How to Create a survey on Facebook – Want to ask the general opinion of people you know about a certain topic? What better way to do it easily and conveniently than by asking it on Facebook. With Facebook, you can create surveys that you could post online on your profile for your friends or other people to answer. Creating surveys is really quick and simple.
Sign into your Facebook. Launch a web browser on your computer and go to the Facebook website. Type in your account username and password in the text fields provided at the top right corner of the welcome page, and click the "Sign In" button to log into your Facebook account.
Go to the Survey app. Type in "survey" on the search bar on the upper portion of the web page. Check the results that drop down if there's a Survey application there. If not, click "See more results" at the bottom. On the new page, select "Apps" from the left panel to filter all results to show only applications. The Survey app will appear at the top of the filtered search result. Select it from the list to go to the Survey maker application.
Start making your survey. Click the "Get Started" button you see on the welcome page of the app to go to the first step and begin creating your Facebook survey.
Survey Title—Enter a short title about your survey. Make it witty, like "Hey, car lovers! We want your thoughts," to help catch the attention of readers and increase the chance of them answering your question.
Survey Language—Click the drop-down list and select the language you'd like your survey to be in.
Description—Type in a short description about your survey on the text box provided. Though there's no limit on the number of characters to use, it's recommended to use a short description that can be quickly read by people.
Once you're done, click the "Next" button to proceed to the next step.
Allow the app to access your profile. The survey app will ask for your permission to access your profile and your email address. Just click the "Okay" button to allow the app and continue to the second step.
One-line text box—Participants can enter a one-line answer on a text box.
Multiple lines comment box—Participants can type in their answers using as many lines as they want.
Multiple choices—Participants can pick out one or more answer from a list of choices.
Drop-down list—Participants can select only one answer from a drop-down list of choices.
Scale of 1 to 5—Participants can pick any number from 1 to 5 as their response.
Picture upload—Participants can upload and use pictures as their answers for the survey.
Add choices to your survey questions. If you chose a question type that lets users pick between answers (Multiple Choice and Drop-Down List), you may enter the survey answers you'd like to put in the survey on the text field, provided on the lower portion of the New Question pop-up window. Once you're done, click the "Save" button to save all the details you've entered.
Post your survey. The last step will be to share the survey you created. Click the "Share" button you see on the app page, and click the "Post on Timeline" to publish it on your Facebook profile.
View answers to your survey. You'll receive a notification on the top right corner of your Facebook page whenever someone answers your survey. Just click the notification to view the answers to your survey post.


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Envoy on Youth
Envoy's Workplan
Youth4Peace
Refugee Team Takes Centre Stage Ahead of Opening Ceremony
From UNHCR
Since the Refugee Olympic Team arrived in Brazil, leading celebrities and fellow athletes have rallied to their side.
By: Jonathan Clayton | 2 August 2016
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Refugee athletes have taken centre stage in the run-up to the start of the Rio 2016 Olympics, winning friends and warming hearts with real-life stories of triumph over adversity.
Since the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team arrived in Brazil towards the end of last week, leading Brazilians, international celebrities and fellow athletes have rallied to their side.
"The welcome has been amazing… People are being very good to us in the village and treating all the athletes as equals," the team's mission leader, Tegla Loroupe, told UNHCR.
On Monday, during the inauguration of the Olympic Truce Mural, a pre-games tradition dating back to ancient Greece, IOC President Thomas Bach said, "With the Refugee Olympic Team, we are sending a message of solidarity for the people around the world. This is the worst refugee crisis in the history of the humanity."
"I hadn't anything: any caps, any bathing suits, nothing."
At their first press conferences, members of the 10-strong team have spoken emotionally of their journeys to Rio de Janeiro and the obstacles they have had to overcome to keep practising the sport they love.
Swimmer Syrian Yusra Mardini recalled arriving in Germany with nothing: "I hadn't anything: any caps, any bathing suits, nothing."
This time last year she was swimming for her life – literally – when the dinghy she and her sister had taken from Turkey started sinking in the Aegean Sea and she had to leap off and push it to safety.
Before leaving the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, South Sudanese runner Yiech Pur Biel told UNHCR his immediate family did not even know he was taking part in the Olympics. He fled war at the age of 11 and grew up in a refugee camp in the north of Kenya.
"We will show that even though we are refugees, we are still human beings," he said. His mother and siblings fled to Ethiopia when he went to Kenya with an uncle, and he has never seen them again.
Popole Misenga, 24, from Democratic Republic of the Congo, broke down in tears as he explained to a hushed audience that he had not seen his family for 18 years.
Such stories of heroism have touched hearts worldwide before the games even begin.
Social media feeds are awash with messages of good luck.
Attention has now turned to who will carry the IOC flag for the team at the Opening Ceremony on Friday. At the moment, organizers are keeping a tight lid on that news.
Source: http://goo.gl/gln6QQ
By Youth Admin|Tags: #YouthNow, Education, refugee integration, Sports, Sustainable development|Comments Off on Refugee Team Takes Centre Stage Ahead of Opening Ceremony
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Google Pixel 3 Lite is the 'Lite' variant of the Pixel 3. The smartphone is much cheaper and as a result, packs in a lot of compromises over its predecessor, like a plastic frame and a mid-range processor. What the phone doesn't compromise upon, is the stellar camera and the constant software updates that are promised with every Pixel device. The phone also has a headphone jack, something that is not available in the more expensive version.
Google started launching devices with its branding with the first generation of Pixel smartphones. Some praiseworthy devices that the company has launched since then include the Google Home smart speakers and Pixel range of smartphones. However, the company has only had a handful of devices to its credit. Fresh Reports claim that Google is working on several new devices, and it might launch a total of five products this year. These are expected to be the Pixel 3 Lite series, the Pixel 4, a new version of Google Home, Pixel smartwatch and a Google Security Camera.
The Pixel 3 series was praised all over because of its amazing camera and clean software. What that phone didn't win any awards for, was the boring design and the high price. Looks like Google is trying to win back the lost audience through the Pixel 3XL Lite. Although there have been many leaks regarding the phone, but it seems like we are getting quite close to the final launch of the device.


Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is expected to visit the newly-opened Wetherspoon pub in Midsomer Norton on Friday (September 21).
The North East Somerset politician is heading to the Palladium Electric, which opened its doors today (September 18), to speak with JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin, who will be visiting the chain's newest branch.
Despite both being supporters of Brexit, the official purpose of their meeting is not specifically about Britain's exit from the EU.
Though it's quite possible that the subject may arise.
The brand-new pub opened its doors to punters on Tuesday morning after years of rumours and expectation.
The pub features a huge garden and a modern feel, with the usual Wetherspoon quirks all in place, including a rather jazzy carpet.
JD Wetherspoon has more than 800 branches in the UK, and founder Tim Martin is due to visit the latest addition to the pub chain.
He will chatting about tax equality with Mr Rees-Mogg.
Mr Martin has been a huge part of the campaign for a VAT reduction across the hospitality industry.
The pub chain points out that all food in pubs is subject to 20 per cent VAT, compared to supermarkets which benefit from a zero VAT rate on the vast majority of food products.
On September 13, Wetherspoon branches knocked 7.5 per cent off all their prices in a display of how a VAT reduction would be good for customers and the industry.
The pair will be heading to new branch at around 3pm to discuss the issues, and will no doubt have plenty of company.
The pub was packed on Tuesday morning after its opening as excited locals came to sample their new attraction.
The new branch has created 70 new jobs and has seen an investment of £2.8 million pumped into the Somerset town.


