We were taken by boat back to La Pavona then on to Guapiles for lunch at Suerre (same place as we had breakfast on the way in) and finally Arenal (the town at the base of the volcano is La Fortuna). We stayed at the Tabacon Grand Spa and Thermal Resort. The suite we had was the most grand hotel room I have ever stayed in. It was larger than many of the apartments I have lived in.
The key thing here is the Arenal Volcano that erupted in 1968 after a long period of dormancy. It has been dormant again since 2010. And for this hotel specifically the attraction is the thermal springs. The thermal springs were a short walk or curtesy car ride from the hotel. It was amusing to see people walking down the street in their bathrobes.
We chose to do a canopy walk on the 23rd with Sky Adventures which was not part of our tour package. This turned out to be with a group and we went up and down for 4 hours. After 3.5 hours I had had it and pretty much would go a short way then have to stop and rest before repeating. Was somewhat surprised we did not see more wildlife on the walk. I probably would have been much happier doing a much shorter walk at a slower pace looking for things to photograph. I also was not that impressed with viewing the canopy. Not all that much to see except the tops of trees. I must admit I have acrophobia and did not linger on the walkways but no one else seemed to spot anything.
In the afternoon we did a walk up a trail near the Arenal Volcano. We had our own guide who was made aware of my morning struggles so he was very conscious of not having me overdo it. We actually saw more wildlife than on the morning walk so I was much happier.
We did tour the spa area which was very large with numerous pools. But we are not really pool people so I just put my feet in. There were just too many other things to see.
Over the next several weeks I will blog about the specific places we visited during our trip to Costa Rica. But I would like to start with some general comments.
We did an individually planned tour. Thus we had drivers meet us and transfer us to the various locations. This was done through our travel agent (A & S Signature Journeys) who we had used for a number of other trips we had enjoyed.
Getting out of passport control in San Jose, Costa Rica took us an hour. A number of international flights had landed at about the same time.
English is widely spoken and at the hotels and on the various tours it was 100%. I could understand some of the Spanish. It was not as fast as when it is spoken among my Spanish speaking friends and it seemed clearer.
Although the Colon is the official currency American dollars are widely accepted and prices are often quoted in both currencies. I was told that the exchange rate they give you when they charge you in dollars is not as great as when you charge in Colons and have your bank do the conversion. I would really suggest bringing American dollars for various tips. Just much easier.
In the Eastern part of the country it rains. – this was the dry season in the Western part Much of the area we were in was rain forest. Since it is not cold (temperature in the 70s) it just requires some cover. But if you are out and about you can get rained on.
The food we had was very good and not "exotic." Breakfast always had gallo pinto (rice and beans - quite good), fried plantain (loved it), fresh fruits, etc. We did have casada for lunch a couple of times – rice, beans, fried plantain, salad and some protein or vegetarian. Quite frankly dinners would be familiar to any person from the United States. A frequent condiment was Salsa Lizano – hard to describe its flavor but have used it with fish since we returned.
Had heard bad things about the traffic and roads. Did not find the traffic different from here. Most of the roads were fine with one lane in each direction. The road to La Pavona where you transfer to a boat for transfer to Tortuguero was badly rutted. Also the roads to Monteverde were unpaved. Really a surprise to find the roads to a major tourist location unpaved in this day and age. Many of the roads in Monteverde were paved.
Our first stop on our last day on the Trace was Cyprus Swamp. It was a quiet and pretty solitary walk since not many others seemed to be on the Trace at this time. You really got a feel for how narrow the Trace was at this location. You could see how they left remnants for the people to view but the areas around it were valuable farm land and had been turned to that use.
One of the sites we wanted to visit were the Windsor ruins so we got off at the Port Gibson exit. However, the way to the ruins was not clearly marked. We did try to stop for lunch in Port Gibson but could not find a restaurant in the city. We did find a small grocery store where we got some things to eat so all was not lost. We did try to get to the Windsor ruins later in the day by another rout but it turns out after almost 15 miles the road was under construction and closed.
We made a stop at Mount Locust where they had a building that had served as a road house when the Trace was active. In this day of interstate freeways it is hard to imagine that making 20 miles in a day was typical.
Finally arriving in Natchez we had completed our 444 mile journey. Natchez has preserved a lot of their historic buildings. Along the Mississippi it has a pretty location.
Our journey home was leisurely – at least until we were 20 miles South of Champaign Illinois. Then we came into snow and it continued the rest of the way into Chicago. For almost 2 years now I have had a small SUV with 4-wheel drive. It does a good job in the snow. Saw a number of cars that had gone off the road. For the 23 years before this SUV I had sports cars. In the snow they were downright dangerous. That is what made me turn to the SUV. I could not take the anxiety of driving in the snow in those cars.
On our second day on the Trace we set foot into the two states I had yet to visit – Alabama and Mississippi. This was something I had thought about doing for some time now – especially when I was down to just a handful of states.
Shortly after passing into Alabama we stopped at Rock Spring. This has a short walk past several beaver mounds on the river. It was such a peaceful area.
Our first stop in Mississippi was at Bear Creek Mound. This was the first of several mound sites along the Trace we would stop at. The pictures do not do justice to the effort that must have gone into their construction. The piles of dirt were carried by hand – the wheel and beasts of burden were not available in this area at the time they were built. Imagine the effort to organize the people to work for this abstract goal.
For lunch this day we went to the town of Baldwin. Again limited choices while on the Trace. This restaurant had two items on the menu – fried chicken and hamburger steak. Salad was an item on another day. As an omnivore it is easy for me but in these small towns if you have any restrictions there could be a problem.
For the evening we stopped in the town of Kosciuska. Basically they had two motels – it has been a long time since I had a room for the evening that cost less than $70. Not much choice for food either.
Our first night of the journey we stopped just south of Louisville, Kentucky. One of the problems stopping outside of towns is the lack of dining options. In this case the "best" option was the Waffle House. My first time at one of these fine establishments and if I have my way it will be my last time - at least for dinner.
Driving through Nashville, Tennessee to enter the Natchez Trace had us driving down the street (West End) I used to take to get to work when I lived in Nashville. Some of it looked the same, some different. The different is probably more to be expected – we lived there 42 years ago! The entrance to the Trace is in the town of Pasquo. I should have realized it at this point but I did not – the signage for the entrance is not that prominent. In the future I would use Google Maps to make sure I know what the entrance will look like.
I had made a list of the 20 sites recommended by our tour book. There are certainly a large number of marked sites but if one were to stop at all of them it would take much longer. The first of the sites on my list was at mile 438 – the double arch bridge. We really did not get the view in the tour books – I am not sure where the road to the view was. Being a creature of habit by 11:30 I was looking for a place for lunch. It was obvious that all services would require leaving the Trace. We ate lunch is a really small town called Leipers Fork at a restaurant called Country Boy. It was very obvious that many in this small restaurant were regulars. It was also obvious we were in the South because sweet tea was available.
After lunch we made stops at Gordon House and ferry site, Jackson Falls, and the Meriwether Lewis memorial. It is really remarkable to me that Lewis and Clark led a group of men on this great trek to the Pacific Ocean in 1804-1806. Going into a great unknown like that seems to me to require a really special person. Reading about the life of Lewis after this is kind of sad even to what may have been his eventual suicide in 1809.
On trips like this I like to stop before it gets dark. So we decided to spend the evening in Florence, Alabama. This town is actually a distance from the Trace but it did get me into Alabama for the evening.
I just accomplished one of the travel goals I have had for a while – visit all 50 states. Between December 18 and 24 of 2017 I finally visited the last two – Alabama and Mississippi. We traveled the Natchez Trace Parkway from Nashville Tennessee to Natchez Misssissippi. This 444 mile route also takes one through the north-west corner of Alabama. At the time of year we did this trip it was definitely the off season. The traffic was very light and most often we were the only person at each of the stops.
I think this goal to visit all 50 states was set when I started traveling to other countries. I read or heard someone criticize travelers for visiting foreign countries without visiting their own country. When I thought about the states I had visited already at that point it was quite a few. This was helped by the fact that I had lived in 6 states. Then I was able to visit a lot of other states by road tripping to one of the professional meetings I attended semi regularly. They were held at that time on college campuses throughout the country.
One of the things that surprised me on this trip was that my cars GPS points of interest feature was in error at times. The second day of the trip we were going to stay in Florence Alabama. The GPS listed a Marriott but there was no hotel at the location. Fortunately there were other hotels a couple of miles away. Another time it was getting time for lunch so we looked at the GPS and it said a place was available in Port Gibson Mississippi. The restaurant was closed and when we looked for other recommendations the second one was nonexistent and even the grocery store we decided to get food at was not there. Nowadays of course you could choose to look up these things on your phone but in some of the areas we were in cell phone service was nonexistent.
I admit I am a candy lover. I recommend you get a bag of Pascall Airplanes. They are really good. I tried a number of other varieties from the company and did like the gummy worms. But the airplanes are the best.
It was clearly posted that there was a 7 kg limit for carry-ons for the plane and they even came on the speakers and made the announcement. I know my camera equipment was more than that and it made me very nervous. I took out one of my lenses and put it in my jacket pocket and put the camera and another lens around my neck. Turns out they did not weight anyones luggage as far as I could tell but there was a scale at the boarding desk.
One of the things that surprised me is that screens were not on the windows or doors at any of the places we stayed. From the nature of the places it seemed that this could be generalized to say that the norm is no screens. They do have flies and I am sure they have mosquitoes. I know in my house I would not open the windows and remove the screens. When we have had the screens off in earlier homes surprising things have made their way inside. Not my favorite thing.
A pleasant surprise was the quality of the public restrooms. When one is out for the day it is not unusual to have a need for a restroom. In America this usually means finding a gas station or fast food restaurant and using their facilities. Now these exist in New Zealand but they also have very nice public restrooms. They also have signs indicating the presence of restrooms off the major roads.
I have been a coffee drinker since high school. I enjoy a cup of coffee after a meal. I find a cup of coffee relaxing and it certainly does not interfere with my sleep. Turns out New Zealand has what they call a long black. It is two shots of expresso with some hot water to make a cup. A flat white has an additional bit of milk. This is made to order so it takes a bit – not like a premade pot of coffee here in America. This can be found pretty much anyplace. We were at several Sunday farmers markets and a number of booths were set up with their expresso makers.
They use credit cards (with the chip) EVERYWHERE and for EVERYTHING. I am still used to paying for small purchases with cash. In New Zealand people pay for a cup of coffee with their credit card. In fact I saw cash being used only rarely. As always when you travel out of your usual area make sure you let your credit card company know – the last thing you want is to have you card blocked when you are out of the country.
The drive to Queenstown from Christchurch is long but does pass through beautiful scenery.
The town of Queenstown in in a beautiful setting on Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown does have a reputation as an adventure city and one can find plenty of offers for various excursions. As one might expect this also draws many backpackers and the downtown area has hostels and places to eat one would expect.
One beautiful drive from Queenstown is to Glenorchy. The road hugs the mountain which goes right into Lake Wakatipu. Unfortunately the weather was not super cooperative as we had rain for much of the day but really enjoyed what we were able to see.
Another beautiful drive we took is to Wanaka via Cardrona. We continued on 6 up past Lake Hawea to the Blue Pool trail. There we found a nice hiking trail up to what were supposed to be blue pools. We were told the recent rains had spoiled the effect.
We also ventured to Arrowtown which is quite close. It has an area devoted to the Chinese who came for the gold rush.
The drive from Hokitika to Christchurch takes you through Arthur's Pass. This is another beautiful drive. The road however had suffered a slide the previous week and was only open for 10 minutes at the top of each hour. As luck would have it we just missed the open period so had to wait 50 minutes for the next opening. I cannot think of a place in America where if a major road were closed for 50 minutes you would not have a huge backup of very angry drivers. Here it was very pleasant with people getting out of their cars and talking and nowhere near as many cars as one might have anticipated.
Christchurch is another city which has hit hard by recent earthquakes. In this case in 2010 and 2011 major earthquakes damaged many buildings. You can still see buildings partially destroyed. Driving downtown is a challenge because of all the detours.
We did take a gondola to get views of the city and surrounding area. You could even do walks from there. Another excursion was to the botanical garden. It was quite busy and had very nice flowers but I have been spoiled by the Chicago Botanical Garden which is much nicer.
We took our time going from Picton to Hokitika – 12 hours in all. We went west to the town of Westport before heading down the coast along the Tasman Sea. We stopped at Cape Foulwind and in Punakaiki for the Pancake Rocks. Both are nice stopping places and the walks broke up the car ride.
We had originally intended to go to Kaikoura on the east coast but a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on November 14, 2016 forced us to change our plans. Even when we were in New Zealand at the end of January the roads leading into Kaikoura from the north and south were still a problem and people were asked not to head there unless necessary.
Hokitika does not have all that much going on. One interesting aspect was the house we were renting required that we take the trash to the city dump before leaving. It is, however, a convenient jumping off point for the Franz Joseph Glacier. Although I can see how the hike to the glacier would be very pretty with all kinds of waterfalls around when we were there it was raining lightly and a little on the chilly side. We did the walk to the glacier but did not linger as we were cold and drenched.
To get to the South Island we took the ferry which runs from Wellington to Picton. We returned our car at the ferry terminal in Wellington. Although you can take cars on the ferry the rental companies do not wish you to do so. To me it was odd in that you park your car in a certain area of the lot and drop you keys in a return box. I felt some degree of anxiety about the car company saying there were issues with the car but it works out fine. On the other end in Picton the car rental agencies are right outside the terminal doors.
The ferry terminal in Wellington is not near anything of interest so once you are there you are stuck. They did have a little snack counter but not much else.
The ferry ride was nice and smooth. I stayed on deck most of the time to catch the views and to take pictures. We had opted for the upgrade and so had plush seats. The upgrade also includes food and drinks. Since I do not drink all that much and did not wish to drink that early in the day we did not eat and drink the extra cost.
On the drive from Napier to Martinborough (about 1 h 13 minutes from Wellington) we stopped at the Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Center. A big part of their effort is conservation and working on preserving the native wildlife. Like many other places the introduction of mice, rats and other mammals has devastated the native birds. In a number of large enclosures they had native endangered birds.
In Martinborough we stayed in a house made of straw bales. At least according to the literature these can last if made correctly (preventing moisture). Martinborough is an interesting town. It has a resident population of 1600. In the town center are a surprising number of very nice restaurants. This whole area is wine country and a number of vineyards are here.
The drive from Martinborough to Wellington is 81 km over a very twisty mountain road. Takes a degree of concentration with all the turns on the narrow lanes. One day we could not go into Wellington because the winds made the driving treacherous winds of over 60 mph.
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and sits on the Cook Strait. The area is known for its strong winds. Our first adventure into Wellington the weather was not great so we went to the Museum of New Zealand rather than the botanical garden. Although I would rather be seeing the city than a museum this was a fine alternative. A lot about the history of course. I can not imagine the first people arriving here over 800 years ago. It would have require long travels over open ocean. I mean how long do you travel without seeing anything before turning around and if you do turn around how do you find you way back.
After the museum we went to Mount Victoria Lookout. This offers very scenic views of the city.
On another excursion to Wellington we traveled along the ocean to Te Kopahu Visitor Center. At the end of the road you can walk along the beach which made for a nice day.
Another excursion was to Cape Palliser on the South-East coast of the North Island. This is a scenic drive and not widely taken. I should mention that the last part of the drive is over gravel roads. Just have to take it slow.
At the end there is a lighthouse – it is over 250 steps to the lighthouse. With the wind and my fear of heights I only made it half way. On the way back to Martinborough we stopped at Lake Ferry for lunch. The Lake Ferry Hotel is noted for their fish and chips so we ate there. A quite nice beach area is there with various birds and fur seals making for a very pleasant and restful time.
Napier is about a 3 hour drive from Rotorua on the east coast of New Zealand in the Hawke's Bay region. This is where we learned the lesson about getting gas again. On the drive, the region from Taupo towards Napier has NO gas stations (about 90 miles). Even the gas stations in Taupo are not so obvious. We actually back tracked to Taupo to get gas because we were unsure if we had enough. And if you do run into problems you cannot even call because there is no cell service.
Napier was destroyed by an earthquake on February 3, 1931. It was rebuilt in the Art Deco style of the time and that is the big attraction of the downtown area of the city. It is also noted at a wine area.


