text:
"This new concept is, potentially, as drastic an enlargement of our cosmic perspective as the shift from pre-Copernican ideas to the realization that the Earth is orbiting a typical star on the edge of the Milky Way." Sir Martin Rees, 1998, current Astronomer Royal of Britain
There are stars with enough mass to collapse on themselves, forming what have been theorized as black holes. It is thought that within these black holes there is a point called "singularity" at which all physical laws may cease to exist. At this point the curvature of space-time becomes infinitely large, and modern science can no longer predict what will happen. Einstein's theory of relativity cannot determine what effect singularity will have on an object, forming an uncertainty in our universe. It is from this uncertain state that many theories have arisen surrounding singularity. It has been theorized that beyond singularity exist tunnels - shortcuts - to other ends of the universe. These "wormholes" could be a solution to interstellar travel, which currently is limited by relativity. However, many complications surround this possible theory. Most notable is the fact that the gravitational force of a black hole would crush any possible interstellar spacecraft, which is something that will have to be worked out. While this theory about singularity is questionable at best and will probably be left to science fiction, there is another theory about the center of a black hole that has been gaining more acceptance from respected physicists and astronomers, and describes a whole new view about our known universe.
At the point of singularity it is agreed that it is impossible to predict physical behavior. This could mean that beyond this point of singularity there may be an entirely new set of physical laws. It is quite possible that after singularity, there may be an absence of such basic forces as gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces. If this were to happen, or if just one of these forces did not exist or was changed, then technically it would not be a part of this universe. Our universe is defined as the observable (if not explainable) aspects of the cosmos that involve the galaxies, stars, planets, and life that we know. Should a basic component of our physical laws be changed, none of what we know would exist. According to Before the Beginning, by Sir Martin Rees, "If nuclear forces were slightly weaker, no chemical elements other than hydrogen would be stable and there would be no nuclear energy to power stars. But, if the nuclear forces were slightly stronger than they actually are relative to electric forces, two protons could stick together so readily that ordinary hydrogen would not exist, and stars would evolve quite differently." (Rees 232) This demonstrates the small chance that it took for things to actually turn out like they did, and implies that it may be difficult for things to ever duplicate themselves should this idea of a "Multiverse" be more than just a theory.
The Multiverse theory for the universe has been a recently accepted theory that describes the continuous formation of universes through the collapse of giant stars and the formation of black holes. With each of these black holes there is a new point of singularity and a new possible universe. As Rees describes it, "Our universe may be just one element - one atom, as it were - in an infinite ensemble: a cosmic archipelago. Each universe starts with its own big bang, acquires a distinctive imprint (and its individual physical laws) as it cools, and traces out its own cosmic cycle. The big bang that triggered our entire universe is, in this grander perspective, an infinitesimal part of an elaborate structure that extends far beyond the range of any telescopes." (Rees 3) This puts our place in the Multiverse into a small spectrum. While the size of the earth in relation to the sun is minuscule, the size of the sun, the solar system, the galaxy, and even the universe, could pale in comparison to this proposed Multiverse. It would be a shift in thinking that may help explain our big bang theory and possibly give light to the idea of parallel universes.
While the idea of a parallel universe may sound farfetched, a recent book from an Oxford physicist named David Deutsch entitled, "The Fabric of Reality: The Science of Parallel Universes - And Its Implications" describes the possibilities of tapping in on parallel universes. He proposes that through a parallel universe one computer would be able to find an identical counterpart computer from the other universe, and collaborate with it to increase knowledge of the other universe. This involves the collaboration of many theories that have yet to have much proof. However, it is another arm of the Multiverse theory that has become more accepted in recent years that could possibly yield positive benefits for society.
The Multiverse theory itself, regardless of parallel universes, has many implications. Most notable is the unique, complex process from which our own universe was born, and how easily it could have been different. It may imply that, out of the possibly thousands, millions, or billions of universes, ours was special enough to develop life, which, in itself is special. Maybe life in another universe has a different meaning, but we know that our universe, at the very least is special in that it houses our kind of life. If just one physical law were slightly different, then there would be nobody to appreciate the beauty that we can see on an everyday basis. This brings up one ultimate question. If every universe began from another universe, where did it all begin? Recent physicists imply that there is no room for a creator under the current model of thinking. However, with such a complex system of laws, principles, and forces that allowed life to exist, one must give to the possibility of a creator behind it all.
http://www.changesurfer.com/eventhorizon/ngc917.html
http://users.imag.net/~edm192/
http://library.advanced.org/12713/index.shtml
Posted by Raghunandan Jagdish at 1:58 PM , 0 comments
Labels: Quantum Physics, Scientific Theories
Timeline is a science fiction novel by Michael Crichton that was published in November 1999. It tells the story of historians who travel to the Middle Ages to save a friend of theirs who already traveled back in time before them. The book follows in Crichton's long history of combining technical details and action in his books, addressing quantum physics and time travel.
The novel spawned Timeline Computer Entertainment, a computer game developer that created the Timeline PC game published by Eidos Interactive in 2000. A movie called Timeline based on the book was released in 2003.
1 Plot summary
2 "Multiverse" Theory
4 Film adaptation
[edit]Plot summary
The novel begins with a couple driving along a road in Arizona towards a near town when they are startled to see a man wandering in the middle of the road speaking deliriously and in need of medical attention. He is soon rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors notice veins, arteries and even bone joints misaligned in the man's body. During this same time in a region in France, Professor Edward Johnston heads a team of historians andarchaeologists studying a site in the Dordogne region of France where the medieval towns of Castelgard and La Roque stood. Suspicious of the detailed knowledge of the site shown by ITC (their funder), Johnston flies to ITC's headquarters in New Mexico to investigate. Soon the archaeologists begin to uncover modern objects in the ruins, recognizing among them, the lens of Johnston's eyeglasses. Researchers Chris Hughes, Kate Erickson, André Marek (a medieval enthusiast), and David Stern fly to ITC. Here they meet Robert Doniger, the founder of ITC. They learn that Johnston traveled back in time to the year 1357, to visit the site they were excavating, but has not returned as expected. Doniger insists that they travel back in order to retrieve Johnston. They are persuaded to do so and undergo the process of transferring their physical selves back to 1357. Accompanying them is a hardened marine and an experienced individual who works with ITC.
When they arrive in the past, the team is plagued by misfortune. They are attacked by a team of horsemen in pursuit of a boy suspected of being a thief, ultimately killing the ITC member and the marine. A grenade smuggled to the past by the marine is activated and sent to the present, destroying the transit pad and complicating the team's return. Kate and André see Johnston being taken away by the men of Lord Oliver of Castelgard. Separated from the others, Chris follows the boy and accidentally declares himself as a noble. The boy leads Chris to Castelgard and is revealed to be Lady Claire in disguise, trying to escape from Sir Guy's clutches. In the castle, Chris and André find themselves challenged to ajoust by Sir Guy and his second (Sir Charles de Gaune). Chris, thanks to André's instruction, survives the joust and André defeats both Sir Guy and his second. Sir Oliver orders the death of André and Chris for dishonouring Sir Guy. Kate helps them escape, but from then on they are pursued by the forces of Oliver, most notably Sir Guy and Sir Robert de Kere.
Lord Oliver believes that Johnston knows a secret passageway into the otherwise impenetrable castle of La Roque. Arnaut de Cervole is approaching Castelgard to lay siege and Oliver must know this secret to successfully defend the castle. Johnston helps Oliver, despite knowing that, historically, he loses the siege, but he never gains Oliver's trust. Chris, André, and Kate use Johnston's clues (which they had uncovered in 1999) to find the secret passageway themselves in order to save Johnston.
Chris and company learn that someone else from 1999 is also in the past with them and has been spying on their transmissions, always staying one step ahead in their pursuit of Lord Oliver. It is revealed that Rob Deckard, an ITC employee and former marine, who went insane from an accumulation of "transcription errors" (slight errors that occur during the process of traveling that, over time, can physically and mentally alter the traveler), went back to 1357 more than a year ago and never returned. Eventually Robert de Kere reveals his true identity as Deckard to the researchers and tells them that he has no intention of permitting their return to 1999.
Kate, Chris, and André are captured by Arnaut's men but are saved by Lady Claire and later escape. André enters La Roque as Johnston's assistant. As Arnaut prepares his siege, Oliver decides that Johnston is hiding information and takes him to a torture device to drown him. Meanwhile Chris and Kate find the secret passageway and enter La Roque. Kate kills Sir Guy and Arnaut's men begin to enter La Roque. Arnaut and André find Oliver about to drown Johnston, but save Johnston and leave Oliver to drown instead. De Kere goes after Chris to get the marker beacon that will allow the travelers to go home, but Chris manages to kill him.
ITC and Stern finally repair the landing area just in time for the travelers to return. André decides to remain in the past with Lady Claire. The group, including Kramer and Gordon, decide to send Doniger back into the past and leave him to die, as he was responsible for the mess. He presumably catches the Black Death. Back in the present, Chris and Kate are together and expecting a child. The researchers find André and Lady Claire's graves, and discover that André lived a good life after they left him behind.
[edit]"Multiverse" Theory
In Timeline, Crichton uses the plot device of the theory of many universes, or a "multiverse," to create the scientific basis by which time travel is possible. Crichton sets up the constraints of the multiverse theory in a very specific way that allows his characters to engage in time travel.
One of the main characteristics of Crichton's multiverse is that time moves at different speeds in the different universes of the multiverse. The implication of this is that while the year is 1999 in the main, "present" universe of the story, time has moved more quickly or more slowly in other universes, and the year may not be 1999 in those other universes. For example, in the universe that the main characters jump to in the novel, time has moved more slowly than the universe which they came from (where the year is 1999), so that the year in the jumped-to universe is only 1357.
Another of the main characteristics of Crichton's multiverse is that events in one universe have effects on the other universes, so that any given universe can never be isolated from the events of another universe. Thus, changes in the events in one universe will cause the other universes to experience the exact same changes - albeit, not at the "present" time in those other universes, but at the time of the original change in the originating universe. That is to say, if a change happens in the year 1357 in one universe, the corresponding change that happens in a universe that is presently at the year 1999 will also have occurred in the year 1357.
In essence, what all this means is that while characters do not technically engage in time travel in the traditional sense (e.g., they do not travel to another point in time within their same universe), in reality, if characters travel to a universe that exists in the past relative to their originating universe, any changes that they effect in that jumped-to universe will be reflected in their originating universe (as well as all other universes of the multiverse).
For example, when Professor Johnston traveled to the 1357 universe, he left a message along with his eye glasses in that universe, which were then discovered by his dig team. This occurred because the change he made in the 1357 universe became manifest in all the other universes of the multiverse.
Another theme of the novel is much the same as "Jurassic Park" as Doniger is attempting to sell trips to the past. However, Doniger is jarred when scans of the past show the truth of history: George Washington is seen at the Crossing of the Delaware to be huddled under a blanket, not standing firm. Also, watching the Gettysburg Address, Doniger is jarred that Abraham Lincoln's voice is a high pitched squeak. He demands they be changed for investors and when a technician protests that this is what happened, Doniger snaps that he's not selling the truth, he's "selling history."
[edit]Reception
Kirkus Reviews calls Crichton "blockbuster king", and Cahners Business Information says the book will "grab teen's attention from the very first page." [1] Entertainment Weekly callsTimeline "exhilarating entertainment." [2]
[edit]Film adaptation
The feature film adaptation was produced by Paramount Pictures, with a budget of $80 million, and was released on November 26, 2003. The adaptation was by Jeff Maguire and George Nolfi, and directed by Richard Donner. The movie stars Paul Walker as Chris Hughes, Gerard Butler as Marek, Billy Connolly as Professor Johnston and Frances O'Connor as Kate Erickson.
[edit]References
^ "Reviews of Timeline on Google Books". Retrieved 2009-6-29.
^ "Book Review of Timeline : Entertainment Weekly". Retrieved 2009-6-29.
[edit]External links
Was driving by and usual this spectacle always awes me. Looks great.
Posted by Raghunandan Jagdish at 9:57 AM , 0 comments
My first time look ing at a tiger was in the Hyder abad Zoo. I was there when i was in the 6th stan dard. I was strolling along the cage and was look ing for him. And then there he strolls him. He was imper vi ous to all the awe stares and the gasps of won der struck spec ta tors. Since then I have been faci nated by tigers
But the pro cras ti na tor has been at work and has not gone to ban dar garh or such a sanc tu ary where where i can see this mag ni fi cient beast in all his glory.
I take vic arous plea sure in the gal lary of meethil (http://www.junglebook.in ) where he has shot a lot of tigers (with a cam era thank god) and i have them on my desktop!
Posted by Raghunandan Jagdish at 11:33 AM , 0 comments
Labels: Memories, Personal writing
" The success of love is in the loving- it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done". Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa) was the most compassionate woman who walked the face of this earth. The so called "saint of the gutters" truly evoked true love when you saw her countenance.
How true is her word which is also very similar to the concept of Karma in Hindu mythology. The deed and action is your effort – the result may not necessarily be!
Heres wishing a Happy Navarathri and here's a cheers to the victory of Good over Evil.
I was having a discussion the other day on the politics of today. I was just wondering that a century ago we were ruled by the British. They taught us many things – uilding, engineering, manners, and the most imdeepportant of them all – the unification of India. In return they plundered and ravaged our country for close to three centuries and took all she had to offer. They committed a sin as per the ten commandments – "Thou shall not commit adultery". They came and coveted a lady who was NOT theirs. She was "Mother India" or "Bharat Maata"as we say so proudly. The lady cried. Her children cried and it was all in vain. The British took their agenda to the completion and if it was not for the world war, the Quit india movement, Gandhigiri (though it was not called that then J)
The moot factor being that the Bristish came and plundered anothers possession and then gave some tidbits as compensation and then ran away leaving the country in the mess of partition. Divide and rule or get a vicarious pleasure in knowing that if u cant enjoy it try to see that others don't either. They also left us the great legacy of the RAJ and the babudom.
The scene shifts to today. The politicians have screwed us. They have plundered us. They have masaccared us. They have corrupted us. They have raped us and ravaged us. We are known to believe "All Indians are my brothers and sisters (of course its unsaid that the wives, girlfriends, lovers, mistresses, "lovers for pay" are exempted J) If this is true then the politicians have committed the sin of INCEST.
Who is the larger criminal? The British who "only" committed adulty or the politician who has committed INCEST?
The floor is open to discussions.
Labels: Musings, Personal writing
Lyrics of Ek Ghar Banaunga
