text:
Щербак Федор Алексеевич (7 ноября 1918 — 29 мая 1998) — советский военачальник, контрразведчик, генерал-лейтенант.

Биография

Великая Отечественная война
Службу начал в военной контрразведке с 1941 г. : оперуполномоченный, затем старший оперуполномоченный 2-го отдела Управления особых отделов НКВД, в 1943—1944 г. — в УКР СМЕРШ НК ВМФ СССР.

Судя по факту ношения нагрудного знака — выпускник Академии Генерального штаба.

В центральном аппарате органов контрразведки
Затем занимал должности:

— Заместитель начальника отдела 2-го Управления (с 1946 г. — Главного управления) НКГБ — МГБ СССР (1944—1952 г.);

— Начальник 3-го отдела 2-го Главного управления МГБ СССР (25 ноября 1952 — 17 марта 1953 г.);

— Начальник 4-го отдела 1-го Главного управления МВД СССР (17 марта — 14 мая 1953 г.);

— Заместитель начальника отдела 1-го Главного управления МВД СССР (1953—1954 г.);

— Заместитель начальника отдела 2-го Главного управления КГБ при СМ СССР (1954 — … г.);

— Начальник 5-го отдела 2-го Главного управления КГБ при СМ СССР (… — 1955 г.);

— Заместитель начальника 2-го Главного управления КГБ при СМ СССР (1955—1963 г.);

— Заместитель начальника 2-го Главного управления КГБ при СМ СССР — начальник Службы № 1 (1963 г.); Организация контрразведывательной работы и контроля за деятельностью 2-х управлений — отделов местных органов КГБ. Служба № 1 была создана приказом КГБ № 0029 от 5 февраля 1963 г. на базе 8-го, 10-го и 11-го отделов ВГУ. Предположительно, в 1967 г. часть направлений Службы была обращена на формирование 5-го Управления КГБ при СМ СССР.

— 1-й заместитель начальника 2-го Главного управления КГБ при СМ СССР (1963—1968 г.);

— Заместитель начальника Высшей Краснознаменной школы КГБ им. Ф. Э. Дзержинского Гришина П. Г. (1968—1970 г.);

— 1-й заместитель начальника 2-го Главного управления КГБ при СМ СССР (1970 — ноябрь 1982 г.);

Мемуары Рэма Красильникова, генерал-майора КГБ СССР.

Во главе 6 управления КГБ СССР

Начальник 6-го Управления КГБ СССР («Контрразведывательное обеспечение экономики») в период с ноября 1982 по апрель 1989 г. Оно было создано 25 октября 1982 г. на базе Управления «П» 2-го Главного управления КГБ СССР.

1-е заместители начальника: Хапаев В. А. (… — 1986 г.), генерал-майор; Прилуков В. М. (апрель 1986 — май 1987 г.), генерал-майор; Шам Н. А. (март 1989 — сентябрь 1991 г.), полковник, с 16 августа 1989 г. — генерал-майор.

Работники 6-го Управления разоблачили не один десяток агентов западных разведок. В их числе работник авиационной промышленности Петров, сотрудник компании Аэрофлот Каноян, представитель Минхимпрома Московцев, научный сотрудник Бумейстер, работник Внешторгбанка Крючков, сотрудник Минрадиопрома Толкачев и другие.

После выхода Ф. А. Щербака на пенсию в 1989 году 6-е управление КГБ СССР возглавил генерал-майор Николай Андреевич Савенков.

Расследование причин аварии на ЧАЭС
Ещё до катастрофы в 1983—1985 годах на Чернобыльской АЭС произошло шесть менее масштабных аварий и 63 отказа. В ходе оперативной работы органами КГБ вскрывались факты брака строительно-монтажных работ, поставок бракованного оборудования, нарушения технологических норм и требований радиационной безопасности. Руководство информировалось о выявленных пробелах в обеспечении радиационной безопасности для принятия мер. Например, 6-е управление КГБ СССР (руководители Ф. Щербак и В. Прилуков) до Чернобыльской аварии направило в Политбюро ЦК КПСС свыше 40 аналитических записок об угрожающих ситуациях на действующих АЭС.

Возглавлял оперативно-следственную группу КГБ, которая расследовала обстоятельства аварии на Чернобыльской АЭС. После получения первых же известий о аварии Ф. А. Щербак 27 апреля 1986 года вылетел на место событий, возглавив оперативно-следственную группу. Посменно на ЧАЭС прибывали Хапаев В. А., Кузнецов Г. В., Прилуков В. М., Поделякин В. А., Малых М. Ф., Шам Н. А. и многие другие чекисты. Все они приобрели уникальный опыт ликвидации последствий подобных аварий и все при этом получили повышенные дозы облучения. Ни один из них не попытался облегчить исполнение своих служебных обязанностей, в обстоятельствах опасных для здоровья и жизни. Основное внимание уделялось выяснению наличия диверсии или её отсутствия.

Член Коллегии КГБ (ноябрь 1982 — апрель 1989 г.). Почетный сотрудник органов госбезопасности.

На пенсии

С 1989 года — на пенсии, несколько лет возглавлял Московский общественный клуб ветеранов контрразведки. Умер в Москве в 1998 году, похоронен на Кунцевском кладбище.

Награды

Литература
 Яковлев А. Н., Кокурин А. И., Петров Н. В. Лубянка: Органы ВЧК-ОГПУ-НКВД-НКГБ-МГБ-МВД-КГБ. 1917—1991 Справочник. — М.: МФД, 2003. — 768 с. — ISBN 5-85646-109-6.
 Рэм Красильников. Призраки с улицы Чайковского. — М: Гея итэрум, 1999. — ISBN 5-85589-057-0.