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TheDetail
Home TheDetail
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The Good Friday/Belfast Agreement
Newton Emerson
The Detail Network
New powers for independent watchdogs to protect human rights and equality post Brexit
By Barry McCaffrey, 06 December 2018
Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern signing the Good Friday Agreement
THE British government is to give special new powers to two independent watchdogs to protect human rights and equality legislation in Northern Ireland following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union next March.
It has emerged that, as part of its EU withdrawal deal, the government has given a commitment to allocate special oversight and enforcement powers to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) to ensure the protection of civil liberties legislation first written into the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
It is understood that the proposed new legislation will cover anti-discrimination laws, including workers' rights both in the public and private sector.
The move has been welcomed by both NIHRC and ECNI who are understood to have submitted business cases for their new roles.
However, when The Detail contacted the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) it failed to clarify the nature of the new powers or what financial resources, if any, will be allocated to the watchdogs to allow them to properly oversee the protection of existing human rights and equality laws here.
On November 14 the UK government published plans of the proposed Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union. That is due to be debated by MPs this week, with a vote in Parliament on December 11.
The withdrawal proposals were accompanied by an 'explainer' document, which sets out more of the finer details of the exit from the EU, including the protection of existing human rights laws here.
The 56-page explanatory note confirms that the government has agreed to "no diminution" of the rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity section set out in the Good Friday Agreement.
This means that there can be no reduction in the rights enshrined in the Belfast peace agreement.
Crucially the protection of some of these rights were underpinned by sections of EU law that could now be lost.
Human rights campaigners argue that there is an obligation on the government to find another way of protecting these particular rights in new post Brexit laws.
Campaigners argue that the obvious way to ensure the protection of these rights would be through the establishment of a dedicated Bill of Rights.
While the government has said this will be achieved through a 'dedicated mechanism', it has yet to clarify what this term actually means.
Paragraph 176 in the Explainer document for the agreement on the withdrawal of the UK of GB and Northern Ireland from the EU
Paragraph 176 of the explanation document confirms that NIHRC and ECNI will now be given special oversight powers to protect human rights.
"The UK will confer upon NIHRC and ECNI new powers to monitor, supervise, advise and report on and enforce the commitment, as well as provide adequate resources to ensure that they are able to perform their enhanced roles effectively," it said.
However, The Detail understands that the NIHRC or ECNI could not penalise local councils, government departments or private companies who fail to comply with existing human rights and equality legislation following Britain's departure from the EU on March 29, 2019.
According to experts the term 'enforcement' is understood to mean that either organisation will only be permitted to facilitate a legal challenge by an individual who believes that their human rights or equality safeguards have been breached.
Earlier this year the Supreme Court ruled that NIHRC was not legally entitled as an individual organisation to launch a human rights legal challenge in the courts but instead could only support an individual in a case.
The proposed new powers are understood to include legislation to allow NIHRC to take its own human rights legal challenges.
In a joint statement to The Detail, the NIHRC and ECNI gave a guarded welcome to the announcement that they are to be given enhanced oversight powers.
"We welcome the commitment in the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol that there should be no diminution of rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity as set out in parts of the 1998 Agreement and the commitment to continue to facilitate the related work of both the Equality Commission and the NI Human Rights Commission in upholding human rights and equality standards. We also welcome the commitment that this should be implemented by dedicated mechanisms and the government's intention that this will involve the commissions."
The watchdogs told The Detail that "significant" human rights and equality issues remain at risk after the EU exit next March, including the loss of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
However, the organisations said that the extent of the new powers and funding they will receive from government still remains unclear.
"At this stage much detail needs to be finalised by the UK government including budgets and powers for the dedicated mechanism.
"We will continue to engage in discussions with the UK government in relation to this; we will be seeking the strongest possible safeguards and developments of equality protections and human rights following the UK's exit from the EU."
Confirming its intention to hand the new oversight powers to NIHRC and ECNI, a Northern Ireland Office spokesman said: "The UK Government has committed to ensuring no diminution of the rights protected in the Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity chapter of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in Northern Ireland."
However, the NIO declined to explain the extent of the new powers or what financial resources, if any, would be given to either organisation to allow them to monitor effective oversight of human rights protections.
"This legally binding commitment will be given effect through the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, including relevant powers for the NIHRC and ECNI. We intend to publish further information on the scope of the Article 4.1 commitment, the role and functions of the NIHRC and ECNI as the dedicated mechanism, as well as enforcement mechanisms, in due course."
The NIO's lack of clarity on what new powers will be transferred to NIHRC and ECNI has been criticised by non-governmental human rights groups and academics.
Daniel Holder from CAJ
Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) spokesman Daniel Holder said there was an onus on the government to make a clear public statement setting out the new powers and resources that will now be made available to the new oversight bodies.
"As we have long learned throughout the peace agreements, commitments on rights only become meaningful if there is some way of actually enforcing them," he said.
"The UK (government) has published an 'explainer' document stating that it will grant new powers to the human rights and equality commissions to enforce the commitment.
"However, the only provision in the Withdrawal Agreement is for the commissions to raise breaches of the commitment to a joint UK/EU committee that only has to meet once a year. That clearly can't be it. The UK government should provide clarity and detail at this stage as to what new powers it is proposing for the commissions."
Queen's University human rights law professor Colin Harvey said there were real concerns that existing equality protections could now be watered down by the transfer of oversight powers.
"It is vital that the dedicated mechanisms put in place ensure robust enforcement of the 'no diminution' obligation," he said.
"Although the contribution of the existing commissions has been highlighted, there is a notable lack of detailed information and there is serious concern that the British government's current thinking might result in a weak and ineffective approach."
While local political parties are understood to have been consulted on the transfer of oversight powers, because of the continued absence of a Stormont executive, the parties are not thought to have had any involvement in negotiations or the decision-making process.
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We are proud members of Origin Green and fully believe in sustainability here in Molloy's Artisan Bakery.
The Origin Green promise is an unprecedented one. It is the only sustainability programme in the world that operates on a national scale, uniting government, the private sector and food producers through Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board.
We were delighted to be part of this video produced for their website recently.


