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Gaussian (SuanShu 1.3.1 API Documentation)
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                SuanShu, a Java numerical and statistical library

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com.numericalmethod.suanshu.analysis.function.special

Class Gaussian

java.lang.Object
  com.numericalmethod.suanshu.analysis.function.rn2r1.UnivariateRealFunction
      com.numericalmethod.suanshu.analysis.function.special.Gaussian

All Implemented Interfaces:
Function, RealScalarFunction

public class Gaussian
extends UnivariateRealFunction

This computes the Gaussian function.

 f(x) = a * exp{-(x - b)2 / 2 / c2}

See Also:
Wikipedia: Gaussian function

Nested Class Summary

Nested classes/interfaces inherited from interface com.numericalmethod.suanshu.analysis.function.Function

Function.EvaluationException

Field Summary

 double
a

          a as in
 f(x) = a * exp{-(x - b)2 / 2 / c2}

 double
b

          b as in
 f(x) = a * exp{-(x - b)2 / 2 / c2}

 double
c

          c as in
 f(x) = a * exp{-(x - b)2 / 2 / c2}

Constructor Summary

Gaussian()

          Construct an instance to compute the standard Gaussian function.

Gaussian(double a,
         double b,
         double c)

          Construct an instance to compute the Gaussian function.

Method Summary

 double
evaluate(double x)

          Compute f(x).

Methods inherited from class com.numericalmethod.suanshu.analysis.function.rn2r1.UnivariateRealFunction

dimension4Domain, dimension4Range, evaluate

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Field Detail

a

public final double a

a as in
 f(x) = a * exp{-(x - b)2 / 2 / c2}

b

public final double b

b as in
 f(x) = a * exp{-(x - b)2 / 2 / c2}

c

public final double c

c as in
 f(x) = a * exp{-(x - b)2 / 2 / c2}

Constructor Detail

Gaussian

public Gaussian(double a,
                double b,
                double c)

Construct an instance to compute the Gaussian function.

Parameters:
a - a
b - b
c - c

Gaussian

public Gaussian()

Construct an instance to compute the standard Gaussian function.

 f(x) = 1 / sqrt(2 / PI) * exp{- x2 / 2}

Method Detail

evaluate

public double evaluate(double x)

Description copied from class: UnivariateRealFunction

Compute f(x).

Specified by:
evaluate in class UnivariateRealFunction

Parameters:
x - x

Returns:
f(x)

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                Copyright © 2011 Numerical Method Inc. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.


text:
It's Been Over 20 Years Since Oprah's Book Club Has Picked a Novel by a U.S.-Based Latino Author
By: Latino Rebels
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins recently became the latest selection in Oprah's Book Club. The pick quickly proved to be controversial, since the book's release has been met with backlash because of its stereotypical content and marketing decisions that trivialize the experiences at the U.S.-Mexican border.
pic.twitter.com/6W8suWpCUD
— Myriam Chingona Gurba de Serrano (@lesbrains) January 22, 2020
Many have also called out the author's race and how quickly the industry has embraced a white woman's vision of the migrant story despite the countless books by actual Latina authors who could've been praised to this extent—and Oprah's Book Club isn't exempt. (Sidenote: Cummins said Wednesday she also identifies as Puerto Rican and Latinx.)
Of the 82 books in Oprah's Book Club since American Dirt, the list has only featured books from three Latin American writers, and only one of those was about the U.S. immigrant experience.
Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat, which follows 12-year-old Sophie Caco as she moves from Haiti to New York City to live with her mother, was picked in 1998—that's over 20 years ago.
Since Danticat's novel, all of the books about the lives of Latinos have taken place outside the U.S. and have been from prolific Latin American authors whose experiences differ greatly from that of migrants. Love in the Time of Cholera and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Nobel laureate Gabriel García Marquez were chosen in 2007 and 2004, and Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende was selected in 2000.
No worries, we did the math for you: representation in Oprah's Book Club would be at 4%. And if we removed those two authors from Latin America, representation would be at 1%.
While some may think, well Latinos are a "minority," U.S. Latinos constituted 18.1 percent of the population in 2018, and have been an integral part of the country's culture, from Mexican communities in the Southwest to Puerto Ricans in New York City and the many other diverse groups in between.
The criteria for making it into Oprah's Book Club seems unclear. We only know Oprah Winfrey picks the book herself. And this seemingly-arbitrary selection is coveted in the industry, considering almost every book on the list becomes a bestseller.
The club then has become almost an institution, with authors and publishers boasting the Book Club sticker on the cover. And such a spot which grants validation has rarely been issued to Latino authors, and it's unfortunate that now that it's including a story about an issue that has been making headlines for years, it's going to American Dirt.
When Oprah launched her book club on September 17, 1996, the literary world was skeptical. According to a New York Times piece, "many associated daytime television with lowbrow entertainments like soap operas and game shows." Yet, soon enough skeptics were proven wrong and books included in the club became very successful, some selling over a million copies—and this is without a doubt something to be celebrated since it shattered stereotypes about The Oprah Winfrey Show's demographics mainly comprised of women.
And while the Book Club has been diverse in some ways, like including first-time novelists effectively providing them with a platform for success, it is certainly lacking when it comes to a core U.S. demographic.
More From LR
Interview With Erika L. Sánchez (A Latino Book Review…
Interview with Sandra Cisneros (A Latino Book Review…
Interview With Christopher Carmona (A Latino Book Review…
7 responses to "It's Been Over 20 Years Since Oprah's Book Club Has Picked a Novel by a U.S.-Based Latino Author"
FormelyFRED says:
We are still waiting for Afro-Latinos to be features in your media on the regular (tv/magazines). We DON'T want them as maids in your telenovelas either.
Enough of the Amara, Saldana, Sessilee Lopez, La La Anthony and Gina Torres
Check back with us once ya'll fix that. Until then, Oprah owes ya'll NOTHING!
notyourbrotherskeeper says:
Where are the black Latinos in your communities represented in your films, books, ads, etc.? Relegated to service staff, in the background, or non-existing I bet. You need to stop begging to be in black spaces.
I hope she doesn't cave to this, latinos are incredibly anti-black especially anti-black women.
Fight your own battles.
LikeCheezits says:
Why does the "core US demographic" feel entitled to African-American spaces, when they've have been less than welcoming to AAs, even to the Afro-Latinos in their own community. The "core US demographic" has their own media for decades. The fact that their media doesn't the same power to influence the book buying public, or make a writer instantly famous in the mainstream is NOT Oprah's problem.
"Latinos" are a 40-year-old, politically fabricated minority group that uses their contrived statistical numbers to make demands for government resources and funding that were originally intended for black people. They boast that they are the "largest minority group" even while most of them identify as white. Now they are using those same statistics to demand representation in black spaces. Buzz off. Go ask Cristina Saralegui to promote your books.
Oprah is old enough to remember when there was no such thing as a "hispanic/latino" group.
Margaux Milchen says:
I just ordered the book. I will weigh in when I am finished. I thought that NPR had a thoughtful discussion over the weekend.
AMERICAN DIRT and Where We Can't Forget to Point the Finger (OPINION) says:
[…] canonical stars as Morrison, Dickens, García Márquez, and Oates. Yet, along the way, no book by a U.S. Latinx author could boast of being on her list until she selected American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins, whose grandmother is […]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


While retail suppliers say they don't foresee a drop in cherry sales in the near future, they have mixed reaction about sales fluctuating during the last several years. But all tend to agree that the bright and vibrantly hued hardwood is still a prevailing seller compared to other domestic species where those qualities are influencing current trends.
Mike Greeley of Northwest Lumber in Indianapolis believes sales have increased in the last year, particularly with furniture makers, because of design trends shifting towards warmer tones.
"It's a beautiful wood that is very nice wood to work with. It takes finish well, but you sometimes have to sand it down before you apply anything," Greeley says.
On the other hand, Louis Irion, of Irion Lumber in Wellsboro, Pa., says sales aren't so great, blaming the economic downturn for pushing sales overseas in 2008, leaving the U.S. with the picked-over selections that woodworkers turn down.
"[Sales] are not great. Cherry has definitely slowed down for us. We're selling more of specialty stock, heavy and wide doing well, but overall it's still pretty slow. But there are signs it's coming back. When you look the market and you see walnut and mahogany are getting harder to get, the pendulum is about to swing in favor of cherry," says Irion.
Rocky Mehta, of West Penn Hardwoods in Olean, N.Y., says sales are about the same as they were last year.
"It's been a pretty steady seller. It's an attractive wood to work with because it takes a variety of stains well, from light to dark. Cherry is probably one of the most popular woods in its price range. It's widely available where we are, but the sawmills have not been cutting it as much, so that probably has had some effect on the market that doesn't necessarily reflect a drop consumer demand," says Mehta.
On average, FAS 4/4 cherry currently sells between $5 and 5.98/bf, and higher for wider, more figured boards.


My Mylrea connections go back to 15th century Ballaugh where John Mylrea, son of Nicholas jnr, my great great great grandfather was born. As a young man, he abandoned the rural life and went to Andreas in the early 19th century where he earned his living as a tailor. His son, also named John and born in 1823, ventured even further afield when he went to the great southern land, Australia, barely 50 years after it was first settled by Europeans. John's 6th generation of descendants is now coming into the world.
A visitor to this site can easily see that all things Mylrea interest me and I hope that some might feel inclined to contribute their knowledge or resources.


