text:
Sources deny A-Rod claiming he was duped
6yWallace Matthews
How the internet helped crack the Astros' sign-stealing case
4dJoon Lee
Buzzers, burner accounts and conspiracies: Inside baseball's day of epic chaos
4dJeff Passan
Mets catch break as Carlos Beltran era ends before it begins
5dBuster Olney
MLB players, execs on sign-stealing scandal: Astros' tarnished rep, what they knew and more
6dAlden Gonzalez and Jesse Rogers
Potential candidates to replace AJ Hinch as Astros manager
5dDan Mullen
Lefty Blevins joins Giants on minor league deal
Cards' Carpenter 'wanted to apologize' after '19
King Felix gets minor league deal with Braves
Astros' Altuve confident 'everything will be fine'
Cards' Bader on starting in CF: 'It's my position'
HOF: Death won't get ineligible players into Hall
3dDon Van Natta
Martinez confident Red Sox did nothing wrong
Source: Astros to interview Baker for manager
Survey: Fans want Astros players punished too
Darvish now asks: Were Astros stealing off me?
3dJesse Rogers
Sources deny A-Rod report
Wallace MatthewsESPN Staff Writer
Wallace Matthews has covered New York sports since 1983 as a reporter, columnist, radio host and TV commentator. He covers the Yankees for ESPNNewYork.com after working for Newsday, the New York Post, the New York Sun and ESPN New York 98.7 FM.
Follow Wallace on Twitter » Chat archive »
NEW YORK -- Sources familiar with the strategy to be employed by Alex Rodriguez in his appeal of a 211-game suspension strongly denied a report alleging that the New York Yankees third baseman would claim he had been duped by Anthony Bosch into believing he was taking legal supplements.
Alex Rodriguez is appealing his 211-game suspension from MLB before an arbitrator this week. AP Photo/David Karp
"We cannot provide any details of this hearing, as the chair of the arbitration panel has issued an order prohibiting all parties from commenting publicly on the confidential proceedings, but what is being reported is not true," said a statement issued Wednesday by Ron Berkowitz, Rodriguez's publicist.
The first two days of proceedings at Major League Baseball's headquarters on Park Avenue were dominated by MLB presenting its case against Rodriguez, who was suspended in August for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal. Baseball's case included the testimony of Bosch, the proprietor of the now-defunct Coral Gables, Fla., anti-aging clinic.
But a source told ESPNNewYork.com that Rodriguez's lawyers had yet to present any arguments or evidence beyond an opening statement and instead were expected to begin cross-examination of Bosch on Wednesday afternoon.
The New York Daily News reported Wednesday that Rodriguez's attorneys "have presented a case based partly" on the claim that the three-time MVP believed the supplements he received from Biogenesis were legal. The hearing before arbitrator Fredric Horowitz initially was expected to last through the rest of the week.
Rodriguez left MLB's headquarters at 5:47 p.m. ET and signed autographs for 10 minutes before getting into a black SUV.
Asked by the assembled media how things went in the proceedings, both Rodriguez and his attorney Joseph Tacopina said, "Good."
Bosch left at 6:15 p.m. According to a source who spoke with ESPNNewYork.com on condition of anonymity, the cross-examination of Bosch by Tacopina has not started yet and it's unlikely that the hearing will be finished by Friday.
Rodriguez was suspended Aug. 5 for alleged violations of baseball's drug agreement and labor contract. Because he's a first-time offender under the drug program and the players' association filed a grievance to force an appeal, a suspension can't start until it is upheld by an arbitrator.
The union argues the discipline is without just cause and is excessive. If the case doesn't settle, a decision by Horowitz is expected this winter.
Rodriguez was among 14 players penalized by MLB this year following the sport's investigation of Biogenesis, which is accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. The others accepted their penalties, including 2011 National League MVP Ryan Braun, who missed the season's final 65 games.
Information from ESPNNewYork.com's Mike Mazzeo and The Associated Press was used in this report.


Back in 2011, LuxSci integrated Duo.com's advanced two-factor authentication into our WebMail service. Any LuxSci customer can use Duo.com to protect their WebMail, as well as their admin access to LuxSci. This all comes at no extra cost.
We even use Duo's authentication ourselves. It's great for administrative actions both at the server command line and through the web interface. An advanced two-factor authentication system such as Duo.com is excellent for enhancing a system's security. It is a requirement for PCI compliance and can be helpful for HIPAA compliance as well.
The new Duo Access service is an innovative way to enforce corporate security policies, helping businesses to drastically cut their risks. Duo's Jim Simpson has taken some time out of his schedule to answer some questions for us and discuss the details of their service.
What is your name, title, and role at Duo.com? How long have you worked there?
I'm Jim Simpson, the Director of Product Management, and I've been at Duo 6 years.
How and when did Duo.com start?
We have been around since December 2009, so about 7 years.
What is wrong with the typical method of using SMS / text messages for a second factor?
One of the biggest problems is that SMS messages can be intercepted. The simplicity of text messages makes them useful for some types of authentication, but it all depends on the risk profile. At the end of the day, you have to balance risk with ease of use. The decision of whether SMS is secure enough for a given situation is really up to the administrator.
Duo.com allows companies to select from many different second factors: SMS, phone, token, mobile app, etc. How do these rank in terms of security?
U2F tokens are the most secure, because they are unphishable. After that would come Duo Push, followed by the other methods.
Can you briefly highlight some of the aspects of Duo.com two-factor that really make a difference for administrators?
Ease of deployment and ease of maintenance are the most critical parts for administrators. The versatility of Duo's granular controls for managing risk between users, devices, and applications is important as well.
The need for multiple authentication factors is really a symptom of the security problems involved with passwords. What do you see as the future of passwords and the evolution beyond them?
Authentication technology will continue to evolve to provide stronger attestation that a user is who they claim to be. It will also get completely out of the way of the user at some stage. Continuous and passwordless authentication will also come into focus in the next year.
At LuxSci, we use our same Duo.com logins to protect access to support-level functionality, to UNIX logins, and to WordPress blogs. What types of devices and applications are integrated with Duo.com?
Duo supports a tremendous number of applications. We recognize that our customers have a diverse product stack, so we look to cover as much as possible, both on-premises and in the cloud. We leverage open protocols to support applications where we don't necessarily have a native integration. You can see all the things we support on our documentation page at http://duo.com/docs/.
A new service offered by Duo.com is "Duo Access" which allows administrators visibility into the software and configurations of their users' desktop and mobile devices. Can you describe how Duo Access works?
Duo Access validates that users are who they say they are. It also ensures that devices match a certain level of security hygiene before it grants access to the applications they need. As end users access applications, we gain insight into their devices. This allows administrators to set custom security policy on a per-app, per-group, or combined basis, in a way that meets their overall security profile.
Duo Access seems like a significant and unique way to allow corporate security administrators to enforce aspects of device and BYOD security policies. Can you elaborate on this? What other applications are you seeing for Duo Access?
Duo Access gives administrators the ability to protect their cloud and on-premises applications, as well as helping to manage the BYOD environment. This gives them the same level of control that they had when everyone worked on site, and used applications inside the building or corporate-issued devices.
Compliance laws such as HIPAA put a strong emphasis on access control and logging. How can Duo.com assist companies in meeting their compliance needs?
Duo can be used to meet a variety of compliance requirements. You can read the specifics in our case studies.
Use of Duo.com for two-factor access for up to 10 users is free. This really enables small businesses to upgrade to a strong level of access control at no cost. What does Duo.com pricing look like in general?
This is a really easy question to answer! Check out our pricing page here: https://duo.com/pricing.
What is on the horizon for Duo.com? What can we look forward to in the next year?
Duo is working to build on our new edition, Duo Beyond. We will also continue to strengthen Duo Access, and maintain the world's easiest MFA experience with Duo MFA.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 26th, 2017 at 5:16 pm	and is filed under Business Solutions. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.