Wow, it's taken me a while to write all this, so i'll keep it short(er) than my usual travel blogs.
Jackie, my Mom, and I had a really early flight to Washington, D.C. and arrived at 3:35pm on Friday, May 4, 2007. At 3:30 in the morning, Jackie and I woke up to get ready for our 6:00 flight, so we left our house at 4:30 and went to the airport' Dad dropped us off, we gave him a huge hug, and checked our bags in. Half awake, we all go through security' and i encountered the "take all cell phones off" speech' and the consistant response, "no, i can't, it's an insulin pump!" Everything was fine, no scanning, and they knew what the insulin pump was, and it was all good. So we put our shoes back on, and jackets, and took the tram to the gate and wait to board' the D Gates at our airport are so nice! lol.
Insulin Pump, Sensor, and all, we boarded the plane at like 5:40a.m. and the flight was off at 6:00 in the morning to Denver. We get there around 8:00 and found somewhere to sit and eat breakfast! Jackie got a bagel, I had cereal, and mom had an omelet. We had about 35 minutes until the connecting flight would be boarding. By this time, Jackie was still half asleep' and i was really awake! (probably excited to get there already) The flight seemed as though it was never going to land' like 2 hours before landing, i was ready to go walking around in DC, haha. I was getting really confused with both the time changes, and so i was a little mixed up. And my ipod was losing all its battery! :[ We finally got there around 3:30…..took a taxi to the Hotel, and walked over the Key Bridge and walked around Georgetown…which was really cool, it kind of reminded me of Nashville, in a way. We had dinner there and that was nice! We went back to the hotel, and Jackie and Mom unpacked their stuff, I didnt even bother becuase i was going to move to another room later the next day.
We woke up around 9:00am, took a shower, got ready, and went to the lobby and saw the Prudential posters and arrows leading us down to the lower level…where Jackie and I met with my counselor and pretty much told me what I'd be doing, where my room was, that i could move in anytime, and also, how the boys could not be on the girls floor, and how the girls could not be on the boys floor. haha that was sooo funny. We had to be back here by 6:30 for the activity, then dinner. I got my luggage from my mom's room, and we took it down to the room where i would be staying. I unpacked my stuff, and Jackie, Mom, and I all went for a walk over Key Bridge to Georgetown…where we walked around, did some shopping, found a Starbucks….which was sooooo good! Haha.
We got back at around 6:00…and my blood sugar was really high! I went down to the High School Room and awkwardly stood there talking to a group of people, thinking to myself, what else can i ask each of them? lol. We all sat down, and in groups of 5, wrote down on a paper hand what are 5 values we use on a daily basis for our volunteer projects? I wrote down, "drive, passion, determination, motivation, dreams" We then got to meet most of the high school honorees…I say we because Taylor, who i had just met, we said that we'd meet everyone together…and met about 24-26 people, we were so proud. hehe. We then, went to the Welcome Dinner, talked, took pictures…and then we went back to the rooms, and had another activity with an easter egg, mine was blue, and we had to "trade candy" for another type of candy, while meeting the person to see if they had our state. Then were split into groups where we talked about out paper hands and why we wrote those down. So we spent like 2 hours after dinner, just getting to know everyone, finding a group for the buses, (Bus #2!!!), and going over the schedule for the next few days. Then we had room checks at around 11:00p.m.
On Sunday morning, we all met for breakfast and then got on our buses to go to Arlington National Cemetary around 9:00. We visited the Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial, that was an amazing overwhelming experience in itself.
Me on the steps with the Lincoln Memorial in the back.
Takeo, Taylor, Patrick from Ireland, and me!
And we had an hour to get all dressed up and ready for a dinner reception and the State Awards Program' which was cool' we rehearsed how we were going to walk in and take our seats, and how we would walk to receive the State Award, which was a $1000 check. There was a reception between, and we all had the honor to meet Peyton Manning, who is sooo nice, and his speech was the best speech i have ever heard, He is truly an inspiration.
Jackie, Taylor and I walked around the museum, and that was sooo cool!
It was an early rise, and after eating breakfast, we all took buses to the Honoree Community Service Project, where we visited an elementary school in Washington, D.C., and we spent time reading books to the children, and I got to read to three children in Pre-K, who were adorable! I read them Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Suess. They read the book to me, actually, and i got to talk about volunteering and where i live, and they were so excited to have their picture taken, and thousands of books were donated to the school. Reading to the school children was my favorite event, it was something i will always remember and cherish. We went to the front of the White House with some friends, it was so fun!
Then we were taken to the program'Äôs national recognition events' we all arrived, found our seats, had lunch, and then teh National Awards started' everyone was excited and eager to know who the National Honorees were.
They started in random order and said something like, "we'd like to introduce a young woman from the Nevaada'" (i was thinking it was Heather Wilder, because she is an amazing young girl and we were just talking about how she should win) and then they said, ..State High School'" and i'm thinking, ohhh my gosh, I GO THERE!! Nooooo way! Jackie and my mom and I were totally shocked, i was soooooo srprised..everyone was clapping, and i stood up, looked at Jackie, then started to walk to the right side of the stage..and looked at Taylor, who had the biggest smile on her face, and I was saying to myself, "ohh my gosh, oh my gosh, ohh my gosh! oh my gosh!!" I walked to the other side of the stage, a walk that seemed like forever, and shook hands, and someone told the audience what my volunteer service was, and i was awarded the National gold medallion' and then i had to say something, and i literally thought i was not going to win, so i didn't have anything planned to say, so all i could think of that fast was, "Thank you," first, i'd like to thank my family who have always been there, and everyone at Prudential and NASSP, and everyone sitting here today, and wow, just thank you!" and I sat down' my heart was beating sooo fast, i couldn't beleive it, i had never felt that light headed in my life.
It was an amazing surprise, and i am still shocked.
We all went back to the hotel, and I went to the Lower Level and attended a Volunteer Workshop, which was so valuable, becuase we got to brainstorm tons of ideas of how we can communicate better, be organized, talk to the media and our representatives, grant information, and tons of suggestions, it was amazing!! Then at the end, there were speeches from each group, and they were so funny, mostly inside jokes and how everyone enjoyed meeting everyone.
We all got on the buses to go the Crusie on the Potomac River on "The Spirit of Washington II" And that was soooo much fun!!!!
Breakfast by 7:15 with friends, even though my meeting wasnt until 9, but i still wanted to see everyone.
Jackie, Mom, Aunt Mama, and I went to a meeting, and that was pretty cooooool.
Then we came back to the hotel and heard that there was a lunch on the top floor, and so we went up there and had a real good sandwich, and talked to a lot of people and got more pictures (of course!) and Jackie and I sang, because everyone noticed our last name as Singer, and wondered if we sang…haha. I love that play on words. So we sang and the whole room got really quiet! lol. We said goodbye again, and that was soo sad, i really miss everyone a lot!!!!
I had to go to the room for the pictures for the National Honorees, and when i finished we went to the airport. But before then, I got to take a picture with Taylor Bell, who was also a National winner, and so that was soo cooL! He's really sweet.
When we got back to Vegas, around 7 i think….we all went to our favorite restaurant and saw my dad and grandparents, which was totally awesome!! I missed them so much!


