Lake Maggiore is located mostly in Italian territory but very North side is in Switzerland. This is a well known area with many touristy destinations such as Brissago, Locarno and Ascona that have a peculiar Italian character and surely a mild climate.
It is for this reason that we want to go out for Italy for a moment, just few kilometers to reach Italian Switzerland. You may remember we mentioned this area one year ago in occasion of Natascia and Paolo's country wedding to Bellinzona Castles.
Today we would love to speak about Fiona and Scott's wedding on Brissago Islands.
You already know Fiona and Scott. We introduced them at the end of July in our Just Married section with some photo preview of their wedding.
Bride and gromm wanted Studio Artefoto Omegna by Raffaello Mazzoleni as their photographer helped by skilled photographer Moreno Nicoloso.
Today we are showing you the best images of Fiona and Scott's wedding.
Do not miss the PHOTO GALLERY with many other shots of this fantastic event on Lake Maggiore.
Now let Fiona introduce herself!
My family are from Scotland although I grew up in London, and Scott's family are from England. We lived very close by to each other, and even went to the same school, but didn't meet until 6 years ago!
Fiona and Scott's wedding took place on Isole di Brissago entirely.
It is a group of Islands located just 5 minutes cruise from Porto Ronco.
There is the little Island of St. Apollinare (closed to public but kept as natural park) and Isola Grande (or St. Pancrazio) that at the beginning of 1900 has been transformed in a wide botanic park by German trader Max Emdem. The view here is grand: a 2.5 hectares park with more than 1500 species of plant coming from all over the world!
We chose Isole di Brissago because we come to Ticino often as my parents have a house in Locarno. We can see the Islands from the house, and knew it would mean we could see the place of our special day each time we visit. We felt very relaxed during our visits to the Island and this was very important to us.
On Isola Grande there is grand Villa Emden. This is a luxury palace built in Neoclassic style. It was built in 1927 with 30 rooms, a winter garden (organgerie), Roman bath (33 metres long) and a pier, all still existing.
Today Villa Emden host an exclusive restaurant and an exhibition, cultural and entertainment area which can host different kind of events.
Fiona and Scott's big day begun early in the morning.
Bride and groom and all guest were to Hotel La Meridiana in Ascona. They all took a lovely motorboat to reach Brissago Islands.
All event took place to Villa Emdem: from the civil ceremony, the aperitif in the garden and the dinner in the wide golden room with huge windows with lake view.
The Islands are so beautiful and we could have the whole Island to ourselves from 6 O'Clock in the evening. We had a choice of areas in which to have our drinks reception, so chose to have two, one before the ceremony and one afterwards.
All of the staff on the Island, both from the office and the restaurant, were very helpful and friendly, which was important to us.
Charlotte from the restaurant, Mascia and Brigitte from the office on the Islands were amazing, and helped very much with the planning. Brigitte gave our guests a talk about the history of the island during our welcome drinks reception which we had in the Roman Garden. We couldnt' have managed our day without Charlotte – she was on hand all day to help us, and was very organised and good fun throughout. Our friends and family also played a huge part in helping us to organise getting everything to the Island and back again.
Musical entertainment, from ceremony to dinner was arranged by wonderful voice of English singer Gemma Turner.
Our singer was called Gemma Turner, she's from England but was happy to travel to Switzerland for the wedding and said she'd love to go back and visit again.
She is a classically trained singer, and gave us lots of suggestions for songs she could sing, her repertoire was mainly classical but with some ballads which we knew were much loved by our family. For my entrance to the ceremony she sang O mio babbino caro. Our family and friends were very complimentary about Gemma, and she helped to make our day and our guests day very special. She has a beautiful voice, and was lovely to deal with all the way through.
You can hear her singing through her website www.gemmaturner.co.uk.
I hope you enjoy her voice!
Floral arrangements were very special starting from Fiona's bouquet!
It was made with different dimension of several shades of pastel roses together with a fall of Bear Grass.
Our florist, Fiori di Flora from Locarno, was very creative and made some beautiful flowers for my bridesmaids, myself and also our decorations. She was very friendly and helpful, even though we only decided on the flowers 5 days before the wedding.
Have a look to bridesmaids' bouquets made with little fuchsia roses in a heart shape.
Last but not least a special note for the photographer of the event, Moreno Nicoloso from Raffarello Mazzoleni – Studio Artefoto Omegna's team.
Moreno, was brilliant during the day. He spent a lot of time to look for the right light for some of our pictures, but also was very unobtrusive in taking the pictures. We've seen three of the pictures already (on Italian lakes Wedding's post Just Married on Brissago Islands) and love each of them. He was a very lovely man, and all of our guests liked him too!
Fiona and Scott's wedding went on until late at night: dances, music and lot of fun!
We were very lucky that the weekend of our wedding there was a fireworks festival, so after our meal we went outside to watch these before starting our party. After our wedding, Scott & I stayed at Garni La Meridiana in Ascona and drank some vintage champagne on our terrace, which one of our guests had given us as a gift, whilst opening some cards from our friends and family. This made the perfect end to a very beautiful and special day.
My parents also hosted a drinks evening at our house the night before the wedding, which many of our guests came to, and we spent lots of time with our guests the night after the wedding too. My dad helped by taking friends and family to airports and train stations to make their journeys much easier, and spending all of this time with people meant that we got a whole weekend to enjoy our wedding rather than one day!
Visiting Ticino in the future will now be extra special for us both.
Our best wishes to Fiona and Scott for a lot of happiness from all Italian Lakes Wedding Team.
All images © Raffaello Mazzoleni's photographers team.
For more information about weddings on Brissago Islands, Ticino – Lake Maggiore – please CONTACT the Italian Lakes Wedding team.


So I must admit, I haven't posted here in awhile because I just went through the most challenging subjects I've done to date. Those who are mathematically minded will probably think I'm being a wuss, but I found myself having to study more to understand different aspects of statistics, a new software system to complete our assignments based on statistical methods and endure a Friday evening class of statistics. It feels like all I've been doing is eating, breathing and dreaming about statistics.
Despite feeling overwhelmed with my constant travels between university and home, I did manage to get out and experience new things. Maastricht recently opened up their Christmas markets and it looks like something from a movie, it is full of good food, Christmas trinkets and an ice-skating rink! Needless to say, watching the city transform in to a festive hub has been truly remarkable.
We also received snow due to a cold snap we had two weeks ago, but unfortunately it melted. A student who will be visiting QUT under the same program as I'm in gave me some good advice when it comes to riding through the snow – "the kids here are crazy and ride their bikes up the gutters, so be careful when riding that you don't get caught in their tracks and stack it up the gutter". So , for the few days we had snow, I rode with absolute precision.
Now, exams and coursework are over, meaning most of the friends I have made here are travelling back home or moving on to grander things. Only a few will be around for a short two-week skills block in January, so the goodbye process is extremely drawn out. I'll be kicking off my three week tour around Germany, UK and France tomorrow, so with the sadness of saying goodbye to a lot of interesting and fun people comes a sense of excitement of what is to come.
In parting, I'll say Merry Christmas, have a safe new year and enjoy that sun!
For the last few weeks there has been a lot of speculation about when the first snow of the season would fall here. Lille is not a very snowy area – something about the geography – but we'd all been hearing reports from our friends in other European universities that the snows had begun.
But last night, only a few days after the rest of Europe, the weather finally cooperated and I woke up this morning to see these scenes from my window. I live on campus and it just so happens that my little studio apartment was positioned to get some great views. I could go outside to take photos but it's FREEZING.
At this point in the semester I am very glad I chose to live on campus as my accommodation. Not just because I can see snow on frosty mornings like today, but also because the campus is about a 25min tram ride outside of the main city. Because classes run from 9:40am – 5:20pm (depending on the subject and day) it means I save a lot of time in transit. It also means the occasional 8am start isn't too painful as the classroom building is about a one minute walk away from my accommodation.
The rent for campus accommodation is a little higher than renting a room in a share apartment, but my little studio does come furnished with a bed, two tables, two chairs, a kitchenette (fridge, sink, microwave and two hot plates) and a decent sized bathroom (shower, sink and toilet). A cleaning lady also comes in twice a month to clean my studio and breakfast is provided on weekdays. So although it's a little more expensive, the location and other perks make up for it in my books. Then again, the last tram on most nights is 12:15am so if you want to go drinking in Lille with your classmates you are a bit of a Cinderella.


This August I attended the fourth annual Shine and Dine gala benefiting Step Up Women's Network at the beautiful Bridgeport Arts Center's Skyline Loft in Chicago. This was the third year I attended along with my sister and it's come to be one of our favorite charity events of the year! The silent auction, wonderful food, and moving speeches from former Step Up participants make it an easy cause to get behind.
This year former Step Up participant, Kenia Rodriguez spoke passionately about the impact that the Step Up program had on her life. As the daughter of a teen mom from an underprivileged area in Chicago, Kenia knew that she wanted to break the cycle and attend college. Now with an anticipated graduation date of 2016, Kenia is enjoying her last two years at DePaul University and still keeps in close touch with many of the Step Up mentors who helped her to realize her potential and make her dreams a reality.
Overall the event was a great success and the Callahan sisters enjoyed yet another tasty and enlightening Shine and Dine event!


