text:
Valorem Announces Exploration Program for Wings Shear Project
Vancouver, BC – January 21, 2021 – VALOREM RESOURCES INC. (CSE: VALU) (Frankfurt: 1XW1) (the "Company" or "Valorem") is pleased to announce that it has planned a systematic exploration program to maximize the utilization of existing exploration-trench and other data for the Wings Shear project (the "Property"). This, coupled with new work, will enable Valorem to fill in gaps and quickly evaluate anomalies and structures to generate drill targets.
The Company will use a combination of soil sampling and magnetic/VLF-EM geophysical surveys, on detailed grids over known anomalous areas and along gold-bearing structures.
Collection of up to 5,000 soil samples over previously untested zones, and 90 line km of magnetics/VLF-EM, will be carried out over the 1 km long gold-bearing structural zone located on the Wings Shear Trend. The results of the surveys, along with geological mapping, will be used to plan for the first-phase drill program, which is currently scheduled to begin in the late summer/early fall of 2021.
Valorem has engaged local service provider Planet X Exploration Services Ltd. ("Planet X"), as an operator on Property. A regional geochemical soil-sampling survey design has also been completed by Planet X and consulting Geoscientist Dr. Steve Amor Ph.D. P. Geo.
The Company plans to begin field work over the winter months, as weather and suitable working conditions permit.
The Property is underlain to the NW and SE by the Jonathan's Pond Formation, comprising interbedded psammite, semipelite and pelite, with minor mafic sills and dykes and calc-silcate layers. The central area of the Property is underlain by the Indian Bay Big Pond Formation, comprising medium to thick bedded, buff, grey and maroon sandstone; thinly bedded maroon and green siltstone and black pelite and tuffaceous semipelite. Numerous fossiliferous and conglomeratic boulders occur nearby and are interpreted to be derived from this unit.
Regional deformation, leading to abundant quartz-vein emplacement and the development of local shear zones, makes the Jonathan's Pond Formation an attractive target for structurally controlled, vein-hosted gold mineralization. At the Wing Pond showings, located in the centre of the property, gold mineralization is hosted by sulphide- (arsenopyrite, pyrite, stibnite ± galena ± sphalerite) bearing quartz veins cutting metasediments.
Tony Louie, interim CEO of the Company stated, "We are excited to begin the process of moving the Property forward with this proposed program. The Wings Shear trend is an exciting untested mineralized zone. This deep-seated gold-bearing structure has been traced for over 1 km and is located approximately 27 km east of the Newfound Gold Inc.'s Queensway Project."
Dr. Stephen Amor, PhD, PGeo, technical advisor and consulting Geoscientist to the Company, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release
About Valorem Resources Inc.
Valorem explores and develops precious metal properties in the Americas.
For further details and maps, please see:
https://valoremresources.com/
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD – Valorem Resources Inc.
Tony Louie, Interim CEO and Director
Email: tlouie@valoremresources.com
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, including the likelihood of commercial mining and possible future financings are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include unsuccessful exploration results, changes in metals prices, changes in the availability of funding for mineral exploration, unanticipated changes in key management personnel and general economic conditions. Mining is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review the Company's annual filings which are available at www.sedar.com.
SOURCE: Valorem Resources Inc.


text:
Greece in March: Travel Ideas, Weather, and More
Greek winter fades into the March shoulder season, when visitor numbers begin an uptick yet prices remain attractive. The weather is beginning to warm up, with plenty of mild sunny days and the first bloom of spring flowers—time to pack the T-shirts and shorts with your cold-weather clothing.
The weather is variable in March, with a mix of gray, rainy days and plenty of bright sunny days. Temperatures begin to warm up noticeably towards the tail-end of March, with fabulous spring weather and crystal-clear skies. Athens averages 60 Fahrenheit. Northern Greece, however, remains significantly cooler with more variable weather. By contrast, the Peloponnese definitely feels like spring, while Crete can be several degrees warmer than Athens.
Evenings will still be cool, however. And the Aegean and Ionian seas remain too cold for swimming. Rain decreases as the month progresses, with one in three days being rainy on average, so it's still wise to pack rain gear.
Crowds & Costs
March is the tail-end of winter, and while visitors are beginning to trickle back, this is a great time to enjoy Greece in relative solitude. However, ferries are far fewer than in summer, and many hotels and restaurants will still be closed. Fortunately, airlines and hotels haven't yet upped their rates, so this is a good time to visit while bargains are still to be had.
There's no better time than March to be in Athens. Tour groups are still absent, the weather is pleasant, and street life is vibrant—at night, locals will be dining on sidewalks as if summer had already arrived. The smaller cities also remain tranquil and are fun places to see Greece like a local: Greeks know this is a great time to explore the Peloponnese and other mainland destinations (an antidote to their summers of family festivities and sunning on the islands).
March is a nice time to visit the islands, especially Santorini and Mykonos, before the hordes of summer arrive. Rhodes and Crete, where temperatures on the southern coast can on good days reach 70 Fahrenheit or more, are just warm enough for sunbathing.
March is perfect for exploring Athens and other cultural centers and archaeological sites. By late March snow will be melting off the mainland mountains, and the flowers announcing the impending arrival of spring make this a perfect month for invigorating hikes. The isle of Kea is particularly rewarding, with its excellent trails—and there's no better hiking than in the Peloponnese mountains.
By late March, you might also consider a sailing vacation, as the yachting charter companies begin to open their doors. Plus, this is a fantastic time for photography, as the air is as clear as any other time of year, the sun is still low (providing great saturation), and you won't have to elbow masses of visitors out of the view when angling for your perfect shot of the Parthenon.
Athens Half-Marathon: More than 20,000 runners compete through the streets of Athens.
Feast of the Annunciation/Independence Day: The Greek Orthodox Feast of the Annunciation celebrates the Christian belief that on this day, Gabriel informed Mary she would give birth to Jesus. Independence Day celebrates independence from the Ottoman Empire, in 1832. Celebrated together on March 25, cities throughout Greece host all kinds of festivities, including parades. Many restaurants and other tourist services close.
Napflio Marathon: Normally held in early March, this race in the Peloponnese town of Napflio follows a scenic coastal route.
Traveling to Greece in March? Consider these itineraries.
Mythical Peloponnese Adventure 7 days that combine cultural highlights with mountain hiking, whitewater rafting, and sea kayaking.
Best of Athens & Ancient Greece Visit the very best ancient sites before they're overrun with summer crowds
Discover Athens, Mykonos, Santorini & Crete Perfect for visitors who want to explore these four popular destinations during a period a relative calm.
More Helpful Information
Greece in February
Greece in April
Best Time to Visit Greece
More Greece Itinerary Ideas
Written by Christopher P Baker, updated Dec 31, 2018
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Traveled to Greece solo in October, 2019
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"Every aspect of this trip was amazing, being picked up after every plane, ferry etc was awesome! Every person we interacted with was great and super accommo..." read more
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


What are the new General Data Protection Regulations which come into force on the 25th May and how could they affect you and your business?
We are happy to announce that iOS 11 is now supported by the Reincubate Cloud API. Along the way, we discovered a few interesting changes that you probably didn't know from the WWDC '17 announcement alone.
What does the new iOS 11 mean for Apple developers, businesses and enterprise clients? A wrap-up of the best features from WWDC 2017 and their implication for the B2B and B2C space.
The Reincubate iCloud API helps businesses and consumers access, recover and explore app data and content created with Apple devices. What does this have to do with democratising data access?
Yesterday began with news of British insurance company Admiral's move to enhance their insurance pricing using app data collected from the Facebook platform. The principle at stake here isn't whether an insurance company can use this data, but whether it is individuals or Facebook who can control how it is used.
We are pleased to write that through our extensive research and preparatory work, we've shipped updates to the API today to fully support the iOS 10 developer release. There are no client-side changes that you will need to make for this.
The new Everalbum Explore platform -- available on iOS and Android -- aggregates photo content from a deep range of sources, using app data feeds into services including Dropbox, Google Photos, Instagram, Facebook, iMessage, Flickr, and Amazon.


