text:
Announcing the Death of Gerald R. Ford
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Remembering President Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006)
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES:
It is my sad duty to announce officially the death of Gerald R. Ford, the thirty-eighth President of the United States, on December 26, 2006.
President Ford was a great man who devoted the best years of his life to serving the United States of America. He was also a true gentleman who reflected the best in America's character. Before the world knew his name, he served with distinction in the United States Navy and the United States House of Representatives. As a congressman from Michigan, and then as Vice President, he commanded the respect and earned the goodwill of all who had the privilege of knowing him. On August 9, 1974, he stepped into the presidency without having ever sought the office.
During his time in office, the American people came to know President Ford as a man of complete integrity, who led our country with common sense and kind instincts. Americans will always admire Gerald Ford's unflinching performance of duty, the honorable conduct of his Administration, and the great rectitude of the man himself. We mourn the loss of such a leader, and our thirty-eighth President will always have a special place in our Nation's memory.
President Ford lived 93 years, and his life was a blessing to America.	Now this fine man will be taken to his rest by a family that will love him always and by a Nation that will be grateful to him forever.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, in honor and tribute to the memory of Gerald R. Ford, and as an expression of public sorrow, do hereby direct that the flag of the United States be displayed at half-staff at the White House and on all buildings, grounds, and Naval vessels of the United States for a period of 30 days from the day of his death. I also direct that for the same length of time, the representatives of the United States in foreign countries shall make similar arrangements for the display of the flag at half-staff over their Embassies, Legations, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and stations.
I hereby order that suitable honors be rendered by units of the Armed Forces under orders of the Secretary of Defense.
In a further expression of our national grief, I will appoint in a subsequent proclamation a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States when the American people may assemble in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President Ford.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The problem of abnormal or incidental findings leading to an uncontrollable series of unforeseen events, is described as The Cascade Effect. Such findings, found on routine exams, more often on screenings (see last post on incidentalomas) most frequently result from ill-advised diagnostic testing, and are almost always without medical significance. Yet they can result in a series of extensive and risky diagnostic procedures culminating in clinical catastrophes.
Cascade fiascos are frequently catalyzed by anxiety on the part of the patient or his physician, and are becoming increasingly more common in clinical practice because of the introduction of new and ever more pervasive technologies along with uninhibited and unjustified medical testing.
A 35 year old nurse underwent abdominal ultrasound for vague GI symptoms. The study was negative except for the incidental discovery of a small liver "lesion." She was told, "It might be serious," and a biopsy was suggested. Over the next several weeks she developed a serious depression, and consulted a psychiatrist. A CT was nondiagnostic, so she ended up having hepatic angiography, a invasive procedure, not without risk, in which dye is injected into a major artery leading to the liver. A diagnosis of "benign hemangioma" was finally made. This is a tiny localized collection of blood vessels seen in over 2% of the population. Later review of the ultrasound study showed a typical pattern. Medical Cost: $8,500, including psychiatrist. Emotional Cost: Impossible to estimate.
More examples will follow in upcoming posts.
You are currently browsing the archives for the cascade effect category.


text:
Coronavirus forces mosques to close, so Muslims are observing Ramadan at home
The faithful pray at the Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley, in the days before pandemic sheltering orders closed places of worship. Muslims are observing Ramadan at home this year. (Douglas Kilpatrick)
This time of year, under normal circumstances, Muslims gather nightly in mosques for Ramadan, the monthlong religious observance central to Islamic faith.
However, in the Lehigh Valley as elsewhere, mosques stand empty and silent as Muslims, like everyone else, shelter at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"The gatherings are what we look forward to every year," said Baig Mirza, president of the Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley in Whitehall Township. "It's sad that it won't be happening this year because of what's going on."
For Muslims, Ramadan commemorates the prophet Muhammad's receiving the beginnings of the Quran, the religious text of Islamic laws, from the angel Gabriel in seventh-century Saudi Arabia. This year's observance began with the crescent moon appearing Thursday and ends with the next crescent moon May 23.
The observance involves all-day fasting. After sunset, the faithful hold large social gatherings at mosques, perform acts of charity, say nightly prayers and recite from the Quran.
"Ramadan is an important part of the five pillars of Islam," Mirza said, referring to faith, prayer, charity, fasting and the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
"It's the period of time when we Muslims focus on becoming better human beings, growing closer to our creator and each other, being more in tune with the teachings of our faith, cleansing ourselves of all that's unhealthy and showing more compassion to the less fortunate," he said. "And our community gathering together is a key part of this."
Echoing this sentiment in a recent opinion submitted for The Morning Call's editorial page, Allentown resident Mohammed Khaku said, "This year, Ramadan will feel different, lacking its glamour, beauty, charm and spirituality. Just imagine if this pandemic and lock-down happened during the Christmas season."
When it became clear the Muslim Association's mosque would have to close, which it did March 13, "our reaction was almost complete devastation," said Imam Basheer Bilaal, the mosque's worship leader. "We have never closed since we have been established and it is unprecedented that any or all the mosques around the world have ever been in such a state of shutdown."
The biggest challenge "was convincing our community this was necessary and the right measure to take in order to ensure everyone's safety," Bilaal said.
"As people of faith, practicing our religion and following God (Allah) Almighty's commands are paramount in every aspect of our lives," he said. "We believe we were created to worship and obey God. Thus, the places of worship, or in other words where we come to fulfill our purpose of existence, play such a crucial role in our lives."
Since Muslims are forced to stay home, Islamic community leaders are using online sites such as Zoom and Facebook to lead services and prayers online, though many say it's not the same as worshiping together in person.
"However, as a family, we will still be able to break our fast together every night at home and, because of online services, we will be able to pray together from our home," said Mahfazul Khondaker of Breinigsville, a married father of children ages 17 and 15. "In addition, we will have more time to focus on the Quran and our faith. We will go through the month of Ramadan together and I hope it will bring us closer together as a family."
Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com.