ek ghar banaaoongaa, tere ghar ke saamane
duniyaa basaaoongaa, tere ghar ke saamane
ghar kaa banaanaa, koee aasaan kaam naheen
duniyaa basaanaa, koee aasaan kaam naheen
dil mein wafaayen ho to, toofaa kinaaraa hain
bijalee humaare liye, pyaar kaa ishaaraa hain
tan man lootaoongaa, tere ghar ke saamane
kahate hain pyaar jise, dayraa hain aag kaa
yaa fir nashaa hain koee, jeewan ke raag kaa
dil mein jo pyaar ho to, aag bhee fool hain
sachchee lagan jo ho to, parabat bhee dhool hain
taare sajaaoongaa, tere ghar ke saamane
kaaton bhare hain lekin  chaahat ke raasate
tum kyaa karoge dekhe, ulafat ke waasate
ulafat mein taaj chhoote, ye bhee tumhe yaad hogaa
ulafat mein taaj bane, ye bhee tumhe yaad hogaa
mai bhee kuchh banaaoongaa, tere ghar ke saamane
Labels: Lyrics, Musings
I grew up in a world where
music played when birds were
in the mood to chirp.
Where fashion statements
wernt mass manufactured.
When greys and laugh lines
were celebrated and not
mourned. Where water was
filled with natural minerals
served warm or chilled,
depending on the time of day.
In keeping with the times,
we've put a label on it
live natural.
Living in 2009
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009 when...
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2 You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12 You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list
AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING at yourself.
Go on, forward this to your friends. You know you want to. ha ha ha ha.
__._,_.__
Now, send attachments up to 25MB with Yahoo! India Mail. Learn how.
More than messages–check out the rest of the Windows Live™.
http://www.microsoft.com/india/windows/windowslive/
I am new to this thing called twitter. I can understanding blogging which is basically publishing on the net. But in twitter i see posts like "trying a new toilet paper brand " or " havinf sex with my neighbours wife" and the type. And its supposed to be open to all to and ppl follow twitters. I guess that also explains the tremendous myth shattering success of reality shows. I can definitely try twitter but NOT reality show. Heres my twitter for now:
typing on my phone this post letter by letter and with earphones plugged into my ears sitting in the car headed to a meeting
whew.....that was tiring.....
tomorrows dussera pooja in my factory hence looking forward to it.
This was a funny tagline in the newspapers today! They say the Brazil Russia India China group never agrees to anything to the G 8 hence they should be renamed as CRIB!
Its pretty funny that for years the established world powers have harnessed the blood of many nations and that today when they ask genuine concerns they are ridiculed.
What they dont realise that today if the BRIC does not consume they will cease to survive. The BRIC countries also know how to tighten the belts while the west does not!
we shall overcome and march on till the time we become superpowers ourselves!
Labels: Personal writing, Politics, World Policy
And so it came to be
this isolation that I am
I can only look into me
to find the way it all began -
this confusion, constant
hunger for something more than this
I strive to find this being
that I envision, yet seem to miss.
Could it be that I am empty-
or maybe a little lost?
Could it be that I am lonely,
or seek happiness at any cost?
This never-ending Something
that I am living deep inside,
depicts the illusion of myself
and all I have to hide.
This poem signifies the unknown strife inside me sometimes and i struggle to come into grips with it but then never do.
Labels: Musings, Personal writing, Poems
What is the meaning of happiness and how is it influemced by rest of the universe. Is it an insulated feeling? Or is it a sum net of the influences from around us?
these are questions dogging me with me.
Posted by Raghunandan Jagdish at 12:18 PM , 0 comments
It gives great pleasure to read this… We remember the beginning of Abhiyantriki in 1999 with the students council of Bala, Vinil and Co. From there on we did the second years Abhiyantriki i.e. the Millennium walla! The I rember the next years had a battle tank et al. And going on from strength to strength.,
All the best to the present years team!
Dear Alumni,
As every year this year ABHIYANTRIKI 09 the intercollegiate technical festival of our college is scheduled on 25th September 2009.I cordially invite you to encourage us and participate in the events if you are interested in any. The link to our website for Abhiyantriki 09 is as follows:
http://www.somaiya.edu/kjsce/abhiyantriki/abhiyantriki09.html
The academic year 2009-10 was the Silver Jubilee year of our college. As you know 12th September '08 was celebrated as the opening ceremony we are celebrating 26th September'09 as the closing ceremony to mark the completion of 25 years of K.J.Somaiya College of Engineering. I am glad to tell you that this day would be honored by the presence of Dr.A.P. J. Kalam the ex-president and an icon of our country. For any further details you can always contact me.
Anisha Mukhija
Secretary for Alumni Affairs.
Students Council 09-10.
Vikas Swarup's new novel begins with an account of the misdemeanors committed by a rich, unscrupulous young man named Vicky Rai, who knows he can rely on his dad's contacts to shield him from the law. Vicky's career in crime comes to a head when he whips out a gun and shoots a bargirl who refuses him a drink. Though there are witnesses to the murder, the trial turns into a farce and -to widespread outrage - he is soon released. Then, at a farmhouse party held to celebrate his acquittal, Vicky is himself shot dead by an unknown assassin.
The first half of this story is, of course, a barely disguised version of the Jessica Lall-Manu Sharma case. Since Vicky is the most visible face of the darker side of a society where the rich and powerful know they can get away with anything, his own murder seems like an almost symbolic act: an incensed middle class striking out against its tormenters; the shot that launches the revolution. But it's also a real killing, carried out with a real gun, and there are six unlikely suspects: a native from an island in the Andaman, searching for a sacred stone that was stolen from his tribe; a popular young actress who pretends to be a bimbo but quotes Nietzsche; Vicky's father Jagannath Rai, a slimy politician; an enterprising mobile-phone thief; a retired bureaucrat with a split-personality problem; and an idiot American who was conned into coming to India to get married. Which of them is the killer, what is the motive and how did most of them come to be at this party in the first place?
The thing to admire about Six Suspectsis the breadth of Swarup's storytelling. This book is really a collection of six separate stories – all of which are reasonably well-plotted – that eventually converge into a large narrative. Many other authors would have been temped to milk this material for all it was worth, to perhaps spread it over two or three books, but Swarup packs it all into one dense novel. Its a book that one can begin in the morning and by late noon would have completed it. Conversations that could easily have been finished in three or four sentences meander on, there is too much exposition, and some of the sub-plots in the personal stories of the six suspects seem to have been included only so that each person could be given a novella-length background. It takes a lot of patience to get through the section about the tribal criss-crossing India – from Calcutta to Chennai to Banaras to Allahabad – in search of his talisman, or the one where the American, Larry Page, finds himself kidnapped by a terrorist group after being mistaken for the Google founder of the same name, or – worst of all – the bizarrely convoluted story about the bureaucrat possessed by the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi.
Even given this long-windedness, Six Suspects would have been a more convincing read if Swarup had stuck with the omniscient-narrator format. Instead, he has three of the suspects – the actress, the American and the thief – tell their own stories, and authenticity becomes a problem in these first-person passages. The actress says "so there I was, immersed in my private digital ecosystem" to describe her communing with an iPod. There's no end to the puerile similes used by the lovelorn American ("I was nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking-chairs"; "I reckon a love like ours is scarce as hen's teeth"), though they are amusing in small doses. And when "Munna Mobile", the thief, goes to a Chinese restaurant in a five-star hotel for the first time, we get – purportedly in his own voice – this dubious wealth of description:
Brass lanterns hang from the ceiling, flame-spewing golden dragons adorn the walls. The furniture is elegant, rectangular mica-topped tables complemented by black, high-backed chairs. The waitress, a chinky-eyed girl clad in a long, slinky blue dress with dragon motifs and slits, welcomes me with the effusiveness normally reserved for heavy tippers.
Six Suspects is ridden with caricatures – from corrupt Indian politician, perpetually manipulating strings, to dumb, insular American who comes to love a third-world country ("where cows are worshipped like Goddesses rather than turned into steak"). It would be a mistake to over-stress this aspect of the novel – and to forget that people like Jagannath Rai and Larry Page really do exist – but the book's use of these character types precludes any lasting insights into the workings of a very complex society struggling with injustice and disparity. Every nexus, every command issued by an oily politician is dealt with in straightforward cause-and-effect terms. The investigative journalist and the TV reporter (a Barkha Dutt stand-in, named – if you must know – Barkha Das) are sanctimonious. People speak in platitudes and articulate their flaws and motivations as if they were pinning easy-to-read labels on themselves for the edification of the reader. ("We hit people not to show our strength but to mask our weakness," philosophizes a police inspector after an interrogation, "we pick only on the poor and the powerless, because they cannot hit back.") Rarely do the bad guys bother to delude themselves that they are in some nebulous way working not for self-interest but for the greater good (which is something that happens all the time in the real world).
"Even murder can become addictive" is the final, anarchist sentence of Six Suspects. Swarup's book is similar in some ways to another recently published novel, Aravind Adiga'sThe White Tiger, which was about a lower-class man simultaneously resentful of and aspiring towards the lives of the privileged. When Swarup has someone point out that "there are occasions when murder is not only justified, it is necessary...as a ritual of righteousness", it vaguely echoes something said by Adiga's protagonist, Balram Halvai: "Kill enough people and they will put up bronze statues to you near Parliament House in Delhi. But all I wanted was the chance to be a man – and for that, one murder was enough." The difference is that the murder in The White Tiger is committed by someone who wants to step into his victim's shoes, while the killing of Vicky in Six Suspects is to be seen as a wake-up call for a corrupt society. Adiga's novel was more ironical, more attuned to how easily the leaders of a revolution can become the very thing they set out to destroy, but Six Suspects is powered by idealism. On more than one occasion, its generalisation of people and situations reminded me of Madhur Bhandarkar's films, which try to expose the dark underbelly of a social stratum by doling out clichés about it.
Except that while Bhandarkar at least deals with one issue at a time (the high-society-media nexus in Page 3, big-business corruption in Corporate, the politics of beggars' cliques in Traffic Signal), Six Suspects tries to be a ready reckoner to all the contradictions and injustices in Indian society. Vicky Rai himself is a convenient amalgamation of many high-profile real-world offenders whose misdeeds – along with the justice system's inability to prosecute them – have shocked middle-class India in recent years. (In the book's first chapter – an improbably long and self-indulgent column written by an investigative journalist – we learn that apart from shooting the bargirl, Vicky has run over sleeping pavement dwellers in his BMW and killed endangered black bucks. Sounds familiar?) But there are numerous other allusions to burning topics of our time, so that you get the impression the author has a list of "points to be included" and is ticking them off one by one.
Call-centres make an appearance (Larry finds himself working in one and is confronted by an irate American customer who refuses to believe he is speaking to a real American), there are references to reverse-colonialism ("it has become almost de rigueur in Bollywood to have at least one song with some firang white dancers doing jhatka-matka at the bidding of our own desi brown-skinned actors"), the Bhopal gas tragedy, globe-trotting charlatans posing as holy men, the contrast between the glitzy mall culture and the lives of lower-class Indians, and the corruption that exists in every conceivable walk of life. There's so much going on here that the book could almost have been sub-titled "An Encyclopaedia of the Social Issues Facing Modern India", but somewhere amidst all this the novel that presumably set out to tell a coherent story is lost.
This is reviewed from: http://jaiarjun.blogspot.com/ Ill write my own when I finish the book tomorrow :-)
This Saturday is the beginning of Navaratri, i.e. the time of fun and frolic and is infact a celebration of good over evil. Lets join together to request for a small prayer for the good to emenate in the world to overshadow the bad. It is only after we emerge from pitch darkness that we appreciate the light.
As you teach, you learn.
- Jewish Proverb
A mother understands what a child does not say.
Don't look for more honor than your life merits.
Worries go down better with soup than without.
Don't live in a town where there are no doctors.
Do not be wise in words - be wise in deeds.
God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers.
Pride is the mask of one's own faults.
Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.
- Hal Borland
Truth is the safest lie.
Never trust the man who tells you all his troubles but keeps from you all his joys.
Don't open a shop unless you know how to smile.
What you don't see with your eyes, don't invent with your mouth.
Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.
Nows a good time as any to make a photo gallary and here it is..... I have uploaded as many of snaps as possible... have fun viewing them and leave your comments behind
Labels: Memories, Photos
A collection of some funny videos... worth a few laughs.
Labels: Humour, Video
This song is by a buch of dudes from my alma mater who had rendered this a long time ago. This is a song "somaiya ke lamhe" performed by a band called BEAT 41, formed by a bunch of students of KJ Somaiya Engg College. It is taken from the original song woh lamhe by atif aslam.
Nostalgia reeks from this song as even today goose bumps form on me when i heard this song and relate to every aspect..... externals, practicals, kts, grace marks and the whole gamut of emotions that today we remember back so fondly on but at that time it seemed like a big burden on life!
Labels: Nostalgia, Somaiya, Video
below mail was written to me by Suraj Rao, a friend and we were discussing on the capitalistic vices. I think it was dated to 2000 or 2001
Conspiracy Theory.
By Suraj Rao
Hope that you will find my observations interesting. These are the result of an inital thought and some discussions that I have had with my friends and colleagues.
Currently the world is experiencing a string of isolated skrimishes in various pockets of the globe. On viewing it from a diffrent perspective all these segregated minute wars reveal a distict pattern - the proxy wars waged by US.
Today we observe the Kosovo conflict, the Kargil firings and the open aggression in the Yellow Sea between the Koreas. All these tussles include at least one factor that have USA's direct interest involved. In Kosovo we have NATO as the American representative, Pakistan is is just another American lackey and a democratic S. Korea will be defended by U.S. We already have reports of U.S. sending their armed submarines into Yellow Sea waters to negotiate / maintain peace in the region. The two subs despatched will be joined by vessels with nuclear capability. The reason for this presence is definitely suspect
The progress of these three conflicts has been from the West to the East all in chronological order. There is a definite attempt by the US to increase it's presence (read as interference) in the Eastern Hemisphere.
Their intentions or malintentions could be one a many :
One of the most obvious reason is the end of the cold war which brought the arms race to a standstill. This would mean the closure of many manufacturers...hence they need to wage pocket wars for their daily bread
The other reason is the "capitalism of war".Who do you think would reap the benefits of subsequent peace in these regions ???
Who would get the business contracts to rejuvenate these regions ??
The Gulf war is testimony to the money that U.S. made for the construction projects.
But what could be the tacit motive for these distubances. ....The answer is China. The Chinese with their totalitarian regime and agressive human rights stance have put the US in a Catch 22 situation
China is a huge consumer market for American products but concomittanly the US is obliged to take a moral and strategic stand against the chinks. They do this by accidentally bombing the Chinese embassy !!, with US sixth generation satellite systems the inadvertent bombing the the embassy reeks of some surreptitious manoeveur
The Indo-Pak conflict gives the US a reason to deploy troops in this part to maintain scrutiny over China. The stand in Koreas does not merit any further comment. The fall out will be that India if she plays her card properly will find an ally in China against the capitalist U.S.
The way I see it, it is a choice between the devil and the deep sea.
Invite your comments and suggestions
Suraj (Mintoo)
trader_suraj99@hotmail.com
Labels: others letters


