The outermost reaches of our solar system are set to be studied in unprecedented detail by a NASA spacecraft scheduled for launch on Sunday.
The Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, satellite is scheduled to be launched from a site at the Kwajalein Atoll in the south Pacific on Sunday. It will operate for two years in high-Earth orbit.
The solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the Sun, forms a huge protective bubble around the solar system called the heliosphere. At the edge of this bubble, a shock wave forms where the solar wind collides with the gas and dust in interstellar space.
IBEX is designed to detect atoms that are heated and thrown off from this boundary, which shields the solar system from dangerous charged particles called cosmic rays that come from elsewhere in the Milky Way.
"These boundaries really protect us from the fairly harsh galactic environment," Nathan Schwadron, IBEX's head of science operations, said during a press briefing on Friday.
NASA's two unmanned Voyager probes were the first to begin to explore this region, which begins about three times farther from the Sun than the orbit of the dwarf planet Pluto. Voyager 1 passed the inner boundary in 2004 and Voyager 2 crossed over last year (see Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary).
"The heliosphere's boundary region is enormous, and the Voyager crossings of the termination shock, while historic, only sampled two tiny areas 10 billion miles (16 billion km) apart," NASA scientist Eric Christian said.


text:
Why are you still reading my book?
What's more entertaining than watching someone else play a game of video game trivia?
That's what I've been doing since I was in elementary school.
I played games like Zelda, Mario Kart, Pac-Man, and Street Fighter on my computer.
I learned how to play them, and I found my own way to enjoy them.
I've been playing these games since I could play them.
And now I can't stop playing them.
I'm a big fan of gaming and, at the same time, I can never stop reading the books that I love.
D-Fel Entertainment has been a publishing house that's been around since 1885, and it's still going strong today.
But what do the authors of these books have to say about their favorite gaming books?
Read More When I was younger, my friends and I were constantly playing games.
We used to sit around playing them on our Xboxes, which were super-cool back then.
But by the time I turned 11, my father and I went to the doctor's office and got an operation for knee osteoarthritis.
That was the first time I had to be on my own.
I still remember waking up in the morning and getting up, getting dressed, and heading out the door to the house.
I was so excited that I had a job and I had something to look forward to.
I had a lot of gaming games in my house, but I couldn't play them all the time.
That's why I started D-Fels.
I just liked playing games and I loved playing the characters.
I had this love for the games.
If you want to see what the D-Feels are like, you can check out our D-Fun book series or check out the DFF books.
D-Fun is an imprint of Activision Publishing, Inc. The DFF is an award-winning children's game imprint and has been publishing books for over 50 years.
In addition to the Dff books, DFF also publishes the award-nominated DFF Adventure games and the DFE novels.DFF Books is a member of the Author Group, which was founded in 2004 by former DFF Publisher Bob S. Dabbs.
They have a strong editorial team, a strong track record, and a great editorial team.
I've never seen the publisher with a more diverse and talented editorial team than what they have here.
I feel very fortunate to work with them.
DFF Books has published books that include: The DFE (D-Feeling Fantasy, D-Fear, DFE), DFE: A World of Fun (DFF Adventure), and DFE Adventure (DFE: The Adventure Game).
I've also had DFF Entertainment publish a number of other books for DFF.
Dff Entertainment is a registered trademark of Activision-Blizzard.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The school day starts at 9.00am and finishes at 3.30pm. The classroom doors are open from 8.50am and all children must be in school for registration at 9.00am.
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If you do need to travel by car, please be considerate to our neighbours when parking. Please do not drive up the school drive as the car park is for staff only.