Create geographic frameworks, models, and data and share them throughout your organization.
If you're reading ArcNews, chances are you have some kind of GIS practice within your organization. And chances are, you believe that geography can serve as the underlying platform, or common intersection, of all business systems and information. However, how do you know if new departments, or new colleagues who are not GIS professionals, would benefit from location analytics?
Esri Location Analytics helps you share your work and the value of ArcGIS with whole new groups throughout your organization. GIS professionals are in a unique position to help these new groups. They are already using the ArcGIS platform to create useful frameworks, data, and map layers that let non-GIS professionals, knowledge workers, and anyone in the organization start to use location and geography to drive their business.
Esri Location Analytics seamlessly plugs into your organization's existing enterprise business systems through complementary and nondisruptive technology. Your colleagues benefit from enhanced insight into business data without leaving the business system or information workflow they are used to.
With location analytics, your users can see and analyze location-enabled data in new ways—obtaining new information; adding new context for exploring business information; uncovering patterns and trends; and enabling decision making with additional, critical information, resulting in actionable intelligence.
Where Can Location Analytics Help Within Your Organization?
Desire to see the big picture—If your colleagues talk about a lack of getting the whole picture from the applications they use every day, something is missing . . . geography. Location analytics helps see patterns in data that charts and graphs can't reveal.
Desire to fully understand customers/constituents and market/jurisdiction—The feeling of not truly knowing customers or the market keeps your coworkers up at night. Location analytics can bring a wealth of demographic, lifestyle, and business data to your own data. Seeing it on a map brings it into context.
Location analytics adds a completely new way for users to query their data by using a map to drive the analysis. For example, an insurance adjuster, within a business intelligence dashboard, can ask for the value of all insurance policies that lie in the expected path of a hurricane.
For more information, visit esri.com/software/location-analytics.


When you're feeling under the weather, does activity help or hinder? Most experts agree you can still work out when you're sick as long as you listen to your body and not push it. However, if you have a chronic health condition, such as asthma, you may want to consult your doctor first before exerting yourself.
Keep in mind, everyone's tolerance level for colds and sniffles varies — one person feels like he can sustain a normal workout routine, while another feels too draggy to even consider it. But even if you fall into the latter category, you might still want to find the wherewithal to hit the gym — just be sure to clean the gym machines when you're done with them. "Studies show that exercise is beneficial because it can boost your immune system before, during and after sickness," says Nicola Finely, M.D., integrative medicine specialist at Canyon Ranch in Tucson.
"Exercise allows your white blood cells to circulate faster throughout the body, and white blood cells are the immune warriors that fight off infections," explains Finely. The American College of Sports Medicine backs that up, too, stating that regular and moderate exercise lowers the risk for respiratory infections, and that consistent exercise can enhance health and help prevent disease.
Working out almost daily at a moderate pace keeps the immune system strong. But, overtraining and pushing yourself too hard for too long "can decrease the levels of IgA, which are antibodies on the mucosal membranes, such as the respiratory tract." These antibodies are needed to battle bacteria and viruses. According to The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), moderate physical activity done every day, such as yoga or jogging, is the most effective way to keep the immune system strong.
"Keep the intensity at a moderate-to-low pace," cautions Finely. For example, if you typically go for a 30-minute run every day, take a brisk walk instead. And if you start to feel worse with exercising, then you should stop, she says.
You're tired, you're running a fever, or you're especially achy. "I'd suggest any patient refrain from exercise if fever is higher than 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit," says Finely, who points out that a fever is considered any temperature over 100 F. Finely says, exercising during this time increases the risk of dehydration, and can worsen or lengthen the duration of your cold.
There's no great advantage in tiring yourself out when you're feeling ill. After all, you don't want to risk making yourself sicker, and taking a few days off shouldn't affect your overall performance. "When you get back to exercise, make sure to gradually increase your level as you begin to feel better," she advises.
Exercising during a cold can be beneficial, but don't push it. Remember, it can help flush bacteria out of your lungs and airways and reduce your overall chances of getting a cold in the first place. The important thing is to listen to your body.


text:
Little Mix – One I've Been Missing (Official Video)
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My 2019 Tech Bag ft. HP Spectre x360
How Mark Ruffalo Became Robert Bilott for 'Dark Waters' | Rotten Tomatoes
Instant reactions after Manchester United's win v. Tottenham | Premier League | NBC Sports
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Arlo White and Lee Dixon join Robbie Earle and Kyle Martino to break down Manchester United's 2-1 win over Tottenham in Jose Mourinho's return to Old Trafford. #NBCSports #PremierLeague #ManchesterUnited #Tottenham
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NBC Sports Group serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. NBC Sports is an established leader in the sports media landscape with an unparalleled collection of sports properties that include the Olympics, NFL, Premier League, NHL, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, the Kentucky Derby, Tour de France, French Open, IndyCar and many more.
Subscribe to our channel for the latest sporting news and highlights!
The Premier League across NBC Sports Group launched in 2013 with their biggest and broadest programming commitment to-date in the United States. With live multi-platform coverage of all 380 games, analysis from best-in-class talent and extensive surrounding coverage all week long, NBC Sports Group has become the ultimate destination for new and existing Premier League fans.
The Premier League maintains strong and consistent reach across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, and NBC Sports Group's live streaming products, led by the biggest stars and most prestigious teams in the world.
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Project or Stage Gates in PM3 provide key control points in the life-cycle to review the Programme or Project's ongoing viability.
Stage gates can also be called toll gates or quality gates.
PM3 allows you to define an unlimited number of 'toll gate sets' for different types of project to pass through.
At each Gate (e.g. Initiation Approval Gate, Launch Approval Gate) the Project Manager defines the Project's RAG level of compliance with checklist questions specific to that Gate and submits the results for governance review.
The response might, for example, be 'Proceed to next Gate' or 'Proceed to next Gate only after certain conditions have been fulfilled' or 'Do not Proceed'.
PM3 provides workflow that allows a project or programme manager to submit project artifacts or deliverables showing how his or her project passes or does not pass through any particular gate.
All gates within PM3 are configurable.


When you have a cooling system that's reliable, you are afforded some peace of mind. Of course, also having a reliable AC service with a proven record is even better. Krauss & Crane is focused on supplying our clients with the highest quality services at reasonable prices.
Most of us don't have to imagine the frustration and misery of being without air conditioning in the middle of summer. Whether air conditioning repairs are what you need, or you're shopping for a new air conditioning installation, we can help.
Once we've evaluated your system, we'll go over your options and make suggestions based on your situation and budget. Our technicians are NATE-certified and we're a Trane Comfort Specialist, so you know your HVAC system is in good hands.
When temperatures start heating up outside, AC units can be heard switching on nearly anywhere you go. Unfortunately, even air conditioners that have been properly designed, installed, and maintained are subject to the wear of everyday use. What's more, issues that require air conditioning repairs don't always become apparent during normal office hours.
If you call after hours, you'll still connect to a live operator who can assist you and dispatch an on-call technician for emergencies, 24/7. Our Certified Comfort Specialists always use the proper tools and equipment for any air conditioning repairs that we conduct. We supply long-lasting repairs for all makes and models at a reasonable price.
The most effective and efficient systems are ones that have been designed and installed with immense care and precision. Our Certified Comfort Specialists consider every factor that could potentially affect your new system's performance. By installing Trane products and focusing on every last detail, we're able to provide our customers with undeniable results every time.
We teach our Certified Comfort Specialists to be meticulous in the way they approach every task. To get the most out of your air conditioner, every step of the process must be executed correctly. Small miscalculations and mistakes can lead to decreased function, higher utilities, undue repairs, shortened lifespan, or any combination of these problems.
We've been building lasting relationships in our community through hard work and excellent service since 1957. This has been made possible by our incredible staff, all of whom know exactly what it means to be a professional. Treating our customers like family and providing you with the best possible service are essential steps in forming these relationships.
Krauss & Crane is a family owned and operated business that can take care of all your air conditioning needs with unmatched service at a reasonable price. Call to talk with our friendly staff about your situation and schedule an appointment today. Our service area includes Martin County, St. Lucie County, Stuart, Palm City, and Hobe Sound, FL, as well as the surrounding areas.


text:
package cmdsource

import (
	"bytes"
	"os"
	"path/filepath"
	"testing"

	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/kpt/internal/testutil"
	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/kpt/pkg/printer/fake"
	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
)

func TestSourceCommand(t *testing.T) {
	d, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "source-test")
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	defer os.RemoveAll(d)

	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "f1.yaml"), []byte(`
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx2
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx2
spec:
  replicas: 1
---
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx
spec:
  selector:
    app: nginx
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "f2.yaml"), []byte(`
apiVersion: v1
kind: Abstraction
metadata:
  name: foo
  annotations:
    config.kubernetes.io/function: |
      container:
        image: gcr.io/example/reconciler:v1
    config.kubernetes.io/local-config: "true"
spec:
  replicas: 3
---
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx
  name: bar
  annotations:
    app: nginx
spec:
  replicas: 3
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}