Примечания

Члены КПСС
Сотрудники КГБ СССР
Начальники управлений и главных управлений КГБ СССР
Члены Коллегии КГБ СССР
Разведчики Великой Отечественной войны
Контрразведчики
Ликвидаторы Чернобыльской аварии
Преподаватели Академии ФСБ
Выпускники Военной академии Генерального штаба
Похороненные на Кунцевском кладбище
Делегаты XXVII съезда КПСС


text:
What the Crisis in Japan Means for Investors
We answer seven questions on the minds of many investors to help you protect your portfolio through these disastrous events.
By Magazine Editors
1) I've already suffered through two bear markets in the past decade, and the return of volatility is scaring me. What should I do now?
If you're worried, it's time to reevaluate your investment plan. Start by asking yourself some questions:
•	Are your assets divvied up based on your goals and your time horizon?
•	Is the money you have in stocks and stock funds dedicated for goals that are at least ten years away?
•	Do you have adequate short-term reserves to handle emergencies and near-term wants and needs?
If you answered "no" to any of those questions, you may need to make some changes. If you don't know how to do that, invest in a session with a fee-only financial planner. You can find one through the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.
But if you've answered "yes" to everything, there's just one more thing to consider. Has anything in your life changed that would change your financial goals or time horizon?
If not, the wise course is to leave your investments alone. Stock market volatility is normal and something you must shoulder if you want the inflation-beating benefits of growth-oriented investments. History tells us that markets recover from short-term crises, no matter how horrible they seem at the time. Consider: Stocks recovered from a 23% one-day plunge in October 1987 within two years. After 9/11, the Dow Jones industrial average's 7% loss evaporated within two months. As long as the money you have invested in stocks is for long-term goals, you have the ability to withstand a drop triggered by a short-term crisis.
2) If the crisis focuses exclusively on Japan, why are stocks in the U.S. and other countries tanking?
First, the disaster has caused real economic disruption, and that will affect the amount of goods Japan buys from its trading partners. That means lower sales for companies that export to Japan and probably lower profits, so the declines in share prices are perfectly rational. The second factor is much harder to measure: panic. Until a crisis achieves resolution, investors tend to assume the worst and price stocks accordingly. In other words, they sell first and ask questions later. (See VALUE ADDED: Disaster in Japan Raises the Odds of a Double-Dip Recession.)
Is a big drop in U.S. stock prices justifiable? Not based on reasonable assumptions. Japan is our fourth-largest trading partner, after Canada, China and Mexico, and accounts for 5.4% of our imports and exports. That's one-third of the amount of our trading relationship with Canada. Even if Japan's economy contracts slightly in 2011-- what many consider a worst-case scenario -- the impact on the U.S. economy will be slight. (See PRACTICAL ECONOMICS: Japan's Disasters Pose a Slight Risk to the U.S. Economy.)
On the flip side, many U.S. firms compete head-to-head with major Japanese companies in such things as cars, heavy machinery and all sorts of high-tech gadgets. U.S. exporters in many areas could gain ground at the expense of Japanese rivals.
3. Are we at the start of a correction -- or, worse, a bear market?
The truth is, nobody knows for sure. With the stock market having essentially doubled in two years prior to the current selloff, it was certainly due for a correction (generally defined as a drop of 10%). But whether we reach that threshold or whether the present downturn turns into a full-blown bear market (a drop of 20% or more) depends on the economic fallout of the disaster.
The chances of a bear market rise considerably if the tragedy triggers a recession in the U.S. And that will depend, in great measure, on the course of the Japanese economy. Keep in mind that goods are not always simply sent from one country to another. For example, components bought from Japan by China may end up in products, or components of products, that are shipped to many other countries. If Japan's general economic shutdown continues for more than a few weeks, it could crimp the supply chain and so global trade.
4. What kinds of companies are most hurt by this disaster, and which companies will benefit?
Estimates for insured losses for earthquake-inflicted damages alone range from $15 billion to $35 billion. One health and life-insurance company that will feel the brunt is Aflac (AFL, $50.89), which does 75% of its business in Japan. But reinsurance brokers (companies that sell insurance to insurance companies), including Aon Corp. (AON, $52.73), Willis (WSH, $38.97) and Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC, $29.92), are poised to benefit because of potentially higher demand for reinsurance. (All share prices and related data are as of the March 15 market close.)
The energy sector is volatile, with damage to Japan's nuclear facility producing a huge backlash against companies having anything to do with nuclear power. For example, shares of Cameco Corp. (CCJ, $32.57), a Canadian uranium miner, tanked 13% on March 14, the first full trading session after the disaster struck. But traders may have unfairly punished engineering-and-construction firms, such as Babcock & Wilcox (BWC, $30.82). It may be a good long-term buy. And a lot of money will be spent on rebuilding Japan, to the benefit of companies that make heavy machinery, such as Caterpillar (CAT, $100.75) and Cummins (CMI, $99.93).
Oil prices, which had been soaring over concerns about possible production disruptions in the Middle East, tumbled as traders calculated the loss in global demand from Japan's reeling economy. But oil, as well as coal and natural gas, will benefit as Japan replaces nuclear-generated power -- and as it rebuilds. Check out oil-service giant Halliburton (HAL, $44.01) and coal producer Massey Energy (MEE), $60.93).
Don't chase solar stocks, soaring on the nuclear scare. They're bound to come back to earth in a month or two, then will likely rise (or fall) with oil prices. Two to consider after gravity kicks in: First Solar (FSLR, $158.91) and China-based LDK Solar (LDK, $12.66).
But Japanese consumers may respond to the tragedy by pulling in their horns, and that would hurt sellers of luxury goods, such as Coach (COH, $52.02) and Tiffany & Co. (TIF, $57.68). They derive 20% and 19% of their sales, respectively, from Japan.
5. What about my international funds? Should I sell those that hold a lot of Japanese stocks?
If you hold a pure Japan fund -- say, iShares MSCI Japan (EWJ) -- you're undoubtedly a card-carrying contrarian. That's the most-logical explanation for why anyone would make such a big bet on one of the world's most-lethargic stock markets over the past 20 years. If that describes you, sure, hang on. If you liked Japanese stocks when the world merely avoided them, you should love them now that they're universally despised.
Chances are, though, that you own Japanese stocks through a diversified international fund and that your stake is in proportion to Japan's place in the world's economy and stock markets. At last report, for instance, Dodge & Cox International (DODFX), a member of the Kiplinger 25, had 14% of its assets in Japanese stocks. Oakmark Global (OAKGX), a fine fund that invests in both U.S. and foreign stocks, had 21% of its assets in Japanese firms. Oakmark's managers say that as far as they can tell, the disaster has had little impact on the "intrinsic," or true, value of their Japanese holdings and may have even created buying opportunities. It would be foolish to sell a good diversified international fund that held a reasonable stake in Japanese stocks.
6. Treasury bonds have been appreciating since the disaster. Should I load up on them?
No. Don't expect a repeat of the rollicking rally in government bonds that accompanied the near-collapse of the financial system in 2008. The disaster won't stop the uptrend in jobs, construction and exports that helped push Treasury bond yields up (and bond prices down) sharply from October to February. Also, Japan may have to sell some of its $886-billion pile of U.S. bonds to pay for reconstruction. At best, Treasury yields might stay in a narrow range for the rest of 2011 before resuming an upward course.
7. What else makes sense for income?
Corporate and municipal bonds were better buys than Treasuries before the tragedy. They still are. And if there is a backlash against all things nuclear, beneficiaries should include natural gas, both domestic and the liquefied kind, that Japan needs to import. Yields on many energy-production and pipeline master limited partnerships top 6%, and their dividends are also secure from the Middle Eastern turmoil that will be in the news long after Japan begins to rebuild.
State-by-State Guide to Taxes on Retirees - Tool

