text:
PSO2 NGS: Ordinal Tower location
The Ordinal Tower location in PSO2: NGS can be found in a cave on the coast in South Aelio.
Gamers can test their tactical skills while enjoying role-playing elements in Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (PSO2: NGS). The setting of the game is the vast open world of Halpha, approximately 100 years after the Oracle events.
As part of the Artificial Relict to Keep Species (ARKS) organisation, it your responsibility to collaborate with an unknown ally to defeat a powerful enemy called the DOLLS.
As you advance in the main story arc, you will discover side quests, resources, activities, and monsters to defeat. One of the activities that you can enjoy is the Ordinal Tower, which can be found in a specific location.
What is the Ordinal Tower?
How to increase battle power
How to teleport
Do you have to complete the Ordinal Tower?
PSO2: NGS' developer, Sega, occasionally introduces new content and features into the game for players to enjoy. They recently introduced the Ordinal Tower, which has different ranks to complete.
Each rank has numerous monsters and bosses that you have to defeat to successfully clear the rank. For every rank you complete, you will be rewarded with an array of items, which can have an impact on your gameplay.
The Ordinal Tower has 7 ranks, each of which rewards you with different items. Keep in mind that you have to complete the ranks in order, which means that you have to complete rank 1 before you can begin rank 2, and so forth.
To unlock the Ordinal Tower, players first have to complete a specific quest. You can pick up the quest by talking to Schlacht in Central City. When you pick up the quest, it directs you to the Ordinal Tower, which is in South Aelio.
© Sega
If you do not see the quest, you have to complete chapter 1 of the main story arc, or the Aelio region quests.
After picking up the quest, you must travel to South Aelio to find the Ordinal Tower. Players have to go to the coast of the region where they will find a waterfall. The Ordinal Tower can be found inside a cave under the waterfall.
You have to enter the cave and walk until you find a big door. By going through the door, you commence the Ordinal Tower quest.
As previously stated, you have to complete a rank to move onto the next, and each rank has specific requirements. For instance, rank 1 requires a level 15 or higher character, and your battle power has to be at least 1063.
If you are below level 15, or you do not have enough battle power, you should improve your character.
This is because you will not be able to complete the rank if you do not meet the specific requirements to do so. The monsters in the rank will be too powerful for you to defeat.
Moreover, each rank has clear conditions, so you will fail the rank if you do not meet the conditions. For example, if you die more than 5 times in rank 1, you fail the rank.
Battle power is a comprehensive quantification of player statistics and equipment performance. There are various methods that can increase your battle power. The easiest way to increase your battle power is by levelling up your character, as this usually adds between 10 and 20 power points.
Alternatively, you can apply skill points, which can be procured from Cocoons and Towers.
Moreover, players can increase their battle power using all skill points in both main and sub class skill trees.
You can also equip stronger weapons and more powerful armour to increase your Battle Power. Enhancing weapons and armour also increases your statistics, however, it depends on how enhanced the weapon or armour piece is.
Players have to travel to South Aelio to reach the Ordinal Cave. In order to fast travel, you must unlock Ryker devices. These are pylons that are scattered all over the map, including main cities and hub areas. Ryker devices have a distinct green glow, which makes them easy to find.
Once you interact with a divide, the option to teleport to that pylon becomes available. You should note that you cannot teleport to a Ryker device that you have yet to discover.
This means that you have to walk to the Ryker device in South Aelio to use the fast travel option.
It is noteworthy that it is not mandatory to complete the Ordinal Tower, as it does not influence your progression in PSO2: NGS. However, it is advisable that you attempt to complete it, as the rewards can help you progress in the game.
PSO2 NGS: Ordinal Tower
PSO2 NGS: Ordinal Tower drops
PSO2 NGS: Crocodylis location
PSO2 NGS: Pentalite location


Serving an appropriate drink before dinner is a true sign of class. Campari Kraken pairs well with heavy meat dishes like stews, pork, beef and mutton. Campari is known to soothe the digestive system and is also good for taming the most imposing of company.


Beverley Westwood01482 391672work ParkBeverley has four pastures, East and South East of the town, aligning the river Hull are the pastures of Figham and Swinemoor. To the East and South East of the town are the Westwood and Hurn in the form of one large pasture.
Chalk taken from the pasture was used for the foundation of Beverley's streets and for making lime. The Corporation obtained a regular income from leasing out lime kilns on the Westwood until 1812. Clay was used for brick making by local brick makers, the North Bar in Beverley town is built with Beverley made bricks. The signs of this industry are still to be seen in the many hollows and pits that give the pasture its character.
Visitors to the Westwood will notice that there is a Golf Course and Race Course on the pasture; it is understood that the Golf course is quite challenging and popular with visitors. The Race meetings are attracting increasing interest and it hosts several events and festivals during the year.
Beverley has four pastures, East and South East of the town, aligning the river Hull are the pastures of Figham and Swinemoor. To the East and South East of the town are the Westwood and Hurn in the form of one large pasture.
The wellbeing of the pastures is overseen by the Pasture Masters, a group of men elected from the Freemen of Beverley each March. Although the Pasture Act of 1836 clarified the right of the Pasture Masters to administer and enforce their bylaws, it did not state who 'owned' the land. In 1978 the courts decided that the pastures were owned by the then Borough Council; it is now 'owned' by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.


text:
Meet Uganda's New 19-Year-Old Parliament Member
It's "not age" that matters, but rather "the brain and the knowledge that one has," she says.
by Hillary Reinsberg
simba.fm
At just 19 years old, Proscovia Alengot Oromait was recently elected to Ugandan Parliament, making her the youngest (and first teenage) politician in all of Africa. She had plans to go to college after graduating high school last year, but those plans were derailed when her father, also a politician, died in July. She decided to run for his spot as a Parliament member in their local Usuk county, and ended up winning by a large margin, with almost twice as many votes as the race's runner-up.
i.ytimg.com
Some, naturally have questioned her age. But Oromait said in a local TV interview that age shouldn't be a concern:
"It does not matter. It's not age that works, it's the brain and the knowledge that one has."
Oromait is not the world's first teenage Parliament member. Sweden elected an 18-year-old in 2010, while Canada elected a 19-year-old in 2011.
Outside of working on her father's campaigns, Oromait's experience comes from school, where she headed the debate club, the school newsletter, and the patriotism club.
In Parliament, she says she'll focus on things like improving roads and education.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


