In my defense, I tried very hard, putting the book down and picking it up again twice before resigning myself to failure. Still, 32 pages isn't much of an effort, especially for someone like this author. I bought the book because of, one, the general buzz about the author, and two, a short story called "Puppy." I read the story in an edition of The Best American Short Stories, where it stood out among the other selections, not just for its basic excellence, but because it bucks the current trend of realism in the published stories we are pleased to call "literary." Saunders is a throwback in terms of technique, to the sixties, seventies, and eighties, the so-called post-modern era of fiction, when authors started with an assumption that readers were too smart for conventional narratives, and so their stories would mock themselves, winking at the wise readers as they moved along toward their fabricated conclusions. Some of that stuff is pretty fun to read and intellectually gratifying if you get the joke (which pretty much everyone does), but that stance, that smartass voice, grew tiresome after a while, and it was replaced by a return to various attempts at the illusion of authenticity. Saunders updates this post-modern mood in one important way: he is, essentially, a moralist. Instead of using the tongue-in-cheek, cartoonishness to discuss the limits of storytelling and literature in general, he's here to tell us about right and wrong. Good for him. "Puppy" (not in Pastoralia, incidentally) is about a confluence of two women. One is a wealthy housewife with a spoiled son and a hard working but absent husband. The other is an impoverished "redneck" with a mentally disabled son and a hard-working but abusive husband. The characters are flat, stereotypes, but the final message is devastating. In short, the wealthy woman, who means well and who most of us would consider a "good" person, ruins the lives of the poor woman and her son, even getting a puppy killed along the way. Her problem is an old one: pride. Or to put it another way, a sense of superiority (the word "privilege" is the current term) that she isn't aware of makes it impossible for her to empathize with the poor woman. It's a great story.
Pastoralia is the titular novella that opens a collection of short fiction. It's the first-person account from a man who works–in a curious alternate universe, it seems to me–in a kind of museum populated with live humans. His job, and his less-enthusiastic partner's, is to act like pre-verbal cave man and woman in a little exhibit that gets pretty much zero visitors. They aren't allowed to speak English, and spend their time hopping around, making fires, honking and grunting and roasting fresh meat. It's a strange world and not a happy one. I was into it for a while, but then I wasn't. It seems to me, the story–a thin conceit really, without what we'd call "characters" or setting for that matter–just goes on too long. Whatever dystopian message is on the way just doesn't feel worth the trouble of forging on. So far I get that corporations are soulless. Our jobs are pointless. Soon we'll be obsolete. We're all probably doomed.Tell me something I don't know! I just wished he'd got on with it.
Or perhaps my rejection of the book is more personal. At the point that I finally lost all patience, the female character's drug-addict son arrives. In that comic-strip technique, the character shows himself to be utterly selfish, utilizing the psychologizing-victim-babble of the day to justify his horribleness, to demand more privileges and deflect all responsibility for his own horrible acts. I sense the author is going for laughs, but for me, whose brother is a deeply troubled addict, it just wasn't funny. Perhaps others disagree.
In closing, I'll likely give this book another try sometime, probably skipping ahead to the next short story in the collection. I have found that the skills it takes to write a novel and a short story aren't as overlapping as most assume. Some writers just don't do long very well, and others aren't very good at short. And hey, there's no shame in that. Most of us aren't too good at either.


text:
Author: Cameron Verona
Addison Mock is a driven, hard-working and very good baseball player who knows what he wants. Facing poor treatment by a coaching staff who has their priorities in the wrong order, he looks toward the future and faces a crossroads on whether or not to leave Piedmont College's baseball team or depart for a new challenge: The Pros.
Addison Mock walking out of his dorm room and headed to his car for baseball practice. He wonders how many more he will attend considering how poorly he is being treated by the coaching staff.
Addison taking a nap and time to think about how to approach the situation. He is fast asleep, and hopes that sleeping will clear his mind and help him determine what to do.
Needing other opinions, Addison calls to his dad on the phone to discuss leaving the baseball team or remaining in a bad situation. His father has been with him since the beginning of his career and is his closest and most cherished advisor.
Having finally reached a decision, Addison presents his text message proudly to his roommates. Having the burden of negativity lifted off his shoulders, he remains filled only with happiness and positivity.
Still pursuing his dream to play in the pros, there are no days off for Addison as he heads into the gym. A baseball player needs to be explosive and powerful, especially professionals, and that is exactly what he will gain from today.
Tossing around heavy weights on leg day, Addison pulls up an easy 455lbs on deadlift. At around 230lbs, his power knows no bounds and he will surely prevail in his goals.
Making even further progress, Addison signed up for an independent league tryout for baseball to further his career as a professional. With his positivity, explosive power, and wisdom of an enlightened mind, he is sure to come away with a spot on the roster.
Cutline of Madeline Pierce
Senior Biology Major Madeline Pierce going on her daily training ride on Smith Loop Road off Piedmont's campus. To maintain her phenomenal track record and professional contract, she works on her like this every day, modeling excellence.
12:42pm // Library // Water Mirror
12:37pm // Wetlands // Rule of Thirds
12:27pm // Wetlands // Animals