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Nikolai Michailowitsch Albow, auch Nikolai Michailovich Albov auch Alboff, (; *  in Paralowo, Russisches Kaiserreich; †  in La Plata, Argentinien) war ein russischer Botaniker. Sein offizielles botanisches Autorenkürzel lautet "Albov".

Albow botanisierte zeitweise in Argentinien. Der russische Botaniker Boris Konstantinowitsch Schischkin (1886–1963) benannte die Pflanzengattung Albovia aus der Familie der Doldenblütler (Apiaceae) zu seinen Ehren. Die Gattung wird heute allerdings nicht mehr anerkannt; ihre Vertreter sind jetzt anderen Gattungen wie Pimpinella und Scaligeria zugeordnet. Nach ihm ist der Albowfelsen in der Antarktis benannt.

Werke

Weblinks

  (russisch)

Quellen
 Sergei Lipschiz u. a.: Russkije botaniki: biografo-bibliografitscheski slowar: Tom 1. Isd-wo Moskowskogo o-wa ispytatelei prirody, 1947, S. 47–49. (russisch)
 Robert Zander: Zander Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen. Hrsg. von Fritz Encke, Günther Buchheim, Siegmund Seybold. 13., neubearbeitete und erweiterte Auflage. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 1984, ISBN 3-8001-5042-5.

Einzelnachweise

Botaniker (19. Jahrhundert)
Namensgeber für eine Pflanzengattung
Russe
Geboren 1866
Gestorben 1897
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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BBC reported: A former police officer's debut novel has won the main prize at one of the UK's top crime-writing festivals. Clare Mackintosh's I Let You Go was named best crime novel at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.She beat five authors, including Robert Galbraith – the crime-writing pseudonym of Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
It added: Author Val McDermid was also honoured with an outstanding contribution to crime fiction award at the festival she helped to set up.


When evil strikes fear in to the hearts of people, Christians play a vital role in how far that evil progresses. Evil can scare us, emotionally paralyze us, and sometimes even depress us. So many questions run through our minds when evil strikes, like it did in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017. Questions inevitably come up about God: is He loving? Is He powerful? How could He let this happen? This evil happened while Americans were still recovering from the pain and damage caused by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. To help people process God, evil, and our role in the process, this blog post will seek to address those questions. Before we process, let's acknowledge that no amount of words will take away the pain of those who were affected by the shooting in Las Vegas. Only God in his sovereignty can ease the heart and breathe hope back into the broken and hopeless.
In the first example, we see the proper alignment of evil existing within God's sovereign control. In the second illustration, evil is equal to God and not controlled by God. Evil acts as a type of deity that God cannot control, and thus creates a false teaching called dualism. Evil is also not a being or a person. To define evil in that sense makes God the author of evil. Here is a summary statement of the problem: "If evil were a being, the problem of evil would be insoluble, for then either God made it—and thus he is not all-good—or else God did not make it—and thus he is not the all-powerful creator of all things."[i] We are simplifying things here to show how to properly frame the reasoning.
To keep this article concise, we will focus on moral evil and not natural evil. Therefore, a basic definition of evil is "any act or event that is contrary to the good and holy purposes of God." [ii] Moral evil comes from the moral freedom that exists in created beings. (I say created beings because Satan is a created being and not human, yet he is evil). As long as there is sin in the world, there will always be mass displays of evil from the depravity of man's heart. Genesis 6:5 tells us that every intention of man's heart is evil continually. Isaiah 64:6 tells us that our good deeds are like polluted garments, and Ephesians 2 tells us that man is dead in sin. Knowing these passages, we should not be shocked that humans commit unimaginably evil acts.
Knowing that evil is within God's control causes some people to feel safe, while others may be horrified. But why would people want a more loving God who has no control? It's like having a loving parent who cannot help you – it doesn't make sense.
Having a God that allows sinful man to commit sinful acts, including evil acts, can be a hard pill to swallow. Romans 8:28 tells us that "God works all things for good for those who are called according to his purpose." For that to be true, that must mean God can take and use evil for our good. Evil must be within his control. Look no further than the story of Job to see Satan asking God for permission to attack Job. It is not a stretch to say that we need to trust a sovereign God when it comes to what he allows and does not allow. God is always good, always just, and always sovereign.
When it comes to God, it is better and more Biblical for us to acknowledge that we have no clue why he allowed an act of evil to occur. But that doesn't change the fact that we can trust his power, character, and nature. God is sovereign and evil is within his control, but he himself is not evil. That might be hard to understand, but it is consistent with scripture and having a relationship with an all-powerful Holy Father. God knows the story from the beginning to the end, and he therefore is in a place to know how all things work together. Humans do not know the story as he does, so we trust him in the things we cannot understand.
Finally, what is our role in all the evil and chaos? First, we can't ignore the fact that we are scared, angry, or hurt. It's okay to grieve and to not be okay. However, it is not okay to stay that way. Tell God your fears and struggles and ask him to help you process your feelings and guide your heart. Ask him to help you trust his character. Seek first to submit to God's sovereignty and then be willing to change your heart and mind. Just because we don't understand something doesn't mean that God cannot have a reason beyond our comprehension. As God helps your heart, trust that through the power of the Holy Spirit, and by being rooted in His Word, you will gain more clarity.
Second, understand that you are not alone. Since creation, Christians have struggled to understand the evil acts of people. Know that there are other Christians having the same doubts as you. It's okay to wrestle with God if it leads to submission to God.
Lastly, be an agent of hope. Hope is unwavering belief that God has something better for us when Jesus comes back for us. People often cannot fathom hope in the midst of despair. If we can be the voice that points to Jesus despite evil acts, we are doing our job as children of God. A Christian knows that there is more to life than this world and a Christian knows this life is but a vapor. It passes quickly. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we are to proclaim the excellencies of he who called us. What a powerful thing to do in the midst of evil! Romans 5:5 tells us that hope does not put us to shame because we have the love of God in our hearts and we have the help of the Holy Spirit.
Our role is to endure and not lose hope in Jesus' return. Our role is to not change God or his word when we hurt. Our role is to point people to Jesus amid pain and suffering. Our role is to pray for people to find Jesus in the chaos. Remember, God is always good and worthy to be praised. Even when we don't feel it to be true, it is still true. We need to pray diligently that God would change our hearts.
[i] Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Pocket Handbook of Christian Apologetics, The IVP Pocket Reference Series (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2003), 46.


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Q: comparing $a^b$ and $b^a$ for arbitrary positive $a$ and $b$. Is there a way to compare $a^b$ and $b^a$? If  a,b both are greater the $e$( or  less than), then one may consider the function $f(x)=lnx/x$. But how to compare these two numbers in general?

A: Nothing is stopping you from using $f$ on any pair of positive numbers. Actually, it's only if one number is larger than $e$ and one number is smaller you really need to use $f$.
If the two numbers are on the same side of $e$, then using the number closest to $e$ as base necessarily gives the largest result (although you would use $f$ to prove this).

A: There are the two well-known inequalities you mentioned.
In general it is impossible to compare these numbers:
$2>1$ and $2^1>1^2$
$5>2$ and $5^2<2^5$
$2\neq 4$ but $2^4=4^2$

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text:
Foton Midi (кит.: 福田迷迪) — минивэн китайской компании Foton, выпускаемый в 2008—2014 годах.

Описание
Цена на Foton Midi варьировалась от 59800 до 66400 юаней. Автомобиль оснащался двигателями внутреннего сгорания объёмом 1,3 л (85 л. с.) и 1,5 л (105 л. с.). С 2013 года, после фейслифтинга, автомобиль оснащался двигателем внутреннего сгорания объёмом 1,6 л.

Трансмиссия автомобиля — механическая, 5-ступенчатая. К окончанию производства цена варьировалась от 59300 до 66700 юаней.

Галерея

Примечания

Ссылки

 Официальный сайт

Автомобили Foton


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Systematic affinities of the lyrebirds (Passeriformes : Menura), with a novel classification of the major groups of passerine birds.
Systematic affinities of the lyrebirds (Passeriformes: Menura), with a novel classification of the major groups of passerine birds.
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Research Division.
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics.
Phylogenetic relationships of the lyrebirds are investigated using DNA sequence data. The aligned data matrix consists of 4027 bp obtained from three nuclear genes (c-myc, RAG-1 and myoglobin intron II) and two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and ND2). Both maximum-likelihood and parsimony analyses show that the lyrebirds unambiguously belong to the oscine radiation, and that they are the sister taxon to all other oscines. The results do not support the suggestion based on DNA-DNA hybridization data (Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990) that the treecreepers and bowerbirds are part of the lyrebird clade. Nevertheless, treecreepers and bowerbirds are sister taxa to all other oscines (except the lyrebirds) and may constitute a monophyletic group, although bootstrap support values for this clade are low. A major disagreement between the present analysis and that based on DNA-DNA hybridization data is that the Corvida (sensu Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990) and Passerida are not reciprocally monophyletic, as we find the latter group be nested within the Corvida. Also, the superfamilies Meliphagoidea and Corvoidea sensu, are not recovered as monophyletic in the present study. Within the oscine radiation, all taxa belonging to the earliest splits are confined to the Australo-Papuan region. This suggests strongly that the origins and early radiation of the oscines occurred in the southern supercontinent Gondwana. A new classification of the major groups of passerines is presented following from the results presented in the present study, as well as those published recently on analyses of sequence data from the nuclear c-myc and RAG-1 genes (Ericson et al., 2002; Irestedt et al., 2001).