And, the best place to start, once you have that idea in your head, is to GET IT ON PAPER. One of the first challenges is coming up with a plan that you can work from. It's important to have a plan, something that you can sketch your ideas on. Luckily you can go to the town hall, if a property owner, get a plot plan that you can use. The plot plan Bill has is small, thus on a scale where it's difficult to operate from. One couldn't get any meaningful design on this small piece of paper. But it's easy to find a copy type machine and blow this plan up to a workable scale. Bill's has been blown up to a scale where 1 inch on paper equals 10 feet on the ground. This is a nice size for planting design. If the scale is too big it's hard to work with because you will have this giant piece of paper; if the scale is too small, it's difficult to get design detail.
WITH THE PLAN THE CORRECT SIZE, DEVELOP YOUR CONCEPT OF WHAT YOU WANT FOR THAT SPACE. In this case they had a septic system installed and looked at that as an opportunity to have a lawn where they could have events for wedding receptions, to set up tents and that sort of thing. So, the concept was fairly simple, just a lawn over the leech field with pathway systems through the raised areas where they will have sweeps of perennials with muted colors and some screening.
The next step is most helpful, DO A SIMPLE SITE ANALYSIS OF THE AREA, it doesn't need to be sophisticated, but think about things like where is the sun coming from, is there anything I want to screen from view, how am I going to move through the space, where are the different areas and different features, or are there views to emphasize? These are simple things but will help immensely in organizing the design.
Once the site analysis is complete, then come up with THE PATHWAY OR HARDSCAPE ELEMENTS because as Bruce pointed out the hardscape and how you lay out the paths and rocks and walls and other features really define the space. If you get that right, if you like the area with no plants, if you like the way the paths are laid out, you will have a great garden once the plants are added. Bruce shows his plan with the path layout, which is based on how they figure people will move through the space. If you have something like this, and it doesn't need to be fancy, you can then show something like this to a good contractor and they'll be able to take it, run with it and put it in.
Once the path system, along with other elements you might want to add, is designed on paper you can START ADDRESSING PLANT MATERIAL. What Bill likes to do before adding plants is to come up with a long list of plants that he wants to use. You don't need to use them all but he finds it easier to work off a list, rather than trying to keep thinking of things. He finds the internet great for this, he can type in something pink and perennial into an image search and come up with a long list of different plants. By doing this he may find one that he hadn't thought of and that can be added to his list. He can then start roughly sketching things in, drawing blobs, putting one blob here, one there.
TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW MANY PLANTS HE WILL NEED it's helpful to take one more step. He has a simple circle template that can be purchased at a craft or art supply store. If you know your scale and if you know that a particular perennial is 24 inches wide once it's mature you can measure on that scale and get the right size circle. Then start drawing them in to get the spacing right. It's quick and relatively easy and is most helpful in planning the number of plants you will need for your plan. Bill also finds it helpful to color in the circles with the appropriate color. If it is a white flower, blue, etc, color that color in.
Bill likes to take a decent size area and PLACE THE NEW PLANTS ON TOP OF THE SOIL while still in their containers. Bill and Joe start doing just that. Even though Bill has a written plan, everything was drawn out as to quantities and spacing, there is no sign of the plan in the field. And that is on purpose. Bill has the plan in his head, he knows basically where he wants the plants to be, but there are always rocks or other items in the space, things change as you go. Thus in reality the plants might be moved somewhat, or he may feel that he doesn't like the way something is working so he lays out all the plants before putting them in the ground.
THE PERENNIALS IN THIS BED HAVE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY HAVE FORM AND TEXTURE. And they all work together. Bill believes that foliage that is soft or bold, or has a coarse texture influences how one reads the garden, more so than the colors. That's because even the best perennials are only going to bloom for part of the season, but the leaves can be present throughout all the seasons. Therefore pair a coarse textured plant with fine textured plants, they will really set each other off. For example, pairing a coarse textured plant with Hubrict's Blue Star that is fine textured works well. Pairing Poa supina 'Supina Bluegrass' with Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette' Black Bugbane provides both the color difference and the textural difference. It's a nice way to create contrast. If one has a garden that's all medium texture your eye will read it as a big blob and boring.
BILL WAITS UNTIL THEY START POKING OUT OF THE GROUND SO YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND DON'T STEP ON THEIR HEAD, to come in and put down an inch or so, at the most, of fresh mulch. It will keep that big layer on there, keeps the weeds out and makes it look fresh and clean for spring. At that time they also sprinkle a little granular fertilizer around the plants.
One of the things Bill finds hard himself is to just get started. WITH A PLAN IN PLACE IT PROVIDES THOSE STARTING POINTS, where to start, how to begin your landscape and garden. The plan helps you work through that process, it helps you think it through, so when it actually comes to putting plants in the ground, you've done a lot of the groundwork and it will go much more smoothly. The results here speak for themselves.
Stunning flower beds, native plants and beautiful gardens - these are important elements in every Garden Smart show. But, there is often a tendency to overlook or forget the work that goes into the finished product. In this Episode we go behind the scenes at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden (CMBG) and take a look at the plans and tools the pro's use in designing these beautiful gardens. Whether planning, designing, or even planting a garden, this show has garden lessons galore.
Bruce Riddell is first up. Bruce was involved in the design phase at CMBG. Bruce grew up in Maine, his interest in gardens developed during childhood looking at gardens with his grandfather who was an estate gardener in Bar Harbor and had studied at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland. He had been recruited to come to Bar Harbor during the Great Cottage Era and worked on many large estates. Bruce grew up walking the grounds and admiring those gardens. After graduating with an undergraduate English degree Bruce took a summer job and coincidentally worked on the McCormick Estate which was one of the gardens his grandfather had worked on in the 1970's. With encouragement from the McCormick family Bruce went back to study at the Univ. of Pennsylvania where received a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture. After that he went to work for Oehme van Sweden & Associates in Washington, DC. The firm is best known for their New American Garden Style, which is mixing ornamental grasses and perennials with native plant materials in naturalistic settings. After 8 and 1/2 years Bruce decided to return to Maine and started his own design firm which he calls Land Art. He designs large estate gardens as well as a few public parks such as the Charlotte Roads Butterfly Garden and the Veteran's Park, both located in Southwest Harbor. He tries to design the gardens from the ground up. He usually starts with the hardscape - which is the placement of stone and boulders, creating terraces, walkways and walls as well as placement of other elements within the garden. All will frame the plants throughout the season. Bruce hopes that he has not developed a theme of his own, rather he tries to design all his gardens to reflect the unique tastes of his clients, the site and the environment.
Bruce has some suggestions for home gardeners when designing their gardens. Whether designing terraces, walkways, even a small terrace to surround your house, look at how the stonework and hardscape will frame that garden throughout the seasons, then develop a planting plan. Also remember that the scale when laying out terraces and walkways must be much larger because the plants, sooner or later, will close in over the edges and actually shrink it down. Joe thanks Bruce for the information, says good by and is off to meet Bill Cullina.
Bill Cullina is the Plant Curator at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden. In addition to being Plant Curator he oversees the development of this garden. This is the perfect job for him, it fits with his interests and his background. He studied landscape architecture and horticulture in college. When some hear of a landscape architect they think that person knows about laying out paths and drainage but not so much about plants. Bill didn't want to fall into that category, thus studied horticulture at the same time because he feels it's important to learn about soils, fertilization, all the things that have to do with the living part of the garden, the parts that make the garden great.
Before the gardens were built at CMBG they had a master plan which is basically looking at everything they want to do and coming up with a plan that details how everything knits together. This allows them to do different parts at different times, but it all works as a whole.
But in the home setting most don't have the kind of discipline nor the background that Bill does. We typically go to the nursery, look around, see that plant in bloom and think that is something that will look great in our garden. Then we get home and don't have the place picked out for it and we end up plunking it wherever we can find room. That is not the best plan. Bill, too, has been there. Someone might give him a plant and he will stumble around looking for a place to put it. But whether ten square feet or a thousand square feet it does pay, before you buy the plants, to step back, look at the big picture, look at the site conditions, look at how you want to move through the space, all of those things, before shopping for plants.
Once the site analysis is complete, then come up with THE PATHWAY OR HARDSCAPE ELEMENTS because as Bruce pointed out the hardscape and how you lay out the paths and rocks and walls and other features really define the space. If you get that right, if you like the area with no plants, if you like the way the paths are laid out, you will have a great garden once the plants are added. Bruce shows his plan with the path layout, which is based on how they figure people will move through the space. If you have something like this, and it doesn't need to be fancy, you can then show something like this to a good contractor and they'll be able to take it, run with it and put it in. Bill often goes out with a little white survey flag, you could use hoses, anything similar to stake it out or show the pathways; this will help you lay out the paths.
Once the path system, along with other elements you might want to add, is designed on paper you can START ADDRESSING PLANT MATERIAL. What Bill likes to do before adding plants is to come up with a long list of plants that he wants to use. You don't need to use them all but he finds it easier to work off a list, rather than trying to keep thinking of things. He finds the internet great for this, he can type in something pink and perennial into an image search and come up with a long list of different plants. By doing this he may find one that he hadn't thought of and that can be added to his list. He can then start roughly sketching things in, drawing blobs, putting one blob here, one there. On his plan he points out that he has screening plants, large conifers on the side, and some woody plants and sweeps of perennials.
TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW MANY PLANTS HE WILL NEED it's helpful to take one more step. He has a simple circle template that can be purchased at a craft or art supply store. If you know your scale and if you know that a particular perennial is 24 inches wide once it's mature you can measure on that scale and get the right size circle. Then start drawing them in to get the spacing right. It's quick and relatively easy and is most helpful in planning the number of plants you will need for your plan. Bill also finds it helpful to color in the circles with the appropriate color. If it is a white flower, blue, etc, color that color in. That way it is easy to see that you have a lot of white, etc. in any given area. And when complete count all the plants, make your list, take it to the nursery and get your plants. You can get started.
The guys next go outside to get started. They're at the edge of what will be their newest garden, the Garden of the Five Senses. Although this is a big project, it is obvious that they're doing what we just discussed, they're laying out the paths, building the stone walls, getting the bones of the garden and the hardscape done, all the preparation done. Then they'll come back at the end and put in the plants. So, big or small the process is the same.
The next space is the space we just viewed on paper. This is the actual garden, the paths are in and it's easy to see that they define the space. Before it was just huge mounds of fill soil and wood chips; now that the paths are in it defines the beds and they're getting ready to put in the plants. They have also brought in a lot of soil amendments, adding about a 6 inch layer of good compost over the whole area. Whether buying in bulk or in the bag putting your money in good compost, especially when dealing with poor soil is prudent. It's very important for the plants. They have a lot of great plants coming in and Bill wants to give them the best possible growing environment and the best way to do that is to provide the best soil possible.
Bill likes to take a decent size area and PLACE THE NEW PLANTS ON TOP OF THE SOIL while still in their containers. Bill and Joe start doing just that. Even though Bill has a written plan, everything was drawn out as to quantities and spacing, there is no sign of the plan in the field. And that is on purpose. Bill has the plan in his head, he knows basically where he wants the plants to be, but there are always rocks or other items in the space, things change as you go. Thus in reality the plants might be moved somewhat, or he may feel that he doesn't like the way something is working so he lays out all the plants before putting them in the ground. When designing on paper or when laying the plants out the question of - where do I start - frequently pops up. Bill likes to start with something structural whether a tree or a shrub or a grouping of shrubs. In this case the Phytolacca americana 'Silberstein variegated pokeweed is a large perennial. He starts laying those out and works in and around towards the edges. The Amsonia hubrichtii 'Arkansas Blue Star' gets high when mature so he considered that and how it will look with the other plants. The plan was more conceptual, here he can tweak the plan. Bill works sort of a triangular pattern. He doesn't plant in straight lines, instead he plants how one would find plants in nature, thus does try to work in triangles which helps keep plants from ending up with a bunch of straight rows. He will frequently step back when planting to make sure that things aren't looking like they are in straight rows. The straight lines make it look too contrived, especially with a naturalistic looking bed like this which is alongside a curved pathway. It would really look out of place. They discuss some of the other plants. The goal was to keep the palettes rather subdued with yellow, white, pink and blue, colors that tie it together and unite the garden as a whole. The colors will also work beautifully as a wedding and reception kind of garden.
Bill's goal was to work with the topography, bringing in drifts of plants going across the slopes. This is the case with the Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian sage which seems to flow with the bed and slope. The Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan' White Coneflower on the other hand isn't a continuous weave and that was by design. One doesn't always have to have a whole line of something, but often your eye will read it that way. If there is a clump here and a clump there and you pick it up farther down the way, then even further, your eye will read that as a repeating pattern. One sees that all the time in nature. You will see something, then something completely different, then something completely different, it gives a more natural and more finished look. It knits it all together.
Bill comments that the Sticta pulmonaria 'Lungwort' in the south is a plant that thrives in the shade and doesn't do well in full sun, while clearly here in Maine it is in full sun and will thrive. The reason is that the sun in the south is much more intense. Thus Lungwort here, because of the cooler temperatures and because the sun isn't as hot, does well in the sun, it can almost take full sun. And that is something that must be considered when choosing plants. Try to pick plants that are suitable for your situation.
As they view the plants further up the hill they have ferns and other plants that are more adapted to full shade under trees. No matter where one lives it's important to put the right plant in the right place. One can't take a cookie cutter approach to design. A lot of that comes from experience and from talking with friends that have experience with plants. Oftentimes, to know how something will grow, one must simply try it yourself. To make the process more confusing the labels can be deceiving because they could be describing conditions in other areas. For example, what might grow in full sun here might very well not grow in full sun in Atlanta, it would cook. Thus experience is often the best teacher.
The guys look at the bed on the opposite side of the path. This bed is similar to the one just visited but this has been completely planted, the plants are out of their containers and in the ground and Bill has added mulch. Once in, they added fertilizer and have added compost because the soil here was poor. They're trying a new product which is a a mulch blended with compost about 50/50, a bark mulch with compost. The idea is that it will do all the good things that mulch does, suppress weeds, conserve moisture, cool the soil, give it a nice finished look but it also has nutrients. One of the problems when you put down, especially wood based mulches, pine straw, things like that, is they tend to lock up some of the nutrients in the soil for a while, this new product will hopefully circumvent that issue.
Once it breaks down it frees up those nutrients to replenish the soil but because it is organic material and does break down you do need to come back periodically and add a fresh amount to replenish the nutrients. In the spring, with perennials, BILL WAITS UNTIL THEY START POKING OUT OF THE GROUND SO YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND DON'T STEP ON THEIR HEAD, to come in and put down an inch or so, at the most, of fresh mulch. It will keep that big layer on there, keeps the weeds out and makes it look fresh and clean for spring. At that time they also sprinkle a little granular fertilizer around the plants.
But no matter how much prep and planning when placing those plants it requires tweaking. The same thing can be done with mature plants, if that plant isn't happy, it's better to dig it up and move it because when it is in the right place it will look its best. Bill finds that no matter how he likes the design on paper, how he likes it when planted, he always comes back in a few years and says maybe I'll add this here or move this over here. But it's a lot easier once you've got the good bones down, the paths the way you like them, everything the way you like, you can then go back and tweak until you get it just right.
Good advice Bill. Thanks for your time and expert advice. You've done a wonderful job at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, it is a testament to your planning and horticultural abilities.