	// fmt the files
	b := &bytes.Buffer{}
	r := GetSourceRunner(fake.CtxWithPrinter(b, nil), "")
	r.Command.SetArgs([]string{d})
	if !assert.NoError(t, r.Command.Execute()) {
		return
	}

	if !assert.Equal(t, `apiVersion: config.kubernetes.io/v1
kind: ResourceList
items:
- kind: Deployment
  metadata:
    labels:
      app: nginx2
    name: foo
    annotations:
      app: nginx2
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    replicas: 1
- kind: Service
  metadata:
    name: foo
    annotations:
      app: nginx
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    selector:
      app: nginx
- apiVersion: v1
  kind: Abstraction
  metadata:
    name: foo
    annotations:
      config.kubernetes.io/function: |
        container:
          image: gcr.io/example/reconciler:v1
      config.kubernetes.io/local-config: "true"
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    replicas: 3
- apiVersion: apps/v1
  kind: Deployment
  metadata:
    labels:
      app: nginx
    name: bar
    annotations:
      app: nginx
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    replicas: 3
`, b.String()) {
		return
	}
}

func TestSourceCommand_Unwrap(t *testing.T) {
	d, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "source-test")
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	defer os.RemoveAll(d)

	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "f1.yaml"), []byte(`
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx2
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx2
spec:
  replicas: 1
---
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx
spec:
  selector:
    app: nginx
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "f2.yaml"), []byte(`
apiVersion: v1
kind: Abstraction
metadata:
  name: foo
spec:
  replicas: 3
---
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx
  name: bar
  annotations:
    app: nginx
spec:
  replicas: 3
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}

	// fmt the files
	b := &bytes.Buffer{}
	r := GetSourceRunner(fake.CtxWithPrinter(b, nil), "")
	r.Command.SetArgs([]string{d, "-o", "unwrap"})
	if !assert.NoError(t, r.Command.Execute()) {
		return
	}

	if !assert.Equal(t, `kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx2
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx2
spec:
  replicas: 1
---
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx
spec:
  selector:
    app: nginx
---
apiVersion: v1
kind: Abstraction
metadata:
  name: foo
spec:
  replicas: 3
---
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx
  name: bar
  annotations:
    app: nginx
spec:
  replicas: 3
`, b.String()) {
		return
	}
}

func TestSourceCommand_InvalidInput(t *testing.T) {
	d, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "source-test")
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	defer os.RemoveAll(d)

	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "f1.yaml"), []byte(`
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx2
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx2
spec:
  replicas: 1
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}

	r := GetSourceRunner(fake.CtxWithDefaultPrinter(), "")
	r.Command.SetArgs([]string{d, "-o", "foo/bar"})
	err = r.Command.Execute()
	if !assert.Error(t, err) {
		t.FailNow()
	}

	if !assert.Equal(t, `invalid input for --output flag "foo/bar", must be "stdout" or "unwrap"`, err.Error()) {
		t.FailNow()
	}
}

func TestSourceCommand_DefaultDir(t *testing.T) {
	d, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "source-test")
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	defer os.RemoveAll(d)

	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "f1.yaml"), []byte(`
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx2
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx2
spec:
  replicas: 1
---
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx
spec:
  selector:
    app: nginx
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "f2.yaml"), []byte(`
apiVersion: v1
kind: Abstraction
metadata:
  name: foo
  annotations:
    config.kubernetes.io/function: |
      container:
        image: gcr.io/example/reconciler:v1
    config.kubernetes.io/local-config: "true"
spec:
  replicas: 3
---
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx
  name: bar
  annotations:
    app: nginx
spec:
  replicas: 3
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	revert := testutil.Chdir(t, d)
	defer revert()

	// fmt the files
	b := &bytes.Buffer{}
	r := GetSourceRunner(fake.CtxWithPrinter(b, nil), "")
	r.Command.SetArgs([]string{})

	if !assert.NoError(t, r.Command.Execute()) {
		return
	}

	if !assert.Equal(t, `apiVersion: config.kubernetes.io/v1
kind: ResourceList
items:
- kind: Deployment
  metadata:
    labels:
      app: nginx2
    name: foo
    annotations:
      app: nginx2
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    replicas: 1
- kind: Service
  metadata:
    name: foo
    annotations:
      app: nginx
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    selector:
      app: nginx
- apiVersion: v1
  kind: Abstraction
  metadata:
    name: foo
    annotations:
      config.kubernetes.io/function: |
        container:
          image: gcr.io/example/reconciler:v1
      config.kubernetes.io/local-config: "true"
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    replicas: 3
- apiVersion: apps/v1
  kind: Deployment
  metadata:
    labels:
      app: nginx
    name: bar
    annotations:
      app: nginx
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    replicas: 3
`, b.String()) {
		return
	}
}

func TestSourceCommandJSON(t *testing.T) {
	d, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "source-test")
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	defer os.RemoveAll(d)

	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "f1.json"), []byte(`
{
  "kind": "Deployment",
  "metadata": {
    "labels": {
      "app": "nginx2"
    },
    "name": "foo",
    "annotations": {
      "app": "nginx2"
    }
  },
  "spec": {
    "replicas": 1
  }
}
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "f2.json"), []byte(`
{
  "apiVersion": "v1",
  "kind": "Abstraction",
  "metadata": {
    "name": "foo",
    "annotations": {
      "config.kubernetes.io/function": "container:\n  image: gcr.io/example/reconciler:v1\n",
      "config.kubernetes.io/local-config": "true"
    }
  },
  "spec": {
    "replicas": 3
  }
}
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}

	// fmt the files
	b := &bytes.Buffer{}
	r := GetSourceRunner(fake.CtxWithPrinter(b, nil), "")
	r.Command.SetArgs([]string{d})

	if !assert.NoError(t, r.Command.Execute()) {
		return
	}

	//nolint:lll
	expected := `apiVersion: config.kubernetes.io/v1
kind: ResourceList
items:
- {"kind": "Deployment", "metadata": {"labels": {"app": "nginx2"}, "name": "foo", "annotations": {"app": "nginx2", config.kubernetes.io/index: '0', config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.json', internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '0', internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.json', internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'}}, "spec": {"replicas": 1}}
- {"apiVersion": "v1", "kind": "Abstraction", "metadata": {"name": "foo", "annotations": {"config.kubernetes.io/function": "container:\n  image: gcr.io/example/reconciler:v1\n", "config.kubernetes.io/local-config": "true", config.kubernetes.io/index: '0', config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.json', internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '0', internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.json', internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'}}, "spec": {"replicas": 3}}
`

	if !assert.Equal(t, expected, b.String()) {
		return
	}
}

func TestSourceCommand_Symlink(t *testing.T) {
	d, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "source-test")
	defer os.RemoveAll(d)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}

	defer testutil.Chdir(t, d)()
	err = os.MkdirAll(filepath.Join(d, "foo"), 0700)
	assert.NoError(t, err)
	err = os.Symlink("foo", "foo-link")
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "foo", "f1.yaml"), []byte(`
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx2
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx2
spec:
  replicas: 1
---
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: foo
  annotations:
    app: nginx
spec:
  selector:
    app: nginx
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}
	err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "foo", "f2.yaml"), []byte(`
apiVersion: v1
kind: Abstraction
metadata:
  name: foo
  annotations:
    config.kubernetes.io/function: |
      container:
        image: gcr.io/example/reconciler:v1
    config.kubernetes.io/local-config: "true"
spec:
  replicas: 3
---
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  labels:
    app: nginx
  name: bar
  annotations:
    app: nginx
spec:
  replicas: 3
`), 0600)
	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
		return
	}