Having spent so many years in the southwest, I am a sucker for agave plants. It's amazing to me how many types there are — and how tall they get. Then of course, they bloom only once!
Springtime! There were colorful flowers in bloom everywhere we looked.
Our guide? Kathy Benziger, the youngest of the seven siblings whose parents, Bruno and Helen, helped brother Mike buy the vineyard in 1981. We indulged in an outdoor mini- wine-tasting and, glass of chardonnay in hand, we jumped in a golf cart and took off to tour the grounds.
The grounds did not disappoint! While we toured, Kathy told us what it was like to be the youngest of such a tight-knit family of winos. She was still in high school when the family left New York for wine country. Did I mention that her six older siblings were all boys?
The grand finale? A peek into Benziger's famous barrel caves — finished in 2000, they keep the aging wine at 67 degrees year-round, naturally.
Benziger is a great winery, tasty wine and solid tour. We prefer Sonoma over Napa and when we were there five years ago Benziger was our last winery to visit, and the only one we toured. We also bought several bottles to ship home to Tennessee even though we can buy the wine here.
So many people are very much pro-Sonoma or Napa! Love that you shipped some home. There's something special about having bottles from your trip to the winery, especially if they're ones that can only be purchased there!
Guilt free wine and a tour on what looks like a gorgeous place? Sign me up! It doesn't get much better than that.
Right? What a way to spend the afternoon!
What a fabulous trip! Makes me miss our time in Napa soooooo much!!!
Confession: This blog post is great but I can not get over the fact that you are wearing JEANS in the photo at the top! I don't think I've ever seen you in jeans!!
Right? Haha I never wear pants! It IS weird!
How can it be that I haven't been to Benzinger yet — after all the time I've spent visiting Sonoma County? It's an outrage and I'll fix that next time I'm up there. Loved your pics and learning about Kathy and the family (and their eco-friendly wines)!
I love a good winery visit. Just did a wine trip through france. So much fun and sooo much wine! Love your new blog!
just leave me in the cellar! Ha. Great shots of the vines, flowers and all that makes it so pretty there.
Love wine, love California, love the philosophy. I think I'm going to have to visit Benziger asap.
This sounds lovely right now. I wish I could have joined you! FYI: Scott and I will be in San Francisco in mid September!
Swoon! We visited Napa a few years back and I have vague memories of cellar doors, tasting sessions and delicious meals! Those barrel caves are awesome! it's great to see a producer doing so much to keep the natural balance of the process.
Very cool photos! I love how it is Demeter-certified biodynamic! Thanks for sharing your visit!


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Range Rover Evoque gets a much-needed interior makeover
The new Evoque channels the look of its larger siblings
Range Rover Evoque gets a much-needed interior makeover The new Evoque channels the look of its larger siblings Check out this story on detroitnews.com: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/2019/04/18/review-range-rover-evoque-gets-much-needed-interior-makeover/39360051/
Larry Printz, Tribune News Service Published 12:01 a.m. ET April 18, 2019 | Updated 4:56 p.m. ET April 18, 2019
The 2020 Ranger Rover Evoque channels the look of its larger siblings. (Photo: Nick Dimbleby / TNS)
It's remarkable how a single product can redefine a brand.
Consider Apple, which was once a struggling computer manufacturer. Upon Steve Jobs' return to the company he founded, Apple was transformed by the introduction of the iMac, iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and iWatch into a glamorous consumer product technology company.
The same can be said of Land Rover. A decade ago, you could count its products on one hand. In case you haven't noticed, that's no longer the case thanks to a flurry of new models that started with the Range Rover Evoque.
The Evoque's base prices range from $42,650-$55,800. (Photo: Nick Dimbleby / TNS)
"The strategy that we created about nine years ago was the backbone of the original Evoque," said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover's chief design officer.
If any vehicle changed consumer perception of what a Range Rover was, it was the Evoque, a compact luxury SUV built using an old Ford platform. A Range Rover was no longer a large, unobtainable SUV used by royals and private citizens who live in houses tucked behind multi-story hedges. The Evoque made the brand's cachet available on a smaller scale, but it had something more: a uniquely contemporary character that was truly distinctive and special.
The 2020 Evoque SE is powered by a 246 horsepower, 2.0L turbocharged gasoline engine that creates 269 pound-feet of torque. (Photo: Land Rover)
"Our point of difference compared with a lot of the competition is our modernist approach to design," McGovern said.
Having sold more than 772,000 worldwide, the company has built the 2020 Evoque on the previous model's design while incorporating styling cues from other Range Rovers, particularly the Velar. But the true transformation is inside, where the new Evoque channels the look of its larger siblings, with astutely curated materials that create a sumptuous yet minimalist digital cabin anchored by twin touchscreens and minimal use of switchgear. The interior design is stunningly modern in the finest Range Rover tradition. Seats are firm, with fairly good bolstering. Legroom is sufficient for four, as long as front seat passengers don't hog all of the space. Cargo space seems generous for its size, which straddles the subcompact and compact SUV segments.
The Evoque's overall footprint, the S P250 model is shown, is about the same as the outgoing model but rides on Land Rover's new mixed-metal Premium Transverse Architecture. (Photo: Land Rover)
"When it comes to the interior, it is more of a departure from the original. The interior did need to move on," said McGovern. "This demonstrates levels of detail and luxury execution and material specification usually associated with our bigger Range Rovers."
The vehicle's overall footprint is about the same as the outgoing model but rides on Land Rover's new mixed-metal Premium Transverse Architecture. Base P250 models are powered by Land Rover's Ingenium turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that generates 246 horsepower. The pricier P300 will get the same engine mated to Land Rover's first 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It generates 296 horsepower, but only improves fuel economy by 1 mpg.
The 2020 Range Rover Evoque. (Photo: Nick Dimbleby / TNS)
Base prices range from $42,650-$55,800.
The mild hybrid version of the new Ingenium engine furnishes good power, even among the hills of Greece's Peloponnese Peninsula. Turbo lag barley noticeable, except occasionally in off-road situations when you need a bit of thrust and it comes on more forcefully than you'd expect. The eight-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and has a manual shift mode that holds the gear, even when in normal drive mode. It shifts quickly, although not as quickly as a dual clutch. There's a sport mode as well.
If any word defines the Evoque, it's refinement. The new platform delivers a driving experience that's impressively quiet, even over the roughest road surfaces, and returns an incredibly compliant, comfortable ride. Steering feels somewhat light and yet manages to return enough road feel without excess vibration through the steering column.
Base P250 models are powered by Land Rover's Ingenium turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that generates 246 horsepower. The pricier P300 will get the same engine mated to Land Rover's first 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It generates 296 horsepower, but only improves fuel economy by 1 mpg. (Photo: Land Rover)
Body lean is minimal, though noticeable in corners. But there are no excess body motions or unexpected commotion. This vehicle brushes off bumps and road shocks as if they didn't exist.
That said, the Pirelli tires punctured during the test drive. Yes, this is an urban SUV, but its owners might take it off road occasionally. So why Pirelli tires? It's like wearing Gucci loafers when Red Wing work boots are called for.
Nevertheless, the off-road technology is impressive.
Uniquely, an option called ClearSight Ground View technology provides a view of the ground under the front end of the vehicle in the upper touchscreen. It also has a rear view mirror that doubles as an HD video screen, providing a wider rear view than a traditional mirror. And it can wade through 23.5 inches of water.
Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/2019/04/18/review-range-rover-evoque-gets-much-needed-interior-makeover/39360051/
FCA, GM warn their futures are at stake ahead of UAW talks
Tesla cuts Model 3 price after tax credits shrink
Senators want probe of faulty Ford transmissions
Forever 21 reportedly in financial trouble
First tenants to move into The Corner at former Tiger Stadium site