The Japanese American National Museum wishes to convey its heartfelt condolences to the people of Japan in the aftermath of the destructive series of earthquakes and the deadly tsunami. For the Museum family, the on-going crisis, especially the damaged nuclear reactors, remains a continuing concern, especially for the people in the affected areas.
There are many worthy campaigns besides those listed above. We encourage your support of America's relief efforts for Japan. Please visit our Discover Nikkei project where we are sharing responses from Nikkei around the world.


text:
2001-06-06 - document - AI२०५८-०२-२४ - दस्तवेज - एआई
Source | श्रोत: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/asa31/010/2001/en/ea366224-d926-11dd-ad8c-f3d4445c118e/asa310102001en.html, retrieved on 2011-05-19. Website | वेबसाइट: http://www.amnesty.org
Document - Nepal: Prisoners of conscience
PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 31/010/2001
UA 142/01Prisoners of conscience6 June 2001
* PLEASE NOTE: THIS URGENT ACTION IS LIMITED TO 100 APPEALS PER SECTION *
NEPAL	Yubaraj Ghimirey, editor-in-chief of the Kantipur
Binod Raj Gyawali, director of the Kantipur
Kailash Sirohiya, managing director of the Kantipur
Yubaraj Ghimirey, Binod Raj Gyawali and Kailash Sirohiya, the editor-in-
chief, director and managing director of the main Nepali newspaper Kantipur, have been arrested solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Amnesty International considers them prisoners of conscience and is calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
Plainclothes policemen arrested the three men from Kantipur's offices around 6pm (local time) on 6 June. They were brought to the Hanuman Dhoka police station in the capital, Kathmandu, in an unmarked vehicle. They have reportedly been charged with formenting hatred, malice or contempt towards the King under the Anti-State Crime and Punishment Act of 1989, which carries a maximum punishment of three years.
The arrests appear to be connected to Kantipur's publication on 6 June of an article by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, one of the leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (Maoist). In the article Dr. Baburam Bhattarai reportedly urges the Nepalese people not to recognize the new King, and blames India for masterminding the killings of members of the Nepalese royal family. He claims that the entire incident was part of "a grand design of the Indian expansionist forces who had grown impatient with King Birendra for showing softness toward the Maoist movement."
The situation in Nepal remains tense following the recent killings of members of the royal family. The military has imposed a series of curfews amidst widespread rioting. The international media have reported that at least three people have been killed after the police or army fired into crowds of demonstrators. The exact number of casualties has not yet been verified, and some sources have put the death toll at seven. It has also been reported that around 300 people have been arrested for breaking the curfew. Amnesty International is concerned that widespread human rights violations may take place in the current climate, and is monitoring the situation closely.
King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the Queen and eight other members of the royal family were killed on 1 June. The son of King Birendra, Dipendra, who was seriously wounded, was declared King on 2 June and Prince Gyanendra, brother of King Birendra, was appointed regent. After King Dipendra died in hospital on 4 June, Gyanendra was declared the new King. At first, it was reported that Dipendra had shot his family before turning the gun on himself following a family dispute over his choice of bride. However, 2 June the then regent and current King said that the killing was an accident that happened when an automatic weapon misfired.
The killing of so many members of the royal family has thrown Nepal, which has been a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy since 1990, into turmoil. People are reportedly suspicious of the official versions of events. On 4 June, a curfew was imposed after demonstrators protested against the newly-appointed King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and his son Paras Shah, and demanded to know the truth about the killings. Further curfews were imposed on 5 June (midday to midnight) and on 6 June (9pm to 3am).
On 4 June King Gyanendra announced the appointment of a three-member committee to undertake an inquiry into the killings, consisting of the Chief Justice, Speaker of the House and the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. However, the latter refused the appointment, reportedly because he believed the committee should have been appointed by the government rather than the King. He has reportedly also insisted that other political parties should be represented on the inquiry panel.
The CPN (Maoist), an armed political group which declared a "people's war" in February 1996, has maintained a strong anti-monarchy position and has been demanding the establishment of a republic. The party's call for the Nepali people to reject the current royal establishment as a "puppet of Indian expansionist forces" may be a move to cash in on the current crisis.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters in English or your own language:
- expressing concern about the arrest of Yubaraj Ghimirey, Kailash Sirohiya and Binod Raj Gyawali, the editor-in-chief, director and managing director of the Kantipur newspaper;
- expressing concern that they appear to have been arrested solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds - either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media;
- calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
APPEALS TO:
Rt Hon Prime Minister Giriji Prasad Koirala
Singha Durbar
Telegrams:Prime Minister, Kathmandu, Nepal
Faxes:+ 977 1 227 286 or 428 570
Salutation:Dear Prime Minister
Hon Ram Chandra Poudel
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs
Telegrams:Home Affairs Minister, Kathmandu, Nepal
Faxes:+ 977 1 241 942
Salutation:Dear Minister
Mr Pradeep Shamsher J B Rana
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
GPO Box 407
Telegrams:Inspector General Police, Kathmandu, Nepal
Faxes:+ 977 1 415 593/415 594
Salutation:Dear Inspector General
COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of NEPAL	accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 18 July 2001.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: How to insert into SQL Server database in a batch? We execute SQL Server stored procedure mySP to insert into the database (say it will call the stored procedure about 300,000 times).
ALTER PROCEDURE [dbo].[mySP]
    @ThePath VARCHAR(255),
    @TheID INT
AS
    INSERT INTO myTbl (TheTime, ThePath, TheID)
    VALUES (GETDATE(), @ThePath, @TheID)

