garg and Anurag Kedia, co-founders of The Four Fountain Spa, spotted an opportunity to launch a new food category for the Indian market. Driven by research, the duo launched myDaily, a meal
Paper Boat takes on international competition by presenting an Indian alternative
Hector Beverages started with the vision of selling functional energy drinks for the Indian audience. Quickly, it pivoted to launch Indian beverages like aam pana and panakam. Now, the company is gearing up