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Pretorius has "inside track" at Bulls
Written by Andre Bosch (KSA Shark ©)
Posted in :Bulls, In the news, Super 14 on 22 Jan 2009 at 06:57
Tagged with : Jaco Pretorius, Pieter Rossouw, Wynand Olivier
Springboks Jaco Pretorius and Wynand Olivier will combine their creative geniuses in the Bulls midfield, as the Pretoria-based franchise aim to a win a second Super Rugby title.
Rugby 365 reports that the Bulls' backline coach, Pieter Rossouw, revealed in a online chat on the Bulls' website that Pretorius is ahead of Bulls stalwart JP Nel in the midfield pecking order.
Pretorius, a Lions import, is in his first season with the Bulls. He is a former South African Sevens captain, who made his provincial debut for the Lions in 2001. Pretorius has since then played in more than 60 matches for the Lions and is one of the best attacking centres in the country. His running lines are superb and his ball distribution skills combined with his speed are going to add exceptional value to the Bulls.
Nel returns to the Bulls at the end of the Japanese season and while he is defensively one of the best centres in the tournament, he will most likely get most of his game time off the bench. His partnership with Olivier was one of the many reasons for the Bulls' success in 2007. Nel is one of the most experienced Super Rugby players in South Africa and can be of immense value to the Bulls.
However, the Bulls' backline guru, Rossouw, himself a veteran of many internationals for South Africa, revealed that Nel will only be available for the Super 14 season – giving Pretorius the edge.
"Jaco has a three-year contract [with the Bulls] and at this stage he has the inside track to start in the No.13 jersey," Rossouw said on the Bulls' website.
Rossouw also revealed that while the Bulls are aiming to evolve their attacking game, they are not going to move away from their key strength – a powerful forward pack.
He said they will never attempt to imitate teams like the Stormers, Brumbies and Crusaders in playing an all-out attacking game.
"We would like to take out forwards, with which we had so much success, and add to that by being more creative and intelligent on attack," Rossouw said.
"It is vital not to move away from the strengths of the Bulls, while taking into account that the laws have changed and that mauling is now virtually impossible – which requires some adjustments.
"We were certainly very successful with our attacking game, as we scored the most tries in the Currie Cup competition [in 2008] and none of those were mauling tries."
Boks to unveil new jersey »
« Injured Burger opens door for Watson
"We were certainly very successful with our attacking game, as we scored the most tries in the Currie Cup competition [in 2008] and none of those were mauling tries." 🙄
Comment 1, posted at 22.01.09 08:09:10 by Charlie
@Charlie (Comment 1) :
Hy LIEG man. 😉
Comment 2, posted at 22.01.09 09:41:48 by KSA Shark ©
How must Nel San feel. He hasn't even had a chance to prove himself and already he's on the bench. 🙄
Comment 3, posted at 22.01.09 10:55:37 by McLovin
to put genius in the same line as wynand is like putting team man in the same line as frans.
Comment 4, posted at 22.01.09 14:05:28 by try time
@try time (Comment 4) : creative geniuses – I missed that. 😆
Suppose Bakkies writes poems in his spare time. 😉
So happy JP is back. He sucks ass and makes it so much easier for our team to hammer the bulls.
Comment 6, posted at 22.01.09 14:18:10 by billy
@McLovin (Comment 5) : this is rugby not bloody poetry hour. 😆
@billy (Comment 6) : how do you know he sucks ass? 😆 he doesn't play for the stormers so it highly unlikely that he does.


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The Echo Bearcat SC2170 2" Chipper/Shredder is available at Kooy Brothers Equipment Ltd. located at 1919 Wilson Avenue in Toronto, Ontario.


text:
Indian-origin Uber driver booked for abducting rider
News March 15, 2019 Ritu Jha
IANS-
An Indian-origin Uber driver in the US has pleaded guilty to kidnapping a sleeping passenger and driving her over 60 miles from her destination to boost his fare.
Harbir Parmar
Harbir Parmar, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping and one count of wire fraud in White Plains federal court earlier this week, prosecutors said.
The incident happened on February 21 during which a female passenger in his car riding from Manhattan to her home in White Plains fell asleep – only to awake with "Parmar's hand under her shirt", according to court records cited by the US media.
When the woman tried to call for help, he had grabbed her phone. She woke up only to find herself in Connecticut instead of New York.
Complaining to Uber, she discovered the trip's destination had been changed to Boston, incurring a $1,047 fare, the New York Post reported.
Parmar was arrested in October last year. He will be sentenced in June this year and could face life imprisonment for the kidnapping offense.
He confessed to a series of ride-rigging offenses, which had netted him more than $3,600 in bogus charges, officials said.
Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement that Parmar had "terrorized" his victim and would be "held accountable".
"In addition, he charged many of his ridesharing customers with fraudulent fees. He admitted his guilt in open court, and will now be held accountable for his brazen crimes."
An Uber spokesman told technology news website The Register: "What's been reported is horrible and something no person should go through.
"As soon as we became aware, we immediately removed this individual's access to the platform."
Indian origin, Uber
Investors welcome fix to angel tax rules in India
In time like these you need diplomats: Condoleezza Rice, on Indo-Pak conflict
Ola Cabs founder tells IIT conference of struggles it took to get to the top
Population of Indian-origin in U.S. grew by 40 percent between 2010 -2017
"Tech Firm Sues USCIS after Their Client's H-1B Application is Falsely Denied"


C/ Sabadell, 10-18, 07820 San Antonio, Spanje.
Recently refurbished, Monterrey enjoys a pleasant and relaxing situation in walking distance (750 m) from the sandy beach of Punta Pinet on the bay of San Antonio. Nice gardens for relaxing walks and marvellous views of the bay. Near the hotel you can find many sports and amusing offers. It's possible to practise water sports like: windsurfing, parasailing, water-ski and catamaran Sailing. There are studios and apartments, all equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV, music, telephone, kitchenette, mini-fridge, full bathroom and balcony, some of them with sea view.The pool and the sun terrace with free sun beds, are situated in a nice open area, with beautiful gardens and a tennis court.


I was asked by Durham Community Foundation to participate in a Chair Affair as part of the Odyssey Ball. Artists were invited to pick up a piece of broken furniture and transform it into a piece of art. They will be part of a live auction at the ball on Feb 2 2012. I went out to Mackie Moving where they had gathered broken or damaged furniture and invited eleven artists and designers to come pick out something to transform. I picked out a worn out bedroom chair. When I got it home I discovered that it was in terrible shape and required more than the quilted slipcover I had imagined. It needed new springs, foam and padding. I imagined it as an accent piece in a bedroom or foyer. I have many Mourning Doves in my garden and they have such lovely silhouettes. Mine sit in an arbour, but their shape is lovely on a wire. The doves are appliquéd onto the cream fabric and batting is added behind them using a trapunto technique to make them puff out. You may be able to see the trapunto effect on the seat in the turquoise fabric. Then I layered more batting and another layer of fabric and quilted each of the eight pieces. Andrew of Uxbridge Custom Upholstery took my pieces and did a fabulous job of rebuilding it. When it was done and I showed it to my friend Sue Carmichael at Quilters Cupboard in Uxbridge, she said it was calling out for a pillow! What a lovely added touch. I'll write a post about the new owner after the auction!


text:
The Witches A Haunted Person's Guide to The Witches
Label: Alive Naturalsound
Born in Detroit in 1996 from the mind of bass player Troy Gregory (Dirtbombs, Killing Joke) and with the help of John Nash (Electric Six, LCD Soundsystem) on guitar, and Jim Diamond (White Stripes, Von Bondies) on electric twelve-string, The Witches went on to record five amazing albums between 1996 and 2006, before vanishing into thin air. A Haunted Person's Guide To is a comprehensive introduction to the band's amazing sound.
You may also like Vince's Recommendations
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Chronic Disease Prevention by understanding your genetics- this is the future.
Personalised Genomic wellness is one way in which you are able to understand your risk of disease. This investigation allows you to undertake specific preventative strategies to be used for long term health.
It will assess your genes involved in the anti-ageing process.


text:
Q: Cannot import a local CocoaPod after install I am trying to import a development pod. I have created my CocoaPod using XCode by selecting New > Cocoa Touch Framework.
I have then generated .podspec and verified it is correct via pod lint.
That has been added to my project Podfile and on running Pod Install I can see the correct version number added as a dependency.
The issue is when I try and then import this in a file, the module does not appear in intellisense nor does it compile if I just try and build it.
My Cocoa project looks like this

and my .podspec looks like this
Pod::Spec.new do |s|

s.platform = :ios
s.ios.deployment_target = '11.0'
s.name = "HomeComponents"
s.summary = "Common Home Components"
s.requires_arc = true
s.version = "1.0.3"
s.license = { :type => "MIT", :file => "LICENSE" }
s.author = { "xxx xxx" => "xxx@xxx.xxx" }
s.homepage = "https://xxx/xxx/xxx"
s.source = { :git => "https://github.com/xxx/xxx.git", :tag => "#{s.version}" }

s.framework = "UIKit"

s.source_files = "Sources/**/*.{swift}"
s.resources = "Sources/**/*.{png,jpeg,jpg,storyboard,xib,xcassets}"
s.swift_version = "4.0"

I am at a complete loss as to why this is not working. The pod installs, but is just not available in my app. I have it declared with the correct target so I am sure it should be being installed.