War of the Rebellion: Serial 003 Page 0704 OPERATIONS IN MO., ARK., KANS., AND IND. T. Chapter X.
would receive an irreparable injury. A concentrated cross-fire from the three batteries I proposed would be irresistible by the boats of the enemy, and our entrenchments from the river to the lake could not be taken by a force five times superior in numbers. We cannot be out-flanked, owing to the proximity of the bayou and lake to the river, and it would be equally impossible to invest us. The general character of the ground is the most inviting to an attack and certain defeat of the enemy.
To an ordinary observer the absence of any impressively strong features in the topography might create an unfavorable opinion as to its strength, but I am satisfied that a close study of the ground by a military man would develop elements of power that to another might seem objects of weakness.
The work I am now constructing is the advance position on the left bank of the river, 1 1/2 miles above the head of Island Numbers 10. It was necessary to occupy this site during the season of low water and until the highest spring rise, to prevent the enemy landing and flanking the island battery as well as the mainland battery. It is also our strongest point of defense should the descent of the river be attempted by the enemy in the next eight or nine months and heavy force be landed for a flank movement. The distance from this point (the redan) to the bayou, which has 5 feet permanent water in it and increasing in depth, to the lake, 2 miles farther, is only 1,100 yards. The bayou, with comparatively little labor, can be rendered impassable to an enemy. Upon the highest rise of the river next spring or summer nature will then accomplish for us what we are artificially endeavoring to do, that of forming a barrier over which the enemy cannot pass; for the Mississippi and the lake will then be united, and if a landing is attempted, it must be within short range of our other two batteries.
"Reelsfoot Lake," as it is called, is some 40 miles long, lying nearly north and south, and making a junction with the Mississippi at high water above us, and below us also by way of the Obion Branch, renders our position just here, with comparatively little trouble, evidently a very formidable one. The lake is in many places very deep, and the dead cypress timber scattered about it makes it difficult to navigate. Even if boats could be had and a crossing effected by an enemy, a small body of our troops could prevent a landing. It is 11 miles wide in places, and field with very fine fish and wild game.
We have now only four 32-pounders at this post; we had six pieces in position, but you are aware that the two 24-pounder siege guns were taken to Columbus. Ten heavy pieces could be placed in position at once in the redan if we had them. The redan covers the channel of the river 500 to 1,000 yards off. It is our left flank of the line of entrenchments connecting the river Mississippi and Reelsfoot Lake, and two or three of the barbette guns can be made to rake the entire fronto f our line to the bayou. Our parapet in the redan is much weakened by embrasures, made necessary by the 32-pounders being mounted upon naval carriages or trucks. I would recommend mounting these guns upon siege carriages similar to the 24-pounders. The weight of the guns is about the same.
Our entrenchments are not completed at this point and unless we have the assistance I have asked for, and which, I supposed could be easily supplied from Memphis and Fort Pillow, I fear this all-important work will not be accomplished in time to be of use.


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Q: How to create field that is float but not double when doing Migrations? I am using Laravel's migration system to recreate an existing database structure. The tables need to match the tables in this existing database exactly.
One of the fields on a table is described as so:
`frequency` float unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,

Looking at the Laravel migration documentation I see the following options:
$table->float('amount', 8, 2);
$table->double('column', 15, 8);

Both of these column types results in creating a double type column with a length and decimal points. But I need one that is specifically defined as a float with no specified length and zero decimal points.
It it possible using Laravel's migration system?

A: It is kind of bug in laravel you can not make float type column, to make a column float use DB:statement and make sure to not write DB::statement in Schema::create it will throw an error because at that time table is not existed in database.
Write your DB:statement in Schema::table (Example code):
Schema::table('api_logs', function (Blueprint $table) {
            DB::statement('alter table `api_logs` add column `response_after` float null after request_at');
            DB::statement('alter table `api_logs` add column `query_time` float null after response_after');
        });

upvote this for better reach to laraverians.

A: Do not use (m,n) on FLOAT or DOUBLE in MySQL.  That feature belongs only on DECIMAL.  If you want zero decimal places, use some form of INT.  On the other hand, maybe your frequency is in the gigahertz?  At which point FLOAT without precision or decimals, is the most appropriate.
Note that 1GHz will not fit in FLOAT(8,2), but it will fit in FLOAT.
Why both?...  FLOAT takes 4 bytes; DOUBLE takes 8; both are part of the IEEE-754 standard that virtually every computer hardware implements.  In the "old" days (when 1MB of RAM was a "big" machine; the standard dates back to the early '80s), saving 4 bytes was a big deal.  If Laravel is turning float into double, that is its choice; MySQL will take either.
In virtually all situations FLOAT and DOUBLE values and variables are interchangeable.  But...  A value stored in FLOAT and the same value stored in DOUBLE may lead to values that compare unequal.  For example, float(1.234) != double(1.234) in virtually all languages, hardware, etc.
MySQL is happy with  frequency float unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0.
But, if $table->float('amount', 8, 2); in Laravel means the same as MySQL's FLOAT(8,2), then you are likely to have big problems.
1234567.89 will be truncated to 999999.99.  And 1.234 will be truncated to 1.23, then rounded to binary.
Sounds like a bug report for Lavaral.  (Sorry, I have never used Lavaral, so I am guessing at its details.  I do know MySQL and IEEE-754.)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Let's say I start a 4 bar project named "Melodic Heart". The keyboard piece I recorded in on Audio Track 1 is a four bar loop. I've lengthened the sequence to be 32 bars total. Eventually after enough work has gone into the beat I'll press save and name it.
At this point I may turn the MPC X off or open another project to begin refining it. The problem lies in when I go back to Melodic Heart. I'll move the locator to the beginning of the sequence and press play. After the initial four bars I recorded in on the keyboard have concluded and we're into the fifth bar, the melody goes silent. I'll look into the audio track and notice that it's been shifted an arbitrary amount to the right. I have two options at this point to remedy the situation: 1) click every individual duplicate loop that's out of place, edit the start point or end point to extend it, and slide the melody into its position, or 2) delete every loop after the first and begin duplicating the first until the 32 bars are filled.
Every single time I open the track the same thing happens: all the keyboard loops after bars 1-4 are out of alignment. I've tried saving the project as a different name and it repeats the same glitch regardless.
Does this happen to anyone else? Do one of the firmware updates addressed this problem?
Note: This problem doesn't happen every single time after I initially save the project. It could be on the 3rd, 4th, or 5th time I've edited it and saved it that it begins to randomize the pattern(s). It's happened with multiple audio tracks and it's also happened with just one. That's why I used words like random and arbitrary amounts.
I'm sorry you've been having some trouble with that! Does this occur without doing anything to the project?
In other words you will save the project when everything looks correct, open a different project, then open the original project again and without making any changes and the audio is displayed that way?
Are you changing the sequence tempo when you open the project with audio already recorded to audio tracks?
Hey Isaac, Thanks for posting! I'm sorry you've been having some trouble with that! Does this occur without doing anything to the project? In other words you will save the project when everything looks correct, open a different project, then open the original project again and without making any changes and the audio is displayed that way? Are you changing the sequence tempo when you open the project with audio already recorded to audio tracks?


The annual and popular Bayou City Art Festival Downtown returns to give spectators all the colorful, eclectic, visually impressive art you can handle.
Just how much art will be on display? This two-day fest will showcase work from 300 artists from around the world, representing 19 different art disciplines. The festival will have a featured artist, Iowa-based, mixed-media artist Chris Vance, who'll show off the personal pieces he has done on wood and paper, using acrylic charcoal, spray paint, or graffiti markers.
This outdoor festival, produced by the Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA), has been known to bring out 20,000 people, offering visitors a chance to mingle with artists, take in live entertainment, and nosh on food and beverages.
Kids are welcome to join in on the fun over at the Children's Creative Zone, where there will be also be a Halloween costume contest for adults and youngsters on Sunday afternoon.
A portion of the proceeds will go this year's lineup of festival nonprofit partners: A Cause to Give Us Paws, Fresh Arts, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Recipe for Success Foundation, The Arc of Greater Houston and The University of Houston - Clear Lake Art Gallery. "We are so grateful to partner with local nonprofits that not only support our festival, but also support the community," said Sara Eakens, Program and Volunteer Director of ACA, in a release. "With the help and support from our sponsors, patrons and volunteers, we are able to raise funds for worthy local charities."
The Bayou City Art Festival Downtown runs Saturday, October 13 through Sunday, October 14, at 901 Bagby St. Tickets are $12 for adults ($15 at the gate) and $5 for children 6 through 12 (children 5 and under get in free). 10 am-6 pm. For more information, visit the official site.