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Q: Eigen custom classes and function parameters I'm trying to replace a matrix library currently used in my code using Eigen. I've got several classes like this one adding custom methods to base matrix class. In this example I replaced the father class with Eigen:
#include <iostream>
#include <eigen3/Eigen/Dense>

class MyVectorType: public Eigen::Matrix<double, 3, 1> {
public:
    MyVectorType(void) :
            Eigen::Matrix<double, 3, 1>() {
    }
    typedef Eigen::Matrix<double, 3, 1> Base;
    // This constructor allows you to construct MyVectorType from Eigen expressions
    template<typename OtherDerived>
    MyVectorType(const Eigen::MatrixBase<OtherDerived>& other) :
            Eigen::Matrix<double, 3, 1>(other) {
    }
    // This method allows you to assign Eigen expressions to MyVectorType
    template<typename OtherDerived>
    MyVectorType & operator=(const Eigen::MatrixBase<OtherDerived>& other) {
        this->Base::operator=(other);
        return *this;
    }
    void customMethod() {
        //bla bla....
    }
};

The big problem is that is not really easy to manage custom classes in methods. Example:
void foo(MyVectorType& a) {
    ....
    a.customMethod();
}

void foo(Eigen::Ref<MyVectorType::Base> a) {
    ....
    a.customMethod(); <---can't call customMethod here
}

Eigen::Matrix<double, -1, -1, 0, 15, 15> m(3,1);
foo(m); <---can't call it with m;
Eigen::Map<Matrix<double, 3, 1> > map(m.data(), 3, 1);
Eigen::Ref<Matrix<double, 3, 1> > ref(map);
foo(ref); <---it works but I can't call custom method

Usually Eigen provides Ref template class but I cannot use it with custom classes because if I use Ref, I won't be able to call customMethod inside foo in this example, I should Eigen::Ref in my example. Avoiding the use of Ref is a big problem because using Map and Ref Eigen objects is quite important to cast dynamic matrix to fixed one and perform other cast operations.
Final question: what's the best strategy to use Eigen in this case?

A: There are at least three approaches:

*

*Get rid of MyVectorType and make customMethod a member of MatrixBase via the plugin mechanism.

*Get rid of MyVectorType and make customMethod a free function.

*Specialize Eigen::Ref<MyVectorType> by letting it inherit Ref<MyVectorType::Base> and its constructor, add a customMethod method and factorize the two methods by calling an internal free function customMethod_impl.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


In a new program which they call FoodShare, Starbucks teams up with Food Donation Connection and Feeding America to donate all of its food that it doesn't sell to food banks. Starbucks claims that by the end of its first year in the program they will donate approximately 5 million meals. That's a lot of meals!
More than 7,000 branches across the US will be involved in the program. Food Donation Connection and Feeding America will pick up unsold food from these Starbucks and redistribute them.
Incredible! We hope many other food chains follow in their footsteps and help feed the needy. Why throw away food when there are so many people who are going hungry on the streets.


I've decided to bring the release date of the podcast ahead. Initially, I wanted to release it in the summer of 2018. Now, though, I think I can begin it in January 2018! Woohoo! I've updated the 'Start Here' page.