	// fmt the files
	b := &bytes.Buffer{}
	stderr := &bytes.Buffer{}
	r := GetSourceRunner(fake.CtxWithPrinter(b, stderr), "")
	r.Command.SetArgs([]string{"foo-link"})
	if !assert.NoError(t, r.Command.Execute()) {
		return
	}

	if !assert.Equal(t, `apiVersion: config.kubernetes.io/v1
kind: ResourceList
items:
- kind: Deployment
  metadata:
    labels:
      app: nginx2
    name: foo
    annotations:
      app: nginx2
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    replicas: 1
- kind: Service
  metadata:
    name: foo
    annotations:
      app: nginx
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f1.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    selector:
      app: nginx
- apiVersion: v1
  kind: Abstraction
  metadata:
    name: foo
    annotations:
      config.kubernetes.io/function: |
        container:
          image: gcr.io/example/reconciler:v1
      config.kubernetes.io/local-config: "true"
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '0'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    replicas: 3
- apiVersion: apps/v1
  kind: Deployment
  metadata:
    labels:
      app: nginx
    name: bar
    annotations:
      app: nginx
      config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/index: '1'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/path: 'f2.yaml'
      internal.config.kubernetes.io/seqindent: 'compact'
  spec:
    replicas: 3
`, b.String()) {
		return
	}
	assert.Contains(t, stderr.String(), "please note that the symlinks within the package are ignored")
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Charter schools offer no solutions to the acute racial and class inequality that surround our schools every day.
As a teacher in the Poughkeepsie City School district for well over a decade, I have experienced various attempts by state and federal governments to "improve" public education. When I started teaching, "No Child Left Behind" was the law of the land and the beginning of standards-based education reform. I've since endured other initiatives such as "Race to the Top" and the high stakes tests that are attached to "Common Core." However, the most sinister and damaging threat to the sustainability of public education are charter schools.
Charter schools have been hailed as the magic bullet that can save students from failing public schools in urban and impoverished districts such as Poughkeepsie.
It's no surprise that the Poughkeepsie City School district has struggled to raise its graduation rate and has also had its share of scandals. For these reasons, a charter school called Hudson Valley Success Academy could open in Poughkeepsie next year. However, one should realize that charter schools not only divert much needed resources away from already underfunded schools, they also ignore the litany of challenges so many children from living in poverty bring to their classrooms every day.
Poughkeepsie City School District, the poorest in Dutchess County, has a free and reduced lunch rate of over 84 percent. In terms of funding, the district has never been compensated the millions of dollars in state aid it was awarded from the Campaign of Fiscal Equity lawsuit. Moreover, the city continues to suffer from a Jim Crow justice system and has been damaged by years of de facto segregation. In 1973, before Spackenkill separated from Poughkeepsie Schools and created its own high school, community members predicted the problems this would create for students. Kenneth Parker opposed the new Spackenkill high school because it took IBM tax revenues away from Poughkeepsie. According to Parker, "If we build our own high school, all we are doing is creating a middle-class ghetto high school. I see no other words for it than racism with the result of leaving Poughkeepsie to rot." In this context the problems facing the district become clear and consequently the potential for a charter school will only exacerbate the challenges Poughkeepsie is already struggling to solve.
There have been huge gains by those who promote charter schools as solutions to educational problems in poor communities — see President Donald Trump's appointment of privatizer-in-chief Betsy DeVos as education secretary. However, when compared to public schools, charters perform no better. In a study by Margaret Raymond at Stanford University, her team looked at roughly half the charter schools in America and compared them to demographically similar public schools. They found that 37 percent of charter school students posted scores on state math assessments that were significantly worse than their public school peers; and 46 percent of charter school students achieved math scores that were indistinguishable from their public school counterparts. That means that only 17 percent of charter school students — roughly one out of every six — performed better than their public school peers on state math assessments. In fact, charter school students were more than twice as likely to post math scores that were significantly worse than those educated at regular public institutions.
Ultimately proponents of charter schools, politicians, and policy makers aren't willing to invest and do the hard work necessary to deal with the underlying issues that are plaguing our public schools. Charter schools offer no solutions to the acute racial and class inequality that surround our schools every day. The charter school movement is a reform hoax that is dismantling the public school system and creating a system of educational apartheid.
Paul Donnelly is a teacher in the Poughkeepsie City School District, as well as an instructor for Vassar College's Urban Education Initiative.