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- activating (412) the electroactive cells according to the said modified phase-shift distribution function so as to provide a customized ophthalmic lens to the eye.
The invention relates to a method for providing to an eye of a wearer a customizable ophthalmic lens and to an active system of vision adapted to carry out the steps of the said method.
The invention further relates to a computer program product and a computer readable medium.
The invention relates to the field of active pixelated transparent optical elements, in particular to carry out an ophthalmic lens.
Within the meaning of the invention, an optical element is transparent when an object that is located on a first side of the optical element can be viewed without significant loss of contrast by an observer who is himself across the optical element. The object and the observer are each located at distance of the optical element. In other words, an image of the object is formed through the optical element with no significant loss of quality of visual perception for the observer, also called "the wearer".
It is known to carry out an optical element in the form of a transparent substrate which supports on at least one of its faces, a set of juxtaposed cells that covers at least in part this face. Substances having specific optical properties are contained in the cells, and cooperate to give optical characteristics required for a particular application to the optical component. For example, transparent substances having different refraction index can be divided in cells, so that the resulting component is a draft of lens adapted to correct visual defects. The optical properties regarding how the wavefront is modified by the optical element, also called the "dioptric function", result in the optical combination of the transparent substrate and of the set of juxtaposed cells.
The juxtaposed cells can be in the form of a film which can be adhered on the optical transparent substrate.
A final lens can then be obtained by edging the optical element according to a contour that corresponds to a frame chosen by the wearer.
Such a transparent optical element comprising a set of cells juxtaposed parallel to a surface of the optical element is generally called a pixelated optical element.
The dioptric function of the optical element can be characterized by an optical phase-shift distribution for a given monochromatic light wave which crosses the optical element.
In a general way, the transparent optical element has a surface which extends transversely compared to an optical axis. An average direction of propagation of the light wave can then be selected to be superimposed on this axis, and the optical phase-shift distribution can be given inside the said surface of the element. In case of pixelated optical elements, optical phase-shift has discrete values which are carried out in points which constitute a sampling of the usable surface of the transparent optical element. In a simplified way, optical phase-shift could be well established in a zone limited around each point of sampling, usually called cell. The value of the optical phase-shift of the element in any point of each cell would be thus equal to that of the point of sampling which is located in this cell. In a more realistic way, phase-shift is not constant inside each cell, but is intermediate between a minimal value and a maximum value which are fixed by a target function of phase-shift for this cell. The cells are contiguous in the usable surface of the optical element, and form a paving of this surface. The actual dioptric function of the pixelated transparent optical element results then from the combination of this paving with the values of optical phase-shift which are carried out in all the cells. Contiguous pixels can be separated by a wall having a width.
Moreover, it is well-known that optical phase-shift Δϕ for a monochromatic light wave is equal to the product of the double of number pi by the length of crossing L of each cell, and by the difference between the value n of refraction index of the transparent material which fills this cell and the value of the air index and by the inverse wavelength λ. In other words: Δϕ = 2π * L * (n-1) / λ. A way of carrying out the transparent optical element can then consist in varying the refraction index value of fill material of the cells between different cells of the element. In this case, all the cells can have the same depth, which is measured according to the optical axis of the element.
For example, for the corrective lens application, it is advisable for different cells of the optical element to contain substances of varying refraction index such that the refraction index is adapted to vary along the surface of the optical element, according to the estimated ametropy of an eye to be corrected.
Nevertheless, one can note that optical defects, such as parasitic images generated in case of periodical repartition of pixels or blurring in case of non-periodical repartition of pixels (Voronoï structure detailed below), may appear when wearing pixelated transparent optical elements.
One aim of the present invention is to provide a method for customizing an active system of vision with enhanced visual comfort for the wearer and which is suitable to take into account varying viewing conditions that can be encountered for example in everyday life.
Another aim of the present invention is to provide a structure that allows for the provision in an optical component of one or more optical functions in a flexible and modular manner.
activating the electroactive cells according to the said modified phase-shift distribution function so as to provide a customized ophthalmic lens to the eye of the wearer.
In the frame of the present invention, the wording "customizable lens" is used to designate a lens whose dioptric function can be modified according to the wearer's needs.
Individual cells of the pixelated optical element in which optical phase-shift is likely to take different values have a minimal size, which is in general determined by the manufacturing technique of the element. This minimal size spatially limits the sampling of a function of distribution of the optical phase-shift which is used as target to fulfill a desired dioptric function. In other words, the real optical phase-shift distribution function for the numerical element reproduces only roughly the target distribution function. The difference between these two functions of distribution constitutes a defect of the image transportation which is really produced by the optical element. Such is the case, in particular, when the target function of distribution is continuous, or continuous inside portions of the usable surface of the element.
For a given width of the walls between the pixels, this defect increases notably with the increase of the step of the paving, that is with the increase of the size of the cells. For a given size of the walls and of the cells and target function of distribution such as a given target power or astigmatism, the local difference between target and pixelated functions of distribution increase with the increase of distance to the optical function center. Then, the defects induced by pixelation increase when the direction of gaze of the wearer moves away from this center.
Thanks to the present invention, it is now possible to center the optical function of lens compared to the direction of gaze of the wearer. Centering the optical function of lens compared to the direction of gaze of the wearer can be done continuously according to the viewing behavior of the wearer by choosing PR to be the centre of the optical function of lens. The defects induced by pixelation are then significantly minimized and the quality of vision is significantly improved.
Figure 1 schematically represents the quadratic phase-shift distribution function of a single vision pixelated lens 10. In a usual case, the quality of an image seen in direction 1, centered on the optical function of a lens, is correct for a sufficiently small size of pixels. When the direction of gaze of an eye is offset according to direction 2, the quality of image is degraded much.
According to an embodiment, the method is implemented by technical means, as for example by computer means controlling such a device.
○ choosing a reference phase-shift distribution function among the plurality of reference phase-shift distribution functions depending on the actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer.
the actual gaze direction (αa, βa) of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens is determined by tracking the pupil of the eye of the wearer thanks to an eye-tracker device.
Furthermore, the invention also proposes a computer program product comprising one or more stored sequence of instructions that is accessible to a processor and which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to carry out the steps of the different embodiments of the preceding method.
○ activate the electroactive cells according to the said modified phase-shift distribution function so as to provide a customized ophthalmic lens to the eye of the wearer.
The system is therefore light and very compact because it is in the form of spectacles. It can be used in everyday life, even when the user encompasses different successive viewing conditions. In particular, a person wearing a pair of spectacles of the invention retains complete freedom of movement with good viewing ability.
○ a position and an orientation of each wall are determined such that the set of cells forms a Voronoï partition of the surface of the lens.
An active system of vision according to the invention can advantageously be used for several applications, for example in aviation field or in adaptive optics.
Figure 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating steps of another embodiment of the method according to the invention for providing to an eye of a wearer a customizable ophthalmic lens.
For clarity, the dimensions of the elements represented in these figures are not in proportion to the actual dimensions, nor to the ratios of the actual dimensions. In addition, identical references in the different figures denote identical elements or elements with identical functions.
With reference to figure 2, a pair of spectacles comprises a frame 3 and two ophthalmic lenses, respectively denoted 1 and 2 for the right and left lens. The frame 3 holds the lenses 1 and 2 in relative fixed positions, and allows placing them in front of the eyes of the wearer in a manner which remains substantially constant during successive periods of use. The lenses 1 and 2 can be permanently assembled into the frame 3 using one of the assembly methods known to opticians.
The references 100 and 200 denote the wearer's eyes, 100 indicating the right eye and 200 indicating the left eye. For each of the wearer's eyes 100, 200, the references S, I, P, L and R denote respectively the sclera, the iris, the pupil, the limbus, and the center of rotation of the eye. It is known that the iris I is a circular ring having an inner diameter which is variable and which determines the size of the pupil P, and a constant outer diameter. The limbus L is the outside border of the iris L, between the iris and the sclera S. It is therefore a circle of constant size which is fixed relative to the corresponding eye when the eye is turning around its center of rotation R. Visually, the limbus L is the circular border between the white sclera S and the colored iris I.
For each eye 100, 200, the respective axis D1, D2 which passes through the center of rotation R and the center A of the corresponding pupil P is the optical axis of that eye. The center A of the pupil P is also the apex of the crystalline lens. The optical axis D1, D2, is fixed relative to the respective eye 100, 200, such that it rotates with the limbus L. The optical axes D1 and D2 of the eyes 100 and 200 converge to a common point C, which is called the point of convergence of the eyes and which is the location of a virtual object being viewed by the wearer at a given moment. The average direction D0 of the optical axes D1 and D2 is the direction of gaze of the wearer at that moment. Usually, the direction of gaze D0 connects a midpoint of the segment between the two eyes' centers of rotation R and the point of convergence C. The observation distance, which is denoted D in figure 2, is the distance of the point of convergence C relative to the centers of rotation R.
The invention, which is now described in specific embodiments as depicted in fig.2, is based on the determination of the direction of gaze D0 relatively to the face of the wearer. To achieve this, a method for determining the direction of gaze of a wearer is carried out. For example, WO 2010/130932 A1 proposes such method for determining the direction of gaze of a wearer.
In WO 2010/130932 A1 , the direction of gaze D0 is determined by detecting the rotational position of each eye 100, 200 relative to the corresponding lens 1, 2. Thus each lens 1, 2 according to WO 2010/130932 A1 allows determining the angular position of the optical axis D1, D2 of the corresponding eye 100, 200. The direction of gaze D0 of the wearer is then deduced from the respective positions of the two optical axes D1 and D2.
To define the position of the optical axis of each eye, two angles are used, α and β, respectively called the elevation and eccentricity. The elevation α is usually identical for both eyes 100 and 200, and is the angle between each optical axis D1 or D2 and a reference plane which is horizontal when the wearer's head is vertical. The elevation value for the direction of gaze D0 is then also equal to this common value.
The eccentricity β of the optical axis D1 or D2 of each eye is the angle between this axis and a median plane of the face, which is vertical when the wearer's head is vertical. The eccentricity β can be considered as positive in the direction of the wearer's nose for each eye, and generally has absolute values which are distinct for the two eyes at the same moment. The difference between these two absolute values determines the convergence of the eyes, meaning the observation distance D. The azimuth value for the direction of gaze D0 is equal to half the difference of the respective eccentricity values for the two eyes, using the orientation convention of eccentricity angles just indicated.
In practice, the elevation and eccentricity of the optical axis D1, D2 of each eye 100, 200 may be determined based on the position of the limbus L of that eye.
A given gaze direction corresponds to a couple (α, β).
It is well-known by the man skilled in the art to define dioptric function DF(α, β) adapted to correct visual defects of the wearer in this reference system of coordinates (α, β), i.e. according to each gaze direction of the wearer.
Now, an active vision system system of vision for an eye of a wearer according to the invention will be described in details with reference to figure 3.
The active system of vision 20 for an eye 100, 200 of a wearer comprises a customizable ophthalmic lens 22. The active system of vision is adapted to be disposed in front of an eye of the wearer.
The customizable ophthalmic lens comprises a transparent set 24 of electroactive cells juxtaposed parallel to a surface of the said lens. Said set of cells is suitable for providing an optical phase-shift distribution function with a substantially constant value within each cell.
Preferably, each cell 26 is filled with an active electro-material such that the refraction index can vary in each pixel independently from each other under the action of an electric field induced by individual electrodes 28.
Of course, the active system of vision comprises a device 30 adapted to provide the adapted electric field.
Figure 3 illustrates a pixelated lens having a plane surface. Nevertheless the surface can be unspecified. Indeed, it is well-known of the man skilled in the art methods to manufacture pixelated ophthalmic lenses having unspecified surfaces.
The set of cells is suitable for providing an optical phase-shift distribution function with a constant value within each cell.
Furthermore, the active system of vision for an eye of a wearer comprises a device 32 adapted for determining the actual gaze direction (αa, βa) of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens.
For example, said device is adapted to characterize the direction of gaze of a wearer according to WO 2010/130932 A1 .
The device can be disposed on a face of the transparent set of electroactive cells facing the eye.
For example, the device 32 comprises an eye-tracker system adapted to determine the actual gaze direction (αa, βa) of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens.
Moreover, the active system of vision further comprises a control unit 34 comprising a processor 36 operatively connected to the transparent set of electroactive cells and to the device. Thus, the processor 36 is configured to receive electrical signals dependent on the actual gaze direction of the eye from said device 32.
Furthermore, the processor is configured to provide a reference phase-shift distribution function adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DF(α, β) and to choose a reference gaze direction (αR, βR).
To achieve this, the control unit 34 comprises a memory 38 wherein a reference control signal is stored; the reference control signal is adapted to activate each electroactive cells to provide the reference phase-shift distribution function. The reference gaze direction (αR, βR) associated to the reference phase-shift distribution function is stored in the memory too. In operation, the processor reads, in the memory, the reference gaze direction (αR, βR) associated to the reference phase-shift distribution function.
Then, the processor 36 is configured to calculate an actual point Pa and a reference point PR. Said actual point Pa is defined by the intersection between the actual gaze direction of the eye of the wearer and the transparent set of electroactive cells, and said reference point PR is defined by the intersection between the reference gaze direction of the eye of the wearer and the transparent set of electroactive cells.
Alternatively reference point PR is stored and the reference gaze direction (αR, βR) is calculated.
and to activate the electroactive cells according to the said modified phase-shift distribution function so as to provide a customized ophthalmic lens to the eye of the wearer. Moreover the processor is advantageously further configured to calculate a modified phase-shift distribution function by rotating the reference phase-shift distribution function according to predefined angle values so as to provide a customized ophthalmic lens to the eye of the wearer taking into account a variation of astigmatism axis direction of this eye in function of the gaze direction.
The device is adapted to carry out the steps of the method 400 according to the invention which will reference to figure 4.
The method comprises a step 402 for providing a reference phase-shift distribution function adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DF(α, β).
This dioptric function was pre-calculated in order to correct visual defects of the wearer. A reference phase-shift distribution function has then be calculated to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DF(α, β).
Each electroactive cell is then activated according to the said calculated phase-shift distribution function.
Then, a step 404 for determining the actual gaze direction (αa, βa) of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens is carried on. For example and preferably, the actual gaze direction (αa, βa) of the eye of the wearer is determined by tracking the pupil of the eye of the wearer thanks to an eye-tracker device. As indicated before, a method according to WO 2010/130932 A1 for determining the actual gaze direction of the wearer is for example carried out.
A reference gaze direction (αR, βR) is chosen during a step 406.
For example, the reference gaze direction (αR, βR) is a primary gaze direction.
Furthermore, the method comprises a step 408 for calculating an actual point Pa and a reference point PR. The actual point Pa is the intersection between the previously detected actual gaze direction of the eye of the wearer and the transparent set of electroactive cells. The reference point PR is the intersection between the reference gaze direction of the eye of the wearer and the transparent set of electroactive cells.
Moreover, the method comprises a step 412 for activating the electroactive cells according to the said modified phase-shift distribution function so as to provide a customized ophthalmic lens to the eye of the wearer.
Figure 5 illustrates the result obtained by this method. The same function of phase of the pixelated lens of figure 1 is represented. Thus, when the eye of the wearer looks in direction 1, the quality of the image seen is correct since the dioptric function of lens is centered on a reference gaze direction. And when the eye of the wearer looks in a direction 2 for example passing by the periphery of lens, the same dioptric function in terms of power and astigmatism which was previously calculated to correct visual defects of the wearer is applied.
Tests were carried out in order to quantify the interest of the invention for a lens having power equal to 2δ (diopter) and having 5 µm-square pixels, whose size of the walls between contiguous cells is considered as equal to zero.
For an horizontal translation of 10 mm of the gaze direction of the eye of a wearer compared to a fixed pupil having a 6 mm diameter, for simplicity's sake assumed to be stuck onto a plane lens and considering a quadratic phase-shift distribution function which corresponds if the wearer looks at the edge of its lens, the quantity of useful light for the wearer is equal to 0.89, corresponding to (0,0) diffraction order effectiveness. This is unacceptable in ophthalmic optics.
With the present invention, when the optical function of lens follows the gaze of the wearer, the situation is always brought back in the case of a null translation, so the quantity of useful light for the wearer is then equal to 0.994, showing the interest of the active system of vision of the invention.
With a 5 δ power, this quantity of useful light is higher than ≥ 0.96. Consequently, it is possible to have customizable lenses according to the invention having high power.
According to a second embodiment of the method, said method further comprising a step 420 for providing a plurality of reference phase-shift distribution functions adapted to provide to the wearer a plurality of given dioptric functions DFn(α, β).
For example, each given dioptric functions DFn(α, β) is adapted to provide a different power and/or astigmatism suitable for a specific activity (reading, a do-it-yourself activity...).
A plurality of control signals were calculated beforehand and recorded in a memory. Each control signal is adapted to activate the whole electroactive cells in order to provide to the wearer a given dioptric functions DFn(α, β) among the plurality of given dioptric functions DFn(α, β).
According to a first subembodiment, this step 420 is then followed by a step 422 for choosing a reference phase-shift distribution function among the plurality of reference phase-shift distribution functions. This choice is done as a function of the actual gaze direction (αa, βa) of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens.
at least a reference phase-shift distribution function adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DFIV(α, β) suitable for intermediate vision.
In another example the reference phase-shift distribution functions have various astigmatism axis directions depending on the gaze direction. For example the astigmatism value and axis direction is different for near vision, far vision and intermediate vision.
According to a second subembodiment, a step 424 for determining an actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer is carried out after the step 420 and before choosing a reference phase-shift distribution function among the plurality of reference phase-shift distribution functions depending on the actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer in 426.
Of course, this second subembodiment is compatible with the first subembodiment. Thus, the reference phase-shift distribution function can be chosen among the plurality of reference phase-shift distribution functions as a function of both the actual gaze direction (αa, βa) and/or the actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer.
The definition of actual viewing distance has no significant influence on the way the reference phase-shift distribution function can be chosen. The actual viewing distance can be evaluated as the distance separating an object and the front face of the lens or the object and the pupil of the eye of the wearer or even the object and the center of rotation of the eye of the wearer. The choice of a definition of actual viewing distance among the previous one is mainly linked with the device adapted for measuring the actual viewing distance as discussed below. For example, at least three reference phase-shift distribution functions adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric functions respectively suitable for near vision DFNV(α, β), suitable for intermediate vision DFIV(α, β) and suitable for far vision DFFV(α, β) can be provided.
Then, an actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer is determined.
if the actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer is in a third range greater than the second range, for example superior then 1.50 m, the reference phase-shift distribution functions adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric functions respectively suitable for far vision DFFV(α, β) is chosen.
Here "a second range greater than the first range" must be understood as each value of the second range is greater than each value of the first range. Of course, this definition applies mutatis mutandis to the third range which is greater than the second range.
With such a method whatever the embodiments, it is possible to build ophthalmic lenses whose dioptric power can vary according to the wearer's needs, these lenses thus playing the part of a flexible crystalline lens. More generally, an advantage of the pixelation consists of what any phase-shift function can be coded in lens, constantly and at any place of lens and able to vary with time.
For presbyopic wearers, the value of the power correction is different for far vision and for near vision, due to difficulty in accommodation for near vision. The prescription thus comprises a power value for far vision and a power addition representative of the power increment between far vision and near vision. The power addition is termed the prescribed addition. Ophthalmic lenses which compensate for presbyopia are multifocal lenses, the most suitable being progressive multifocal lenses. An active system of vision according to the invention having a plurality of given dioptric functions ensures the same optical function as a multifocal lenses without the disadvantages of having astigmatism defects located in peripheral zone of the lens. Moreover, this allows broad field of view whatever the gaze direction. Thus, such active system of vision can be used to compensate for presbyopia and allows the spectacle wearer to see objects over a wide range of distances, without having to remove his or her glasses.
In order to achieve the second subembodiment of the method, the active system of vision according to a second embodiment, further comprises another device adapted for measuring the actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens.
For example, said another device synthesizes measures of actual gaze direction of each of the two eyes of the wearer and determines from those two directions a convergence distance used for evaluating the actual viewing distance of the eyes of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens.
In another example, said another device comprises a telemeter adapted to measure the actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens.
Moreover, the other device can be disposed on a face of the transparent set of electroactive cells facing the eye.
The applicant has also proposed, for example in FR1152134 and in WO 2011/144852 A1 , transparent optical components having a cellular structure allowing respectively a virtual pixel size reduction (pixel superimposition) and an advantageous repartition of the defects induced by pixelation (Voronoï structures) to overcome the technological limit imposing a minimal size of the cells and so allowing to minimize the embarrassment perceived by a wearer.
As explained above, defects induced by pixelated set of cells depend on the size of the cells.
To significantly reduce these disadvantages, FR1152134 proposes a transparent optical element which comprises a plurality of layers superimposed according to an optical axis of the element. Each layer extends perpendicular to the optical axis, and consists of a paving of contiguous cells. For each layer, an optical phase-shift distribution function has a constant value inside each cell of this layer as discussed above. The dioptric function of the element results then from a combination of the respective optical phase-shift distribution functions of the layers.
The said other set of cells is suitable for providing another optical phase-shift distribution function with a constant value within each cell. The combination of the optical phase-shift distribution function provided by the transparent set of cells and the other optical phase-shift distribution function provided by the another transparent set of cells is adapted to provide to the wearer a resultant dioptric function.
The projection of the transparent set of electro-active cells on a surface perpendicular to the optical axis do not coincide with the projection of the another transparent set of electro-active cells on said surface perpendicular to the optical axis, such that boundaries between some of the cells adjacent to one of the transparent set of cells cut cells of the another transparent set of cells in the said projection.
Thus, in the surface of projection, the cells of one of the layers themselves are divided by intercellular limits of the other layer. The superimposition of the two layers then appears divided into useful cells which have dimensions lower or equal to those of the cells of each layer. In other words, the superimposition of layers enables to reduce an apparent size of useful cell to produce a given dioptric function as a result of an optimization process. For this reason, the optical phase-shift distribution function of the element of the invention can present a variation which is tiny room compared to a target distribution function, in particular compared to a target distribution function which is continuous or continuous by portions. This causes to decrease the intensity of the parasitic light which is diffracted and to leave again angularly best. This one is then less perceptible.
The invention described in FR1152134 is compatible with the present invention.
So, according to a third embodiment of the active system of vision, the customizable ophthalmic lens further comprises another transparent set of electroactive cells juxtaposed parallel to the surface of the said lens. The transparent set of electroactive cells and the other transparent set of electroactive cells are superimposed according to an optical axis of the lens.
WO 2011/144852 A1 proposes a transparent optical component having a cellular structure wherein disorder in the form and the distribution of the pixels of a pixelated lens is induced. This disorder allows transforming the parasitic orders of diffraction (corresponding to parasitic images) associated with a lens with periodic repartition of its pixels into a diffuse fog less awkward for the wearer.
The invention described in WO 2011/144852 A1 is compatible with the present invention.
So, according to a fourth embodiment, compatible with previous ones, of the active system of vision, wherein the transparent set of electroactive cells is formed by a network of walls. A position and an orientation of each wall are determined such that the set of cells forms an optimized Voronoï partition of the surface of the lens.
Furthermore, the invention also relates to a computer program product comprising one or more stored sequence of instructions that is accessible to a processor and which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to carry out the steps of the different embodiments of the preceding methods.
The invention also proposes a computer readable medium carrying out one or more sequences of instructions of the preceding computer program product.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "evaluating", "computing", "calculating" "generating", or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer or Digital Signal Processor ("DSP") selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and capable of being coupled to a computer system bus.
It should be noted more generally that the invention is not limited to the described and represented examples.
In particular, in the described examples the lens is single vision or multifocal. Nevertheless, the invention applies in the same manner for pixelated lenses associated with the correction of defects of astigmatism or other visual defects.
- activating (412) the electroactive cells according to the said modified phase-shift distribution function so as to provide a customized ophthalmic lens to the eye of the wearer.
- choosing (422) a reference phase-shift distribution function among the plurality of reference phase-shift distribution functions depending on the actual gaze direction (αa, βa) of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens.
- choosing (426) a reference phase-shift distribution function among the plurality of reference phase-shift distribution functions depending on the actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer.
Method for providing to an eye of a wearer a customizable ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a reference phase-shift distribution function is chosen among a list of a plurality of reference phase-shift distribution functions consisting of: at least a reference phase-shift distribution function adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DFNV(α, β) suitable for near vision, at least a reference phase-shift distribution function adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DFFV(α, β) suitable for far vision, at least a reference phase-shift distribution function adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DFIV(α, β) suitable for intermediate vision.
○ if the actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer is in a third range greater than the second range, the reference phase-shift distribution functions adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric functions respectively suitable for far vision DFFV(α, β) is chosen.
Method for providing to an eye of a wearer a customizable ophthalmic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the actual gaze direction (αa, βa) of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens is determined by tracking the pupil of the eye of the wearer thanks to an eye-tracker device.
A computer program product comprising one or more stored sequence of instructions that is accessible to a processor and which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to carry out the steps of any one of claims 1 to 6.
A computer readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions of the computer program product of claim 7.
Active system of vision according to claim 9, wherein active system of vision further comprises another device adapted for measuring the actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens.
Active system of vision according to claim 10, wherein said another device comprises a telemeter adapted to measure the actual viewing distance of the eye of the wearer when wearing the customizable ophthalmic lens.
Active system of vision according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein a reference phase-shift distribution function is chosen among a list of a plurality of reference phase-shift distribution functions consisting of: at least a reference phase-shift distribution function adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DFNV(α, β) suitable for near vision, at least a reference phase-shift distribution function adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DFFV(α, β) suitable for far vision, at least a reference phase-shift distribution function adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DFFV(α, β) suitable for far vision, at least a reference phase-shift distribution function adapted to provide to the wearer a given dioptric function DFIV(α, β) suitable for intermediate vision.
Active system of vision according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein said device is disposed on a face of the transparent set of electroactive cells facing the eye.
- the projection of the transparent set of electroactive cells on a surface perpendicular to the optical axis do not coincide with the projection of the another transparent set of electroactive cells on said surface perpendicular to the optical axis, such that boundaries between some of the cells adjacent to one of the transparent set of cells cut cells of the another transparent set of cells in the said projection.
- a position and an orientation of each wall are determined such that the set of cells forms a Voronoï partition of the surface of the lens.
ES2349342T3 (en) 2010-12-30 Method for optimizing spectacle lenses.