The components of the system can be classified into three categories, namely, the three major hardware devices of the telecommunication system-terminal equipment, transmission equipments and switching equipment.
Typically installed at the user's office, provides the device (the telecommunications endpoint) that the user implements the functionality necessary to access the protocol. Its role is to convert voice, text, data and images (stationary or active) information into electrical signals or electromagnetic signals to send, and the received electrical or electromagnetic signals to restore the original voice, text, data and image information. Typical terminals include telephones, telegraph, mobile phones, wireless pagers, data terminals, micro-computers, fax machines, televisions, etc. Some terminals can also be a local or small telecommunications system, they to the public telecommunications network, as a terminal device access, such as user switches, ISDN terminals, LAN, office automation systems, computer systems and so on.
A device that transmits an electrical or electromagnetic signal from one location to another. It forms the transmission link in the telecommunication network, including radio and cable transmission equipment. Radio transmission equipment includes shortwave, ultrashort wave, microwave transceiver and transmission system, as well as satellite communication system (including satellite and earth station equipment). Cable transmission equipment has overhead open-wire, cables, optical cables, underground cables, coaxial cables, optical cables, submarine cables, optical cables and other transmission systems. A variety of modulation and demodulation equipment, pulse code modulation equipment installed in the above system. Terminal and relay ancillary equipment, monitoring equipment, etc., also belong to the transmission equipment.


text:
Without pictures
The Moscow State Integrated Art and Historical Architectural and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve
Izmailovo
Liublino
Architectural Landmarks
Permanent Expositions
Exhibitions to come
Cooking Chamber (Kolomenskoye)
A Architectural Landmarks
The Cooking Chamber was one of the Sitny Yard structures located in the central part of the Kolomenskoye estate and executing household functions at the Tsar's Courtyard in the XVII century. The Cooking Chamber was …
Tower of the Bratsk Stockaded Fort
A Permanent Expositions
The exposition makes part of the Museum of Wooden Architecture. Founded by Cossacks in 1631 on the Angara River bank, the fort served as a stronghold for Russian settlers and authorities in the Baikal region. …
Church of Our Lady of Kazan (Kolomenskoye)
A wooden church of Our Lady of Kazan was built at the Tsar's Courtyard in Kolomenskoye in the 1630s during the reign of Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich. In 1651, the wooden church was replaced with a …
Fryazhsky Cellar (Kolomenskoye)
The Fryazhsky Cellar located in the centre of the museum territory is a small structure that makes part of the Sitny Yard, a complex of household buildings. Besides the cellar, the Sitny Yard comprises the …
House of Peter I, 1702 (Kolomenskoye)
A Architectural Landmarks , Kolomenskoye
The house of Peter I is the only Moscow memorial museum dedicated to the Russian tsar and reformer. It was specially built for him in 1702 on the St. Mark Island at the outfall of …
Saviour (Back) Gate and Streltsy Guard-house (Kolomenskoye)
The Saviour Gate built in the 1670s, at the same time as the walls of the Tsar's Courtyard, served as an entrance to the household part of the estate. The gate was named after the …
Household structure or Mead Brewery (Kolomenskoye)
In 1927, the Mead Brewery, one of the examples of wooden architecture in Kolomenskoye, was transported to the estate from the territory of the former village of Preobrazhenskoye. The Mead Brewery used to be a …
Walls of Tsar's Courtyard (Kolomenskoye)
The massive blind stone wall that adjoins the Back Gate from the north-west and continues toward the Church of Our Lady of Kazan as well as the wall of the Food Yard are extant elements …
Wall and Foundation of the Food Yard (Kolomenskoye)
The Food Yard wall was built at the same time as the Back Gate. Its western part faced the so-calledMoscowroad while the eastern one looked on the household yard. Almost the entire wall made part …
The Memorial Pole dedicated to the abolition of serfdom in Russia (Kolomesnkoye)
The Memorial Pole was erected presumably in 1881 after the death of Alexander II by peasants of the Shaydorovo village in gratitude to the Emperor for the abolition of serfdom inRussia. It was installed in …
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text:
Reflections of The Way Life Used To Be
Mood: blue
Topic: "Delano" (4)
Although never a member of the Fellowship, Delano has always been a special friend to Frodo, and to Sam. Whereas Frodo was ambitious and curious, Delano was fun-loving, and charming. Delano has always been, and with all due apologies to the feminine gender herein, the guy who could charm the pants off of any woman. History is a guide.
Today Frodo returned from an overnight in reunion at Lake Lovey, with an old friend. Fish were caught by Frodo's guile, and flames gently touched the garlic sauce, which dripped onto the charcoal, which browned the tender insides of the meal made for erstwhile kings. Stories long legend where re-told and laughter long forgotten was recalled. Frodo dropped a lime into the clear bottle, and offered one to his friend, but the offer was uncharacteristically rebuffed.
Lines were cast deep into the darkness, and continued until Frodo's friend surprisingly urged a return to the comfort of bed and hearth ashore. Aland, Frodo found himself reaching out to grasp the arm, and to steady his friends' step as they climbed to the lights above the berth of the Minnow. Once settled beneath the stars, and beside the citonella candles which guard against the most devilish of intruders, Delano lit a cigarette, and exhaled deep into the night sky. Frodo was quizzical, but before he could offer comment, Delano spoke to his old friend.
"Frodo, I cannot drink, because of medication. I cannot make love to even the grandest conquest of my life. I have but one pleasure left, and it is mine to enjoy, as I have always done. Let me say that the pain I have experienced has been more severe than any wound from any sword, and the intensity has been such that on many occasions, I have considered the only remedy."
Frodo tried to respond, but Delano continued, telling him that his life's partner had taken charge of all firearms, and had put them beyond his reach. He told Frodo that the suffering had eased, and that he had found ways to adapt which no longer made the final remedy seem a matter of implementation, much less timing.
In the morn the two dropped line again, and Delano matched Frodo's catch of the evening past. It was a matter of attainment for Delano, and of silent joy for Frodo. Frodo was increasingly aware that many of the most bawdy and baudacious moments in his life had centered around the outrageous and unrepentant character who sailed this day with Frodo, and Mick, the Wonder Dog. Wisdom teaching Frodo that all would probably not gather again in celebration as they did when Delano landed that struggling panfish at Lake Lovey.
Frodo drove home, recalling the final words of Augustus to Woodrow, which befit the soliloquoy of those who have lived life as they wished, and who face its exit without regret.
Saturday, June 28, 2008 - 10:58 PM EDT
Geez, I hear your. Trouble is, there is a great divide between hearing it was one hell of a party in a movie, and realizing it in your life.


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Stainless Steel Case / Guntone Plated Silver Vertical Brush Dial with Blue Accents. Navy Retro Wax Leather Strap .Multi - 6P27 movement. 2 year warranty.