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


LeBron James will reportedly release a trailer of Space Jam 2. According to Basketball Society Online's Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson, the Cleveland Cavaliers' superstar and free agent to be, will do so after announcing the NBA team of his choice through IGTV, Instagram's recently launched platform and through James' Uninterrupted platform.
Players and teams can begin negotiating on July 1.
James' Springhill Entertainment was greenlit by Warner Brothers to make the sequel.
Space Jam 2 is a sequel to the 1996 film, Space Jam, which starred NBA Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird and Patrick Ewing.
Robinson's claim is not that far fetched.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, LeBron James' longtime friend and business partner, Maverick Carter hinted that James' announcement would be released via The Uninterrupted.
As for IGTV, Techcrunch Josh Constine, says that Instagram is ready to compete with Youtube with their Instagram TV.
Instagram rolled out Instagram TV, abbreviated as IGTV, to its one billion users worldwide.
"It's time for the video to move forward, and evolve," said Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom onstage at the event. "IGTV is for watching long-form videos from your favorite creators." Just before he took the stage,Instagram's business blog outed details of IGTV.
Tags: Basketball Society, Cleveland Cavaliers, IGTV, InstagramTV, Josh Constine, Kevin Systrom, LeBron James, Scoopb, Space Jam 2, Tech Crunch, The Hype Magazine, Uninterrupted, Warner Bros.
Landon Buford Washington State Graduate Past Interviews include Grammy Award Winner Kenny G, David Banner, WNBA President Lisa Borders, What's Trending's CEO Shira Lazar, Ice Cube, NBC's Chicago PD LaRoyce Hawkins, Family Matters Darius McCrary, En Vogues Maxine Jones, Team USA Track & Field Member Norris Frederick, James Kyson, WNBA Great Lauren Jackson, and more.


Many of our courses offer hands-on training and interactive learning styles helping students acquire skills directly in line with the workplace.
Many of our programs include a work experience placement towards the end of the program. Our experienced Employment Advisors work with you to find an employer that will give you the opportunity to practice what you have learned during your program. Many students eventually obtain full-time jobs with their work experience sponsors or find other jobs through contacts made during their work experience.
Our small class sizes give you plenty of room to participate in class discussions and receive one-on-one training with instructors. This ensures students get the personal attention they need to maximize their potential while simultaneously improving their language skills.
Our programs are designed for adults who may be working full-time or part-time with busy schedules; we offer full-time and part-time programs to fit your schedule. At Brighton College, our programs start every 2-4 weeks, so you can begin your training almost immediately!
At Brighton College, our suggested programs are not set in stone for everyone. Our admissions staff can customize your training path considering your background and course preferences, helping you to concentrate on developing those skills that you currently need for employment in your chosen field. You can choose to take a number of courses within each program without having to complete the entire lengthy program.
Our career services department assists students in finding job placements through Brighton College's network of employers and career resources. Read more about our Career-Focused Approach.
We are conveniently located in the Crystal Mall office tower above the HSBC Bank, on the corner of Kingsway and Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby. We are one block away from the Metrotown SkyTrain station.
We are conveniently located in the Surrey Village office tower, on the corner of King George Blvd and 98A Ave in Surrey. We are one block away from the King George SkyTrain station.
We are determined to offer our student's opportunities for success in their bright futures, so we have established articulation agreements with local institutions that help our students expand their educational possibilities. Transfer pathways enable students to transfer some credits to one of our institution partners, which could save them time in completing their degree.