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Ель-Вакра — місто Катару.
 Ель-Вакра — адміністративна одиниця Катару.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
· Updated on Dec 10, 2021
44 Gifts That'll Probably Be Automatic Hits That You Still Have Time To Get
Finding gifts by this point of the year is so stressful...just go ahead and grab one of these surefire hits (that'll get there by Christmas).
by Mallory Mower
1. A preserved floral bundle, because adding a cheery bit of color to their life is the best thing about buying flowers. Finding cool florals that won't wilt? Now, that'll be even better.
Promising review: "This exceeded my expectations. It's definitely a good value for the money. I love the colors and variety of stems — it looks beautiful!" —IS
Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with free one-day shipping (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
2. A box of five hot chocolate bombs sure to be, well, a bomb surprise in the toe of their stocking.
Promising review: "This is a worthwhile purchase. I bought these for last-minute holiday gifts. Initially I thought the price was a bit high, but they are beautifully boxed and very tasty. A festive gift...I'll buy more for our own hot chocolate station!" —Elle Dee
Get them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three styles).
3. A set of linen napkins that are naturally stain-resistant, so if you know a spill-prone someone...this gorgeous set was made with them in mind! Soup season has got nothin' on these.
Promising review: "These are beautiful napkins. They are a fine weight for everyday use and hold up to the washing machine. Being linen we didn't expect them to be wrinkle free but they are amazingly stain resistant. We are totally in love with them. We got a set of each color. They are big enough we can use one color napkin as a placemat and then an alternate color as the napkin to mix and match with the placemats. The coral color is our favorite." —Deanna O'Shaughnessy
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $29.99 (available in six colors).
4. A marble patterned essential oil diffuser to help your restless friend create a calm atmosphere that really ~rocks~ before they fall asleep.
Promising review: "Beautiful, highly recommend! You can set it to mist for one, three, or six hours and can use with lights or without lights. Great quality, comes with cute water measuring cup. I use this in my home office. Contemporary marble look design goes with any decor!" —Mindy R
Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with free shipping. This product will arrive by Christmas if ordered up to one week before. (see Amazon's full shipping information here).
Get it from Amazon for $32.99 (available in two colors).
5. A lamb or teddy heirloom doll so darn darling it just might become your baby's first best friend.
Promising reviews: (lamb) "It's beautifully made and I know it will last a long time. My baby is still too little to appreciate it but family members have made several compliments on the craftsmanship and design. It's expensive, but I like the mission behind the product and that takes some guilt out of buying such an expensive toy, in my opinion. I'd buy this again as a gift to a loved one. Lovely product." —Fatima Esquivel
(bear) "My daughter loves this doll. I thought it was a little pricey when we purchased it, but it's great quality and it's a new treasure for our family!" —Jennifer Potter
Get the lamb for $79 and the bear for $57+ (available in two sizes), both from Amazon.
6. A guided questions journal sure to get them into the groove of daily journaling. This system is short, guided, and great if they've struggled with writing down their memories in the past.
This journal helps guide folks to find gratitude, feel stress relief, and set intentions by focusing on the phrase, "I will let go of, I am grateful for, I will focus on."
Promising review: "Do you have two minutes? Do you struggle with priorities? Well, here's a journal to help you win your day. After struggling to manage his commitments, Neil Pasricha discovered a simple gratitude practice that changed his life. It takes—wait for it—just two minutes every morning. The practice is simple yet powerful, and by using a journal to log your entries, you'll be able to look back over the year at all you've accomplished." —Chris Guillebeau
7. An almond orange body scrub from Zum, the mother of spunky soaps, that's gonna lift their spirits with its lovely scent and smooth out their rough edges with its soothing texture.
Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed
The photo above is a display I made out of Popsicle sticks specifically for my Zum products. I wish I was exaggerating. Be sure to check out everything Indigo Wild has to offer!
Promising review: "I have tried Zum's other scents and next to the frankincense salt scrub, this one has got to be my favorite. Citrusy without being too overbearing and a very light almond scent. It really has the right balance. I love using this in the shower with a loofah glove as it really gets my skin clean and smooth and super-soft. I just love this line! Zum soaps, scrubs and body mists are really the best with only the best ingredients." —Donna
Get it from Amazon for $15.
8. A salt shooter you can give someone who would love nothing more than to hunt the world's most dangerous game, the pesky housefly. That...or use it to season their food in the most exciting way possible.
Promising review: "This salt gun is SO MUCH FUN! I hate flies so this is the perfect solution. It's like a Nerf gun but shoots salt instead. It's not too heavy to hold. However the pump is tough to pull back, which is perfect for an adult but difficult for kids. If you shoot yourself in the hands or arm, it stings a tiny bit but that's it. I Highly recommend it! Happy hunting!" —Q. Nguyen
9. A jerky bouquet for fun-loving folks who will enjoy telling the story about the time they got a *meat bouquet* for the rest of their lives.
This bouquet includes five sticks of buffalo, five hot venison, five mild venison, and five sticks of elk...that's 20 ounces of meat altogether!
Promising review: "This was a Valentine's Day gift for my husband. It arrived on time, nicely packaged. He really liked it. This is the perfect gift for a man or woman who appreciates thoughtfulness and practicality. The meat sticks are delicious and are not just beef but four gourmet game meats. I would recommend this gift." —Fan Girl
10. A pair of aerating wineglasses that'll really and truly improve the taste of the cheap wine you and your BFF gulp down on all your The Bachelorette viewing nights.
Promising review: "I got these for my mom and she loves them! They are great conversation pieces, and fun to use. The wine fans out and falls into the glass as pictured. She runs them through the dishwasher and hasn't had any issues cleaning them that way. These are fun for wine drinkers." —Kaitlyn G.
Get them from Amazon for $59.95.
11. A leather duffle bag with a seemingly endless supply of handles, straps, zippers, and pockets. With this gift, figuring out how to carry all their luggage won't have to be an added weight on their shoulders.
Promising review: "This bag came so well protected, wrapped and inside a cotton storage bag. Each brass piece was also wrapped with foam and tape. The care that went into this puts this seller in my personal top five. The bag is huge and beautiful, the color is spot on, and and the leather smell is pleasant, the smell of good tack. Am I impressed enough? Yes, to the point where I'm also buying the 24-inch model. This seller has my highest recommendation. You will not be disappointed" —Rich
Get it from Amazon for $64.99+ (available in four sizes).
12. A mix and match game that one baby you know can use to learn the names of animals, and as they grow they can create their own wacky critters!
The set includes 20 pieces.
Promising review: "The box is a lot heavier than I expected but the quality is so nice so I understand why. I loooooove it. It's perfect for my 2-year-old son" —Nadia Felder
Get it from Amazon for $16.50 (available in five styles).
13. A Stagg pour-over kettle to give your decidedly snobby friend a gift they can't help but applaud.
Promising review: "I bought this kettle over a year ago and typically use it on the weekends. The kettle is beautiful, we get so many compliments on the look of it. We use a gas range to heat the kettle and also have the black plastic handle, and it is still in mint condition. We have been so happy with this kettle that we are gifting it to friends and family now for christmases, housewarmings, etc. Thanks for a great product!" —Anders R.
Get it from Amazon for $79+ (available in four colors).
14. A pack of pocket scrunchies with space inside to hold spare keys, lipstick, cash, etc. If your boo has suffered through a lifetime of outfits with few (or useless) pockets...this accessory is gonna upgrade the storage in their wardrobe.
Amazon, amazon.com
Promising review: "These are so cool. Tied up in your hair you can't tell it has a pocket. I got cash, chapstick, a key, and a small knife in it and still tied my hair up fine. What more could you want? I read that the zipper isn't enough to set off a metal detector. Definitely get them in black if you're trying to be discreet. I would buy again but the quality is great I bet they will last a long time. I gave a couple away to friends. They loved them." —Amanda
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in nine pack styles).
15. A soup dumpling kit that'll make your foodie friends ~bao~ down to you — you gift-giving pro!
This kit includes woven bamboo steaming baskets, agar agar, a dough roller, spatula, and instructions.
Promising review: "My kids love soup dumplings but I don't know how to make them so I got this as a fun gift activity to do with them. It was AWESOME. The kit was really easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions. My kids had so much fun using the dough roller and it let us get the dumpling wrappers nice and thin. It was easy and, although it did take some time in the kitchen, it was fun. I would definitely do this again and I could see it also being a fun night with friends." —Nicole Fuentes
16. Dogs on Instagram, a piece of ACTUAL ART they can leave out on their coffee table and peruse whenever they need an instant shot of serotonin.
Promising review: "This is a great gift for dog lovers. The book is full of cute dog pictures in a variety of scenarios — what's not to love?" —SJ
17. A meditation necklace that teaches healthy breathing exercises (it hits an instantly calming tone once breathed through correctly). This spiffy accessory is sure to be their own Pavlov's dog of soothing sensations. One whistle and calm will be coming their way!
Promising review: "As a very anxious person, I have struggled with meditating successfully, due to an inability to shut off the constant chatter in my head. This necklace (that doubles as a breathing regulation apparatus) has allowed me to get past that mental block and reap the rewards of meditation. It's not rocket science, it's really quite simple. By focusing on my breathing, I can control the sound of the whistle to be more balanced and tranquil. I plan on buying one for all of my loved ones who struggle with anxiety!" —Celeste Marcotte
Get it from Amazon for $62 (available in eight colors).
18. A surprisingly aesthetic natural wood essential oil diffuser with a car vent clip that'll let them use all their favorite essential oils in the car, saving them from suffering through the scent of faux plastic pine air fresheners.
This comes with a lavender essential oil.
Promising review: "I'm very particular when it comes to scent so I'm picky about choosing products for my house and car. I've always used car air fresheners but was looking for an alternative that wouldn't give me a headache with an overpowering chemical scent for my long commutes. This oil diffuser is a great alternative to other generic brands. The scent of lavender essential oil is lush, soothing but not overpowering which is great for de-stressing during my commutes. You can also place it on top of your work desk for a subtle and soothing aroma. The diffuser came in high quality packaging with two petite reeds sticks. Highly recommend it!" —Eric H.
19. An orange juice vase — it's gonna be the juiciest piece of decor they've ever owned.
Promising reviews: "I LOVE this vase! I like random, colorful decor and I'm so glad this popped up. It's very sturdy and the colors are vibrant so you can tell it's high quality. This vase only holds a small bouquet of flowers, it's definitely more of a fun item than a practical one. I love how unique it is and it'd make a great gift, too!" —Drew A.
20. A bubble pop sensory toy — a calming anxiety toy geared toward adults and children alike. Reviewers say the sound is super satisfying. Go ahead and *pop* this into their stocking, stat!
Promising reviews: "This is great. My daughter uses it for stress relief from school." —Amazon Customer
"I love this sensory toy! It's fun to play with when I'm bored or even on Zoom. The 'pops' are loud and satisfying. Once one side is popped you can turn it over to do the other side. It's very addictive; I love it!" —Anna
Get it from Amazon for $4.95+ (available in 29 styles).
21. A pair of memory foam slippers that'll totally upgrade your grandmother's comfort-chic wardrobe.
Promising review: "These are fabulous slippers! They're everything a slipper should be: super soft and warm, easy to slip on and off, and the sole comes up just high enough on the sides to keep the slipper from 'rolling' and it's got the right amount of grip to keep you from slipping on hardwood or tile." —Humans of Kork & Kopper
Get them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in four colors and sizes 5–12).
22. A love language card game — it's gonna be a fun way to get everyday conversations growing from "How was your day?" while teaching you and your S.O. how best to show your love for each other. If life with your loved one makes things better, this fun game just might make things the best.
My husband and I took this card game on a camping trip and read through several of the cards while sitting in front of the fire. I've gotta say, couples, it's pretty intense! The conversations we had thanks to this deck were refreshing, honest, and taught us a lot about each other. We've known each other since elementary school and these still sparked conversations we've never had before. I highly, highly recommend it to anyone who would like to be closer with their partner!
Promising review: "I wanted to find some ways to get to know my boyfriend better as I've asked every question I could possible think of, LOL. I didn't look at a single card before we played and it really helped further strengthen our relationship. The different categories make sure you leave no part of your significant other's life unturned! I highly recommend!" —Braxton
23. An Embark dog DNA test that'll find their fluffer's family connected to over 250 dog breeds (including wolf, coyote, and village dog ancestry!).
It also tests for over 210 health conditions to help pet owners stay aware of what keeps their K-9 safe!
Promising review: "Very cool. My dog is a rescue and I was told he was a Border collie mix. His personality lead me to do a test because he just didn't have the personality of a Border collie. Come to find out he's a Shih Tzu/pit bull mix, which makes way more sense." —dede123
Get it from Amazon for $134.
24. A caffeinated butt mask that's sure to be a useful addition to the (rear) end of their skincare routine.
Promising review: "I will definitely be investing in more of these masks. I was a bit skeptical to try a mask for my butt (LOL) but I actually felt it work! I felt the firmness and detox! I would recommend trying it, I will be purchasing more for sure. Thumbs-up!" —Lauren
25. Weird Parenting Wins, a funny and heartwarmingly honest book filled with some surprising parenting hacks. Whether trying to get their kids to tell the truth, wanting to figure out how to end tantrums before they start, or discovering "The Art of Getting Your Kid to Act Like a Person," there's sure to be a silly solution in here for the parents in your life!
Promising review: "I've gotten so many good ideas and 'aha! moments' from this book. I am looking forward to giving it out as a baby shower gift or for a mom who is in a funk. I read a little bit here and there while I'm putting my toddler to bed and have found myself referencing the book for ideas when I need to change things up. (Dinner in odd places? Genius! Making my 2-year-old say 'pee' to brush his teeth? Exactly what I needed.) I hope there's a new edition because I already have some ideas of my own. Haha." —couleurvanille
Get it from Amazon for $8.
🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣
This egg has already hatched. Keep looking for easter eggs for a chance to be a winner of our 5 Days of Giveaways!
26. A homemade gin kit so they can drink to the new year in a DIY way. Then they can cross off "become mixologist" from their New Year's resolution list while they're at it.
This kit comes with two glass bottles, a funnel, two botanical blends, and instructions.
Promising review: "I've bought this kit in the past, and I was so satisfied with the results that I bought two this year. The gin came out delicious, and my friends and I enjoyed it very much. I love this gin kit, and I definitely will buy it again. It's so awesome to make your own gin. I even bought the refill packs that offer different flavors, too. Can't wait to see how good those come out. If you like gin, then I would definitely recommend the Homemade Gin Kit." —Reub
27. A ceramic nonstick cookware set to give your younger sibling if, after visiting their first apartment, you realize they fully plan on living off of cereal...judging by the lack of *any* kitchen tools in the place.
Promising review: "These are by far the best pots and pans I have ever owned. I was skeptical about buying pans like this because I have in the past and things stuck to them like crazy. These don't have an issue with sticking at all! You need to be sure to hand-wash them and DO NOT use any type of metal on them or they will start to stick and wear out faster. As long as you take care of them and do those couple of things these will last you a long time. I love the mint blue as well! Such a pretty color." —Kimberly Melton
28. A deck of black foil playing cards for folks who would love a deck of cards as dark as their sense of humor.
Promising review: "Okay, these cards look awesome and they are. I love the way they look — they are really beautiful. However, for fast-paced card games they slide way too much. So keep that in mind. Besides that I absolutely love them." —Tish
29. A box of miracle fruit tablets — candies that'll turn their taste buds upside down. This is a fun family activity that'll never go ~sour~ (although technically the effects wear off after around 30 minutes).
This packet includes 10 tablets.
Promising review: "My friends and I tried these at my sleepover, and let me tell you, we went to flavor town. Ours lasted 30 minutes, which was the perfect amount of time to try all the fruits and other things we wanted. Lemons are delicious!!!" —Picky Shopper
30. A pair of teeny-tiny macramé potted plants for anyone who wants to ~plant~ something precious in their car and add a little life to their commute.
Promising review: "These are very cute! Both plants came wrapped in plastic for safekeeping during delivery. They were easy to put together; anyone could do it. They're very sturdy and very good quality for the price! The plants are obviously fake but that's a good thing because you won't have to worry about keeping them alive, LOL. They're easy to attach to your rearview mirror with the clip they provide." —Jehnayyee
Get them from Amazon for $11.99 (available in two colors).
31. A deck of Dream Decoder cards so they can try to figure out what their dreams mean. Why do I keep dreaming about my teeth falling out? Tell me!
Promising review: "I LOVE these cards. They have been such a fun conversation starter and an interesting thing to have around the house when my boyfriend or I have a super-strange dream. Plus the artwork is gorgeous and the descriptions are thorough and thoughtful." —Kenzi
Get a set of 60 cards from Amazon for $11.99.
32. A Sriracha keychain that'll spice up their life...literally.
It comes empty so don't forget to fill it up!
Promising review: "I purchased this keychain combo pack as a joke for my son's birthday. Sriracha is his favorite condiment and he has been known to bring a full-size bottle with him when he goes out to eat. He was thrilled with this! It was his favorite gift!" —DixieKnitter
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four sizes).
33. A goldfish umbrella — a funny accessory that'll add some whimsy to a rainy day, even if walking around with it looks a little fishy.
Promising review: "Have you ever wanted to know what it was like to 'swim with the fishes' but you didn't want to be thrown over a boat with cement tied to your feet? Say no more, fam. This umbrella is super quirky and durable. I named all of the fish already. Jedediah is my fave." —Amoré Monét
34. A bag of brown sugar candied bacon sure to be the savory-meets-sweet treat they were too naughty to ask Santa for. Luckily, they have you.
Promising review: "This product is amazing! I have tried other brand names and they've got nothing like this! The smell alone is really good. I took a nice piece and let it settle in my mouth. There's a nice mix of brown sugar and bacon. The meat itself was nice and tender, NOT DRY like other brands. I like my jerky a bit juicy and this one is by far the best. It's the best bacon jerky I have ever tried! I super recommend this and will be buying more for gifts!" —Jezrael
35. An arched floor mirror — it's gonna add a modern elegance to any room. Every time they look at this piece they're gonna ~reflect~ on how glad they are to have you in their life. I promise.
I own this mirror! I recently moved into a new apartment with windows in awkward areas, making my living room darker than it should be during the day. I got this so I could bounce some light from the windows to the other end of the room and it works perfectly! It was one of the first things I put up in my living room and I instantly started getting compliments on it (even though the room is *still* mostly full of unopened boxes).
Promising review: "This is definitely the most I've ever spent on a mirror but I'm super pleased with it! The reflection is great and I didn't notice any flaws or warping. I would highly recommend." —Annalee
Get it from Amazon for $189.99+ (available in four colors).
36. A paint by numbers canvas that'll let their artistic side shine.
Promising review: "I love it! My only recommendation is to iron your canvas prior to painting." —Katrina M.
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in seven styles).
37. A tissue box cover — a sentimental gift for anyone who gets teary-eyed when thinking about home.
This works with square tissue boxes, be sure to grab ones that fit!
Promising review: "I'm in a dorm room and wanted to keep my color scheme going throughout the room (white/blush/gold), and multi-colored tissue boxes can look chaotic in such a small space. It's cute and functional." —Rebecca
Get it from Amazon for $5+ (available in four colors).
38. A bag of organic Death Wish coffee to give anyone who truly believes in the phrase "death before decaf."
Promising review: "OK, folks, words of warning...if you have heart conditions, ration out your coffee. If you drink 24 oz Starbucks grande, you need an 8 oz. of this as your FIRST cup. I'm serious; heed my warning or you could end up cleaning your entire house, doing all your yard work, making love to your partner, waxing your car, building a garage or single-handedly raising the Titanic on your own; all in the first hour after drinking this wonderful coffee. You have been warned!" —ITsTheXFactor
Get it from Amazon for $17.49 (available in two styles).
39. A tobacco and patchouli candle in an amber apothecary jar that's waaay too pretty to be this price — snag this steal of a deal and give your best friend's bookshelves something to brag about.
These are my favorite candles on Amazon! The jars are gorgeous, they have a clean burn, and the scent is natural — they fill a room without being overpowering. I sincerely think pairing these with some flowers or snacks is a winning gift for any person on any occasion.
Promising review: "Goldilocks would love this candle because everything is just right. Some candle scents are too strong or fake smelling and some are too weak – this candle is perfect. The subtle, yet alluring scent provides nice background fragrance for any room and burns very clean. I'm sensitive to candles with fake chemical smells or wax that burns dirty and these candles are my go-to because they never cause a problem. The glass jar gives a nice glow and the candle has a long life. A little more money than most on here but worth it for 'just right.'" —Sterling
Get it from Amazon for $20+ (available in nine scents).
40. A tortilla blanket for foodies who would like nothing more than being wrapped up in the cheesiest gift of all.
Promising review: "This blanket came in vacuum packeting, which guarantees cleanliness during shipping. It is ultra soft. Although it is thin, it is a perfect covering for a little rest." —Edward
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in four sizes and five styles).
41. A wall mounted rainy pot that'll help your summer-loving sweetheart see that even dreary weather has a darling side.
Promising review: "I have purchased several sets of these. I have them hanging in my office and have referred friends to this link and they have purchased the set too. Great present for teachers!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two styles).
42. A pom-pom throw so you can give them a soft gift that shows you appreciate them dealing with all your rough edges.
Promising review: "This is an extremely soft blanket. The color is spot on. I gifted to my mom for Mother's Day and she loved it. She loves how soft it is. It's big enough to cover her body. This is a very comfortable blanket. I would love to order more if they come out with light grey or white." —Isis Cazares
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in four sizes and 19 colors).
43. A pair of cross-band indoor/outdoor fleece slippers that'll have the whole family feeling all warm and fuzzy.
Promising review: "These are the BEST! They are so fluffy! I'm loving the open toe so my feet don't over-heat! The cutest fluffs." —Si
Get them from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and six colors).
44. And finally, a splurge-worthy teaching keyboard that connects with lesson apps so they can become a maestro all on their own.
Promising review: "I found the piano I've been looking for. It is excellent. This is the first digital piano that feels like I am playing the real thing." —James Kerigan
Get it from Amazon for $599.23+ (available in three colors).
And that's a ~wrap~ on your holiday shopping!
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.