This is the code to execute stored procedure mySP:
using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
{
:
     foreach (.....)  //about 300,000 times
     {
         SqlCommand MyCmd = new SqlCommand("mySP", con);
         MyCmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
         MyCmd.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("ThePath", sMyPath));
         MyCmd.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("TheID", sMyID));

         iRow = MyCmd.ExecuteNonQuery();

         MyCmd.Dispose();
         MyCmd = null;
     }
}

How can I do this in a batch of say 5000, then commit transaction ?
Thank you

A: When inserting thousands of rows at a time you are better off using something like .Net's own SqlBulkCopy, which basically means you have to populate a DataTable first and then use SqlBulkCopy to write it to the database. See https://sqlbulkcopy-tutorial.net/ for good examples. A little advice is to toy around with the BatchSize property; generally leaving it as-is is good enough. Don't forget to use a transaction as well.
Example:
using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection("server=local);database=MyDatabase;integrated security=SSPI"))
{
    connection.Open();

    DirectoryInfo directory = new DirectoryInfo(@"C:\Temp\");

    var files = directory.GetFiles("*.dat");

    foreach (var file in files)
    {
        if (file.Length > 0)
        {
            string fileName = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(file.FullName);

            SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("dbo.uspStagingGetTableStructure", connection);
            cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
            cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@tableName", fileName);

            using (SqlDataReader reader = cmd.ExecuteReader())
            {
                while (reader.Read())
                {
                }
            }

            //
            // Prepare Bulkcopy target (datatable)
            //

            string target = "MyBulkCopyTarget";

            DataTable dataTable = new DataTable(target);
            SqlBulkCopy bulkcopy = new SqlBulkCopy(connection);
            bulkcopy.DestinationTableName = target;
            bulkcopy.BulkCopyTimeout = 600;

            //
            // Map columns source -> target
            //

            //foreach (var dataField in dataFields)
            //{
            //    if (dataField.sqlDbType == SqlDbType.Int)
            //        dataTable.Columns.Add(dataField.fieldName, typeof(int));
            //    else
            //        dataTable.Columns.Add(dataField.fieldName, typeof(string));
            //    bulkcopy.ColumnMappings.Add(dataField.fieldName, dataField.fieldName);
            //}

            //
            // Populate Bulkcopy target (datatable)
            //

            string line = string.Empty;
            using (StreamReader reader = file.OpenText())
            {
                while ((line = reader.ReadLine()) != null)
                {
                    DataRow row = dataTable.NewRow();