Pictures of the 2015 Subaru WRX STI have leaked even before its official debut at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show. We are getting all the main ingredients for one sporty vehicle and there is no doubt that this is a true Subaru racer.
Elements like real spoiler or better say wing is delivered here. Both blue color and gold wheels are offered and everything we are getting on WRC models is set to be launched on this version also. At least that is regarding these aesthetics and details.
The official debut as we said is scheduled for the 2014 Detroit Auto Show that starts in only few days and that is when we will be getting all official information's about this car. Until than we will share what we have received until now.
Under the hood of the new STI we will be getting well known 2.5 liter boxer four cylinder unit that in this vehicle will produce 290 pound feet of torque while the exact number of hp is not been specified. We do know that the final number will be between 300 and 305 hp so there will be no huge differences which one is delivered.
It is quite obvious that this engine offers a lot more than what we are getting from a standard 2.0 liter turbocharged version in WRX. Same engine comes in Forester but this 2.5 liter unit brings a lot more. When powerful engine is combined with all wheel drive system that is near perfect like the one we have from Subaru we are getting great recipe for a fantastic ride.
Not only more power is delivered with the new STI. Just like every previous performance model that was offered from this car maker we are getting improvements on many fields. Suspension is tuned to offer better grip but it should not significantly lower the level of comfort of this already sporty model. Bigger brakes are offered for increased stopping power and lower fade on the track and under heavier loads.
There is no doubt that performances we will be getting from this car will be at highest level. At this moment we do not have acceleration figures but we do expect that from 0 to 62 mph it will need slightly over 4 seconds thankfully to its fantastic all wheel drive system. Top speed figure is still unknown but it is rarely reached but you can be sure that it will be one of the fastest of the line.
Price of the 2015 STI is still not known but since the standard model comes with price tag of about $ 26.000 we know that the STI version will come with increase. We expect that it will start from $ 30.000 or even higher but still it will not have much room for significant increases since it will have to stay in competitive price range.


IRVINE, Calif. – January 23, 2014 – The latest product innovation from Innova Electronics Corporation, the award-winning QUICKLINK™ device, pairs with a smart device for immediate access to a virtual dashboard of information that can help keep vehicle owners safe, save time and money, and provide peace of mind.
Innova QUICKLINK can be used to solve check engine problems, check for road trip readiness, double check automotive repair shop estimates, improve fuel economy and more. it is compatible with 1996 and newer import and domestic cars, light trucks, minivans, SUVs and hybrids. QUICKLINK users also have easy access to RepairSolutions® online free basic reports.
Innova QUICKLINK was recently recognized by the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) with a prestigious AAPEX Product Showcase award in the Tools & Equipment category. Product showcase award winners were selected by pre-registered AAPEX buyers who cast over 4,800 votes for the best products in this year's showcase.
Innova Electronics Corporation is a leading supplier of test equipment and diagnostic reporting for the automotive aftermarket, offering high quality products, innovative diagnostics and value to customers. Distributed from facilities in the U.S. and Canada, all Innova products are researched, developed and designed at the company's headquarters in Irvine, Calif. For more information, visit http://pro.innova.com and www.innova.com.


Suspects with card readers had been apprehended by men of the Sokoto State police command.
The command's PPRO, ASP Muhammad Abubakar Sadiq, who confirmed this to our correspondent said the suspects were arrested at Emir Yahaya area, within the metropolis, following a tip-off.
ASP Sadiq did not disclose the number of those arrested.
The card readers according to the PPRO, were meant for use in Kebbe Local Government Area during the forthcoming governorship supplementary election slated for Saturday.
While investigation is ongoing to unravel the source of the machine, the suspects are currently detained by the police.
The state police command at a stakeholders' meeting on Thursday, also declared it's readiness for the election.
Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Danjuma Garba, who is in the state on special assignment for the election called on the officers and men of the command to maintain order during the election and should not tolerate anything that would undermine the success of the election.
Also speaking, the Assistant Inspector General of police in charge of Zone 10, AIG Muhammad Mustapha, advised officers and men of the command to conduct themselves in a professional manner.


These Grodan rockwool cubes are ideal for raising seedlings and cuttings. Once roots start to emerge through the cubes you will need to plant them on into larger Grodan Transplanting Cubes or some other medium.
Stone wool is still one of the most common substrates. In horticulture and there are still 95% grown in rockwool.


There are atheists in foxholes, and they serve for good and country. If you support the troops, support all the troops, regardless of their religious affiliation.
There are atheists in foxholes, despite what some may say. Yet some continue to deny veterans credit for their service and dishonor those who even now are in harms way for our nation. According to a comprehensive survey conducted by the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) in 2012, nearly one-quarter of all service members listed "no religious preference" as their religious affiliation, while 0.67% listed "atheist." The number of atheists may sound small, until you consider that of all self-identified religious preferences , 88 of them comprise a smaller share of the Armed Forces than atheists.
On May 12, 2014, the U.S. Army officially added "Humanist" to the list of recognized religious preferences for service members. This was a huge victory for the nontheistic community as the label "humanist" reflects the positive worldview and ethical commitments that define many nontheist's identities. Currently the American Atheists symbol for atheist and the "Happy Human" of humanism are on the list of grave emblems approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs.


text:
Beebe Appoints 30 To Boards, Commissions
Aug 2, 2012 at 3:06 AM Aug 2, 2012 at 3:15 AM
LITTLE ROCK � Gov. Mike Beebe on Tuesday announced 30 appointments to state boards and commissions.
� Jerry Adams of Lonoke replaces Tony Smith on the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. The appointment expires June 1, 2015.
� Wayne Branton of Wilmot, reappointed to the Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board. His appointment expires June 30, 2014.
� Joe Christian of Jonesboro, reappointed to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. His appointment expires June 30, 2014.
� Shannon Davis of Bono, reappointed to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. The appointment expires June 30, 2014.
� Dr. Darren Flamik of Roland, reappointed to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council. His appointment expires July 1, 2015.
� John Gray of Nashville replaces Myra Wood on the Governor�s Trauma Advisory Council. His appointment expires July 1, 2016.
� West Higginbothom of Marianna, reappointed to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. His appointment expires June 30, 2014.
� Steve Kueter of Paragould, reappointed to the Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board. His appointment expires June 30, 2014.
� Al Lowery of Pine Bluff, reappointed to the Southeast Arkansas College Board of Trustees. His appointment expires July 1, 2019.
� Randy Matthews of Little Rock, reappointed to the Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas. His appointment expires June 15, 2016.
� Brent Mitchell of Little Rock, reappointed to the Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children. His appointment expires July 20, 2015.
� Bryan Moery of Wynne, reappointed to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. His appointment expires June 30, 2014.
� Andrew Oliver of Marion, reappointed to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. His appointment expires June 30, 2014.
� Tim Smith of Clarendon, reappointed to the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board. His appointment expires June 30, 2014.
� Robert Unwer of Maumelle replaces Gary Ferrell on the Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas. His appointment expires June 15, 2016.
� Bob Williams of Fayetteville, reappointed to the Governor�s Trauma Advisory Council. His appointment expires July 1, 2015.
� Dennis Keith Woolverton of Pollard, reappointed to the Corn and Sorghum Promotion Board. His appointment expires July 1, 2014.
� Scott Worth of Cabot replaces Jason Stuart on the Arkansas Athletic Commission. His appointment expires July 15, 2013.
To the Arkansas Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Commission:
� Cecile Blucker of Bryant.
� Rob Combs of Hoxie.
� Dr. Suzanne Jessup of Bella Vista.
� Dr. Jerry Jones of Little Rock.
� Carol Maxwell of Little Rock.
� Dr. Karen Worley of Sherwood.
These reappointments expire July 1, 2014.
To the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission:
� Rhonda Ahrent of Corning replaces Kim Qualls.
� Janice Dancer of Wilton reappointed.
� Jackie Dedman of Little Rock replaces Ann Patterson.
� Dr. Jill Fussell of Little Rock replaces Dr. Rachel Bowman.
� Shirley Pulliam of Blytheville reappointed.
� Dr. Chad Rodgers of Little Rock reappointed.
These appointments expire July 1, 2015.