text:
DefMin Ciuca, IntMin Vela visit Romanian troops in Afghanistan
Roxana Ghiorghian
Published: 18/12/2019 13:58
Sursa foto: Inquam Photos / Octav Ganea
Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca, Interior Minister Marcel Vela, and Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Daniel Petrescu, went to Afghanistan on Tuesday to meet with the Romanian troops.
"We really wanted to go to Afghanistan before the winter holidays, to meet with the troops and to send them our message of appreciation for everything they do for the Romanian Army and for the country. These are not meaningless words, but they come in the context in which, talking with the mission leaders ("Resolute Support"), the feedback has been as positive and as praiseworthy as possible for the way in which the Romanian troops fulfill their mission, for their professionalism, for their readiness to effort and willingness to sacrifice, for their camaraderie," said Minister Nicolae Ciuca, according to a release issued on Wednesday to AGERPRES by the Ministry of National Defence (MApN).
According to the quoted source, during the first part of the working visit, the official delegation went to the Kandahar Military Base.
The Defence minister met with the troops of the 495th Infantry Battalion "Stefan Soverth", with the detachment that includes the National Support Element, as well as with the troops carrying out missions within the Train Advise Assist Command - South / TAAC- South).
Nicolae Ciuca was informed about how the Romanian Army's troops deployed in this region of Afghanistan fulfill their missions and discussed with the servicemen about the state of the equipment and technique they operate with, as well as the important aspects for carrying out missions in the Afghan operation theatres, the quoted source informs.
On the second day, the delegation traveled by the C-27J Spartan aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, from Kandahar to Kabul, where they met with the Romanian military staff deployed in this area.
In Kabul, Minister Ciuca met with Lieutenant General Giles Hill, deputy commander of NATO Resolute Support Mission (RSM). During the talks, the security situation in Afghanistan, the current contribution of Romania with forces to the RSM, the sixth country with troop contributors in this theater of operations, the support given by the US forces in Afghanistan to the Romanian military in the theater of operations were analyzed, as well as the intentions of the Multinational Command for 2020, reads the MApN release.
According to the release, the Defence minister said that General Giles Hill has the utmost respect for the Romanian military staff and that he is convinced that if any serviceman in the Afghan operation theatres were asked with whom he was confident to carry out his mission, he would answer with certainty, that together with "a Romanian serviceman".
In conclusion, the Defence minister said that the visit was very effective: "I saw the situation on-site, we talked to the military staff and we received feedback from them. We will take care of all aspects that need more coordination, more aggregation in techniques and procedures, in providing the best resources and living conditions during deployment to operation theatres and to make the mission here as consistent as possible and the troops to focus only on what they have to accomplish. "
TAGS: afghanistan daniel petrescu mapn marcel vela nicolae ciuca rsm
Help your friends know more about Romania!