Recently, The Niello Company hosted the 2016 Longevity Awards Dinner at the timeless and elegant Sutter Club. The Niello Company's annual Longevity Awards recognizes employees for their years of service, in five year increments. With over 100 employees in attendance, there was much cause for celebration.
At this year's awards dinner, 108 employees received a pin, accumulating 765 years of service! One pin recipient was Rick Niello himself, being honored with a 40 year pin, presented by his father, Richard Niello Sr. In 1995, Rick Niello took the reins of the company from his father, and became President. His brother, David Niello, is Vice President of The Niello Company and his third brother, Roger Niello, currently serves as Secretary of the Company.
In addition to Rick Niello earning a pin, 29 employees were recognized for 5 years of continuous employment, 9 employees for 10 years, 8 employees for 15 years, 5 employees for 20 years, 6 employees for 25 years (Michelle Meyer of The Management Office, Bruce Pettit of Acura, KC Ramos of Volvo, Chuck Towle of Acura, Janet Welling of BMW Elk Grove, and Jeret Williams of BMW Elk Grove), 2 employees for 30 years (Scott Glackin of BMW Sacramento and Ralph Velasques of Volkswagen), as well as Peter Maston, who also received a 40 year pin for his years of service with The Niello Company.
The entire evening was filled with food, laughter and celebration. The Niello Company had a lot to celebrate; a look at 2015, earning the title of Best Place to Buy a Car by the readers of Sacramento Magazine, Best Place to Work (Large Company) by Sacramento Business Journal, and Best Dealership to Work For by Automotive News, an excitement for the present, a brand new dealership which opened on Arden Way, housing Niello Maserati and Niello Alfa Romeo, and an appreciation for the future, seeing all of these dedicated employees continue their hard work for many years to come.
Thank you to all of our employees for their wonderful commitment to The Niello Company.