text:
In compliance with the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers (DPCM) dated 3 November 2020, in order to face the COVID-19, through 5 November 2020, the Castello Aragonese will be closed. Further updates will be shared on the Castello Aragonese website and social media channels.
Castello Aragonese d'Ischia
Info, times, prices, accessibility
Caffetterie e ristoranti
Gallery/Bookshop
The history of the Castle
The Tour Route
Experience Castle life
28 September 2020, at 19:30
Theater in fairy tales and nursery rhymes
Adapted and directed by Livio Viano. With Roberto Anglisani, Amandine Delclos, Livio Viano and Stefania Ventura
[Automatically translated with Google Translate]
Even this year, despite all the difficulties of the moment, the theater company "Il Teatro d'Aosta" will be present on the island of Ischia.
On the occasion of the centenary of the birth of one of the greatest Italian writers for children, Gianni Rodari, on Monday 28 September at 7:30 pm a show based on "Favole al telefono" (Favole on the phone) will be staged at the Aragonese Castle of Ischia, in collaboration with the Associazione Amici di Gabriele Mattera (Friends of Gabriele Mattera Association), with the great Roberto Anglisani and the young actress (and new entry in the company) Amandine Delclos. Following, there will be The nursery rhyme of Pinocchio (the company's workhorse) with Stefania Ventura and Livio Viano.
The show will be dedicated to Mariolino Capuano, the greatest living artist on the island of Ischia, who dedicated his painting to Pinocchio.
Info and reservations: fiorellatedeschi@castelloaragonese.it.
E. segreteria@castelloaragonese.it
© 2017 Castello Aragonese S.a.s. - P.I.: 06705110630
credits: bread and pixels + raffaello lamonaca
photos: marco albanelli


text:
Ranking All Of Director Ridley Scott's Movies
British, Director Filmography Rankings, Movie Ranking
January 30, 2018 March 6, 2018 by AM Anderson
"What are Ridley Scott's Best Movies?" We looked at all of Scott's directed filmography and ranked them against one another to answer that very question!
We took all of the movies directed by Ridley Scott and looked at his Rotten Tomato Critic, Rotten Tomato User, Metacritic, Metacritic User, IMDB, and Letterboxd scores, ranking them against one another to see which movies came out on top. The movies are ranked in our list below based on which movies have the highest overall score between all 6 review sites in comparison with all of the other movies by the same director. The process is all very scientific with no flaws at all.
The full ranking chart is also included below the countdown on the bottom of the page. We will update the article if/when a new movie by Ridley Scott is released. Although it probably won't be immediate so the scores on each site have time to settle and aren't overly influenced by the early, usually much more opinionated, users.
The Top Film's Of Ridley Scott
27 ) The Counselor
Review Website Ranks:
Rotten Tomatoes Critic: 23
Rotten Tomatoes Users: 27
Metacritc Critic Score: 20
Metacritic User Score: 19
IMDB User Review Score: 27
Letterboxd User Score: 26
A rich and successful lawyer named Counselor is about to get married to his fiancée but soon meets up with the middle-man known as Westray who tells him his drug trafficking plan has taken a horrible twist and now he must protect himself and his soon bride-to-be lover as the truth of the drug business uncovers and targets become chosen.
26 ) Exodus: Gods and Kings
25 ) Boy and Bicycle
A teenage boy plays truant from school, and spends the day riding around the town and the deserted beach on his bicycle, letting his mind wander as he imagines he is the only person in the world…
24 ) 1492: Conquest of Paradise
1492: Conquest of Paradise depicts Christopher Columbus' discovery of The New World and his effect on the indigenous people.
23 ) Someone to Watch Over Me
Rotten Tomatoes Critic: 9
In Queens, Mike Keegan is celebrating with his wife Ellie, his son Tommy and friends his recent promotion to detective in a precinct in Manhattan. Meanwhile, in a fancy club, the socialite Claire Gregory witnesses the murder of the owner of the place by the powerful mobster Joey Venza. Mike is assigned to protect her in the night shift in her apartment in Manhattan. When Venza threatens Claire, the contact of Mike with Claire gets closer and conflicts him, dividing between the love for his family and the heat passion for Claire and the fascination for her world.
22 ) G.I. Jane
A female Senator succeeds in enrolling a woman into Combined Reconnaissance Team training where everyone expects her to fail.
21 ) Robin Hood
When soldier Robin happens upon the dying Robert of Loxley, he promises to return the man's sword to his family in Nottingham. There, he assumes Robert's identity; romances his widow, Marion; and draws the ire of the town's sheriff and King John's henchman, Godfrey.
20 ) Black Rain
Two New York cops get involved in a gang war between members of the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia. They arrest one of their killers and are ordered to escort him back to Japan. In Japan, however, he manages to escape. As they try to track him down, they get deeper and deeper into the Japanese Mafia scene and they have to learn that they can only win by playing the game the Japanese way.
18 Tie ) Legend
Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story follows a mystical forest dweller, chosen by fate, to undertake a heroic quest. He must save the beautiful Princess Lily and defeat the demonic Lord of Darkness, or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age.
18 Tie ) All the Invisible Children
IMDB User Review Score: 7
Letterboxd User Score: 9
Seven short films – each one focused on the plight of a different child protagonist.
17 ) A Good Year
Failed London banker Max Skinner inherits his uncle's vineyard in Provence, where he spent many childhood holidays. Upon his arrival, he meets a woman from California who tells Max she is his long-lost cousin and that the property is hers.
16 ) Alien: Covenant
Metacritc Critic Score: 9
Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship 'Covenant' discovers what is thought to be an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world – which has its sole inhabitant the 'synthetic', David, survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.
15 ) White Squall
Teenage boys discover discipline and camaraderie on an ill-fated sailing voyage.
14 ) Hannibal
After having successfully eluded the authorities for years, Hannibal peacefully lives in Italy in disguise as an art scholar. Trouble strikes again when he's discovered leaving a deserving few dead in the process. He returns to America to make contact with now disgraced Agent Clarice Starling, who is suffering the wrath of a malicious FBI rival as well as the media.
13 ) Body of Lies
The CIA's hunt is on for the mastermind of a wave of terrorist attacks. Roger Ferris is the agency's man on the ground, moving from place to place, scrambling to stay ahead of ever-shifting events. An eye in the sky – a satellite link – watches Ferris. At the other end of that real-time link is the CIA's Ed Hoffman, strategizing events from thousands of miles away. And as Ferris nears the target, he discovers trust can be just as dangerous as it is necessary for survival.
12 ) Prometheus
A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
11 ) Kingdom of Heaven
Metacritic User Score: 6
After his wife dies, a blacksmith named Balian is thrust into royalty, political intrigue and bloody holy wars during the Crusades.
10 ) The Duellists
Rotten Tomatoes Users: 7
In 1800, as Napoleon Bonaparte rises to power in France, a rivalry erupts between Armand and Gabriel, two lieutenants in the French Army, over a perceived insult. For over a decade, they engage in a series of duels amidst larger conflicts, including the failed French invasion of Russia in 1812, and shifts in the political and social systems of Europe.
9 ) All the Money in the World
The story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.
8 ) Matchstick Men
A phobic con artist and his protege are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly.
7 ) Black Hawk Down
When U.S. Rangers and an elite Delta Force team attempt to kidnap two underlings of a Somali warlord, their Black Hawk helicopters are shot down, and the Americans suffer heavy casualties, facing intense fighting from the militia on the ground.
6 ) American Gangster
Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. Based on a true story.
5 ) Thelma & Louise
Whilst on a short weekend getaway, Louise shoots a man who had tried to rape Thelma. Due to the incriminating circumstances, they make a run for it and thus a cross country chase ensues for the two fugitives. Along the way, both women rediscover the strength of their friendship and surprising aspects of their personalities and self-strengths in the trying times.
4 ) Gladiator
In the year 180, the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius throws the Roman Empire into chaos. Maximus is one of the Roman army's most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus' devious son Commodus ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences.
3 ) The Martian
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
2 ) Blade Runner
In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.
1 ) Alien
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
Ridley Scott's Best Movies
Ridley Scott Review Website Filmography Rankings
Film RT Critic RT User MC Critic MC User IMDB Letterboxd Overal Rank
Alien 1 1 3 2 1 1 1
Blade Runner 4 2 1 4 3 2 2
The Martian 3 2 4 7 4 4 3
Gladiator 9 5 8 2 1 3 4
Thelma & Louise 5 8 2 5 9 4 5
American Gangster 7 5 5 9 5 6 6
Black Hawk Down 9 4 6 7 6 6 7
Matchstick Men 6 9 13 1 10 9 8
All the Money in the World 8 12 7 15 12 11 9
The Duellists 2 7 24 22 8 6 10
Kingdom of Heaven 20 11 11 6 11 11 11
Prometheus 12 13 9 13 14 13 12
Body of Lies 15 16 14 11 12 14 13
Hannibal 20 16 14 10 16 14 14
White Squall 14 14 17 12 18 18 15
Alien: Covenant 13 20 9 18 20 18 16
A Good Year 25 14 21 13 14 18 17
Legend 19 10 23 20 20 14 18
All the Invisible Children 26 18 24 22 7 9 18
Black Rain 17 21 16 22 18 14 20
Robin Hood 18 19 17 16 17 24 21
G.I. Jane 16 22 12 17 25 24 22
Someone to Watch Over Me 9 25 24 22 23 22 23
1492: Conquest of Paradise 22 24 21 22 20 22 24
Boy and Bicycle 26 23 24 22 25 18 25
Exodus: Gods and Kings 24 26 19 21 24 27 26
The Counselor 23 27 20 19 27 26 27
Ranking All The Movies Nominated At The 2nd Academy Awards In 1930
Ranking All Of Director Pedro Almodóvar's Movies
Ranking All Of Director David O. Russell's Movies
Ranking All Of Director Bruno Dumont's Movies


'Anti-Nirvana' explores the relationship between consumer culture, media and criminal motivations. It has appeared consistently on the list of the top-ten most-read articles in this award-winning international journal, and it mounts a serious neo-Freudian challenge to the predominant naturalistic notion of 'resistance' at the heart of liberal criminology and media studies. It is also cited in the Oxford Handbook of Criminology and other criminology texts as a persuasive argument in support of the theory that criminality amongst young people is strongly linked to the acquisitive values of consumerism and the images of possessive individualism that dominate mass media.


text:
Q: Viewing DICOM images with GIMP I have the latest version if GIMP which is able to open up the DICOM images, but the images are not clear and not reconstructed properly. Is there any specific plugin which can help me?