                    //
                    // Use proper data types
                    //

                    //foreach (var dataField in dataFields)
                    //{
                    //    if (dataField.sqlDbType == SqlDbType.Int)
                    //        row[dataField.fieldName] = Convert.ToInt32(line.Substring(dataField.fieldStartPos, dataField.fieldLength));
                    //    else
                    //        row[dataField.fieldName] = line.Substring(dataField.fieldStartPos, dataField.fieldLength);
                    //}

                    dataTable.Rows.Add(row);
                }
            }

            //
            // Push datatable to server
            //

            bulkcopy.WriteToServer(dataTable);
        }
    }
}
}
}

A: Create type in SQL Server and pass table as parameter. Please look below
How to pass table value parameters to stored procedure from .net code
https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/ff2f08/table-value-parameter-use-with-C-Sharp/
Once, you pass the table variable to the stored procedure, you can insert data in one insert select statement.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
Home Blog know more about dassault falcon 900 series
Know More About DASSAULT FALCON 900 Series
Falcon Jet, or Dassault Aviation, is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional, and business jets, a subsidiary of Dassault Group. The Dasault Falcon 900 is a French-built corporate jet aircraft. The Dassault Falcon 900 and the larger Falcon 7X are the only trijets in production, both featuring an S-duct engine. The Falcon 900 was developed from the Falcon 50, which was developed from the original Falcon 20. The model has been improved with the Falcon 900B, which features improved engines and increased range. The Falcon 900EX includes even more engine improvements and range as well as an all-glass flight deck.
The Falcon 900C is a lower-cost version of the 900EX, replacing the 900B. Later versions announced include the Falcon 900EX EASy, the Falcon 900DX, and the Falcon 900LX. These models run at $15,000,000 to $40,000,000. The Falcon 900B has a capacity of 19 passengers and runs at a length of 20.21 meters, a wingspan of 19.33 meters, a height of 7.55 meters, and an empty weight of 10,255 kilograms. It has a maximum speed of Mach 0.84-0.87 and a range of 7,400 kilometers. This model is currently being operated by Qatar, Belgium, Bolivia, France, Germany, Japan, Malawi, Malaysia, Namibia, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
What do SAE Standards Offer The Aerospace Industries?
Bombardier Challenger 300, 605 and 800 Series


text:
India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I – Post Match Comments
India's Predicted XI for 1st T20I against New Zealand in the IND vs NZ T20I Series 2023
Image Source - Twitter
3 Indian Players who may not get a chance to play in the series against New Zealand
Following a dismal performance in the T20 World Cup 2022, India will prepare for a white-ball trip to New Zealand. For both limited-overs matches, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli have been rested. In the absence of the senior players, Hardik Pandya will skipper the team in the shortest format, while Shikhar Dhawan will head the team in ODIs.
India has named a roster of 16 players for each of the white-ball events. Each member of the team has shown their ability to flourish in New Zealand conditions on the cricket pitch. However, it is not certain that the club management will be able to offer chances to every player on the squad, and some players may not even receive a single game.
Number 1. Kuldeep Sen
Image Source – Twitter
Kuldeep Sen is a unique breed of fast bowler on the Indian circuit who can routinely clock above 145 kmph. In the 15th season of the Indian Premier League, the 26-year-old showed off his bowling prowess, scaring hitters with his scorching speed. He appeared in seven games for the Rajasthan Royals, taking eight wickets at an economy rate of 9.41.
Kuldeep was outstanding in the just concluded Irani Cup. The speedster created havoc with the ball while representing the Rest of India, taking eight wickets. Because of his strong performances, the speedster has been picked for the forthcoming ODI series against the Blackcaps. However, the Rewa native is unlikely to make his international debut in New Zealand.
India's 50-over team includes star seamers Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, and Deepak Chahar. The Trio has consistently performed for the Men in Blue and hence will be higher in the pecking order. Furthermore, if the think tank is looking to add an express pacer, they may be drawn to Umran Malik, who has more experience playing on the big stage.
Number 2. Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel has recently been a regular in the Indian T20 lineup. He has appeared in 23 games and took 26 wickets at an economy rate of 9.20. The 31-year-old has earned a reputation for himself by tricking hitters with his several varieties of slower balls and has been serving as the Men in Blue's death-overs specialist.
However, the Gujarat-born batsman has been a pale shell of his former self since returning to the Indian T20 setup after recuperating from a rib ailment. Harshal grabbed one wicket in three T20I games against Australia, surrendering runs at an alarming average of 12.37. When Rohit and company faced South Africa in three T20Is, he allowed runs at a dismal economy of 10.00.
The bowling all-rounder was part of India's team for the T20 World Cup 2022 but did not play. Harshal has been selected for the forthcoming T20I series against New Zealand, although breaking into the starting XI would be difficult.
Hardik and his teammates have Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammad Siraj at their disposal. The trio can make the ball speak and has shown their swing bowling expertise several times. The conditions in New Zealand will benefit their bowling style, and the team management may choose them for the XI. Furthermore, if India wants to add another dimension to their bowling, they have the option of speedster Umran, who can comfortably register speeds of above 150 kmph.
Number 3. Shahbaz Ahmed
Shahbaz Ahmed has a track record of success on the Indian domestic circuit. The 27-year-old has 663 runs in 31 List-A games with a strike rate of 92.21 and 28 wickets at an economy rate of 4.52. The Haryana-born batsman put on a display in IPL 2022, scoring 219 runs in 16 games with a strike rate of 120.99. He also has four wickets for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Shahbaz came into the Indian team thanks to outstanding performances on the home circuit and a lucrative T20 event. The excellent all-rounder appeared in two One-Day Internationals against South Africa, picking up three wickets in two games at a 5.05 economy rate.
Shahbaz has been included to India's ODI squad for the forthcoming New Zealand trip, although his prospects of making the starting XI are slim. Washington Sundar, who has established his mettle in the international arena, will be a terrific foil to ace leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for the Men in Blue. Sundar is therefore expected to beat him to the spin-bowling all-rounder spot in the next New Zealand series.
India vs New Zealand: Third ODI Match Highlights, Key Takeaways, and Post-Match Quotes
Predicted XI for Victory: India Gears Up for Third ODI Against New Zealand with a Strong Lineup


text:
21 LISTSThe World of Quentin TarantinoLists about the fast talking, foot worshiping visionary behind Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and other quotable favorite films.
Theories About the Tarantino Universe
The Most Gruesome Demises on Film
Easter Eggs You Never Noticed
All His Movies, Ranked Best to Worst
Favorite Tarantino Characters
The Making of 'Reservoir Dogs'
Memorable Bit Actors & Characters
Fun Tidbits about the Movies
The History of Once Upon a Time in H-Wood
Behind the Scenes of Kill Bill
Good Theories About Pulp Fiction
Little Details in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'
Inside Marsellus Wallace's Briefcase
Q Explains Deleted Scenes in Pulp Fiction
Q Loves to Repeat Lines of Dialogue
Foreshadowing You May Have Missed
Taran-meme-os
Behind the Scenes of 'Pulp Fiction'
Actors He's Worked with Most
What He's Like to Work With
Real Life Inspirations for Rick Dalton
Genius Fan Theories About What's In The Briefcase In 'Pulp Fiction'
Nathan Gibson
Updated September 23, 2021 1.8k votes 407 voters
List RulesVote up the most plausible potential MacGuffins.
Unsurprisingly, the briefcase in Pulp Fiction has inspired plenty of theories. Even when Quentin Tarantino's films aren't as successful commercially, they still inspire countless essays and examinations. His unique storytelling technique and the way he leaves certain mysteries unanswered have also led to all kinds of speculation and fan theories from viewers. And Pulp Fiction, among his most complex and convoluted films, may reign supreme when it comes to '90s movies fan theories.
There are several unexpected developments throughout the film, but the biggest lingering question involves the contents of the film's MacGuffin: the briefcase. So what was in the case in Pulp Fiction? It's a mystery that's never explained in the movie, and its cryptic nature has led some fans down a seemingly bottomless rabbit hole to find answers.
Some of the most bizarre (but equally well-thought-out) explanations should provide fans with at least an inkling of what might be glowing in Marsellus Wallace's coveted briefcase. When you're done obsessing over the theories, make sure to also check out our list of more great shows and movies like Pulp Fiction!
Marsellus Wallace's Soul
Photo: Miramax Films
One prominent theory about the contents of the briefcase proposes that a spiritual item is housed within it. The item in question is Marsellus Wallace's soul. This theory relies on several key pieces of evidence. First, the combination to open the suitcase is "666," an obvious reference to the devil. When the character is introduced, a shot lingers on the back of his head, where a bandage covers up a wound.
Some speculate that when the devil steals a soul, he does so by taking it directly from the back of the victim's head (though there's no biblical evidence to back up such a claim).
The theory posits that Marsellus sold his soul to the devil and is actively trying to get it back. As an interesting side note, this supposition could explain why Jules and Vincent are unharmed after being shot at. Since they're attempting to save a man's soul, God intervenes, seeing it as a holy endeavor.
Is this what's in the case?
The Diamonds From 'Reservoir Dogs'
Although this links in with another theory about the suitcase containing diamonds, this one is far more specific. That's because, according to several theorists, the valuables are not just any gems; they're the diamonds from Reservoir Dogs. In that film, several crooks carry out a heist on a jewelry store and one person eventually escapes with the goods.
Combined with the theory that suggests Tarantino's films take place in the same universe, it could mean the contents have a noteworthy history.
One rather rational and simple explanation for what's inside the suitcase comes from several Redditors. They theorize that since the crooks are all interested in getting their hands on the briefcase, this must mean it's valuable. It also glows with an unmistakable gold tint. The only logical conclusion is the contents must be gold.
This would fit the bill in terms of color and its inherent value, with the likes of Marsellus Wallace willing to go to gruesome lengths to get it back.
The Holy Grail
The glow given off by the case indicates the contents are extraordinary in some way. Only something supernatural could give off such light, at least according to Redditor /u/Spurioun. They argue the briefcase could contain the Holy Grail from Arthurian myth.
In this instance, Jules and Vincent could be seen as the mythical knights of the Roundtable. Jules is the loyal and spiritual Sir Galahad, while Vincent is the more adventurous Lancelot. They embark on a quest to return a valuable item to their leader, in a parallel to the King Arthur story.