text:
News > Medscape Medical News > Neurology News
FDA Panel Unanimously Backs Cannabis Drug for Severe Epilepsy
Alicia Ault
UPDATED April 20, 2018 // A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee has voted unanimously to support approval of a purified formulation of cannabidiol (Epidiolex, GW Pharmaceuticals) as an adjunctive treatment for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS) in patients 2 years of age or older.
Although there are medications already on the market that include synthetic cannabinoid chemicals, if approved, this would be the first pharmaceutical formulation of a plant-based cannabinoid that maintains the mechanism of action of the chemical but without the "high" associated with marijuana, according to the manufacturer.
The Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee had almost no concerns about the safety or effectiveness of Epidiolex, and congratulated the FDA, the manufacturer, and patients and families for having presented solid evidence.
"This is clearly a breakthrough drug for an awful disease," said panelist John Mendelson, MD, a senior research scientist at the Friends Research Institute, San Francisco, California.
"It's an honor to be part of a meeting that's making an important decision based on science and public input rather than a political discussion," said panel member Mark W. Green, MD, FAAN, professor of neurology, anesthesiology, and rehabilitation medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York City.
"This is a historic moment," said Michael Privitera, MD, director of the epilepsy center at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, who was an investigator for one of the pivotal studies. Privitera said he paid his own way to the meeting and receives no money from GW Pharmaceuticals. "We don't really understand how it stops seizures, but it's different than any other drug we've seen," he said, adding that it was rigorously studied.
"This will be more reliable than the dispensary marijuana that's available in many states," Privitera added.
The FDA usually follows its panels' advice. Billy Dunn, MD, director of the FDA's Division of Neurology Products, said the agency is "reviewing [Epidiolex] on an expedited timeline." The agency is due to make a decision by June 27. Epidiolex is also being reviewed by the European Medicines Agency, which accepted the company's application in February.
No Risk for Abuse
Even though Epidiolex is derived from marijuana (Cannabis sativa), it does not have properties conducive to abuse, said the FDA reviewers. That is crucial, because currently, Epidiolex is considered to be a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). If the FDA approves Epidiolex, it will make a recommendation to the DEA that the drug be rescheduled.
If Epidiolex is rescheduled, GW Pharmaceuticals expects to make it available to physicians as soon as possible — most likely during the second half of this year — company CEO Justin Gover told Medscape Medical News. The company is proposing an initial target dose of 10 mg/kg daily, with dose adjustments up to 20 mg/kg, based on clinical response and tolerability.
One of the company's pivotal safety and efficacy trials in patients with LGS was published online January 24 in the Lancet. Data from that trial and two other pivotal studies were presented at the advisory panel meeting.
The primary endpoint — percentage reduction in drop seizures in LGS patients and percentage reduction in convulsive seizures in DS patients — was statistically significant for patients who received 14 weeks of treatment.
In study 1423, 171 LGS patients (average age, 15 years) were randomly assigned to receive either Epidiolex 20 mg/kg daily or placebo, in addition to existing therapies.
At baseline, the patients had been experiencing a median of 74 drop seizures per month. Drop seizures were defined as atonic, tonic, or tonic-clonic seizures that involved the entire body, trunk, or head and that led to or could have led to a fall or injury or the patient's slumping in a chair or hitting his or her head on a surface.
Patients taking Epidiolex experienced a significantly greater median reduction in drop seizures compared to those taking placebo (44% vs 22%; P = .0135).
In another LGS study (study 1414), 76 patients taking 10 mg/kg daily experienced a statistically significant 37% reduction in drop seizures, compared to a drop of 17% for the 76 patients taking placebo (P < .01).
Patients in both LGS studies also experienced a reduction of total seizures from 36% to 41%. Caregivers were the given Subject/Caregiver Global Impression of Change scale and were asked to give their impression of whether the patients had gotten worse, had experiened no change, or had improved. Of those caregivers of patients who took the 10 mg/kg dose, 66% said they saw improvement.
For DS, the dose studied was 20 mg/kg. Patients taking that dose experienced a 39% reduction in convulsive seizures during 14 weeks of treatment. Sixty-two percent of caregivers said they had seen an improvement.
Elevated Liver Enzymes
The company also presented safety data from the phase 3 trials, the open-label extension trial, and the compassionate use program, totalling 1651 patients and about 1200 patient-years.
Eighty-eight percent of patients in the controlled studies experienced some adverse event; the most common were somnolence, decreased appetite, and diarrhea. About 14% of patients in the controlled trials experienced a serious adverse event.
Twenty deaths were reported; one occurred in the controlled studies, and 19 occurred in the open-label or compassionate use programs. None were linked to Epidiolex, said the FDA staff.
The FDA said that the patients taking Epidiolex discontinued treatment because of adverse events more often than those taking placebo — 9.3% vs 1.3%.
One area of concern for both the FDA and the advisory panel was what appeared to be transient increases in transaminase levels, seen in 8% of patients taking 10 mg/kg and 16% of those taking 20 mg/kg. Serious events due to the elevations in liver enzyme levels occurred in 3% to 4% of patients.
FDA reviewer Lara Dimick-Santos, MD, of the Division of Gastroenetrology and Inborn Errors Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, noted that in 37 patients, alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were elevated at least five times greater than the upper limit of normal. Seventeen patients recovered without stopping or just before stopping Epidiolex.
Dimick-Santos concluded that there is a causal association between increased ALT levels and use of Epidiolex. Concomitant use of valproic acid seemed to be the most common risk factor. She noted that no patients with underlying liver dysfunction at baseline have been studied, and it is unknown whether chronic liver injury could occur with long-term use of Epidiolex.
The advisory committee said it believed elevated liver enzyme levels could be managed through proper labeling and monitoring.
For more Medscape Neurology news, join us on Facebook and Twitter.
Medscape Medical News © 2018
Cite this: FDA Panel Unanimously Backs Cannabis Drug for Severe Epilepsy - Medscape - Apr 19, 2018.
NICE Rejects Cannabis Oil for Severe Epilepsy
The Death of Yarushka Rivera: Prior Authorization Run Amok
AMA Releases 2020 CPT Codes With Almost 400 New Changes
News Major Financial Impact, Disability Tied to Post-TBI Epilepsy
Diseases & Conditions Posttraumatic Epilepsy
News FDA Clears First Nasal Spray for Cluster Seizures in Kids 6 Years and Older
News AI Sheds New Light on Suicidality in Epilepsy
Related Conditions & Procedures
EEG in Common Epilepsy Syndromes
Benign Childhood Epilepsy
Women's Health and Epilepsy
Outcome of Epilepsy Surgery
Identification of Potential Epilepsy Surgery Candidates
Posttraumatic Epilepsy
The 10 Graphic Novels That Made Graphic Medicine
Major Financial Impact, Disability Tied to Post-TBI Epilepsy
FDA Clears First Nasal Spray for Cluster Seizures in Kids 6 Years and Older
Diet and Mental Health: The Evidence to Date
According to NEUROLOGISTS
FDA Warns of 'Serious' Respiratory Problems With Gabapentin
Bedtime Dosing of Hypertension Meds Reduces CV Events
Novel Over-the-Counter Device May Offer Long-Lasting Pain Relief
'Low Value' Care? More Controversy for Statins in Primary Prevention
Aspirin Key to Expanding Access to Effective Migraine Treatment?
'Pharma Grade' CBD Effective in Lennox-Gastaut
Cannabidiol Cuts Seizures in Dravet Syndrome
b:curatedcuratedHasData : true


You're ready to step up to truly professional machine embroidery with the new Valiant multi-needle machine from Baby Lock. This versatile embroidery machine lets you sew with 10 needles and a 1,000 stitches-per-minute speed. It's the perfect choice when you're looking for industrial power on a home embroidery machine. The Valiant provides the ease of a home machine while helping you create even the most intricate embroidery designs. If you're planning to grow your business or just want a faster, more versatile machine, the Valiant is your perfect partner.


text:
Q: Android create pdf document from webview with multiple pages Im using the PdfDocument framework from Android (link) to create a pdf document from my webview content. The pdf is created well but it is only one page document. When the webview content is large i need to create a multipage document. ALL I NEED IS TO SPLIT WEBVIEW CONTENT IN PAGES. How can i achieve this?
I dont want to use iText or any third party library.
Need help please. Thanks in advance.
// create a new document
PdfDocument document = new PdfDocument();

// create a page description
PdfDocument.PageInfo pageInfo = new PdfDocument.PageInfo.Builder(width, height, 1).create();

// start a page
PdfDocument.Page page = document.startPage(pageInfo);