A: It is a known bug since 2009.

GIMP loads a DICOM file, but the image doesn't appear in the right way. Probably there is a problem on little/big endian decoding. Indeed, a figure is visualized, but the gray levels are wrong. The foreground is noisy while the background is dark. I suggest an option on the Open wizard to set the little/big endian decoding when the Dicom file type is selected.

See GIMP Issue tracker: Issue on DICOM files

A: You might want to use MicroDicom, it does the reconstruction properly. You even have a windowing function.

A: I suspect that GIMP only support a limited subset of the DICOM specification. Here is what I would try:
$ gdcmconv --raw --force input.dcm output.dcm

This will convert the input input.dcm DICOM with possibly an Encapsulated Transfer syntax representation into a more conventional raw Pixel Data element.
If you do not trust GDCM for doing the conversion, you could instead try:
$ gdcminfo input.dcm

This will give you the actual important information about your DICOM instance. Once you are confident this is using one of the compressed Transfer Syntax, you can use DCMTK to do the decompression. For JPEG family you would need to use:
$ dcmdjpeg input.dcm output.dcm

And so on and so forth for JPEG-LS and RLE (namely: dcmdjpls and dcmdrle).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The IMF move to suspend the third tranche of a $2.6 billion credit line till the April poll and economic policy direction by a 'new' regime follows some concern that the government is not sincere about keeping to targets, economists said.
However its delay won't have any impact on government finances or foreign reserves. A senior economist, working in the private sector who declined to be named, told the Business Times that while the decision is unlikely to affect Sri Lanka, IMF officials have been concerned over the 'lack of genuineness' towards curbing spending.
"There was a level of sympathy and genuine concern towards Sri Lanka last year (in terms of the targets) because the country had to develop the North and the East in addition to lower revenue owing to the global financial crisis, and that's why the second tranche was approved (in September) even though some budget targets were not achieved. While there is some understanding that targets are unachievable due to vote-catching election spending, the IMF is concerned that a more sincere effort is not being made to reduce costs," she said.
Sirimal Abeyratne, senior economist at the University of Colombo, also agrees that Sri Lanka's foreign reserves are strong and the government actually doesn't need the money (right now). "However it would be foolish to jeopardize the programme which brings a lot of benefits to Sri Lanka in terms of keeping to targets and reducing spending which has sharply risen," Dr Abeyratne said.
The IMF mission visiting Colombo last week told reporters that the third disbursement of around $320 million (which should have been due in December/January) will be assessed after another mission visit and after the budget is presented, at the same time when the new government present's its economic direction.
The team said spending had exceeded targets due to high infrastructure costs and lower revenue.
Asked to comment, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said there was 'absolutely" no risk to the economy even if there is a delay in the IMF money. "The level of reserves is such that we are comfortable to face any adversity and hence there is no cause for any concern," he said, adding: "the IMF statement is clear – that they are, by and large, satisfied with the (credit-line) programme progress."
However development economist Muttukrisna Saravananthan believes that the government is also keen to continue the programme because it boosts investor confidence in the economy. "Although the money may not be needed, it's a good confidence boost – like a PR exercise -- for foreign investors to know that the IMF is here." he added.
In some government circles, the prospect of discontinuing with the IMF programme since Sri Lanka's foreign reserves position is comfortable and maintaining budget deficit and monetary targets could get difficult, has come up for discussion, but no decisions have been made.
Dr Abeyratne said it would be unwise to discontinue such a programme even if the reserves' position is okay because it's good to have spending targets to ensure there are limits.


Frank and Lillian Gilbreth¹s corpus of photographic Work Studies formed the research basis of The Betterment Rooms - Devices for measuring Achievment. By resurrecting the Gilbreth¹s laboratory, 'The Betterment Room', Strands' contemporary participants now encounter a twenty first century work study equipped with appropriate mechanisms and attachments, set against grids and clocks.
The Betterment Room Devices for Measuring Achievement Cyclegraph series becomes an attempt to analyse and determine the trajectories of Strands own activity throughout the making of the work. Using the Gilbrethian method of strapping mini electrodes to her hands and employing a long shutter speed, Strand records her own movements.


Home > Arizona B&Bs > Page Bed and Breakfast Inns > The Bear's Den B&B, L.L.C.
The Bear's Den B&B, L.L.C.
"WOW! the Bears Den B&B is the epitome of comfort and warmth. The perfect remedy to assuage the jadedness of a day's myriad of activities. The Jacuzzi and flat screen were very rewarding. To find such comfort rivaled with 5 star hotels at an unmatched price is like finding a needle in a haystack. Thank you for the remarkable experience and I'm sure my viewpoint is permissive to those who come and those soon to come. Thank You!
Keep doing what you are doing as you do it so well!
The Bear's Den far exceeded my expectations! Although Deb-b was not there when we visited, Bubba did a superb job as host and breakfast chef. He is very knowledgeable about the area and had many great recommendations. Our room was very comfortable and clean. Loved it! Can't wait to go back again.


text:
Aston Villa and England footballer Jack Grealish pleads guilty to careless driving charges
Jack Grealish the Aston Villa and England footballer has pleaded guilty to two charges of careless driving.
The 25-year-old, who captains Villa, entered his pleas at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
One of the offences is in connection with a collision involving his £80,000 Range Rover in Dickens Heath, near Solihull, on 29 March, six days after lockdown restrictions were imposed nationwide.
The winger, of Barnt Green, Worcestershire, did not appear in court but, entering pleas through his lawyer, admitted driving without due care.
The March incident came less than 24 hours after he issued a Twitter video message urging others to stay home and protect the NHS.
Also Read: COVID-19: Matt Doherty, Tottenham right-back tests positive
He also admitted a second charge of careless driving relating to allegations he drove without due care and attention on the M42, the A446 and on Bodymoor Heath Road, the site of Villa's training complex on 18 October.
He had denied two other charges connected to the Dickens Heath incident of failing to stop and failing to report the incident.
Tags: sports gistUpdates


The brand new Horizon oxygenator is now available!
OXYGENATOR MODULE working up to 7lpm with 225ml priming and 1,65sqm as contact surface area.
Heater exchanger integrated 'stainless steel' made.
innovative integrated " cascade arterial filter".


text:
(-) Ghana (34)
International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program (2)
(-) Ghana
(-) Kazakhstan
USDA Announces $1.5 Million for Educational Fellowship Programs in Ghana, Guatemala, and Mexico
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $1.5 million to Texas A&M University and the University of Missouri to establish school-based programs in Ghana, Guatemala, and Mexico through the International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program.
USDA Program Brings Ag Educators to Ghanaian Classrooms
In honor of World Teachers' Day, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service is celebrating some of our fellowship recipients who are teaching agricultural education in Ghana and helping shape the minds of tomorrow's agricultural producers, entrepreneurs, and global leaders.
Under Secretary McKinney Discusses 2020 USDA Ag Trade Missions
Seven USDA-led Agricultural Trade Missions are scheduled for next year in continuing efforts to increase export opportunities. USDA Radio's Rod Bain talks to Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney about the 2020 trade...
USDA to Expand Agriculture Export Opportunities on Seven Trade Missions in 2020
Washington, D.C., Dec. 5, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will sponsor seven agribusiness trade missions in 2020 to grow and diversify export opportunities around the world for America's farmers and ranchers, Under Secretary for...
USDA Trade Mission Shines Light on Prosper Africa by Boosting U.S.-Africa Trade
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky led a successful trade mission to West Africa, October 28-31, where he helped U.S. exporters unlock new opportunities in the region and advocated for the Administration's Prosper Africa initiative...
Deputy Secretary Censky Leads Trade Mission to West Africa
Contact: press@oc.usda.gov Washington, October 25, 2019 – U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky will lead a trade mission to West Africa, October 28-31, to help United States exporters unlock new opportunities in a region where strong...


text:
/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 * This file was automatically generated by SWIG (http://www.swig.org).
 * Version 3.0.5
 *
 * Do not make changes to this file unless you know what you are doing--modify
 * the SWIG interface file instead.
 * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- */

package rhcad.touchvg.core;

public class MgDot extends MgBaseShape {
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  protected static long getCPtr(MgDot obj) {
    return (obj == null) ? 0 : obj.swigCPtr;
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    delete();
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        touchvgJNI.delete_MgDot(swigCPtr);
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    touchvgJNI.MgDot_update(swigCPtr, this);
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  public boolean setHandlePoint(int index, Point2d pt, float tol) {
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  }

  public boolean isHandleFixed(int index) {
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}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