text:
Opus Trust Marketing breaks through £20m sales barrier
Sarah Cosgrove
Opus Trust Marketing has broken the £20m-turnover barrier for the first time after experiencing 17% year-on-year growth and securing a number of new contract wins.
Paul Brough Opus Trust Marketing CEO
Annual accounts for the 12 months to 31 March 2015 at the Leicester-based firm, which specialises in business critical printing and mailing, reveal that operating profit has also more than doubled – from £845,000 in 2013/14 to £1.75m in 2014/15.
EBITDA is up, from £1.98m in 2013/14 to £2.78m in the financial year just ended. Gross margin has risen to £6.6m, a £1.3m increase on the previous year. Net debt is also down, from £2m to £460,000.
Chief executive Paul Brough said that turnover growth was down to a variety of factors: "Retaining our existing customers is key as is growth from those customers. Some of the volumes are dropping but some are spending more money with us. Being able to provide a number of services through innovation is key."
Opus Trust's service offering is based around three products: Trust Doc, for printed mail, Trust Post, for mailing services, and Trust Web, for e-mail communications. Any one contract can choose to communicate with its customers through print, online or both. Text messages can also be used.
"That's what sets us apart from a lot of the competition, that we can provide multi-channel delivery," Brough said. "We see that as the future. The customer sends us some data and we ask 'What do you want to do with it?' We can use one or all methods of communication, that's very attractive to the customer."
The company's profit growth is due to a proactive approach to cost control and working capital management, Brough said. Investment, such as the six-figure sum recently invested in a new Kern 3600, which enables larger mailings to be inserted without any loss of speed, have provided efficiencies and boosted profits. "Everybody here is focused on reducing costs and making improvements," he said.
The company has had a successful year client-wise, retaining all existing clients, which it put down to staff dedication, a good track record on hitting SLAs and quality standards and remaining competitive in the market. It has also won new contracts, including with a large water company, worth in excess of £1m.
Brough said that, while it sounds clichéd to talk about investing in people, this is something the company is genuinely focused on. It has made a number of senior appointments since its last results, including a new head of client services – a department the company has focused on heavily – Katie Sangster, a new head of IT, Stephen Beaven and a new head of projects, Diane Kruge. The company has said it will pay all employees at least the Living Wage from 1 April. It has also boosted its project management department, and added new software developers and testers and account managers. It has also engaged an external training company to boost workforce learning.
"It's not all about what pieces of tin are on the shop floor or the software, it's about people. People are key," Brough said.
The company was established in 1999 and now has around 150 employees.
Opus Trust Marketing commits to living wage following sales growth
Opus Trust Marketing has started paying all staff the 'Living Wage' or higher following...
Opus Trust Marketing to close Swindon branch
Mailing house Opus Trust Marketing has informed staff it intends to close its Swindon facility...
Opus Trust Marketing invests six figures in Kern 3600
Opus Trust Marketing has invested a six-figure sum in a new Kern 3600 finishing line to help meet a...


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Q: Heroku | Need help get java servlet running as home page I got this App running locally and on Heroku.
https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/create-a-java-web-application-using-embedded-tomcat
It simple displays a html file with hello world. I want to modify it or find a new template that initially runs a servlet(that I create). It generates my home page which pulls data from PostgreSQL. I have been at this 30 hours with no luck. I have before built a java web application locally using local SQL and NetBeans.
I have went through most heroku tutorials on java web apps. There very limited
I would give my left nut to get up and running. I just cant find any help to start it going, start the ball rolling. It's so depressing. I just can't connect to dots together to get going
Any help would be so so so well received
Thanks guys

A: You should read Heroku's Getting Started with Java guide.


text:
Q: Swift - Best way to Save and later get a bunch of Data i have the following case to achieve:
I have an UITableView with a List of some Data (Strings), if i tap on a row, i want to see all the Details of the Data. The Data should be added by the User. (TableView Stuff already knowing) i just want to know, how to deal with the save / read stuff. Thanks!

A: Your question isn't clear but will try to answer. The data that you receive from the user can be saved on server DB via API Calls or can be saved persistently on the device using plist, sqlite, coredata etc... There are multiple ways to save and retrieve the data, checkcout the following tutorial for doing it by Coredata.
https://medium.com/xcblog/core-data-with-swift-4-for-beginners-1fc067cca707


It's easy to become disheartened with the state of technology punditry. This post examines why and suggests a quick fix that, if implemented, would improve the state of tech journalism on the Internet by about a million percent.
I like to believe that nerds are normal, adjusted people. After all, I am one.
Sadly, the evidence does not support my beliefs. That evidence being the technology journalism and punditry—the natural reading sources for nerds—occurring on the Internet day in and day out. I'm going out on a limb here to guess that the writing is like it is since that's what drives page views and page views pay for donuts and the circle of life continues. So both readers and writers must get something out of it.
What's so wrong about it, then? Well, it seems that nerds are unable to comprehend the idea that there's not really a right and wrong way for everything. There are different ways, and those ways all have advantages and disadvantages, and different gadgets, software, and so on will appeal to different people in different ways. So it is possible for several products to inhabit the same perch on the tree of life and appeal to different audiences. At the same time. Without a kung-fu death match.
If all you read are tech blogs and magazines, the preceding graph is just a hippie loser pipe dream. All products must kill all other products, and there can only ever be one product which is the One True Product. It stands, one hand on its fist and the other grasping a smoking M-16, as it glares steely-eyed at the wasteland of death and carnage it has wrought on the other, less perfect, products.
For a prime example, google "iphone killer" and prepare to be depressed.
To make the highlander idiocy clearer, transfer it to another field. Let's say, cars. When Volvo released the XC70, how many car journalists slobbered all over themselves about how it was The Subaru Outback Killer?
That would be none. Why? Because it's ridiculous to believe that one product can satisfy an entire market. Read that again. It's insanity to believe that any one product can satisfy everybody who is in the market for a particular sort of product. People are different. People like different things. People value different things. What gets your balloon all engorged doesn't do a thing for another person. That's called being an individual.
I don't know why it crops up all the time, but since I have a blog and am a nerd, I have theories. The most depressing theory is that nerds like systems with rules, systems with an objective reality. You're smart, you've looked into the issue, you've reached a conclusion. Boom! Anybody who reaches a different conclusion is wrong.
Another and certainly not orthogonal theory is that nerds are psychologically stunted sad cases who never evolved beyond the moralities of fifth grade. One must win!
Another theory, and again not orthogonal, is that nerds seriously need to find some outlet for their tensions[^2]. If you find yourselves typing a frothing-at-the-mouth screed about a product you have never used and have no intention of ever using, you might have a problem.
Perhaps these theories are all wrong. Perhaps it's something completely different. But whatever it is, we need to find and correct the root cause so we can have some relief from the stupid crap that fills tech websites.
So I implore you, whether you write on your little bloggy-blog like I do or you write for the freaking Wall Street Journal, at least try to never write an article about how product X is a product Y killer. It makes you look like an idiot.


text:
September 2014, Vol 5, No 7
Payer Challenges in Oncology: Establishing Standards and Access to Quality Care
Los Angeles, CA—Payers are scrambling to devise effective strategies to cope with rapidly changing access to quality cancer care as a result of escalating costs. At the Fourth Annual Conference of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care, John Fox, MD, MHA, Associate Vice President of Medical Affairs at Priority Health, Grand Rapids, MI, tackled changing access and payer challenges in oncology.
"For oncologists, access to healthcare is not the same as access to high-quality oncology care," said Dr Fox. He emphasized that access to oncology care is changing, and where that care is being provided is changing as well.
Between 2006 and 2012, 469 oncology practices in the United States entered into contractual relationships with hospitals for services or were acquired by hospitals, reported Dr Fox. In addition, 288 oncology clinics closed, 407 practices were struggling financially, 131 practices either merged with or were acquired by a corporate entity, and 43 practices were sending patients elsewhere for treatment.
Payer–Provider Collaboration
Dr Fox believes that collaborating with providers is the key to controlling costs while improving quality in oncology. The collaboration between Priority Health and providers in Michigan led to the development of the oncology medical home (OMH) initiative in Michigan. The plan included payment reform, payment enhancements, and patient care reform (Table 1).
The agreement between the plan and the providers was intended to last 6 months, but is now in its third year, and all participating practices have agreed to continue. This initiative was successful, because it was consistent with the way that healthcare providers want to practice medicine, Dr Fox asserted.
The downside, he said, is that Priority Health is regional and is not the predominant payer in all areas of Michigan, including Detroit. "It's exceptionally difficult for practices to conform to, comply with, or participate in multiple payer strategies," Dr Fox acknowledged.
In 2012, an all-payer meeting was held in Michigan to try to reach an agreement on a single set of quality metrics, quality access, and cost metrics so that oncologists would know how they would be measured. Support from the Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology and other professional groups was high, but they were unable to convince the providers to agree. Nevertheless, "there's a lot of enthusiasm among the providers for being able to articulate what access to high-quality oncology care means," Dr Fox claimed.
He talked about a recent collaborative effort by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Community Oncology Medical Home project to develop national accreditation standards that would determine an OMH and could be adopted by anyone.
When practices apply for inclusion in this OMH initiative, they must agree to comply with the eligibility criteria and the care standards (Table 2), Dr Fox said.
The OMH accreditation eligibility criteria for practices include the (1) use of a certified electronic medical record, (2) leadership support for the medical home concept and accreditation, (3) staff orientation on the importance and significance of OMH, (4) willingness to share practice and aggregate patient data, and (5) administration of the COA patient satisfaction survey every 6 months.
Standards of Oncology Medical Home
The CoC and COA have developed standards for OMH consisting of 5 domains of patient care, assessments, infrastructure, and process standards. But most important, according to Dr Fox, are the methods to objectively validate care. The ability to verify care is of primary importance to payers. Accreditation standards for OMHs consist of the 5 domains developed by the CoC and COA (Table 2).
"We are evaluating this today in Michigan to decide if we can get all payers to agree that this would be the standard by which we would assess oncology practices, whether they be community-based practices or employee practices, to provide comparable information not only for payers, but also for patients," said Dr Fox.
He questioned whether these are the standards that payers in collaboration with providers will agree to use to assess the quality of cancer care and provide incentives for access to high-quality care practices in the state of Michigan.
"For me, the key question is whether or not we can coalesce around these standards and begin to talk more about access not to oncology care but access to high-quality oncology care," Dr Fox concluded.
Novel Combinations Achieving Undetectable Minimal Residual Disease in Patients with CLL
By Wayne Kuznar
Dual RAF/MEK Inhibitor Shows Promising Activity in Tumors with RAS/RAF Mutations
Changes to the Oncology Care Model Spurred by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Oncology Care Model