text:
The president misreads history again
By Hardball On Oct 2, 2012
Nobody is at liberty to interpret history anyhow. But on Sunday, President Goodluck Jonathan, in yet another of his delectable extemporaneous speeches, did just that. The occasion was the 52nd Independence Anniversary interdenominational church service in Abuja, and the theme of the service was: "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal." His interesting remarks, which were a mixture of historical lessons, political science and exegetics, took the congregation on a trip through the rebuilding of Jerusalem by the Jewish leader, Nehemiah, as recorded in the 16th book of the Bible. Nehemiah, who was probably a eunuch, occupied the privileged position of royal cupbearer to the Persian king, Artaxerxes. He was among those who superintended the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, and succeeded Zerubabel as governor of the great city.
Only the President could tell why he was fascinated with the story of Nehemiah, especially considering that what is broken about Nigeria is not just the wall of Nigeria, that is, metaphorically speaking, nor were Nigerians ever carried away in captivity, except of course by their Nigerian rulers, again metaphorically speaking. The President knows that of all the criticisms meted out to him, the greatest is that he and his predecessors have inflicted misery and pain on the people. Anyway, the understanding is that in the general sense, the President draws a parallel between the current misery in Nigeria with the misery experienced by the returning Jewish exiles and the remnant left in the Holy City.
Persisting pangs of NIN registration
Mr & Mrs CP
A loud alarm
But far more puzzling than the inapplicability of the Nehemiah story is his inaccurate reading of the demands human societies make on their leaders. The President had posited that he alone could not solve Nigeria's problems. Consequently, he said, he would need the support of all Nigerians, perhaps such as Nehemiah and his fellow elders received in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. The President was right to ask for support, but he was wrong to assume one person could not change Nigeria. Let us hear the President first. According to him, "leadership at all levels is collective. One person cannot change a nation. Agreed the leader matters, but he cannot change things alone. All of us Nigerians must work together to rebuild our nation. Our men and women will change things in this country. There are so many Nehemiahs in the National Assembly, the Federal Executive Council, our judiciary, our teachers, businessmen and women and I believe God will use these Nehemiahs to rebuild the country."
This column will not advise Jonathan to be immodest, but it will ask him to remember the biblical story of Nebuchadnezzar who boasted, "…Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" If the President read history well, he would also remember other great leaders who changed their nations by the sheer force of their personalities and visions. Has he not heard of Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte, Marshall Tito, Genghis Khan, Suleiman the Magnificent, and Winston Churchill, among others? Has he not also heard of Askia Mohammed the Great, Mansa Musa, Samori Toure, Shaka the Zulu, Uthman dan Fodio? Changing a nation actually starts with one man; it is nothing more than superfluous to tell future generations the support such leaders received or how that support was evoked.
The problem, it seems, is that Jonathan finds the task of "empire building" unpleasant and unbearably demanding. Since he often can't see the wood for the trees, it is not surprising that he sees criticisms as distracting and destructive. This is why columnists like Hardball draw his ire. It is sheer escapism for Jonathan to hide behind the lack of popular support to explain his inability to proceed swiftly in "rebuilding the wall" of Nigeria. No one is interested in how he gets the people's support. All Nigerians demand of their President is that he should quit himself like a strong man and courageously offer the visionary leadership the country deserves. How he mobilises the people is his business. If the vision he has for Nigeria burns with enough amperage within him, nobody will teach him to walk or dare alone if need be.
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text:
[Birth Mother] First Mother Forum
Where first/birth/natural/real mothers share news & opinions. And vent.
Why Ellen Page and the movie Juno bugs me--even years later
At dinner with friends--one of them a Movie Buff--the other night, I mentioned that whenever I see Ellen Page, the star of Juno, anywhere doing anything I have an immediate negative reaction because of the role she played in that movie. She was the wise-cracking, smart-ass, but ever-so-appealing teenager in a jam (she is preggers) and she's about 15 or so in Juno, which is also her name in the film. Her very dorky and underwhelming-but-overwhelmed teenager father of the child is in no way prepared to be a father, or do anything but look lost.
Why that kind of girl wouldn't just have an abortion boggles the mind--as well as reality. Her family is not particularly religious, or evangelical; yet an unpleasant but frivolous encounter at the abortion clinic turns her off and sends her packing straight into the arms of a couple she finds in a penny-saver. "I could have this baby and give it to someone who totally needs one," she says enthusiastically. (No, I do not have perfect recall, I just watched the trailer at IMDB.)
I probably overstated my reaction--I said I change the channel if Page is on the tube, I just don't want to see her--and this lead to Movie Buff's surprise and amazement because Page, he said, can't be held responsible for the part she played, it was just a role, et cetera. He then went on to point out that "Ralph Fiennes played Amon Goth in Schindler's List and he was one of the most evil characters ever to appear in any movie--but he's Ralph Fiennes, not Amon Goth, and I don't believe he harbors any sadistic Nazi tendencies."
A COMEDY ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST?
But we want our Nazis to be horrible! I responded. We all know what they did and being able to portray the Nazis who ran the concentration camps as the most evil people who ever lived naturally would be a role to savor. Anyone playing that part would only cement what we already know and feel about evil Nazis.
Our discussion continued the next day via email because I kept thinking about how what people do via adoption--and what celebrities and movie stars do in particular--colors how we feel about them--and adoption, as Jane discussed in the previous blog. I don't think Movie Buff could see it from my point of view, which is to imagine Steven Spielberg and Ralph Fiennes making a movie about the holocaust that played into the delusions of holocaust deniers, and make Fiennes a devilishly charming and amusing fellow who might have a few qualms now and then, but what the hell! Exterminating Jews--that's life.
Instead of making giving up a child a mind-altering experience that leads to lifelong grief for most women, Page, as Juno, made it only somewhat disturbing to give up a child, and thus played right into to mind set of the people who really "need" a baby. Furthermore, Page made finding a cute couple like Jennifer Garner and her husband (who splits before the kid actually arrives) a possible and cool thing to do. In other words, Juno strengthened the view that "birth" mothers are, in the end, more or less fine with giving up a child to somebody who really needs a baby. Then teens like Juno/Page get on with their lives and go back to their boyfriends without much trauma. We see some of Juno's distress, but in the context of the character, you see her getting on honky-dory with her life after childbirth.
THE DAMAGE FILMS LIKE JUNO DO...
What possible impact did Juno have, continue to have? I know that at least one young woman who knows me well and said that she doesn't have the same view of adoption as I do--whatever that meant. I do know that she saw Juno and thought it was probably a realistic view of what it would be like to give up a baby. We had to agree not to talk about Juno. I am sure she is not alone in her opinion, and that Juno had an impact not only on young, impressionable women, but also prospective adoptive parents who do not want to think about how awful it could possibly be to give up a child.
My college-student friend did not see Mother and Child, a movie that realistically depicts relinquishing a child, but did not have anywhere near the impact or reach of Juno, even with stars such as Annette Bening and Naomi Watts. Bening is the first mother who doesn't get her life back together; Watts is the tough-as-nails adoptee who doesn't know who she is and gets pregnant herself, and dies in childbirth. "Every thought in my head takes me back to her," Bening says. And: "I know in my heart we will meet one day and you will forgive me." That's dialogue that many of us can relate to, in contrast to the one-liners in Juno.
I don't think any comedy about giving up a child is palatable, just as a smart comedy about the holocaust wouldn't be either. Perhaps others can find any subject open to humor, but relinquishing my daughter scarred my life to the point where I'll never be laughing at jokes about giving up a baby. (For those who wonder, I saw Juno at home, by myself, with a box of tissues. I wanted to see the movie, but knew I couldn't handle it in a theater with other people laughing at jokes that made me cringe.)
Diablo Cody, the young woman who wrote the smart script for Juno, is of course where Juno, the movie, all began, and who I hold most responsible for the despicable film. Cody said in interviews that's what it would be like if she got pregnant, a statement so ignorant and vacuous as to make my head hurt. Diablo Cody won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Juno. Jane reports she heard Terry Gross of Fresh Air on NPR interview the director Jason Reitman, who said he had an adopted sister and was pleased to be able to do a move to show how wonderful adoption can be.
Jane's previous post about celebrity adoptions led to comments from readers wanting to add to the list of other stars who have adopted because we, both adoptees and first mothers, know that their doing so encourages more adoptions. Our opinion of them is somewhat framed by their adoption, especially if they keep at it, and get more children borne by other women. Movie Buff wanted to know if my blog readers had the same opinion as me. In other words, am I crazy, and am I over-reacting, or what? Some of you must have seen Juno. Or not? Opinions wanted.--lorraine
FROM FMF
Birth Mother's Lament: The Pain of Giving Away My Baby
Adoption, It Seems, Is Everywhere, coming to a screen near you
Is adoption ever funny to the adopted, to first mothers?
Life Unexpected an Unexpected Hit on the CW
Mother and Child is a film not be be missed, though critics overlooked
Jane's previous post:Why I'm not bullish on celebrity adoptions
Mother and Child "Nine Lives director Rodrigo García explores the maternal instinct in Mother and Child through three disparate L.A. women: Karen (Annette Bening), a physical therapist, cares for her ailing mother; Elizabeth (Naomi Watts) works as a high-powered attorney; and Lucy (Kerry Washington), a bakery owner, plans to adopt (only Lucy has a spouse). An opening sequence reveals that Karen, who became pregnant at 14, gave Elizabeth up for adoption. Though the daughter has no desire to track down the mother, Karen has been mourning her loss for decades, never working up the nerve to take the next step. All three turn to the same adoption agency (Cherry Jones, who donned a nun's habit for Broadway's Doubt, plays Sister Joanne). When Karen yields to the advances of a kindly divorcé (Jimmy Smits), and Elizabeth, who's been sleeping with her boss (Samuel L. Jackson) and her married neighbor (Marc Blucas), finds herself with child, their feelings of anger and resentment start to melt. Lucy, meanwhile, has been meeting with a prickly expectant mother (Half Nelson's Shareeka Epps) who may hold the key to her happiness--assuming that a baby will solve all life's problems. García clearly venerates motherhood, but he doesn't let any of his characters off the hook: Karen can be cruel, Elizabeth can be cold, and Lucy can be whiny, but they overcome their lesser natures. There are a few missteps, like a soft-focus montage toward the end, but García manages a sprawling cast with finesse, and his gifted leads have rarely been better. --Kathleen C. Fennessy"--Amazon
Other movies that portray adoption realistically:
Secrets and Lies (For some reason this film is amazingly expensive, I suggest renting it if you have not seen it. A touching but messy reunion. Mike Leigh directed, Brenda Blethyn is the mother.)
Casa de los Babys (Adopting from South and Central America; should be tough for adoptive parents with children from poor countries to watch. John Sayles directed.)
Loggerheads (Have not seen, but others rave about it)
Oranges and Sunshine (A courageous social worker in England reunites children removed from England and sent to Australia, very realistic, and a true story.)