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There's no denying the positive impact of workplace flexibility on employees wellbeing. Remote work offers many benefits for employees' mental health, but it's important to continually provide practical support for their mental wellbeing.
According to FlexJobs, flexible work can greatly reduce stress, improve self-esteem and create a better focus on health and wellbeing.
Work-life balance and commute-related stress are two of the top factors that make people want a job with flexible options. In fact, the impact that flexibility can have is so great that 97 per cent of people say that having a more flexible job would have a "huge" or "positive" impact on their quality of life.
However, remote work brings its own challenges when it comes to staying physically and mentally healthy. Feeling isolated, finding yourself 'just finishing things off' at 11 pm, or constantly fighting the temptation to eat all the leftover ice-cream are just some of the issues for those using their home as an office.
It's important to establish regular, open communication with your remote workers. Set time either daily or weekly to catch up with your remote employees. Don't be afraid to talk with your worker about any mental health issues they may be experiencing. You can also obtain advice and assistance from external support services, if necessary.
It's important to implement workplace support and adjustments to meet individual workers' needs. Offer variable start and finish times, even if working from home. It's no good working from 11 pm into the wee hours of the morning. Make sure your remote employees receive access to training or career development resources. Ensure your remote workers have access to equipment to make remote working easier.
Bring some fun and culture into your remote teams by spending time with them outside of office work hours. Organise an event where everyone can get together. For remote workers, it's a nice change of pace to meet their coworkers or participate in fun activities with a team. No matter how often you'd like to set these events, give your remote workers opportunities to build relationships with their fellow colleagues.
It is important to ensure that the principles of a mentally healthy workplace extend to any external working environment. Make sure you check that your remote employees have what they need to fulfil their role and be fully productive.
While work can contribute to mental health issues, it can also act as a support mechanism. Don't wait until your employees have a mental breakdown or experience burnout. Be proactive and support the mental wellbeing of your remote employees.