In the midst of a terrible tragedy (Florida), political America is still moving forward with a plan for immigration. Whereas the White House knows very well it has an ally with Mr McConnell in the Senate, the real question for the GOP is where Mr Paul Ryan's allegiance lies in the House.
Speaker Paul Ryan knows that he faces a conservative backlash if he makes the wrong step and does not back the DACA solution as proposed by Senator Chuck Grassley. It was clear from President Trump's statement yesterday that he wants both the House and the Senate to back this, when he explained: "I am asking all senators, in both parties, to support the Grassley bill and to oppose any legislation that fails to fulfill these four pillars that include opposing any short-term 'Band-Aid' approach."
Meanwhile the Wisconsin Republican is under ever stronger pressure from the right side of his own House majority to also present a similar solution for the House floor, but most admit that some of the solutions presented in the Grassley draft are more than what they think Mr Ryan would back, being himself more centre-right.
Related coverage: DACA - Trump Stands Firm.
Of course, everyone know that behind closed doors the GOP leaders are themselves divided on the DACA matter.
Mr Ryan, when questioned by reporters, answered: "We've got to solve this problem."
"We want to solve DACA. But we also want to solve DACA in a comprehensive way so we don't have a DACA problem in five years, right?"
"The president did a very good job of putting a sincere offer on the table. And that sincere offer that he put on the table should be the framework through which we come together to find a solution."