Rabbit-Proof Fence (About the forced adoption of aboriginal children in Australia; bring a hanky. No, bring two.)
Gosford Park (One of my favorite movies all all time. Great acting, great story. What did I read about the writer, Julian Fellowes? Is is possible he is adopted? If you remember this tidbit from somewhere, please leave a comment. Also tell me if I am delusional about this.)
Order or rent the films by clicking on the links.
Posted by Lorraine Dusky at 3:24 PM
Labels: Ellen Page , films about adoption , impact of Juno , Jason Reitman , Juno , Mother and Child , Ralph Fiennes , Steven Spielberg
ML October 21, 2013 at 4:07 PM
I also hate that movie....that was the reason why I choose adoption, a year after the movie came out. Honestly, adoption probably would have never entered my realm if not for Juno. I really though because, I was so much like the character Juno (I mean it was uncanny- I even had a friend refer to me as Juno while prego) that I too would be able to get over childbirth...WHAT A FARCE! I think if I ever actually did see Paige(I think that's the actresses' name) I'd probably punch her in the face. She and that movie are responsible for all the grief I have felt as a natural mother, because without that movie (seed) I'd probably be parenting my daughter.
Dana Seilhan October 21, 2013 at 4:13 PM
I haven't seen it. I don't want to see it. I didn't find out til about four and a half years after my son was adopted that my in-laws had been struggling to have their own child (it's my ex's mother and stepfather). I thought it was just a vendetta against me that had them keeping my son. I didn't know they were using me too. There's nothing cute or hip about that.
You make an excellent point about Juno. About taking something traumatic and making a comedy out of it. I also saw Mother and Child and found it very painful to watch. It was such a well-acted film even if a bit contrived at the end. I'm not sure why Juno had so much more impact. Better marketing??
I know Ashley Salazar from 16 & Pregnant has written about her disdain for "Juno" on her blog.
She's written about how damaging it is for falsely portraying adoption and how much of a shock it was for her when she actually did become pregnant as a teen and "chose" adoption. Ashley is also never shy about the fact that she regrets her adoption and desperately wants her daughter back.
"Juno" has not only directly influenced first mothers to look at adoption, but it affects the whole world by perpetuating the misconception that adoption is a happy, easy thing. That's one of the biggest obstacles we face for adoption reform, and "Juno" is one of the biggest modern enforcers of that obstacle.
Robin October 21, 2013 at 6:02 PM
I'm with you. I can't see any movie with Ellen Page. It's too triggering. I'll never see her as anyone but that pregnant girl who was so cavalier about giving her baby away. It made me sick the way she found PAPs through the Pennysaver. I mean, how safe! The Pennysaver is a good place to sell used furniture, not to find complete strangers to raise your child. I then was annoyed when she met the PAPs with their attorney and said she wanted a closed adoption, done deal, didn't want anything to do with the child again. I kept wondering how the child would feel about that. And then the ending was the worse. Strumming a guitar and singing with the father of her child as if having the baby and giving it up was just a blip on the radar and life will go on as usual.
I remember having a talk with a friend of mine, who knows my whole story, and she said how she enjoyed the movie and found it entertaining. I tried to get across how it was sending a very dangerous message to young women who may find themselves in Juno's situation, but she didn't really think people would make real life decisions based on a movie. It's scary to read the comments here that some young women actually did choose adoption because of Juno.
Lorraine Dusky October 21, 2013 at 6:27 PM
There are a lot of comments too on Facebook at the FMF page.
Skiptheheartsandflowers October 21, 2013 at 7:09 PM
I made the mistake of purchasing Juno when it first came out on DVD. I heard rave reviews and had hoped they would portray teen pregnancy and adoption loss in a more realistic way. (I guess I was drinking too much of the Koolaid then.) I found the movie very distressing to watch. I still have the DVD and have considered trashing it rather than giving it away to share adoption lies with others. I never did understand why the movie was so well-received.
I found Page's portrayal of the teen to be very unrealistic and nothing like the way I felt as a pregnant teen in the '80s. She was very non-chalant about her pregnancy. I did not like the "humor" of the movie. It just wasn't funny. I also found it disturbing Juno was willing to give her child to a couple with marital problems. The couple, especially the female, seemed exceedingly needy. I would have thought even those who have not experienced adoption would be troubled by such a needy woman becoming a "mother" to Juno's child. It did not seem at all to be about the welfare of the child. (That part WAS realistic, infant adoption is RARELY about the child's needs and primarily about the adoptive parents needs, IMO.)
I agree, Lorraine, that this movie is one to burn. A-ha, now I know what to do with the DVD collecting dust in my cupboard!!
Bee October 21, 2013 at 7:14 PM
I was watching a Woody Allen Movie she was in recently and I had to turn it off. In part because it was awful and also because she was in it and I honestly can not stand her. All I see is Juno.
There was a blogger who chose to put her third child up for adoption because she thought it would be like Juno. She found herself shocked and surprised when the AP's cut off all contact. Making "an adoption plan" was not so wonderful anymore. It was sad to see her face reality. She eventually stopped blogging altogether.
"Juno" was written by a woman who had no real-life experience with adoption. I think many women were duped by that movie. Very sad.
I don't live on USA; in my country, all adoptions are made by the government with strict regulations and, aside some court fees, it costs nothing.
I also remember having a conversation about Juno with my coworkers and the overall opinon was "the film is great, Kimya (who made the soundtrack) is awesome, but it's just plain sad that in the end she didn't keep the baby".
Then another coworker who is from an hardcore evangelical church (anti-choice, no sex before marriage and all the jazz) came to us and said: "Oh my God that movie us horrible. I mean, her father was great, her stepmom seemed supportive, she wasn't on drugs or anything, why on earth she gave the baby away?!"
When you remove the money (and the propaganda machine) from adoption, people tend to be more supportive towards family preservation.
Denise October 21, 2013 at 9:41 PM
Tell Movie Buff that YES, we agree with you. Probably because most of us lost a child to adoption, know how it really feels, and that it is not fodder for a comedy. I refused to see Juno at the theater, didn't really want to see it at all, but after it was out on DVD, I rented it and watched it alone. Made me sick to my stomach. I'm kind of a movie buff too, and I didn't even think it was that good. Couldn't believe it was nominated for Best Picture! I hate that it might have influenced even ONE young pregnant woman to give up her child, that it's no big deal. I fear it has influenced many. As for Ellen Page, I don't care one way or the other. Haven't seen her in anything else, or maybe didn't recognize her. It wasn't her script. The only way these people could redeem themselves, IMHO, would be to make another film, Juno 20 or 30 years later, honestly showing how that decision and act impacted her life. Not so cavalier now, eh?
Heidi October 21, 2013 at 11:25 PM
Denise, wish someone would make that movie...
I watched the trailer and that's all I can handle.
Sara C. October 21, 2013 at 11:37 PM
Everything I read about the film told me it was schlock. The only adoption film I've seen (and dearly love) is Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies. I adore Brenda Blethyn.
As for great comedy about the Third Reich ... don't forget The Producers by Mel Brooks (himself Jewish). It was trashed in the beginning and now is a classic.
Cherry October 22, 2013 at 6:46 AM
I absolutely abhor that movie, for the same reasons as you.
Does it do any harm?
Well, when my son and I were newly reunited, he thought my experience of giving him up was like Juno's.
He thought that erroneous thought because the film got Society's great big thumbs up, and because nowhere else was there a representation of what it was actually like.
The harm 'Juno' did was to tell my son that he was given up with a minor ripple to my life, and an odd tear.
It tried to tell him that the bond between us was light, and interchangeable.
It suggested I basically skipped on with my life, after some easy consoling.
It made his connection to me, and mine to him, largely inconsequential and neatly replaceable.
The depth of our happiness when we met, and of our relief, and of our sorrow, tells us the truth about what it was really like for us.
Everything, including this criminally trivial film, tries to undermine and dismiss the connection between us. It's imperative that we hold on to our own truths, and for those who can express these to do so.
So thank you Lorraine and Jane for this invaluable blog.
Rhea July 7, 2015 at 11:14 PM
maryanne October 22, 2013 at 9:09 AM
I never want to watch Juno. I generally do not watch adoption-themed stuff. Why make myself mad and more miserable? I did watch Secrets and Lies and like Sara C. loved it.
I don't blame actors for the roles they play, but do blame Woody Allen for having sex with his long-term lover's adopted daughter. Emotional incest, anyone?
Also loved "The Producers" as does my Jewish husband. Sometimes mocking evil is the best revenge. I'd love to see a Mel Brooks adoption movie mocking adoption sacred cows.
I find it incredibly sad that some women were influenced by Juno to surrender their children. Real life is not a movie.
Leenburke October 22, 2013 at 10:00 AM
My thoughts on Juno:
Purely as entertainment, I enjoyed the movie. Surprisingly, and probably because I gave up my son long before this movie came out, it was not triggering for me. However, I can completely understand the disdain from others.
The movie is clearly not based in reality. The Juno character (or caricature) seems to be denying any natural bond to the child she is growing. In real life, a person with her personality and no religious affiliations whatsoever would most likely terminate the pregnancy. I don't know any first mother who would so flippantly choose adoption because they could "totally give the baby to someone who needs one." That's just ridiculous.
The adoption seems to center around the adotive mother's deep seeded want to have a child. Adoption should always be about what is best for the person who is going to be adopted. In the situation portrayed in the movie the PAP's are going to be going through a divorce right off the bat. Is that really in a person's best interest to be given to a woman who clearly will be dealing with a major life upheaval while in the throes of new motherhood?
The one thing in this movie that bothered me was the scene between Juno and her stepmother after the baby is born. Juno is upset and the stepmother tells her that eventually she will be back here when the time is right (or something to that effect). I was told something similar many times post relinquishment by well meaning family and friends and it just doesn't ring true. It would be similar to telling a mother who lost her child that she can go on to have other children. That is really not the point, the grieving is for THIS child, children and people are not interchangeable. I wouldn't even say something so ridiculous to someone grieving the loss of a pet. The new pet doesn't replace the pet that is gone.
I can absolutely see how this movie could persuade an expectant mother into believing adoption is "cool" and that she can just go one with her life like nothing happened. I guess if a person is a sociopath, I could see how that is an accurate portrayal. Even those mothers who are at peace with their adoption experience would probably tell you that their life was forever altered because of it.
Honestly, this movie would have been more realistic if Juno had decided to raise her child. It could have showed Juno's guilt over not following through with the PAP's, it could have shown the bravery of standing up for yourself and your child when faced with familial pressure to relinquish, it could have shown how fathers have just as much of a responsibility and a right to raise their children as mothers, it could have shown Juno struggling with motherhood years down the road but at peace with her decision to raise her child, and so on and so forth.
Although I was entertained by this movie and found parts of it humorous, I absolutely do not think it is based on any type of reality and I absolutely agree with previous commenters and the original post that the movie is dangerous for young expecting mothers.