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Vice President Harris To Highlight Drought Crisis In The West
She is visiting Lake Mead in Nevada to push the Biden administration's infrastructure and climate change proposals that are stalled in Congress.
Jacquelyn Martin / AP
Article by AP
Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday will highlight the problems caused by Western drought as she visits Lake Mead in Nevada and makes the case for the Biden administration's infrastructure and climate change proposals that have stalled in Congress.
Energy Agency Urges Bigger Global Push To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A report from the International Energy Agency said the economic rebound from the pandemic is putting major strains on the global energy system.
After a tour, the vice president will make remarks and meet with officials from the Interior Department and other federal and state agencies, including the Southern Nevada Water Authority. She will be joined by U.S. Reps. Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford of Nevada.
Water levels at Lake Mead — created in the 1930s by the damming of the Colorado River — have fallen to record lows. In August, federal officials declared the first-ever water shortage in the Colorado River. As a result, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will receive less water than normal next year amid a drought gripping much of the West.
Megadrought Forcing Farmers To Abandon Fields
California regulators cut farmers' water allotments by a third due to low reservoir levels.
In September, Reclamation released projections showing an even worse outlook for the river.
Against this backdrop, the vice president is expected to promote President Joe Biden's big domestic policy agenda — originally billed at $3.5 trillion — for which Democrats are struggling to win moderates' support.
That agenda includes climate provisions the Biden administration has said would make the U.S. more resilient against the effects of climate change. Key elements include imposing new emissions restrictions through a federal clean energy requirement and providing tax breaks for the electrical vehicles industry.
Harris will also emphasize that climate change is poised to make extreme weather events such as droughts and heatwaves more frequent, expensive and harmful, White House officials said.
Officials said Harris will discuss the separate $1 trillion public works infrastructure deal that passed the Senate months ago and is awaiting House approval. That package contains roughly $8 billion for Western water projects.
Drought Revives Debate Over Desalination
Many water reservoirs across the West have emptied out due to years of low precipitation and increased water usage.
Some of the ways the plan would combat the effects of drought include investments in desalination technology that makes sea water usable, fortifying rural water infrastructure and building more wastewater recycling technology to help stretch existing supplies.
Western states experienced a dangerously hot summer that resulted in hundreds of deaths in the Pacific Northwest and brought scores of record-breaking wildfires intensified by drought.
Officials said Harris will also discuss how water shortages affect farmers, the nation's food supply and the economy.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press.
Latest in Climate Change
Does climate change make you anxious? You're not alone
Extreme temperatures can impact physical health, but the changing climate is also taking a toll on mental health, especially for younger generations.
Climate change making the homeless population even more vulnerable
Americans who experience homelessness often feel the impacts of extreme weather events first.
By Scripps News
Climate change is already forcing communities to relocate
Environmental changes due to climate change are pushing residents out of their neighborhoods, though many are ignoring the signs.
Romance scams becoming more common as stigma around reporting remains
Romance scams are the type of scam that people lose the most money to, according to the Federal Trade Commission.


text:
Guide to AUC
Guide to Caribbean Med Schools
St. Maarten Travel Guide
Anatomy Block 2
MCB I Block 3
MCB II Block 3
Physio I Block 3
Immunology Block 4
ICM 2 Quiz 2
Med Micro Block 1
Behavioral I Block 1
Pathology II Block 1
Pharm I Block 3
Pharm II Block 1
ICM 5 Cases
ICM 5 Physical Exam
ICM 5 Interview
Lab Values
Outpatient Visit
OBGYN H&P
Pediatric Notes
Psychiatry Interview
« Previous: New York, New York
Next: Family Medicine at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital »
We All Cry The Same Way
By Benji Ho - August 21st, 2012 | Updated October 19th, 2012
I first met Gina during my family med rotation. After years of smoking and drug use, her voice was deep and raspy, despite being only 23. I could tell her skin was weathered, hiding under a thick layer of makeup and mascara. She had come in for a drug detox, and needed an initial physical exam.
"Are you pregnant?" Dr. Kassandra asked, after palpating her abdomen.
"No," Gina replied. Dr. Kassandra shrugged and moved on to finish the examination.
After the examination, the doctor asked again, "Is there any chance that you may be pregnant?"
After this second inquiry, and after some hesitation, Gina admitted, "Yeah… I am, but I'm planning on getting an abortion, so I said no."
Dr. Kassandra paused for a moment, then asked, "Are you aware that you are at least 7 months pregnant? I'm afraid at this stage, you are too late into the pregnancy to get an abortion."
"Really? 7 months?" Gina responded with surprise. "I thought I was two months. Are you sure?"
The doctor went on to explain the tests they have to do first, and the options she has if she was confirmed to be pregnant at 7 months. She could decide to keep the baby or put her baby up for adoption, but at this point, it doesn't matter what she wanted — there's no other option than to have the baby. As she had already been using drugs so far through the pregnancy, the child will have symptoms and will need treatment as well.
The doctor stepped out of the room temporarily. Gina remained quiet, in contemplation.
"Do I look 7 months pregnant to you?" she asked.
I wasn't sure how to reply. "That's what your examination suggests."
She remained quiet, thinking what she should do.
After the doctor returned with the finished paperwork for the detox, Gina said with a sense of panic in her voice, "There's no way I can keep the child. I don't have a job, and I don't have the time. I need some time to think about this, on what to do." The doctor agreed and told her to let her know if she needed any support, and Gina left.
After we saw a few more patients, we got a knock on the door. It was Gina again. She had become distressed, and was crying. "I don't know what to do. I can't keep this baby." The doctor comforted her and gave her a tissue.
It's easy to have no sympathy for this woman, and say that she brought on everything by herself. After all, she was a drug addict, and continued using drugs knowing she was pregnant, not taking responsibility for herself. Now, she's stuck with a baby she doesn't want, and because of her past choices, she has lost control of her future choices, and committed harm to her child as well. For many, finding out about a pregnancy is a happy occasion, but for her, the news brought her down to her most helpless state. It made me a little angry inside seeing her story unfold. However, listening to her cry, it made me empathize with her as well. After all, we all cry the same way, no matter what our situations are. While she may need our help now, she had needed help and support long before today.
Lesson of the Day:
No matter what brought us down to our most helpless states, we all cry the same way. While its important to help patients on their problems, it's even more important to help patients help themselves.
Note: Names, ages, and other pertinent info have been modified to protect identity of the patient.
The Game What Would You Do?
Copyright © 2021 Diary of a Caribbean Med Student - All Rights Reserved | Site Policy


A los 30 ya se estaba quedando calvo, así que decidió raparse la cabeza.At thirty he was already going bald, so he decided to shave his head.
A lo lejos se ven los picos calvos de las montañas.In the distance, you can see the bald peaks of the mountains.
El césped se ha quedado calvo en las zonas donde excavaba el perro.The lawn has gone bare in the areas where the dog was digging.
Algunos calvos han perdido el pelo por el estrés.Some bald people have lost their hair because of stress.
Dicen que los calvos son más atractivos para las mujeres.They say that bald men are more attractive to women.
La calva era la más bonita de todas las actrices.The bald woman was the most beautiful of all the actresses.
Here are the most popular phrases with "calvo." Click the phrases to see the full entry.


Stephan University is one of the most famous French hairdresser academies. It was officially announced that the academy intends to open doors in Bulgaria at the end of 2007 latest.
It is planned that the academy will start working in October. It will be housed in a new modern building completely furnished in the art style of the French franchise.
Stephan University has established schools all over the world and each of them is based on the franchise principle. Some of the most developed academy departments were established in South America including some exotic countries as Guatemala and Ecuador. The biggest European branches are settled in France and Russia, also in North America - Miami, USA.


The Department of Administrative Services periodically hosts information sessions in various communities. These sessions are targeted for small and minority business who may be interested in and eligible to become certified as a Connecticut Small or Minority Business (SBE/MBE). Updates on these workshops will be posted on this website as they are scheduled. Representatives of the Connecticut's Department of Administrative Services Supplier Diversity Program Team will be on hand to assist you in applying for a small or minority owned business certification. For brief overview of outreach program please select the following: SBE/MBE Certification Meeting.


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Alexandre Sarnes Negrão (14 oktober 1985) is een Braziliaanse GP2 coureur met de bijnaam Xandi. Hij rijdt bij het Minardi Piquet Sports team sinds het allereerste GP2 seizoen 2005.