The second member of the Trinity is, like the first and third, omnipresent. Wherever you go, he is there. In fact, more than that, the Bible says he sustains all things: he "upholds the universe by the word of his power" (Heb. 1:3), and "in him all things hold together" (Col. 1:15).
The miracle we celebrate each year at Christmas (the incarnation, when the Son of God became a man) raises a question about this theology. Was he still omnipresent in, say, the year AD 10, while walking around Nazareth as a boy? Or what about while he was a baby, nursing at Mary's breast among the manger animals—can we really imagine that, at the same time, he filled the entire universe, governing every quark and star?
According to the so-called extra Calvinisticum, the answer, amazingly, is yes. God becomes man without ceasing to be God, and thus the incarnate Son of God was not limited to his human flesh, but continued to fill and uphold the universe even while incarnate.
The incarnate Son of God was not limited to his human flesh.
How in the world could this be? Libraries could be dedicated to exploring this doctrine, but let's just ask three basic questions about it, in the hopes of recalibrating our hearts and minds to the staggering event we celebrate this time of year.
The Son of God descended from heaven in such a way that, without leaving heaven, he willed to be borne in the virgin's womb, to go about the earth, and to hang upon the cross; yet he continuously filled the world even as he had done from the beginning!
The Word was not hedged in by his body, nor did his presence in the body prevent his being present elsewhere as well. When he moved his body he did not cease also to direct the universe by his mind and might. . . . At one and the same time—this is the wonder—as Man he was living a human life, and as Word he was sustaining the life of the universe, and as Son he was in constant union with the Father.
Note that Athanasius emphasizes not merely the Son of God's existence beyond the flesh of his human body, but his role as the sustainer and director of the universe. In Calvin's sermons and commentaries, he emphasizes not merely the spatial character of the extra, but its implication for Christ's governance of the world and mediatorship over the angels. The important thing is not omnipresence per se, but that the Son of God remains fully divine—with all that that entails—even during the incarnation.
The extra Calvinisticum is, to say the least, a difficult concept to wrap our brains around. The first time I heard it, two challenges sprang to mind.
First, is this irrational? How does it not violate the law of non-contradiction to say that Christ is both finite and infinite, both localized and omnipresent? Second, how does this square with orthodox, Chalcedonian Christology? Does not positing a Christ who is both finite and infinite lead to the old Nestorian error of separating the human and divine natures of Christ?
There is a metaphor that has helped me understand this (at least, a little). Suppose J. R. R. Tolkien had written himself into The Lord of the Rings as a character in the story, walking around with Gandalf and Frodo and the others. He would not, of course, cease to exist in Oxford as a result of this fact (in fact, his entire existence in Middle-earth would depend on his continued writing in Oxford). Nor is it clear that the unity of his person or the laws of logic would necessarily be violated by such a situation. After all, Middle-earth and Oxford are not just different places in the same world, like Chicago and New York, but different "realms" or "worlds" altogether.
The relationship between God and his created world is much more like the relationship between Oxford and Middle-earth than the relationship between Chicago and New York.
Now of course, this is just a metaphor. There are differences between the Creator entering creation and an author writing himself into a story. However, the relationship between God and his created world is much more like the relationship between Oxford and Middle-earth than the relationship between Chicago and New York. Picturing Tolkien walking through the Shire while still sitting at his Oxford desk is one way, perhaps, to progress in conceptualizing how the Son of God can be both infinite in his divine nature and yet finite in his human nature, all while remaining one person.
The extra is an important doctrine in that it safeguards the transcendence of Christ's divine nature (i.e., it cannot be contained) and the genuineness of the human nature (i.e., it does not possess attributes reserved for divinity).
The incarnation [is] an addition, not a subtraction. That is, the Son of God does not shrink down to a tiny embryo in Mary's womb, leaving his divine majesty behind him. Rather, he comes to us while remaining all he is.
Beyond all of this, more basically, the extra Calvinisticum can help us marvel afresh at the wonder of what we celebrate each Christmas.
sleeping among the donkeys, adored by the angels.
It certainly gives new meaning to the words we sing: Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity.