text:
This unit is intended to be of interest not only to people living in Scotland but to anyone wishing to know more about Scottish society and culture. It brings together a collection of free educational resources relevant to Scotland. The resources within this unit cover a wide range of subject areas, including education, environment, technology, history, law, literature, politics, social care and social sciences.
Citizenship DRC Researchers Discuss the Impact of Their Work
Speaking on the sidelines of the DFID-hosted event, The Politics of Poverty, researchers from the Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability discuss the impact they have had after 10 years of exploring the different ways around that world that citizens are taking action to shape their states and societies.
The Constitution and the Murray-Darling Rivers: Send in the Litigators?
Can the Commonwealth wrest control of the 'waters of the rivers' of the Murray and Darling from the Basin States? In drafting the Australian Constitution in the 1890s the framers hammered out the relationship between the proposed Commonwealth and the States. One issue that exercised the minds of the framers for months was the rights over the interstate rivers.
Who's the Boss. An exploration of the ongoing tug-of-war between fairness and flexibility in the Aus
When Labor swept to power in 2007 it carried a clear mandate to bury the Howard government's controversial Work Choices reforms. Its Fair Work legislation, which took effect in July 2009, was eagerly anticipated by those seeking a more equitable balance between employee rights and employer flexibility. But 8 months on, controversy remains. Some say Fair Work delivers. Some say it's little different. Others, including Opposition leader Tony Abbott, say it goes too far. So how has Fair Work c
A small voyage around my father's dreams... Sir Tipene O'Regan
Mid-winter dialogues, 14 July 2006. Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Otago, New Zealand.
IPL: Strategic Shortfall: the 'Somalia Syndrome' and the March to 9/11
Professor Robert Patman, Professor of International Relations, Department of Politics. Inaugural Professorial Lecture, given October 16, 2008.
Michael King Memorial Lecture - 2009
Professor Tom Brooking, Department of History and Art History. Michael King Memorial Lecture, given October 14, 2009. Tall Tales: Richard John Seddon and the Building of "God's Own Country".
Winter Lecture Series - 2008: Beyond the electoral finance act?
Associate Professor of Law, Andrew Geddis discusses the electoral finance act and beyond. 2008 Winter Lecture Series


I came across an article that advised to show a pop-up asking the user if the click to remove an item was intentional, instead of removing it immediately.
But at the same time it's not a practice I encounter often, which means it's not a must-have.
I get the idea of making the user confirm such an important action, but at the same time I don't feel like it's a totally bad thing if it's not there in the shopping cart case.
Why do you think removing an item from the shopping cart is such a big deal?
I usually remove and add several items before making my order, if i would have to confirm every removing action i would get pretty frustrated.
Check out the question below, it has the answers you are looking for.. In short it is, use Undo instead of confirm, the UX is much better!
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged popup shopping-cart or ask your own question.
Shopping Cart - What information should you show while browsing?
Which is more understandable: "delete" or "remove" an item/itemset from a cart?


This entry was posted on Friday, November 14th, 2014 at 11:41 am	and tagged with becoming, glory, journeys, story, struggles, writing and posted in personal.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Love yourself first, and then love all the ones deserving of such love second. The others? Well…………They know where they can go.
Even the heathens love those who love them in return. But I say to you, love your enemies, do good to those who hurt you.


text:
泛亚电竞战队排名新版
In Technology & Architecture
Future innovations and technology in developing countries
During the most recent two decades, major mechanical developments in gadgets and informatics, biotechnology, hereditary designing, and new materials, what's more, in fields, for example, lasers and far off detecting,…
In 泛亚电竞赛事手游(泛亚电竞注册官网v6.3 IOS版) Design Inspiration
Walt Disney Family Museum by Rockwell Group- Telling a story through architecture
To portray his life struggles and the first debut in Hollywood, Walt Disney's daughter Diane Disney Miller established a non-profit organization Walt Disney Family Foundation which contributed to the creation…
In Architects' Lounge
Places to visit in Central Vietnam for the Travelling Architect
Vietnam is a Southeast Asian Country with the relevance of Buddhist pagodas and French colonials' buildings. It is known for its ancient history, diverse culture, and natural landscapes. Vietnam is…
In Designing for typologies
Design of Hotel :10 things to remember while designing hotels
A building is known for its architecture. When a visitor arrives to see a building, he/she expects the building to look elegant and defined. Design of hotels, in the same…


What happens in Vegas, Can happen at your next event!
The Bakersfield Macaroni & Cheese Festival 4.21.2018On 4.21.2018 Bakersfield Casino will be at the Mac & Cheese Festival. All Players Club Member will get a bonus of $100 in Casino chips.
Bakersfield Wing Festival 6.2.2018 On 6.2.2018 THE BAKERSFIELD WING FESTIVAL IS BACK AND BAKERSFIELD CASINO WILL BE THERE! All Players Club Member will get a bonus of $100 in Casino chips.


text:
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// <auto-generated>
//     This code was generated by a tool.
//     Runtime Version:4.0.30319.36373
//
//     Changes to this file may cause incorrect behavior and will be lost if
//     the code is regenerated.
// </auto-generated>
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------

namespace PhonesFirmware.Properties {

    [global::System.Runtime.CompilerServices.CompilerGeneratedAttribute()]
    [global::System.CodeDom.Compiler.GeneratedCodeAttribute("Microsoft.VisualStudio.Editors.SettingsDesigner.SettingsSingleFileGenerator", "12.0.0.0")]
    internal sealed partial class Settings : global::System.Configuration.ApplicationSettingsBase {

        private static Settings defaultInstance = ((Settings)(global::System.Configuration.ApplicationSettingsBase.Synchronized(new Settings())));

        public static Settings Default {
            get {
                return defaultInstance;
            }
        }

        [global::System.Configuration.UserScopedSettingAttribute()]
        [global::System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCodeAttribute()]
        [global::System.Configuration.DefaultSettingValueAttribute("")]
        public string IP {
            get {
                return ((string)(this["IP"]));
            }
            set {
                this["IP"] = value;
            }
        }

        [global::System.Configuration.UserScopedSettingAttribute()]
        [global::System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCodeAttribute()]
        [global::System.Configuration.DefaultSettingValueAttribute("")]
        public string UserId {
            get {
                return ((string)(this["UserId"]));
            }
            set {
                this["UserId"] = value;
            }
        }

        [global::System.Configuration.UserScopedSettingAttribute()]
        [global::System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCodeAttribute()]
        [global::System.Configuration.DefaultSettingValueAttribute("")]
        public string Password {
            get {
                return ((string)(this["Password"]));
            }
            set {
                this["Password"] = value;
            }
        }

        [global::System.Configuration.UserScopedSettingAttribute()]
        [global::System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCodeAttribute()]
        [global::System.Configuration.DefaultSettingValueAttribute("")]
        public string Port {
            get {
                return ((string)(this["Port"]));
            }
            set {
                this["Port"] = value;
            }
        }

        [global::System.Configuration.UserScopedSettingAttribute()]
        [global::System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCodeAttribute()]
        [global::System.Configuration.DefaultSettingValueAttribute("")]
        public string Version {
            get {
                return ((string)(this["Version"]));
            }
            set {
                this["Version"] = value;
            }
        }

        [global::System.Configuration.UserScopedSettingAttribute()]
        [global::System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCodeAttribute()]
        [global::System.Configuration.DefaultSettingValueAttribute("")]
        public string WebAccessUser {
            get {
                return ((string)(this["WebAccessUser"]));
            }
            set {
                this["WebAccessUser"] = value;
            }
        }

        [global::System.Configuration.UserScopedSettingAttribute()]
        [global::System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCodeAttribute()]
        [global::System.Configuration.DefaultSettingValueAttribute("")]
        public string WebAccessPassword {
            get {
                return ((string)(this["WebAccessPassword"]));
            }
            set {
                this["WebAccessPassword"] = value;
            }
        }

        [global::System.Configuration.UserScopedSettingAttribute()]
        [global::System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCodeAttribute()]
        [global::System.Configuration.DefaultSettingValueAttribute("")]
        public string DeviceInfo {
            get {
                return ((string)(this["DeviceInfo"]));
            }
            set {
                this["DeviceInfo"] = value;
            }
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Super excited to debut my summer playlist for the local blog, Seattle In High Def. Local music from Cedaa, Sphyramid, Crooked Teeth, Null.dll and myself.
These songs are in a very special order, just hit play on the first track and let the mix roll..