text:
Archive for the Animation Category
Posted in Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical with tags 2019 on November 25, 2019 by Mark Hobin
Truth be told, I enjoyed Frozen just fine in 2013, but I didn't think it was the be all and end all of animated cinema. I was in the minority because somehow it ended up making $1.2 billion worldwide and winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. I was rooting for Despicable Me 2 that year incidentally and yes I'm 100% serious. Now we have Frozen 2, a sequel to the Disney megahit. Coming on the heels of Ralph Breaks the Internet, I suspect that Disney is in the early stages of producing many followups to their successful properties. Pixar has been doing this for years. I could be snarky and say you could almost throw anything up there on the screen and it would be a hit but the filmmakers didn't play it safe. They have put in considerable work to deepen the drama with a complicated backstory. I appreciate the attempt, but it's an effort that feels unnecessary.
Before we get to the adventure, however, let's starts with the basics. It's not hard to see how Frozen 2 checks off the ingredients in a recipe: bring back familiar personalities we know, introduce new characters which can be marketed as great toys, pre-package girl power messaging and highlight a musical with original show tunes. Not a problem. I was prepared for that. Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell) return. A magic water horse called the Nokk, a cute salamander named Bruni and a family of giant rock monsters are newly added merchandising opportunities. It also grants us an entire soundtrack of new songs by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. There seems to be some debate, but I contend that "Show Yourself" is the one designed to mimic "Let it Go" musically and visually in the film. "Into the Unknown" is the ballad they're pushing as the hit though. The best ditty, however, is not when the soundtrack is trying to rewrite the melodies from the previous chapter. It happens when our expectations are subverted. Kristoff's (Jonathan Groff) 80s influenced "Lost in the Woods" is the greatest power pop ballad that REO Speedwagon never sang.
More isn't always better. The story presented here proves that. Sometimes more is just more. The chronicle is a needlessly convoluted fantasy with more subplots. It offers answers for questions you never thought to ask but are going to receive anyway. Some people will adore that level of mythology. Are you one of those people? You have to ask yourself this question: What do you require of a cartoon? If simplicity and clarity are what you crave, you are likely to be a bit perplexed by the elaborate exposition. However, if you prefer more legends and fabrications, then your curiosity will be satiated. You're going to get a lot of expounding. For example, the narrative will produce explanations as to why Elsa has magical abilities, and what happened to her and Anna's parents. I didn't need that level of detail, but thanks for the info…I guess. Still, it's enjoyable enough. The production is beautifully animated and features some nice music. It's a formula but it's a formula that works. Frozen 2 did $127 million in the U.S. during its opening weekend so be ready to take your children to a movie they will beg you to see. That is if you haven't seen it already.
Posted in Animation, Comedy, Family with tags 2019 on October 12, 2019 by Mark Hobin
The characters who first appeared in the pages of The New Yorker, in 1938, wouldn't be christened "The Addams Family" until the 1964 TV series. Charles Addams' comic strip also spawned wildly successful movies in the 1990s. Given the passage of time, these are probably how most people know these individuals today. Incidentally, there was a Broadway show back in 2010 as well. The execution of this current animated film is actually the closest rendering to the cartoonist's original creation. It acts as a nice introduction for kids to the ghoulish clan.
Our tale begins in the past with the marriage of Gomez and Morticia voiced by Oscar Isaac Charlize Theron. Flash forward to the present where they move to New Jersey, in a particularly amusing gag. There are a few plot threads. An oppressive neighborhood busybody and reality TV host named Margeaux Needler (Allison Janney) threatens to make the Addams' life miserable. More on her later. Pugsley (Finn Wolfhard) prepares for a coming of age ritual involving swordplay. Finally, their daughter, Wednesday (Chloë Grace Moretz) is curious about life outside her home and so she enrolls herself in junior high school. There she befriends a girl named Parker (Elsie Fisher), who happens to be Margaux's daughter.
The Addams Family isn't an expensive effort and picky animation fans raised on Pixar and Disney may balk at the modest appearance of the production. This cost a mere $24 million to make. Compare that to Toy Story 4 which had a budget of $200 million. However, this uncluttered simplicity is part of its charm. Directors Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan brought us the raunchy R rated Sausage Party back in 2016. This bears absolutely no resemblance to that endeavor. Depending on your point of view that could either be a good thing or a bad thing. (Personally, I was pleased.)
First the bad news: The Addams Family won't win any awards. As a stroy it's kind of a scattershot affair that keeps hammering the same lesson– it's OK to be different. Promoting the virtues of uniformity is Home And Garden (HAG) TV maven Margeaux. She's building a planned community known as Assimilation near the Addams' mansion. She has this ridiculously large bouffant of blonde hair. It looks like a gigantic plastic headpiece. She's the villain obviously and she's hilarious. The moral is heavy-handed but its heart is in the right place.
That's the good news: As a piece of animated entertainment, it's a pleasant diversion that stays true to the spirit of Charles Addams' cartoon strip. The artwork and his quirky sense of humor are intact. These folks remain the appealingly oddball personalities that we know and love. They're all here: Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester (Nick Kroll) Grandmama (Bette Midler), Wednesday, Pugsley, their butler Lurch (Conrad Vernon), Cousin Itt (Snoop Dogg) and Thing, a disembodied hand. Their eccentricities are on full display and they provide laughs aplenty for children and adults alike. Monochromatic Wednesday Addams and her school chum Parker (Elsie Fisher) are talking about which Instagram filter to use for their photo and Wednesday dismisses making a choice. "I still appear black and white in all of them." It's these little throwaway comments that made me chuckle. The Addams Family is a spirited bit of fluff with inspired atmospheric touches.
Posted in Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family with tags 2019 on October 2, 2019 by Mark Hobin
This site is called "Fast" Film Reviews so I'll get right to the point. I'm giving Abominable a marginal pass because it's vivid entertainment that will undoubtedly charm 8 years olds and under who haven't been corrupted by as many movies as I. My mind, however, went to a lot of other flicks while watching this tried and true tale. It suffers by comparison. The adventure is about a Yeti. It begins in Shanghai, China. One day a girl discovers a cute roly-poly creature with a loving disposition on her rooftop. He has escaped from his holding cell in a laboratory at the sinister Burnish Industries. The two bond and she names him Everest. She vows to bring him back to that highest mountain on earth where he lives. The problem is that they're pursued by authorities who want to apprehend him. With her basketball-loving friend Peng (Albert Tsai) and his selfie-obsessed cousin Jin (Tenzing Norgay Trainor), the four individuals undertake an epic journey.
Despite the setting, the experience succumbs to an Americanized milieu. This is a joint effort by DreamWorks Animation and Pearl Studio. With the exception of her diminutive grandmother Nai Nai (Tsai Chin), the entire cast sounds as if they were assembled from a Hollywood casting call of local talent. The central character is a teenaged girl named Yi. Given the flat tonal quality of her voice, she recalls Miley Cyrus (Bolt) to this untrained ear. I checked the credits and saw it was in fact actress Chloe Bennet (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). Yi plays the violin which allows for a few expressive pieces that genuinely enhance the soundtrack. However, hearing London based Coldplay's song "Fix You" takes you right out of that atmosphere. A pop ditty entitled "Beautiful Life" by Brooklyn born Bebe Rexha doesn't add to the mood either. English Eddie Izzard and American Sarah Paulson voice the antagonists. Ok so the visual backgrounds are culled from Far East locations but there's nothing about this production that would have substantially changed if it had been set in a large American city like New York. In a year where The Farewell truly presented Chinese culture with depth and nuance, you're going to have to do better than simply having your characters eat a few pork buns. Abominable was also released with a far more evocative Mandarin-language translation for Chinese-speaking moviegoers. Personally, I would've appreciated that version, with English subtitles of course.
Abominable meets the acceptable standard of children's entertainment. It's pleasant enough. The visuals are indeed colorful and the saving grace of this picture. A highlight occurs when huge blueberries rain down a hill toward our protagonists in a tsunami. Vast sweeping fields of canola flowers are appropriately stunning. Shanghai is a glowing neon metropolis, the Gobi desert is pretty and the giant mountainside Buddha in Leshan is an impressively rendered landmark. The principal critter is a smartly designed plump ball of fur. He doesn't resemble an abominable snowman but as a stuffed animal to be manufactured and produced for the masses, he's adorable. The animation is adventurous. The screenplay by writer-director Jill Culton is not.
The "girl makes an unlikely friend" chronicle is stridently average. Substitute Everest for an alien or pet or dragon and you have the blueprint of countless (better) tales that have come before. Additionally, the pacing is unbearably slow. There is surprisingly very little humor to break up the monotony. A full third of the drama must elapse before they even begin their journey, which is the main thrust of the narrative. The final installment of the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy came out just 7 months ago. That far superior release was also from DreamWorks, so the company is actually offering pale imitations of their own movies now. This story is rote and unoriginal. The noteworthy thing about Abominable is that it's is the 7th movie from Universal to top the box office weekend in the U.S. this year (8 if you include Downton Abbey). The studio has the most #1 films in 2019. At a time where Disney's dominance over the market is unprecedented, I love to root for the underdog. Kudos to Universal for still being a competitor. I just wish it could do so with a less conventional product.
Posted in Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Fantasy with tags 2019 on July 21, 2019 by Mark Hobin
If you've never seen The Lion King, the animated feature from 1994, you can add an additional star to my review. You're really going to enjoy this version. Also, welcome to planet earth. If you have seen it – (which applies to most of us) – then this variant gets a little harder to recommend. Over the 25 years since its release, the original has become one of Disney's most beloved pictures. Obviously remaking a hallowed "masterpiece" is going to incur the wrath of movie lovers who think classic films are sacrosanct and shouldn't be redone. I can appreciate that mentality. I also understand that movies, like songs, can be "covered" and that's the approach to take with this new rendition.
The Lion King (1994) is a refreshingly simple story full of captivating characters and deep emotion. Written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton, this current adaptation has been ever so slightly updated by Jeff Nathanson. It's not hard to take this material and make an enchanting movie. For the most part, screenwriter Nathanson and director Jon Favreau have chosen to make a film that is largely a shot-for-shot recreation of the original with minimal changes. The justification for this reinterpretation has been that this is a "live-action" portrayal. But that description is not entirely accurate. This is in truth another animated interpretation using CGI to render the animals as faithful versions of their previously hand-drawn selves. However, the beasts of this vast African savanna still talk and occasionally burst into song. So the realism is kind of an odd blend of nature mixed with the former musical. The presentation is not unlike the CGI tools that director Jon Favreau utilized on his critically and monetarily successful adaptation of The Jungle Book in 2016. This live-action depiction has been greeted with a lot less critical enthusiasm and I'm somewhat perplexed. The visuals here are even more extraordinary looking. In contrast, the public at large seems to agree as this has been enthusiastically greeted by audiences.