text:
Report: Marketers Lack Sophistication in Measuring Content Effectiveness
Krystle Vermes
Marketers are spending more time crafting value content that resonates with their target audience, but new research indicates that there is a lack of sophistication in how they measure its impact.
The "2017 Content Insights from Tech Marketing Execs" report from 10Fold and Dimensional Research found that this year, 42 percent of marketers will spend at least $250,000 on content. Seventy-five percent will generate at least three times more content than last year, and 32 percent are releasing content daily or hourly.
To gauge the effectiveness of marketing content, 56 percent of marketers are still relying on customer feedback. The same percentage said they are using sales feedback, while 52 percent are basing assumptions on the number of leads created.
To assess the effectiveness of tracked marketing content, 80 percent of marketers are using Web analytics. Approximately five percent said they do not have any tracking solutions in place.
Marketers and Content Production Over Time
Previous research shows how marketers' investment in content has continued to grow. However, their journey has not been without obstacles.
At the end of 2015, for example, a study published by Contently found that marketers were creating 73 percent more content than they did the year before. However, 51 percent stated that their content's effectiveness was average, not very effective, or not at all effective.
At the time, two-thirds of marketers said that they dedicated less than a quarter of their marketing budget to content. Thirty-seven percent claimed that time was their biggest obstacle when it came to producing effective content.
KoMarketing B2B Marketing Industry News
KoMarketing industry news provides the latest information, news, and trends in online marketing for B2B marketers. We emphasize all facets of B2B demand generation including search, social media, content marketing, email, and marketing technology among other key categories and topics.
B2B Marketing News
Mobile Device Adoption
11 Indispensable B2B MarTech Solutions Cybersecurity Marketers Actually Use
12 Essential Benchmarks for Understanding The B2B Buyers' Journey
22 Key Statistics For Successful B2B Social Media Marketing Programs
15 Key Statistics Designed to Guide Successful B2B Content Marketing Programs
B2B Lead Generation Metrics: How to Track What Matters in an Environment That's Constantly Changing
B2B Digital Self-Service: How to Deliver What B2B Buyers Want
The B2B Marketers' Perspective on Measuring Content Marketing Performance
B2B Demand Generation Best Practices: 10 Proven Ways to Improve Your Results
How to Use Twitter for B2B Marketing in 2021
Understanding Google SERP Features in 2021: The Complete Guide


India faces challenges providing access to energy to its large, dispersed population. It is estimated that around41 million households remain un-electrified; many of rural households connected to the electric grid are provided with unreliable services only. In recent years, alternative solutions have become prevalent among households, in particular the use of solar products as well as the use of battery operated lights for use in homes as well as at market stalls.
Lighting Global is the World Bank Groups platform to support sustainable growth of the international off-grid solar market as a means of rapidly increasing energy access to the 1.2 billion people without grid electricity. As part of this effort, Lighting Asia/India is an IFC program aimed at increasing access to clean, affordable energy in rural India by promoting modern off-grid lighting products (lanterns and home systems) and efficient DC appliances. The program supports market development by working with private companies to lower first-mover risk and mobilize private sector investment through market intelligence, quality assurance, business support services and consumer education. The first phase of the program ended in June 2016.
The second phase of the Lighting Asia/India program started in October 2016 and will run through to the end of 2019. The core of the program will continue to be structured around delivering market building activities, including a dedicated consumer awareness campaign, building on a previous campaign carried out in the first phase of the program. The campaign will cover select districts in Uttar Pradesj, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Odisha. A lighter touch campaign might be carried out in Assam. The campaign will incorporate Business to Consumer (B2C), Business to Business (B2B ) and general PR elements. The main target audience are rural households (B2C), retailers and distributors (B2B ) connected to the rural markets and to a lesser extent, the general public including influencers in urban areas (PR).
Direct people towards campaign activities. It is intended to drive people to the events and to distribution points. Will need to consider the effectiveness of directional marketing depending on how dispersed the BTL activities are.
Regional media Advertisement: Quality solar information to reinforce the campaign message (will require clear messaging on what is a quality solar product), inserts: potential inserts into newspapers.
Conceptualisation and development of campaign strategy building on the campaign carried out in the previous phase. The concept should include though not limited to innovative ideas like use of VR or other, that can be incorporated into the van campaign.
Roadshows a set of activities around the van campaign designed both for larger block head quarter level towns and villages targeting various segments of consumers-men, women, children, as well as trade, with special focus on market days/Haats in these locations.
Evening shows including the demonstration of solar products at dawn/ dark.
PR firms who could be a fit for this include Porter Novelli and APCO Worldwide.


No, I somehow managed to not kill a single thing while I was there. I was in the back corner by the OCTV setup. That whole table was having some back luck, I think the two guys on that table both lost a 980.
Yeah, my Strix is toast and Jiccman lost the classified. You can say there was a bit of bad luck Raspy but all in all it turned out OK.
Great time and nice to meet some fellow benchers.
Hey Rasparthe, was that X6800 the one I sent you? ;) I was wondering what you were going to use it for lol!
No the chip that managed to win the day was an e5200, your chip turned out pretty good though.
Using it for a legacy competition they have going over at ClassicPlatforms.
I highly doubt that anyone is going to touch those scores man, nice work.
Thanks! That was the tail-end of the LN2 that I managed to drive back to Ontario from Montreal, they turned out pretty well but there wasn't a drip left as the Wprime 1024M was finishing. Glad it didn't fail in the last minute or so it almost got too warm.
Ha, so you had an extra bonus. Good one! Nothing wrong with some free juice.
That is awesome, good job for the three of you!
Thanks CAPTN it was a real rush. I'll do it again anytime.