Yorkshire Care Training Ltd is a Hull based Training Provider of Apprenticeships and stand alone qualifications specialising in Health & Social care. The company was established in 2012 and has grown significantly since. Overall success rates have been consistently above 95% and we continue to always improve this. The assessment team at Yorkshire Care Training Ltd personalise Qualification to meet the needs of each individual Apprentice ensuring they maximise every learning opportunity to ensure a competent and timely completion. The delivery staff always ensure the employer is included in the delivery process and are included in the Apprentice reviews so that they are able to feedback and be informed of progress made.


text:
how to be a success at everything
The Secret To Fixing The Bad Habits You May Not Know You Have
Most of us don't see the flaws in ourselves that other people do. Step one is finding out what you're overlooking.
[Photo: Everett Collection via Shutterstock]
By Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic 5 minute Read
Most people are unaware of their bad habits. That's normal. Psychologically, we're inclined to think of ourselves in a more positive light than others tend to see us.
And it cuts both ways: Much the way that we're pretty quick to see other people's faults that they don't see themselves, our friends, family, and coworkers are probably better at picking out our own less-than-desirable traits than we may like to think.
What Others Think About You Matters
It's pretty normal for us to dismiss the downsides to our personalities that we're less liable to see.
Yet at the same time, it's pretty normal for us to dismiss the downsides to our personalities that we're less liable to see–because in general, our self-views matter more to us than other people's attitudes.
However, scientific research indicates that other people's views of us still count for quite a bit–especially when it comes to how we act. Others' impressions of us have been shown to predict our future behaviors more accurately than our self-views do.
What's more–and whether or not we like to admit it–just about every major decision in our lives depends a great deal on what other people think of us, from whether to take that job to whom to date or marry. It therefore doesn't matter so much whether you think you're great if other people don't agree with you.
And on balance, that's a far worse scenario than when other people like you more than you like yourself–the approximate difference between a despotic leader, on the one hand, and merely a self-critical perfectionist on the other.
Nothing Beats Bad Feedback
With this in mind, it's easy to understand why the most important step for diagnosing your own bad habits and toxic behaviors starts with getting honest, critical feedback from others. In other words, what you really need is negative feedback–the kind that actually makes you feel bad about your performance or behavior, because it shows you that you aren't doing so well.
This is easier said than done, of course. We're predisposed to seeking positive rather than negative feedback–fishing for compliments from people who like us–and, even when we don't, other people are usually uncomfortable providing constructive criticism. (It's one of the perils of living in a civilized world where polite etiquette rules.)
One way to overcome this problem is by making it easier for others to critique you. For example, instead of asking people "Was that okay?" ask, "How could I have done it better?" or, "What do you think was wrong with it?" Likewise, rather than soliciting feedback from those you already know to be kind to you, try asking the advice of folks who are hard to impress and even a little impersonal.
Another important factor is sample size, so to speak. Crowdsource your feedback from as many people you can. Ask 10 colleagues (including your peers, bosses, and, if you manage people, your direct reports) what the worst two things are about your work habits or management style. Then aggregate their answers in order to look for the faults that stick out the most.
If this sounds too harsh, then phrase it this way:
I'm trying to get better at my job and in order to achieve that, I'm asking several people what the two biggest areas for improvement might be. What do you think I could do better? What behaviors should I stop or start doing in order to be more effective?
This can make it less personal, too–which means less wounding for you and less awkward for others to point out; it isn't about you, it's about your actions, which can always be improved.
Getting Serious About Change
What you really need is negative feedback—the kind that actually makes you feel bad about your performance or behavior.
Of course, diagnosing the problem doesn't mean solving it. Many people are fully aware of their flaws but unable (or unwilling) to fix them. In most cases, what they lack is motivation–and this, too, is only human. Habits take a long time to form, which makes them hard to change. They're the results of inherent or natural tendencies that are generally effortless. You can think of them as the evolutionary products of psychological inertia.
But even if it takes more effort to break habits than to make them, it isn't impossible to do so. The secret is to really want to change. Without that sincere desire, there's no commitment to the work it'll take. All you'll experience is a sense of guilt, similar to the kind we experience when we're procrastinating on things we don't really care about doing.
There's an old joke psychologists tell that illustrates this perfectly:
Q: How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: One–so long as the lightbulb really wants to change.
Unfortunately, most people aren't as serious about change as they think. They may want the desired end-state or benefits without wanting to adopt the behaviors it'll take to attain them. As Paul Arden, former creative director of Saatchi & Saatchi, has written, we generally don't take the meaning of "want" seriously enough: "I want means: if I want it enough I will get it. Getting what you want means making the decisions you need to make to get what you want."
If you're serious about your goals, in other words, then you'll do what it takes to achieve them. So as long as there's a genuine will, then the effort and persistence will follow quite painlessly, particularly if you don't try to focus on too many habits at once and if the behaviors you target are specific and quantifiable.
For example, instead of attempting to "be nicer," try instead to pay at least three compliments to people every day or make sure you don't say more than one negative thing to someone each day. This way you have a clear behavior and a numerical target to aim for. Likewise, instead of "being more organized," consider spending the first 30 minutes of the day prioritizing key goals and the last 30 reviewing your progress.
There's no universal formula for correcting your negative tendencies–especially the ones you don't know you have–but you can make progress if you're dedicated and meticulous about monitoring concrete goals and behaviors.
And in the end, the ultimate measure of your progress comes back to other people. If you get better feedback from the same people who provided the constructive criticism at the outset, you know you're making headway. Before long, your self-views and their views of you will begin inching ever closer together.
Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is an international authority in leadership assessment, people analytics, and talent management

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


will the long term uptrend line hold(black line)? I think not!
wave B should be complete.wave 5 is ending. likelihood is down lets see what the next couple of weeks bring.
gold failed to make new high. possible double top but I'm going to play it day by day sentiment can change fast..
2014 we had a thrust down in the euro (wave A) then we have been in consolidation for quite some time (wave B) now I am looking for another thrust down. I am going to short now 1/4 position as a feeler will add when more information comes. first goal to the bottom of the channel.
this pattern almost always breaks to the up side.
rounding top inside wedge usually breaks to the downside.
apple hit the top of channel and fell under the last wave up forming a bearish flag sell the up moves under the structure if it goes inside the structure sell heavily!
looking to ride wave C as far as it will go.
time to ride wave C!!!
possible inverse head and shoulders.
head and shoulders at a support.
keep an eye on the channel resistance if it does not break through and makes a distinct W pattern close trade.
trade at your own risk. but the chart is showing us there should be a pullback.
nice bottoming pattern should continue to go up. stop loss just under the flag forming.
possible head and shoulders forming. keep an eye on it. there is a lot of money to made on this wave!


About a million years ago, when I first decided I wanted to write a book, I knew no one else who had done so. Not even in a cousin's-friend's-neighbour's-dog's-aunt kind of way. Of course, this was back in the days pre-internet when if you wanted to meet people with similar interests, you had to actually physically go out and find them.
Later I got to know of a few people who had written books (in the cousin's-friend's-dog kind of way), but it wasn't until the last few years when I got seriously stuck in on 'The Secret Dead' that I actually got to know other writers and got involved in the writing community.
One of the best decisions I ever made was joining Meetup and going along to a Write Together group. Write Together is the brainchild of a guy named Joao who managed to find a fix for a very writer-y problem: procrastination. We all know we intend to write at home, but there's always a distraction. Always a reason to put it off for another five minutes. And writing groups? Well, most of them either focus on critiquing (so you'll have to have actually written the work), or on 'Prompts' or 'Themes'. Again, not a bad thing if you're looking for inspiration, but not all that handy on finishing the novel that's been sitting at the back of your drawer for five years.
The idea behind Write Together is a group of writers getting together and…writing. That's it. It's a very simple concept and one that has become increasingly popular. We all work quietly on our own projects and at the end of the session (2/3/4 hours or longer) usually have a chat about writing. There's no pressure to share (something that fills me with terror), or write anything off-topic. Something about being in the same place at the same time every week with people in the same boat turns on the switch in my brain marked 'Writing Mode', and from the conversations I've had with fellow writers, I'm not the only one.
It was one of the first things I missed when I moved out of London. However, (yay) it turns out that Bristol is churning with creative people. Someone I met described it as 'all you can eat art' which is a fabulously accurate description. I've met more writers in the last two months than in ten years in London. The place is lousy with writers' groups. None was quite the 'Write Together' concept so I tagged along to one of the ones already there and tacked my own meetups to it. And again, it's helped me meet some lovely people. I'd love to be able to fast-forward a few years and see what they'll all have accomplished/published then.
When you have a passion for something, there's nothing quite like getting to meet another person with the same passion, and getting to have the kind of really intense conversation that involves a lot of head-nodding and excitement. If you're an introverty type like me, it's even better, because you don't have to make small talk. There's an automatic wonderful subject to talk about. Perfect.
So, if you're a Bristolian look us up on Meetup (Writing!), and if you're a Londoner, there are Write Together meetups almost every day to pop along to. And if you're neither here nor there, then find out what is out there in your area. Or start a group if there isn't one. You won't be sorry.
Most of the writers I know are online, but there's a small group here that I'm a part of. The core group is just the three of us (a really wonderful size, btw), and we're all likeminded in what we write and the kind of style we enjoy. We don't always agree about writing/style/etc, but we always enjoy talking about it.