And so it is with trade. Those who support NAFTA, which reduced trade barriers between the United States, Mexico, and Canada, can point to statistics like the quadrupling of tradein 20 years, the lower prices for groceries, and the reduced dependence of the United States on Middle East oil (because of greater access to Canadian and Mexican sources). Devised to make North America competitive with the integrating Europeans and the surging East Asians, NAFTA has accomplished this larger goal.


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A2 milk | A2 Milk wanted a change agent but was rattled by Hrdlicka's speed
The sudden departure of a2 Milk chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka has shocked investors but the discord between her and the board made continuing in the job almost impossible.
Jayne Hrdlicka, chief executive of a2 Milk.CREDIT:BLOOMBERG
Elizabeth Knight
On Monday morning, a2 released a statement saying Hrdlicka "has agreed to step down from her role". She had been in the job only 18 months and will leave immediately — replaced on an interim basis by former chief executive Geoffrey Babidge.
No lingering farewells or long notice period.
She will receive none of her long-term incentive shares which were due to vest next year.
The disagreement stems from a difference in an element of strategy, or more particularly the board's desire to push for higher margins, and Hrdlicka's quest to fast-track investment and spending on marketing to amp up the company's push into the US and China.
A2 Milk's chairman, who is a former chief executive of Goodman Fielder, David Hearn, is keen to see earnings before interest tax and depreciation and amortisation [EBITDA] margins above 30 per cent as opposed to margins in the mid to high 20 per cent level.
Hearn said the board and Hrdlicka "were in agreement on the broad direction of travel (the company was taking)".
It seems the board was looking for a change agent but was rattled by the speed of that change under Hrdlicka.
But Hearn was keen to see what he described as a balance between investment and margin.
Thus, it is expected the new chief executive, who will be appointed after an international search, will have a remit to tighten the focus on the timing of investment costs.
Hearn spent the morning speaking to investors who have strongly supported the company's share price since the annual meeting in November when its guidance was for an EBITDA margin of between 31 per cent and 32 per cent in the first half of 2020 and slightly lower for the full year.
However, the market was clearly disturbed by the abrupt departure of Hrdlicka and sent the share price into a tailspin — it was down more than 6 per cent in mid-morning trade before retracing a third of that ground by lunch. Shares closed down almost 4 per cent at $13.97.
Equally, shareholders were clearly disappointed with the full-year 2019 earnings presented by Hrdlicka in August, when she warned that the marketing ramp-up would result in EBITDA margins falling from 31.7 per cent in 2019 to about 28 per cent in 2020.
The share price tumbled 25 per cent and found its feet again after that forecast was revised at the annual meeting in November.
The chain of events suggests the board had taken control of the strategy over the past few months.
In Hearn's statement, he thanked Hrdlicka for her contribution.
In that statement, Hrdlicka explained her departure as a logistical problem given her need to run a New Zealand company out of Australia and the increased rigours of travelling to both the US and China.
In a separate statement by Hrdlicka released late yesterday, she said: "There have been unforeseen changes in my personal circumstances in the very recent past and they must take priority at this time. At my 18 months at a2, the stock price is up 40 per cent and the business is running better than ever."
The board is also keen to clear up any misconception that Hrdlicka's decision to sell down what it refers to as her "transition shares", awarded to her to compensate options she forfeited when she left Qantas, played into her departure.
She cashed out about $4 million worth of a2 stock last year partly to fund tax. The cash is said to have also gone towards paying for a house in Melbourne.
Some shareholders voiced concerns about this decision but it was supported on Monday by Hearn.
Her replacement is likely to continue with the strategy but execute it in a different way.
A2 milk, Goodman Fielder


text:
Q: MySQL create new user revoke access to certain DB's So I did created a new user, granted all privilages, and flushed the privilages.
The newly created user can also see the information_schema, mysql, performance_schema and sys databases. However, I don't want the user to access those 4. I just want him to have CREATE/DROP/DELETE/INSERT/SELECT (All the required ones), etc permissions on newly created databases.
I did the following:
CREATE USER 'newuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON * . * TO 'newuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

A: Run REVOKE for the given databases:
REVOKE ALL PRIVILEGES ON mysql.* FROM 'newuser'@'localhost';

I would skip the information_schema revoke. You can see if the user still works without it, but I somehow doubt that.

A: Privileges: Privileges defines the access rights provided to a user on a database object. There are two types of privileges.
1) System privileges  allows the user to CREATE, ALTER, or DROP database objects.
2) Object privileges  allows the user to EXECUTE, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE data from database objects to which the privileges apply.
You need to revoke the privilege here you want to remove .Below is the syntax
REVOKE privilege_name
ON object_name
FROM {user_name |PUBLIC |role_name}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
What materials can be diffusion bonded?
How does vacuum brazing work?
What is the principle of diffusion bonding?
How can diffusion bonding be prevented?
Diffusion Bonding is a solid-state joining process which is applicable to similar and dissimilar materials, primarily metals, although ceramic materials can also be joined using this process. The process works through the diffusion of atoms across the joint interface at elevated temperature.
How do you bond diffusion?
Diffusion bonding is usually implemented by applying high pressure, in conjunction with necessarily high temperature, to the materials to be welded; the technique is most commonly used to weld "sandwiches" of alternating layers of thin metal foil, and metal wires or filaments.
Is brazing diffusion bonding?
Brazing types covered include torch brazing, vacuum brazing, furnace brazing and induction brazing. Diffusion bonding types include vacuum, controlled atmosphere, resistance and induction heating, and transient liquid phase diffusion bonding (diffusion brazing).
Brazing is a joining process where two or more parts of similar or dissimilar materials (traditionally metals, but can be used with ceramics) are joined by melting and flowing a filler material into the gaps between the parts to be joined by capillary action.
How long does diffusion bonding take?
Solid-state diffusion bonding is a process by which two nominally flat interfaces can be joined at an elevated temperature (about 50%-90% of the absolute melting point of the parent material) using an applied pressure for a time ranging from a few minutes to a few hours.
What is a diffusion bonded heat exchanger?
The Diffusion-bonded Compact Heat Exchanger (DCHE) is a compact heat exchanger with excellent heat transfer performance and high pressure resistance. In a DCHE, several hundreds of plates are stacked, each with flow passages. Significant features are the flow passage size and joining.
Diffusion bonding operates on the principle of solid-state diffusion and makes it possible to join two similar or dissimilar metals. It is widely applied in aerospace and the nuclear industry. Diffusion bonding, also known as diffusion welding, is a welding technique which is primarily used in metal working.
What is diffusion brazing?
Diffusion brazing (DFB) is a process that coalesces, or joins, metals by heating them to a suitable brazing temperature at which either a preplaced filler metal will melt and flow by capillary attraction or a liquid phase will form in situ between one faying surface and another.
How does a vacuum furnace work?
A vacuum furnace consists of a sealed chamber connected to a pumping system which removes air and gas from the chamber. Heaters in the chamber allow product inside to be heated and processed in a vacuum environment. Common vacuum furnace applications include annealing, brazing, sintering and heat treatment.
13.3. To avoid this complication, sintering and diffusion bonding can potentially be carried out in the same furnace. A eutectic reaction is often employed to provide a transient liquid phase for bonding at the interface. The presence of resulting reaction products such as oxide compounds may reduce the bond strength.
Who invented ZX81?
What complex name means?
What is solid-state bonding?
What is solid-state diffusion?
What is the composition of Inconel?
What is the chemical composition of Inconel?
Materials that TWI have diffusion bonded include aluminium alloys, titanium alloys, steels (carbon, stainless and ODS), nickel superalloys, Haynes alloys, Fe-Co alloys, zirconium alloys, copper alloys, silicon carbide (SiC), Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) and metal matrix composites (MMC's).
What is diffusion bonding process?
Diffusion bonding or diffusion welding is a solid-state welding technique used in metalworking, capable of joining similar and dissimilar metals. It operates on the principle of solid-state diffusion, wherein the atoms of two solid, metallic surfaces intersperse themselves over time.
What are the properties of Inconel?
Properties of Inconel 718
Temperature resistance.
Natural heat protection.
Corrosion resistance.
High mechanical strength.
Exceptional welding quality.
Good malleability and machining quality.
3D printing.
Gas turbine engine parts.
Solid state diffusion is a straight forward process and the typical method for introducing dopant atoms into semiconductors. In silicon solar cell processing starting substrates are typically uniformly doped with boron giving a p-type base. The n-type emitter layer is formed through phosphorus doping (see Doping).
What is solid state diffusion?
Why solid state welding is called diffusion welding?
Diffusion Welding is a Solid State Welding process, in which pressure applied to two work pieces with carefully cleaned surfaces and at an elevated temperature below the melting point of the metals. Bonding of the materials is a result of mutual diffusion of their interface atoms.
This superalloy is composed mainly of nickel (58% min.) followed by chromium, and molybdenum, niobium, iron, tantalum, cobalt, and trace amounts of manganese, silicon, aluminium, and titanium. Inconel 625 also commonly goes by the names: Haynes 625, Altemp 625, Nickelvac 625, and Nicrofer 6020.
Inconel® 718 is a precipitation-hardening nickel-chromium alloy containing significant amounts of iron, columbium, and molybdenum, along with lesser amounts of aluminum and titanium. 718 materials maintain high strength and good ductility up to 1300°F (704°C).
What causes solid state diffusion?
Solid-state diffusion is defined as an atomic migration from one point to another through the solid. At a macroscopic level, a concentration gradient provides the driving force for this phenomenon. However, at atomic scale, diffusion can be explained in terms of the thermal motion of atoms and molecules.
What are the types of solid diffusion?
4. Types of Diffusion:
Types of Diffusion: The different types of diffusion are:
Self-Diffusion: Self-diffusion is the migration of atoms in pure materials.
Inter-Diffusion: It occurs in binary metallic alloys.
Volume Diffusion:
Grain Boundary Diffusion:
Surface Diffusion:
Who sings the song this diamond ring?
What is Zexal morph?