Whether we do your yard or not, we want you to have the best professional advice.
Here are 4 Spring Clean Up Secrets to get your garden off to a healthy start.
Do corrective pruning to shrub or tree branches that were damaged by snow or wind last winter.
Prune summer blooming shrubs and small trees before the bubs swell.
Apply horticultural oil sprays to control insects, diseases, and powdery mildew.
Cut back damaged roses to 1 inch below blackened area.
Cut back ornamental grasses to 2 to 3 inches and cut perennials left standing over the Winter to 4 – 5 inches.
Divide, thin, and transplant perennials.
Use sharp bypass pruners to make a clean cut.
Clear all beds and borders of dead plant material.
Prepare soil in new bed sand borders.
Use a square-head shovel to form a clean edge around beds and keep turf grass from growing into them.
Apply mulch soon if it was not applied in the fall. Till it in so it does its job to break down and create soil ripe with microbial activity. Mulch does not provide nutrients for the soil, but it develops soil quality by improving its capacity to hold on to water and nutrients. It is a key ingredient to establish a healthy, low-water lawn and for all the other plants in your landscape.
If you did not make your own mulch, buy 1 cubic yard of mulch per 100 square feet of area. When you shop for mulch, look for one that is well aged, low in salt and has little or no fillers. If spring blooming bulbs begin to emerge early, cover them with mulch when temperatures are below freezing to help keep them cold and delay bloom.
Finish planting spring blooming bulbs.
Rap newly planted trees and thin-barked trees with tree wrap. Begin at the bottom and work up to the first branch.
Cutback stems and foliage of herbaceous perennials when they begin to wither.
Leave ornamental grasses and other perennials that add winter interest.
Rake leaves and needles; clear all beds and borders of dead plant.
Divide perennial bulbs and replant to thin them out.
Add additional mulch to beds and borders as necessary.
Clean up patio and outdoor furniture.
Decorate for the holidays with lighting, pumpkins, fall color like mums.
Check mulch coverage and winter tree wrap.
Water trees, shrubs and perennials may if the soil is dry from lack of snowfall. Water when the temperatures are above 40 degrees.


text:
Q: Pin R packages and notifications of new versions of packages Is there any way to pin specific R packages so they stop of being update? I know about Packrat, but I'm looking for something more system or user wide.
On the other hand I would like to receive a notification –an email– when a new version of specific packages reach CRAN. I've been looking for something like that, but I can find anything.

A: Just go to R then go to the section tools > Check for package updates

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
FCYO
Youth Organizing
Youth Organizing is transforming individuals and building collective power
Youth organizing engages young people in building power for social change, and uses distinct sets of culturally and contextually resonant practices to developyouth leadership within a safe and supportive environment.
What are the Impacts of Youth Organizing?
Youth-Driven Social Change
Youth organizers have always played a critical role in creating real change for whole communities. Across the country, youth organizers have scored important political victories, such as introducing restorative justice models to replace punitive school discipline policies and leading the fight to pass the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Strong Leadership Skills & Civic Engagement
Youth organizing helps young people understand their experiences, on an individual, community and systemic level. The training and practice of community organizing educates, provides deep exposure to the political process and offers an opportunity for young people to become lifelong leaders on issues that matter to them and their communities.
Powerful Young People Achieving and Thriving
Youth organizing involves a powerful blend of culturally and contextually resonant supports, from academic tutoring to mental health and healing. Involvement in youth organizing contributes to the social-emotional and academic development of young people in powerful ways, while also promoting their civic and community engagement.
(Youth organizing is) a triple bottom line investment: you get an issue benefit, you get a community benefit, and you get a leadership development benefit for young people.
Dr. Robert Ross, CEO of the California Endowment
Organizing Journey Story
I Want to Bring My Skills Back Home
Leidy Robledo is a Youth Organizer at Puente Human Rights Movement in Phoenix, Arizona. Although she is an Arizona native, her path to becoming an organizer in her home community is due in large part to her experiences away from home.
Youth Organizing is Grounded in Mentorship
J-Mo is a Site Organizer with InnerCity Struggle in East Los Angeles, CA. Like many, as a young person, J-Mo felt disconnected from her own community. On a chance, she got involved in a Youth Organizing group at her high school, and developed a critical consciousness of the root causes of her community's struggles.
We're Building a New Generation of Revolutionaries Through Mentorship
Antonio, Theo, Derek and Jeremiah are the co-founders of Black Man Rising, a movement created through Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children (FFLIC). They empower youth and offer training on how to be successful advocates for themselves when they are faced with the inequities that the education and juvenile justice systems in Louisiana often present towards Black boys and men of color.
You Can't Just Look Past Me
Jessica Beers is a high school senior in Missoula, Montana. She is part of the LGBTQ community, lives with muscular dystrophy and is a wheelchair user. Jessica not only found her voice and passion for social justice through EmpowerMT, but she found an inclusive, accepting community — something that didn't always come easy to Jessica.
Funder Journey Story
Family Foundation Addresses Imbalance in Philanthropy through Youth Organizing
The Perrin Family Foundation is a family foundation based in Connecticut, with a focus on supporting youth-led social change focused on addressing the root causes of injustice and inequity statewide Sheila and Charlie Perrin founded PFF in 1994 to create a permanent vehicle for their family philanthropy and allow their extended family to be part
Youth Organizing has a Triple Bottom Line Return
Robert K. Ross, M.D., is President and Chief Executive Officer and Albert Maldonado is Senior Program Manager for The California Endowment. The Endowment's Building Healthy Communities initiative, a $1 billion statewide investment to advance policies and forge partnerships to build healthy communities and a healthy California, will reach its 10-year term in 2020. We spoke
Building a Statewide Youth Organizing Network
Hearing Youth Voices is a youth-led social justice organization in working to create systemic change in the education system in New London, Connecticut. They are also a grantee in the Perrin Family Foundation's BLOC initiative. We spoke with Yanitza Cubilette, the Black and Brown Student Union Director at Hearing Youth Voices about their work, and
Transformative Organizing Prioritizes Development and Healthy Relationships
Resilience OC organizes young people in Santa Ana, one of the communities where The California Endowment invests. Resilience OC works toward social-systemic transformation while promoting healing, trauma-informed and culturally relevant practices that are inclusive of all members of the community. We spoke with Claudia Perez, Executive Director and Ignacio Rios, Youth Organizing Coordinator about their
Be a part of making history
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© 2018 Funders' Collaboration on Youth Organizing