Over the last few months I've had the opportunity to shoot several events at clubs and parties in Pretoria, South Africa. I used these events as an opportunity to hone my documentary shooting skills and would like to share some of my favourite images here.
I am a documentary photographer which means that it is this story telling style that dictates my approach to all the work I do. It requires a determined approach and a never tiring eye always looking for interesting people and compositions.
The extravagant lighting that you find in most clubs is a reason that I choose to avoid using flash whenever possible. This allows that particular lighting setup, with vibrant colours and pulsing lights, to tell it's own story. Not using flash too often also allows for more interesting compositions including silhouettes. These images were made using my favourite Fujifilm XPro2 and sometimes a backup X-T1 or X-T2 along with Fujifilm 23mm f1.4 & f2 lenses, the excellent 56mm f1.2 and a Samyang 8mm f2.8 Fisheye. The Fujifilm X Series cameras have the best low light ability I've ever used in a digital camera and I found myself using the Auto ISO settings a lot more than I ever thought I would.
Approaching these events from a professional perspective means that I have to first understand exactly what images my clients are after and to ensure that my focus is on capturing those moments first. After that is done I can focus on stretching my imagination and start looking for more interesting images. It's often these images that end up being favourites of my clients as they show the real story of the event. The candid, uncontrived, documentary story telling imagery that I love. Using Fujifilm X Series cameras, small and inconspicuous photo making machines, has transformed my approach to all my photography, and I think it shows.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, enjoy the images!


It was a beautiful morning when we woke up to the gurgling stream next to us. There was no hurrying up either.
Archana and I chatted a bit over chai as we took in the surroundings. We saw the two Bhutiyas at our campsite. The whole night they were barking in intervals, looking up towards the mountains. There must have been some animals and they could sense it.
Tanmay told us not to take down the tent nor pack the sleeping bags. The team had to air the sleeping bags outside and another group would be coming next day so the tents were left as it is.
I was wondering as to how much the trees, the mountains must have observed over centuries, watching frail human beings wandering, exploring wearing their invincibility mask initially and finally surrendering to nature..
Today was extra special because Tanmay decided he won't lead the trek, he would be a team member like us and the responsibility went to 4 guys.
Raghu would lead in the front, Saish would be the the last one to make sure everyone was safe and the boys Gaurav and Omkar would be in between, watching out and motivating everyone.
Not only that, all four were responsible for making sure breakfast was served on time, getting the food, reminding us to pack our stuff, allotment everything.
Saish and Raghu would run back and forth and serve breakfast and only ate in the end. Omkar and Gaurav would remind us to clean our tents and if we packed our lunches, if we ate and all.
When we saw the packed Lunch were Pooris and Aloo Bhaji, Half of us carried only curry in our boxes and Half of them only pooris, that way we could all share from each other. This might seem small but it was a big thing for me, we were in it together.
Finally it was time to leave and we did with a big three cheers to the entire team and set off with the faithful bhutiyas walking with us, they became a part of us now. We were going back and no way was I gonna rush myself.
I made up my mind that I would try as much to be among the last, with Saish's group. I wanted to take in the surroundings, listen and observe everything around me. It was the last day for us, the last day when I would be in the Garhwali region of Uttarakhand, tomorrow I would travel towards the Kumaon side.
It was an all descent day and I made sure I had my knee bandages on, it was painful yesterday and I knew today would be even more strenuous. Poor Arun was feeling it in his left knee too, the descents kill you and if you don't have strong knee caps you are done for.
Sometimes I would be on my own, sometimes Vidya would join me, when we took a break I would chat with Archana or Swapnali, then with Ashish and sometimes with Arun. This is the beauty of treks, you are like this traveler hitting your own miles and chatting up with different people.
Shweta who was quiet most of the time started talking more, she was tired and sick during the trek and now she was getting better, she chatted openly. Sharon still had all those symptoms and there were times when Tanmay would literally drag her by the hand and make her walk.
The dogs were always with us, always. The male and female. Sometimes in the front, in between, they were our companions and I couldn't believe they walked almost 30 kms with us.
At a point when we took a break we spoke about our careers, what do we do, our respective home cities, the culture and frustrations. Arun knew Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam as well. He was truly multi-lingual. I asked him as to why there was an increased feeling of being a Kannadiga in people I met. I saw it in Roopkund trek and I saw the same here.
He softly said, Swapna imagine you are a Kannadiga and you meet a North Indian in your home city and he arrogantly says I don't know Kannada only Hindi, speak in Hindi, how does it feel? Here we were being attacked for not knowing Hindi then what about them? Staying in Karnataka and not knowing Kannada?
He stated an incident where a north Indian woman spoke rudely to a female bus conductor who knew only Kannada. The woman's post went viral where she degraded her and the language and the bus conductor had no means of defending herself. He said these feelings in us have increased over the years. He did have a point. Being proud of our language is beautiful and no one has the right to degrade it or the people.
We carried on our trek and at one point there was a very steep descent and I mean very steep. The mud was dry, loose and slippery and my knee was killing me, I sat down exhausted, panicking until Shweta came forward and said Swapna take small baby steps, Come! We held onto each other and came down and this is the thing that touched me the most.. When I said a big Thank you to her, she simply smiled and said It's Teamwork, we are all in this together.
We spoke about music, The Beatles, Rick & Morty on Netflix, classical music, stories behind certain songs, it was awesome.
Throughout the trek, all four who were assigned did their job so well. Omkar was caring enough to stop when we had to answer nature's calls and would tell others to wait and give us privacy. Gaurav would go back and forth and check on everyone. Saish and Raghu would co-ordinate with each other through walkie talkies and make sure everyone was safe.
Tanmay was one heck of a trek leader. I knew that anybody who would lead me on future treks, I would no doubt compare him/her to Tanmay, it was inevitable.
I remember the final kilometres so vividly even now. Ashish and I were slowing down purposefully, seeing the mountains around us as if it was the last time.
Saish was so chilled about it, he didn't hurry us up, he walked along with us. There were moments of silence and peace with Ashish when we both looked up and beyond the mountains. It was like a Goodbye..
Finally we reached Taluka village as the whole team cheered everyone. The dogs were still with us. Finally it was time to load up our backpacks and get into the jeep and a few of them still had the energy to get on top and just when the jeep started it's journey, it happened..
It was a strenuous rocky 1 hour drive, the dogs were panting and running.. It was unbearable to watch as all of us felt so helpless. We even thought of taking them with us but the dogs at Sankri wouldn't leave them alive, they were all territorial.
The female gave up but the male was panting and running, we were in tears watching him.. Then Tanmay got down from the jeep, ran towards him, gave him a hug, held him and whispered to him gently. It was truly heartbreaking I tell you..
It worked because after a few minutes we saw him stop and watch us until we could no longer see him. That picture of him at that moment is something I will take to my deathbed.
Finally we reached Sankri. 24 souls reaching base camp. We were tired and energized, there was a new glow in all of us, a camaraderie, we were a family, we stuck together, all of us.
We were ribbing each other, telling jokes as we ate delicious bread pakodas. We decided to have chicken that night. Indiahikes as a policy didn't permit Non Vegetarian food in the kitchen so Saish, Tanmay and a few others banded up to buy the chicken, get it cooked in the village and get it to the base camp.
We all had dinner together in the Men's dorms. It was an awesome moment. Tanmay spent a good 1.5 hours giving us certificates. We were so dead tired and we had to keep ourselves awake. He was truly a people's person, I was surprised as to how much he could remember each and everyone's quirks and nuances, their personalities and what all we shared during the trek.
He wanted us to stay awake the entire night but it was impossible, all the ladies nicely left the dorm on some excuse and it was only Vidya and me now with the guys. We played Dumb Charades and hilarious movie names came out.
The highlight for me was Saish making 14 year old Gaurav enact a C grade movie title, 'Pati Fauj mein, Biwi Mauj mein' (Sorry I just cannot translate this!) The poor kid had no idea how to enact this 🙂 Only Saish could come out with such bizarre titles I tell you!
We all crashed for the night. Like Dead logs.. Tomorrow each one of us would go in different directions, back to our lives not knowing how much we have shifted on the inside..