text:
Q: Wait for map to finish and then write a log with Promise I am working on a simple application that will go through DialogFlow (Google) and send me the intents that were picked up based on the users comment.
I have the following code.
let writeToExcel = [];

 var promises = xlData.map(data => {
   detectIntentText(data.QUESTION);
 });

 Promise.all(promises).then(function(results) {
   console.log(results);
   console.log(writeToExcel);
 })

However, the array that prints is all undefined, and it prints before the function, detectIntentText, finished everything in the map. There could be upwards of 1000 entries.
What is the best way to get this to work?
Here is the detectIntentText function
async function detectIntentText(userText) {
  const sessionId = Math.random().toString(36).substring(7);
  const sessionPath = client.projectLocationAgentSessionPath(
    projectId,
    location,
    agentId,
    sessionId
  );
  console.info(sessionPath);

  const request = {
    session: sessionPath,
    queryInput: {
      text: {
        text: userText,
      },
      languageCode,
    },
  };
  const [response] = await client.detectIntent(request);
  // console.log(`User Query: ${userText}`);
  var intent = "";
  for (const message of response.queryResult.responseMessages) {
    if (message.text) {
      // console.log(`Agent Response: ${message.text.text}`);
    }
  }
  if (response.queryResult.match.intent) {
    // console.log(
    //   `Matched Intent: ${response.queryResult.match.intent.displayName}`
    //);
    intent = response.queryResult.match.intent.displayName;
  }
  // console.log(
  //   `Current Page: ${response.queryResult.currentPage.displayName}`
  // );

  let jsonToWrite = {
    CX_QUESTION: userText,
    INTENT: intent
  }

  // console.log(jsonToWrite);

  writeToExcel.push(jsonToWrite);
}

A: You are not returning anything from map. If detectIntentText() returns Promise, Then your code should be
 var promises = xlData.map(data => {
   return detectIntentText(data.QUESTION);
 });

 Promise.all(promises).then(function(results) {
   console.log(results);
   console.log(writeToExcel);
 })

You can get rid of the return keyword like this,
var promises = xlData.map(data => detectIntentText(data.QUESTION));


text:
Home Boxing Watch: Michael 'Venom' Page Took A Cheeky Swipe At Conor McGregor Earlier This Week
Watch: Michael 'Venom' Page Took A Cheeky Swipe At Conor McGregor Earlier This Week
Seamus Raftery September 9, 2017
Bellator MMA welterweight star Michael 'Venom' Page took a cheeky little swipe at UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor during a press conference in London earlier this week.
It was announced in July that Page had signed with Hayemaker Ringstar and that he intended to attempt the difficult transition from the MMA cage to the boxing ring at some point before the end of 2017. On Wednesday, the new promotional outfit, which is the joint venture of heavyweight star David Haye and former Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, confirmed that Page's first boxing bout will take place inside the Indigo venue at the O2 Arena on October 20th. His opponent, however, has yet to be announced.
Speaking to the assembled media at the presser, Page, who has sparred with top boxers like James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr. in the past, said that he is ready to shift his focus from mixed combat to pure pugilism.
"I've always boxed. I've always felt comfortable boxing, but I had a different focus – I was focusing on my mixed martial arts," stated the 30-year-old. "But now, it [is] the right time.
"I'm actually really looking forward to this opportunity. I think it's landed at the right time. I haven't stopped doing my mixed martial arts – a lot of people keep asking me [that]. But I'm excited for this transition(via FightHype).
"I've seen how not to do it, so I'm going to try and take note," he added with a grin.
(Continue reading below.)
The last comment was an obvious reference to the aforementioned McGregor's recent boxing odyssey, which ended in a stoppage defeat to former pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. on August 26th in Las Vegas.
McGregor started the fight well, winning the first three rounds on the scorecards of most observers but Mayweather seemed to be allowing the Irishman to empty his gas tank somewhat. As the fight progressed, the MMA star slowed down and Mayweather came on strong, eventually drawing an intervention from referee Robert Byrd with a barrage of punches in the tenth round.
After the press conference, Page made it clear that he had actually been impressed by McGregor's performance but indicated that he felt the 29-year-old Pay-per-view sensation simply didn't have enough time to prepare for the rigours of a twelve-round boxing match.
"[The fight] went exactly how I thought it would go," Page told iFL TV. "It's different training and ten weeks isn't long enough time – I don't believe – to actually get the adequate muscular endurance.
"I don't think that there is anything wrong with his boxing ability over two, three, four rounds. I think in the third round you started to see him huffing and puffing. And in the fourth round you saw it go. I think if he took his time and actually took boxing seriously, then he could do well because he has got amazing countering ability, amazing reflexes, good timing, good angles. I think he done very well for MMA. To even last ten rounds with arguably the best boxer of all time was amazing."
"But it was a prize fight," added Page. "It was for show. It was more like a circus entertainment act."
Page's plan, however, is very different to McGregor's. He has a long-term plan and intends to build himself up slowly before jumping in with a big boxing name.
"While I'm focused on MMA, my boxing rounds are just to sharpen my hands," said the Englishman, who is still under contract with Bellator and is expected to return to the cage in the future. "I'm not going twelve rounds with veteran boxers. So in four rounds, five rounds, six rounds, I'm an awkward person to spar. Deeper than that, nine times out of ten, the boxer is going to come back. But this is now my focus. Now I'm actually training to be there for twelve rounds and there is a difference. Now I'm going to be 'MVP' for twelve rounds.
"I feel ready enough to challenge [top level boxers] if we are going four rounds, if we're going six rounds," he added. "I have to be real to myself. If I'm not going in there for a big circus fight, then there is no reason for me to be going twelve rounds. I need to build myself up properly."
"I am honest. In the MMA world I was exactly the same. I am honest about where I feel I'm at. [After] six rounds, I start to feel it and then it becomes survival from there. I can still fight, I still got my movement that allows me to avoid some big punches, but I'm not being me. So, I don't want to be in there for six rounds against a top fighter and I've done amazing for six rounds and then for the next six rounds I'm surviving. That's not the kind of fight I want to be in.
"I want to make that when I start challenging these big names it's because I am comfortable with being me for twelve rounds straight. I can go in there smiling, moving around, landing shots for twelve rounds – not for six, not for five, not for four.
"So what I want to do is go in there now for six rounds, four rounds – whatever it is they are going to offer me. I'm not even sure what it is yet. But it's the early stages. [I want to go in] a few times, get my body used to it, get the training behind me, get the endurance in my shoulders and then I start calling out the big names."
With his unorthodox style and explosive power, it will be interesting to see how Page, who plans to compete as a super-middleweight, fairs in his boxing exploits.
Bellator bellator mma bellator mma news bellator news boxing boxing news conor mcgregor Conor McGregor news michael page michael page news michael venom page mma mma news UFC ufc news	2017-09-09
Seamus Raftery
About Seamus Raftery
@SeamusRaftery