// draw something on the page
View content = myWebview;
content.draw(page.getCanvas());

// finish the page
document.finishPage(page);

FileOutputStream fos;
try {
    fos = new FileOutputStream(fileNameWithPath, false);
    // write the document content
    document.writeTo(fos);

} catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
} catch (IOException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

// close the document
document.close();

A: If you want to create multiple pages then just call startPage() and finishPage() for every page that you want to create in your document.
Something like this :
// create document
PdfDocument document = new PdfDocument();

// create a page description
PdfDocument.PageInfo pageInfo = new PdfDocument.PageInfo.Builder(width, height, 1).create();

// start 1st page
PdfDocument.Page page = document.startPage(pageInfo);
// draw something on the page
View content = myWebview;
content.draw(page.getCanvas());
// finish 1st page
document.finishPage(page);

// start 2nd page
PdfDocument.Page page = document.startPage(pageInfo);
// draw something on the page
View content = someOtherWebview;
content.draw(page.getCanvas());
// finish 2nd page
document.finishPage(page);

// and so on...

FileOutputStream fos;
try {
    fos = new FileOutputStream(fileNameWithPath, false);
    // write the document content
    document.writeTo(fos);

} catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
} catch (IOException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

// close the document
document.close();

A: I was having this same issue for the last couple days, so I found this answer from Rakesh Gopathi, it worked flawlessly. I really recommend anyone who's using the native PdfDocument classes to check it out.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
return unless node['bcpc']['watcher']['enabled']

region = node['bcpc']['cloud']['region']
config = data_bag_item(region, 'config')

mysqladmin = mysqladmin()
psqladmin = psqladmin()
db_conn = db_conn()

# hash used for database creation and access
#
database = {
  'host' => db_conn['host'],
  'port' => db_conn['port'],
  'dbname' => node['bcpc']['watcher']['db']['dbname'],
  'username' => config['watcher']['creds']['db']['username'],
  'password' => config['watcher']['creds']['db']['password'],
}

# watcher openstack access
openstack = {
  'role' => node['bcpc']['keystone']['roles']['admin'],
  'project' => node['bcpc']['keystone']['service_project']['name'],
  'domain' => node['bcpc']['keystone']['service_project']['domain'],
  'username' => config['watcher']['creds']['os']['username'],
  'password' => config['watcher']['creds']['os']['password'],
}

# create watcher service user
execute 'create openstack watcher user' do
  environment os_adminrc

  command <<-DOC
    openstack user create #{openstack['username']} \
      --domain #{openstack['domain']} \
      --password #{openstack['password']}
  DOC

  not_if "
    openstack user show #{openstack['username']} \
      --domain #{openstack['domain']}
  "
end

execute "add #{openstack['role']} role to #{openstack['username']} user" do
  environment os_adminrc

  command <<-DOC
    openstack role add #{openstack['role']} \
      --project #{openstack['project']} \
      --user #{openstack['username']}
  DOC

  not_if <<-DOC
    openstack role assignment list \
      --names \
      --role #{openstack['role']} \
      --project #{openstack['project']} \
      --user #{openstack['username']} | grep #{openstack['username']}
  DOC
end

ruby_block 'collect openstack service and endpoints list' do
  block do
    node.run_state['os_endpoints'] = openstack_endpoints()
    node.run_state['os_services'] = openstack_services()
  end
  action :run
end

# create infra-optim service and endpoints
begin
  type = 'infra-optim'
  service = node['bcpc']['catalog'][type]
  name = service['name']

  execute "create the #{name} service" do
    environment os_adminrc
    desc = service['description']
    command <<-DOC
      openstack service create --name "#{name}" --description "#{desc}" #{type}
    DOC
    not_if { node.run_state['os_services'].include? type }
  end

  %w(admin internal public).each do |uri|
    url = generate_service_catalog_uri(service, uri)
    execute "create the #{name} #{type} #{uri} endpoint" do
      environment os_adminrc
      command <<-DOC
        openstack endpoint create --region #{region} #{type} #{uri} '#{url}'
      DOC

      not_if { node.run_state['os_endpoints'].fetch(type, []).include? uri }
    end
  end
end

# watcher packages installation and service definitions
watcher_packages = %w(watcher-api watcher-decision-engine watcher-applier python3-watcherclient)
package watcher_packages

service 'watcher-decision-engine'

service 'watcher-applier'

service 'watcher-api' do
  action [:stop, :disable]
end

service 'watcher-apis-apache2' do
  service_name 'apache2'
end

watcher_processes = if !node['bcpc']['watcher']['api_workers'].nil?
                      node['bcpc']['watcher']['api_workers']
                    else
                      node['bcpc']['openstack']['services']['workers']
                    end

# configure watcher-api service
template '/etc/apache2/sites-available/watcher-api.conf' do
  source 'watcher/watcher-api.conf.erb'
  mode '0640'
  owner 'root'
  group 'watcher'

  variables(
    processes: watcher_processes
  )
  notifies :run, 'execute[enable watcher-api]', :immediately
  notifies :restart, 'service[watcher-apis-apache2]', :immediately
  notifies :create, "bcpc_proxysql_user[create #{database['username']} "\
    'proxysql user]', :immediately
  notifies :create, 'template[/tmp/watcher-create-db.sql]', :immediately
end

execute 'enable watcher-api' do
  command 'a2ensite watcher-api'
  not_if 'a2query -s watcher-api'
end

# create policy.d dir for policy overrides
directory '/etc/watcher/policy.d' do
  action :create
end

# Ensure the database user is present on ProxySQL
#
bcpc_proxysql_user "create #{database['username']} proxysql user" do
  user database
  psqladmin psqladmin
  only_if { node['bcpc']['proxysql']['enabled'] }
  notifies :run, 'bcpc_proxysql_reload[reload proxysql '\
    "#{database['username']}]", :immediately
end

bcpc_proxysql_reload "reload proxysql #{database['username']}" do
  psqladmin psqladmin
  action :nothing
end
# end ProxySQL user creation