text:
import { Path, ValidationPath } from './Path';
import { forEach, contains, safeGet } from '@firebase/util';
import { isInvalidJSONNumber } from './util';
import { errorPrefix as errorPrefixFxn } from '@firebase/util';
import { stringLength } from '@firebase/util';
/**
 * True for invalid Firebase keys
 * @type {RegExp}
 * @private
 */
export var INVALID_KEY_REGEX_ = /[\[\].#$\/\u0000-\u001F\u007F]/;
/**
 * True for invalid Firebase paths.
 * Allows '/' in paths.
 * @type {RegExp}
 * @private
 */
export var INVALID_PATH_REGEX_ = /[\[\].#$\u0000-\u001F\u007F]/;
/**
 * Maximum number of characters to allow in leaf value
 * @type {number}
 * @private
 */
export var MAX_LEAF_SIZE_ = 10 * 1024 * 1024;
/**
 * @param {*} key
 * @return {boolean}
 */
export var isValidKey = function (key) {
    return (typeof key === 'string' && key.length !== 0 && !INVALID_KEY_REGEX_.test(key));
};
/**
 * @param {string} pathString
 * @return {boolean}
 */
export var isValidPathString = function (pathString) {
    return (typeof pathString === 'string' &&
        pathString.length !== 0 &&
        !INVALID_PATH_REGEX_.test(pathString));
};
/**
 * @param {string} pathString
 * @return {boolean}
 */
export var isValidRootPathString = function (pathString) {
    if (pathString) {
        // Allow '/.info/' at the beginning.
        pathString = pathString.replace(/^\/*\.info(\/|$)/, '/');
    }
    return isValidPathString(pathString);
};
/**
 * @param {*} priority
 * @return {boolean}
 */
export var isValidPriority = function (priority) {
    return (priority === null ||
        typeof priority === 'string' ||
        (typeof priority === 'number' && !isInvalidJSONNumber(priority)) ||
        (priority && typeof priority === 'object' && contains(priority, '.sv')));
};
/**
 * Pre-validate a datum passed as an argument to Firebase function.
 *
 * @param {string} fnName
 * @param {number} argumentNumber
 * @param {*} data
 * @param {!Path} path
 * @param {boolean} optional
 */
export var validateFirebaseDataArg = function (fnName, argumentNumber, data, path, optional) {
    if (optional && data === undefined)
        return;
    validateFirebaseData(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional), data, path);
};
/**
 * Validate a data object client-side before sending to server.
 *
 * @param {string} errorPrefix
 * @param {*} data
 * @param {!Path|!ValidationPath} path_
 */
export var validateFirebaseData = function (errorPrefix, data, path_) {
    var path = path_ instanceof Path ? new ValidationPath(path_, errorPrefix) : path_;
    if (data === undefined) {
        throw new Error(errorPrefix + 'contains undefined ' + path.toErrorString());
    }
    if (typeof data === 'function') {
        throw new Error(errorPrefix +
            'contains a function ' +
            path.toErrorString() +
            ' with contents = ' +
            data.toString());
    }
    if (isInvalidJSONNumber(data)) {
        throw new Error(errorPrefix + 'contains ' + data.toString() + ' ' + path.toErrorString());
    }
    // Check max leaf size, but try to avoid the utf8 conversion if we can.
    if (typeof data === 'string' &&
        data.length > MAX_LEAF_SIZE_ / 3 &&
        stringLength(data) > MAX_LEAF_SIZE_) {
        throw new Error(errorPrefix +
            'contains a string greater than ' +
            MAX_LEAF_SIZE_ +
            ' utf8 bytes ' +
            path.toErrorString() +
            " ('" +
            data.substring(0, 50) +
            "...')");
    }
    // TODO = Perf = Consider combining the recursive validation of keys into NodeFromJSON
    // to save extra walking of large objects.
    if (data && typeof data === 'object') {
        var hasDotValue_1 = false, hasActualChild_1 = false;
        forEach(data, function (key, value) {
            if (key === '.value') {
                hasDotValue_1 = true;
            }
            else if (key !== '.priority' && key !== '.sv') {
                hasActualChild_1 = true;
                if (!isValidKey(key)) {
                    throw new Error(errorPrefix +
                        ' contains an invalid key (' +
                        key +
                        ') ' +
                        path.toErrorString() +
                        '.  Keys must be non-empty strings ' +
                        'and can\'t contain ".", "#", "$", "/", "[", or "]"');
                }
            }
            path.push(key);
            validateFirebaseData(errorPrefix, value, path);
            path.pop();
        });
        if (hasDotValue_1 && hasActualChild_1) {
            throw new Error(errorPrefix +
                ' contains ".value" child ' +
                path.toErrorString() +
                ' in addition to actual children.');
        }
    }
};
/**
 * Pre-validate paths passed in the firebase function.
 *
 * @param {string} errorPrefix
 * @param {Array<!Path>} mergePaths
 */
export var validateFirebaseMergePaths = function (errorPrefix, mergePaths) {
    var i, curPath;
    for (i = 0; i < mergePaths.length; i++) {
        curPath = mergePaths[i];
        var keys = curPath.slice();
        for (var j = 0; j < keys.length; j++) {
            if (keys[j] === '.priority' && j === keys.length - 1) {
                // .priority is OK
            }
            else if (!isValidKey(keys[j])) {
                throw new Error(errorPrefix +
                    'contains an invalid key (' +
                    keys[j] +
                    ') in path ' +
                    curPath.toString() +
                    '. Keys must be non-empty strings ' +
                    'and can\'t contain ".", "#", "$", "/", "[", or "]"');
            }
        }
    }
    // Check that update keys are not descendants of each other.
    // We rely on the property that sorting guarantees that ancestors come
    // right before descendants.
    mergePaths.sort(Path.comparePaths);
    var prevPath = null;
    for (i = 0; i < mergePaths.length; i++) {
        curPath = mergePaths[i];
        if (prevPath !== null && prevPath.contains(curPath)) {
            throw new Error(errorPrefix +
                'contains a path ' +
                prevPath.toString() +
                ' that is ancestor of another path ' +
                curPath.toString());
        }
        prevPath = curPath;
    }
};
/**
 * pre-validate an object passed as an argument to firebase function (
 * must be an object - e.g. for firebase.update()).
 *
 * @param {string} fnName
 * @param {number} argumentNumber
 * @param {*} data
 * @param {!Path} path
 * @param {boolean} optional
 */
export var validateFirebaseMergeDataArg = function (fnName, argumentNumber, data, path, optional) {
    if (optional && data === undefined)
        return;
    var errorPrefix = errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional);
    if (!(data && typeof data === 'object') || Array.isArray(data)) {
        throw new Error(errorPrefix + ' must be an object containing the children to replace.');
    }
    var mergePaths = [];
    forEach(data, function (key, value) {
        var curPath = new Path(key);
        validateFirebaseData(errorPrefix, value, path.child(curPath));
        if (curPath.getBack() === '.priority') {
            if (!isValidPriority(value)) {
                throw new Error(errorPrefix +
                    "contains an invalid value for '" +
                    curPath.toString() +
                    "', which must be a valid " +
                    'Firebase priority (a string, finite number, server value, or null).');
            }
        }
        mergePaths.push(curPath);
    });
    validateFirebaseMergePaths(errorPrefix, mergePaths);
};
export var validatePriority = function (fnName, argumentNumber, priority, optional) {
    if (optional && priority === undefined)
        return;
    if (isInvalidJSONNumber(priority))
        throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
            'is ' +
            priority.toString() +
            ', but must be a valid Firebase priority (a string, finite number, ' +
            'server value, or null).');
    // Special case to allow importing data with a .sv.
    if (!isValidPriority(priority))
        throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
            'must be a valid Firebase priority ' +
            '(a string, finite number, server value, or null).');
};
export var validateEventType = function (fnName, argumentNumber, eventType, optional) {
    if (optional && eventType === undefined)
        return;
    switch (eventType) {
        case 'value':
        case 'child_added':
        case 'child_removed':
        case 'child_changed':
        case 'child_moved':
            break;
        default:
            throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
                'must be a valid event type = "value", "child_added", "child_removed", ' +
                '"child_changed", or "child_moved".');
    }
};
export var validateKey = function (fnName, argumentNumber, key, optional) {
    if (optional && key === undefined)
        return;
    if (!isValidKey(key))
        throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
            'was an invalid key = "' +
            key +
            '".  Firebase keys must be non-empty strings and ' +
            'can\'t contain ".", "#", "$", "/", "[", or "]").');
};
export var validatePathString = function (fnName, argumentNumber, pathString, optional) {
    if (optional && pathString === undefined)
        return;
    if (!isValidPathString(pathString))
        throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
            'was an invalid path = "' +
            pathString +
            '". Paths must be non-empty strings and ' +
            'can\'t contain ".", "#", "$", "[", or "]"');
};
export var validateRootPathString = function (fnName, argumentNumber, pathString, optional) {
    if (pathString) {
        // Allow '/.info/' at the beginning.
        pathString = pathString.replace(/^\/*\.info(\/|$)/, '/');
    }
    validatePathString(fnName, argumentNumber, pathString, optional);
};
export var validateWritablePath = function (fnName, path) {
    if (path.getFront() === '.info') {
        throw new Error(fnName + " failed = Can't modify data under /.info/");
    }
};
export var validateUrl = function (fnName, argumentNumber, parsedUrl) {
    // TODO = Validate server better.
    var pathString = parsedUrl.path.toString();
    if (!(typeof parsedUrl.repoInfo.host === 'string') ||
        parsedUrl.repoInfo.host.length === 0 ||
        !isValidKey(parsedUrl.repoInfo.namespace) ||
        (pathString.length !== 0 && !isValidRootPathString(pathString))) {
        throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, false) +
            'must be a valid firebase URL and ' +
            'the path can\'t contain ".", "#", "$", "[", or "]".');
    }
};
export var validateCredential = function (fnName, argumentNumber, cred, optional) {
    if (optional && cred === undefined)
        return;
    if (!(typeof cred === 'string'))
        throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
            'must be a valid credential (a string).');
};
export var validateBoolean = function (fnName, argumentNumber, bool, optional) {
    if (optional && bool === undefined)
        return;
    if (typeof bool !== 'boolean')
        throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) + 'must be a boolean.');
};
export var validateString = function (fnName, argumentNumber, string, optional) {
    if (optional && string === undefined)
        return;
    if (!(typeof string === 'string')) {
        throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
            'must be a valid string.');
    }
};
export var validateObject = function (fnName, argumentNumber, obj, optional) {
    if (optional && obj === undefined)
        return;
    if (!(obj && typeof obj === 'object') || obj === null) {
        throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
            'must be a valid object.');
    }
};
export var validateObjectContainsKey = function (fnName, argumentNumber, obj, key, optional, opt_type) {
    var objectContainsKey = obj && typeof obj === 'object' && contains(obj, key);
    if (!objectContainsKey) {
        if (optional) {
            return;
        }
        else {
            throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
                'must contain the key "' +
                key +
                '"');
        }
    }
    if (opt_type) {
        var val = safeGet(obj, key);
        if ((opt_type === 'number' && !(typeof val === 'number')) ||
            (opt_type === 'string' && !(typeof val === 'string')) ||
            (opt_type === 'boolean' && !(typeof val === 'boolean')) ||
            (opt_type === 'function' && !(typeof val === 'function')) ||
            (opt_type === 'object' && !(typeof val === 'object') && val)) {
            if (optional) {
                throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
                    'contains invalid value for key "' +
                    key +
                    '" (must be of type "' +
                    opt_type +
                    '")');
            }
            else {
                throw new Error(errorPrefixFxn(fnName, argumentNumber, optional) +
                    'must contain the key "' +
                    key +
                    '" with type "' +
                    opt_type +
                    '"');
            }
        }
    }
};

//# sourceMappingURL=validation.js.map

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The aim of this paper is to identify key CRM instruments used by agritourism farms located in the Opole Province. In this paper documentary method and diagnostic survey method were used. In the first phase of the research, within documentary methods, an analysis of statistical material from secondary sources was conducted in order to make an inventory of agritourism farms located in the Opole Province. In this paper diagnostic survey method (CAWI) was used. Empirical study was conducted from March 2014 to April 2014 among owners of 35 agritourism farms from the Opole Province associated in Agricultural Advisory Center (AAC). The results of the study indicate which CRM instruments are the most popular in the surveyed agritourism farms in shaping relationships with customers to encourage their loyalty.
3. Graja, S. et al (2008). Agroturystyka jako forma przedsiębiorczości na wsi. In: Bosiacki, S. ed. Gospodarka turystyczna w XXI wieku: problemy i perspektywy w skali regionalnej i lokalnej. Poznań: Monografie AWF. No 386: 279-287.
7. Puciato, D. Winiarz, M. & Woś, B. (2010). Rola gospodarstw agroturystycznych w realizacji koncepcji turystyki zrównoważonej w gminie Głuchołazy. Studia i Prace Uniwersytetu Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu – Seria Turystyka i Rekreacja. Vol. 6: 61-68.
15. Verma, S. & Chaundhuri, R. (2009). Effect of CRM on Customer Satisfaction in Service Sector in India. Journal of Marketing and Communication. 5(2): 55-69.
16. Zeithaml, V. Parasuraman, A. & Berry, L. L. (1990). Delivering Quality Service. New York: The Free Press.


text:
package com.beyondtechnicallycorrect.pong.models.game;

public interface CourtViewModelSubscriber {

	public void onViewModelChange();