The Lion King is a breathtaking wonder and as a photographic work of art, it is astonishing. The animators have realistically rendered these creatures down to every last hair on their furry bodies. Mammals communicate in a variety of ways. The illustrators preserve the way an animal emotes and reacts which is quite different from the earlier film where the expressions were more energetic. The artists have to convey these feelings through a heightened stance or the kinds of facial responses you'd expect of an animal in order to uphold that illusion. Sympathy is often derived from the situation in which a creature is placed. For example, the fate of Mufasa endures as a powerful moment because we feel sorrow when harm comes to a living thing. It's almost akin to watching a nature documentary at times.
The Lion King is entertaining. As a technological marvel, it's a miracle to behold. The beasts are unbelievably lifelike. However, these mammals do talk and sing. That certainly adds an extra element of relatability. However, this remake doesn't top the 1994 version, nor does it add anything new or innovative to the story. There's more flatulence. I'll give it that. The cast also boasts a list of famous performers: Beyoncé, Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner. With the exception of James Earl Jones who reprises his role as Mufasa, the vocal performances are less affecting this time around. The visuals partially make up for that deficiency. Contemplating such natural renditions of these characters while they sing and dance is rather strange but oddly fascinating. Timon the meerkat (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa the warthog (Seth Rogen) were cute cuddly creatures in the previous film. Here they are decidedly less so. Yet I can't help but admire the movie's adherence to true to life detail. The pair get the most comedic bits. Some are self-aware meta moments. They acknowledge how Simba ages during the passage of time montage in the "Hakuna Matata" song. They also sing a few bars of "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. These added details are pretty rare though. At best this is a gorgeous evocation of the superior original. At worst, it's an unnecessary update.
Posted in Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family on June 24, 2019 by Mark Hobin
Let's face it. Toy Story 4 doesn't need to exist. Toy Story 3 was a flawless finish to a brilliant trilogy. Everything had been resolved. You may recall that Andy the human child had grown up. At the end, he donated his playthings to a little girl named Bonnie. She was a preschooler at Sunnyside Daycare. If you don't remember this, who could blame you? 2010 was almost a decade ago. However, it's an important detail in order to understand the journey of these beloved characters. Toy Story 4 becomes a necessary addition to this series. The filmmakers have done something quite radical. They have in essence rebooted the franchise by highlighting a new ensemble while drastically reducing the screen time of most of the original cast, even Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). Woody (Tom Hanks) is a notable exception who still plays a major part. He now finds himself neglected by Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw). He may have been Andy's favorite, but Bonnie is a completely different individual altogether. Meet Forky (Tony Hale). Bonnie has created a primitive toy as a craft project in her kindergarten class. She loves him as much, if not more than, any store bought toy.
Director Josh Cooley along with writers Andrew Stanton and Stephany Folsom, have come up with chronicle where an individual considers whether their life has meaning. Forky has been fashioned from a plastic spork, pipe cleaners and googly eyes. He becomes a sentient being. He is not a "toy" in the classic sense and deep down the neurotic entity knows it. He is constantly trying to throw himself into the trash. Yet Bonnie's love has brought him to life. Her devotion is as real to this curio as any of her branded toys. Woody understands this. He unfailingly rescues the plastic thingamabob from trying to end its own life. It's an existential crisis that would make Ingmar Bergman proud.
The narrative introduces several characters and each one is a uniquely inspired creation of anxiety. Forky is merely one soul in a detailed rumination on why toys exist and what gives a life fulfillment and value. Also making a strong impression are Ducky (Keegan-Michael Key) and Bunny (Jordan Peele), a pair of carnival prizes who simply want to be won. The stitched together plush animals provide some of the biggest laughs of 2019. There's also Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks), a 1950s pull-string doll that is perfectly preserved, except for one thing. She has a broken voice box. If that defect is repaired, she reasons, then someone will want her. She is attended to by a collection of identical looking ventriloquist dummies named Benson that serve as her minions. The fact they don't speak is such an intelligent decision. They are truly terrifying. There's also Duke Caboom, a square-jawed Canadian daredevil voiced by Keanu Reeves. Given his well-received appearances in John Wick: Chapter 3 and Always Be My Maybe, 2019 is definitely his year. He looks just like the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle I treasured in the 1970s. Nevertheless, he suffers from low self-esteem because he is unable to perform the stunts his commercial ads promised. This is pretty heady stuff. I suspect most youngsters will appreciate all this angst as simply the basic need to be loved.
Toy Story 4 may be billed as a sequel to part 3 but it's really a new beginning. Most of the original characters have been sidelined in favor of a fresh cast and amended outlook. Toy Story 4 profoundly flips the script in finding a sense of purpose. Enter Bo Peep (Annie Potts) who is a much different personality in this narrative. She was a porcelain figurine on a lamp in the first two entries. Woody and she had a flirtatious crush on one another. She is only briefly referenced in the third so her reemergence here as a major player is unexpected. Her story opens the movie as a brief intro that begins 9 years prior, where she is unceremoniously given away to a mysterious man. Part Annie Oakley, part Imperator Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road) — she is a galvanizing presence with a revolutionary perspective.
Toy Story 4 justifies its existence. The storytelling is a bit messier than its predecessors. The plot is an ungainly merging of various plot threads which juggle the various motivations of a large cast. There are some risky leaps. There is an emphasis on jokes. The humor is zany. Although the script truly has something to say. I will never doubt Pixar's ability to reinvent itself. Once you consider a fourth entry, you expect the quality to drop. You'd be forgiven for being skeptical. The fourth installment has often been the death knell for a film series. Batman & Robin (1997), Scream 4 (2011) and (perhaps too soon) Men in Black: International (2019) were each the final movie in their respective franchises. The title is the only predictable component in this production. This is a visionary dream. As far as I'm concerned, Pixar could now put out Toy Story 5 & 6 and I'd greet their existence with joy.
Posted in Adventure, Animation, Comedy with tags 2019 on June 7, 2019 by Mark Hobin
From a narrative standpoint, The Secret Life of Pets 2 has no reason to exist. From a business angle, it would be to make money. Given my sparsely attended theater on opening night, it's a mere shadow of its predecessor in that department as well. The first movie wasn't great art but it had a zany quality that ultimately endeared itself to the audience. There was a lot of animal personalities crammed into the plot but none stood out more than Kevin Hart as a white bunny named Snowball. He's back again but no longer a villain. The attitude that made his character a surprise in the original is gone.
The rest of the cast is back with one major exception. Max, a Jack Russell Terrier, is now voiced by Patton Oswalt in this go-around taking over for Louis CK who was not rehired due to accusations of sexual harassment. Oswalt voiced Remy the rat in Pixar's Ratatouille so he's no stranger to voice acting. Duke (Eric Stonestreet) is back as the large, brown, shaggy Newfoundland mix who lives with Max. If I had to award an MVP in the cast it would be to Lake Bell who returns as Chloe, a blue tabby cat. Her sarcastic indifference perfectly matched my mood while watching this.
The Secret Life of Pets 2 is even more chaotic, more freeform and less focused than its forebear. 30 minutes into the film and I still couldn't discern a plot. If you're looking for a sampling of gags stuffed into an admittedly brief 86 minute saga (that includes the credits) then I suppose it fitfully entertains. There are three storylines going on simultaneously. The screenplay keeps them coherently discernible from one another like a banana, a mango and a peach in a fruit smoothie after they've been liquified in a blender. The difference? This experience isn't tasty.
Max and Duke's human owner Katie has married and now has a child. The family all take a trip to visit a farm as a way to relax. There Max meets Rooster (Harrison Ford), an alpha farm dog who watches Fox News and stans for Donald Trump. I'm kidding but watch the movie and then tell me I'm wrong. Meanwhile, Pomeranian Gidget ( Jenny Slate) accidentally loses Max's favorite chew toy (a busy bee) to a bunch of cats in the apartment below hers. She needs to get it back. Finally, Snowball (Kevin Hart) and a Daisy (Tiffany Haddish), a Shih Tzu, must rescue a white tiger from a Russian circus run by a heavily accented stereotype named Sergei (Nick Kroll). In these highly sensitive times, making fun of Eastern Europeans and the way they talk is apparently still OK.
Thankfully, The Secret Life of Pets 2 is short but it still feels long because it's so meandering. The story is essentially three cartoon shorts along with various subplots and vignettes cobbled together to make a theatrical feature. None of them are particularly captivating. It's fleeting and ephemeral. I can barely remember what I watched and I just saw it. Perhaps this would be more comprehensible edited down and promoted as 3 half-hour TV episodes. The screenplay doesn't bother to expand on our understanding of these characters. Nor does it offer anything in the way of wit. If toilet humor is your thing, there are poop jokes and fart jokes. The ending credits presents an America's Funniest Home Videos-style montage of kids with their pets. It made me laugh more than anything in the film. At best this works as an 86-minute babysitter for your kids and at worst it's an unpleasant time waster.
Posted in Adventure, Animation, Comedy with tags 2019 on April 15, 2019 by Mark Hobin
Laika needs help. The studio specializes in fastidiously mounted, exquisitely produced stop-motion animated features. They receive critical raves but are increasingly ignored at the box office. Their latest effort debuted at $5.9 million which set a record for the lowest total ever for a film to open on more than 3,200+ screens. It helps that Laika is owned by Nike founder Phil Knight who has the power to subsidize their efforts. Knight's son Travis is President and CEO. To be fair, their movies have never been huge money makers, but they can turn a profit. The darkly twisted yet lovely Coraline made a substantial $75 million at the box office in 2009. Their stop motion technique is liberally enhanced using computer-generated effects and 3D printing. Some critics have blamed a lack of audience interest on Laika's approach, but that doesn't ring true. The finished product is not dissimilar to Pixar's or Disney's computer-animated style. I admire the meticulous craft that goes into making Laika's art even when the production doesn't charm me (The Boxtrolls). I really want Laika to succeed because they make gorgeous looking pictures. Missing Link likewise is visually stunning, but overall a relatively low point in their filmography.
The story concerns Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman), a self-absorbed trailblazer that sets off on a trek of the Pacific Northwest. He seeks to prove the existence of a legendary primitive man creature. By doing this he hopes to secure admission into London's Optimates Club, a group of narrow-minded explorers headed up by the insufferable Lord Piggot-Dunceby (Stephen Fry). Why Frost so desperately wants to belong to an organization of arrogant snobs is rather baffling. At any rate, he meets the Sasquatch rather quickly in the forest. Turns out "Mr. Link" (Zach Galifianakis) as Frost dubs him, is a gentle giant who can talk. Incidentally, with his tiny beady eyes and large pig nose, the design of the titular beast isn't appealing. Honestly, he's downright ugly. My unsolicited advice: if your main protagonist is furry and virtuous, make him adorable so kids will want the stuffed animal version. The two set out to find Mr. Link's long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La in the Himalayas. Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana), Frost's former girlfriend joins the two on their journey. Her look may mimic the style of the "Gibson Girl" but her contemptuous personality isn't cute. Meanwhile, they are pursed by Willard Stenk (Timothy Olyphant) a bounty hunter on a mission to kill Frost. Apparently, Piggot-Dunceby wants Frost dead so he has no chance of ever joining their group. I still can't get past the idea that Frost craves this guy's acceptance.