# create/manage watcher database starts
file '/tmp/watcher-create-db.sql' do
  action :nothing
end

template '/tmp/watcher-create-db.sql' do
  source 'watcher/watcher-create-db.sql.erb'
  variables(
    db: database
  )
  notifies :run, 'execute[create watcher database]', :immediately
  not_if "
    user=#{mysqladmin['username']}
    db=#{database['dbname']}
    count=$(mysql -u ${user} ${db} -e 'show tables' | wc -l)
    [ $count -gt 0 ]
  ", environment: { 'MYSQL_PWD' => mysqladmin['password'] }
end

execute 'create watcher database' do
  action :nothing
  environment('MYSQL_PWD' => mysqladmin['password'])
  command "mysql -u #{mysqladmin['username']} < /tmp/watcher-create-db.sql"
  notifies :delete, 'file[/tmp/watcher-create-db.sql]', :immediately
end

template '/etc/watcher/watcher.conf' do
  source 'watcher/watcher.conf.erb'
  mode '0640'
  owner 'root'
  group 'watcher'

  variables(
    db: database,
    os: openstack,
    config: config,
    is_headnode: headnode?,
    headnodes: headnodes(all: true),
    rmqnodes: rmqnodes(all: true),
    vip: node['bcpc']['cloud']['vip']
  )
  notifies :run, 'execute[watcher-manage db_sync]', :immediately
  notifies :restart, 'service[watcher-decision-engine]', :immediately
  notifies :restart, 'service[watcher-apis-apache2]', :immediately
  notifies :restart, 'service[watcher-applier]', :immediately
end

execute 'watcher-manage db_sync' do
  action :nothing
  command "su -s /bin/sh -c 'watcher-db-manage --config-file /etc/watcher/watcher.conf upgrade'"
end

execute 'wait for watcher api to become available' do
  environment os_adminrc
  retries 15
  command 'openstack optimize strategy list'
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Knewton adaptive learning technology goes global
By Jake New, Assistant Editor
Just days after announcing an expansion of a collaboration with Pearson to bring its adaptive learning technology to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses, Knewton has announced it is also expanding its reach to new parts of the globe.
Knewton collects millions of data points to create models that can be broken down to help with learning.
Since 2008, Knewton's technology has been fueling adaptive learning for millions of students, but it's been primarily confined to North America.
Now, the company is partnering with Cambridge University Press to power the press's English Language Teaching products, and opening an office in London to support adaptive learning in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
The press's Learning Management System is used by 250,000 students, and it has a presence in more than 50 countries.
"This is really important technology that doesn't just affect North American students," said David Liu, Knewton's chief operating officer. "Students in other countries want it, too. They need it."
Liu said Knewton is also in discussions with publishers and countries in other parts of the world, including Australia and in Asia. He said he expects Knewton to be powering products in Brazil by the end of the year.
See Page 2 for details on why Knewton's partnership with Cambridge University Press is so significant.
1 2Next
Jake New
Jake New studied journalism at Indiana University, where he was editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, the Indiana Daily Student. At the IDS, Jake covered the IU administration, minority student issues, and state education policy.
After a brief stint at the Bloomington Herald-Times covering IU, crime, and local politics, Jake interned at the Chronicle of Higher Education in Washington D.C, writing about online learning, open-access policies, academic publishing, and ed-tech startups.
Jake joined eCampus News as an assistant editor in May 2013, where he continues to cover technology and higher education. His days often begin with a cup of coffee and the sinking feeling that another MOOC story is just around the corner.
Latest posts by Jake New (see all)
What does higher-ed look like in 2023? - January 5, 2015
Are ed-tech startups a bubble that's ready to burst? - January 1, 2015
Are MOOCs really dead? - August 28, 2014
Tags knewton, Learning Analytics, Top News


Kids photography is our favourite. At first sight, we thought he was a calm and a composed kid. But looks are deceiving. He is very much a witty kid. His activities are nothing short of being naughty. He is curious and inquisitive about things around him. He has a rare talent of being lively and analytical.
We could not move forward when we had to part our ways. It was such a wonderful time we had with this fun-loving lovely kid. Moments are to cherish and we treasure our time with Pappu.


Having trouble fitting your tables into a responsive site?
They look great on a desktop layout, but look miserable on mobile.
First remove any fixed widths from your markup.
The width attribute is deprecated – better to let the browser size the columns. If you don't know much about tables, have a read through this massive guide to tables at css tricks.
First some padding and borders.
Then some striped rows (nth-child is not supported by IE8).
As the viewport gets smaller, the table width will shrink. However depending on how many columns you have the table which reach a minimum size. This will probably wider than a mobile viewport, and your layout will be broken.
You could allow the table to horizontal scroll, without breaking your layout. First we have to change the display: to block; and set overflow-x: toauto; – You may want to use a media query to only do this for small devices.
And here's what we get (this is the amount of caffeine in Starbucks coffee via my site Caffeine Informer). Note that if you have a table that has only a few columns, display: block means they will not resize fit across the full width of the table (if the table is set to 100% width).
This is what happens in mobile (320px wide). The user can swipe right and left to horizontal scroll the table.
The trouble is, the user has no indication that they can swipe to the right.
If you resize this page (or you are viewing it on a mobile device), you will notice a third layout where the columns have been translated into a single column.
Here, I've combined the table cell data with its column header.
This excellent plugin allows will hide columns of your choosing. When the row is clicked (or tapped) the columns will fold out below the row.
I've used an early version of this on Caffeine Informer, and it works well. More recent versions have substantially more features added.
Give your tables the appropriate data attributes (which columns should be hidden by default).
Ensure the breakpoints are correct (default 480px and 1024px).
Call the footable() function for the appropriate tables.
The solution from the Zurb framework is to lock or pin the first column and make the rest of the table scrollable.
To accomplish this they use a small piece of jQuery to manipulate the DOM, and some CSS.
Also see an interesting tutorial on how to add visual cue when the table is going to scroll: design4lifeblog.com/responsive-tables/ — site seems to have disappeared – James.
This piece of jQuery will take a table and turn it into one long column of data.
This rather intriguing jQuery script will scale font size of the table according to data attributes.
In the above example, the table tag contains two attributes data-max="30"and data-min="11" indicating a minimum and maximum pixel font size.
This jQuery solution offers all kinds of different options for table display.
From selectable columns, to swipable columns. As well as prioritizing columns.
There's a lot of different options in their github repository. This is truly the kitchen sink of responsive tables.
TablePress is a WordPress plugin that utilizes the powerful Datatables jQuery plugin. Datatables is one of the most feature-rich plugins for tables (sorting, filtering, paging, etc).
TablePress has a responsive extension which turns the table on its side, locking the header column in place. Datatables.js is very powerful, but does add considerably to page weight.
This small jQuery script will turn each row into its own vertical list. Rather than manipulate the DOM (by adding and removing table cells), it puts the header info as a data attribute (data-content) into each td element. The stylesheet then displays this using content: attr(data-content). Quite a clever idea.
WP Data Tables – A powerful plugin for WordPress that does all kinds of things.
Flip the table orientation – example code on Codepen.
Make the headers on slant – Chris Coyier shows how to format tables with really long column headers.
Responsive Pricing Table – Not about data tables, this tutorial shows how to adapt a pricing table to a mobile viewport.