Feeling rather bad for Ellen Page here. She was only eighteen or nineteen when she played Juno. It's hard to imagine any young aspiring actress would turn down that part down on principle. Nowadays she describes herself as a pro-choice feminist. No idea if that says anything about she feels about the way adoption is practiced in America today.
I hoped "Juno" was going to be satirical, but it turned out to be IMO superficial and cynical. It's hard to imagine anyone being influenced by it, but then I'm old and maybe don't get it.
"We want our Nazis to be horrible."
Schindler was a Nazi and he saved hundreds of lives.
I liked Secrets and Lies a lot too. Another really good movie that deals with relinquishment/adoption loss in a realistic way, is Gosford Park, directed by Robert Altman and scripted by Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey. Downton was originally intended as a spin-off of Gosford but it took on a fantasy life of its own. Without the Altman touch Downton rings false to me.
Lorraine Dusky October 22, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Completely agree about Secrets and Lies and the surprise in Gotsford Park--one of my favorite movies of all time. I remember reading something about Julian Fellowes that made sense of the adoption plot in Gotsford Park, but a quick survey of Fellowes on the web reveals nada. Anyone remember what I do? Is is possible he is adopted himself? That's what I am remembering but I could be all wrong.
Going to add those movies to the list on the blog.
Julian Fellowes To Open New Adoption Centre
"Dorset's award winning writer Julian Fellowes is to open a new adoption centre in Dorchester today.
Local adoption Agency, Families for Children, will also be making a plea for more adoptive families to come forward.
The agency hopes their new centre in Dorchester will raise awareness and dispel some of the myths about adoption."
That's all I could find.
suzi October 22, 2013 at 11:56 AM
I saw Juno years ago when I was "just" an adoptee. Thought it was kinda cute, had no effect on me at all. Recently, I caught 10-15 minutes of it on tv. I am now a Bmom, and was surprised at how awful her character and the entire movie actually is.
I never saw the movie but from what others have said I guess it is just a blip on the radar to relinquish your child to adoption.
With that said the suicide rate for Juno, Alaska is much more than the national average. Just saying.....
This is my son's birthday and I'm trying to decide whether or not to call him Talking about Juno reminds me of me at that age when I was on Medicaid and my son was born Nothing is free They put him in foster care and promised to give him back when I got "on my feet" It never happened I feel like I'm going crazy I vowed never to take another penny of government assistance and for 30+ years I have been paying into a Blue Cross policy which just notified me it's dropping me. I still have 3 years before Medicare and feel like I did when they wouldn't give my son back-like killing myself. Just figured out why I'm feeling like this
maybe October 22, 2013 at 2:08 PM
I think overall Juno portrayed a very flippant attitude towards adoption which is why Hollywood loved it so much. Feeds right into the egos of all those celebrity adopters. I'm sorry that young girls and adoptees were influenced by this movie.
That said, there was some interesting subtext in the movie regarding repeating patterns of abandonment. Juno's own mother remarried and had "replacement kids" as Juno calls them with disdain. She sends occasional gifts to Juno but beyond that she is virtually absent from her life. Juno herself explicitly labels it as abandonment, yet she goes on to the very same thing with her own child.
I think family patterns do repeat throughout generations. They are are often reenacted unconsciously (even in movies). Is it possible to identify and break these cycles before the damage is done? I have my doubts...
I don't think the adoption plot in Gosford Park had anything to do with Julian Fellowes. The storyline for the production was by Bob Balaban and Robert Altman. Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, was hired to write the screenplay.
Fellowes is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter, as well as a Conservative member of the House of Lords. Downton Abbey is his creation. His wife is story editor for the series. Both he and his wife are practicing Catholics.
It's never too late for a reunion.
http://now.msn.com/adopted-daughter-71-reunited-with-birth-mother-brooke-mayo
Jane October 22, 2013 at 3:26 PM
I bought Juno because I thought it would be a good "sit down and watch with my daughter how difficult teen pregnancy is" kind of movie - wrong! She thought all about how sweet it was that Juno was giving her baby to this couple. Juno did not react in a normal way, she mostly totally tuned out to the baby. She was sad at the hospital or whatever, but it wasn't much. I thought it was very unrealistic. We didn't watch it again. I LOVED Rabbit-Proof Fence....very sad, but amazing story about their journey back to their family. I will have to look for the other two. I also watched October Baby, and was so disappointed in how the birth mother completely wanted nothing to do with her beautiful child that I just couldn't stomach it - also, unrealistic for most. People don't seem to want to watch the real stuff - only the happy ending story book stuff. No one outside the adoption world seems to want to know about the pain.
My grandmother (adoptive) was an Orphan Train Rider. I try to find movies about the Orphan Train....not in big supply. We are trying to find out as much as we can about her possible background, but it had to be awful for her, she was only 2 or 3 and no one wanted a little girl who couldn't work. Plus, whatever precipitated her separation from her parents - we have no idea. Her older brother was on the train with her....but he was taken by a different family. Some books make it seem romantic and adventurous, a good will kind of thing for these people to be doing for these children, whatever...I don't think there are very many that deal with that kind of adoption holocaust. If you know of any more, let me know!
Another adoption movie in the works. Deepak Mehta, (best known for her Elements Trilogy, Earth, Fire, and Water) is adapting Shilpi Somaya Gowda's novel "Secret Daughter" into a movie. The story revolves around a Mumbai family forced to give up their daughter for adoption because of poverty and prejudice against girls, the San Francisco family who adopted her and Asha's search as a young adult for her origins.
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Daughter-Shilpi-Somaya-Gowda/dp/0061928356
Oops, I meant to include this link in my comment about the "Secret Daughter" movie:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/deepa-mehta-to-adapt-secret-daughter-for-film/1/271427.html
I wanted to come back and thank all the commenters who mentioned the movie, Mother and Child. I watched it last night and absolutely loved it. Thanks for the suggestion.
Heidi Russo October 24, 2013 at 10:48 AM
I have to agree with most of the comments, being a birth mother myself, that Juno was a pretty harsh view of what adoption really is and entails. I also don't think making a similar comparison to the Holocaust, or Nazis, is accurate either. There's nothing about the decision to place your child for adoption that is easy, simple, unemotional, and that doesn't affect you for the rest of your life. I also don't think we can curse Page for the role she played in the movie either. She's an actress and played a "part" in a movie. Movies are marketed and publicized and I don't know of many movies that have been done on adoption, or birth mothers, that truly captures the emotions and just how heartbreaking the decision to place really is. I think society in general has a difficult time with the whole topic of adoption and therefore to not delve into the heart and soul of birth moms, makes it easier to deal with. Why not break through all the superficial stereotypes and stigmas and talk about the truth, the blessing and the heartbreak? I've started a new blog for all to weigh in on adoption topics at loveofabirthmom.com
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Heidi Russo
maryanne October 24, 2013 at 1:27 PM
MY favorite adoption themed movie is Widow's Peak with Mia Farrow and Natasha Richardson. It involves a complicate plot where in the end a reunited adoptee and birthmother get over on a whole self-righteous Irish village. Check it out, I think most will enjoy it. The adoption part does not come out until late in the movie, but it is what motivates everything.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widows%27_Peak
Thanks, Maryanne, I have never heard of this movie.There is also an Indy movie called Breakfast for Pluto...from IMDB:
"In the 1970s, a young transwomen, Patrick "Kitten" Braden, comes of age by leaving her Irish town for London, in part to look for her (first) mother and in part because his gender identity is beyond the town's understanding."
The scene in which he meets his mother--as I recall he/she does not tell her she is his/her mother is very touching and realistic.
Meow October 24, 2013 at 8:48 PM
I cant even see a preview on cable or even think about it, makes me sick.
Barbara Thavis October 24, 2013 at 9:31 PM
When I was newly reunited I was taken out to lunch by a bunch of suppliers, mostly women. I told them all how awful adoption turned out for me and my daughter and how horrific is was. They were all very sympathetic and compassionate. They seemed to really get it. And then someone brought up Juno and they all went on a roll with how Fing wonderful the movie was. I had used up my time to talk (probably went over my socially acceptable allotted time – but I was the customer!) and just emotionally threw up my arms in despair. No one gets how horrific it is, especially when Hollywood glamorizes it. Makes me sick!
A movie I want to see is "Philomena", starring Judi Dench, about a mother's search for the son she was forced to give up for adoption fifty years ago in Ireland.
It played to acclaim at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival and has just premiered in London. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a whopping 4 1/2 stars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philomena_(film)
http://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/philomena-review-venice-toronto-1200594214/
I am dying to see Philomena myself!
We've mentioned it before. It won the prize as best movie by audience vote at the Hamptons Film Festival.
Hate Juno, can't stand Ellen Page, and I want to stab Jennifer Garner's character and Juno's parents.
Philomena forgives the nuns who stole her son:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2482269/Philomena-Lee-played-Judi-Dench-new-film-forgives-nuns-stole-son.html
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"Lorraine Dusky, a writer who relinquished a daughter as a young single mother in New York State in 1966, supports opening the records. She reported in her 2015 memoir that in the handful of states that offered women the opportunity to remove their names from original birth certificates, only a small fraction of women — fewer than 1 percent — chose to do so." --Don't Keep Adopted People in the Dark by Gabrielle Glaser, June 19, 2018
Jane Edwards
Lorraine Dusky
"On FirstMotherForum.com, a blog that discusses issues among women who had given children up for adoption, Lorraine Dusky, one of the site's authors, praised the series (ABC's 10-episode Find My Family): 'Maybe this will be heard by people who think it is unloyal somehow for a person to search out his or her roots, parents, family, when it is a most natural desire of consciousness.'--Two Reality Shows Stir Publicity and Anger"--Dec. 6, 2009.
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Finding Your Roots could be the conversation starter you need to talk about adoption
Philomena: A forced adoption, a lifetime quest, a longing that never waned
Adoptive Parents Ask: What Could They Do?
If you don't care about your origins, why are you searching First Mother sites?
Mother denied visitation with son conceived with her egg
Joan Didion's Blue Nights, an adoption memoir revisited on the release of documentary about her
When people say: I'm not curious about my roots....
Laws, Searching, Reunion
Keep Your Baby
Considering Open Adoption?
Letter to Birth Mother or Sibling
Writing the First Letter
'Positive' Adoption Language?
What We Think About Adoption
Favorite Adoption Quotes
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Instructions and forms for accessing adoption records are on the Oregon Judicial Department's website.
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text:
Q: Relate a table from the public schema to another schema in typeorm I have a table called grants in the public schema and I want to relate it to a table called purchases in the other schemas, how can I do it with typeorm?
schema public - table grants
schema_1 - table purchase
schema_2 - table purchase
schema_3 - table purchase