text:
BUSINESS OF GUNS
Bump Stocks Are Rare, But These Barely Legal Gun Products Aren't
Bump stocks are hard to find, but retailers are selling plenty of other devices that skirt the edges of federal law.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY THE DAILY BEAST
By Alex Yablon. This piece originally appeared on TheTrace.
By the time the National Rifle Association suggested that the bump stock shouldn't be legal, the gun accessory, found attached to a dozen of the Las Vegas shooter's weapons, had already experienced an extinction event at American retailers. Some outlets, like Walmart and Cabela's, removed the stocks, which allow a rifle to fire bursts of rounds at automatic speed, from their online marketplaces. Other stores quickly sold out. With Congress considering a ban, and the public broadly opposed to the devices, it is possible they won't come back.
But large and small retailers are still stocking many other barely legal gun accessories. At least a half dozen devices, designed to flout federal gun restrictions — or come right up the edge of legality — could be purchased as of Sunday evening, The Trace found.
1. Polymer80 unfinished Glock pistol frame
The pistol frames are what's known as an "80 percent" firearm. Manufacturer Polymer80 produces the part of a pistol that the ATF considers an actual firearm for the purposes of regulation. But because it is sold with excess plastic left in the handle, it doesn't technically qualify. That means the ATF can't trace a Polymer80 gun if it is used in a crime. The frames can also be sold without background checks.
Transforming the Polymer80 into a functioning weapon requires that the buyer remove the excess plastic with his or her own tools and add parts like a trigger.
Where sold: Brownell's said in a press release on October 11 that it would "exclusively" sell certain models of the Polymer80. The CEO of the chain, Pete Brownell, who is also president of the National Rifle Association Board of Directors, touted the frames as ideal for hobbyists who like a bit of do-it-yourself fun. But nearly identical products sold by another company, Ghost Guns, are clearly marketed on the basis of their lack of a serial number, and the fact that their sale is totally unregulated.
Two online gun sellers, Midway USA and Rainier Arms, also stocks Polymer80 Glock frames.
2. Sig Sauer SB15 pistol stabilizing braces
Sig Sauer and at least two other companies make a "stabilizing brace" attachment for AR-style pistols. As marketed, the part straps the gun to the shooter's forearm to reduce shaking. But the brace can also be used as a shoulder stock, steadied by the shooter's body so they can aim the weapon like a rifle, with their eye right against the sights.
Doing so turns the weapon into a short-barreled rifle, a weapon that is more easily concealable than a full size rifle and more powerful than a pistol. Short barreled rifles must be registered with the ATF under the National Firearms Act, but because stabilizing braces aren't designed for rifle-style aiming, guns equipped with the accessory can be sold without registration.
Where sold: Brownell's sells the braces, along with competitors Cabela's, Walmart and Rainier Arms.
3. The RONI STAB
The company's original product, the RONI SBS, adds a stock and barrel extension to a typical semiautomatic pistol, which improves accuracy. Because the accessory turns the weapon into a short barreled rifle, it must be registered under the NFA.
The RONI STAB, like the Sig Sauer SB15, also uses a brace to get around National Firearm Act requirements.
A company spokesman says in a promotional video that the product is a way to avoid the paperwork, cost, and wait time that come with registering one's weapon before going on to note that "the Roni STAB is intended to be used only as designed."
Where sold: Online dealer Cheaper Than Dirt sells the STAB.
4. The Mossberg Shockwave
Legacy gunmaker Mossberg, best known for selling traditional hunting shotguns, is also selling a weapon that just qualifies as legal under the National Firearms Act. In January, Mossberg released the Shockwave, a "personal defense" shotgun that is half an inch longer than the minimum required length.
Short barreled shotguns without shoulder stocks and less than 26 inches in length are regulated under the NFA because they are easily concealed, and were favored by criminals at the time of the law's passage.
The product debuted to press explaining that yes, it is indeed legal. In Texas, legislators passed a law to allow the sale of short shotguns not registered under the NFA.
Where sold: Brownell's carries the weapon, as do online retailers Bud's Guns and Palmetto State Armory.
5. The Black Aces Tactical
Like the Shockwave, the Tactical barely exceeds the ATF's minimum length for short barreled shotguns, measuring 27 inches long. Its barrel is only 8.5 inches long.
The Black Aces gun also adds a forward pistol grip, a magazine for additional ammunition capacity, and a forearm brace that can easily be used as a shoulder stock that is similar to the RONI Stab and the Sig Sauer SB 15. Should the owner actually use the brace as a stock, shouldering the weapon when firing, it would technically become an illegal short barreled shotgun, if not first registered with the ATF. The agency regulates shotguns with stocks if the weapon has a barrel shorter than 16 inches.
Where sold: The shotgun isn't sold by any national chains, but is available at dozens of smaller outlets around the country.
6. The Binary Firing System
Nearly all bump stocks, trigger cranks, and similar products for accelerating a semiautomatic rifle's rate of fire have disappeared from online sellers — with one exception. The Franklin Armory Binary Firing System doesn't allow a shooter to fire as fast as with a gun equipped with a bump stock, but it can still double a semiautomatic's rate of fire. It works by shooting twice for each full cycle of the trigger: once when the shooter pulls the trigger, and again when it is released.
Where sold: Franklin Armory's trigger system is sold by Optics Planet and Botach.com, though the latter store is out of stock. Online auction behemoth eBay also allows the sale of binary firing systems, even though it has banned bump stocks for years.


A Malibu security guard shot a knife-wielding intruder multiple times at a residence just north of Pacific Coast Highway on Friday after he was stabbed in the eye, authorities said.
The security guard confronted the intruder about 11 a.m. at a home and the intruder pulled a knife and stabbed the security guard, said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. James Braden. The security guard then shot the intruder "multiple times," Braden said. The intruder and security guard were in a physical altercation outside the house when sheriff's deputies arrived.
Paramedics immediately responded to the scene at a residence near the intersection of Encinal Canyon Road and Puesta Del Sol, just north of Pacific Coast Highway.
Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Richard Licon said when paramedics arrived on the scene about 11:26 a.m., they found one person had been shot in the head and a second stabbed in the eye. The person with the gunshot wound was airlifted to a trauma center and the stabbing victim rushed to a hospital.
According to Sheriff's officials, the intruder is in critical condition while the security guard is in stable condition.
This article was updated at 5:14 p.m. to included new details that the none of the residents of the home were there at the time of the incident and the conditions of those involved.