text:
Councils raise concerns over DfT bus market review
Dom Browne
A combined authority has raised concerns over a government review into the bus market, stating the manner in which it has been launched is in 'total contrast' to ministers' stated aims of devolution.
In a letter seen by Transport Network, Cllr James Lewis, chair of the transport committee at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), told transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin he had a 'number of concerns' over the review.
He also told Transport Network there needs to be major reforms to simplify the process by which local authorities go about establishing Quality Contract Schemes (QCS) - London-style franchising systems that would allow local authorities to map out routes and services rather than letting bus operators decide based on market forces.


text:
#include "config.h"
#include "TextInputController.h"

#include "DumpRenderTree.h"
#include "WebCoreSupport/DumpRenderTreeSupportGtk.h"
#include <GOwnPtrGtk.h>
#include <JavaScriptCore/JSObjectRef.h>
#include <JavaScriptCore/JSRetainPtr.h>
#include <JavaScriptCore/JSStringRef.h>
#include <cstring>
#include <webkit/webkit.h>

static JSValueRef setMarkedTextCallback(JSContextRef context, JSObjectRef function, JSObjectRef thisObject, size_t argumentCount, const JSValueRef arguments[], JSValueRef* exception)
{
    WebKitWebView* view = webkit_web_frame_get_web_view(mainFrame);
    ASSERT(view);
    if (argumentCount < 3)
        return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);

    JSStringRef string = JSValueToStringCopy(context, arguments[0], exception);
    ASSERT(!exception || !*exception);

    size_t bufferSize = JSStringGetMaximumUTF8CStringSize(string);
    GOwnPtr<gchar> stringBuffer(static_cast<gchar*>(g_malloc(bufferSize)));
    JSStringGetUTF8CString(string, stringBuffer.get(), bufferSize);
    JSStringRelease(string);

    int start = static_cast<int>(JSValueToNumber(context, arguments[1], exception));
    ASSERT(!exception || !*exception);

    int length = static_cast<int>(JSValueToNumber(context, arguments[2], exception));
    ASSERT(!exception || !*exception);

    DumpRenderTreeSupportGtk::setComposition(view, stringBuffer.get(), start, length);
    return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);
}

static JSValueRef hasMarkedTextCallback(JSContextRef context, JSObjectRef function, JSObjectRef thisObject, size_t argumentCount, const JSValueRef arguments[], JSValueRef* exception)
{
    WebKitWebView* view = webkit_web_frame_get_web_view(mainFrame);
    ASSERT(view);
    return JSValueMakeBoolean(context, DumpRenderTreeSupportGtk::hasComposition(view));
}

static JSValueRef markedRangeCallback(JSContextRef context, JSObjectRef function, JSObjectRef thisObject, size_t argumentCount, const JSValueRef arguments[], JSValueRef* exception)
{
    WebKitWebView* view = webkit_web_frame_get_web_view(mainFrame);
    ASSERT(view);

    int start, length;
    if (!DumpRenderTreeSupportGtk::compositionRange(view, &start, &length))
        return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);

    JSValueRef arrayValues[2];
    arrayValues[0] = JSValueMakeNumber(context, start);
    arrayValues[1] = JSValueMakeNumber(context, length);
    JSObjectRef arrayObject = JSObjectMakeArray(context, 2, arrayValues, exception);
    ASSERT(!exception || !*exception);
    return arrayObject;
}

static JSValueRef insertTextCallback(JSContextRef context, JSObjectRef function, JSObjectRef thisObject, size_t argumentCount, const JSValueRef arguments[], JSValueRef* exception)
{
    WebKitWebView* view = webkit_web_frame_get_web_view(mainFrame);
    ASSERT(view);

    if (argumentCount < 1)
        return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);

    JSStringRef string = JSValueToStringCopy(context, arguments[0], exception);
    ASSERT(!exception || !*exception);

    size_t bufferSize = JSStringGetMaximumUTF8CStringSize(string);
    GOwnPtr<gchar> stringBuffer(static_cast<gchar*>(g_malloc(bufferSize)));
    JSStringGetUTF8CString(string, stringBuffer.get(), bufferSize);
    JSStringRelease(string);

    DumpRenderTreeSupportGtk::confirmComposition(view, stringBuffer.get());
    return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);
}

static JSValueRef unmarkTextCallback(JSContextRef context, JSObjectRef function, JSObjectRef thisObject, size_t argumentCount, const JSValueRef arguments[], JSValueRef* exception)
{
    WebKitWebView* view = webkit_web_frame_get_web_view(mainFrame);
    ASSERT(view);

    DumpRenderTreeSupportGtk::confirmComposition(view, 0);
    return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);
}

static JSValueRef firstRectForCharacterRangeCallback(JSContextRef context, JSObjectRef function, JSObjectRef thisObject, size_t argumentCount, const JSValueRef arguments[], JSValueRef* exception)
{
    WebKitWebView* view = webkit_web_frame_get_web_view(mainFrame);
    ASSERT(view);
    if (argumentCount < 2)
        return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);

    int location = static_cast<int>(JSValueToNumber(context, arguments[0], exception));
    ASSERT(!exception || !*exception);

    int length = static_cast<int>(JSValueToNumber(context, arguments[1], exception));
    ASSERT(!exception || !*exception);

    cairo_rectangle_int_t rect;
    if (!DumpRenderTreeSupportGtk::firstRectForCharacterRange(view, location, length, &rect))
        return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);

    JSValueRef arrayValues[4];
    arrayValues[0] = JSValueMakeNumber(context, rect.x);
    arrayValues[1] = JSValueMakeNumber(context, rect.y);
    arrayValues[2] = JSValueMakeNumber(context, rect.width);
    arrayValues[3] = JSValueMakeNumber(context, rect.height);
    JSObjectRef arrayObject = JSObjectMakeArray(context, 4, arrayValues, exception);
    ASSERT(!exception || !*exception);

    return arrayObject;
}

static JSValueRef selectedRangeCallback(JSContextRef context, JSObjectRef function, JSObjectRef thisObject, size_t argumentCount, const JSValueRef arguments[], JSValueRef* exception)
{
    WebKitWebView* view = webkit_web_frame_get_web_view(mainFrame);
    ASSERT(view);

    int start, length;
    if (!DumpRenderTreeSupportGtk::selectedRange(view, &start, &length))
        return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);

    JSValueRef arrayValues[2];
    arrayValues[0] = JSValueMakeNumber(context, start);
    arrayValues[1] = JSValueMakeNumber(context, length);
    JSObjectRef arrayObject = JSObjectMakeArray(context, 2, arrayValues, exception);
    ASSERT(!exception || !*exception);

    return arrayObject;
}

static JSValueRef doCommandCallback(JSContextRef context, JSObjectRef function, JSObjectRef thisObject, size_t argumentCount, const JSValueRef arguments[], JSValueRef* exception)
{
    WebKitWebView* view = webkit_web_frame_get_web_view(mainFrame);
    ASSERT(view);
    if (argumentCount < 1)
        return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);

    JSStringRef string = JSValueToStringCopy(context, arguments[0], exception);
    ASSERT(!exception || !*exception);

    size_t bufferSize = JSStringGetMaximumUTF8CStringSize(string);
    GOwnPtr<gchar> stringBuffer(static_cast<gchar*>(g_malloc(bufferSize)));
    JSStringGetUTF8CString(string, stringBuffer.get(), bufferSize);
    JSStringRelease(string);

    DumpRenderTreeSupportGtk::doCommand(view, stringBuffer.get());
    return JSValueMakeUndefined(context);
}

static JSStaticFunction staticFunctions[] = {
    { "setMarkedText", setMarkedTextCallback, kJSPropertyAttributeReadOnly | kJSPropertyAttributeDontDelete },
    { "hasMarkedText", hasMarkedTextCallback, kJSPropertyAttributeReadOnly | kJSPropertyAttributeDontDelete },
    { "markedRange", markedRangeCallback, kJSPropertyAttributeReadOnly | kJSPropertyAttributeDontDelete },
    { "insertText", insertTextCallback, kJSPropertyAttributeReadOnly | kJSPropertyAttributeDontDelete },
    { "unmarkText", unmarkTextCallback, kJSPropertyAttributeReadOnly | kJSPropertyAttributeDontDelete },
    { "firstRectForCharacterRange", firstRectForCharacterRangeCallback, kJSPropertyAttributeReadOnly | kJSPropertyAttributeDontDelete },
    { "selectedRange", selectedRangeCallback, kJSPropertyAttributeReadOnly | kJSPropertyAttributeDontDelete },
    { "doCommand", doCommandCallback, kJSPropertyAttributeReadOnly | kJSPropertyAttributeDontDelete },
    { 0, 0, 0 }
};

static JSClassRef getClass(JSContextRef context)
{
    static JSClassRef textInputControllerClass = 0;

    if (!textInputControllerClass) {
        JSClassDefinition classDefinition = {
                0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
                0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0};
        classDefinition.staticFunctions = staticFunctions;

        textInputControllerClass = JSClassCreate(&classDefinition);
    }

    return textInputControllerClass;
}

JSObjectRef makeTextInputController(JSContextRef context)
{
    return JSObjectMake(context, getClass(context), 0);
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