Table Grants
id: number

Table Purchase
id: number
idGrantsFk:number

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Should View Models in ASP.Net MVC be all strings? I've got to the point (unintentionally) that I feel in some parts I'm doing too much within the view (.aspx) itself, too much formatting, concatenation, in one place a little regex replace.
I was starting to work on a new part and trying to improve my approach.. Then it hit me why don't I just make all my View Models (in /Models/ in .Web project) strings or a list of string at a push. Note: I'm not referring to my model/domain, but rather to specifically my ViewModel.
public class FinanceQuoteView
{
    public string Provider;
    public string Broker; // rather than Broker == null ? "N/A" : Broker.ToUpperCase();
    public string Monthly; // rather than Monthly.ToString("C")
    public string PaymentTerm; // rather than "1+" + PaymentTerm.ToString();
    public string FreeInsurance; // rather than insuranceIncluded ? "Yes" : "No";
    public string[] Restrictions;
}

For Form submission (adding editing) I use a seperate view model to feed the controller action (form model if you will in /Models/Form). So FinanceQuoteForm does contain doubles etc... built via a binder.
What everyone think about this approach? Is doing the .ToString("C") in the mapping from domain to view model too much?

A: Your model should produce the correct data, then it is up to the view to produce the data in the format that it requires.  If you built another view on top of the model, you might want to do different manipulations of the data, so i suggest NOT returning them as strings from the model.

A: I tend to lean pretty heavily towards strings myself for the View Models that I design. After all, most of the data displayed in the View takes the form of strings. Any time I am about to perform data manipulation in the View (.aspx/.ascx), I seriously consider pushing that logic down to my View Model so that I can unit test it. After all, Testability is the major benefit you get from MVC, so why not use it?
In WPF (just to take a short detour) many of the controls natively understand other types of data (such as numbers, booleans and so forth), but on a platform so inherently bound up on strings as HTML, it makes a lot of sense for me to treat most of the output as text.
All data has to round-trip between server and browser encoded as strings anyway, so often, you would just be explicit about it.
I definitely don't think it's too much - I only think you can do it too little :)

A: Agree, mostly.  For traditional editing forms, I prefer to have separate models for the 'post model' (passed to controller) and for the view/edit 'view model' (passed to the view).
The post model properties are all strings.  This allows me to determine if a field was included in the post, some are not, this is very important for my application.
The post model feeds my controller action that then determines what command(s) to execute, if any.
From there, if the controller action results in viewing the view/edit page, then I construct the view model accordingly, and supply it to the view.
Hence, I can make my view model's properties whatever types I want.  They don't have to match the post model's types.
Super clean, and gives me full control over everything.

A: Your situation seams to be very special and limited in  a way: Your ViewModel is either for editing or Displaying. Most Views do both: they have a lot of display stuff ans some editing stuff. Lets say this Page:
Display question, answers and notes. Edit: Answer.
I would not want to distinguish the 2. It would end in duplication of a lot of display fields.
I would rather have one view with possibly 2 properties: one for display and one for the form value.


UMR! UMR! This ain't UMA, U MA RU!
Because my damn selfishness is the other side of "I love you"
But I have no heart to say even a single word "thank you"
Should I change my attitude? nah whatever, this is no biggie, isn't it?
He's one with me because he's a brother and I'm a sister!
Because my damn selfishness is the other side of "I trust you"
Λοιπές μεταφράσεις του "かくしん的☆めたまるふぉ~ぜ! ..."


If you speak about art, it's often explained with passion. Making music is a form of art, and even though I took guitar lessons for only a short while, I feel this increasing passion for music. "You need to feel very comfortable to abandon yourself to the music," my music teacher pleaded with me. So I followed his wish, and you know how I make myself feel truly comfortable.