text:
Advertisers – Set 1
Advertisers - Set 2
Time Passages: The Great Minnesota Get-Together
Written by Steve Palmer
Rows of honey on display at the MN State Fair.
Unless you are a newcomer to Minnesota, odds are that practically everyone who lives in this state has at one time or another had the chance to visit the state fair held annually at this time of year.
It's later this year because the last day of the fair falls on Labor Day on Sept. 7 which unofficially marks the end of summer.
The first Minnesota State Fair was held in 1859, a year after Minnesota was granted statehood at a location near downtown Minneapolis. You could say the state fair did a little traveling in those early years, as the site changed annually with stops in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Owatonna, Winona, Rochester and Red Wing.
In 1885 St. Paul won a competition with Minneapolis to permanently host the state fair at its current location in Falcon Heights, midway between the two cities on a 210-acre poor farm site that was donated by Ramsey County to the state Agricultural Society, which is the governing body of the event.
The fairgrounds eventually grew to 320 acres and has several historically significant structures on the grounds, which include the grandstand and coliseum, which are my favorites. The grandstand was the site of loud stock car races held on an oval track until 2002.
Many changes and attractions have been offered to fair visitors over the years, and the character of early fairs was dominated by agriculture and machinery exhibits.
While agriculture still plays a role at the fair, the shrinking Machinery Hill exhibit area has been replaced by outstate events like Farm Fest, which is held during the first week of August in Redwood County.
Meanwhile, other activities have expanded to include large-scale entertainment, livestock shows, art, science, midway rides, industrial and technical exhibits, education, government and, of course, all types of food – often on a stick. I'm still looking to find the "beer-on-a-stick" concession stand.
Since its inception, the fair has been held every year except for five times: in 1861 and 1862 during the Civil War and U.S.-Dakota Indian Conflict, in 1893 because of scheduling problems with the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1945 due to WW II war-time shortages and in 1946 due to a polio epidemic.
As a former member of 4-H, my big years at the state fair were in the late '60s when I won a couple of purple ribbons. I'm one of the alumni who tried to get some sleep on the second floor dormitory bunk beds in the 4-H building that opened in 1939. 4-H doesn't quite have the same impact at the fair these days, but the animal barns and arenas are still places to visit, although there won't be any poultry exhibited this year due to the avian flu outbreak.
One day there was a bull who had a bad day at the fair in 2007 when it escaped its handler and charged several fairgoers before fatally charging and colliding with a fire hydrant.
The fair's 12-day run began in 1975. Before that the fair was held for shorter durations:11 days from 1972-74, 10 days from 1939-1971, eight days from 1919-1938 and just six days from 1885-1918.
One of the iconic images when you enter the fair's main entrance off Snelling Ave. is the original gopher mascot "Fairchild" which is dressed like an early carnival barker with a straw hat and striped jacket and cane.
The main entrance heads onto a road named Dan Patch Avenue after the famous Minnesota pacer horse who won every race he ran from 1900-1909 before he retired from the track. Ever wonder about the street names at the fairgrounds? They honor many of the people who helped get the fair started.
Of course no state fair is complete without the creation of a butter sculpture of the new Princess Kay of the Milky Way. And, the presence of politicians is practically everywhere you look.
One of the most famous dates in the fair's history came on Sept. 2, 1901, when then-Vice President Teddy Roosevelt visited and first uttered the famous phrase: "Speak softly and carry a big stick." Roosevelt suddenly became my favorite president just 12 days later after President William McKinley was assassinated. Later, President Calvin Coolidge also visited the state fair in 1925 for the Norse-American Centennial.
As always, weather plays a big role in a Minnesota State Fair experience. Most of it centers around hot weather and storms.
The hottest day in the history of the fair was 104 degrees on Sept. 10, 1931. The hottest average temperature for the duration of any state fair also was 1931 with 92.6 degrees and no air-conditioned buildings to find relief.
The coolest state fair during a six-day run occurred from Sept. 5-10, 1898, with an average daily temperature of 64.2 degrees. The coolest fair morning in recent years was a chilly 36 degrees on Sept. 1, 1974.
The wettest fair was in 1977 with 9.48 inches, and the driest fair was 2003 with only .02 inches of rain.
Severe storms have struck too. I recall walking down the same street where a bolt of lightning struck a tree only minutes before and injured some fairgoers. Windstorms hit the fairgrounds a couple of weeks before the fair opened in 1940 and 2007, damaging trees, buildings, tents and equipment.
The state fair's slogan is "The Great Minnesota Get-Together" and with good reason. It's the largest state fair in the U.S. by average daily attendance. It's the second-largest state fair trailing only the state fair of Texas. However, keep in mind the Texas fair runs twice as long as Minnesota's.
In 2009, total attendance at Minnesota's State Fair was 1,790,497 which equaled about 34 percent of the state's population that year. In 2014 the highest daily attendance record in the history of the fair was set on Aug. 30 when 252,092 people visited the fair. Last year's all-time attendance was 1,824,830.
Traffic and parking at the fair can get to be a headache most of the time, and it's important to have a plan of action if you plan to drive there. Or be lucky like I was once when the guy who was renting parking spaces on his yard allowed me to park in his garage because the lawn was full of cars. I think the next time I'll be taking the bus.
And so nearly every year we ask ourselves or someone we know the same question: "Are you going to the state fair?" For me it's "yah sure, you betcha." I'm on a mission to find that beer-on-a-stick concession stand.
Posted in Columns · Tagged: Minnesota State Fair
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SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE FEELING PRESSURE.
Pressure to grow their business before their competition.
Pressure to stay ahead of digital marketing trends.
Pressure to increase their income to keep up with rising costs.
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text:
Q: dismissModalViewControllerAnimated from custom UITableView class? After user click on cell i do this after some of code:
[self.window.rootViewController presentModalViewController:mailer animated:YES];

then when he hit cancel button or send in this method:
- (void)mailComposeController:(MFMailComposeViewController*)controller didFinishWithResult:(MFMailComposeResult)result error:(NSError*)error
{
[[((UIViewController *)(self.superview.superclass)) presentedViewController] dismissModalViewControllerAnimated:NO];
}

but my app crash and go out.
012-12-17 18:52:09.243 testapp[8293:15203] Mail cancelled: you cancelled the operation and no email message was queued
2012-12-17 18:52:09.243 testapp[8293:15203] +[UIResponder presentedViewController]: unrecognized selector sent to class 0xbb5db0
2012-12-17 18:52:09.244 testapp[8293:15203] *** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '+[UIResponder presentedViewController]: unrecognized selector sent to class 0xbb5db0'
*** First throw call stack:
(0x1ba6022 0x1688cd6 0x1ba7aad 0x1b0ced0 0x1b0ccb2 0x4e466 0xa99bf 0xac64f 0xa63f2 0x8d05af 0x1ba7e99 0x50f14e 0x50f0e6 0x5b5ade 0x5b5fa7 0x5b5266 0x5343c0 0x5345e6 0x51adc4 0x50e634 0x1d39ef5 0x1b7a195 0x1adeff2 0x1add8da 0x1adcd84 0x1adcc9b 0x1d387d8 0x1d3888a 0x50c626 0x370d 0x26c5 0x1)

A: Try simply [self dismissViewControllerAnimated:NO completion:nil]

A: If you are trying to dismiss from the VC then this should work:
- (void)mailComposeController:(MFMailComposeViewController*)controller didFinishWithResult:(MFMailComposeResult)result error:(NSError*)error
{
   [self dismissModalViewControllerAnimated:NO];
}

A: try  [controller dismissModalViewControllerAnimated:NO];

A: The reason for the crash is that presentedViewController only exists on iOS 5 and higher. If you run it on iOS 4 it causes the exception you have shown.
dismissModalViewController is the correct way to dismiss a controller presented with presentModalViewController for iOS 4+5. It still works on iOS 6 but is deprecated. There you presentViewController and dismissViewController instead.


text:
CHINESE INBOUND IS EXPORT, BIG EXPORT
To the uninitiated there are two confounding counter-intuitive aspects of tourism. The first overarching confusion is that the sight of people enjoying themselves, whether they're frolicking on a beach or perusing a masterwork in a museum, is an industrial sight.
It's a business that sustains mortgages, pays tuition and puts food on the table for many people.
Read more about CHINESE INBOUND IS EXPORT, BIG EXPORT
MARRIOTT CEO: CHINESE VISITATION TO US GOOD FOR ECONOMY
Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson discusses the U.S. and China's decision to issue travel and business visas that will be good for up to 10 years.
Read more about MARRIOTT CEO: CHINESE VISITATION TO US GOOD FOR ECONOMY
WHITE HOUSE EXPLAINS WHY ITS VISA REFORMS ARE A BIG DEAL FOR THE U.S. ECONOMY
People naturally think of boosting exports as shipping more products to faraway lands, but when travelers come from afar to spend money here, that generates economic activity in America too.
Tourism is America's largest services export, and growth in international visitors has created roughly 260,000 American jobs over the past five years.
Read more about WHITE HOUSE EXPLAINS WHY ITS VISA REFORMS ARE A BIG DEAL FOR THE U.S. ECONOMY
MICHAEL CHERTOFF: THE CASE FOR SUSPENDING U.S. VISAS IN EBOLA-AFFECTED COUNTRIES
As alarm mounts over the spread of Ebola, many are concerned that screening travelers who arrive in the United States from West Africa is not sufficiently protective because it will not identify those who carry the virus but are not yet symptomatic.
Read more about MICHAEL CHERTOFF: THE CASE FOR SUSPENDING U.S. VISAS IN EBOLA-AFFECTED COUNTRIES
RUBIO TO INTRODUCE EBOLA TRAVEL BAN LEGISLATION
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) plans to introduce legislation banning travel between the U.S. and three West African countries hardest hit by the deadly Ebola virus, his office announced Monday.
"While Ebola's deadly reach has proven to be a complex and unique international challenge, the many uncertainties surrounding this virus continue to threaten U.S. national security," Rubio said in a statement.
Read more about RUBIO TO INTRODUCE EBOLA TRAVEL BAN LEGISLATION
WHAT WOULD AN EBOLA TRAVEL BAN ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?
As of Thursday evening, 11 senators and 59 members of the House had spoken out in favor of a travel ban on flights to and from Ebola-stricken West African nations. But not much attention has been paid to what such a ban would look like, or if it could even reasonably work.
How would a travel ban be implemented?
Practically, the framework already exists for a travel ban, says American University
Read more about WHAT WOULD AN EBOLA TRAVEL BAN ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?
VOUCHING FOR THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
"We are in a dangerous place in the world, perhaps more dangerous than in the past 10 years."
That's what former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff had to say when he visited the Heritage Foundation recently. With reports of terrorist groups such as the Islamic State, often referred to as ISIS, all over the news, it's not hard to see why.
As Mr.
Read more about VOUCHING FOR THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS SPEND $19.2 BILLION IN AUGUST 2014
For Immediate Release: October 7, 2014
Contact: Tim Truman (202) 482-3809
International visitors inject nearly $620 million a day into U.S. economy in August
WASHINGTON – U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Stefan M.
Read more about INTERNATIONAL VISITORS SPEND $19.2 BILLION IN AUGUST 2014
VISA WAIVER PROGRAM AND NATIONAL SECURITY
Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff talked about the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) which allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa. He spoke in favor of maintaining the program despite security concerns surrounding it and responded to questions before leaving.
Read more about VISA WAIVER PROGRAM AND NATIONAL SECURITY
HERITAGE FOUNDATION DEFENDS VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
The conservative Heritage Foundation is concerned that, in the face of the threat of jihadist passport holders who are able to come to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, some members of Congress might try to curtail the program.
A Heritage event Monday made the argument that scrutiny of prospective visitors from the 38 visa waiver countries is often tighter than in the traditional
Read more about HERITAGE FOUNDATION DEFENDS VISA WAIVER PROGRAM