"I found my dream cleanroom job at WOM," this statement is the core of the large integrated campaign, with which WOM in Upper Franconia and neighboring Thuringia is looking for new colleagues for the area of cleanroom production. The motifs with a mixture of clean room and dream job in connection with joyful colleagues point to our vacancies. In German, the slogan is #meinraumjob – a pun from the words clean room (Reinraum) and a dream job (Traumjob).
WOM Ludwigsstadt uses state-of-the-art production processes to manufacture equipment and accessories for medical technology and exports them all over the world. The department with the most employees is at the Oberfranken location – the certified cleanroom facility with more than 80 employees, in which plastic parts are manufactured, assembled, and packaged under very special conditions.
Sandy Paschold, who has been working for WOM in the cleanroom area for over 7 years now, reports on what exactly a cleanroom is and what it is like to work in such a facility.
Not even three years have passed since the opening ceremony of the impressive cleanroom facility with an investment of 3.9 million euros. The general building, which was awarded the prestigious "Lean and Green Award" in 2015, has already produced remarkable production figures: 1.5 million tube sets, about 2 million filter housings, and about 3.2 million tube connectors have been made since then and shipped around the world.


text:
The Future is CRISPR
by Adil Manzoor DO • August 26, 2019
In November 2018, a Chinese researcher He Jiankui, claimed to use Crispr-Cas9 to genetically modify baby twins. He made the announcement on the eve of the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing in Hong Kong, a fitting venue. By directing Crispr-Cas9, he claimed to have used in vitro fertilization to create human embryos in whom he deliberately disabled the CCR5 gene, which makes the protein that HIV utilizes to enter into cells.
The editing of first human embryos in a lab petri dish was done in 2015and it wasn't until 3 years later that scientists were able to genetically modify human beings. The first possibly successful experimentation has led for approval of the first lawful human trials for Crisprto potentially cure inherited blindness.
First, what is Crispr-Cas9 and how did we first come about it? This was first discovered in bacterial cells, whom utilize it as a natural defense mechanism. Say for example, a bacterium is invaded by a virus. The bacteria capture snippets of DNA from the invading virus and uses them to create DNA segments known as Crispr arrays, which it integrates into its own DNA sequence, allowing it to remember the virus. If the same virus attacks again, the bacteria produce RNA segments from the previously integrated CRISPR array to target the viruses' DNA and it utilizes Cas9 or a similar enzyme, to cut the virus DNA apart, disabling it.
In Crispr-Cas9 works similarly in the lab: researchers create a small piece of RNA with a "guide sequence" that binds to a specific target DNA sequence in the genome. The same RNA is also bound to the Cas9 enzyme. Once the modified RNA recognizes the DNA sequence, the Cas9 enzyme cuts the DNA at the targeted location. Once cut, the cell's own DNA repair machinery is utilized to add or delete additional pieces of genetic material or to make changes to the DNA by replacing an existing segment with a customized DNA sequence.
The Theoretical Application
So how can this be utilized for human diseases? Theoretically, it works ideally for diseases that are caused by single genes, such as Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, an X-linked disorder, in which a mutation in one gene leads to abnormal expression of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein, whose expression is limited to cells of the non-erythroid hematopoietic lineage, leads to the clinical phenotype of eczema, thrombocytopenia, and immune deficiency. If this gene was to be "corrected", Crispr-Cas9 would be the technology to do so, and potentially cure the disease!
The Lawful Clinical Trial
The first trialto potentially cure one form of Leber congenital amaurosis, the most common cause of childhood blindness, occurring in about 2 to 3 of every 100,000 births, has already started the recruitment and is to potentially start on 3 September, 2019.
The FDA first gave permission for this genome editing trial on 30 November, 2018. It has allowed Editas to test EDIT-101 therapy, which is designed to correct a point mutation in the CEP290 gene, the IVS26 mutation, that leads to correct splicing of the CPE290 transcript and dysfunctional CEP290 protein, which is thought to play a structural role in the cilia of light-sensing photoreceptor cells in the retina.
This trial will be a nonrandomized open-label single ascending dose study that will include 18 participants from ages 3 to 17, whom will be enrolled in up to 5 cohorts to evaluate up to 3 doses of the drug that consists of the aforementioned Crispr-Cas9 technology. The expected completion date for the study is March 2024.
If successful, I believe this trial will be a catalyst to future trials for genomic editing. I wonder how long it will take for the human species to widely accept genomic editing and realize its potential as the fountain of youth.
← Gray Wave Building
The Disappearing Doctor →


ScrapDawgs.com - View topic - Tigger's Super Secret Challenge!
Re: Tigger's Super Secret Challenge!
Yay Candice - although the price I'm paying... OY.
Rhonda . You trash it and I will show up on your doorstep to smack you silly.
I'll see if I can think of something to add to it to make it look better and then hopefully get it in the mail tomorrow.


text:
Here's the 2021 Acura MDX and TLX Way Before You're Supposed to See Them
Filed to: 2021 Acura MDXFiled to: 2021 Acura MDX
Acura TLX
Images: rdx.god via Acurazine
It would appear that the software for the Acura RDX features a ton of images and information about the upcoming generations of the 2021 Acura MDX crossover and 2021 Acura TLX sedan, and they look great.
The leak spilled all over the Acurazine forums yesterday, after user rdx.god
claimed to have found rendered images of the upcoming MDX and TLX, as well as many additional graphics, buried in the software for the infotainment system on the Acura RDX.
Not only do the images show us clear renderings of what both vehicles will probably look like, but there's also a ton of graphics indicating the new interior layout with its new ambient lighting design, a digital driver display screen, various drive modes including a Sport and Sport+ mode, and even graphics for seat adjustments.
The sportier drive modes may indicate one of the two cars, if I had to guess it'd be the TLX, if not both, will be getting Acura's new Type-S performance trim the company promised over a year ago. Those trims are expected to get an Acura-exclusive turbocharged V6 engine.
Acura told Car And Driver these renderings were conceptual, and "based on our Precision Concept design language...for placement only," though they look pretty legitimate as a final product to me. It's possible the graphics are meant to be the screens for the infotainment system on both cars, just judging from their style.
I think they look great! Acura design has really turned around in the last few years, these look totally different from what Honda is doing, and I'm excited to see where they take the Type-S performance stuff. We'll probably find out more later this year.
Acura Is Bringing Back The Type-S Performance Line
The 2018 Acura TLX A-Spec Is A Sport Sedan Without The 'Sport'
Which of You Turkeys Is Dropping $50,000 on a Handbuilt Acura TLX?
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade Is Kind of Astoundingly Luxurious
Help Me Understand Why This Hyundai's Wiper Aged So Much More Than the Rest of the Car
Saturday 11:00am
Formula E Teams Have Been Using Secret Illegal Traction Control Systems


When Wonder Woman opens tomorrow, moviegoers will begin their cinematic journey with Princess Diana by first getting their passport stamped on her Amazon home of Themyscira.
But what is the story behind this Paradise Island? How did the Amazons end up there? Are there other inhabitants? And what's the deal with the Kangas, the creatures the Amazons use to ride around on?
Well, you've come to the right spot for all the answers about Wonder Woman's home turf. In the following Fantripping video travel guide, we take you on a virtual tour of the history and highlights and brief you on Everything You Need To Know About Themyscira.


text:
Home Headlines China accuses US of 'slander and hype' over air incident
China accuses US of 'slander and hype' over air incident
The Pentagon's account of last week's air incident over the South China Sea involving a Chinese military jet and a US spy plane ignores the truth and is "pure slander and hype," according to Beijing's Defense Ministry.
The US Indo-Pacific Command claimed on Friday that a Chinese J-11 fighter approached a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft to within six meters, forcing the American pilot to perform an evasive maneuver. It also released a video of the December 21 incident, which showed the two planes flying close together.
Late Saturday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tian Julin rejected the US accusations, claiming that it was the American plane that was performing "dangerous maneuvers."
"The US side purposefully misled the public, called black white, blamed [this] on China when [the US] is to blame, and attempted to confuse international opinion," he said.
According to the spokesman, the Chinese pilot acted professionally and in accordance with all laws and regulations. Despite multiple warnings, however, the US aircraft abruptly changed its flight stance, endangering the Chinese jet's flight safety, he added.
The Defense Ministry also released video of the incident captured by the Chinese jet. The clip "showed the US RC-135 intentionally altering its flight stance in a dangerous approach toward the Chinese aircraft," according to China's state-run Global Times newspaper.
"We sternly demand that the United States restrain the movements of its frontline maritime and aerial forces, strictly adhere to related international laws and agreements, and prevent maritime and aerial accidents," Tian said.
The US insists that its warships and planes have been and will continue to conduct lawful patrol missions in international waters and airspace in the South China Sea.
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You can meet and talk to us at the following exhibitions and events.
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Please send us your contact details. We will be in touch straight away.
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To the official ICE website.
With our sales partner Adparts b.v.
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To the official IMTS website.
Via our sales partner BST eltromat Italia s.r.l.