text:
Q: Issue with math font while using beamer I am having issue with math font while using beamer. Here is my code
\documentclass[x11names]{beamer}
\usepackage{bm,fontenc,amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{frame}
\begin{equation*} h_{\mathtt{x}}(x_1,x_2) = \frac{\exp{\Big(\frac{1}{2}(\mathbf{x}-\bm{\mu})^{\mathtt{T}} \bm{\Sigma}^{-1} (\mathbf{x}-\bm{\mu})^{}\Big)}}{\sqrt{(2\pi)^2\begin{vmatrix}\bm{\Sigma}\end{vmatrix}}}
\end{equation*}
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and its output

How can I get an output like this

A: \documentclass[x11names]{beamer}

\usefonttheme[onlymath]{serif}

\usepackage{bm,fontenc,amsmath}

\begin{document}
\begin{frame}
\begin{equation*} h_{\mathtt{x}}(x_1,x_2) = \frac{\exp{\Big(\frac{1}{2}(\mathbf{x}-\bm{\mu})^{\mathtt{T}} \bm{\Sigma}^{-1} (\mathbf{x}-\bm{\mu})^{}\Big)}}{\sqrt{(2\pi)^2\begin{vmatrix}\bm{\Sigma}\end{vmatrix}}}
\end{equation*}
\end{frame}
\end{document}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A standalone hotfix, KB3143760 , is now available to correct this issue. This hotfix requires that the Windows Image file (boot.wim) be manually updated, and that the image on Configuration Manager distribution points be updated also.
As an alternative to the hotfix, you may continue to use the original release of the Windows 10 ADK, which is supported for OS deployments including Windows 10, version 1511. This older version of the Windows 10 ADK can still be downloaded directly from the Microsoft Download Center: http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/1/9/8197FEB9-FABE-48FD-A537-7D8709586715/adk/adksetup.e... .