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'Mrs. Astor Regrets': Fairytale Turned Nightmare Mrs. Astor Regrets: The Hidden Betrayals of a Family Beyond Reproach tells the story of the Astors of New York, a storied philanthropist family. Shortly after the death of Brooke Astor in 2007, her only child, Anthony Marshall, was indicted on charges of looting her estate. Author Meryl Gordon talks to Scott Simon about the book.
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'Mrs. Astor Regrets': Fairytale Turned Nightmare
December 27, 20088:00 AM ET
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Mrs. Astor Regrets: The Hidden Betrayals of a Family Beyond Reproach tells the story of the Astors of New York, a storied philanthropist family. Shortly after the death of Brooke Astor in 2007, her only child, Anthony Marshall, was indicted on charges of looting her estate. Author Meryl Gordon talks to Scott Simon about the book.
Five Books To Give Yourself This Year Dec. 19, 2008
Philanthropist's Son Accused of Raiding Estate Nov. 27, 2007
New York Fixture Brooke Astor Dies at 105 Aug. 14, 2007
Mrs. Astor Regrets
The Hidden Betrayals of a Family Beyond Reproach
by Meryl Gordon
Hardcover, 320 pages |
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SCOTT SIMON (host):
Brooke Astor spent most of her life, and she lived to 105, putting her name on good works and giving some of the fortune that she had inherited to New York's foremost museums, community projects, and the public library. Her name was a pedigree. In 2006, that name splashed across the headlines of a grim and pathetic story. Her grandson, Philip, went to court to accuse his father Anthony of mistreating his grandmother, firing those who took care of her, and skimping so much in her care that she was made to lie down on a sofa soaked with dog urine.
And then after Brooke Astor died in 2007, her son, Anthony, was indicted for stealing from and defrauding his mother. Meryl Gordon covered that story for New York Magazine and has written extensively about the world of the Astors. Her new book is the highly awaited "Mrs. Astor Regrets." She joins us from New York. Thank you so much for being with us.
Ms. MERYL GORDON (Author, "Mrs. Astor Regrets"): Thank you.
SIMON: First, tell us a bit about Brooke Astor. So many people said that she had this twinkle in her eye.
GORDON: She really led a remarkable life and warm, charming, talented. What I found fascinating as I was doing my interviews for the book is that it seemed like every man I talked to from 30 year-olds to 80 year-olds, gay, straight, married, they would say, oh, Brooke, with this kind of look of enchantment with her. I found it was rather extraordinary.
SIMON: Well you used the word. She was a bit of a flirt, wasn't she?
GORDON: Oh, she learned the art of flirting from her mother. Her father was a Marine Corps general. Her mother was a southern belle. She was a only child. And in her autobiography, "Footprints," she wrote about her mother's flirtations.
SIMON: I have to ask, would people have detected that twinkle in her eye if she hadn't been so rich?
GORDON: I think so, because there was just a genuine warmth to her and talent as a writer, interest in other people. So I think that even before she became the fabulous Mrs. Astor, she had her own world. She had her own friends. She was in her 50s when she married Vincent Astor. So I think she had her own persona well before she became a gazillionaire.
SIMON: Let me ask you about that marriage to Vincent Astor, who essentially inherited his family fortune when his father, I guess, went down on the Titanic. It's fair to say that the marriage between Vincent Astor and Brooke was not a great love match, isn't it?
GORDON: It certainly doesn't sound that way. The way she's described it, and others have, she was a recent widow. She married three times, and her second husband, who Nancy Reagan described as the love of her life, Buddy Marshall, had died suddenly of a heart attack in November of 1952. And Brooke discovered that she wasn't going to have a whole lot of money. Most of his money was tied up in trust, went to his children, some to his ex-wife. And she was fixed up with Vincent Astor in Memorial - on Memorial Day, and he proposed literally over the weekend.
SIMON: What kind of mother was she to Anthony?
GORDON: She was not a good mother, and that's really one of the sad parts of the story, which I think is one of the reasons that led to this family falling apart. She implied in her autobiography that her son was the product of a marital rape, and she never really bonded with her son. She shipped him off to boarding schools when he was 8 years old. She essentially chose her husbands over her son. She - her second husband didn't like the nanny who had brought up Tony. She fired the nanny, and Vincent Astor didn't like Tony, and Brooke shut him out of her life so that there was a tremendous push-pull.
He was always trying to make his mother love him, and I think it was very hard for her. As many people told me, she looked at him, and she saw his father, and she withdrew.
SIMON: Anthony Marshall established his own identity away from the Astor fortune, didn't he?
GORDON: Well, yes and no. I mean, he was a Marine Corps hero in World War II. He then became - went to the CIA. He set up some businesses. He wanted to become an ambassador, and both he and his mother made major contributions to the Nixon campaign. He was an ambassador in Kenya, a couple of other countries. And then after that term ended, after Jimmy Carter won office, he was out of work, and his mother hired him to manage her money and paid him a salary.
She also talked a lot of her boards and had him put on the boards. So there was a sense that he was always Brooke Astor's son. It was - that's how he was known in New York, not as Tony Marshall.
SIMON: Brooke Astor passed 100 years of age, and people began to notice a decline, good friends, like Nancy Reagan, Henry Kissinger, and others.
GORDON: It turned out that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2000, and she had trouble finishing sentences sometime. She would get disoriented. She was slowly losing her grip.
SIMON: Some staff began to notice that her money was being spent in a way that surprised them. And that's kind of at the heart of the scandal, isn't it?
GORDON: What was fascinating to me is Brooke Astor led a very public life, but her life was never quite so chronicled as in the last years. Her bookkeeper, Alice Perdue, suddenly found herself being asked by Tony to write checks out of his mother's accounts to theatrical companies. Alice was concerned. She began taking notes and writing down things that just didn't feel quite right to her because they didn't - they weren't of the interests that Mrs. Astor had had before, and her butler started to hear stories from the nurses about lawyers visiting and things happening. And Chris's reaction was she's got Alzheimer's, and she's signing legal papers and giving away money. This doesn't make sense to me.
SIMON: And what was the household like?
GORDON: My impression is she wasn't living in squalor, but certainly the household could have been better maintained. What I think has been fascinating about this case is how it began. Philip Marshall's lawyer originally called it elder abuse. It quickly turned into financial abuse, and the 18-count indictment against Tony Marshall and his lawyer, Francis Morrissey, is really all about money.
They're accused of looting her estate and making all sorts of - coercing her to make changes in her will. And Annette Dela Renta, Philip Marshall, David Rockefeller will all tell you they had no idea this would end in Tony Marshall facing, possibly, 25 years in prison.
SIMON: How does a case that began as a concern by a grandson that his grandmother might be neglected and mistreated become a financial fraud case?
GORDON: The original guardianship lawsuit was settled out of court in October of 2006. Tony Marshall agreed to give back all sorts of money, jewelry, books, etc., and people kind of thought that well, this is over now. Except for during the court proceedings, Brooke Astor's court-appointed lawyer, Susan Robbins, had been looking at all of Brooke's legal papers, and she noticed the Brooke had signed three different codicils. And one of the signatures seemed completely different than the previous ones. She even brought in a handwriting expert. So literally, within just a few weeks after the case was settled, the handwriting expert announced that he believed that Brooke Astor's name had been forged on a document.
So that got the district attorney's attention. They have already been looking at this case to see what would be interesting, but suddenly, they had a forgery charge to investigate.
SIMON: And what's the - what's the status of the case now?
GORDON: At the moment, they're expected to go on trial some time in late January or early February.
SIMON: We should make this plain. Anthony Marshall has pleaded innocent, hasn't he?
GORDON: Absolutely.
SIMON: And Anthony Marshall, himself, is in his 80s.
GORDON: He's 84 years old, and his defense in all this is that my mother loved me, and my mother realized late in life that she had neglected me, and she wanted me to have these things.
SIMON: How much was Brooke Astor worth?
GORDON: Well, the estimate before the market crash was 200 million dollars. I have been curious just to see what she's worth now.
SIMON: Would this story be quite so fascinating if you took away all the dollar signs?
GORDON: Well, yes and no. I mean, what struck me at the very beginning, and I keep wondering, how did this happen? I mean, how do you get a son accusing his father of abusing his mother? I mean, and I kept thinking, something must have really gone wrong with this family. And if, you know, you dig deep enough, there are many different marriages. It's a little bit of what happens when money becomes a substitute for love.
You really find that there are some universal themes that make it, at least for me, made it fairly compelling.
SIMON: Ms. Gordon, thank you so much.
GORDON: Well, thank you for having me on.
SIMON: Meryl Gordon, her new book is "Mrs. Astor Regrets: The Hidden Betrayals of a Family Beyond Reproach."


The illustrations for a post about taking a pattern-drafting class are not exciting.
The tools for pattern-drafting may be simple and dull, but the results can be spectacular.
The tools–a 2-inch clear ruler, a fashion ruler, a measuring tape, mechanical pencil, and paper–aren't the most interesting things to photograph.
The instruction sheets are dull, too.
Great pants start with accurate measuring.
What is exciting about pattern-drafting, in my experience, is the fervor of patternmaking teachers.
Edith, my fairy godmother sewing and patternmaking teacher in Minneapolis; Steve, who worked with me on a shirt pattern for Jack in St. Paul; and Victoria, the bespoke tailor who taught the Savile Row class in London last year, all preached discipline and mastery and had boatloads of patience for their uncomprehending student: me. I did not reward their efforts. My spirit is willing, but my aptitude is weak.
I was so pessimistic that I could learn one jot about patternmaking that I passed up a class by Nina Bagley offered by the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department last fall about how to alter commercial patterns to suit your taste and figure.
No, I would only be frustrated again. And surely I could find a teacher to work with me individually. I had just set up my new sewing room and could get back to getting things sewn again in a few weeks. Couldn't I?
Apparently not. Call it bad luck, call it inertia, but I found myself in early December with a sewing room but no sewing community–and no desire to sew. I had scared off a couple of sewing teachers local fabric stores had referred me to. One called me and the other wrote back to say, regretfully but firmly, No. Another teacher responded positively to my e-mail, asking me for dates I could meet her for lunch, but never followed up on my response.
The measurements you took become lines on your big piece of paper.
I did ponder registering for a tailoring or clothing construction course at the Columbus College of Art and Design, but blanched at the $1200 per credit hour. $3600 for one course! Surely there was another way to enter or create a local sewing community to rekindle my enthusiasm for sewing.
This was the state of affairs in early December when, as I always eventually do, I rallied. Ever the librarian, I delved into researching my burning question again. I Googled the name of the teacher of that class I spurned in the fall, and found an interview with her on a little Columbus website.
Eventually, the lines turn into pattern pieces.
This morning I read what you said in the "Locals" piece at http://thelocalsstory.com/2012/10/24/nina-bagley/ and said to myself, "That does it—I've got to meet this person." What you said about being a patternmaker and doing quality work struck a chord.
Since moving from Minnesota back to Ohio six months ago I have really missed my sewing teacher-patternmaker Edith Gazzuolo, who worked with me on challenging vintage-pattern sewing projects. She pushed me to accomplish more and at a higher level than I had before, and changed my life.
I am now looking to hire an expert or two here in Columbus to work with me one-on-one when I have questions about fitting, pattern alterations, and construction. I started a blog, Getting Things Sewn, a little over a year and a half ago partly to chronicle my projects and processes and partly to challenge myself to sew the patterns I couldn't stop dreaming about. I have a small but growing and widespread audience around the world that's interested in what I'm doing.
I want to get back to sewing great stuff and writing about how I'm overcoming obstacles that frustrate so many sewers today.
Darts in the front pattern piece.
As I paused before hitting Send I thought, She'll be either intrigued and want to know more, or a little stunned and say no or not even reply. Having just spent 25 years dealing with phlegmatic Minnesotans, I'd gotten used to being perceived as histrionic at times. But now that I'd returned to the battleground state of Ohio, where people are not taken aback by enthusiasm (Go Bucks!), I hoped I would be seen as–normal.
I took a breath and hit Send.
Going through the back door sounded good, as well as the prospect of light being shed on this arcane art.
Once again, that fervor peculiar to patternmakers trumped any doubts in my mind. I registered for Pants: Block Pattern Making for $100 plus a $5.25 processing fee. If I could actually make patterns for pants that fit and flatter me, how great would that be? And if I could connect with a great teacher, and make a sewing friend, or several? This could be the best $105.25 investment I'd ever made.
Tuesday at 6:30 I entered the classroom, met my seven congenial classmates, and started following Nina's directions for turning measurements into a pattern draft. Three hours never went by so fast. And I actually kept up!
At the end of class we were all smiling as we gathered our tools and paper and bundled up to go back out into the bitter cold night. For homework we will sew muslins from our drafts to be analyzed and fine-tuned in our second class.
No one was more enthusiastic than Nina. "I can't wait till next week! I can't wait till next week!" she declared.
And you know what? Neither can I.