text:
Q: How do I parse JSON with multiline strings in Golang? I've got a project that gets metadata from Minecraft mods, and I'm having some trouble with the Minecraft Forge's old mcmod.info format - which is a JSON format read with GSON for those that don't know.
Specifically, GSON unfortunately allows for strings to be multi-line (it allows for unescaped newlines in a string) - which Go's encoding/json doesn't allow for. See the below example from the Chisel mod to see what I mean.
[{
  "credits": "AUTOMATIC_MAIDEN for the original mod,
asie for porting to 1.7.2,
and Pokenfenn/Cricket for continuing it in 1.7.
This mod uses textures from the Painterly Pack: http://painterlypack.net/."
}]

This results in an error of invalid character '\n' in string literal.
I did take a brief look at using an alternative JSON parser (the aptly-named jsonparser specifically took my eye), but without testing them all - I've been unable to determine which, if any, support what I need.
I suspect the solution to this problem will be in using an alternative JSON parser, I'm just not aware enough of the available libraries or JSON's use in Golang to make a highly informed decision.


Andhra Pradesh Board is all set to conduct AP Intermediate I/ II Year Exam, So in this respect candidates can check the AP Intermediate Time Table by going through this page. Candidates may Check AP Board Exam Schedule Online here on this page. Board is going to commence the exam from first week of March 2018 onwards, so candidates are advised to prepare well. Candidates can get whole details of AP Intermediate Exam Schedule by comprehending the link given in the page.
Andhra Pradesh Intermediate Board conducts AP Intermediate exam for the motive to check the talent and leaning power of the candidates. Candidates are advised to prepare according to the AP Intermediate Time Table as the AP Board 12th exam date is going to be announced soon. Candidates can get the other information of AP Inter Exam Time Table by to scrolling the link presented for their comfort.
On home page, move your cursor towards section related to the AP Intermediate Exam Time Table.
Now, on the appeared page select appropriate link in concerning of AP 12th Exam Time Table.
A PDF file containing AP Board Exam Dates will be appeared.
you need to go through the required page carefully.
At last, Download it and take a hard copy and keep it safe till end of examination.
Did You Know About Andhra Pradesh Board Of Intermediate Education?
BIEAP or Andhra Pradesh Board is come to existence in 1953 which is abbreviation of Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education. AP Board gets affiliations under the Andhra Pradesh's Department of Education. This board is taking responsibility in terms to provide support and growth in the secondary education in Andhra Pradesh. The main motive of Andhra Pradesh Board is to conduct high school, higher secondary board and higher secondary school exams to promote and inspire students and teachers to attempt for excellence.
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At Sidebuy, we believe in people. We believe that what sets influencer marketing apart from other digital channels is the human element that makes it more authentic, engaging and effective. With this in mind, we love to put the spotlight on our influencers and introduce them in a way for our readers to actually get to know them and what made them who they are.
Today, we are featuring a creative couple, only at their 20s, who found their way into their passion industry at a place where does not offer a lot of opportunities through blogging and have managed to create a community of over 70,000 highly engaged audience around them. Check out our interview with Kiki and Tarik, the creators of the Closs Fashion.
1) Please let us know about yourself and your blog?
2) When did you start blogging and what prompted you to become influencers?
3) what are the advantages and challenges of working as a duo when it comes to blogging?
4) What was the best campaign you worked on?
5) You guys have a well-curated Instagram page. Do you have any tips for influencers to plan their feed?
6) Do you have any other influencers that you look up to?
Looking to get featured on Sidebuy? Join our community of influencers and access resources, tips and opportunities for growth and exposure!


Marketers use social in a variety of ways, from searching for social promoters to boost brand awareness to improving and personalizing the customer experience. As investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) continue to boom, marketers are looking for ways to combine the two powerhouses—AI and social—to optimize their reach and bring more value to consumers. The benefits don't stop there. Leveraging AI as part of your social media strategy can bolster your lead generation efforts, too. Here's how.
There are plenty of uses for AI when it comes to lead gen. In a recent article, Prepare for Artificial Intelligence to Power the B2B Sales Process, I predicted we'd see a lot of movement in this market, specifically in the development of AI apps used for enhancing the sales process and in AI acquisitions by SaaS powerhouses. I firmly believe what we can expect in the (near) future will be amazing, but there's also a ton happening right now.
Take social, for example. It's no stranger to AI's surge, and it's easy to see why. The entire undercurrent for successful lead generation is consumer engagement—authentic consumer engagement, that is. One of the major goals for AI in marketing is to automate processes and optimize efforts to deliver additional value, ultimately creating more consumer engagement. Do either of those descriptions remind you of the driving force behind social media, i.e., humanizing brands and connecting with consumers? They should! That's why AI and social make a lead gen dream team—they're all playing the same game.
Optimize your social efforts. Social media teams are often small and spread thin. The 2016 State of Social Report (gated but worth trading your email addy for) found that 71 percent of the 350 organizations polled had up to two employees who dedicated their time to social strategy—yes, two. Of those respondents, less than 10 percent said they could quantify revenue from social, and 42 percent said they struggled with insufficient budgets. With personnel and resources already tight, the efficiency afforded by AI and automation becomes even more important. AI helps brands optimize social efforts by weeding through spam and outsourcing some simple customer service questions to chatbots. The result? Social teams can devote more time to attracting and nurturing the highest-priority leads—i.e., those most likely to convert.
Ensure your messaging meets the changing needs of your audience. AI-powered automation is useful when it comes to content planning, too, using the power of predictive analytics to allow social teams to generate and promote content most useful to customers in different stages of the buyers' journey.
Use facial recognition to generate leads. Facebook is a social AI pioneer, and its facial recognition efforts prove it. Its model reportedly analyzes faces with 98 percent accuracy—even for photos where faces aren't exactly facing the camera. Joaquin Candela, the head of Facebook's Applied Machine Learning group, told Fortune Magazine the team hopes to "build more than 1.5 billion AI agents—one for every person who uses Facebook or any of its products." Impressive, yes. But just how can facial recognition help your business generate leads? In the future, brands could offer incentives for consumers who "like" or "follow" them on social media and agree to be recognized while out in public. Say, for example, a woman follows a chain restaurant on Facebook and consents to have her face recognized for offers. When she walks past a digital kiosk in an airport, the AI recognizes her and sends a special offer to her Facebook inbox or through Facebook Messenger. Kinda creepy, kinda cool, but I'll bet it's in all of our not-too-distant futures.
Bottom line: Consumers are a digital bunch, but they also value a human touch. They crave engagement. It may seem ironic, but social AI gives marketers the time and resources to deliver. And when it comes to powering your lead generation efforts, AI is starting to be table stakes, both for B2B and B2C brands.
Does your brand use social AI to generate leads and engage with customers and/or engage in competitive analysis? If not, is it something you're considering integrating into your marketing operations? If you're already using AI, what do you think? What's working and where are you finding challenges you didn't' expect? I'd love to hear your thoughts.


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Promoting U.S. Economic Relations with Africa
In 1997, Washington paid unprecedented attention to Africa and its continental rebirth. Both then-First Lady Hillary Clinton and then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright toured the continent. Presi…
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Managing Change on the Korean Peninsula
The Korean peninsula remains one of the most heavily armed and dangerous places in the world. Despite its deteriorating economy, North Korea retains a standing army of over one million men and an eno…
Task Force Report by Michael J. Green, Morton The Honorable I. Abramowitz, and James T. Laney
U.S.-Cuban Relations in the 21st Century
Having contained Cuban support for revolution in Latin America and perceiving signs of strong stirrings of a new civil society in Cuba, the United States should take steps to "contribute to rapid, pe…
Task Force Report by Walter Russell Mead, William Rogers, and Bernard W. Aronson
U.S. Policy Toward North Korea
The Korean peninsula remains one of the world's most dangerous places. While North Korea has an army of 1.2 million troops and holds Seoul hostage with its missiles and artillery, Pyongyang is in des…
Task Force Report by Morton The Honorable I. Abramowitz, Michael J. Green, and James T. Laney
Future Directions for U.S. Economic Policy Toward Japan
During the last ten years, Japan has undergone a difficult period of economic stagnation. Only now is the country showing preliminary signs of emerging from an economic slowdown. In response to its d…
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State Department Reform
Ten years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the military and economic instruments of American power have benefited from renewed attention and resources. However, the forward edge of American nationa…
Task Force Report by Frank C. Carlucci and Ian J. Brzezinski


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Q: On using a plural for an action to be performed multiple times I've always wondered which of the following is correct:

*

*"I would like to give a speech on the 12th and the 17th"

*"I would like to give speeches on the 12th and the 17th"

In this scenario, I'm giving one speech on the 12th and another on the 17th.