One for Freight's David Carruth is new OTA Chair for 2019-2020 - The Trucking Network Inc.
David Carruth, president and CEO of One for Freight in Milton, Ont. has been named administrator of the Ontario Trucking Association for a two-year term. The declaration was made today at the OTA yearly official gathering in Toronto. Carruth, a solid and vocal long-lasting supporter of OTA, has served for various years on the OTA governing body and official council, most as of late as first bad habit administrator. He succeeds On freight's Steve Ondejko as Chair.
Introduced to the world of transportation at an early age, David worked his way to success from the ground up. He got his start at North American TNT with his uncle and former OTA chair, Cam Carruth. There, David met his long-time mentor and friend John Schiller. After a decade with TNT, David followed Schiller to Same day Right-O-Way, before starting his own business in 1992.
Specializing in the home delivery market, his company grew exponentially. Three years after selling his company to Grocery Gateway in 2001, his entrepreneurial spirit re-emerged. Seeing the need "for disruption", David was driven to "challenge the traditional borders of the transportation industry" by launching LTL company, Ontario New England Express (ONE), into ONE for Freight.
Over the next decade, David and his partners quadrupled the size of the company through acquisitions, organic growth and continuous innovation. Today, One for Freight – as it's known today – operates 55 trucks in a multitude solutions-based services.
As chair, Carruth says he plans to continue steering the association along its current path of equaling the competitive playing field for compliant, responsible carriers in areas of truck and highway safety, tax law and environmental rules. Key issues Carruth will focus on include: Driver Inc.; emission system delete kits; implementation of electronic logging devices in Ontario; speed limiter enforcement and clarification of overtime calculation payments.
"We will continue working with government on targeted enforcement of non-compliant carriers so they can no longer gain advantages on the majority of law-abiding carriers who choose to play by the rules and who take safety, labour mandates and the environment seriously," says Carruth. "Addressing these issues will make the trucking industry a more attractive place for Canadians to find professional work and sends a strong message to the carrier community of what OTA stands for.
One issue that's close to Carruth's heart is laying down the foundations for the next generation of up-and-coming OTA leaders and thinkers. As a longtime mentor to the OTA LEAD Committee, Carruth says one of his mandates as chair will be to promote the association's next generation programs and put its young participants front-and-centre for industry events and involving them in various initiatives.
Carruth stresses he is "naturally passionate about helping people become the best they can be in business and in life." On that note, he is adamant that, as trucking quickly evolves and diversifies in this latest wave of technological disruption, individual companies and the association would be well-served to highlight ideas from the next generation of leaders to drive innovation and growth.
Among many other issues, Carruth also looks forward to the task of growing association membership and encouraging current members to become more involved in policy initiatives and events. Over the next two years he will help oversee the implementation of various committee recommendations endorsed by the OTA Board in 2019.
David is an avid golfer and cherishes his family life with wife Annette and daughter Stephanie, who works with her father at One for Freight and is herself an enthusiastic participant of the Next Generation program.


This mid-high sneaker completes your shoe collection! The upper is made of navy imitation leather and the leather is perforated on the side. The inside is lined with imitation leather and the footbed is removable. You can effortlessly combine these sneakers with all your favorite outfits.


We do not have the "w" version, just the regular SG135. This is a great firewall, interface is really easy to use after you figure out where everything is. Remote access and VPN options work great, Firewall is simple and easy enough to understand if you know firewalls already.
-Good interface -Reliable -Support is actually good -Software and anti-virus updates are regular.
-none, really although dependent on what your business needs there may be fallbacks. But none I have noticed.
Email Protection via Sophos Appliance Certificates?
What ports do I need to open for which RD Server?


7 P1 bugs are still remaining. Three being Arm-related, one is related to MacOSX, one looks like it's a Fortran issue and two bugs being ICEs on valid code.
Sounds like only the last two bugs are important.
Does anybody else get the feeling Intel is making a big mistake here? That is using the AVX engine instead of coming up with a new execution unit for AI style code? We already have examples of custom execution units in ARM hardware (Apples A12 comes to mind but there are others). The idea here is that you end up with less complex hardware, running at lower power, that can evolve independently of all other hardware.
It isnt like this this keeps me up at night because I'm likely to be history before this machine learning hardware and the associated software becomes as advanced as I believe it will. In fact if the rumors about an Apple ARM based chip are true, I suspect the motivation will be advanced ML/AI hardware not so much the ARM cores themselves. In any event the fear here is that the complex logic to expand the capabilities of the AVX unit means high power and a slow evolution of the hardware.
They're actually being smart. Not everyone interested in AI programming has got specialized hardware readily available to them. To make standard PCs of tomorrow capable of handling such code more efficiently allows more developers to make first experiences with AI software, but without having additional costs. The opposite would mean not to have done anything about it. It then gives more relevance to the next generation of PCs and as such means more money in Intel's pocket, but it also benefits AI programming itself. Every bit helps.
And before AIs become as advance as you think they will does mankind first need to work hard to get there. It will take many little steps and won't happen over night with a revolution or a sudden up-rise of AIs.
Last edited by sdack; 04-13-2019, 01:42 PM.
It isnt like this this keeps me up at night because I'm likely to be history before this machine learning hardware and the associated software becomes as advanced as I believe it will.
So they're doing it right: Don't burn resources, as long as you can have it the easy and cheap way.
Yeah, this is a weird move. Intel is making dGPUs, enlarging their iGPUs, and spent $Billions on Nervana and Movidius. Why they feel they also need to beef up their AVX is mystifying, since it still won't touch GPUs or dedicated ASICs in perf/Watt and certainly won't beat them on ops/$. The only way this makes any business sense is as a stop-gap measure, for the < 1 year between when this ships and when they can really ramp up those products.
You could look at the conversion instructions as improving interoperability with their GPUs and Nervana ASICs, but it's a little silly given that one of the main benefits of BFloat16 is how trivially it can be converted via existing instructions.
They're actually being smart. Not everyone interested in AI programming has got specialized hardware readily available to them.
Their iGPUs pack more raw compute than these things, and are more efficient as well. The typical laptop or desktop PC already has a lot more horsepower in its iGPU than if they bolted BFloat16-enabled AVX-512 units onto those CPU cores. This move isn't really defensible. I can only imagine some marketing dweeb heard that BFloat16 was the next big thing and decided they needed to have it everywhere, for some reason.
I too like my CPU instructions to look like I died on my keyboard.
This move isn't really defensible.
But it is. All the suggestions you're making are more complex and only focus on achieving maximum power, but it is complexity, which hampers development. Adding a simple instruction will work as a stepping stone into AI programming. You then can get far more efficient solutions already and Intel would only be competing with those. Not every problem then requires a big AI solution, but will only need a little. With a single CPU instruction can one then solve many little AI problems and leave the bigger ones to dedicated hardware units.


text:
Q: how to resize the subviews automatically for iOS6 because autoresize is removed from iOS6? how to resize all the subviews inside a view automatically for iOS6 because autoresize is removed from iOS6?

A: Technically the answer is to use autolayout, the replacement to the original autoresize feature available in previous iOS versions.
The new system, however, takes some time to get used to and to set up for all of your views and controls, so if you'd like to use the old autoresize controls, you can! It hasn't been removed, it's just that new apps and storyboards are automatically configured to use autolayout by default.
If you deselect "Use autolayout" in your storyboard files (first tab of the Utilities panel) then autolayout will be disabled and the autosizing controls will be available again.


Embroidered polo shirts for Childminding by Mel.
Logo design for Prolash By Cheryl Waddell, an SME based in Possilpark, Glasgow.
Logo design, business cards and posters for Cumbernauld firm Buildtek, who specialise in new builds, extensions and conversions.
Logo design, embroidered polo shirts and vehicle livery for Fife property maintenance service.
Logo design and signage for The One Under (Gastro Pub) and Rocca (Bar & Grill) in St Andrews.
Branded apparel for non-profit Stirling-based charity group, The Scribblers Picnic. Red screen print on classic black tees and polo shirts.
75mm Ø stamp for Jabberwocky Softplay & Café in Haddington.
Screenprinted workwear for Inside Out after-school club in Burntisland.
Logo design for Cumbernauld-based Iconik Garden Rooms.
Embroidered polo shirts for Fostering Relations in Dunfermline.
Logo design, signage and business cards for Delight Delicatessen in Kinghorn, Fife.
Logo design, embroidered polo shirts and roller banners for Fife Ukulele Orchestra.
Logo and business card design for County Durham print and media company, MacKay Media.


Don't let the name fool you, the road isn't rough, and neither is the view! You'll never want to leave your dream home when you can stay and enjoy the stunning 180 degree views of Lake Pend Oreille, Schweitzer, Roman Nose the Selle Valley and beyond. The 1.8 acre parcel includes 315 feet of lake frontage and deep water moorage on Beaver Point. Bottle Bay sewer hookup is on the lot, power and phone nearby. Owner will finance!