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Avast Academy Privacy VPN VPN, Proxy or Tor: Which is Best?
VPN, Proxy or Tor: Which is Best?
You know the three types of security protocol, don't you? Virtual private network (VPN), proxy, and Tor. The end. Wait…is that not enough info? Good news, we've got you covered. Better yet, you're about to learn the differences between VPN, proxy and Tor, and just as important, why security is the necessity you didn't know you needed.
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Internet surfers should practice safe browsing and mask their internet protocol (IP) address, and not just because you don't want businesses, governments, and/or aliens to know how much Transformers fanfic you read. If you're directly connected to the internet, your IP address identifies your traffic as coming from you, just as your postal mail address can lead someone directly to your doorstep.
This article contains:
When it comes to your internet presence, ask yourself how important these concerns are to you:
You don't want someone else to be able to connect to you directly.
You don't want the content you send or receive to be readable by anyone else.
You don't want the websites you connect with to be identifiable to observers.
You don't want anyone (even the sites you connect to) to know where you physically are.
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, solutions like VPNs, proxies, and anonymizing networks like Tor can improve your digital security.
Let's start with some reassurance: None of these are new. They are tried-and-tested techniques that help you block cyberspies from cyberspying on you.
Understanding VPNs
A VPN provides access to a remote server. You log in, and voilá: While you may be physically located in the United States, your traffic might now be coming from an IP address in London, which means your IP address is cooler than you are.
From your computer's perspective, a VPN looks like just another network interface. But a VPN, such as our own Avast Secureline VPN, gives you a distinct remote IP address that only your VPN uses.
You simply log in and choose the location from which you want to be seen as originating. With your company's VPN, that remote address is inside their network. You can't be seen on the internet, and no one can read your most recent status report.
With a VPN, you can protect yourself and your data from cybersnoopers, access geo-restricted sites like a boss, and bypass firewalls as if you had a ladder and a bucket of water.
If an outsider can see your network traffic, all they can determine is that you have a network connection to the VPN server. They can't actually tell what you're doing.
Understanding Proxies
A proxy is a device that communicates with a server on your behalf. You connect to the proxy, which then forwards the connection onto the server — like that friend in high school passing your notes to a cutie in class, if your friend were IEEE-compliant.
When you use a local proxy, you connect to a local router, which makes the onward connection to the internet for you. The server sees the router's IP address, not yours. Internet proxies are exactly the same, except that you connect to them across the internet. Like VPNs, they can shift your apparent location, though your connection to the proxy isn't protected.
A local proxy hides your device from direct exposure to the internet, and an internet proxy can change where you appear to be. That makes it harder for anyone to pick out your traffic, especially if you're using a heavily-trafficked proxy such as airport Wi-Fi. But that's only on the other side. On the inside, lacking the protection of a VPN, you're still exposed to other users.
Understanding Tor
There's a moment during many a techno-spy movie where the hacker character says something like, "I'm bouncing the signal off of eight satellites to obscure the origin!" This is usually accompanied by a wireframe globe with a chain of lines animated around it to demonstrate the "bouncing."
Tor is bit like this movie premise, in that it does bounce your traffic around to obscure its origin.
Tor (The Onion Router) is the software side of anonymity. When you download Tor to your device, you gain access to Tor's nodes. You use Tor when you don't want anyone to know where you are, including the services you're using. It's as close to one-click privacy as you can conveniently get.
The "Onion" in Tor's name represents its design. When you use Tor, your data is stripped of identifying info, encrypted with layers, then relayed to another node. There, one of the layers on your data is decrypted, then it's relayed again. When your data reaches its destination, it's impossible to identify its origin (in internet terms) or your physical location.
Tor's an essential tool for whistleblowers and activists, but it can also be used for evil. It's often associated with the so-called Darknet, which can only be accessed from a Tor node. It can't be reached except by a system that obscures its true location, hence "dark."
Tor is possibly the most effective method to keep your data secure on the internet. But what it has in security, it lacks in speed: Tor is comparatively slow.
Tor vs VPN vs Proxy
No method can guarantee a cloak of invisibility to any internet user; it can, however, work as a minor spell of protection. And while you're thinking of privacy concerns, don't forget encryption. None shall pass — not without a team of dedicated hackers intent on finding you.
So which of these three methods — proxy, VPN, or Tor — is best at helping you protect your privacy?
That's not the right question. The real question is: How much trouble do you want to go to?
Using a proxy is a simple solution for private web searches. But a proxy isn't a good option if you need to securely communicate government or proprietary secrets (such as corporate intellectual property).
Tor is an effective solution, but it's not zippy. And speaking of speed…
Some of these options come at the price of speed. None of us have the patience to wait for internet connections, but adding technology takes extra time.
If you're casually browsing or sending an email message, a proxy should be fine for your needs. If you're streaming video, not so much. It's likely to be slow and unreliable.
Tor relays your internet activities through a series of volunteer networks, which means a longer route from your cell phone/computer and your destination. It's typically the slowest of all three options.
VPN speeds can vary, depending on the server load. But some VPN services clock in at download speeds of 23 Mbps and upload speeds of 4.93 Mbps. If speed is an issue for you, use a VPN service that's geographically close to you. And remember, you get what you pay for. If you want reliable service, be prepared to budget for it.
Proxies may be good at hiding your IP address, but they aren't get-out-of-Big-Brother-free cards. They don't encrypt your data or browsing habits, which means you're not protected from anyone else on the same local network. Anyone can see you and your activities. That is why you might think twice about connecting to public Wi-Fi or hotspots offered by an airport, restaurant, or hotel. They're also prone to dropping your connection.
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel for all your traffic and makes your real IP address invisible. VPNs are more stable than proxies and faster than Tor. But this comes at a cost: If you're Philip K. Dick-level paranoid, you might not like the idea of anyone at a VPN company having access to your network habits. After all, the internet doesn't know who you are, but the VPN service itself does. (Make sure you use a trusted VPN provider like Avast, a world leader in online security with over 400 million users.)
A VPN fixes the JavaScript I-can-see-your-IP problem that proxies have. This is because the server can only find the IP address the VPN allocated to you — which is local to the VPN — rather than an external IP address that can be used to figure out where you're sitting in your underwear.
Tor networks are both secure and anonymous. But the NSA may take unwanted interest in you just because you are using a Tor node.
Proxies are simple to use, but they are basically only good for simple browsing where security isn't particularly important. Whichever web browser you use, its settings offer proxy configuration options to specify a proxy. Once set, all requests from that browser — and only that browser — are routed through the proxy.
Tor is transparent, but of the three options, it's the hardest to set up. Because you won't have a user account, all you need to do is download Tor from the Tor Project and install it. Then, remember to use the Tor browser to start up the router software, and you're good to go.
To use a VPN, you install the software — such as Avast Secureline VPN — on your local computer. Then, log in with a user ID and password. If it's a corporate VPN, chances are you already have credentials. Lastly, remember to start the VPN before you start making connections.
VPNs are the best all-around option. Although a VPN is slightly more complex than a proxy, it offers better protection. And while it doesn't offer the security of a Tor network, it saves you time.
Don't be concerned that you're locked into 24/7 VPN use every time you turn on your computer. For casual browsing — sports scores, movie theater times — a VPN isn't necessary. But when you fill out your company's expense reports while working remotely, you'll want the extra security that a VPN provides. Your company may insist on it, too.
Which service is best for me?
No. You can't use both a VPN and a proxy at the same time.
One security method is good. It stands to reason that two methods of security are better. But in this case of using proxy and VPN together, this is sadly incorrect.
A VPN client overrides whatever proxy settings you might set; its whole job is handling your traffic, after all.
You might legitimately connect to a VPN through a proxy on an intranet, if that is how the local network is configured. But even though some networks can be set up this way, it's rare.
Also, across the internet, it makes little sense: Using a proxy in front of a VPN means that the connection doesn't benefit from the VPN's added security benefits.
You could connect to a proxy from a VPN if the VPN is being blocked, or if it doesn't have an endpoint in the geographic location you need. You're only as good as your own encryption beyond the end of the VPN, as the VPN doesn't protect that part of the connection.
Can you use Tor and a proxy together?
Tor is a method of relays designed to encrypt and pass your traffic across the internet. A proxy provides your IP server's address rather than your own, a sleight of hand that obfuscates your online activities. They can be used together, but does it make you more secure? It depends.
Using Tor to connect to a proxy might be useful if you don't want the other end of the connection to know you're using Tor (or if the other end is blocking Tor). But while you could use a proxy to connect to Tor, you're actually less secure than you'd be with Tor directly, as your connection between you and the internet proxy is not protected. And, as with using Tor as a standalone security method, your connection will be slower.
If you want to use Tor, and your local ISP is blocking connections to Tor, well, this is where a VPN comes in handy.
Helpful hint: If you want to pair a proxy with Tor, use the "Configure" menu in your Tor browser to authenticate your proxy server.
Can you use Tor and VPN together?
With the VPN's ease of use and Tor's nigh-invulnerability, you can use both together for double encryption. This one-two punch should leave bad actors in the dust of your internet trail, but it doesn't mean we recommend it.
While Tor provides your data with multiple layers of encryption and route-obfuscated protection, the catch comes at the exit node — where your data leaves Tor and makes its way to the final destination. By Tor's design, you don't know who or where the exit node is any more than it knows who you are. Perhaps it's safe...but perhaps it's operated by a bad actor attempting to inspect your connection. By also using a VPN, you can protect your data: the data entering Tor is encrypted, and it's still encrypted when it leaves.
The VPN allows you to connect to Tor without it being obvious you're using Tor, while also concealing your original IP address.
Just don't expect your internet connection to be fast.
Helpful hint: If you want to use both together, download Tor first, then install a VPN. But start your VPN first, then launch your Tor browser second.
Try our VPN for the best combination of ease, security, and speed
Now that you've read about the three most common methods to secure your internet activities, you may have come to the conclusion that the VPN is superior when it comes to ease of use, security, and speed.
Protecting over 400 million people worldwide, Avast has the experience and expertise to help you maintain a low profile in a public digital space. Let Avast's SecureLine VPN give you a much-needed cloak to disguise you from the internet's prying eyes.
by Carol Pinchefsky on September 26, 2019
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text:
Q: Incorrect context when trying to reload text in order to develop my script in an external IDE, I'm trying to automatically reload a text in blender when it is modified from outside of Blender. I think I've got the idea of how it works, but there must be one tiny detail that completely blocks me from achieving my goal.
My script is the following:
import bpy
import sys

ctx = bpy.context.copy()

for area in ctx['screen'].areas:
    if area.type == 'TEXT_EDITOR':
        textEditor = area

for text in bpy.data.texts:
    if text.name == 'main.py':
        textEditor.spaces[0].text = text
        bpy.ops.text.reload()

Output:
>>> exec(bpy.data.texts['reload.py'].as_string())
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<blender_console>", line 1, in <module>
  File "<string>", line 13, in <module>
  File "/Applications/Blender.app/Contents/Resources/3.3/scripts/modules/bpy/ops.py", line 113, in __call__
    ret = _op_call(self.idname_py(), None, kw)
RuntimeError: Operator bpy.ops.text.reload.poll() failed, context is incorrect

I cannot get what part of the context is correct. I found no solution on the Internet, even the doc recommends reading the source code to understand what might be the cause of this error, but I couldn't find it anyway in the source code.
Can someone tell me what I am missing here please?