Xandi's carrière startte in het karting in 1998. Daarna reed hij in 2003 in de Formule 3 Sudamericana in het team van Nelson Piquet sr.. In 2004 won hij de Formule 3 Sudamericana. Hij werd door Nelson Piquet als tweede rijder, naast Nelson Piquet jr. in zijn GP2 team geplaatst. Nadat Piquet jr. in 2007 bij Williams F1 als testrijder ging werken werd Xandi eerste rijder naast Roldán Rodríguez. Hij heeft geen overwinningen gehaald in zijn GP2 carrière maar wel 2 pole positions.

In 2008 reed hij in het Fia GT kampioenschap. Hij reed daar met een Maserati MC12 van het Vitaphone Racing Team.

GP2 resultaten

Externe links
  Alexandre Negrão

Braziliaans autocoureur

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD): Symptoms, Treatment & Prognosis
Study finds COVID isolation worsens student diets, inactivity, and alcohol intake
रोजगारोन्मुखी योजनाओं से जोड़कर दिव्यांगजन को आत्मनिर्भर बनाएं
Respiratory therapist receives Puerto Rico's 1st vaccine
December 16, 2020 healthfortnight
Yahaira Alicea, left, a respiratory therapist who treated the first two COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Puerto Rico, receives a vaccine in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Alicea has become the first person in the U.S. territory to be vaccinated against the virus. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
A respiratory therapist who treated the first two COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Puerto Rico became the first person in the U.S. territory to be vaccinated against the virus on Tuesday.
Yahaira Alicea had treated an Italian couple who visited the island aboard a cruise ship in March. The woman later died. Alicea said it was a fearful moment for her that wore her down physically and emotionally as she urged everyone to get vaccinated.
"This is what we want, for this pandemic to end," Alicea said. "Don't be afraid."
A health official approached Alicea with the needle as both smiled: "Let's make history."
The event was cheered by many on the island of 3.2 million people that recently imposed more severe measures to fight an increase in coronavirus cases and deaths. Puerto Rico has reported more than 108,000 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases and more than 1,290 deaths.
Alicea was immunized a day after FedEx planes carrying more than 16,500 Pfizer vaccine doses landed in Puerto Rico, with another more than 13,600 expected later this week. The vaccine will be distributed to 65 hospitals around the island, according to Gov. Wanda Vázquez.
Alicea was supposed to be vaccinated on Monday, but hospital officials said Vázquez's office had requested that the event wait until Tuesday, which drew scathing criticism from many on social media who questioned the reasons behind the delay and said there was no time to be lost.
First in line to be vaccinated are health workers, emergency responders, hospital employees and those who live or work in shelters or nursing homes. Next will be police officers, employees of the island's Department of Education and other workers considered essential, followed by people with compromised immune systems, cardiac problems or chronic health conditions including diabetes.
Overall, the vaccination process is expected to continue into mid-2021, with the government aiming to immunize 70% of Puerto Rico's population.
Among those celebrating the arrival of the vaccine was Daniel Colón-Ramos, co-founder of CienciaPR, a nonprofit group of Puerto Rican scientists who also will co-chair a coalition of scientists to inform policy of the island's incoming governor.
"It's the light at the end of the tunnel after a year in which we saw what a world without vaccines looks like … a world of fear, a world of a lot of suffering," he said. "Finally, we have a tool based on science … that allows us to face the pandemic of the century."
Many in Puerto Rico have questioned whether the government is prepared to store the vaccines at a far colder temperature than most freezers can handle, given that the island's power company still struggles with outages more than three years after Hurricane Maria hit as a powerful Category 4 storm. Officials have said that Puerto Rico's National Guard has bought four freezers with the capacity to store 300,000 vaccine doses each.
© 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Respiratory therapist receives Puerto Rico's 1st vaccine (2020, December 16)
retrieved 16 December 2020
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-12-respiratory-therapist-puerto-rico-1st.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
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ビリヤード超絶トリックショット; Venom Pool Trickshots II - Full DVD!!
The extended version contains almost 30 minutes of additional content that was not included in the TV special. Additional footage includes two doubles segments, outtakes, behind the scenes footage, a look at Florian's home life, and a segment featureing two new models.


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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Strongly Linked to Brain Inflammation
July 1, 2017 July 1, 2017 aramIS articles
A breakthrough discovery related to the physical underpinning of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) shows that brain inflammation is significantly elevated in OCD sufferers.
The new study, performed by researchers at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, found that brain inflammation was 30 percent higher among those with OCD compared to individuals without the condition.
The orbitofrontal cortex of the brain, associated with OCD, is highlighted in green. Credit: PaulWicks [Public domain]/Wikimedia Commons
"Our research showed a strong relationship between brain inflammation and OCD, particularly in the parts of the brain known to function differently in OCD," said senior author Dr. Jeffrey Meyer, head of the Neuroimaging Program in Mood Anxiety with the Center for Addiction and Mental Health's Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute.
"This finding represents one of the biggest breakthroughs in understanding the biology of OCD, and may lead to the development of new treatments," added Meyer.
That's significant because currently available medications are ineffective for about one in three individuals with OCD, note the researchers. About 2.2 million Americans suffer from OCD, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Like other behavioral disorders, the condition can result in mental anguish for those affected by it.
Related: Caffeine May Prevent Age-Related Inflammation
"In general, those who have OCD suffer from unwanted and intrusive thoughts that they can't seem to get out of their heads (obsessions), often compelling them to repeatedly perform ritualistic behaviors and routines (compulsions) to try and ease their anxiety," describes the ADAA.
The new study builds on previous work that found a link between brain inflammation and the incidence of depression, also conducted at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health.
New Therapies on the Horizon
For the current study, the Canadian researchers assessed 40 individuals — 20 with a history of OCD and 20 without the condition. They conducted a positron emission tomography (PET) scan that allowed them to assess inflammation levels in the brain. Looking at six brain areas that are linked to OCD behavior, the researchers found inflammation rates that were 32 percent higher in those areas among people with the condition.
The study also found that people with OCD who attempted to ignore feelings of compulsion and not act on them showed higher levels of inflammation than those who followed through on their obsessions. With the greater sense of the physical symptoms of OCD, the study may give scientists more ammunition to develop more effective treatment options.
Related: Sleep Tracker Inaccuracy May Cause Obsessive Behavior
"Medications developed to target brain inflammation in other disorders could be useful in treating OCD," said Meyer. "Work needs to be done to uncover the specific factors that contribute to brain inflammation, but finding a way to reduce inflammation's harmful effects and increase its helpful effects could enable us to develop a new treatment much more quickly."
Already, the researchers have opened up an investigation into which individuals specifically show the highest signs of inflammation, which could help steer treatment methods.
Most people with OCD are unable to bring their obsessions to a halt and "untreated OCD can be detrimental to all aspects of life," notes the ADAA.
The study appeared in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
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Some of my field groups are only relevant to a specific theme, others are used by the 3 themes I have installed.
I'd like to have as single overall ACF setup to manage. I want to be able to switch themes without having to modify the ACF setup. And my client can only see field groups that make sense to his.her theme.
How would you go about putting this together? Custom location rule? PHP registering? JSON? Something else?
I would not have enough information yet to decide.
Are these all self-standing themes? or are they child themes all based on a single parent theme? Some combination of this?
How are these field groups currently registered for each theme?
They are self-standing themes (however if a client need some customization I would implement that via a child theme).
My aim is to have a core ACF setup that I can tweak if a theme requires it. Right now I have used the admin UI to register the field groups. Ideally ACF would have a native "If current theme is xxxxxxx" location rule.
Eventually the fields will be deployed on the sub-sites of a multisite network which I hope will not add too many constraints (had to start this project somewhere and it wasn't there).
If I was going to do something like this, starting at the beginning and knowing that I would be moving to a multisite setup……..
I would start by setting up multisite and I would create a "master theme" where I would create all of the field groups. This master theme would have an acf-json folder so that when I made changes to a field group the changes would be saved in the json folder. Without doing this you would need to import the field groups to each them anyway, so you would not have a master location for maintaining all the field groups.
In each of the other themes I built I would create my own function to load the field groups that are needed for each theme from this master theme json folder using a variation of this https://github.com/Hube2/acf-filters-and-functions/blob/master/acf-load-parent-theme-field-groups.php… this was something that I created either before acf allowed multiple load points or before I realized they existed. I keep it around because it's a good reference. I would only load the groups I needed, filtering by the group key.
My goal would be to limit the number of places that these field groups existed and this would limit it to 1 locations and one place where they could be edited.
That's brilliant. I hadn't thought of a shared core json folder. Thanks a lot.
Arrgh! Wrong button. Doesn't look like I can edit the "This solved my question" label. Sorry.