If you remember the story, the mysterious Robur introduces himself to the world by fixing his flag in places difficult to reach (without an airship). The rest of the novel portrays his heavy-handed approach to proving he is right in defending the 'heavier-than-air' theory of flying.
"Et ce pavillon, c'était une étamine noire, semée d'étoiles, avec un soleil d'or à son centre."
And the flag was black, dotted with stars, and it bore a golden sun in its center.
I think somewhere in the book it is said that the stars are white – something to check! In any case Robur presents his flag as that of a future, seventh continent: Icaria, home of the airborne.
Note that in the companion volume Master of the World (orig. Maître du Monde), Robur uses a Coat of Arms containing three stars.
Swallowtail and yellow stars, here.
This second pic also shows a long black streamer and I believe (haven't got the book at hand at the moment) this is a feature found in the original engravings. Very unpractical with so many screw about!


Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) signed on to an Amicus Brief urging the Supreme Court of the United States to address partisan gerrymandering. Kaptur was joined by a bipartisan group of 36 former and current Representatives and Senators. The Supreme Court will hear the case, Gill v. Whitford, in October, which examines whether Wisconsin's redistricting plan was an impermissible partisan gerrymander. The court's decision could potentially address the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering.
"…extreme partisan gerrymandering harms our political system, and harms the functioning of the House in particular. It puts raw partisan position ahead of maintaining coherent political communities and sensibly sized and shaped districts based on traditional districting criteria.
"…extreme partisan gerrymandering is undemocratic, and cannot be reconciled with the Framers' idea of a House of Representatives that would be directly accountable to the People through competitive and broad-based elections.
In 2015, Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to create a bipartisan redistricting commission for state legislative districts. In 2018, Ohio voters will potentially get the opportunity to vote on Fair Districts Ohio, an initiative that would help eliminate hyper-partisan gerrymandering for congressional districts.


text:
AI & Big Data Expo North America
AI & Big Data Expo Global
AI & Big Data Expo Europe
TechForge
CloudTech
MarketingTech
Prowler.io aspires to build AI which makes human-like decisions
By Ryan Daws
Editor at TechForge Media. Often sighted at global tech conferences with a coffee and a laptop.
©iSTOCK/Pobytov
Cambridge-based AI startup Prowler has raised £10 million to help it build an AI which can make human-like decisions.
Based on the comments made by Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin in our article yesterday, you'd be forgiven if this raises some concerns. AI like Prowler, however, could be what saves us from destruction.
If you missed it, Musk voiced his concern about Putin's comment that the nation which leads in AI "will become the ruler of the world."
Some are concerned about an AI arms race and that, without human input, an AI relying solely on logic could decide on things such as launching preemptive strikes as being the most likely to achieve victory or protect its host nation. This decision would be devoid of empathy for the human, environmental, political, and long-term destabilising catastrophes this would create.
Mark Cuban, a billionaire and possible U.S. president runner in 2020, shares a concern about killer AI:
Autonomous weaponry is the ultimate threat to humanity. https://t.co/C0EEfwOCDw
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 4, 2017
Cuban, however, points out it's AIs not taking on human-like qualities which pose the biggest threat:
I'm concerned about machines NOT taking on human like qualities https://t.co/1pG75agllk
Most AI development today focuses on deep neural networks using vast amounts of data. This approach is vital for problem-solving as it is very effective, but for decision-making, Prowler argues it is limiting.
Building a decision-making AI
Prowler is building a decision-making AI which is based on probabilistic modelling, reinforcement learning, and game theory. For each of those areas, Prowler has experts in their field combining their knowledge to create an AI it hopes will make decisions as well as a human.
The company was co-founded by two alums from AI company VocalIQ, which was acquired 13 months after launch by Apple. Today, Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) announced it led a £10 million Series A funding round for Prowler.
"Prowler has assembled a world-class team of researchers to tackle some of the most intractable problems of our age," comments Andrew Williamson, Investment Director at CIC, who is joining the Board of Prowler. "It is hugely exciting that the company is able to capitalise on the expertise in probabilistic modelling, principled machine learning and game theory available in Cambridge."
"This investment allows us to expand our world-leading team of academics and developers, enhancing our research bandwidth and accelerating our technology into the market," added Vishal Chatrath, CEO of Prowler. "As a team, we will use the funding to take the business to the next stage and we will continue to solve some of the world's hardest machine learning problems."
Despite popular belief, the closer we get to AI taking on human-like qualities could save us all. At the least, it will be far more efficient.
What are your thoughts about AI making human-like decisions? Let us know in the comments.
Interested in hearing industry leaders discuss subjects like this and sharing their use-cases? Attend the co-located AI & Big Data Expo events with upcoming shows in Silicon Valley, London and Amsterdam to learn more. Co-located with the IoT Tech Expo, Blockchain Expo and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo so you can explore the future of enterprise technology in one place.
Related Items:ai, artificial intelligence, deep learning, elon musk, Featured, machine learning, musk, neural network, prowler, prowler ai, prowler io, putin, vladimir putin
Apple buys edge AI experts Xnor.ai for a reported $200 million
Deepfake app puts your face on GIFs while limiting data collection
Intel examines whether AI can recognise faces using thermal imaging
Virtual personal assistants to evolve quickly over next few years, says Gartner research VP
Opinion: Artificial intelligence – the perfect storm
Receive AI news to your inbox
Cloud Computing News
AI Expo
IoT Tech Expo
Blockchain Expo
AI News is brought to you by TechForge Media Ltd. AI News brings you the latest in artificial intelligence news from around the world'
Copyright © 2017 - AI News / TechForge Media Ltd.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyse our traffic. Please confirm if you accept our tracking cookies. You are free to decline the tracking so you can continue to visit our website without any data sent to third-party services. All personal data can be deleted by visiting the Contact Us > Privacy Tools area of the website.