}


The Beekman School offers comprehensive summer school programs for high school students in NYC. Students choose to participate in these supplemental sessions for a variety of reasons. Their objectives for attending a high school summer program may be to repeat coursework, accelerate graduation, earn additional credits, or enrich their knowledge in a specific subject area. These programs share flexible enrollment options that include full and short-term sessions. High school students can complete Beekman courses by following our regular summer session schedule. They can also earn credit through customized programs and one-on-one tutoring available through The Tutoring School. The wide range of personalized opportunities that we provide makes The Beekman School a stand-out among New York City summer schools.
Each year, The Beekman School runs a 24-day summer school program. For the school year ending in June 2019, summer classes will begin on Monday, July 1 and end on Monday, August 12. There are four two-hour class periods each day, and all classes meet Monday through Thursday for the entire six weeks of the summer session. First period begins at 8:30 a.m., and the last period of the day ends at 5:45 p.m. Upon completion of 24 days of a two-hour course, students may earn a semester credit. The Beekman School offers all of the 9th, 10th and 11th grade core academic courses in English, history, math, and science.
These courses meet for four hours each day during our summer session and are capped at 10 students. Contact the school to inquire about schedule. Students registering by April 1st will receive a $400 Early Bird Discount!
The Tutoring School also offers a summer session that follows the same dates and schedule as the larger Beekman School program. The difference between the two programs is that The Tutoring School can offer virtually any high school course at any level. Courses are also available for 8th grade students who wish to prepare for the coming 9th grade year. Year-long courses can be taken through The Tutoring School.
In addition, courses in The Tutoring School are capped, guaranteed not to exceed three students. The average class size is two. Sessions in organization and study skills; SAT, TOEFL and TASC* preparation; and basic math, reading and writing skills are also available.
*The TASC replaces the GED in NYS.
Our Mini-Session runs May-August. During this time, students may finalize coursework from the previous year, complete a marking period of work in a specific course (usually a total of 24 class hours), or arrange for special instruction for a myriad of unique situations.
The Tutoring School can also customize the start and end dates of Mini-Session instruction to meet the scheduling needs of students and their families.
Beginning in July of every year, we hold summer classes for New York City high school students. During a six-week period, students may take 9th, 10th, and 11th grade core academic courses in history, English, math, and science. They may also enroll in a variety of stimulating elective courses. A student may earn additional credits while accelerating educational goals by following a personalized summer school curriculum.
Summer classes meet Monday through Thursday. First period begins at 8:30 a.m. and the last period ends at 5:45 p.m. After attending a two-hour course for 24 days, students may earn a semester credit. They benefit from our small class sizes, dynamic faculty, and individualized learning plans throughout our high school summer session.
Have questions? Read our FAQ page or contact us today.


Heading to Splendour this weekend? Don't worry about your look, it's all about the music right?
Ahh…no. Having great festival hair and keeping fresh faced is a key element to enjoying your days amongst the crowds listening to good tunes.
With dodgy showers, no hair straighteners in sight and no plush bed to get your beauty sleep you need to be prepared to face the music festival head on! Follow our advice to ensure you roll out of your tent (if you make it there) looking like Kate Moss at her festival best!
A little prep can go a long way when it comes to surviving Splendour. This is the time you want to spoil yourself with a soaking bath and give your skin a good exfoliation.
To ensure your face is glowing and refreshed do an exfoliation-hydrating mask at home the night before kick-off. Remember to follow that up with a good layer of moisturiser, particularly if you have dry skin.
Music festivals are a time to embrace the no-makeup look. Try wearing as little make-up as you can possibly bear without freaking out. This is not the time to layer on thick foundation and spend hours working on making your eyes pop.
Sweat and grime will ruin your look and create a smudge-fest. If you can't fathom heading into public with your face naked, apply a tinted moisturizer with SPF to even out your skin tone. And if mascara is a must, make sure it is waterproof to keep it from streaking down your cheeks.
A little tinted cheek and lip colour can go a long way to reviving your look at Splendour. And don't forget to pack some refreshing cleansing wipes as washing your face with your favourite cleanser just isn't going to happen at the end of the day.
Generally there isn't an abundance of mirrors at Splendour, so to avoid standing in the queue every half hour to touch up your make-up, embrace your Au naturale side.
Limited access to icky showers and no hair dryers or straighteners in sight is all part of the music festival experience. The key to ensuring your hair holds up for the duration of the event is to keep it low maintenance! Think beach style waves, loose pony tails, hippy plaits and braids and messy up dos.
For a multi-day festival your best bet is to keep your hair up, particularly with this year's weather forecast of constant rain! But if that isn't your style, enjoy wearing your hair out with some sea salt spray to create beach style loose waves as least for the first day.
Get creative on day two by playing with some loose plaits or a side braid. And if all is going haywire by day three, pull your hair back into a loose top knot. Add a headscarf or band to complete your look and provide a pretty, coloured distraction from the disaster underneath.
Remember to pack plenty of hair ties and some dry shampoo to deal with the dirt and sweat particularly if you don't quiet make it to a shower. If all else fails, put on a hat. Just make sure it matches your outfit!
You might be looking fresh faced and have the perfect hair, but that won't keep the festival from ruining your look if you don't dress accordingly. With the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting a rainy and cold few days, this is the time to ditch the sandals and flowing dresses and opt for gumboots and jumpers! Layering is the key and be prepared to dance hard in the mud to keep warm!


text:
Q: Implode doesn't work in laravel based on variable data When I want to implode I use $occu = implode(',',$_POST["occupation"]) and it implodes and the result is 1,2,4.
Now when I use $occu in query like below:
$total = DB::table('store')
->WhereIn('occupation_id',[$occu])
->get();

Then it only fetch the id 1 and not the 2 and 4.
But, if I use in this way:
$total = DB::table('store')
->WhereIn('occupation_id',[1,2,4])
->get();

Then it fetches all three ids.
Therefore, I want to know that why variable based implode first id is taken and not the other two.

A: In Laravel, we need to provide array of values for whereIn function. But you are providing string with comma separated.
You should use this instead
$arrVal = $_POST['ids'];
$items = DB::table('store')
                       ->whereIn('field', $arrVal)
                       ->get();

Above is the example code. Please try this.


text:
EPA: Wasatch Front air now in compliance with pollution standards
(Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) This Aug. 28, 2019, file photo, shows northbound traffic on I-15 approaching American Fork. The Environmental Protection Agency says Wasatch Front reductions in air pollution — despite big population increases — has resulted in a change of status.
| Nov. 11, 2020, 12:11 a.m.
| Updated: 2:09 a.m.
Years of investments in emission reductions and cleaner fuels have improved Utah's air quality to a point that federal authorities Tuesday declared the Wasatch Front's air quality "in attainment" for particulate matter, the gritty pollution that often fills the valleys during wintertime inversions.
While state officials crowed about Utah's progress, clean air advocates say the Salt Lake Valley's airshed still has an unacceptable pollution load, with more industrial emission sources and population growth on the way.
After concluding Wasatch Front air quality now meets standards for fine particulate, or PM2.5, and coarse particulate, or PM10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to lift its oversight of Utah's efforts to reduce this type of air pollution.
"That bureaucratic change is likely to hamper, or even reverse efforts and public policies needed to further reduce our air pollution," said Jonny Vasic, executive director of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. "The EPA should look at the larger picture. The Wasatch Front needs a greater commitment to air quality improvement, not less."
But Utah regulators say they have no intentions of putting the brakes on clean-air efforts, they are just shifting gears.
At a Capitol ceremony Tuesday, officials emphasized successes Utah has seen cleaning up the air in its urban areas. Even as the economy boomed and population climbed, overall emissions have declined, according to Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.
"We have put into place what I think are common-sense regulations that impact all of us, most especially those involved in industry. Our private sector stepped up and is using best available technology," said Herbert. "So they, in fact, manufacture, produce, provide goods and services in a cleaner way."
Over the past 15 years, Utah's population grew by 34%, while emissions declined by 27%, he said. Officials attributed this progress to the cleaner cars on the road, efforts to replace wood-burning stoves and old diesel buses and dozens of other measures that have whittled down overall emissions over the years. The increasing availability of so-called Tier 3 gasoline will continue to yield air quality gains.
"While this is a significant achievement, we know the work is not done," said Scott Baird, executive director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. "There's a lot of work ahead of us, but we take confidence in the fact that we know what we have done is working and that will motivate us to move forward. Through partnerships, innovation and clear decision-making, we can move forward as we work towards our next goal of reducing emissions by 25% across the state by 2026."
Back in 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined Wasatch Front communities were out of compliance with federal thresholds for fine particulate, currently set at 35 micrograms per cubic meter. Some of these communities remain out of attainment of federal standards for ground-level ozone, which forms during the summer months.
Since then, the state has seen improvement in wintertime air quality thanks in part to investments approved by lawmakers, according to Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton.
"I hope we continue like we have in the past this trend for the past 10 years, of fewer and fewer red days," Adams said. "I think technology and innovation is the answer. The Legislature has known this and we've legislated a few things that may help with this."
Last week, the EPA posted its proposed determination that the airsheds from Utah to Box Elder counties have achieved compliance with the PM2.5 standard, a thresholds some advocates say should be lowered in light of the dangers fine particulate pose to human health.
Once it finalizes the rule, which is open for public comment through Dec. 7, the EPA will accept Utah's 10-year maintenance plans for ensuring air quality remains within federal standards.
"At the end of that 10-year period, we have to do it again and submit a plan with modeling and projections of population and emissions growth to show we are meeting the standard in the future," said Division of Air Quality Director Bryce Bird. "We think that we can still stay ahead of it with our population increase until 2035. And then at that point we will need to come up with more [efforts] because the population increase and the associated emissions with homes, businesses, restaurants, manufacturing will overwhelm the planning that we have right now."
Critics contend the EPA's conclusion is premature.
While acknowledging progress toward emission reductions, Western Resource Advocates (WRA) and other groups say the feds may have cherry-picked monitoring data to paint a cleaner picture of Utah's air quality.
"Redesignation doesn't take into consideration the disproportionate impact air pollution has on certain communities in Utah," said WRA attorney Joro Walker. "There's significant data showing that communities exposed to high levels of air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter, are more likely to get COVID and more likely to die from COVID."
She complained that the Trump administration ignored its own scientists by refusing to lower the PM2.5 standard.
To account for harsher impacts air pollution inflicts on certain neighborhoods, the DEQ was required to install, albeit belatedly, a monitoring station near Interstate 15. It went in at 4900 South in January 2019, too late to determine whether the PM2.5 standard was being achieved for that area, according to Walker.
Bird noted that data from that new station suggested that on high-pollution days, the air quality there was no worse than other locations in the Salt Lake Valley. However, it did record higher levels on days when the air quality was good elsewhere, suggesting those who live near the freeway are exposed to more PM2.5 for much of the year.
EPA guts plan that would have slashed pollution from Utah coal plants
It's time to stop burning volatile propellants at Salt Lake Valley rocket facility, groups say
New data shows how much cleaner Utah's air is during the pandemic. Will it drive future decisions?
Study shows air pollution makes COVID-19 even more dangerous and deadly, Utah activists warn