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manyweapons.com
As Local TV Stock Prices Falter, Fox Corp. Seen On Steadier Path During Crisis
Stocks of the biggest U.S. local TV station owners, among them Nexstar, Sinclair, Tegna and Gray, continue to slump badly as investors recoil from their exposure to a worsening ad market. Even so, one significant player in the station game, Fox Corp., is being touted in some corners as the best-situated U.S. media company during the coronavirus pandemic.
Stations have absorbed some of the hardest punches in the media business, with the virus toll following an already challenging period of viewership decline. Consolidation waves in recent years have left a handful of players controlling the sector but uncertainty for many other stakeholders. Even the long-awaited influx of presidential campaign spending, projected to smash records, is now under a cloud.
The National Association of Broadcasters has called on Congress to include its members in COVID-19 aid provisions. NAB president Gordon Smith, in an interview last month on Westwood One radio, that advertising had "fallen through the floor" even as costs of covering the virus continue. The result, he said, is a "crisis" requiring federal intervention.
Shares in Nexstar, the largest U.S. group, ended Thursday at $59.14, down from their $100-plus level in early March. Gray has fallen to $10.08, less than half its level in mid-February. Sinclair, whose local woes have been compounded by exposure to sports via its acquisition last year of the former Fox regional sports networks, dipped to $14.29. The stock began 2020 at $32 and traded north of $60 last spring. Tegna, which had already been facing a proxy battle, has dipped to $10.53, a 30% decline in a month.
Fox Corp. shares, meanwhile, have been in the red since they started trading last April after the $71.3 billion acquisition by Disney of 21st Century Fox. After debuting at $38.05 last April, they closed Thursday at $25.54. Even so, as the virus lockdown took hold over the past month, Fox shares have held steady, a notable feat in this volatile environment.
S&P Global, in a note on Wednesday, said Fox "may be the best positioned of its pure media peers to weather the pandemic due to its conservative financial policy." In an upgrade of Fox from "neutral" to "buy" on April 2, Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris called Fox "relatively attractive compared to media peers," with the company the "best positioned among peers in a weaker, but ultimately stable consumer environment."
Compared with Disney, Comcast and WarnerMedia, Fox is not spending heavily on its own direct-to-consumer streaming service. Instead, it is sticking with its strategy to emphasize live sports, unscripted and news broadcasts, augmented by digital offerings. Admittedly, that is a tricky strategy without any sports in action, many brand marketers pulling back on TV and elsewhere, and more than 40% of annual revenue coming from advertising. Even so, a sizable investment in animation, a model requiring fewer pilots, and weekly output from the WWE, which has been pummeled but is still staging matches in Florida, give Fox advantages, as Deadline has reported.
While Fox News, FS1 and the Fox broadcast network get more headlines, cash flow at Fox is propelled by local TV, as the company runs one of the most lucrative U.S. station portfolios. (The company does not break out station revenue).
S&P said Fox's "healthy cash flow generation and significant cash balances should allow it to counter the decline in its EBITDA." The company could end 2020 with $4.6 billion of cash on its balance sheet, rising past $5 billion by the end of 2021, the firm predicts. With numerous media peers raising debt to fund their operations, Fox has been able to draw on its reserves thus far, though it did issue $1.2 billion in new debt in response to the crisis.
While Fox's path lately hasn't been quite as bumpy as those of local station groups, it warned in a March 31 SEC filing that despite a steep rise in Fox News ratings, COVID-19 "could have a material adverse effect" on near- to medium-terms results.
Station owners will get to make their various cases to Wall Street in the coming weeks via quarterly earnings reports. Fox hasn't yet announced a date for its quarterly reveal, but the publicly held groups are all due to report in the first week of May.
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Over the past two decades, Canadian country music act Doc Walker has written and recorded more than 20 Top 10 singles, and this month, the duo from Portage La Prairie, Man., is sharing the stories behind many of those songs in an Acoustic Songs and Stories from the Heartland cross-Canada tour.
Doc Walker's acoustic tour comes to Quesnel Feb. 21, and lead singer Chris Thorsteinson insists this won't be your typical songwriter-in-the-round show, and it definitely won't be boring.
Thorsteinson says this acoustic tour is one he and Dave Wasyliw have wanted to do for a long time.
Thorsteinson says he and Wasyliw were inspired to go do a tour like this when they started looking back over older songs while making a "best of" album, Echo Road, which was released in 2016.
Thorsteinson particularly enjoys talking about how and why certain songs were written.
Throughout their career, Doc Walker have written and recorded a lot of songs that don't necessarily fit with the "bro country" music that gets so much airplay. Thorsteinson says it has been tough to stick to who they are and what they believe in at times, but it's always been worth it.
After performing together for so long, Thorsteinson says he and Wasyliw keep things fresh because they keep seeing new things they want to write about.
Doc Walker recently released the music video for "Get Back on my Horse" from this album. Directed by Mike Latschislaw, the video shows a slideshow of fellow Canadians demonstrating their resilience, with some paying homage to loved ones they've lost along the way. Featured in the video is an RCMP officer holding a photo of a colleague lost on duty, a daughter honouring her father, and Thorsteinson with a group of friends paying homage to one they lost.
Doc Walker performs Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Quesnel and District Seniors Centre. Tickets are available at Circle 'S' Western Wear. Right now, our readers can win tickets to the show by filling in a ballot found in the Observer newspaper. Drop off your entry at the Observer office at 188 Carson Ave. before Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. for your chance to win. Draw participants must be at least 19 years old.


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Working for Keeps
The registration deadline for spring semester was a week away and Adrian Schiess was on a mission. More than 30 freshmen hadn't registered to return, and his job was to find them and keep them here.
Through phone calls, face-to-face meetings and dogged persistence, Schiess whittled the losses to just 15 students out of 757 in the class, returning 17 to the rolls and giving the University a mid-year freshman retention figure he could boast about—a record 98 percent.
Such figures are a major reason why the University does so well in the annual U.S. News & World Report's ranking of best colleges.
Schiess, who became the University's first freshman retention director in 1990, acts as an advocate for first-year students, assisting with a wide range of issues that can overwhelm students in their most difficult—and most vulnerable—year.
In this year's U.S. News rankings, the University's annual retention rate for freshmen was 90 percent—the best in the Midwest and 8 percent higher than similar universities.


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Tuesday, Nov 2 2004
Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Summarizes Editorials, Letter to Editor on Needle-Exchange Programs
Several newspapers recently have published editorials and letters to the editor on the effectiveness of needle-exchange programs for preventing the spread of HIV and other bloodborne diseases. Some of them are summarized below:
Ottawa Citizen : Although needle-exchange programs in Canadian prisons could prevent the spread of HIV, such programs present "too great a cost to the country's corrections policy," a Citizen editorial says ( Ottawa Citizen , 10/30). Both the Ontario Medical Association and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network last week called on the government to implement needle-exchange programs in the country's prisons, saying the programs could help reduce the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C among inmates ( Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report , 10/29). However, many prison inmates "are there because they have shown themselves incapable of behaving with due respect for the safety or property of others, and in many cases drug use has contributed to their problems," the editorial says. Although reducing HIV and hepatitis C prevalence among prison inmates is a "worthy goal," the government should not "turn a blind eye" to inmates who continue to use injection drugs in prison and should not "abandon" its "responsibility to help problem drug users who are in prison," the editorial concludes ( Ottawa Citizen , 10/30).
Bergen Record : New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey's (D) decision to allow needle-exchange programs in three New Jersey cities "goes a step toward reducing the spread of AIDS in New Jersey," but it is a "poor substitute for changing the law," a Record editorial says (Bergen Record , 11/1). McGreevey last week signed an executive order allowing up to three cities in the state to establish needle-exchange programs in an effort to curb the spread of HIV and other bloodborne diseases among injection drug users. The order declares a state of emergency until Dec. 31, 2005, and authorizes the Department of Health and Senior Services to administer needle-exchange programs in cities that meet specific requirements ( Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report , 10/27). Although the "overwhelming preponderance of research shows that needle exchange slows the spread of HIV and doesn't increase drug use," McGreevey's order will expire in 15 months and the programs again will be illegal across New Jersey, the editorial says. McGreevey's order was "too narrow in scope," and it will "be up to the Legislature and a future governor to make the programs permanent," the editorial concludes (Bergen Record , 11/1).
New Jersey Herald News : Designating Paterson, N.J., as the third New Jersey city allowed to operate a needle-exchange program under McGreevey's executive order "makes sense" because the city has the third highest HIV prevalence in the state, a Herald News editorial says. Paterson officials should "aggressively push for" a needle-exchange program under the order because such a program is "not an admission that the city has given up on improving quality of life issues or that it is condoning drug abuse" but is a "matter of public health," the editorial says (New Jersey Herald News , 11/1).
Philadelphia Inquirer : McGreevey's "long overdue" decision to allow needle-exchange programs in Atlantic City and Camden "deserves praise despite its tardiness," an Inquirer editorial says. Although some people have "legitimate fears about sending the wrong message about drug abuse," no group can "continue ignoring a growing public health problem that must concern every New Jerseyan," the editorial says. Allowing needle-exchange programs to reduce the spread of HIV and other diseases is "not condoning drug abuse," the editorial concludes ( Philadelphia Inquirer , 11/1).
Allan Clear/Rachel Porter, New York Times : A congressional ban on federal funding for needle-exchange programs is "misguided moralism" that "fails to understand both patterns of addiction and measures needed to protect the public health," Clear, executive director of the Harm Reduction Coalition, and Porter, domestic program manager for Doctors of the World-USA, write in a Times letter to the editor in response to an Oct. 25 Times opinion piece by columnist Brent Staples titled, "How Needle-Exchange Programs Fight the AIDS Epidemic." Supporters of the ban "refuse to accept the science" that needle-exchange programs reduce the spread of HIV among injection drug users, and, as a result, "too many Americans needlessly contract HIV and viral hepatitis," Clear and Porter write. They conclude that Congress could better protect the public health by endorsing such "harm reduction" methods as needle-exchange programs (Clear/Porter, New York Times , 11/1).


Please be aware of the quirks of sublimation printing before ordering.
To learn more about how this tank-top will fit, review our sizing guide.
This sweatshop-free tank top was designed in Toronto and made in the USA using socially responsible manufacturing practices. This tank top is 100% polyester and made of a fine count yarn that's lightweight and silky soft for unmatched comfort.