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Home » Fish & Aquariums » How Can I Find the Best Aquarium Shops Near Me?
How to Purchase a New Aquarium?
What to Know Before Buying an Aquarium?
Before you start looking, it can help to get a general idea of whether an aquarium store will be able to help you. You need to get an idea of what they have in stock.
Aquarium shops typically stock a variety of different fish species. They will have specimens who live in their own unique environments like fresh water, tropical or marine life.
You will often find stores which specialize in one specific category like marine fish.
Professional shops will usually have at least a few types of plants for your tank.
They are also divided into categories based on the habitat in which they grow.
Aquarium stores stock a range of fish feed. Each species have evolved unique dietary needs that the products cater for.
There is dry food, wet food like gel, feeding blocks and frozen food like shrimps.
Shops will probably feature a range of enclosures that you can choose from. You will be able to choose between all kinds of shapes and sizes.
Some stores will even sell glass panels with which you can build an aquarium from scratch.
Another essential that these stores sell are chemicals and tools that you need to clean the tank.
Many aquarium shops also stock some essential health supplements.
You will be able to buy medicines for common ailments like fungus growths.
A good store will sell all the necessary electric equipment that you need. For example, filters, pumps, heaters, and lights.
You can find all kinds of tank decor items like artificial plants here.
These shops will sell a bunch of other aquarium supplies such as salt too.
So if you need any of these items, you know where to start looking.
The most convenient place to start your search is definitely the internet. You can have information about hundreds of stores at the tip of your fingers by the touch of a button.
First off, open a general search engine like Google. Type in the phrase "aquarium shops near me" or something similar. You can also search using the name of your city or neighborhood. Search and go through the results.
Secondly, it can be helpful to search directly on social media sites. Many stores won't be able to have their own websites but might have a social media page.
Thirdly, you can go on to Google maps or other map applications or sites and search "aquarium shops" there.
But not all owners have listed their stores somewhere online. They might not have an online presence at all. So it can be a good idea to check out local newspapers in your search.
Business owners often advertise in there. Now and again there might even be a feature of local shops.
Your first step should be to start off with the classifieds and advertisements at the back. Then you can skim through the rest.
Another potentially useful resource are magazines that are focused on animals. These are must reads for any pet owners be they owners of fish or cats.
Besides great advice on taking care of your pets, they can also provide other necessary information. Specifically, they mostly have directories or listings about different stores, suppliers as well as breeders. These are typically well known and reputable sources.
As in newspapers, the directories for magazines are at the back. Therefore, you can also start near the end and then skim through the rest.
One of the best ways to find a reputable aquarium shop is to ask advice from fellow pet owners. Who will know better than people who have their own aquariums and need to shop for supplies regularly?
If you know, anybody with fish, so ask them. They will probably be able to tell you more about which stores have which specific products and their general price range.
Aquarium shops specialize in providing products and services that you need for a home aquarium. But these aren't necessarily your only option.
If you have exhausted all the avenues in your search, you might want to widen the net. Consider including other pet supply shops. Most pet stores will offer some aquarium related products. Some also sell fish and additional types of marine or freshwater animals.
You might not find the rarer and more specialized fish or supplies here, nor the variety. However, you should be able to find all the basics here.
Now that you know about local stores, it is time to gauge what your different options are like. If you want the best for your pets, you should try to find out if the shops are reputable and have high-quality products. They should also take good care of their animals.
That is why we are going to give you some tips and tricks to make sure the store is tops.
One of the most reliable ways to find out more about the store is to visit it yourself. While you're there, you should carefully inspect the store while you browse to get a feel for it.
Take a look at the tanks. They should be clean, and the water should be clear. There shouldn't be algae growth on the sides.
Check the general cleanliness of the shop.
Try to see whether the products like the food is stored correctly. It needs to be dry and not stand in the sun.
Look carefully at the fish and other living creatures. They need to be in a healthy condition. This can be difficult for a beginner to gauge. But look at their movements, how they swim, check for any lesions, or any possible fungus growths.
How To Choose The Best Algae Eaters Even For A Small Aquarium?
You don't want to support a store which doesn't properly care for its fish, but you also don't want to take a sick animal home.
This might not be possible at first, but over time you should try to compare the different stores that you have access to. So that you can figure out which is a prime choice in your locale.
You can compare them on all aspects specifically the variety that they offer, their prices, knowledgeability of the staff and condition of the animals.
But you can't necessarily visit every store for yourself. So another option can be to go read reviews on the store.
Once again, one of the easiest ways to do this is to look for ratings online. Some search engines have built-in review features. Otherwise, you can go look at their social media pages and read about people's opinions and experiences.
There are many possible places to find reviews but at least check out one or two.
One more trick is to again turn to your fellow aquarium owners. Experience is a fantastic teacher. So they will be able to tell you all about the shop.
You can ask them about all the aspects that you are interested in and for any extra advice.
But what do you do if you can't find the right store near you?
A good aquarium store might not be in driving distance. This can happen if you are living in a smaller neighborhood or are looking for something specific and rare.
Luckily, nowadays there are many online stores you can turn to for aquarium related products. Most of the times you won't be able to buy any live plants, feed, or animals online. For that, you will need to visit a breeder or physical store.
But you can find a variety of food, installations, and accessories on the internet. You can compare prices from a variety of sites to make sure you get the lowest price. And best of all it will all be delivered right to your doorstep.
This can help you miss out on the hassle of going to the physical location and going from place to place in search of a product. It can be the ideal option for you if you know what you are looking for.
Before you rush off to the store, you need to know what you are going to get. It can be a bit overwhelming to set up your first home aquarium. There is a lot to learn and a lot to buy.
But no matter what species you're planning on getting there are a few basics that all of them need.
Warm water and tropical fish needs heaters.
You need to note that what you need will depend on the species of fish and their ideal habitat.
There are four main types of home aquariums that you can set up. Each of them is based on the habitats and environments that fish live in.
Coldwater aquariums are for fish who prefer a temperature range from about fifty to more or less seventy degrees Fahrenheit. You should fill these tanks with freshwater. Examples of suitable fish are Goldfish and African Cichlids.
Freshwater tropical aquariums are ideal for fish who thrive in temperatures of around 72- 84 Degrees Fahrenheit. These include tetras and angelfish.
These tanks are made for fish who usually live in marine environments. You need to add salt to the water. This can be a bit of a challenge for a new owner. It is also more expensive, but the creatures who live here are incredible.
The environments in these enclosures are a combination of fresh and saltwater. They are rarer than the other types. Typical fish are gobies, archerfish, and gar.
Here is more detailed information on starting and maintaining the different types of aquariums.
It's vital that you don't rush off to buy a new aquarium before some planning. You need to do research on exactly what you want and need. As you can see specific species of fish and plants need specific conditions to survive and to thrive.
Research the different types of fish and aquariums.
Decide what type of environment you want to set up and what species you want to keep.
Make a checklist of items that you need to buy.
Go visit aquarium stores to view the products they have available.
Following these steps will help you to make the best decisions when you go to purchase a new tank.
As you can see, setting up an aquarium isn't necessarily straightforward. You need to know beforehand exactly which species you want to keep and in what type of habitat.
You also need to have an idea of how many animals you want to keep in the tank. The enclosure should be big enough to support this number and allow them space to move and grow in.
Fish can be quite sensitive. That's why it's vital that you know how to take care of them from the get-go. What do they eat? Which temperatures do they prefer?
Another critical point to research is the process for setting up the environment whether it be a marine or a freshwater tank. You don't want to make mistakes that can cost you later on. Any owner needs to know the dos and the dont's.
We hope this guide will answer any questions you might have to your questions about "aquarium shops near me." It is all option knowing your options and making the right choice for your fish and their home.
Now all that's left is to visit the stores for yourself. Remember that while you're there, you should ask the experts about any aquarium queries you have.
Tell us whether this article has helped you to find a top aquarium shop near you. Feel free to share it with all your friends and family.