text:
SundayWorld
News Sport Entertainment Good Life SebenzaLIVE Opinion S Mag Business Gumtree Classifieds
Prokid's wife breaks her silence - 'I'm numbed by the situation'
16 August 2018 - 10:57
By Nonhlanhla Msibi
Image: Muntu Vilakazi Prokid
She's wearing a simple dress and a grey doek, the sadness on her face is evident.
"What can I say? I have no words," she tells TshisaLIVE.
Her name is Ayanda and she was married to Linda Mkhize, popularly known as Prokid.
She's in the kitchen at the Mkhize family home in Jabulani, Soweto. She extends her hand to greet guests who have come to the house to pay their respects to the late musician, where TshisaLIVE has been allowed access exactly a week after Prokid died.
"I am very numb by the situation. I have to do what I have to do," Ayanda told TshisaLIVE.
Prokid's family reveals preliminary post-mortem results
Relatives who are in the house say they have been overwhelmed by all of the love and support they have received since Prokid's death.
Two aunts who were at the house told TshisaLIVE that is has been good to see how Prokid is being remembered and the fact that the house has been filled with guests shows that "people loved him."
"We are happy he was a people's person and we're overwhelmed with the love since he passed. It's not easy for us, but we're taking it day by day," one of the aunts told TshisaLIVE.
The street outside the house is packed with community members who have gathered to show their support to the family. They've been here since the news that Prokid died broke and they have been bringing the family food and drinks to help serve visitors.
The musician died on August 8 after a "severe seizure." In a statement released by the family on Wednesday, the results of the post-mortem were made public.
"Doctors revealed that Linda suffered from hemosuccus pancreaticus which is bleeding in the pancreas, pancreatic duct or structures near the pancreas such as the artery, that bleed into the pancreatic duct," read part of the statement.
Prokid died on the bed of his lover


In the UK, today, the 4th Sunday in Lent is 'Mothering Sunday', a time for refreshment half-way through Lent.
Traditionally a time to return to the 'mother church'.
Also now for showing gratitude for those who care for and mother us.
This post is the 25th in a series of daily Lenten reflections, most of which are based on a Bible reading from the Common Worship Lectionary of the Church of England. This one is based on a seasonal prayer.