text:
var restifyMongoose = require('restify-mongoose');
var mongoose = require('mongoose');

module.exports = function(server) {
    var NotesModel = mongoose.model('notes', require('../schema/notes').notesSchema);
    // Expose notes using restify
    restifyMongoose(NotesModel).serve('/notes', server);
};


Ford trailer brake controller wiring diagram library. I m looking for the trailer wiring diagram a ford. Brake control wiring adapter plug ford. Brake controller ford e autos post. Tekonsha breakaway trailer wiring diagram. Tekonsha voyager wiring diagram ford f. E od to zf wiring diagram get free image about. Brake controller installation on a full size ford truck or. Tekonsha voyager wiring diagram tundra ford f fuse. Kelsey trailer brake controller anyone hooked this one. Brake control wiring adapter plug ford. Tekonsha prodigy p ford f wiring harness. Installing brake controller on ford expedition. Ford f and brake controller with wiring. Tekonsha voyager ke controller wiring diagram. How to install the circuit breakers from brake controller. Cayenne prodigy brake controller install with pictures. Best images of ford truck wiring diagrams. Will prodigy need harness f online forums. F trailer brake controller wiring diagram.


This course builds upon the previous three terms (301 – 303) of work and prepares you for the fourth year Arabic program.
write, in simple sentences, notes and short essays on familiar topics connected to daily life.
Suitable for B1 level students, those who have completed all levels of Arabic up to 303 or who have completed 270 hours of recent face-to-face tuition.


text:
Geneva "Pat" Burke
Recommend Geneva "Pat"'s obituary to your friends
Plant a tree in memory of Geneva "Pat"
Obituary of Geneva "Pat" Burke
Geneva (Pat) Burke, born in the Town of Northumberland, NY on November 5, 1926, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, surrounded by her family at Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs, NY. She was a long-time resident of Schuylerville, NY and the daughter of the late Harold Newcomb Garnsey and Emma LaPierre Garnsey of Schuylerville. Pat married Colon J. Burke of Salem, NY and eventually built their home on Burgoyne St. in Schuylerville. She was employed and retired from Sherwood Medical Industries in Argyle, NY. Pat took a special interest in antiques, refinishing and refurbishing old wooden furniture, chairs were her specialty. She was expert in the art of cane, rush, and splint seat replacement, as well as Shaker tape. Pat taught cane and rush seat replacement in Adult Education Classes for several years. She loved frequenting auctions and antique shops and loved life, and her grandchildren. Pat is survived by her daughter Jo Ann Clute, son-in-law, Charles, and two granddaughters Ashleigh and Taylor Clute. She is also survived by several very dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. She was predeceased by her brothers: Robert (Bob) Garnsey (Marjorie), Raymond (Bum) Garnsey (Marilyn); sisters: Evelyn (Tuckey) Brophy, Hazel Gagne (Joseph); and son: Richard Burke. A very special thank you goes out to the Wesley 2 Victoria staff for taking such good care of her the last 4+ years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, The Wesley Foundation, or The Saratoga Community Hospice. There will be no calling hours. A private graveside service will take place in the Spring 2022 in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Schuylerville, NY.
A Memorial Tree was planted for Geneva "Pat"
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Flynn Bros. Inc - Schuylerville
Services for Geneva "Pat" Burke
There are no events scheduled. You can still show your support by planting a tree in memory of Geneva "Pat" Burke.
Geneva "Pat"