text:
Max Bledstein's Top 10 Films of 2015
By Max Bledstein on December 31, 2015 • ( Leave a comment )
Max Bledstein (@mbled210) is a Montreal-based writer, musician and world-renowned curmudgeon. He writes on all things culture for a variety of fine North American publications. His highly anticipated debut novel will write itself one of these days, he assumes.
10. Spotlight (Tom McCarthy)
This gripping procedural tells the powerful true story of the Boston Globe journalists who exposed the Catholic Church's cover-up of pedophiles. It's a rallying cry for journalism and a moving yarn.
9. Heart of a Dog (Laurie Anderson)
Laurie Anderson's experimental documentary feels personal and sui generis in a way few films do. Anderson combines abstract imagery, home footage, music, and text to paint a moving portrait of grief.
8. The Assassin (Hou Hsiao-Hsien)
Hou Hsiao-Hsien's first wuxia is among the most ravishingly beautiful films I've ever seen. But beyond the astonishing costumes and set design, the film is a meditative reflection on the meaning of taking a life.
7. Sicario (Denis Villeneuve)
From the gripping opening set piece, Sicario grabs you by the throat and never lets go. Leaving aside broader questions of the costs of the War on Drugs, the film instead chooses to focus on the no less important question of how the violence affects individuals.
6. Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller)
Thrillingly alive in a way few films are, the latest entry in the Mad Max franchise is a masterpiece of practical action. George Miller uses a mostly dialogue free narrative to pay tribute to the joys of silent cinema in a manner of which The Artist can only dream.
5. Inside Out (Pete Doctorow)
Hidden amidst the cleverly deployed lessons and pure emotion in Pixar's latest is a seriously funny script. Your inner Sadness has her work cut for her when you watch this film, for sure, but your Joy is kept equally busy.
4. Magic Mike XXL (Gregory Jacobs)
Believe me when I say: this film provided the most unabashed glee I felt at the movies this year. The film's gender politics are to be lauded, but no less noteworthy is how much fun it is to watch the Kings of Tampa grind, vogue, and mime ejaculation for audiences helpless to resist.
3. Love (Gaspar Noë)
Yes, this is the 3D movie with unsimulated sex scenes. But rather than existing merely to attract attention, the sex looks at intimacy and relationships with a degree of depth rare for film.
2. Chi-Raq (Spike Lee)
Spike Lee's latest is hilarious, heartbreaking, mad as hell, and urgent. Not many films feel this necessary or timely, and even fewer back up their zeitgeist grabbing with Lee's level of artistry.
1. Carol (Todd Haynes)
Carol is a gorgeous period piece, a rapturous romance, and an emotional roller coaster unlike any other film in 2015. Rather than hit you over the head with emotions, Todd Haynes and screenwriter Phyllis Nagy create a slow burning romance, relying on the exquisite acting and art direction to tell a stunning love story.
Follow Max on Twitter @mbled210
Categories: Featured, Freelancer Writers, Max Bledstein
Tagged as: 2015, Carol, Chi-Raq, Denis Villeneuve, Gaspar Noé, George Miller, Gregory Jacobs, Heart of a Dog, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Inside Out, Jan16, Laurie Anderson, Love, Mad Max: Fury Road, Magic Mike XXL, Max Bledstein, Pete Doctorow, Sicario, Spike Lee, Spotlight, The Assassin, Todd Haynes, Tom McCarthy, Top 10
Justine Peres Smith's Top 10 Films of 2015
Q.V. Hough's Top 10 Films of 2015


text:
Q: CUDA, how to implement dynamic array of struct in CUDA kernel I am trying to implement a structure that holds arrays of data
and I want to implement dynamic array, something like:
struct myStruct {
  float3 *data0, *data1;
};

__global__ void kernel(myStruct input) {
  unsigned int N = 2;
  while(someStatements) {
    data0 = new float3[N];
    // do somethings
    N *= 2;
  }
}

How can I do something like this in a CUDA kernel?

A: If you are going to run this code on either a compute capability 2.x or 3,x device, with a recent version of CUDA, your kernel code is very nearly correct. The C++ new operator is supported in CUDA 4.x and 5.0 on Fermi and Kepler hardware. Note that memory which is allocated using new or malloc is allocated on runtime heap on the device. It has the lifespan of the context in which is was created, but you currently cannot directly access it from the CUDA host API (so via cudaMemcpy or similar).
I turned your structure and kernel into a simple example code which you can try for yourself to see how it works:
#include <cstdio>

struct myStruct {
    float *data;
};

__device__
void fill(float * x, unsigned int n)
{
    for(int i=0; i<n; i++) x[i] = (float)i;
}

__global__
void kernel(myStruct *input, const unsigned int imax)
{
    for(unsigned int i=0,N=1; i<imax; i++, N*=2) {
        float * p = new float[N];
        fill(p, N);
        input[i].data = p;
    }
}

__global__
void kernel2(myStruct *input, float *output, const unsigned int imax)
{
    for(unsigned int i=0,N=1; i<imax; i++, N*=2) {
        output[i] = input[i].data[N-1];
    }
}

inline void gpuAssert(cudaError_t code, char * file, int line, bool Abort=true)
{
    if (code != 0) {
        fprintf(stderr, "GPUassert: %s %s %d\n", cudaGetErrorString(code),file,line);
        if (Abort) exit(code);
    }
}
#define gpuErrchk(ans) { gpuAssert((ans), __FILE__, __LINE__); }

int main(void)
{

    const unsigned int nvals = 16;
    struct myStruct * _s;
    float * _f, * f;

    gpuErrchk( cudaMalloc((void **)&_s, sizeof(struct myStruct) * size_t(nvals)) );
    size_t sz = sizeof(float) * size_t(nvals);
    gpuErrchk( cudaMalloc((void **)&_f, sz) );
    f = new float[nvals];

    kernel<<<1,1>>>(_s, nvals);
    gpuErrchk( cudaPeekAtLastError() );

    kernel2<<<1,1>>>(_s, _f, nvals);
    gpuErrchk( cudaPeekAtLastError() );
    gpuErrchk( cudaMemcpy(f, _f, sz, cudaMemcpyDeviceToHost) );
    gpuErrchk( cudaDeviceReset() );

    for(int i=0; i<nvals; i++) {
        fprintf(stdout, "%d %f\n", i, f[i]);
    }

    return 0;
}

A few points to note:

*

*This code will only compile and run with CUDA 4.x or 5.0 on a Fermi or Kepler GPU

*You must pass the correct architecture for your GPU to nvcc to compile it (for example I used nvcc -arch=sm_30 -Xptxas="-v" -o dynstruct dynstruct.cu to compile for a GTX 670 on linux)

*The example code uses a "gather" kernel to copy data from the structure in runtime heap to an allocation which the host API can access so that the results can be printed out. This is a work around for the limitation I mentioned earlier regarding cudaMemcpy not being able to copy directly from addresses in runtime heap memory. I was hoping this might be fixed in CUDA 5.0, but the most recent release candidate still has this restriction.


text:
SIS - Building a positive feedback loop | Red Walters
Racing the peloton wasn't a focus for Red Walters in his primary years. In fact, a bike was merely a mode of transportation to get from point A to B. When he did begin to concentrate on cycling, however, there were only a few BAME riders he could look up to. As he's successfully grown in the sport, Red recognizes how the stories of these BAME cyclists have positively impacted his career. He believes sharing his own can also have an impact on young cyclists.
Red grew up and went to school in London, which he found to be diverse and inclusive. When he was 10 years old, Red's parents decided to take him and his younger sister on a sailing expedition across the Atlantic to the Caribbean country of Grenada. Red had a chance to learn more about his heritage and experience where his family came from.
After two years, the Walters family returned to the UK and settled in Southampton. 12-year-old Red experienced some culture shock with this change, going from a place with a majority of people from African descent to another that felt like it was lacking diversity. Nonetheless, Red found common interests with his peers, such as math, science, and video games. He was still using his bike to get around, and it was at the time of his GCSE's did the idea of racing come to mind.
A deal was made with his parents, and if Red did well on his exams, he would be gifted his first racing bike. After receiving positive test results, Red suited up in lycra and adjusted to the different feel on his Ribble Gran Fondo. A week later, without being fully accustomed to his new ride, Walters entered his first race. He may have been lapped a few times, but the gratifying feeling of competing on the peloton was one he couldn't ignore. Red quickly joined his local cycling club, Sotonia CC, attended club rides on Sundays, and began to focus his efforts.
While he might've been one of the only BAME riders, Red attributes a part of why he's a professional cyclist to the club. "[Sotonia CC] made the sport appealing to me. They were all welcoming guys and helped me achieve some of the goals I had when I was first starting. I was able to get stronger during the 3 years I rode with them," Walters affirms. Through the support this club provided and his own competitive outlook, Red had exponential success and a chance to choose how he wanted to shape his career.
Before joining the Black Cyclists Network racing team this past June, Red was on a team with only white riders. It was also hard not to notice the lack of people from the BAME community at races. During this period, Walters thought more about the image cycling had and how People of Color perceived the sport. Reflecting on his own experiences growing up and the admiration he had for the few Black riders he followed, Red believed he could also lead by example and advocate for diversity within the sport.
When considering how to promote the visibility and accessibility of cycling to the BAME community, Walters believes, "a lot of it is about the public perception of a sport. It needs to be a positive feedback loop; the more the media shows cycling to be diverse, the more BAME people see it and want to join it. And if it's welcoming, it reinforces that positive feedback loop. It takes action from everyone. Clubs could help by inviting more BAME athletes to rides and promoting this inclusion on their social media. What BCN has done with the club rides is a great example. The number of riders from different backgrounds is huge!"
As a 21-year-old Black professional cyclist, he hopes he can be a good role model by showing what's achievable to others. Red maintains his focus on competing and constant progression, as well as promoting inclusion within cycling. Walters wants to make a difference by adding to the positive feedback loop and changing the public image of the sport.
SIS - Go harder for longer with Beta Fuel
SIS - Cycling as my Identity | Shuhena Islam
I've always wanted to be a lawyer, I was 17 years old, when I stepped foot into Clifford Chance,...
SIS - Interview with Rohan Dennis


text:
#ClangAutoComplete
=================

Sublime Text 3 plugin that offers auto-completion of C/C++ structure members or class attributes and methods.