Mums & Dads - You are being watched!
Now your son/daughter is learning to drive, they will be watching you even more closely than ever before! If you are willing/able to take them out for driving practice they will be asking you even more awkward questions!
Most probably you learnt to drive several years ago, since when, your copy of the Highway Code has remained closed (do you even know where it is?), and you have developed your own driving style.
In fact, the world of driving has moved on, car design has changed, road layouts have changed, the Highway Code has changed, and what is expected of a new driver has most definitely changed.
Why not invest in a few lessons for yourself? So that you can fully appreciate what is expected of your child. So that you are better placed to help them. So that you can up- date your driving style.
NO L plates, NO lectures, just knowledge and advice!
Even if you do not intend to provide additional practice, remember . . . . . . . . . . .


Upper Room Theatre presents Peter Pan, based on J.M. Barrie's play of the same name. With lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green and music by Morris Charlap and Julie Styne, Peter Pan is a family-friendly adventure that will make you want to close your eyes and go to Neverland too.
Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. Photo by Rich Zavadowski.
Set director Pat Haggerty brought Neverland to life with intricately painted backdrops and a fanciful attention to detail on this island where every moon is full. CJ Kardaras's costume complimented the set and the actors, letting you see that the ensembles were indeed but giving each character a distinct feel.
Clare Galvin (Peter Pan) brought an unbridled energy to her role that was enlivening. Her excitement for the role made clear the sheer joy that Peter feels in being a child. You could see the wonder on his face at each new adventure. It was truly a pleasure to hear her sing Never Never Land—her voice is beautiful, but more importantly she showed us the oft forgotten soft side of Peter and the fact that there is at least one thing that he loves more than himself. Supporting the conceited yet caring Peter were the Lost Boys, each actor creating a very distinct personality for their characters in spite of having few lines with which to do so. I would be remiss if I did not mention Tyler Williams's performance as Slightly, Peter's de facto second-in-command; his childlike innocence shone through and Williams proved his chops as an actor as Slightly says goodbye to Peter—your heart is bound to ache for him while you feel joy for his next great adventure.
The Darlings were for the most part somewhat lackluster background characters, but Wendy (Jeanne Myers) was a wonder-filled, tender-hearted delight to watch on stage.
Hook (Gabe Duda), Smee (Jacob Lash), and the rest of their dastardly crew bring a great deal of comedic talent to the show. Duda's caricature was that of not just an old man, but of a man whose childhood was stolen from him and who is desperately trying to relive the missing portion of his life; I couldn't help but feel a sense of humorous pity for this grown up child.
Director Rob Tessier wanted the show to be big, and to that end he brought in ZFX Inc., the same company that provided flying effects for shows like the Broadway production of Wicked. The professional nature of the flight was evident in every scene, and though the actors had only a week to work with it they made it look as though it was old hat for them, almost as natural as it was for Pan.
Peter Pan and Captain Hook. Photo by Rob Tessier.
Despite the show's many positives, there were several audio issues and it was generally hard to understand the actors through the microphones' poor quality. This was, for the most part, not a huge issue, but there were many a time when I was straining—and failing—to hear the lyrics of a song over the orchestra or the footsteps of the actors.
All in all, Peter Pan is a great take on an old classic and it's a must-see for families young, old, and in between.
Running Time: two hours and 15 minutes, with one 15 minute intermission.
Peter Pan plays through July 19, 2015 at Upper Room Theatre—9310 Stonewall Road, in Manassas, VA. For tickets, purchase them online.


text:
Olivia Gobert-Hicks Inducted to the Commander Advisory Group
@TheKristenEmily
Olivia Gobert-Hicks was formally announced as a member of the Commander Advisory Group this weekend at CommandFest Seattle. CommandFest Chicago & CommandFest Seattle took place November 1-3, and were the first in a series of planned Commander events now slotting in to the Magic event calendar.
Olivia is probably most famous for her oft-praised cosplays, which include Breya, Etherium Shaper and Teysa Karlov (pictured here and here). She also runs Twitch channel AffinityArtifacts which streams games of Commander with other members of the wider community.
Commander Advisory Group
An active and long-time member of the EDH community, Olivia joins Adam Styborski, Charlotte Sable, Josh Lee Kwai, Rachel Agnes, Ron Foster, and Shivam Bhatt on the Commander Advisory Group, or CAG. This group of prominent Commander aficionados serves to advise the Rules Committee and ensure that as many voices and styles of Commander are heard when it comes to the management of the format and its ban list.
Josh Lee Kwai, Adam Savidan, Olivia Gobert-Hicks & Riley Knight
CommandFest Seattle
It was a busy weekend for Gobert-Hicks, who also reached the finals of a charity event in which competitors could win $1,000 for a Charity of their choice. Facing Josh Lee Kwai, Adam Savidan & Riley Knight in the finals, Olivia piloted her Breya, Etherium Shaper deck to victory. She claimed the prize in honor of RAINN, a charity that works to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
We managed to steal Olivia for a quick chat about her weekend:
Hey Olivia, we'd just like to congratulate you on your admission to the Commander Advisory Group. You put a lot of effort into Magic content, particularly your twitch stream, but what specifically excites and inspires you about being part of the CAG?
Hey Kristen! I'm mostly excited to be a part of a great group of EDH players and creators. We all care so much for the format, and have a lot of different perspectives and styles of play. Obviously we're only advising, but I think a good scope of styles and voices can be beneficial to the rules committee.
Definitely. I'm a big supporter of the more casual end of the scale, so I can agree on that one. What new perspectives do you hope to bring?
Commander is how I learned to play Magic, and for the longest time was my only point of reference for Magic. In the grand scheme of the game I'm still a newer player; I've never competed in any other formats. I have a kitchen table heart, even if some of my decks seem a little spiky! There's nothing I love more than a creative brew where I can learn something new, or see a card I've never heard of before. I care a lot about the spirit of the format, and the community it can create, and I hope to be a voice for that in the CAG.
Olivia Gobert-Hicks celebrates her victory with Breya
I think a lot of players are in the same boat. Commander can be the gateway format as much as the one where many end up. You might not have played competitive Magic, but you did smash the Headline Event at CommandFest Seattle, winning $1,000 for your charity. How was the game? What play do you think cinched victory for you?
Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge is the card that cinched me the victory, and a little political wheeling and dealing made it all possible! The game was intense in a friendly way, and an absolute delight—I'd share a table with Riley, Josh, and Adam any day of the week.
That must have been a great game, especially with the prize on the line. That Tezzeret has done a lot of work in my decks too! Your chosen charity was RAINN—you must be super stoked to have won the opportunity to donate. Can you tell us about the work they do?
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, http://online.rainn.org, and http://rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
That's a great cause. Thanks Olivia, and good luck for the future.
No worries! Thanks for having me.
The CommandFest events have been heralded as a great success, with many in the community enjoying a great weekend and a chance to relax and play the game they love. The main sticking point seemed to be that the concurrent events led to one event feeling a little lighter on the ground when it came to content creators and community figures. We are hopeful that this is something that will be ironed out in the future as these events see greater investment and a longer run up for planning—it's undeniable that Wizards have found a groove here, and we expect these events will become a mainstay in the annual event lineup.
cagCommandercommander advisory groupcommandfestedhmtgnewsolivia gobert-hicks
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