text:
« Nicholas Knight: Declaimed @ 65GRAND Chicago Filmmakers: Pan African Film Festival »
Column Fri Feb 11 2011
The Eagle, Cedar Rapids, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, Inspector Bellamy & Waste Land
Before I dive into this week's offerings. Let me remind everyone that on Friday, February 11 and Saturday, February 12, I will be moderating Q&A with the legendary Tommy Wiseau after screenings of his cult hit The Room at the Music Box Theatre. Both shows begin at 10pm, and we may even have some surprises in store for those who already bought tickets. This event marks the one-year anniversary of Wiseau's first appearance in Chicago, and believe me when I say, the best way to see The Room is with an audience during the film and Wiseau in the house after it.
But here's the catch. Both 10pm shows are sold out. However, the Music Box has just added a 7pm show on Saturday, and you should get your tickets now. Don't get left outside of The Room!
This one comes a whole lot closer to nailing it than I thought it would, and the one of the key elements that holds it back is that damned PG-13 rating. From Jeremy Brock's screenplay based on Rosemary Sutcliff's novel The Eagle of the Ninth, this story of a Roman soldier in 2nd century Britain crossing into British-controlled territory to retrieve a golden eagle emblem of his dead father's legion is practically crying out to let the blood flow, and perhaps the DVD of The Eagle will allow director Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void, The Last King of Scotland, State of Play) to include a few graphic beheadings and eviscerations to keep his gritty story more lively. (If you crave a sword-and-sandal movie with blood to spare, please rent Neil Marshall's Centurion; it's so damn good.) Still, as it exists now, The Eagle is a decent telling of an interesting story.
Channing Tatum, an actor I'm still trying to determine whether can really act, plays Marcus Aquila, the son of a legendary Roman soldier best known for leading the Ninth Legion into battle and losing the aforementioned emblem. Marcus is a brave and winning soldier, but his career and life is held back because of his father's misfortune, and when given the opportunity after being severely injured during a particularly nasty skirmish, he decides to go through Hardrian's Wall that serves as the border between Roman and British territory of Caledonia to retrieve The Eagle. He takes with him British-born slave Esca (Jamie Bell), whose life Marcus saved. Not surprisingly, Esca is none too happy with being a slave, but since he owes Marcus his life, he leads him into the British lands as a guide.
In a way, The Eagle is Marcus' Odyssey with each new scene being another test of sorts for the two men. They are tested as fighters, but also their loyalty to protecting each other is pushed to the limits, especially when they finally come upon the Seal people (led by a prince played by Tahar Rahim). Esca's native tribe is friends with the Seal, and in order to keep Marcus alive, they must pretend that it is in fact Marcus who is the slave. It's in these scenes that the always-squirrelly Bell gets to shine as he takes on the role of the stern master to a slave that is roughly three times his size.
The Eagle has a few pretty solid, although largely bloodless, action sequences. But I was more impressed with the story of the journey. Along the way, they encounter Guern (the ever-present and always-reliable Mark Strong), a former member of the Ninth who managed to escape death and carve out a meager life for himself by posing as a Briton. He is one of the few links Marcus has to his father's mysterious fate.
It's tough for me to throw my full recommendation behind The Eagle, but there's enough here to give it my marginal approval. The film feels like it's always holding back, and as a result it never really soars the way it should. Still, I think the cast is strong, and I will give Tatum credit here for playing a character who has had the emotion basically trained out of him. He still gets worked up over the disappearance of his father's legion, but that's the soldier in him. I especially liked the interplay between Marcus and Esca; a great deal of the time, it's all that keeps this movie afloat. There are other films opening this week that I'll recommend more highly, but The Eagle isn't bad.
I really love this movie. And it's not because it's the funniest movie in years or has the most clever story imaginable. I loved Cedar Rapids because it's so damn lovable. There's a sweetness and vulnerability to these characters, even in their raunchiest moments, that propels them right into your heart. In the capable hands of director Miguel Arteta (The Good Girl, Chuck & Buck, Youth In Revolt), things never get too glossy or saccharine in this tale of a small-town Wisconsin insurance salesman for Brownstar Insurance, Tim Lippe (Ed Helms of "The Office" and The Hangover), who is forced to leave his self-imposed isolation to travel to the "big city" of Cedar Rapids, Iowa for an insurance convention.
The film's biggest saving grace is Helms' portrayal of Tim, whom he plays not as some rube from the sticks, but as a man whose difficult childhood and upbringing have made it easier for him to never leave his hometown. Tim is no innocent, however. He's having a torrid love affair with a divorced older woman, a former teacher of his played by Sigourney Weaver. But Tim is the kind of guy who doesn't have sex with a woman; he makes love. The idea of casual sex is completely foreign to him. His boss (Stephen Root) decides Tim needs to take this trip and win the coveted Two Diamonds award (which the company has won many years running) after the death of a co-worker (Thomas Lennon) due to rather tawdry circumstances.
In some senses, one could look at Cedar Rapids as the story of a man losing his idealism and becoming more of a realist. In another sense, Tim is so pure and good hearted that his idealism rubs off on the cynics that surround him at the conference, including the party animal Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly), whose gregarious ways are the product of a failed marriage. Tim finds himself uncharacteristically drawn to Joan (the compelling Anne Heche), a married woman and mother of two who uses this annual event to cheat on her husband rather than break up the family. She doesn't come across as predatory in her mild-mannered pursuit of Tim, but she's clearly taken aback by his kindness before and after their tryst. The fourth musketeer in the group is Ronald Wikles (played by Isiah Whitlock, Jr.), and the less said about his character and a running joke involving his character, the better the experience of seeing the film will be. But let it be known that Whitlock is my new hero and the breakout performance of the movie.
Others in the strong supporting cast include Kurtwood Smith as Orin, the head of the insurance association throwing the conference. He and Tim have a very tender and very naked moment in the gym locker room, but he is also the man that stands between Tim and the Two Diamonds Award. And I was especially fond of the character of Bree ("Arrested Development's" Alia Shawkat), as a prostitute who trolls the hotel parking lot and befriends Tim when he compromises himself to secure the award. The two go on a bender of monumental proportions that would make Helms' Hangover cast members proud.
In Arteta's hands, each character has a reason for acting as responsibly or irresponsibly as they do, and Phil Johnston's script isn't afraid to give each player dark corners of their personalities to explore and get lost in. There are a great deal of laughs, but that isn't the filmmaker's only mission. That's a trademark of most of Arteta's films, and I think it's what separates him from many of the best-known comedy directors working today. These people are not parodies, but a close approximation of real people in believable situations. You don't just expect them to succeed; you want them to. Cedar Rapids is a simple story, but one with depth and unafraid to tap into genuine emotion on occasion. I think this one is going to pleasantly surprise you.
I'm not saying I approve, but now I understand. In fact, I'll even throw out this little challenge for those of you who like to take a chance on something: I dare you to check out this documentary/concert film about 16-year-old pop superstar Justin Bieber and not like him just a little bit more than you do now. I'm in no way implying that you'll like his music more, but just the kid, who has undeniably worked his scrawny little tail off to get where he is like he was trying to set a land-speed record.
In the interest of full disclosure, I know absolutely nothing about Bieber, his upbringing, or how he became so famous so fast. I've never heard one of his songs from start to finish, and what snippets I have heard never impressed me as being anything more than entry-level, sanitary bubblegum pop. I don't hold any animosity toward Bieber. In fact, the few times I've seen him on television, including appearance on "Saturday Night Live" and some things on MTV, I thought the kid had a pretty good self-effacing sense of humor about himself. I feel confident that I walked into this movie with an open mind, ready to learn what all the fuss was about.
The film, Never Say Never, is straight-up propaganda — let me make that perfectly clear, not that there was any doubt in anyone's mind that it would be. But there are some facts about this young Canadian boy's life that you can't make up or spin to make him any more like the good guy that everyone in this movie — fan, friend or family — makes him out to be. I admire the fact that he and his handlers (including mom Pattie and manager Scott Braun) chose to keep Bieber off the Nickelodeon or Disney assembly line that churns out teen singing stars, complete with TV series and an army of publicists and life coaches that attempt to keep their brood from any scandal.
I was especially interested in Bieber's early childhood, during which he displayed an eerie ability to play drums although his tiny hands could barely hold the sticks. And his ability to sing and the tonal quality of his voice was pretty undeniable. He was also a solid vocal and dancing mimic, and had a great affection for singing R&B hits just like the original artists, but with his high-pitched voice. Raised by his single mom and grandparents, Bieber gained genuine fame thanks to a series of YouTube videos posted by his mom so that other family members could see what he was up to at various singing competitions. And before long, hundreds of thousands of viewers saw this little kid sing recently charted tunes. Through interviews with mom, Braun, stylist and friend Ryan Good, vocal coach Mama Jan Smith, as well as industry types who supported Bieber's rise (including mentor Usher and label head L.A. Reid), we learn all the necessary details about how to go from mall concerts and state fairs to selling out Madison Square Garden in one year.
The one thing that is noticeably absent from Never Say Never is Bieber's voice. I don't mean his singing voice — there's plenty of that. Endless footage of Bieber performing on stage, rehearsing, interacting with fans, and generally being a goofy kid in front of the camera populates most of the film's running time. What seems weirdly absent is a sit-down interview with Bieber, in a style that everyone who comes into his gravitational pull seems to get.
The entire film is a countdown to the MSG show, and just days before, Bieber's strained and inflamed vocal chords threaten to force the show's postponement. I would have loved to know what he had to say about that time. Alas, we get footage of him visiting the doctor, people talking about the situation, and footage of him clearly anxious and upset. But he stays largely silent during this period, so the conflict going on in his head stays under one of his many hooded sweatshirts. The drama is also slightly undercut since footage from the MSG concert is scattered throughout the film, so we know there's no chance the show isn't happening.
The show itself is pretty solid, big-production fare. It was still tough for me get around the fact that the music is so painfully average, and even on-stage appearances from the likes of Usher, Ludacris, Jaden Smith and Boys II Men don't really help matters. That said, a sultry duet with Miley Cyrus spices things up a lot more than I believe was legally allowed for either of their ages at the time.
There's a moment in the film when manager Braun tells the story of Justin and him sitting at an awards show where Michael Jackson was being honored by Madonna. When she mentioned that Jackson's childhood had been effectively stolen from him, Bieber turned to Braun (according to Braun) and said, "Don't let that happen to me." That's a shockingly telling moment, and a story that would have been better suited if Bieber had relayed it himself and explained how he was leading his life in a way that he wouldn't forget to be a kid every once and a while.
Aside from this rather glaring omission, I found most of Never Say Never fascinating and yes, at times, entertaining. Even the 3D, which really only brings to life the concert scenes, is strong, even if it is unnecessary. I'm sure down the line, Bieber's music will improve, his voice will change, and the fanaticism surrounding him will die down, if not outright subside. Has Justin Bieber lived enough of a life to warrant a movie about him in the first place? Probably not, but this kid has been doing a version of this since he was barely old enough to walk, so what the hell do I know? Whether you consider watching this film a sociological experiment or perhaps an endurance test, Never Say Never captures the curiosity that is Justin Bieber quite effectively. I won't go so far as to say you should see it, but if you find yourself forced to see it this weekend, you could do a lot worse.
Inspector Bellamy
Before he died last September, the great French director of mysteries and thrillers, Claude Chabrol, had announced that Inspector Bellamy, staring Gerard Depardieu as Paul Bellamy, would be his last feature. His announcement and his passing marked a major loss for French cinema, as Chabrol has delivered some exceptional works in his long career, including The Unfaithful Wife, Le Beau Serge, À double tour, Les Cousins, Le Boucher, The Blood of Others, Madame Bovary, La Cérémonie and so many others. There's no getting around the fact that Inspector Bellamy was lesser Chabrol. Still, all of the earmarks of his best works are on display, and it was a wonderful thing that Chabrol and Depardieu made a film together for the first time.
On the surface, this is the story of a well-known police commissioner's attempt to have a relaxing vacation with his wife (Marie Bunel). But Bellamy is all too willing to allow the outside world to invade his wife's provincial family home, when a case involving a dead body found in a burned out car wreck literally comes knocking on his door. To make matters worse, Bellamy invites his abrasive and abusive brother (Clovis Cornillac) to stay with them for a time. While the case is the film's primary focus, the real drama of the film involves Bellamy dealing with his disappointed wife, who simply wants the couple to enjoy some downtime, and his thieving, con artist of a brother, who has been feeling like second fiddle to Paul since they were kids (with different fathers).
Jacques Gamblin plays a character whose identity should probably not be revealed here, but when he arrives at the inspector's home seeking protection, he sets off a chain reaction of events that involve a wife (Jacques Gamblin) and mistress (Vahina Giocante), neither of whom seem particular distressed at his going missing. But the real pleasure of Inspector Bellamy is sitting back and watching these great French masters ply their craft as elegantly as they have for decades. It may not be their finest work, but that in no way removes the enjoyment of viewing their work together. The film opens today at the Music Box Theatre.
Waste Land
Recently Oscar nominated in the Best Documentary category, Waste Land is the spirit-lifting chronicle of Brazilian-born artist Vik Muniz, who traveled back back to his homeland to document the lives of "pickers" at Jardim Gramancho, the world's largest landfill outside of Rio de Janeiro. The pickers are an integral part of the city and nation's recycling efforts, but it is also grueling and sometimes dangerous work as men and women of all ages trail behind each new dump truck unloading waste materials onto the mammoth pile. Muniz typically uses as his medium discarded materials of all kinds, so this project seemed especially appropriate for his work. He hand selected a few especially interesting people as his subjects, photographed them, projected the images onto a giant canvas, and had the pickers come in and recreate the image using recyclables. Then he photographed the resulting work, and took them to an auction house in London, giving the proceeds of the pieces to the pickers, often changing the lives of these people forever.
Directed by Lucy Walker, Karen Harley and Joao Jardim, Waste Land digs deep into the lives of Muniz's subjects, showing the tight-knit community they have developed on the job. Their stories will make you weep openly, more for what they have overcome and their sheer willpower than because of anything sad in their lives. And when the subjects all get to attend the unveiling of the collection at Rio's most prestigious art gallery, they become the talk of the town, if only for one night. Heartwarming doesn't even begin to describe it.
I've been so conditioned over the years to look for the villains in most documentaries that it was refreshing to watch a film front loaded with kindness and generosity. I suppose you could look at the conditions in and around Rio as the enemy, or the lack of any recycling program. But if there were one, these wonderful people would be out of a job. Perhaps the most moving moment in Waste Land are the end titles that inform us what Muniz's subjects are up to today. There's a discussion at one point in the film about whether involving the pickers in the creation of the art or bringing them to the opening has given them too much hope, and that maybe when they realize they have to return to their old lives, it could be too much to handle. But the closing titles tell a different story. I'll let you discover that chapter in their lives. Waste Land is well deserving of its nomination. It opens today at the Music Box Theatre.
Rockin Daddy / February 11, 2011 8:34 AM
Father's – Please take your daughters to this movie!
My 7 year old daughter and I attended the "Never Say Never" 3D Movie Preview on Weds.
To be very honest, I knew nothing about Justin Bieber before attending this movie.
The only thing I knew is that my daughter loves his music and really wanted to see this movie (bought the passes back in December)
The movie was packed. Girls and women of all ages (ranging from 4 to 64)
I was the only Father in the theater. I must say that (at first) that this was somewhat intimidating (but some kind words from some of the Mothers, as they made their way to their seats, validated my reason for being there – for my daughter to watch the story of Justin Bieber (and what a great story it is). One of the mothers called me "Rockin Daddy" which made my day.
I'm not going to spoil the movie for those that haven't seen it. But what I can tell you is this:
1. If you love Justin Bieber then you will love this movie. It's that simple. Well worth the price of admission (your daughters' happiness = priceless)
2. If you don't know anything about Justin Bieber (like me before I went to the movie) and don't tap your feet to the beat of some great music….then you have no soul. If you don't come out of that movie feeling good about Justin Bieber….his wonderful fans and the energy that they collectively generate...….then you don't have a pulse.
Pure energy - it's electric!
I found myself tapping my feet and feeling good. Mothers and daughters were singing, laughing and waving glow sticks….it was magical. Great story, Great music, Great visuals = a Great time!
My daughter hasn't stopped talking about the movie (she's still wearing her laminated VIP pass and wants to see the movie again) and she has talked me into taking her to the next Justin Bieber concert that comes to the Md / DC area.
Rockin Daddy is secretly looking forward to seeing it again too. :-)
Never Say Never – Don't miss it !!!!
Rockin Daddy and Kirsten