In the 32nd round of LOTTO Ekstraklasa Cracovia played at home with Jagiellonia Bialystok. The match ended with a victory of guests 1:0. See photos from this match.
In our second game of the league's final round we yet again fought bravely until the very last minutes. Sadly, we also lose by one goal for the second time in a row after a penalty-kick goal by Jagiellonia's player, Imaz.
In the 31st round of LOTTO Ekstraklasa Cracovia played the away match with Legia Warszawa. The match ended with the victory of the hosts 1:0. See photos from this match.
Our match against Legia was even to the near end of the game. Sadly, a moment before the final whistle Carlos Lopez has executed a penalty, that decided of Pasy's loss by one goal.
Our final round's match schedule announced!
After the end of the regular season, Pasy will play seven more games during the league's final round. Four of them will be played on our home stadium.
We end the regular season in a best possible way! After an exciting game with lots of goals, Pasy win 4:2 against the leader of league table - Lechia Gdańsk. Congrats to the team!
2019-04-15 Our final round's match schedule announced!


text:
Celestial New: The Triangle, the Ram and the Fly
Jimmy Westlake/For Steamboat Today
Look halfway up in the eastern sky about 7 p.m. this week to spot three triangles of stars representing Aries the Golden Ram, Triangulum the Triangle of Pythagoras and the constellation formerly known as Musca the Fly. While in the area, pull out your binoculars and explore our neighboring spiral galaxy, M33 (inset).
Nestled between the constellations of Andromeda, Perseus and Pisces is a curious little trio of stellar triangles, visible on crisp November evenings. Each triangle has an interesting history all its own.
The upper triangle is the only constellation in the sky that looks exactly like what it is supposed to be. No imagination is required to pick out the constellation of Triangulum, the Triangle. Ancient Greek astronomers invented Triangulum, perhaps to honor the brilliant work of the great Greek mathematician Pythagoras. Every high school student who has suffered through a geometry class has studied the Pythagorean theorem: in any right triangle, the sum of the squares of the lengths of the legs equals the square of the length of the hypotenuse. One need look no further than the stars of Triangulum to be reminded of this important theorem.
Of the 88 constellations, only 10 are smaller than Triangulum. Like its much larger neighbor, Andromeda, Triangulum boasts a large spiral galaxy within its borders, M33, or, the Pinwheel Galaxy. I've glimpsed M33 with the naked eye on exceptionally clear, dark nights, but using binoculars makes it easier to see. It is smaller and more distant than Andromeda's famed galaxy, M31, but at 3 million light years away, M33 is still a member of our local group of galaxies.
Below the southern tip of Triangulum is another distinctive triangle of stars. This one marks the head and horns of Aries the Ram, the first constellation of the zodiac. The brightest star in this triangle is named Hamal, meaning "the head of the sheep." The constellation of Aries also dates back to the early Greeks, who imagined these stars to be the ram that wore the Golden Fleece, the treasure sought by Jason and the Argonauts in their epic journey.
Below the northern end of Triangulum is a third triangle of stars. While this tiny asterism officially lies within the boundaries of Aries, the Ram, it has been identified through the ages with a number of now defunct constellations. It first appeared as an asterism separate from Aries in 1612 on a star chart published by Petrus Plancius as Apes, the Bee. In 1624, it appeared on a star chart published by Jacob Bartsch as Vespa, the Wasp. Then, in 1674, Frenchman Ignace-Gaston Pardies resurrected the little triangle as Lilium, the Lilly.
It appeared one more time as Musca, the Fly, on the famous star atlas published in 1690 by Johannes Hevelius. After that, this little trio of stars was reabsorbed into the constellation of Aries, and it appears as though that will be its permanent home.
Step outside about 7 p.m. in mid-November and look about halfway up in the eastern sky. There, you will find autumn's little trio of triangles: Triangulum, Aries and the star pattern formerly known as The Fly.
Professor Jimmy Westlake teaches astronomy and physics at Colorado Mountain College's Steamboat Springs Campus. His "Celestial News" column appears weekly in Steamboat Today. Check out Westlake's new "2017 Cosmic Calendar" of sky events on his website, jwestlake.com. It features 12 of his best astro-photos and a day-by-day listing of cool celestial events you and your family can enjoy watching all year.
Professor Jimmy Westlake teaches astronomy and physics at Colorado Mountain College's Steamboat Springs Campus. His "Celestial News" column appears weekly in Steamboat Today. Check out Westlake's new "2017 Cosmic Calendar" of sky events on his website, jwestlake.com. It features 12 of his best astro-photos and a day-by-day listing of cool celestial events you and your family can enjoy watching all year.
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A fire incident can be chaotic, confusing and complex. Most certainly it is dynamic, with change ever occurring, sometimes at a rapid and unexpected pace. The successful leader is able to make sense of the chaos and develop a credible plan. He or she is then able to communicate that plan, win support from others and thus the ability to implement.
Leadership is influencing people-by providing purpose, direction and motivation-while operating to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.
One of the key factors in directing and communicating any plan is to conduct a Briefing. Briefings are required when a change in the incident environment, assignment or personnel occurs. The beginning of an operational shift, a change in tactics or procedures, or orientation for a newly-assigned resource-these are a few examples of when a briefing would be necessary. At the heart of every briefing is Leader's Intent, or what the goal is.
In this portion of the Leadership Toolbox you will find some useful information and techniques to help you become a better communicator. "Affect Them with Intent" expounds on the role and purpose of Leader's Intent. There is a link to an article by U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Shattuck on intent and command presence. "What a Good Briefing Will Cover" details the briefing checklist found on the back of the Incident Response Pocket Guide. "Tips for the Timid and the Bold" offers some helpful suggestions on improving your briefing skill. Finally, the "Ten Commandments of Good Listening" offers some principles to improve listening skills.
"In studying the examples of the orders issued to our troops in France, several important points deserve consideration in determining the relative excellence of the orders issued. It is frequently the case that what appears to have been a model order was actually the reverse, and a poorly and apparently hastily prepared order will often be erroneously condemned. Many orders, models in their form, failed to reach the troops in time to affect their actions, and many apparently crude and fragmentary instructions did reach front-line commanders in time to enable the purpose of higher command to be carried out on the battlefield. It is apparent that unless an order is issued in time for its instructions to percolate down throughout the organization sufficiently in advance of an engagement to enable each commander to arrange his unit accordingly, that order is a failure, however perfect it may appear on paper. Our troops suffered much from the delays involved in preparing long and complicated orders due to the failure of the staff...to recognize that speed was more important than technique."
So that started the evolution and by 1940, we had the 5 Paragraph Field Order format - it was tweaked during WW2 and today it is remarkably similar now to what it was then. In fact - one of the case studies today for the near perfect order was VII Corps operations order to attack near Remagen in March 1945.
The IRPG (Incident Response Pocket Guide, PMS 461) briefing format came directly from the military mission briefing format, which follows the "5 Paragraph Field Order."
Quality of operational briefing protocal was questioned in the follow up reports for the 1994 South Canyon fatalities. (IMRT in 1995 and TriData Phase III in 1998). TriData pages 3-70 to 3-86 deal with this...most specifically stated under Goal #20...Implementation strategy #1 = Improve the quality of briefing at incidents and Implementation strategy #2 = Develop and use checklists for transmission of information.
The following year, in 1999, the first IRPG was issued and there was a briefing checklist on the back cover, though significantly different than what is there now.
In 2001 incident briefing again becomes a focus following the 30 Mile fatalities in 2000. The Accident Prevention Plan established briefing requirements for fireline supervisors and incident commanders.
In 2001 and 2002 the leadership development effort began to gain traction with NWCG. The Fireline Leadership course (later L380) was getting stood up within the Interagency Hotshot Crew and Smokejumper world and the Leadership Committee was chartered and quickly established a working relationship with the Marine Corp University.
When the IRPG was next revised in 2002, the wildland fire service had a briefing format that looked a lot like the marine's SMEAC or the army's SMESC.
The information briefing is used to inform the listener. This briefing deals primarily with facts, not conclusions or recommendations. Use it to present high priority information requiring immediate attention; complex information involving complicated plans, systems, statistics or charts; and controversial information requiring elaboration and explanation. The following format works well for an information briefing.
Greeting. Use courtesy, address the person(s) receiving the briefing and identify yourself.
Purpose. Explain the purpose and scope.
Procedure. Indicate procedure if briefing involves demonstration, display or tour.
Prepare to answer questions at any time.
Arrange main ideas in logical sequence.
Announce the next briefer, if applicable.
Use the mission briefing under operational conditions to impart information, to give specific instructions or to instill an appreciation of the mission.
In an operational situation or when the mission is of a critical nature, it may become necessary to provide individuals or smaller units with more data than incident action plans or general orders provide. You may do this by means of the mission briefing. The mission briefing reinforces orders, provides more detailed requirements and instructions for individuals, and provides an explanation of the significance of their individual role. You must present this type of briefing with care to ensure that it does not cause confusion of conflict with plans and orders.
One person usually conducts the mission briefing. This person may be the Incident Commander, Operations Section Chief, Division Group Supervisor, Module Leader or a special representative, depending on the nature of the mission or the level of the incident.
There is no prescribed format for the mission briefing. It should possess the Briefing ABCs (below): accuracy, brevity, and clarity. In some cases you may use the briefing checklist provided in the IRPG (SMECS) if it doesn't result in unnecessary repetition.
A decision briefing is intended to obtain an answer or a decision. Personnel use this briefing for most strategic and/or tactical matters requiring command decisions from higher authority.
Purpose. State that the purpose of the briefing is to obtain a decision and announce the problem statement.