As keen-eyed readers may have noticed, I am currently undertaking a read-through of Iain M. Banks' Culture novels. Whilst trundling around the Internet I noticed that quite a few people are puzzled over the best reading order or the chronological order of the series, so I set about assembling this guide, with a few notes.
The Culture novels are all stand-alone stories separated from one another by decades and centuries of time and thousands of light-years of space, so you can pretty much read them in whatever order you wish.
Note that The State of the Art refers to the titular novella of the collection, not the other two Culture stories in the book. I could be wrong (not having read them yet), but I believe the other two stories and Inversions lack any information that can be used to reliably date them at all.
The appendix to Consider Phlebas gives the date for the beginning of the Idiran War as 1327 AD and the book takes place four years later. Excession takes place 400 years after the war ends. Matter takes place over twenty years after the Sleeper Service vanishes (which happens at the end of Excession). The State of the Art features a Contact group surveying Earth in 1977. One of the same characters turns up in Use of Weapons 115 years after the mission to Earth. One of the ships in The Player of Games is 716 years old and was built at the end of the Idiran War (so near the end it never engaged in combat with the enemy). Finally, Look to Windward takes place 803 years after the Twin Novae Battle, one of the final space battles of the Idiran War. According to Consider Phlebas' appendix, the Culture contacts Earth some time around 2100 AD.
I recently discovered your blog and wanted to drop a note to say how much I'm enjoying it.
I was in the bookstore a few days back looking at Iain M. Banks novels (after seeing Matter show up on some 2008 best of lists), but didn't know where to begin. So, thank you for your reviews of his Culture books and for putting them in order.
How do you feel Banks compares to other current space opera novelists such as Reynolds or Hamilton?
Personally, I feel that Player of Games works best as an introductory novel, followed by Use of Weapons.
Is Inversions a Culture novel?
I should have put a sources thing up for the timeline, which I will do shortly.
But the dates come from the books themselves and the references to events in the others (usually the Idiran War, which is helpful because the appendix to Consider Phlebas gives detailed dates for that conflict).
As a prose stylist, Banks is definitely a lot better than Hamilton and a bit better than Reynolds. He mixes things up and is more varied than either. However, because he doesn't write sequels he can't get into as much depth about his ideas as the other two. Also, the Culture is insanely advanced and there isn't much it can't do, which sometimes means there's less tension to his books than the other two. In terms of overall quality I'd rank the three pretty close together, although I admit to being more of a fan of Hamilton's massive and page-turning SF blockbusters, even if Banks is the better writer.
I haven't read it, but my understanding is that INVERSIONS is a Culture novel purely from the POV of an unContacted race. It's the reverse of THE STATE OF THE ART, where we see what happens from the Culture's POV when they visit an unContacted Earth. Because of this (the word 'Culture' appears only once in the novel), INVERSIONS is not marketed as a Culture book.
Banks' allegedly non-SF novel THE BRIDGE is also technically a Culture book because a knife missile shows up at one point, but that link is a bit too spurious for most people to accept it as such.
Inversions is a fantasy like novel in a feudal world on the verge of great changes after some meteorites struck it and destroyed its dominant Empire which has been replaced with smaller successor states.
One bodyguard at the court of a Cromwell like figure, and a (female in the patriarchal world) doctor at the court of the neighboring traditional king are not quite what they seem.
Thanks for your insights on Reynolds, Banks, and Hamilton. I've read some of Reynolds' recent short stories ("Minla's Flowers"; "The Sledge-Maker's Daughter"), which I think are excellent; I just started a short story by Hamilton ("Blessed by an Angel"), so no thoughts on him just yet.
Looks like I'll be picking up Banks' Consider Phlebas this week, on your (and Liviu's) recommendation -- and I sense that I'll then be playing catch-up with the rest of his Culture novels.
Regarding Hamilton's novels, any suggestions on where to start?
Thanks for putting your sources up, that is helpful. However, are you sure that Excession takes place only four hundred years post-Idiran war? Where is this referenced in the book?
In fact, I've just done a quick bit of research and I've been reminded that within the novel is a reference to 'the Azadian affair' as an example of what happens when SC gets things fairly disastrously wrong; therefore Excession must take place after The Player of Games.
I think you're basing your assertion that Excession took place 400 years after the Idiran War on the age of Pittance, which was c.500 years old; apparently though, it had been around 200 years after the war that the decommissioning and storage of Culture warships was fully carried out.
With Hamilton you can start with MINDSTAR RISING (the first in his Greg Mandel series), THE REALITY DYSFUNCTION (the first in the Night's Dawn Trilogy), FALLEN DRAGON (his only 'proper' stand-alone), MISSPENT YOUTH (a stand-alone semi-prequel to his Commonwealth books) or PANDORA'S STAR (the first 'proper' Commonwealth book).
If you're after a near-future detective story, I'd go for MINDSTAR RISING, or THE REALITY DYSFUNCTION (for my money his best novel) for the vast-canvas, huge space opera stuff.
Regarding EXCESSION, I'll have to revisit that. I read the book ages ago, but it does look like you can maybe fudge the date to after PLAYER OF GAMES with a bit of fiddling around.
Thanks for your tips on Hamilton! After a little poking around, I think that I'll start with Mindstar Rising (if I can find it, as it seems to be out of print) and Pandora's Star.
Yeah, I'm spacing out Banks' books between other works. I took this approach with George MacDonald Fraser's FLASHMAN books three years ago and it worked really well (fantastic books but you wouldn't want to read all 12 of them in a row).
THE STATE OF THE ART and USE OF WEAPONS are next up on the Banks reading list.
You say "Matter takes place over twenty years after the Sleeper Service vanishes (which happens at the end of Excession)."
I think it's actually Gray Area that disappears into the Excession, not Sleeper Service.
Dont read them one after other. Not a series and too good:: subtlely different some quite a bit, e.g excession&feersum endjinn, both cracking books.Humbly suggest authors: Neal Stephenson, China Meiville, Ken Macloed and Nial Gaimann for interval reading. A series PATRICK O BRIEN. anyway. Banksy is subliming...I will so miss him. Lament.
"(The following three passages have been extracted from A Short History of the Idiran War (English Language/Christian calendar version, original text 2110 AD, unaltered), edited by Parharengyisa Listach Ja'andeesih Petrain dam Kotosklo. The works form part of an independant, non-commissioned but Contact-approved Earth Extro-Information Pack.)"
"The only desire the Culture could not satisfy from within itself was common to both the descendants of its original human stock and the machines they had (at however great a remove) brought into being: the urge not to feel useless."
The fact that the culture originated from "human stock" seems to imply that we are indeed the origin of the Culture, yet that 2110 AD date is admittedly an odd reference. I suppose Banks could just be allowing himself the same vague use of alien "humans" that many sci-fi authors do?
I've read the first two books (Phlebas and Player) so far, and did so under the assumption that the Culture stemmed from Earth. I find it a little disappointing if that wasn't the intention.
No. Earth joined the Culture much later. The story THE STATE OF THE ART is about a Culture first contact team visiting Earth in the late 1970s. The timeline in CONSIDER PHLEBAS also states that the Culture-Idiran War took place in what is our 14th Century, so obviously the Culture was not founded by us in the future.
The 'human stock' reference is, I believe, a reference to the fact that several of the founding and current races of the Culture are very humanoid in appearance, but they're not humans as in people from Earth.
Does the first book serve as an introduction to the world or the Culture?
As good a one as we ever get. Pages and pages of exposition on the history of the Culture is not Banks's style.
Where does Surface Detail fit in the chronology?
The Culture does not come from us. More likely, we come from them, or a single shared source, or convergent evolution.
Culture are humans, not Terrans. Not from Sol.