text:
We-Tired and Writing - Cheryl Thomas writes fiction about women of the American Southwest.
C.K.Thomas - Author Insider News!
CLICK HERE ~~ INSIDER NEWS!
Arrowstar Series Press Release
Chapter Five of Easy Street - Copyright 2018 C.K. Thomas
"What on earth did you do to your hand? It looks like a bite."
"It is a bite, the bite of a German shepherd to be precise. Our neighbor's dog got out of their yard and attacked me on the way to the mailbox. If you think that's bad, take a look at this," she said lifting her pant leg to show the angry gash on her calf.
"My God! Did they put the dog down?"
"Nope. They didn't because I didn't report it. I have to continue to live next door to these people, so I decided to let it go."
"Well, I hope he doesn't get out again. You should report it."
"Settle down, Sister. I'm a big girl now, so you can stop looking after me."
"Sometimes I wonder!" she laughed. "Come on in and see the baby."
"She's precious," she whispered. "As soon as she wakes, she's mine for the day."
"Dan's out back turning hamburgers and hot dogs to cinders on the grill."
"Be nice, now. Dan just likes meat to be really, really cooked," her sister said as she made her way through the kitchen and out to the patio.
"Hi Dan-O."
"Hey, Lisa. Glad you could make it."
"Seeing the baby is my first priority, but I'm banished from the house until she wakes from her nap. She's beautiful, Dan."
"Yeah, I'm going to be such a push-over when she gets a bit older. Kelly will have to be the bad guy in the family."
"She can handle it. She had plenty of practice keeping me in line after Mom died and Dad took up drinking for a profession. We were pretty much on our own even after he took up with our "wicked" step-mother."
"Don't be so hard on Karen," Dan told her. "She tried to step in and be a mother to you girls. You just wouldn't have it."
"Yeah, I know. We didn't give her a chance. She calls me occasionally."
"Even after their divorce?"
"Un huh. I think she feels guilty for not being able to reform the alcoholic before he totaled himself and his car. I wasn't unhappy to see him go. Truth be told, he thought I was his own personal plaything when I got to be 14. But, now's not the time to bring that up. Sorry."
"No problem. I'm aware. How are you and Tripp doing?"
"No better. I'm afraid to divorce the SOB because of the income I'd lose."
"Listen, you might not be that bad off, Lisa. Why don't you drop by the office, and we'll run some numbers. You'd stand to gain a share of the auto shop and half of whatever you two have acquired over the course of your marriage. You might be surprised."
"I'll think about it," she said as she turned to go back in the house at the sound of the baby crying.
She wandered into the nursery where Kelly was changing the baby's diaper.
"Is it time for her to eat?"
"Yes, and she's letting me know about it, too," Kelly chuckled. "You want to give her a bottle?"
The women sat quietly as Lisa rocked the baby and Kelly could sense her sister's longing as she fed and cuddled the baby.
"I wish things could have been different for you and Tripp, Lisa."
"Me too. It wasn't my plan to marry a bully. Losing the baby nearly killed me. Dan says he might be able to help me get a divorce that could leave me with a nice income from Tripp's business. I'm afraid that might give Tripp one more reason to harass me even if we were divorced. I know that guy, and he won't agree to a healthy settlement for me."
"Well, it won't hurt to get the facts together anyway. Stop by and see Dan. He's a good divorce lawyer, and he'll most probably represent you for free."
"You know I wouldn't let him do that. You're right, though. It wouldn't hurt to at least know my options."
Internally, Lisa's mind churned with the desire to tell her sister all about her plan to erase Sheila Barns from Tripp's life and their marriage. If only she could tell her sister all about her first kill and how close she came to hitting the golden triangle.
"I've got to go start setting food out on the table. Dan is probably close to finishing with the grill."
Lisa felt calm with the baby in her arms and let her mind wander to her plans for Sheila. She thought about including Tripp in her scheme. Two birds with one stone, so to speak. She'd be the prime suspect though if both of them ended up dead. Maybe, maybe the right move would be to make Tripp just disappear after she killed Sheila. How hard could it be to hide a body where it would never be found?
She noticed the baby had drifted off to sleep, and she sat staring at her peaceful round face before laying her down in the crib. She felt bereft and cold without the warmth of the baby in her arms and silent tears began to flow. She willed them to stop with thoughts of her gun out in the driveway in the trunk of the Lexus. As soon as she finished dinner, she'd make excuses and head downtown to watch Sheila as she left work.
Later, as she drove downtown, she considered the possibility that Tripp would meet Sheila and walk her to her apartment building over by the Arizona Center. Lisa kept trying to imagine when and where she could find Sheila alone. More surveillance seemed to be the answer. This woman certainly must have a life besides her time with Tripp and working at the Matador. If Tripp really had a boxing thing going on then maybe Sheila might be walking home all by herself. That thought excited her, and once again she got that orgasmic feeling in her body.
"What if she's alone tonight?" she thought. "Am I ready to do this thing? Is more practice in order? More planning? If Tripp disappeared at the same time Sheila turned up dead, then he'd be the most likely suspect, wouldn't he?
The Lexus hummed through the quiet streets of her sister's neighborhood and turned in the direction of downtown Phoenix. She'd take Central all the way downtown and enjoy watching rich people jogging along the bridle path under the big trees that shaded it. She saw a lean woman pushing a baby stroller rolling along on huge wheels.
"What must it be like to be rich, beautiful and have a baby to keep you company while you jogged?" she thought. She knew she would never have the chance to find out, and it made her uncommonly angry at the young mother running along the path.
"That woman doesn't deserve to have everything I want," she thought as she slowed the car and parked on a side street just as the street lights began to flicker to life along Central Avenue's bridle path.
The Wilcox Arizona Wine Festival
I know I owe you Chapter 5 of EZ Street, but here's something I had intended to post on Word Press, but gave up because of their pricing and advertising. I'll not be adding another blog, but I will continue with Blogspot and the blog with Phoenix Publishing and Book Promotion each month on the 29th.
The Willcox Arizona Wine Festival
May 19 and 20, 2018
Two non-drinkers went to a wine festival and had a good time!
Fordor's rates The Willcox Arizona Wine Festival "one of the top 10 wine festivals in North America!" This spring my husband Frank and I enjoyed it primarily for its music and people-watching opportunities.
I sat myself down under the trees next to the band pavilionWhile Frank went to explore the rows of tightly-spaced vendor tents in the park and along Railroad Avenue. At intervals, Frank would bring me tasty snacks, and at lunch time he rounded up a steak sandwich for himself and beef barbecue for me. I was obviously being spoiled. Later on he came back with a sweet pair of hand-made earrings.
On Saturday I watched a handsome Native American cowboy lazily dancing with his mother until another not-so-young lady "cut-in" for a twirl in his arms. He was the most relaxed dancer I'd ever seen, and more than one woman wanted to enjoy his practiced dance moves. The band played on and the cowboy seemed to enjoy a turn with each of the ladies.
I noticed police keeping a subtle presence around the grounds by blending in as much as possible. Both the man and the woman police officers I picked out near the band pavilion were standing casually, rigged out with holstered guns, communication equipment, and other mysterious gear secured on their waist belts. I felt safe, but not threatened as I'm sure most people did who even noticed their presence. Most festival goers were having too much fun getting their wine glasses filled and then strolling around the grounds shopping for handmade items and locally-grown pecans and pistachios.
On Sunday, Frank showed up at the music pavilion with a secret destination in mind for lunch. We walked a short distance across Railroad Avenue to a place called Rodney's, an establishment about the size of a phone booth. Inside were a stove, a counter, and lots of delicious-smelling food being prepared single-highhandedly by Rodney himself.
We placed our order for burros and all the trimmings and then made our way through a narrow alley to the back patio of his place. There were tables there under the trees, and it was an oasis away from the bustling crowds on the street. A refrigerator was humming peacefully on the back porch where we found our canned drinks. Rodney told us just to grab what we wanted, and pay on our way out. Trust and solitude put us completely at ease as we ate some of the best food we'd tasted all weekend.