This plug-in is still maintained, but not very actively. I recommend to consider [EasyClangComplete](https://packagecontrol.io/packages/EasyClangComplete) for more features and frequent updates.

![Example](example.png)

##Installation

1. Install "clang". Note that some people reported issue with clang 3.5.2 when compiled from Cygwin. If you are facing issues on Windows, try to download directly from the official [clang website](http://llvm.org/releases/download.html).
2. Install from Package Control, or clone this repository and put it in your Sublime's packages directory to install from git.
3. Edit the settings to your needs (in menu `Preferences/Package Settings/ClaugAutoComplete/Settings`).

##Troubleshooting
If completion does not work, it is almost always because of a problem with the `include_dirs` settings.

1. Set the `debug` settings to `"true"` and attempt completion. An output panel will appear containing the result of the process. For it to work, there has to be lines starting with `COMPLETION:`. If you see any error like `#include <file>: file not found`, you need to add the path to that file in the `include_dirs` settings.

2. The standard header files should automatically be located, but if nothing works, you should try to manually add them. Here is what it could look like

 ```C
 "include_dirs" : [
              "/usr/include/c++/4.4.7/",                      /* Where you find iostream, vector, etc. */
              "/usr/lib/clang/3.4.2/include",                 /* stdbool, etc */
              "/usr/include/c++/4.4.4/x86_64-redhat-linux/",  /* bits folder */
              "/usr/include",
 ```

 If you can't find the equivalent path try to search your system to find those key files and add the paths, i.e.

 ```bash
sudo find / -name "iostream"
sudo find / -name "stdbool.h"
sudo find / -name "c++config.h"
 ```

3. Make sure Sublime's own auto-complete settings are properly configured, I've had trouble with mine.
Here is my C.sublime-settings as an example

        {
                "auto_complete": true,
                "auto_complete_selector": "source - comment",
                "auto_complete_triggers":
                [
                        {
                                "characters": "."
                        },
                        {
                                "characters": ">"
                        },
                ],
                "extensions":
                [
                        "c",
                        "h"
                ]
        }

##Settings

 - include_dirs: List of directories where relevant header files are located
 - autocomplete_all: Trigger auto-completion on every keypress (will slow down sublime)
 - selectors: List of characters that will trigger auto-completion ( if "autocomplete_all" is set to "false" )
 - clang_binary: Location of clang binary (if it is not in the path)
 - You can copy the whole settings file under your project base folder named as ".clangautocomplete" to have the plugin load those instead of the general settings.
 - debug and verbose: Set to true to help understand what is going wrong (if completion is not working)

##Recommended plugins for C development
Here are some useful plugins I use alongside ClangAutoComplete to have a more complete experience.
- [CTags: Code navigation, goto definition](https://packagecontrol.io/packages/CTags)
- [SublimeLinter](https://packagecontrol.io/packages/SublimeLinter) and [SublimeLinter-contrib-clang](https://packagecontrol.io/packages/SublimeLinter-contrib-clang): Errors and warnings highlights.

##License
DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE

Version 2, December 2004

Copyright (C) 2016 Pierre-Louis Caron-Auger

Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim or modified copies of this license document, and changing it is allowed as long as the name is changed.

DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION

0.You just DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


In the run up to the 2016 Presidential election, biofuels seem to be on the front burner.
Signs of the aviation industry's growing enthusiasm for biofuels are emerging. FedEx is to buy 3 million gallons of "biojet" a year from Red Rock Biofuels, a Colorado company building a wood-to-fuel processing plant in southern Oregon. After striking a similar deal with Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) last year, Red Rock has now secured buyers for its total production capacity, even before breaking ground at the new plant.
The biojet industry has seen a flurry of activity since Virgin Atlantic (NASDAQ: VA) flew the first biofuel-powered commercial plane in 2008. More than 40 airlines, including major players such as United Airlines (NYSE: UAL), Cathay Pacific (HKG: 0293) and British Airways (LON: IAG), are now experimenting with biofuels, the Natural Resources Defense Council reports, and companies have collectively logged more than 600,000 miles of biofuel-powered flight time, including more than 1,600 commercial passenger flights.
Airlines see biofuels as a means of shielding themselves from oil-sector volatility, and of reining in growing fuel bills that, in spite of recently lowering crude prices, still comprise about a third of airlines' operating costs, up 13 percent from 2001. More importantly, however, airlines see biofuels as a means to curb their carbon emissions without flying fewer miles — a vital strategic capability for an industry that anticipates both a sharp increase in passenger numbers and the imposition of tough emissions restrictions in coming years. "It's about retaining, as an industry, our license to grow," explains Julie Felgar, managing director for environmental strategy at Boeing, which is coordinating an international biofuel research effort.
With corn ethanol unlikely to provide significant enough carbon savings, airlines are looking to purchase advanced biofuels produced from agricultural waste, household leftovers, and other non-food feedstocks. Several major industry groups have already made significant commitments, with the U.S. aviation industry pledging to use 1 billion gallons of biojet per year by 2018, and European airlines committing to use 600 million gallons per year by 2020. The U.S. military is also investing heavily in biojet, with the U.S. Air Force aiming to use alt-fuels for 50 percent of its total consumption by 2025, and an inter-agency defense initiative last year awarding $210 million to Red Rock and two other biofuel companies to promote commercial-scale biofuel production.
The carbon savings that biofuel blending will yield remain subject to debate. The Air Transport Action Group, an industry-backed group, says that biofuels have the potential to reduce the full-lifecycle carbon footprint of aviation fuel by 80 percent. Sustainable Aviation, a British trade group, is more conservative: it envisions only a 60 percent carbon-saving, but projects that biofuels could plausibly make up 40 percent of airlines' total fuel supply, reducing the industry's footprint by about a quarter.
The exact savings, however, depend on the feedstocks and land-management strategies used by biofuel producers. A 2010 lifecycle analysis found that well-run biojet projects could reduce carbon emissions by anything from 10 percent to 100 percent, depending on their feedstock, while poorly run projects could produce fuels with a total per-gallon footprint up to eight times greater than that of regular jet fuel.
Biofuel proponents admit that there are plenty of details still to be worked out, and anticipate that airlines will ultimately use a wide range of producers and biofuel feedstocks in order to develop locally appropriate supply chains for their major hubs. For now, though, investors should be happy that airlines are among the corporations putting serious R&D resources behind biofuels, writes energy analyst Justin Loiseau. "While biofuels are still an emerging industry, investors can rest easier knowing that these corporations are making smart strategic moves to keep their stocks strong and steady," he asserts.
Moving forward, says Red Rock co-founder Terry Kulesa, the key will be to get enough projects off the ground to show biojet's commercial viability. "If you can get the first project financed, then you have a lot of avenues. The ultimate goal is to get really low-carbon fuel at the end of the day," he says.
* United Airlines (NYSE: UAL) this year invested $30 million in Fulcrum BioEnergy, which is working with Waste Management to develop municipal-waste biofuel projects with a potential capacity of 180 million gallons of fuel a year.
* Since 2014, United has also been buying 5 million gallons of fuel a year from AltAir Fuels, a California company producing biojet from beef tallow. The biofuel is intended for use on flights out of United's LAX hub.
* Solena Fuels, a British municipal-waste processing startup, is working with British Airways to develop a new biofuels plant in the south of England. BA has committed to buy the plant's total output over the next 11 years, in a contract worth around $550 million at current prices.
* British firm Velocys (LON: VLS), formerly known as Oxford Catalysts, holds several key patents for gas-to-liquids technologies, and is providing the equipment and knowhow for several planned biomass jet-fuel plants in the U.S. and elsewhere.


In July 2017 I announced a "Spread The Word" competition for readers of my books. I said the prize would be a very, very, very good bottle of wine, to be awarded in October 2017.
The winner, AP of Montreal, championed "The Twelve Man Bilbo Choir" for her book club, and invited me to Montreal to chat with the book club.
In June 2017 I published "Just One More Page", a novel for children aged six to ten years old. It's the story of a tame dragon that runs wild, and the story of two children caught in the chaos.
Surprise: adults love it too.