Procedure. Explain any special procedures such as a trip to outlying facilities or introduction of an additional briefer.
Coordination. Indicate accomplishment of any coordination.
Classification. State the classification of the briefing.
Assumptions. Must be valid, relevant and necessary.
Facts bearing on the problem. Must be supportable, relevant and necessary.
Discussion. Analyze courses of action. Plan for smooth transition.
Conclusions. Degree of acceptance or the order of merit of each course of action.
Recommendation(s). State action(s) recommended. Must be specific, not a solicitation of opinion.
The staff briefing is to secure a coordinated or unified effort. This briefing may involve the exchange of information, the announcement of decisions, the issuance of directives or the presentation of guidance. The staff briefing may include the characteristics of the information, decision and mission briefings.
Staff briefings are normally scheduled on a periodic basis. The attendees are usually the Incident Commander (IC), the Deputy IC, Command and General Staff. Sometimes subordinate staffs may attend.
The Plans Section Chief usually presides over the staff briefing. This person opens the briefing by identifying the purpose of the briefing and reviewing the mission assigned; then restates the IMT's mission and gives the IC's concept, if applicable; then calls on command and general staff officers to brief their areas of responsibility. The IC usually concludes the briefing, and may even take an active part throughout the presentation.
The tactical situation briefing is a form of staff briefing used to inform persons not familiar with the situation at the level at which the briefing is taking place. The briefing goes back in time as far as necessary to present the full picture.
When the main intent of regularly scheduled staff briefings is to achieve coordinated effort within, the substance of each staff officer's presentation should only involve updating of material previously presented.
Who is to be briefed and why?
How much knowledge of the subject does the audience have?
What is expected of the briefer?
The basic purpose is to present the subject as directed and to ensure that it is understood by the audience.
Brevity precludes a lengthy introduction or summary.
Logic must be used in arriving at conclusions and recommendations.
Interruptions and questions may occur at any point. If and when these interruptions occur, the briefer answers each question before proceeding or indicates that the questions will be answered later in the briefing. At the same time, the briefer does not permit questions to distract from the planned briefing. If the question will be answered later in the briefing, the briefer should make specific reference to the earlier question when introducing the material. The briefer must be prepared to support any part of the briefing. The briefer anticipates possible questions and is prepared to answer them.
When the briefing is over, the briefer prepares any follow-up actions such as who is to take action, recommendations and their approval, disapproval, or approval with modifications. When a decision is involved and doubt exists about the decision maker's intent, the briefer provides the decision maker a draft of the decision for review before finalizing.
Ask if you don't know.
Some briefings lack enough information, other briefings provide too much information. Somewhere in between is what most of us are looking for: a useful briefing. How often should briefings be given? The answer is: as often as they are needed.
An overall picture of the situation/incident so those being briefed have a general idea of what is going on. After the big picture, focus in on where and how those being briefed fit in. Using maps or terrain models scraped together on the ground will help provide a clearer perception of the situation.
The portion of the briefing where chain of command is explained; Leader's Intent is delivered; specific assignments and tactics are given; and contingencies are proposed.
Where the Communication Plan and Medical Plan are explained. The methods, channels and frequencies being utilized for receiving and passing information to other resources on the incident. How often personnel should check-in and provide updates. The critical times for information delivery such as weather updates and resource needs for the next shift. What to do in the event of an emergency, what protocols to follow in the event of an accident or injury.
What other resources are on the incident, and how they might be accessed if needed. This portion would also include how to get supplies, equipment, or transportation.
A discussion of what known and potential hazards may exist in the work environment, methods to communicate those hazards to others, and whether to AVOID, MITIGATE or ELIMINATE the hazard. This is also the portion of the briefing where LCES - Lookouts, Communication, Escape Route(s) and Safety Zone(s) - would be addressed, as well as any identified trigger points.
Every briefing should be concluded with an opportunity for feedback from those who have been briefed. Questions about assignments can be asked and answered, concerns that the leader didn't realize or understand can be expressed, and perceptions can be brought more in line with reality. Remember your Standard Firefighting Orders includes: Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood.
Consider the audience listening and tailor the message accordingly.
Avoid the use of unnecessary jargon or slang.
Speak clearly, and make eye contact with the listeners.
Try to give the briefing in an environment that will not be interrupted by intrusive sounds.
Pay attention to the feedback you receive from a briefing…does it reflect that you imparted accurate information? If not, why not?
Use the inside back cover of the Incident Response Pocket Guide to guide your briefing.
Practice giving briefings and have a supervisor or co-worker critique you.
Ask your supervisor if you can have an opportunity to prepare and deliver actual briefings during appropriate situations.
Listen to briefings of others using the Incident Response Pocket Guide back cover and ask for any information that is missing.
Recognize that nervousness while speaking in front of a crowd is common. In one study, 77% of experienced speakers admitted to some stage fright on each speaking occasion. In another study, people had a greater fear of public speaking than death. Overcome your anxiety by being well-prepared with your message, use the Incident Response Pocket Guide back cover as an organizer and get comfortable delivering briefings by doing them often.
Listening is a process involving the reception and interpretation of messages spoken by others. A common misconception about listening is that it is easy. In fact, the opposite is true. Studies have shown that good listeners show increases in their physical activity when they are listening to others. Since the effectiveness of communications depends so heavily on good listening, it is important to develop our listening skills.
Stop talking. Obvious, but not easy.
Put the speaker at ease. Create a permissive, supportive climate in which the speaker will feel free to express himself or herself.
Show a desire to listen. Act interested and mean it.
Remove distractions. External preoccupation is less likely if nothing external is present to preoccupy you.
Empathize. Try to experience to some degree the feelings the speaker is experiencing.
Be patient. Give the speaker time to finish; don't interrupt.
Hold your temper. Don't let your emotions obstruct your thoughts.
Go easy on argument and criticism. Suspend judgment.
Ask questions. If things are still unclear when a speaker has finished, ask questions which serve to clarify the intended meanings.
Stop talking. In case you missed the first commandment.
If you know what the topic is ahead of time, learn something about it so you will not be an ignorant listener. Even some careful thinking will allow you to listen more accurately when the communication actually begins.
Try to discover the intent of the source; why is he or she saying these things?
Look for an organizational scheme of the message. If the speaker is an accomplished one, you won't have to look very hard; it will be obvious. But if the speaker is less skilled, the responsibility falls to you.
Do not accept what you hear at face value; analyze what the speaker is saying and pay attention to body language.
Keep the main topic of the message in mind at all times, using it to bring focus to the information which the speaker supplies.
This may be the most important. Listening takes work, and to do that you may have to "psych yourself up."
At the heart of every briefing conducted for a group or individual is the purpose or objectives of the assignment. This is called "Leader's Intent." Leaders must communicate the purpose of a chosen action or direction so those being briefed have a clear understanding of the desired end state of an assignment. Clear and concise, the leader's intent includes a mission's overall purpose and expected results. With clearly communicated purpose and direction, followers can understand what they must do and why.
Task: What it is to be done, or the "objectives"
Purpose: Why it is to be done, or "sense-making"
The end state is the leader's vision; or how the leader would like things to look when all is said and done. In a mission-oriented situation, the desired end state is how actions will be measured to evaluate success.
When followers clearly understand the intent behind instructions, they are enabled to make better decisions on their own when conditions or the situation has changed. If followers know what the goal is, they will be able to determine what they must do to reach it, even if the leader is absent.
A concept that goes hand-in-hand with Leader's Intent is Command Presence. Command Presence is transmitted by your ability to communicate effectively. Do not equate command presence with yelling out orders. Effective communication is two-way communication and involves a good feedback process. For more information, read Lt. Col. Lawrence G. Shattuck's article "Communicating Intent and Imparting Presence."
This model, derived from the publication Leading in the Wildland Fire Service (PMS 494-2), illustrates that turning intent into action is both linear and cyclical process.
Initiating the linear process, the leader establishes an end state and sets objectives to accomplish it. Team members develop a strategy and make sure that the objectives can be accomplished given the available time and resources. Operational leaders then select the appropriate tactics and implement the action needed. The process is sequential, with each step requiring the completion of the previous step.
The process becomes circular when leaders evaluate the results of the action and modify the plan at each level according to changes in the environment or the team.
Read the article "Communicating Intent and Imparting Presence," by Lt. Col. Lawrence G. Shattuck describing the elements and importance of communicating intent to subordinates while imparting Command Presence.
Discussion on Leaders Intent with Mark Smith, retired Senior Non-commissioned Officer, U.S. Army Special Operations and leadership development consultant with Mission-Centered Solutions.
Cut this out and add it to your IRPG. The goal is not to replace the IRPG briefing checklist, rather to supplement with this template in order to create a more intuitive briefing. View the template (pdf).
Mission briefing format on full size sheet of paper for constructing your briefing. View the worksheet (docx).
Simple format for unexpected or changing conditions in order to provide quick and concise situational information. View the worksheet (docx).