Missing Link has its charms but they're mostly visual. The adventure has no momentum. Just a meandering saga highlighting beautifully executed stop motion skills. The chronicle is lacking a spark of inspiration to bring it to life. Coraline and ParaNorman both had this audacious quality that entertained through sheer eccentricity. But Missing Link is much saner and safer. Frost's whole purpose to gain admission into this highfalutin society of people who are beneath contempt is just misguided and sad. The prim Victorian era setting isn't an atmosphere that's ripe for laughs. Unless of course, you find colonialism and stuffy tradition, inherently funny. Most of the stodgy repartee doesn't land. Emma Thompson, as the Yeti Elder Queen gets in a few laconic quips. 'Throw them in the Pit of Misery and Perpetual Disappointment!' and "Shangri-La means, Keep out. We hate you," are droll lines. An adult fan of sarcasm might chuckle but it's not banter that would delight a young child. Ads for the movie clearly mismarketed this to children when this really should've been targeted at teens and adults. However, the climactic action scene is a real cliffhanger – literally. It entertains all ages. The moment energizes with inspired loopiness. That zany joy is sadly absent from most of the film. It was a wacky jolt from a tale in desperate need of it.
Posted in Action, Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy on February 26, 2019 by Mark Hobin
There's something so gratifying about a saga with an emotional finish. DreamWorks Animation may not hold the influence of Disney or Pixar, but they've given us some pretty beloved animated franchises including Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda. This fantasy series, inspired by Cressida Cowell's books, is among DreamWorks' very best. It all started back in 2010 with the first production. The sequel arrived in 2014. Now we have The Hidden World, the third (and allegedly final) entry in the trilogy. All three of these movies have been directed by Canadian animator, Dean DeBlois (Lilo & Stich). Executive producer Chris Sanders was a co-director on the first. DeBlois has really shepherded this adventure about a callow youth and his maturation into adulthood.
This is the personal evolution of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Jay Baruchel) or just Hiccup to his friends. The series has comprised a very affecting character arc. His ability to buddy up with a supposedly dangerous dragon, teaches his fellow citizens from Berk that these creatures are not the enemy. In fact, they can be allies. Hiccup's friendship with his pet Toothless, a mysterious dark breed called a Night Fury, has developed into a deeply moving relationship that has changed his worldview. Hiccup has gone from a gangly Viking teen afraid to kill dragons to a gangly adult that confidently befriends them. It may be your classic "from zero to hero" transformation, but gosh darn it, I completely bought into this young man's odyssey. He was 15 years old in the first picture with a major jump to age 20 in the second. That episode ended with Hiccup taking over as Chieftain of the town of Berk and Toothless becoming the Alpha Dragon. Only one year has passed when The Hidden World begins. Hiccup has been struggling in his new role. He and his friends continue to rescue the misunderstood beasts. He leads a community where dragons now outnumber the people. They coexist in perfect harmony. Toothless gets a love interest in the form of a white female known as the Light Fury. Little do they know that she is being used as bait by a ruthless hunter named Grimmel the Grisly (F. Murray Abraham) who still firmly believes dragons must be exterminated.
How to Train Your Dragon has always presented an impressive spectacle along with John Powell's atmospheric score. Like a painting, the use of shadow, texture, light, elevates the visual tableau. Head of layout is cinematographer Gil Zimmerman with the legendary Roger Deakins consulting on the imagery. The chronicle is filled with breathtaking images of dragons taking flight. The best passages have no dialogue whatsoever. Come for the dragons. Luxuriate in the gorgeous surroundings. The narrative manages to expand the scope of their world when evil Grimmel forces the Berkians to emigrate to a place called Caldera — the "hidden world" of the film's title. A memorable dance where Toothless courts his lady dragon is an absolute highlight. The mood is fairly serious, although there's room for humor. The tenacious Ruffnut (Kristen Wiig) annoying her captors is a delight. The brash Snotlout (Jonah Hill) trying to flirt with Hiccup's mother Valka (Cate Blanchett) is chuckle-worthy. The chemistry between Hiccup and Astrid (America Ferrera), his betrothed fiancée, isn't particularly captivating, but that's a minor quibble. This is a story about growing up. It's about humans, sure, but it's also about dragons and it's that bond between the two that make this trilogy so touching. The ending is a satisfying – though bittersweet, – conclusion to a poignant trilogy.
2019 Oscar Nominated Short Films (Part 1 of 3)
Posted in Animation, Awards, Drama, Shorts on February 18, 2019 by Mark Hobin
ShortsTV continues to make all three of the Oscar-nominated short film programs (animated, live action, documentary) available to audiences around the world. To find out where you can watch this year's Oscar© Nominated Short Films, visit their Theatrical Release and On Demand pages.
Last year Dear Basketball – a fawning piece of hagiography that worshiped at the feet of Kobe Bryant – won. Even my least favorite of this year is better than that egregious work as far as I'm concerned. Regardless of who wins, we're guaranteed to top last year in this category. That's good news! Interestingly 4 of the 5 shorts this year explore the very the same theme: child/parent relationships. That makes this lot feel kind of samey. None of them are revolutionary, but they all still offer modest delights. I'm a little surprised that Bilby, a computer-animated short from DreamWorks Animation, didn't garner a nomination. It's worth checking out.
I've ranked each one in order from best to worst. (They're all enjoyable.)
BAOUSA/8MINS/2018
Director: DOMEE SHI
Pixar is on a roll. They've received a nomination every year since 2015's Sanjay's Super Team. Their annual tradition continues with their first female-directed short. This was originally shown right before Incredibles 2 so if you've seen at least one of these nominees, chances are it's this one. This is an amiable little delight that details a mother's love for her son and her resulting feelings when he leaves home. Back in June 2018 when I first saw it, I didn't' fully grasp the allegorical nature of this account, but over time it has gradually grown on me. I now understand it as a depiction of "empty nest syndrome". Given it's from Pixar, you already know it's visually stunning. Even comprehensive food research went into depicting the art of dumpling making. My most treasured of the five nominees and also my pick for the likely winner.
USA/15MINS/2007
Director: TREVOR JIMENEZ
The story of a little boy who must divide his time between his recently divorced parents. Weekdays are with mother in Ontario. Weekends are with his father in Toronto. Director Trevor Jimenez draws on his own childhood. His unique take clearly has the authenticity of someone who has actually lived through this experience. That's not to say the other nominees don't as well, but his approach to this subject is especially unique. We get a really nice depth into the life of each parent.
IRELAND/10MINS/2017
Director: LOUISE BAGNALL
Profile of an elderly woman (voiced by actress Fionnula Flanagan) who copes with dementia. There's also room for the adult daughter that cares for her. The production comes from Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon who brought us the feature films The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea and The Breadwinner. All three are beautifully animated gems. It's a touching – if simplistic – portrait. Memories of the past can often be recalled by way of their association to day-to-day occurrences in the present. This chronicle has a moving conclusion.
USA & CHINA/8MINS/2018
Directors: ANDREW CHESWORTH and BOBBY PONTILLAS
Produced by Taiko Studios, this is the story of a father and his daughter who longs to explore space by becoming an astronaut. Little girl Luna and her loving father Chu have a close relationship that's worth celebrating. It's a saccharine sweet connection for people who like extra syrup, powdered sugar and chocolate sprinkles with their pancakes.
CANADA/14MINS/2018
Directors: ALISON SNOWDEN and DAVID FINE
This was released in French as Zoothérapie and that's actually a more clever title. This is the only one not about children. Interesting – albeit meandering – take on animals visiting the psychiatrist in a group therapy session. They seek to rid themselves of innate behaviors that have become a problem in their lives. For example, a praying mantis can't keep a man because she eats her mates. Some chuckle-worthy moments, but it drags after a while. I suppose the underlying subtext is that we as humans are animals as well.
Posted in Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy on February 9, 2019 by Mark Hobin
If ever there was a shortcut to a "fast" film review, it would be one question, Did you enjoy 2014's The Lego Movie? If so, then you should appreciate The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. This one was also written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, although directing chores are now in the hands of Mike Mitchell (Trolls). It's another adventure that centers on Emmet (Chris Pratt) and Lucy/Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) who must defend their beloved city. Mysterious invaders have turned Bricksburg into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Batman (Will Arnett), Princess Unikitty (Alison Brie) Benny the Spaceman (Charlie Day) and MetalBeard (Nick Offerman) have all returned in this outing. They, in addition to Lucy, are taken prisoner by a masked general named Sweet Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz). Not a traditional Lego, but rather an intergalactic mini-doll who reports to the enigmatic Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi (Tiffany Haddish). Phonetically her name sounds like "Whatever-I-Want-To-Be" and that makes sense because she's an alien queen of constantly shifting shapes. Still always the plucky spirit, it's up to Emmet to rescue his friends.
The colorful production is a big loud noisy clutter of sound and images. There are battles and explosions, along with dinosaurs and spaceships. The underlying explanation for its nonsensical nature is to mimic the imaginative stories that children make up with their toys. The first picture was manic too, but there was at least some coherence to the story. Here, action and dialogue merge in a virtual collage of pandemonium. I must admit I longed for subtitles on more than one occasion to make sense of the chaos. This has been done before so granted, the concept doesn't feel as fresh as its predecessor. They've somehow managed to produce two spinoffs (Batman, Ninjago) in the interim as well – so that's 4 LEGO movies in 5 years. Obviously, the big reveal at the end of episode one can't be the same wondrous surprise again. However clever pop cultural allusions are there amidst all the manic energy. I did laugh. Bruce Willis briefly pops up in an amusing cameo. Comedian Tiffany Haddish is a creative selection to portray the main villain. Her raspy voice lends an inspired sass to her character. This is a semi-musical of sorts and she gets to talk-sing her way through two ditties: "Not Evil" and "Gotham City Guys" – both comical musical confections. So too is "Catchy Song" which features the refrain "This song's gonna get stuck inside your head" and it probably will. The narrative is a clever allegory for sibling rivalry. The obligatory moral, which is so often awkwardly inserted in these kid flicks, feel refreshingly sincere. Cooperation and getting along never goes out of style.
Welcome to Fast Film Reviews.
My name is Mark Hobin. I love film and I love to write so I thought, why not combine the two. This is the inspiration for my movie review blog in which I currently review every movie I see in a theater.
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package com.jabely.framework.result;