The next Willcox Wine Festival is scheduled for Sunday, October 20 and 21 from 11a.m.- 5 p.m. at the Railroad Avenue Park in downtown Willcox, Arizona. Even if your taste buds don't crave a glass of excellent wine made from Arizona-grown grapes, there are plenty of other attractions at the festival to entertain you for the weekend.
Chapter Four of EZ Street - Copyright 2018 c. k. thomas
She thought back to the day of that clandestine meeting in a dimly-lit booth at Durant's.
"Look at me now. My first practice kill, and I got away clean if you don't include that damn dog.
"If only I had thought to carry cash. At least I didn't grab a credit card. Digging around for enough change, with people in line behind me, scared the crap outta me.
"Gauze and tape was the last thing I thought I'd need. No choice but to stop the bleeding before someone noticed."
She pulled up her pants leg to look at the jagged, scabbed-over slice the dog had torn into her calf.
"My first battle scar," she thought and smiled.
The teeth marks on her hand were visible enough that she'd started wearing gloves when Tripp was around. She told him she got into some poison plant in the garden and had to keep the rash covered. He bought it without so much as a raised eyebrow.
"I'm glad I took time to look at the bullet wound, but it may not have been worth tangling with that dog. I thought I had him occupied with the tug toy I threw into the alley. He sure went after it, dragging his mistress down with his leash. I thought she would freeze when I pointed the gun at her as she got up. I had anticipated an easy shot. Even with her coming at me, I kept my stance and fired.
"I almost hit the golden triangle dead on, yeah, dead on is right," she chuckled. That woman was dead, dead, dead, and I can't believe how good it felt to have hit a moving target. Maybe one more practice run before I draw down on Ms Sheila Barns. I'll plan better next time. I'll stock the trunk with all sorts of things I might need, including an overnight bag in case I have to avoid going back home for some reason."
She desperately wanted to tell someone about her success! The thought kept rolling through her mind on an endless loop. "Who can I tell? Who can I tell?"
"Hey, EZ, you got a dog!" At least six people in the squad room gathered around the friendly lab when EZ came sauntering over to his desk trying to keep a low profile, an idea that was an obvious fantasy on his part.
"Relax, he's only temporary," Saddler told them. "Found him at a crime scene, so I thought I'd hang onto him until we can locate someone to take care of him.
"You should keep him, EZ," Pam, the cop on the front desk called out. "You need a companion."
"You could keep him for me, Pam," Saddler offered.
"No way! I'm allergic."
"Sure you are," Saddler returned skeptically.
"Hey, listen I really am, but I do love dogs," she told him. "You got a call from some guy at a liquor store. Says one of his customers told him you were out front of his place earlier this morning. The guy had your card, so he decided to call. I think he's a cop wanna-be or some such," she said, handing the message to EZ. "He sounded excited about talking to you. Can you imagine?" she grinned.
Saddler walked back to his desk, and picked up the phone. Blackie flopped down on the floor, seemingly content to wait. The guy at the liquor store said the camera out front didn't spit out the best footage, but he'd be glad to roll it back to see if it picked up anything significant.
"Hold off on that," Saddler cautioned. "I'll send a forensics guy over to see what you've got."
"Well, as I said, it's probably going to be grainy, and it doesn't do very well at night either. I'd be glad to see if I can make it any better for you. I've got a movie editor on my computer that might do the job."
"Thanks, but that would damage its use as evidence. Please don't touch it until our tech gets there, okay?"
"Sure, sure," the man said, his enthusiasm down the drain.
"I thought you were closed on Mondays."
"We are, but I came in to do some inventory, and a neighborhood guy, who's a regular, saw me in here and knocked. He talked with some of your people last night."
"So will you still be there when our techie gets there?"
Saddler called forensics and talked to a tech, who agreed to run over to the liquor store and also to check in at the Circle K while she was in the area.
"We've already been over the convenience store footage from last night," she told him. We've got a shot of the woman walking the dog for a block or so, but then she goes out of the frame. You might want to take a look at it because all of a sudden the dog lurches and takes off."
"Okay, I'll stop by the lab later."
Saddler looked at his phone and noticed he barely had time to get the dog to his house and then get over to the morgue for the autopsy.
"Come on, Blackie. Let's go home."
That one statement may have just cemented Saddler having a new best friend, because later when he thought back on that first time with Blackie at the station, he realized he'd already made a decision to keep him if no one else showed up to claim him.
At lunch, Sam and EZ caught each other up on their morning.
"Where's Blackie?" Sam went right to the most important things first.
"No worries. He's got water, a shady spot, and my neighbor says he can put in a doggie door for him if I decide to keep him."
"Nice neighborhood you live in."
"Yeah, the guy's a carpenter and works out of his house. He has a key to my backdoor, so he can let Blackie in when it gets hot later on. He's got a little terrier of his own."
"Perfect, because eventually you'll need a dog sitter. You can't just leave dogs alone all the time, you know."
"Right," Saddler said. "Don't tell me anymore, okay?
"Deal. So what about the Sharon Lester autopsy?" Sam asked.
"Abby says Lester's elbows and lower arms and hands were roughed up as if she'd been dragged, and her right wrist was broken. The large amount of blood on her hand and arm appears to be from touching the head wound and lying in the puddle of blood."
"Any defensive wounds or DNA under the finger nails? That would be a bonus."
"No, we didn't get that lucky, but her stomach contents indicates she might have been out for a big dinner that evening."
"That would account for her being out walking the dog at such a late hour," Sam said.
"Do you think any of that blood on Blackie might be the killer's?"
"I will take him into the lab when I go to check on the CCTV forensics has collected. I haven't given him a bath."
Sam drew in her breath and said, "We should have bagged that tug toy. We might have gotten fingerprints."
"God, is that ever a rookie mistake," Saddler moaned. "I got so caught up in getting the dog to jump in the car after the toy that I didn't think about prints. I'll bring it along to the lab with the dog."
"It's worth a shot at least," Sam said. "I didn't get much from our witness. Her parents were there with her. She's taking a couple nights off work. She still seems traumatized by the experience," Sam told him. "I asked her if she remembered seeing anything unusual on her way from the Metro to the alley.
"She said something interesting. She keeps hearing a dog barking in her dreams. When she woke up this morning she remembered seeing a black dog at the door of the Circle K when she went in to get milk and bread. It was barking relentlessly, so she thought its owner must be inside the store. When she left the dog was gone."
"Do you think it might have been Blackie?" Saddler asked.
"Well, the Circle K is within walking of the alley, but why would the dog leave its owner's side. Remember, Blackie was behind the dumpster like he was waiting there in case his owner came back. Do you really think he would stray that far away from the scene?"
"I'll ask him."
"Yeah, that'll help," Sam quipped. "Did you call Al about the bank and Verizon?"
"I spoke with him briefly while he and Kelly were doing a second canvass. We agreed to meet back at the station at three to see what they found and decide how to set up the investigation."
Chapter 3 of EZ Street - Copyright 2018 c. k. thomas
Here's a bonus monthly installment of the murder mystery I'm drafting. I hope you enjoy the latest adventures of EZ and Sam. Check April's post and a post around May 12 for Chapters 1 and 2.
Sam was in the shower getting ready for work, and she could hear her cell phone music playing Pharrell's Be Happy, while vibrating itself off the edge of the bathroom sink and hitting the floor with a sickening crack.
"Damn, if my phone's busted, I'm going to kill whoever just called!" she told herself as she turned off the shower and stepped out.
Happily she found the phone still safely on the sink and her detective badge upside down on the bathroom tile.
"You're damn lucky this morning, EZ."
"What? I haven't even said a word."
"Don't need to. You almost busted my phone. It was a near miss."
EZ could tell by the tone of her voice she was in a good mood. Now would be the best time to let her in on the case they just caught.