World leaders gather in Paris next week for the start of crucial climate talks which aim to secure a new global deal on tackling climate change.
It is the latest step on a long - and often tortuous - road to securing international agreement on cutting greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to prevent global temperatures going more than 2C above pre-industrial levels and causing "dangerous" climate change.
The meeting kicks off as the world faces its hottest year on record in 2015, and the warmest five-year period recorded - with scientists warning that global warming is "unequivocal" and the human influence on the climate is clear.
Already human-induced climate change is making extreme weather such as heatwaves more likely, the latest assessment from the UN's World Meteorological Organisation has shown.
Polling for ActionAid suggests more than half (52%) of people in the UK are worried about climate change, more than a third (38%) are more concerned than they were five years ago, and 53% feel world leaders are not doing enough to tackle the problem.
Prime Minister David Cameron, US president Barack Obama and Prince Charles are among those leaders attending the beginning of the talks, taking place amid heavy security after 130 people were killed in Paris in terror attacks two weeks ago.
High-profile interventions from the likes of Pope Francis, moves by investors away from the most polluting fossil fuels, falling prices of clean technology such as solar panels and countries taking action domestically are all setting a more positive tone than in previous climate talks.
But negotiators will have to grapple with increasing ambition, as promises on the table from countries do not get the world on track for 2C rises, while funding to help poor nations develop cleanly and cope with the impacts of climate change will also be key.
Campaign group Avaaz's campaign director Iain Keith said: "While we know what gets agreed won't be the final destination in this journey, it could be a big step in the right direction.
"The Paris summit could agree a long-term goal to get the world off destructive dirty energy and onto clean power, which would mark a turning point in the fight against climate change.
"But that goal will only be seen as a clear signal if it is backed by solid plans from every country to cut emissions, a commitment to increase the ambition of those plans regularly, and money on the table to help developing countries make the switch to clean energy."
The UK is pushing for a strong deal, with a spokesman for Department of Energy and Climate Change saying: "We are committed to getting a global deal in Paris, which will create a level playing field for businesses, driving innovation and growing the low carbon economy.
"But securing an ambitious deal will require a global effort and there is much work still to do."
The UK has faced fierce criticism at home, however, for cuts to renewable and energy efficiency support and most recently for axing a £1 billion competition to develop technology to capture and store carbon emissions from power stations and industry.