Suffolk Cottages are 2 Luxury Self Catering in Benhall, situated on the edge of the Suffolk Heritage Coast and Heaths district, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is a small, quiet village ideal for those looking to relax and unwind. The village is a perfect place for those wishing to explore the local area. The coastal town of Aldeburgh is a ten minute drive away, Southwold can be reached within approximately twenty minutes, Snape within five minutes and Saxmundham is only one mile away.
World famous bird watching facilities at Minsmere RSPB reserve.
....Some of the UK's rarest and finest birds reside at the renowned Minsmere RSPB reserve, and in the surrounding countryside. See exotic passing visitors and watch numerous splendid local residents. And not just at the reserve, the local countryside is teeming with wildlife from rare marsh butterflies and fritillary orchids, to black adders and 4 species of Deer, Muntjac, Fallow, Roe and Red Deer. There are few places in Britain that offer such a variety of habitat, flora and fauna over such a small area.
Suffolk Cottages have a Visit England Gold Award, these unique Gold awards are given in recognition of exceptional quality within a property's star rating, or for outperforming a star rating.
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text:
Broadcom is buying VMware for $61 billion. Now comes the cost cutting.
VMware executives were excited about its prospects after finally breaking from Dell Technologies. Under Broadcom, it will once again be a cog in a conglomerate.
VMware executives like CEO Raghu Raghuram were excited about its prospects after finally becoming independent six months ago.
Photo: VMware
While Broadcom's $61 billion acquisition of VMware will further broaden the chipmaker's growth prospects beyond semiconductors by giving it more enterprise software clout and recurring revenue, the immediate benefits are less apparent for VMware.
However, even while VMware will be getting its third owner since 2004, once the dust settles, the deal could provide stability for VMware and help shore up a business that's been underperforming.
Broadcom officially announced the deal Thursday morning, several days after its intent to acquire VMware leaked out. The company will pay $61 billion in a cash and stock deal for VMware and fold the Broadcom Software Group, which contains previous acquisitions CA Technologies and Symantec, into a new organization called VMware.
"We think together, Broadcom's software assets for the distributed enterprise can seamlessly complement and augment VMware's multicloud offerings in the areas of operation management, value stream and DevOps management, and security to address the entire application lifecycle," said Tom Krause, president of the Broadcom Software Group, on a conference call following the announcement.
VMware's acquisition does not come as a total surprise.
"We have for several years expressed much caution on VMware given our concerns about VMware's on-premise exposure, its overall growth profile and its ability to execute on a consistent basis," Mizuho Group analyst Gregg Moskowitz said in a research note on Monday, after news of a pending deal leaked out. "Indeed, VMware has been a substantial underperformer for a long time and, prior to [Monday], the shares had declined by 51% over the last 4 years."
Under the terms of the deal, VMware will have until July 5 to solicit other offers from other possible acquirers. Given the $61 billion price, however, there are only a handful of enterprise tech companies that have the resources to pursue such a deal.
The Big 3 (AWS, Microsoft and Google) cloud providers, Cisco Systems and Intel could be logical contenders to buy VMware, but some industry analysts don't expect other suitors to step forward and thwart Broadcom's deal.
"We ascribe low probability of interest from other parties, though logical ones might include hyperscalers Amazon and Google, and perhaps even Microsoft, given VMware's 5,000-plus patent portfolio," Deutsche Bank analyst Brad Zelnick said in a research note on Sunday, when news of the pending deal first leaked.
KeyBanc analyst Thomas Blakey also believes VMware is unlikely to field bids from other strategic suitors given VMware's "relatively legacy position in multicloud." But, he said in a research note on Sunday, VMware's relatively inexpensive valuation could surface a non-strategic competing offer.
VMware could be an opportune target for Cisco, meanwhile, in terms of appetite and fit. Cisco could expand its range by leveraging VMware's virtualization technology and has enough cash and the ability to obtain debt financing to pull off a deal.
VMware doesn't plan to disclose any competing offers unless its board settles on a proposal that's superior to Broadcom's, the companies said in a news release on Thursday. Should VMware find a better offer before the July 5 deadline, it would owe Broadcom a $750 million break-up fee, according to a filing with the SEC.
A long enterprise history
VMware completed its spinoff from Dell Technologies last November. The company is known for its virtualization software, which played a key role in self-managed data centers for decades around compute, storage, networking and security. But under Raghu Raghuram, who will mark his one-year anniversary as CEO next week on June 1, it has continued to reposition around helping customers adopt multicloud approaches and hybrid work.
VMware's vSphere virtualization platform is running more than 80 million workloads in the data centers of more than 300,000 customers. But after years of downplaying the existent threat of cloud computing, VMware struck a key "preferred public cloud provider" partnership with AWS to jointly engineer a vSphere-based cloud service running on AWS, and VMware on AWS initially launched in 2017.
The managed service, which is supported and billed by VMware, runs the VMware Software-Defined Data Center stack directly on bare-metal AWS infrastructure. VMware subsequently launched Azure VMware solution and Google Cloud VMware Engine, and its decision to partner directly with the Big Three cloud providers helped create the hybrid cloud era.
Raghuram told Protocol earlier this month that VMware's separation from Dell has positioned the company to be the "Switzerland of the new multicloud industry," allowing it to partner not only with cloud and software vendors but infrastructure providers that include Dell competitors such as HP and Lenovo.
VMware also has been making a bigger push into Kubernetes and containers with its Tanzu portfolio of products that helps customers modernize their applications.
It's been prioritizing its subscription and SaaS product portfolio revenue, which accounted for a quarter of its $12.85 billion total revenue in the fiscal year that ended Jan. 29, up 22% from the prior-year period. But the transition from selling licensed software to data-center operators has been "choppy," according to Moskowitz, and VMware's subscription and SaaS business underperformed Wall Street's expectations in four of the last five quarters.
Virtual machines, real effects
Based on its track record following its two other major software acquisitions — CA Technologies in 2018 and Symantec's enterprise security business the following year — Broadcom could target an estimated $5 billion-plus in cost savings to improve VMware's margins and profitability, according to Bernstein analysts.
Jefferies analyst Brent Thill sees some potential vertical synergies from Broadcom's chips and VMware's virtualization software.
"Data center technologies have become a critical source of growth for Broadcom, and the company has doubled down on that area, with its previous two acquisitions in the IT infrastructure and data center software space," Thill said in a research note on Tuesday. "Its CEO has publicly stated in the past that he looks for businesses that are franchises and ones that can be made more profitable without making huge additional investments. VMware certainly fits into that category given its long-standing position in the virtualization space and 30%-plus operating margins."
Neil Jain, a partner at digital services firm West Monroe, sees more synergies with Broadcom deeper in VMware's software portfolio with security and its Carbon Black Endpoint and Symantec's endpoint business.
"On the telco side, Broadcom obviously sells a lot of their semiconductor and solutions around SD-Wan and stuff to telcos and MSOs [multistate operators], and VMware has an industry-specific telco solution – maybe there's a play between those," Jain said. "Ultimately the goal would be to cross-sell the businesses and ... my guess is there's already a lot of customer overlap."
Broadcom is a "logical home for VMware at the right price," according to Macquarie software analyst Garrett Hinds, but he believes VMware had ample paths to independently deliver shareholder value as it continues to transition to SaaS.
"VMware has been independent for less than a year and has considerable value to unlock via internal programs," he said in a research note on Tuesday.
Hinds expects Broadcom may eventually sell or cut investments in certain VMware categories, with professional services likely the first target.
"It may be sold to a channel partner or IT services firm," he said. "While such a move would result in higher overall margin targets, customers may grumble."
This story was updated to include information from the post-announcement conference call, and later with additional commentary.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the names of Garrett Hinds and Macquarie. This story was updated May 26, 2022.
broadcom vmware acquisitions


text:
Search Engine Land » Channel » SEO » Google Tweaks AdWords To Give Landing Page Quality More Weight
Google Tweaks AdWords To Give Landing Page Quality More Weight
After quietly testing in Brazil, Spanish-speaking Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, Google will roll out a new algorithm globally that gives more weight to landing page quality when it comes to AdWords Quality Score. This means ads with landing pages that Google deems to be most relevant to the query will be able to rank […]
Pamela Parker on October 3, 2011 at 7:19 pm
After quietly testing in Brazil, Spanish-speaking Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, Google will roll out a new algorithm globally that gives more weight to landing page quality when it comes to AdWords Quality Score. This means ads with landing pages that Google deems to be most relevant to the query will be able to rank higher for lower cost-per-click bids.
"What we've seen is that there are ads available in the auction that are as good a quality as the top ads. But the landing pages — the merchant sites, the advertiser landing pages — are of much higher quality than the ads that we see at the top of our auction," Jonathan Alferness, director of product management on Google's ad quality team told me. This, says Alferness, means the user experience isn't what it could be. Hence the change to give more weight to landing page quality. "In the end, we believe that this will result in better quality experience for the users."
Landing page quality has long been a factor in Google AdWords, but more as a negative signal. If an advertiser's landing page was particularly terrible or misleading, advertisers could have their ads rejected or their accounts suspended or revoked — depending on how bad the policy violation was. The new change will assign landing page quality a positive value, incentivizing advertisers to make sure the landing page's keywords and content are closely aligned with the keywords for which they're bidding. Ads with high landing page quality will get a "strong boost" upward in the auction, according to Alferness.
Alferness says Google will crawl the landing pages associated with every ad and make a determination as to its quality.
"What we always ask our advertisers to focus on is relevance — choose a landing page or site experience that is both relevant to the keywords that you're targeting and also a good experience for end users," said Alferness. "This is just continuing to sort of push on those best practices. I gives us the ability to really reward those advertisers that have been doing this, whose landing pages really are some of the best in our systems."
The change will roll out in the next week or two. Advertisers may see some variations in ad position and keyword Quality Score at first, but things should settle down within a couple of weeks, according to Google.
Pamela Parker
Pamela Parker is Research Director at Third Door Media's Content Studio, where she produces MarTech Intelligence Reports and other in-depth content for digital marketers in conjunction with Search Engine Land and MarTech. Prior to taking on this role at TDM, she served as Content Manager, Senior Editor and Executive Features Editor. Parker is a well-respected authority on digital marketing, having reported and written on the subject since its beginning. She's a former managing editor of ClickZ and has also worked on the business side helping independent publishers monetize their sites at Federated Media Publishing. Parker earned a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.


text:
Q: Right floated container results in line break i am currently fighting with floated elements again.
please take a look at this jsfiddle: float-issue

html {
  width: 100%
}
.container {
  /*width: 80%;*/
  /*margin: auto;*/
  border: 1px solid black;
}
.element {
  margin-left: 10px;
  margin-right: 10px;
  background-color: purple;
  float: left;
}

HEADER

lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

what i don´t understand is, why are the purple elements not next to the "HEADER" but on a new row? this issue came when adding the green bordered div element around the already floated div. i cant explain why this results in the new row? can anyony help me out?
what i thought would happen was:

*

*the green bordered div is not floated so it fills the container div (and because is has no content (the elements inside are floated and therefore not part of the flow) shrinks to zero height).

*the header div is floating "over" the green bordered div.

*since the purple elements are left floated with another div, this div would float beside the floated header.

what am i missing?

A: Here is the solution with display: inline-block

html {
  width: 100%
}
.container {
  /*width: 80%;*/
  /*margin: auto;*/
  border: 1px solid black;
}
.element {
  margin-left: 10px;
  margin-right: 10px;
  background-color: purple;
  float: left;
}

HEADER

lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

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A: You are floating the "HEADER" div and the "green" div inside the container.  The contents of the green div are collectively too wide to fit to the right of the header.  If you remove float: left from the div between the green div and the .element divs, you will see the result you are after.

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A: It's about the placement of your floats.  Float the header left first, then immediately after float the div containing the ".element" class divs.  But DON'T float the .element divs.  fiddle here:  https://jsfiddle.net/e9bqoucg/2/

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Dutch Blankets being imported into the colonies in the 18th century.
Dutch blankets are currently the focus of a lot of research and discussion. I am sharing what I have. It will take a while to get them all sorted and up. These are images that I will continually add to so that the information is easily accessible. Feel free to take the images and add them to your own research and work.