import java.io.Serializable;

import com.jabely.framework.result.error.AbstractErrorResult;

public class BooleanResult extends AbstractErrorResult implements Serializable {

    /**
	 *
	 */
	private static final long serialVersionUID = -3354216689707109512L;

	public BooleanResult() {
        super();
    }

    public BooleanResult(String errorCode, String errorMessage) {
        super();
        addErrorMsg(errorCode, errorMessage);
    }
}


No free DLC this week since it's "all hands on deck" at CDPR currently.
CD Projekt RED has announced that patch 1.07 for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt would be arriving this week and it wasn't kidding in terms of the feature list.
Along with a stash for storing items which can be found in different locations throughout the game, the patch will also provide different sorting options in one's inventory, relegate books to their own tab and appropriately gray them out when they've been read, offer "pinning" for alchemy and crafting items so that you can find the required components at shops and much more.
It also seems that there will be a new "movement response" mode for Geralt. This will be an optional mode and it'll be interesting to see how it makes things more responsiveness. There's also a bunch of fixes for quests, performance optimizations and much more.
Since CD Projekt RED is pushing patch 1.07 for all platforms and it's "all hands on deck", it won't be releasing free DLC this week. The free DLC will return next week though so don't worry.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming patch? Let us know in the comments.


Tenaris announced on January 24, 2019 that it will make adjustments to production at its facilities in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, and Calgary, AB, as well as implement staffing changes due to persisting volatile market conditions.
Tenaris will lay off 95 employees at its seamless pipe mill in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, effective February 4, 2019. The company will also temporarily suspend operations at its welded pipe mill, Prudential, in Calgary, AB, for a period of approximately six to eight weeks, starting at the beginning of March. A small crew will remain onboard during this period to foster improvements to production lines and perform general maintenance to assure the mill is in top-notch condition for restart.
Additionally, the seamless pipe mill in Sault Ste. Marie, ON will temporarily suspend operations for a two-week period in March in order to perform regular annual maintenance activities.
The Canadian oil and gas market remains challenged by a surge in tubular imports from non-NAFTA countries that is contributing to a pipe inventory overhang. Additionally, the market is experiencing a relevant reduction in drilling activity as the result of export bottlenecks due to pipelines at capacity in the country and the unstable price of oil.
"It continues to be a difficult time for our industry. We value our employees and we are working to minimize the impact and stay well positioned for an eventual turnaround. Tenaris plays an important role in Canada's domestic manufacturing and our commitment to supply and serve the industry remains strong," says Guillermo Moreno, Tenaris President, Canada.
In December, production at AlgomaTubes in Sault Ste. Marie was decreased by 25 percent, resulting in staff changes. At the Prudential mill in Calgary, Tenaris was also forced to temporarily lay off 15 people from the half weld crew shift, effective January 11.
Tenaris will continue to work with all levels of government to defend against steel imports saturating the Canadian energy market and to strengthen manufacturing in the country.


text:
Unbundling the Organization
By Matt Reed. No, college tuition bills are not just like cable bills.
Jeff Selingo argues that they are. In a piece in the Washington Post this week, he focuses on "bundling" as the common denominator. Read more...
Posté par pcassuto à 21:03 - Fees - Permalien [#]
Early Feedback from Florida
By Matt Reed. As a political scientist by training -- one of the disciplines that trains the most leaders, apparently -- I'm generally skeptical of anything labeled "early results from Florida." The reliability of such things tends to be iffy. Read more...
Posté par pcassuto à 21:01 - Administration - Permalien [#]
The Best Part of Graduation Season
By Matt Reed. Charlie Parker, the pioneering jazz saxophonist, once mentioned to one of his bandmates that he really liked country music. Puzzled, the bandmate asked why. Parker responded "The stories, man. The stories." Read more...
Posté par pcassuto à 21:00 - Opinions - Permalien [#]
Study Views Academic Publishing as an Oligopoly
The five largest research publishers (a group that changes a bit by discipline) started publishing half of academic papers in 2006, up from 30 percent in 1996 and 20 percent in 1973, according to new research published Wednesday in PLOS ONE by researchers at the University of Montreal. The piece argues that this concentration has reached oligopoly status and poses dangers to academic publishing. Read more...
For-Profit Group Criticizes Education Dept. on Corinthian
The Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Ted Mitchell Thursday expressing disappointment in how the federal agency views the for-profit sector in the wake of the department's decision to provide debt relief to former Corinthian Colleges students. Read more...
Posté par pcassuto à 19:30 - Amérique - Permalien [#]
Survey Explores Digital Book Publishing Strategies
The Association of American University Presses' sixth annual survey on digital book publishing finds presses are pursuing myriad strategies but balancing them against limited resources. Nearly all respondents, or 92 percent, are exploring digital ebook sales, but eight other strategies, from print on demand to ebook rentals, registered between 86 and 36 percent. Read more...
Posté par pcassuto à 19:29 - Livres - Permalien [#]
Nearly Half of Senior Tenured Professors Want to Delay Retirement
Some 65 percent of tenured senior faculty members plan to put off retirement for various reasons, according to a new study from the TIAA-CREF Institute. But the reasons behind that figure might not be what you think. Just 16 percent of respondents said they'd like to retire by the "normal" retirement age of 67 but expected to work longer for financial reasons. A much bigger proportion of respondents -- 49 percent -- said they'd want to work past age 67 by choice. Read more...
Posté par pcassuto à 19:28 - Retraite - Permalien [#]
Accrediting Body Places UNC on Probation
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will not lose accreditation over the academic fraud that occurred there, but it will face one year of probation, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges announced Thursday. In October, the university released a detailed report about widespread and long-lasting academic fraud at the university. Read more...
Redefining the Faculty Paradigm
Most people agree that faculty performance evaluations should be based on more than student feedback, grants and publication counts. But what does a more complete evaluation process look like? And how would a more progressive department function? The New American Colleges and Universities' answer is Redefining the Paradigm: Faculty Models to Support Student Learning. The new monograph is based on new faculty evaluation models at NAC&U member institutions, and pushes other colleges and universities to rethink traditional department structures and processes to better support student learning. Read more...
Posté par pcassuto à 19:26 - Prospective - Permalien [#]
Report Focuses on Global Threats to Academic Freedom
A new special report in the Index on Censorship examines threats to academic freedom around the world. The report includes case studies from Belarus, China, India, Ireland, Mexico, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as an account of girls standing up for education in Nigeria, Pakistan and Uganda. Read more...


Archinect News Articles tagged "advertising"
JCDecaux has taken the wraps off a unique piece of out-of-home inventory in London designed by Zaha Hadid Design.
Welcome to Homewood, Illinois, a suburb of 20,000 that is marketing itself to urbanites as a hidden hipster gem.
Get one of ten free advertisements in the first issue of 'Ed', Archinect's new print magazine!
When does a billboard become a protected landmark?
It was only a matter of time before someone saw the commercial potential of drones. Their compact size and swift mobility makes them ideal vehicles for transporting goods and information around the crowded streets of a city.


This data set reports summary statistics from socioeconomic and demographic surveys administered to the male and female heads of household on 767 farm plots. The surveys were performed in the provinces of Sucumbios and Napo/Orellana, in the northern Ecuadorian Amazon colonist settlements (Oriente) in 1999 (Pan and Bilsborrow, 2005). In addition, perception of, and opinions about local climate, soil quality, and environmental contamination were assessed for both the male and female heads of household. There are two comma-delimited (csv) ASCII data files. One file provides summary data from male respondents; the other data file provides summary responses from the female household survey (generally the spousal respondent). The original questionnaire forms are included as companion files (PDF format).