"Since I'm already in the dog house, let me tell you about last night. We caught a case."
"Hmm, what happened to keeping me in the loop? We talked about this, EZ."
"I know, I know. I don't have an excuse better than I just plain got wrapped up at the scene and forgot to call until Al mentioned your name. Then, it was too late to call anyway, so I took a chance and waited until now."
"Okay, but you owe me lunch for forgetting."
"Not a problem. How about breakfast, too? I know I don't deserve forgiveness, but maybe I can buy my way back into your good will. Meet me at First Watch on Thomas in say half an hour?"
"Deal. See you there."
EZ tossed his comb aside in disgust after trying to tame his curly hair into some sort of submission. He knew if he didn't blow it dry it would end up scrambled like this. He felt like a Shirley Temple doll, but it was too late now to wet his golden locks down and start over.
He took his unmarked to the fifty-one south to Thomas from his house in the Dreamy Draw and got to the restaurant before Sam. That was the beauty of his little 50s style house located in north-central Phoenix. He could hop on route 51 and be anywhere in the metro area in a little less than a jiffy. North he could hook up with the 101 across town east or west and south took him to the heart of downtown or all the way to Tucson.
"Ordered you coffee, a wheat bagel and cinnamon-maple cream cheese. Anything else?"
"Perfect. Thanks. So tell me about last night. Wha'd I miss?"
EZ told her the particulars and suggested they stop off at the scene on their way downtown since they were so close. Once they finished eating they headed for the crime scene. Sam parked at the curb across from the all-night grocery and EZ pulled into the alley.
"Might as well check to see if the gun store at the other end of the alley has any video while we're here."
"That's a big gamble," Sam said, looking down the alley at the derelict-looking storefront.
"I'll hike down there while you get a feel for the scene. Our witness tripped over the vic's body just across from that dumpster."
Sam knelt down next to the outline of the body and pictured the scene in her mind. What's the point of shooting someone in an alley when the vic wasn't even carrying a handbag? A headshot looks like an assassination, so maybe the woman walking her dog will turn out to be more mysterious than she appeared. Without her identity, finding the motive for the murder will be next to impossible.
EZ had said no cell phone was found and nothing suspicious turned up in the dumpster. Sam climbed up on a couple pallets next to the dumpster to take a look. At only 5' 3" she often had to either hoist herself up and over obstacles or find something to give her more height. She knew forensics had already been all over the dumpster, and she could see nothing interesting except for a glint off something her flashlight caught in the near corner.
"Oh hell, now I'm going to have to climb in," she groaned. "Well, here goes."
When EZ returned he found her still inside the container studying something obviously wedged in the corner.
"What'd ya find?"
"I'm not sure. It looks like some sort of plaything a kid might have. It sort of glows in the dark," Sam said as she tugged on the thing to get it loose. "It's caught in a crack where the side seams come together or more like, don't. Got it! Finally! It's one of those dog tug toys."
"Toss it here," EZ said.
As he caught the toy, he squeezed it in his grip and it gave out a loud squeek.
Next thing he knew he was flat on his back with a big black dog playing a serious game of tugs with him and his new toy.
"Hey there, boy. Where'd you come from?"
"He came from behind the dumpster. Give me hand out of here once you get finished playing with your new best friend."
"This must be the dog our vic was walking last night. He's got blood stains on his coat."
"I don't know, but I can call forensics to see if they've traced his tags yet."
After a quick call, EZ found out the dog's name was Blackie, and the tags listed his owner as Sharon Lester at 30 East Thomas, #2010, which is just around the corner.
"Maybe our victim made a wild throw with the toy and then came into the alley looking for it when the dog didn't bring it back," Sam guessed.
"Maybe, but the dog was on a leash, so I doubt they were playing catch."
"Let's swing by the apartment and see if Ms Lester has a roommate."
"What about the dog?"
"We'll take him along. Come on, boy. Let's go," EZ called.
He tossed the toy into the backseat and the big dog easily jumped in after it.
"Maybe there's a roommate or husband who can take Blackie here off our hands."
"What kind of dog is that?" Sam asked as they drove along Thomas looking for the address.
"Darned if I know. Maybe a Labrador or a Doberman?"
"Can't be a Doberman, can it? Don't people have the ears on those kind clipped into points? Sure is friendly, isn't he. I hope there's someone to take care of him. Look at that, he just hunkered down on the backseat. What a good puppy," Sam crooned as EZ rolled his eyes and tried to ignore her mothering instincts.
Sam didn't seem like the mothering type to EZ. She kept her hair cut in a boyish, but cute style kinda like Ellen on TV. She lived in a tiny studio apartment with a pull-out in the living area and a postage stamp bathroom at the end of a long hall. The kitchen had a microwave, an apartment-sized refrigerator and a one-sided sink. None of the appliances had ever been used. Even the microwave looked untouched and forlorn.
EZ had seen her pull a beer out of the fridge on occasion, but when he went looking for a glass one time, he discovered all the cabinets were completely empty. When he asked her about her living arrangement, she just shrugged and told him she liked to keep things simple. Eating out was a way of life for her and if you wanted to find a good restaurant in Phoenix, you didn't check the Internet, you called Sam.
When they arrived at Sharon Lester's ground-floor apartment, Blackie ran straight to the door and jumped up to put his giant paws against it. Surprisingly, the door swung open and the dog bounded inside. He went immediately to his water bowl in the kitchen and began lapping water like he hadn't had a drink in a couple days.
"Oh, poor thing," Sam said. "He's been on his own ever since the murder. No wonder he's thirsty."
EZ announced their presence inside the apartment, but there was no sign of a Mr. Lester or the appearance that another person might share the space.
"Looks like we're going to have to drop Blackie off at the shelter," EZ said.
"Oh, come on EZ, you don't want to leave him there. Why don't you keep him for awhile and see if anyone turns up to claim him. She must have family somewhere."
"I know nothing about dogs, Sam."
"What's to know? You feed him and walk him. That's about it. Besides, he's already claimed the backseat of your unmarked."
"Well, maybe," EZ said as he flipped through a pile of mail on the hall table. "Here's a letter that reads like it might be from her mother. Nope, wait a minute. It's signed Janice, so maybe it's just a friend or a sister."
"Too bad we don't have her cell phone. Hey, look at this," Sam said as she reached under a tall stool in the kitchen. It's another one of those tug toys like I pulled out of the dumpster. He must really like these things."
"There's a Verizon bill here. We can probably get phone records and a person to notify from them. Wait a minute, there's a bank statement from Arizona Bank. They probably know all about Ms Lester. We can stop by there after we talk with our witness."
After calling forensics to go over the apartment, they drove back to the alley where Sam left her car.
"Oh, hey, did you get any video from the gun store?"
"It's closed on Mondays, so I'll need to chase down the owner by phone, but I don't hold out any hope. The camera over the door looks ancient."
"Tell you what, I'll go finish interviewing our witness while you take Blackie to the station to check on the video forensics got from the convenience store. Oh, we should probably get the film from the Circle K where the witness stopped on the way home, too."
"Okay, I'll call Al and make sure he and Kelly are going to finish the canvass of the neighborhood. Most of the stores and offices were closed last night. Maybe they can check with Verizon and the bank, too."
"Abby said she'd get to the autopsy around 10 this morning, so I better get a move on."
"You can't take Blackie into the morgue, and you can't leave him in the car. You better run by your house and drop him off in the backyard. You have that nice high block wall, so he'll be fine there. Oh and don't forget to leave water out for him and find him a shady place to lie. Better yet, you're gonna need a doggie door."
"I thought you said walk him and feed him. I should know better than to take advice from an apartment dweller. Did you ever even own a dog?"
"No, but how hard can it be," Sam said as she slid into her car. "Pick me up at the station around one, and we'll compare notes over lunch. Hey, did you see pictures of Kelly's baby, yet?"
"Nope, but I have a suspicion she'll have plenty with her today."
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