text:
News Roundup: June 26, 2015
3 Changes to Make Aging-in-Place a Reality for Seniors
Cassandra Dowell
As America�s aging population continues to grow so too do the demands on local communities to meet that population�s changing health care needs.
�There�s a real push for people not to be in nursing homes unless they absolutely have to be,� said Robyn Golden, director of health and aging at Rush University Medical Center, during the National Healthcare Innovation Summit on Wednesday in Chicago. �People don�t want to live in institutions.�
But many aging Americans face significant challenges when trying to remain in their homes, including homes that cannot support their changing health needs, burned-out family caregivers and a lack of community services. At the same time, those challenges also present opportunities for communities to adapt and promote aging in place, industry leaders said.
�People say they want to age in place, but really they want to age in community,� said Dr. Paul Tang, vice president and chief innovation and technology officer at Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
Modify the Home
Older Americans often leave their homes because it lacks necessary modifications to meet their health care needs, Golden said.
�We�re spending more [to place them] in a nursing home when all we had to do was modify their home,� she said. �If we put home modification in a [home-based community service budget] we could show the impact of cost savings compared to being institutionalized.�
Housing is a critical component of senior wellness, said J. Thomas Briody, president and chief executive officer of the Institute on Aging.
The Institute on Aging is piloting a program to help transition people in skilled nursing who �don�t belong there and those at risk of being in skilled nursing� following release from a hospital into the home, Briody said, noting the programs also include other services such as transportation and groceries.
�We�re talking about millions of potential dollars saved each year and transforming a person�s life,� he said. �This is just a glimmer of what the future can be.�
Support Family Caregivers
The No. 1 challenge for caregivers is knowing where to go to get the supports they need, Briody said, citing a recent program involving caregivers in California�s Bay Area.
�There is a vast array of services,� he said. �But how do they find it? How do they pay for it?�
Without much-needed supports, the health of caregivers themselves can derail, creating a larger population health care concern.
�We do not have a long-term care policy in this country,� said Golden. �The closest thing we have are family caregivers, who are often times compromising their careers and finances. They�re depressed.�
Reaching family members before all resources are exhausted is key, Golden said.
Provide Community Services
Ultimately, community service organizations need to recognize the role they can play in both supporting caregivers and providing care beyond a hospital�s walls.
�The team of care for a hospital patient is not within the four walls,� Golden said.
Communities can�t rely on federal social services to address all of its residents� needs, Tang said.
�We need to tap into what�s already there,� Tang said, naming churches, temples, senior centers and organizations such as the YMCA as examples of places for aging residents to find resources.
Acute care should be the exception, Briody said.
�The hospital should be where you go when everything in the community cannot support you,� Briody said. �That�s the fundamental change � we need to look at preventative and post acute care in a new light.�
Home health care changing rapidly as technological advances
Published by Utica OD
Amy Neff Roth
The first home health agency in Utica grew out of a citizens� committee to fight the city�s high infant mortality rate 100 years ago.
A century later, the Visiting Nurse Association of Utica and Oneida County has a far different focus, a pool of patients that spans all ages and most medical conditions, and technological skills never imagined even 20 years ago.
�One thing you can guarantee in health care is change,� said Kim Ellis, the executive director of home care services for the Mohawk Valley Health System, which includes the VNA. �I don�t think I�ve ever seen such rapid change as I�ve seen in the last five or six years.�
In that time, the role of home health care has changed as state and federal policies have placed it front and center in a redesign of the health care system meant to provide better care at lower cost.
So, it�s the job of home health workers to make sure that patients being released from the hospital don�t end up being readmitted or going to the emergency room.
�It�s just been one new, amazing transition to home,� said Jeanne Gymburch, clinical nursing supervisor for the VNA, who�s been there for 33 years and witnessed the transition from paper charts to laptops, and beepers to smartphones. �Everyone�s coming home sicker, quicker, and we are the place to go to have those services where you want to be. Who doesn�t want to recover at home rather than in the hospital?�
To help with that transition, though, home health agencies have had to take on increasingly complex technology, offering things such as wound vacuum care, chemotherapy, IV therapy and care for chest tubes and respirators.
�Things you used to do in the hospital, you�re seeing come home,� Gymburch said.
To fulfill its modern mission, home health care has expanded to include more kinds of workers, including physical, occupational and speech therapy.
And unlike its predecessor, the VNA no longer is the only home health agency in the county, which has four certified home health agencies (those able to accept Medicaid reimbursements directly) and 30 licensed home health agencies.
In New York, about 175,000 Medicare patients and nearly 190,000 Medicaid patients � plus some patients in private health plans � receive home health services, according to the Home Care Association of New York State.
Home care also is part of the big trend in long-term care, keeping patients in their own homes and out of institutions as long as possible. Most long-term care, though, is offered within Medicaid managed care plans; the VNA no longer has its own long-term care program.
Like other home care agencies, the VNA also has launched a telemedicine program so that nurses can check on things such as blood pressure and pulse rate over the phone. That�s something Ellis expects to expand in the future.
�I think you�re going to see more telemedicine in the home where you�re going to be able to do virtual visits,� she said.
Nurse practitioners or doctors will check on the patient via telemonitor, possibly discussing the patient with a nurse assessing the patient in person, she said.
But as much as the breadth of services offered by home care has changed, many aspects of home care still are reminiscent of 1915. The first nurses cared for big immigrant populations and modern nurses care for Utica�s big refugee population, Gymburch pointed out. And nurses have and always will focus on basic nursing skills, checks on health status and teaching, she said.
That teaching is particularly important in helping patients to stay well, Ellis said.
�If they understand their disease, if they are part of that process, they�re going to have that ownership to make sure they don�t have that salt that they�re not supposed to be eating or they�re having their blood pressure checked regularly,� she said.
Harvard: Rising Debt Jeopardizes Aging in Place
Increased supports will be needed to care for America�s large and growing senior population in their homes, new research shows. And affordability of these supports�and housing options generally�is particularly pressing, as seniors� debt load is rising.
Many older adults live alone, have at least one type of disability, and have limited resources to pay for suitable housing, according to the latest report by Harvard University�s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS). �The State of the Nation�s Housing� provides an annual assessment of the housing outlook, and summarizes trends in economics and demographics.
�As a result, the demand for units that are affordable, accessible, and provide social connection as well as supportive services will grow increasingly acute over the next two decades,� JCHS said in the report.
Aging baby boomers will lift the number of older households aged 65 and over 42% by 2025, and double the number aged 80 and over by 2035, data show.
�In another decade, the oldest members of this generation will be in their late 70s, a time of life when living independently often becomes difficult,� JCHS said. �By 2025, the large and growing population of seniors is likely to drive up demand for alternative housing arrangements that offer a combination of affordability, accessibility, and supportive services.�
Senior homeowners� financial picture is worrisome, as those who choose to age in place face rising debt and wealth constraints that may leave many retired homeowners struggling to meet their mortgage payments.
More than a third (38%) of owners aged 65 and over had mortgages in 2013, up from a little over a quarter in 2001, data show.
�Moreover, the median amount of debt they carried doubled over this period in real terms,� JCHS said. At the same time, the real median equity of older owners in 2013 was down to $125,000�lower than in any year since 1998.
�Having less equity and large mortgage payments late in life is a troubling prospect for households on fixed incomes,� JCHS said.
Independence at Home model saves $25 million in first year, CMS says
Published by Healthcare Finance News
Susan Morse
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will award $11.7 million in incentive payments to nine participating practices that succeeded in reducing Medicare expenditures and met designated goals for the first year of Independence at Home.
All 17 participants saved over $25 million in the program�s first performance year, according to CMS.
The CMS analysis found each Independence at Home participant on average saved $3,070 while delivering high quality patient care in the home, CMS said.
All 17 participating practices improved quality in at least three of the six quality measures for the demonstration in the first performance year, and four met all six quality measures, CMS stated.
[Also: CMS finalizes rules for Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs]
The nine which will receive practice incentive payments, and the amounts, are: Doctors Making Housecalls, $275,427; Housecall Providers, Inc., $1.2 million; North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Care, $542,323; VPA Jacksonville, $711,527; VPA Dallas, $1.7 million; VPA Flint, $2.9 million; VPA Lansing, $1 million; VPA Milwaukee, $1.4 million; and Mid-Atlantic Consortium, $1.8 million.
The other participants include Boston Medical Center, Christiana Care Health System, Cleveland Clinic Home Care Services, Doctors on Call, MD2U-KY, MD2U-IN, House Call Doctors, Inc., Treasure Coast, and Innovative Primary Care.
The year-one spending target and expenditures per beneficiary per month ranged from $2,434 to $5,756 for over 8,400 Medicare beneficiaries.
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The Independence at Home Demonstration provides chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries with primary care services in the home setting.
CMS analysis found these beneficiaries have fewer hospital readmissions within 30 days; have follow-up contact from their provider within 48 hours of a hospital admission, hospital discharge, or emergency department visit; have their medications identified by their provider within 48 hours of discharge from the hospital; have their preferences documented by their provider; and use inpatient hospital and emergency department services less for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, pneumonia, or urinary tract infection.
The Independence at Home Demonstration is part of the Affordable Care Act�s initiative to rewards doctors based on quality, not quantity of care.