An idiot wind blew up a storm in the Indian Press this past week.
A revered holy man touted as successor to the Dalai Lama; stacks of cash in 25 denominations — including Chinese currency carried out of a Tibetan monastery in a tin trunk; accusations of spying for China in India's sensitive border areas. Interested in the story? You would certainly want to read more, particularly if it was in the press or TV news day after day and it was about an important spiritual leader.
That is the story told by the Indian press for the last week about HH Karmapa, the very same person who escaped China in a harrowing 900 mile journey into the welcoming arms of the Dalai Lama in 2000; the same hero who made world head-lines and became a poster boy for the Tibet Cause. Ten years later he is portrayed, without a shred of evidence, as a spy for China in a sleazy story of suspicious cash.
In India, the press is not effectively governed by the same laws of libel as it is in Western countries. The laws may be in place but suing a newspaper for libel and winning is well-nigh impossible. Journalists can be bought for fairly small amounts of money. Freedom of the press has created irresponsible journalism. A journalist in India holds a license to kill – by character assassination. Even serious newspapers print the stories of hacks.
The latest news story to alarm the Indian public with threats of Reds under the bed is that a Tibetan Buddhist Lama bearing a title of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, and carrying a name of Ogyen Trinley Dorje is being investigated in connection with a "possible land purchase transaction", which by local Indian state law is made rather difficult for some, and impossible for others; and the possession of a large sum of foreign currency in cash. He is suspected of using this money to influence monasteries on the Chinese border areas because he is, in all probability, a spy for China.
A car has been intercepted driving from New Delhi to Dharmsala carrying approximately $200,000 USD in cash.
Two Indian men and a Tibetan have been detained by the Indian police. The money was payment for land in Himachal Pradesh which would be used to construct a permanent home for His Holiness the Karmapa and his staff.
many of the press claimed. The administration has now disclosed they had already received preliminary permission from the correct authorities for this purchase.
How the police knew about the money in this particular car and what the crime of transporting that money is remains unknown. In many papers, it is reported as a tip-off.
The day after seizing the car, its passengers and the cash, Indian authorities came to the temporary residence of His Holiness the Karmapa at Gyuto Monastery, located about 24 km. outside Dharmsala and conducted a search of the office and other facilities used by His Holiness and his staff. Gyuto monastery does not belong to the Karmapa as he is only a "temporary guest" there. (The Karmapa does not own a monastery in Himachal, as the press have reported.) Their search was for more cash, and they discovered and confiscated an equivalent of about $750,000 – $1,500,000 USD. The cash was in about 20 different currencies.
The following day, the authorities came back and questioned some of the staff as well as His Holiness himself as to the origin of the money. All stated the same source: donation from devotees.
1.) Where did the money come from?
It is illegal for Indians to hold foreign currency. Under the Foreign Currencies Regulation Act, it has to be declared to the authorities and deposited into a trust or foreign currency account.
2.) Is His Holiness Karmapa, a Chinese spy?
Click here for updated statements from the Labrang.
His Holiness Karmapa is the recognized head of one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism – the Kagyu school. As such, he holds the responsibility of maintaining and developing the uninterrupted lineage of 900 years of oral transmissions of the entire Kagyu canon of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings. Only 26 years of age, he is considered a very skillful teacher, compassionate friend and a powerful leader. He has enormous charisma.
Born in Tibet on June 26th, 1985 he was officially recognized as the Karmapa and enthroned at Tsurphu monastery, the main seat of the Karmapas in 1992, at the age of eight. Since that time, he has spent almost all his time studying, teaching and giving blessings in preparation for the big role he is expected to play.
On the eve of the year 2000, HH Karmapa devised a plan to escape from his monastery in Tibet and seek refuge, as many of his fellow Tibetans have done, in India. After an arduous 5 day and night journey he reached Dharamsala, seat of the Tibetan Government in Exile, where he has been residing until the present day.
A third important teacher, Shamar Rinpoche broke away from the lineage to find his own Karmapa candidate. He enthroned another boy and in effect, created a second Karmapa. The result of this breakaway is to cause so much confusion that the officially recognised Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, cannot take up his monastic seat established by his predecessor at Rumtek monastery in Sikkim.
Indian officials fear that merely the presence of the Karmapa in Sikkim, a state annexed by India in 1975, may destabilize the region. Sikkim's border with China remains a vital buffer between the two countries.
2.) Not to fall under Chinese influence and be made a political pawn.
As HH Karmapa is a very important and influential figure in Tibetan society, second only to HH the Dalai Lama. He would have been instrumental in helping the Chinese control the Tibetans. However, in 1200 years, the Karmapas have never played a political role in Tibet. They remain strictly spiritual teachers to their disciples. The current incarnation has stated that he will continue that tradition and does not intend to take any political role.
Since arriving in India in 2000, His Holiness has not been permitted to build his own monastery or living quarters. He has been living in a small section of Gyuto Tantric Monastery, located about 24km from Dharmsala. The monastery belongs to the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and thus falls under the auspices of HH the Dalai Lama.
Nonetheless, HH the Dalai Lama, did grant permission for His Holiness the Karmapa to stay in one of his monasteries, namely Gyuto.
HH Karmapa's private quarters consist of a small bedroom, about 2 meters by 3 meters, a small audience room, a bare roof top, small kitchen and bathroom amounting to approximately 15mtrs square in total. His Holiness' staff has an additional few rooms below for living, an office space, accommodating about 10 desks, a private library and a few utility rooms.
All this totals about 400 sq. meters of living and working space. For someone who bears the responsibility equivalent to that of a head of state and has a working staff of about 100 (not counting volunteers and devotees who come and help on an ongoing basis) this living and working space is woefully inadequate.
For many years, HH Karmapa and his staff have been requesting both the Indian and Tibetan governments for permission to build their own living quarters. Permission has always been denied with no specific reason given.
If the Karmapa wants to leave the grounds of Gyuto monastery, he must first ask permission of the local state police as well as that of the Tibetan government. (If that sounds to you like house arrest, well, it is.). Remember, the Karmapa made his escape at the age of fourteen and has been 'living' in this confinement ever since. His request to travel within or without the borders of India are frequently and without explanation denied.
1.) 2010 – A carefully planned, 5-week European Tour was denied at the last minute, causing large monetary losses to many European centers and His Holiness' office as many expenses had to be prepaid.
2.) 2010- A carefully planned and paid for 5-day trip to West and South India to attend a science conference and a religious ceremony was denied.
3.) 2010 – A private 2 week visit to his main seat in North America, (where he was allowed to visit only once in 2008) was also denied.
4.) 2011 – A 2 week visit to Vancouver, Canada is being planned for His Holiness for some time this year. No one knows what chances there are of that being allowed or denied.
Considering HH Karmapa regularly travels with a staff of 10-15 people, and that travel tickets, hotels, and security measures have to be arranged long in advance of such trips, the situation causes a logistical nightmare, great monetary losses and above all a strong sense of discomfort both for the Karmapa and his hosts.
There are stories of the Karmapa's compassionate activity since his birth, even before he was given the title of Karmapa. His entire education has only one purpose: to be able to instruct and lead his disciples on the path of enlightenment. More than anything else, he does so by personal example.
HH Karmapa has been an out-spoken leader for the protection of the environment and in particular of the Himalayan region. In 2009 (at the age of 24), he established the Khoryug organization to promote and sustain environmentally conscious living in all of his monasteries. He himself became a vegetarian (an extreme rarity among the Tibetan people) and asked all his monasteries to refrain from cooking meat in their kitchens.
His Holiness regularly offers Dharma teachings to his disciples. He has a very direct, modern and clear teaching style, and his talks are often translated into as many as 11 languages on the spot.
These gatherings often reach 4,000 or 5,000 people, and during the annual Kagyu Monlam, exceed 10,000. Amazingly, after each session, most people feel as if His Holiness was speaking to them directly. His compassion, power and inspiration is always felt by those in attendance. Since last year, most of His Holiness's teachings are also available live via webcasts and online.
The Karmapa is already a very accomplished painter, poet and graphic designer.
In 2010, he wrote, directed and built from scratch a theatrical play based on the life story of one of the greatest saints of Tibet, the yogi-poet Milarepa. This immense undertaking — staged in the middle of a field in India's poorest region of Bihar — drew a crowd of over 15,000, and was such a moving artistic, cultural and national spectacle that it is still talked about. This was probably the biggest show of Tibetan culture and art in recent years.
I have personally seen and experienced how His Holiness handles conflict, difficult situations and adversity. His mere presence in a room is enough to bring people to tears. Tears of joy, tears of devotion, tears of faith. He soothes the most difficult of situation with such ease, such grace, such understanding that words could never contain the power of compassion he unleashes into his every move, his every breath.
Is it then surprising that devotees come from every corner of the world to seek his blessing, hear his teachings, and appreciate his genius? And every one of these devotees brings an offering, frequently a white scarf and an envelope with cash from their own country as a token of esteem to place before the living Buddha. I have been in the endless queues, many times. Never once has the Karmapa looked at the offering. He looks into your eyes and knows you; hence the mantra Karmapa Kyenno. Karmapa, know me.
Perhaps the Indian press will get the message eventually.
HH Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyus, which is no doubt the biggest Kagyu sect, in terms of monasteries, lamas and probably followers. The Drukpa Kagyus and the Drikungs have their own spiritual heads and I have never come across any evidence that Karmapa has religous or temporal authority over them.
While all the Kagyu sects adhere to the Rime (non-sectarian) movement, it's always seemed to me that the Karma Kagyus are more self-contained. I think it's fair to suggest that cross-fertilisation occurs more widely amongst, say, the Drukpas and the Nyingmapas.
While Karmapa is widely recognised amongst Tibetan Buddhists as a living Buddha, I suspect that other Kagyu sects are probably relieved to be able to keep a certain distance from the various controversies that have erupted in the Karma Kagyu over the past 20 years!