When it comes to selling real estate, Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel's Clarkston office succeeds on the strength of local expertise. Our agents stand out among the rest - we are smart home certified and ninja selling experts with access to tools that no other brokerage has.
Our reputation for honesty, integrity and a diligent work ethic has remained solid in Michigan real estate since 1950. We don't just help our clients buy and sell homes; we help them invest in a better, more fulfilling life. Whether you're looking for a waterfront property, a newly built home, relocation services or commercial real estate, we've got you covered.
We care about the well-being of the towns, cities and villages where we live, work and play. Our charitable efforts can be seen in communities throughout the Clarkston area, including our contributions to the Shades of Pink Foundation, Toys for Tots, Grace Centers of Hope, Relay for Life and many more.


We hope that your pupils are getting excited about Making It All Happen! Chapter 6 is production stage, wherein the JEP Big Idea will be made into a reality.
Pupils will learn how to calculate costs, source funding, monitor the budget and keep a record of all financial income and expenditure throughout the project.
Pupils will design and produce marketing material and will also learn how to use video, audio and Microsoft Powerpoint to record the key stages of the project.
The Storytelling Team has an important role to play in capturing the story of the project from start to finish.
They can take photographs, record video or audio, conduct interviews and include pictures and samples of work in a video or PowerPoint presentation. They must compile the JEP Submission Folder to record the various stages of the project. The Storytelling Team can present the story of the JEP project at the Showcase Day.
The Design and Production Team work together to see if any improvements can be made to the Class JEP Big Idea. Any feedback that was gathered during the Market Research should be used to aid this process, the pupils should consider the preferences indicated by their target market for example the colours or designs that were the most popular and how to package and present their product.
They will also need to determine how many products they will need to make; they will need to collaborate with the Finance Team for this step.
It's important to ensure that every pupil in the class is involved in making the product or service.
The Finance Team consults with the Sales and Marketing & Design and Production Teams to determine what materials will be needed to produce the product or service. The pupils will then calculate how much they need to spend on materials. The Finance Team encourages each pupil to invest in the JEP project, i.e €2 per pupil which will be returned from the sales income at the end of JEP. If additional funding is required they can seek a loan from the Parent's Council or Board of Management to assist with the initial 'set up' costs, which will also be repaid upon completion of the programme.
The Finance Team records all the details of the Costs, Investments, Loans and Expenditure on the Estimated Costings and Projected Sales sheet.
Having calculated the total costs to produce all of the products, the Finance Team calculates how much it costs to produce one product. Taking into consideration the market research findings and considering the total production costs the Finance Team determines what price to charge and how many products to sell.
The Marketing Team should come up with a strategy to promote the product or service. They consider how best to generate interest in their product or service. They should consider putting up posters, circulating flyers around the school and local community, placing an advert in the community newsletter or even composing a rap or song and using social media (under the guidance of a teacher).
The Sales Team plans, organizes and manages sales of the product or service. They should be encouraged to be as creative as possible when thinking of ways to sell their product or service. They could ask local businesses to sell their product or set up a stall at a local market aswell as the school Showcase Day. They must ensure that the customer has a way to order and receive the goods or services; this may include setting up an ordering service so customers can pre-order.
Don't forget to update us with your progress on the 'Class Progress' section of your JEP online account this is something that the Storytelling Team can take ownership of.


text:
The Prague Cemetary
By Umberto Eco
Category: Fiction Tags: modern classics, secondhand book, umberto eco
Nineteenth-century Europe abounds with conspiracy both ghastly and mysterious. Jesuits plot against Freemasons. Italian priests are strangled with their own intestines. French criminals plan bombings by day and celebrate black masses by night. every nation has its own secret service, perpetrating forgeries, plots, and massacres. But what if, behind all this conspiracies, lies just one man?
Umberto Eco has written works of fiction, literary, criticism, and philosophy. His first novel, The Name of the Rose, was a major international bestseller, and he has since published four other novels, along with many brilliant collections of essays.
By Markus Zuzak
Lion Inside
By Rachel Bright
Ward Six and Other Stories
By Anton Chekov
Raise High The Roof Beam, Carpenters
By J.D. Salinger


Finally, the best tool you can have in your arsenal when selling your home is a knowledgeable real estate agent. Take time to interview several agents in your area so you can get a feel for them. It's important to choose a real estate agent with whom you feel comfortable. You will feel less stress down the line when you know from the beginning that you're in good hands.