Today, American officially launched its redesigned website, which is aesthetically more pleasing at initial glance. From what I can tell, the functionality is the same as before, but to be honest, I don't fly American much at all. From what I've read on this thread over at Flyertalk, it sounds like most were hoping for new functionality and not just a cosmetic overhaul.


text:
package com.consol.citrus.exceptions;

/**
 * This exception marks errors during validation in Citrus. Basically this exception is thrown
 * during message validation, exception assertion, SOAP fault and attachment validation and so on.
 *
 * @author Christoph Deppisch
 */
public class ValidationException extends CitrusRuntimeException {

    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;

    /**
     * Constructor using fields.
     * @param message
     */
    public ValidationException(String message) {
        super(message);
    }

    /**
     * Constructor using fields.
     * @param message
     * @param cause
     */
    public ValidationException(String message, Throwable cause) {
        super(message + " " +  cause.getLocalizedMessage(), cause);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Top Tags: murder mystery pictures homicide missing creepy scary Unsolved death macabre cold case murderous missing persons serial killers Serial Killer ghost
Murderous
Incorrupt Corpses:
The Truth Behind the Bodies That Never Decompose
Incorruptibility is a belief among the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox's churches that certain bodies do not undergo the decomposition process after death. These bodies typically belong to saints or beati and are often seen as holy. The bodies are also said to have a pleasant aroma, which Catholics refer to as an "odour of sanctity." One may wonder how the Catholic church knows someone's body isn't decomposing. The answer is that during the canonization process (the process of making someone a saint), officials will exhume a body in order to remove relics. What is a relic? Pieces of the body and other items associated with the would-be saint. Some examples include bone fragments, hair, organs, pieces of cloth, etc. While exhuming the body, sometimes a couple years later, often times centuries later, church officials will come across a body that is remarkably well preserved. This is where the term incorruptibility originates.
Skeptics, however, believe these so-called incorrupt bodies aren't as holy as they seem. It's been suggested (and proven) that many of the bodies have actually undergone either a mummification process or embalming. Others are clearly wearing wax masks to disguise their decay. The "odour of sanctity" can be attributed to the smell of embalming fluids, which used to contain lavender oils and other fragrant scents.
Since many of these bodies are currently or routinely on display to the public, we've compiled an album of photos and backstories as well as any scientific findings behind these so-called incorruptible bodies.
The body of St. Margaret of Cortona
Born in 1247 in Tuscany, St. Margaret worked with the poor and needy and claimed to be in direct communication with Jesus. After her death in 1297, she was made a saint in 1728. Her body appeared to remain "incorrupt" for over 700 years, until a forensic investigation revealed cuts and stitching along Margaret's thighs and abdomen. She had been artificially mummified. Researchers later found evidence that the people in Margaret's town requested that she be embalmed after her death.
Close-up of St. Margaret's body shows discolored, withered skin. The nose is also sunken.
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text:
Bipartisan budget deal clears Senate procedural hurdle
By Lori Montgomery and
Lori Montgomery
Editor overseeing the National staff
Ed O'Keefe
Reporter focused on Congress, national politics and the federal government
Bio Follow
A bipartisan agreement to ease sharp spending cuts known as the sequester easily cleared its last major hurdle Tuesday as 67 senators voted to advance the measure in hopes of ending nearly three years of political gridlock over the federal budget.
Despite the opposition of conservative advocacy groups and late-breaking concerns about proposed reductions to military pensions, 12 Republicans joined all 55 members of the Senate Democratic caucus in voting to proceed to a final vote, expected to occur Wednesday evening.
Thirty-three Republicans voted to block the deal, a modest package of fees and spending cuts designed to replace about half the sequester cuts in the current fiscal year and avert another government shutdown. However, it would have little impact on the larger problems at the heart of Washington's budget battles, and even those who voted to support it were hardly enthusiastic.
"There's a heavy sigh going on in our caucus right now, because people like me are looking at this and saying, 'Is it a good deal? No. But is it a deal? Yeah,' " said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who voted to advance the legislation. "I have tried to look at this on balance. And on balance, the benefit of having a deal is better than no deal."
The agreement was brokered on the heels of a 16-day government shutdown in October that riled taxpayers and sent approval ratings for congressional Republicans plummeting in public opinion polls. After nearly two months of talks, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) last week announced the deal, which would ease the impact of the sequester without raising taxes or cutting popular retirement programs.
Washington Post economic columnist Neil Irwin tells you everything you need to know about the new budget deal — in two minutes. (Sarah Parnass/In Play/The Washington Post)
"We have lurched from one crisis to another, from one fiscal cliff to the next," Murray said before the vote. "I am hopeful this deal can be the first of many bipartisan deals that can rebuild some of the trust."
Although the agreement sailed through the House on a landslide vote of 332 to 94, problems quickly cropped up in the Senate. Potential GOP presidential hopefuls, including Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Ted Cruz (Tex.), opposed it because it would increase spending now in exchange for the promise of budget cuts later.
A number of Republican incumbents facing primary challenges from the right also chimed in, including Sen. Thad Cochran (Miss.), whose GOP opponent, Chris McDaniel, on Monday urged Cochran to oppose the "disastrous," "deficit-increasing legislation."
And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voted no, citing his long-standing opposition to any agreement that would weaken the sequester, which was part of a historic $2.1 trillion deficit-reduction deal McConnell negotiated in the summer of 2011 with Vice President Biden. McConnell faces serious challenges from the left and the right in his 2014 reelection campaign, and he has touted the sequester agreement as reducing the size of government and ending an economy-shaking fight over the debt limit.
On Tuesday, however, concerns about cuts to military pensions took center stage. The deal calls for $85 billion in total savings over the next decade, including $6 billion from reducing cost-of-living adjustments by 1 percent for military retirees younger than 62.
According to House budget aides, the proposal would reduce lifetime retirement pay by about 6 percent for a man who enlisted at age 18 and retired at age 38 as a sergeant first class in the Army — leaving him with about $1.626 million in lifetime retirement pay instead of $1.734 million.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) called the provision "a dealbreaker" and urged her colleagues to find an alternative. "We could quickly find $6 billion that would not be taken from the backs of our men and women in uniform," she said.
That prompted her home-state colleague, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D), to propose replacing the pension cuts by closing a variety of corporate tax loopholes — an idea Republicans roundly ignored.
Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), one of the few senators who served in the military, dismissed the outcry, noting that even high-ranking Pentagon officials have acknowledged the need to rein in the cost of military benefits, from pensions awarded after only 20 years of service to the military health program known as TriCare.
"We have to be careful, because this is an all-volunteer force," he said. "But when people say, 'Well, they joined up because of TriCare' — I do not know of a single 18-year-old, including my own son, who joined the Marines at 18. I said, 'Jimmy, do you to this day know what TriCare is?' And he said, 'Hell, no, Dad. What is TriCare?' "
McCain voted to advance the budget agreement, citing the need to avoid another government shutdown and protect the Pentagon from fresh sequester cuts set to hit in January. Other Republicans voting for the measure were Murkowski, Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Roy Blunt (Mo.), Saxby Chambliss (Ga.), Susan Collins (Maine), Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Orrin G. Hatch (Utah), John Hoeven (N.D.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), Ron Johnson (Wis.) and Rob Portman (Ohio).
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