First Lady Laura Bush says she'll be separated from her husband for a good share of time between now and Election Day. First Lady Laura Bush visited Council Bluffs and Des Moines Wednesday to promote reading, but during a news conference Mrs. Bush said she'll have a more active role in campaigning. Mrs. Bush says she likes to be with her husband, and plans to try to travel with him the in closing days of the campaign, but for a couple of months the two will travel separately to "reach more parts of the country." Mrs. Bush is a better-known quantity this time around. She says people know her better than they did in 2000, and she's been able to have a forum to talk about important issues. The most recent development in the presidential campaign is the announcement that John Edwards will be John Kerry's runningmate. Mrs. Bush suggested Edwards' presence won't change the race that much. Mrs. Bush says she still supports the Bush/Cheney ticket, and she says the two men "share the values and the character of most people in the United States, including of course Iowans and Nebraskans and people in the heartland here." President Bush will debate his democratic challenger John Kerry, but Mrs. Bush does not wish to debate Teresa Heinz-Kerry. Mrs. Bush says the two are currently engaged in the Family Circle cookie contest. Her entry is a chocolate chunk sour cherry cookie. "It's really good," Mrs. Bush said. That's not the review Mrs. Bush has for Fahrenheit 9/11, the documentary that's critical of her husband's march to war in Iraq. "I think it's propaganda," Mrs. Bush said. Mrs. Bush read to a group of four and five-year-old kids who go to a day care center in a Des Moines hospital. She touted a program called "Reach Out and Read" in which doctors talk with parents about the importance of reading to their kids.


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JDFI
Sign up for Dr. Dobson's Newsletter
The James Dobson Family Institute Issues Urgent Warning to Colorado Families After Legislators Ignore Massive Outcry over Sex Ed Bill
House Bill 1032 has cleared committee and is headed to Colorado's General Assembly where it can be passed into law.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — In the early morning hours of Jan. 31, after 10 hours of debate and more than 300 concerned citizens in attendance, Colorado's Democratic House committee passed House Bill 1032, clearing it for a General Assembly vote. The legislation would repeal a 2013 law which provided exemptions for charter schools to select different sex ed criteria, as well as mandating public school children as young as nine years old learn about LGBT relationships in class in an expanded curriculum related to "different relationship models." Furthermore, the bill would also prohibit public schools from teaching abstinence-only sex ed. In reaction, the James Dobson Family Institute issues the following statement:
"It seems everywhere we look these days, Democratic-led state legislatures are racing to the far left on many of the most divisive social issues of our time. In the same week that New York, Virginia and Rhode Island shocked the nation by advancing (and in the case of New York, passing) late-term abortion laws that amount to nothing short of infanticide, our very own home state of Colorado is attempting to advance dangerous legislation which would prohibit traditional family values being taught in our public school sex ed courses. House Bill 1032 would mandate and expand the teaching of 'different relationship models,' such as LGBT relationships, to some of our youngest children all while prohibiting abstinence-only teaching. The bill would furthermore remove exemptions from a 2013 law, which up until now has allowed charter schools to teach more traditional values in class should they choose to do so.
"If you believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, HB 1032 says too bad, your ideas are antiquated. If you believe that sex is meant to be between a husband and wife, this bill says you should just give up those old notions because young people are going to do as they please anyway. If you believe it's a parent's sole right and responsibility to teach their child about what healthy sexuality looks like, this bill robs you of that right and hands it over to the government. If you simply believe there should be more options for parents who can't afford private school, where their children can learn traditional family values about relationships and sexuality, this bill says your ideas no longer matter in America.
"House Bill 1032 is a clear offense to our deeply held Christian convictions, and runs contrary to the value systems of millions of Colorado families. This legislation also removes local control of our schools and represents a fundamental attack on parental rights. For all of these reasons, the JDFI condemns House Bill 1032 in the strongest possible terms and will work to stop it before it can be signed into law. The JDFI calls on all citizens of Colorado of faith and traditional values to contact their state legislators and join together in this urgent fight to ensure HB 1032 does not pass the General Assembly."
Contact your state legislators urging them to oppose HB 1032
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Encourage Families. Support Truth. Equip Leaders. Lead Policy. Be part of our mission guiding Christian families and defending biblical principles by donating today!
Copyright © 2019. Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.


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text:
Filling a Need
Posted November 21, 2012 in Pleasant Hill
What some are doing to give back to the community
By Marci Clark
Kevin P. Harvey Jr. was named the 2011 Volunteer of the Year by the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce for his time spent setting up, tearing down and promoting events.
As we get into the holiday season, there are a great many things to be thankful for. Family, friends and good health always top this list. This year, Pleasant Hill can also be grateful for all the volunteers that make the community what it is.
It was not an easy task to select just a few volunteers when so many people contribute in so many ways, so we selected three volunteers that represent three very different ways to give back.
Every year the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce honors community members who go above and beyond to make the city exceptional.
This year's chamber volunteer of the year was individual chamber member Kevin P. Harvey Jr.
Harvey joined the chamber after his band, Psycho Circus, played at Chill on the Hill. After the event, he spoke with Cathy Jensen, Executive Director of the Chamber, who told him about all the things the Chamber does.
Harvey helps the Chamber with most of their events by setting up and tearing down fences and stages, putting out banners and fliers around the city, helping with mailings. He also does a lot of odds and ends during the events.
"The first day I set up and tore down Chill, I was hooked," he says.
Harvey says he really enjoys seeing everyone come together, and to be a part of something is what he really enjoys out of his time spent volunteering. He's also been seen handing out candy at Trunk or Treat and took part in the First Annual Haunted Hotel at Sleep Inn and Suites.
"You feel good knowing people are having a good time," he says.
His good deeds don't stop with the Chamber. He also helps out his elderly neighbors' and friends' parents with lawn care and tree trimming and just about anything else that they may need.
He attributes his desire to help others as his father's influence. As a child, he watched his father fix flat tires and stop and offer help to people on the side of the road. He also used to plow the streets for those who lived on their grandparent's street.
"Just watching my dad help people and seeing what it meant to him and seeing him smile," he says.
He says he was shocked when he was named Volunteer of the Year. It wasn't something he was expecting.
"I just did it because I wanted to have fun," he says. "The reward was within itself." Even so, he says he can't deny that getting the award "felt like Christmas."
Jensen says it was very hard to narrow down just one volunteer of the year. The nominee has to be a Chamber member and is recommended to a board which makes the final decision.
"It's never an easy decision," she says of choosing who will receive the honor.
The Chamber isn't the only way to volunteer within the community.
Kevin Umphress, Children and Family Pastor at Berean Assembly of God Church, has found numerous ways to volunteer in and out of the church.
Kevin Umpress, Children and Youth Pastor at Berean Assembly of God Church, gives back not only through his church but by planning and executing many community events including the recent community garden and the Spring Time Hill Climb.
Within the church, he has headed up several large events including the annual giant haystack for 15 years, spring break day camp, as well as gift baskets and programs for needy children and families.
Two years ago, he decided to start doing things outside of the church to expand his impact on the community. He started attending city council meetings and still makes almost every one so he can find out what the city needs. He says that's when he figured out that he could find ways to help others by doing things he enjoys doing so his volunteer work would be fun.
"At that point, I got involved with the library," he said. He volunteers there once a week doing whatever the library staff needs done to help them out.
Umphress also got together with some friends to plan the Spring Time Hill Climb, a 5K and 10K which raises funds for Drops of Hope, an organization that helps foster kids in central Iowa. The race is always held in April, but the date for next year's event has yet to be confirmed.
Next year Umphress is hoping to have a health fair to coincide with the Spring Time Hill Climb to offer health and safety screenings for residents. He would also like to increase awareness for the need of bike helmets for children.
"One of the things with my positions here is I see a lot of accidents and see a lot of bad things happen, so that's a passion of mine," he says.
Umphress also wanted to start a community garden. Prior to living in Pleasant Hill, he and his family lived in Portland, Ore., where community gardens were common.
"We have a growing population of apartments and senior living," Umphress says, giving one reason for the garden.
He says one thing he enjoys and is good at is getting projects started and building the structure so other people can take over and take the project to the next level.
"A lot of people are scared to start something," he says. "Once it's started, they'll join in."
In the spring, Umphress will join with the library to teach a preschool gardening class. The students will spend a few sessions learning about gardening and will start seedlings at the library which will then be transplanted to the community garden. When the plants are able, they will be donated to Hope Ministries.
"We've got three different entities that are working together in that project," he says.
Last year, Umphress and his sons, Renn, 12, and Zayvn, 9, worked together to grow lettuce for Hope which Umphress says was a lot of fun.
He and his sons also create balloon animals at the annual library Halloween party.
When not volunteering, Umphress enjoys running and hanging out with his sons and wife, Trudy. He also does cartooning and just about anything to do with art. His boys are into sports — baseball and swimming specifically — so that keeps the family busy.
Umphress says he really focuses on volunteer projects that improve the "physical, mental and spiritual health" of the town.
"I just feel like it's what we're supposed to do," Umphress says.
Another Pleasant Hill resident who has found a way to give back is Ruth Sharp. Sharp spends quite a bit of her time making her way around the city trying to give back in any way she can.
For the last 20 years or so, Sharp has spent one day a week at Mercy East putting together packets for the mother-baby unit and in the pulmonary rehab center. She does whatever she can, including making copies, stapling and running errands as needed.
She really enjoys the work she does there, especially being able to help people.
"There's so many people that I meet and get acquainted with," she says.
She has also spent two days a week at Pleasant Hill Elementary for the last 24 years where she acts as a "gofer for the teachers." She says she does whatever they need her to do, except teach the students.
"The teachers know that's not my thing," she laughs. "I don't feel like I'm qualified for that."
he Not New shop in Des Moines also benefits from Sharp's volunteerism. She organizes and tags items for sale one day a week.
Another day for Sharp is spent at the senior center serving meals and playing cards.
She takes Saturdays off, except for once a month when she is helping out with the Share Program. On Sundays Sharp will be greeting people at the door of Rising Sun Church.
Ruth Sharp spends nearly every day doing something to give back to others. Mercy East, Pleasant Hill Elementary, Rising Sun Church and The Not New store all benefit from Sharp's willingness to assist.
Sharp says she started volunteering after her husband died and she "just needed something to do." One thing led to another, filling her time and keeping her busy.
What keeps her going? "Satisfaction of being helpful," she says. "Being productive."
The way she seems to always describe what she does is "whatever needs to be done."
When she's not volunteering, which is rare, Sharp enjoys spending time with her sons, Denny and Ron, and her seven grandkids and three great-grandkids. She also enjoys walking and reading.
As with all our volunteers, Sharp says she doesn't feel that she deserves special recognition. "I do it because I enjoy it, not to get a pat on the back," she says.
Harvey gave the same sentiment, stating he doesn't know why he was chosen to be the Chamber's Volunteer of the Year. "The other volunteers work hard, too," he says.
Umpress emphasizes that the real heroes are the police and firemen who save lives and really look out for the community.
Members of the community who are interested in volunteer work can find a variety of ways and places to participate.
Harvey would direct anyone interested in helping to the Chamber.
"Check it out, see what it's like, and visit Cathy. Everybody's great," he says.
Sharp suggests volunteers who are interested in helping can start with the local school or The Not New shop where she helps out. She says both places could use more volunteers to help with their programs.
"You just have to want to do something," she says.
Umphress says, "I think we're here on Earth for each other. To better each others' lives."
To get started, he suggests people "find a need, fill a need." He also suggests looking to the city for volunteer opportunities. Anyone who might be interested in contacting Umphress to help with the race, can so so through the website for Spring Time Hill Climb at www.runpleasanthillia.com.


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Home Food Shiny Knife Food Truck Serves Sandwiches With a Twist
Shiny Knife Food Truck Serves Sandwiches With a Twist
Rick Mauch
Courtesy photo After being furloughed from his job in March, Chris Michael followed his dream and started his own business with the Shiny Knife Restaurant food truck.
Chasing Dreams With A Food Truck
Sometimes out of bad things dreams come true.
So it was with Chris Michael, 32, of Waxahachie, who turned losing a job into his dream of owning a restaurant a few months later, the Shiny Knife Restaurant/Food Truck.
"Our first event was a soccer tournament in Waxahachie at the end of July," Michael recalled.
The restaurant operates out of a 20-foot concession trailer with a full commercial kitchen and a patio on back that houses the smoker used for cooking brisket and pork items.
"I was furloughed from my job in March of this year and decided to make the best out of a bad situation and finally chase my dream of owning my own food business," Michael said.
"I purchased the trailer in June and began the process of fitting it with all of the equipment I needed as well as acquiring all the licenses and permits as well."
But really, Michael said the idea came to him several years ago, though he was too busy with his full-time job as a district manager for a national restaurant chain. Then, he was furloughed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fusing Tex-Mex and BBQ
"My first idea was a taco truck concept serving inventive creations similar to what Velvet Taco or Torchy's does. I decided against that because this is Texas and taco trucks are a dime a dozen, and I wanted to set myself apart from others in the industry," he said. "I also considered a barbecue concept, but decided against that as well due to barbecue trucks being common, and because barbecue is so labor intensive that cooking it every day would be difficult as a one-person operation, and also take away from time with my family.
"The sandwich idea stemmed from realizing that I could fuse the Tex-Mex and barbecue influences in a way that no one in the area is currently doing."
Michael said his specialty is creating items that have the comfort aspects people love, and adding a unique twist that makes the sandwiches different from others.
Best Seller:Brisket Cheesesteak
"The brisket cheesesteak is my best seller. I wanted to to do a Philly cheese steak, but decided that using brisket instead of shaved ribeye allows me to incorporate my love for barbecue, and also puts a Texas spin on it," he said. "A traditional Philly usually comes with provolone cheese or Cheese Whiz, but I felt that using pepper jack would spice things up a bit.
"After a few experiments I decided that creating a cheese sauce constructed of using sliced pepper jack would be a nice play on the Cheese Whiz and also yielded a better product. By calling it queso instead of cheese sauce, I could further expand upon the Tex-Mex idea."
As for the name of the business, Michael said that actually dates back to his youth.
Sharpest Knife in the Drawer?
Courtesy Photo Shiny Knife Food Truck
"The name Shiny Knife comes from the phrase 'not the sharpest knife on the drawer,'" he said with a chuckle. "When I was around 12 or 13, I did something dumb that I can't even remember anymore. My intended response to this was to say that I wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I mixed up my words and said shiniest instead of sharpest.
"My dad found that mistake hysterical and never let me live it down. It became a running joke in my family that whenever I did something foolish, someone would remind my other family members that I wasn't the shiniest knife in the drawer, and I became known as the shiny knife in the family.
"Years later, I was trying to think of a team name for barbecue and other other cooking competitions. Because I got my love for cooking from my dad and barbecue was a family activity for us, Shiny Knife Barbecue just seemed to fit."
So, when he started the food struck, Shiny Knife Sandwich Shop sounded good. He also figured it would help that he already had a small following under the name.
Staying Mobile To Find Business
While there is a buzz about Shiny Knife, which moves around the area to serve clients, there is also the same challenge many restaurants are facing – COVID-19. There's also the winter weather that challenges outdoor dining establishments.
"The biggest struggle has been finding events to set up. Due to COVID-19, most of the large festivals and events have been cancelled, and the events that are still taking place are doing so with much smaller crowds than in the past," he said. "I've had to work hard to find events, and even create my own. I have found that working with apartment complexes and homeowners associations to create events for their communities has been pretty successful."
And yes, this is a family business as he works alongside his wife Genna – and others.
"Genna is a huge part of the business. Aside from being my biggest emotional supporter, she's also great at working the window on the truck," he said. "My wife also helps with the bookkeeping, along with my mom, who is a professional bookkeeper. My brother, sister-in-law, and several of my friends help me out on the truck too."
Michael does not come from food business family, but his love for cooking comes from his upbringing, he said.
A Family Business With A Passion For Food
"I initially learned to cook from my dad, and cooking has been a big bonding experience for us as we have cooked cooked at home together for years and have done several barbecue and chili cook-offs together," Michael said. "Over the last couple of years, my youngest brother Nick, who is a senior at Texas A&M, has done cook-offs with us and developed a love for cooking that has caused him to be the main cook and barbecue guy among his roommates in College Station.""
Michael said his eventual goal is to use the food truck to build enough capital start a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
"I would love to operate a British pub or gastro pub style bar and grill where I can continue to put my unique twist on comfort foods and take them to another level," he said.
In the meantime, anyone wanting to know more about Shiny Knife can visit them on Facebook and Instagram at @ShinyKnifeSandwichShop. Also, the email address is shinyknifefood@gmail.com.
Shiny Knife barbecue
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Rick Mauch is a veteran of more than four decades in the media. He began writing in high school and immediately went into broadcasting for almost a decade after graduating, working his way to morning drive in Birmingham, Alabama. However, realizing how much he missed writing (though he did continue to do some during his time in top-40 radio), Rick returned to what he loved and has been doing it ever since. Rick's career has spanned a plethora of media outlets, including community journalism, sports, entertainment, politics and more. He's worked in print, broadcast and online media. He also spent several years doing public relations for a children's home in East Texas - still writing on the side, of course. When he's not writing, Rick loves to play golf and do Bigfoot research. He's an avid believer. He also made his first hole-in-one in June of 2020. Rick is married to Junell Mauch. They have five children and three granddaughters
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