A: Both are standard, and both can refer to the same or to different speeches.
Consider something as ordinary as:
We have executives from headquarters visiting this week. I need to wear a tie on Tuesday and Thursday.
In my experience, no one would give a second thought to such language, it violates no widely held grammar prescription, and the context would determine whether it is important to specify if the same or different speeches or ties were contemplated. One could repeat the on: ... on Tuesday and on Thursday, but it can be elided with no problem and I expect it most likely would be in speech or written dialogue.

A: Adding the second "on" to both sentences is more correct, but only as it relates to consistency in the structure of the two (making them both prepositional) phrases. The second alternative suggests you are giving more than one speech on each day. For both clarity and consistency, the correct statement would be, "I would like to give (sic) a speech on the 12th and on the 17th.

A: Both could be correct, but you'd have to make a slight modification to the first one.

*

*"I would like to give a speech on the 12th and on the 17th"

That indicates two separate speeches (even if they are over the same topic). The second bullet you have is fine on its own.


The national airline of Kuwait, Kuwait Airways operates scheduled international flights throughout the Middle East, as well as to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe. Its main base is at Kuwait International Airport, and it is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization. The airline's slogan is 'Earning Your Trust', and it currently has a fleet of 30 aircraft and has 34 international destinations. Kuwait Airways has codeshare agreements with Air India, Alitalia, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Saudia, and Turkish Airlines.
For First Class passengers, there is a free baggage allowance of 40kg or 88lbs. Free baggage allowance for Business Class passengers is 30kg or 66lbs; while free baggage allowance for Economy Class passengers is 20kg or 44lbs. This applies to all flights excluding the United States and Canada. The same allowance also applies to children over two years old. For infants travelling at 10% of the adult fare and not entitled to a seat, they only have an allowance of one checked baggage, and an additional fully collapsible child's stroller or pushchair, or a carrying basket or car seat, which may be carried in the passenger cabin, if space is available. Maximum dimensions shall not exceed 155cm or 45 inches. The maximum weight for the infant's checked baggage shall not exceed 10kg or 22lbs. For Kuwait Airways flights arriving to or departing from the United States or Canada, the Piece Concept is applied: two pieced of checked bags with total dimensions not exceeding 158cm or 62 inches for each bag piece are allowed for First Class and Business Class Passengers; and two pieces of checked bags with total dimensions not exceeding 158cm or 62 inches are allowed for Economy Class Passengers, provided that the addition of the two bags shall not exceed 274cm or 107 inches. In addition to the free baggage allowance, passengers also have a free carry-on baggage allowance. The maximum size of the carry-on baggage is 23x36x56cm (115cm total) or 9x14x22 inches (45 inches total), and the maximum weight is seven kilograms. The following personal effects may also be carried by each passenger, free of charge: one overcoat, wrap, or blanket; one umbrella or walking stick; one small camera and/or one pair of binoculars; reading materials; infant's food for consumption in flight; one fully collapsible wheelchair and/or one pair of crutches and/or braces or any prosthetic device for the passenger's use; a lady's handbag, pocketbook, or purse appropriate to normal travelling dress and is not used for transportation of articles (considered as baggage); and a small laptop in a reasonable laptop bag.
Seats can be selected by the passengers in advance, through Kuwait Airways' website. Seats with more leg room can also be provided, but are subject to availability. The airline also provides carry cot for infants below two years old.
Kuwait Airways offers complimentary meals and non-alcoholic beverages on board. The meals prepared come in different sets, to suit every passenger's diet needs and preferences. Kuwait Airways offers baby meals, bland meals, child meals, diabetic meals, fruit platter meals, Hindu meals, Jain meals, low-calorie meals, low fat meals, low gluten meals, low lactose meals, low salt meals, seafood meals, vegetarian Hindu meals, vegetarian Oriental meals, vegetarian raw meals, vegetarian vegan meals with milk products, and vegetarian vegan meals without milk products.
Complimentary inflight services from Kuwait Airways also include blankets and sleeping blinds, as well as toys and complementary items for children. Different types of music and movies are also available inflight, along with headsets. Reading materials such as newspapers and magazines are also provided to Kuwait Airways passengers.


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Should you do a balloon release for your memorable event?
The words "balloonfest" and "disaster" don't necessarily seem to go together – except in the case of the 1986 Cleveland Balloonfest, which really did end in disaster for the city. Sometimes, good intentions can end in tragedy – like the man who took a jet ski down Niagara Falls for charity and died in the process – which is exactly what happened when the United Way of Cleveland launched over a million balloons in order to raise money for the organization.
The Cleveland Balloonfest was a fundraiser that attempted to beat Disneyland's previous record of most balloons released at once. Although the photos are beautiful, the results were disastrous for the environment and the city.
Who among us, at some time in our life, hasn't let go of a balloon or sadly lost a balloon? Who doesn't enjoy watching a balloon float in the air? It is a delightful experience.
For many people, sending a balloon or a number of balloons drifting gently upward to the sky is a meaningful way to signify the thoughts, memories, and prayers they have for their deceased loved ones. It tends to give people a sense of letting go and offers a sentimental way of expressing their grief.
Although popular and well loved, the act of releasing balloons is also an environmental issue. Why?
What's the Harm in Releasing Balloons?
Balloon releases are controversial because balloons create litter and can hurt and kill wildlife. Balloons are also considered a wasteful use of helium.
Josh McCarty of the National Marine Aquarium said "We don't want to be killjoys so we would ask the public to be sympathetic when using balloons, considering the concept of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Cumulatively small behavior changes can make a positive impact on our planet."
In some locations, launching a balloon release is considered illegal. In the United States, Connecticut and Florida prohibit the release of more than 10 balloons in an hour in any one location. Virginia allows up to 50 released balloons. Tennessee, Texas, California, Massachusetts, New York, and Maryland are among the states that have laws regarding the release of balloons. Queensland and New South Wales in Australia, Wales, and other areas of the UK also have balloon release regulations.
How to Make Your Balloon Release Friendly to Wildlife and the Environment
If you decide to have a balloon release, consider these options.
* Try to find and use fully biodegradable balloons.
* Make sure balloons are air-filled.
* Hand-tie the balloons.
* Do not use plastic disks, attachments, or ribbon or string. Biodegradable cotton string and thin raffia ribbon can still get tangled up in trees and utility lines and harm wildlife.
Popular Balloon Release Alternatives
Virtual Balloons: Consider having a virtual balloon release online with your family and friends.
Bubbles: Make a bubble solution so you can blow bubbles and let the breeze carry them skyward. You can also make giant bubbles and frost patterns in bubbles in the winter. Blowing bubbles also requires you to exhale and breathe. This is a great way to release your feelings as well and just let go.
Floating Flowers: Float your loved one's favorite flowers or petals down a stream.
Kites: Flying kites at funerals and in memory of the departed is a tradition that is thousands of years old. Making and flying kites is a way to honor your loved one and often brings feelings of awe, tranquility, and peace to those grieving.
Colorful kites are often described as "stained glass windows in the sky" as they swoop through the air making a humming or buzzing sound. In China, flying kites is a Chinese cultural symbol representing life and honoring the dead. Flying kites with messages tied to the kite tails in hope of communicating with the departed is also a very old tradition in Guatemala.
Pinwheels: You can purchase or make your own pinwheels. A pinwheel can be a reminder of the constancy of the eternal human spirit that resides in each of us – as the wind blows, the pinwheel becomes animated again and begins to move, thus evoking the idea of the spirit.
Butterflies: Representing changes and new beginnings, the release of butterflies can give you a visual experience of letting go. You do need to make sure you are careful in handling the butterflies and that you only release the type of butterflies that can survive in your locale.
Doves: Although beautiful in its symbolism, a release of doves is a choice that requires the use of a professional release service that uses trained doves.
For the daring try the real UP AKA cluster ballooning
Cluster Ballooning is inspirational, colorful, and it brings genuine adventure, even in our modern times. This sport reawakens a dream so many of us once had, but has grown quiet.
Please know that cluster ballooning is prohibitively expensive. Helium is invisible, yet still precious and beautiful. It is also regrettably expensive. For events or TV productions that invite the promoters of this sport to fly, sponsorship must be secured by the event, and it is expensive. There are also many commercial events that would be appropriate for a cluster balloon system – films, documentaries, and promotional events.
Please keep in mind that this is an expensive undertaking involving licensed pilots, meteorologists, and other professionals. None of the flights are undertaken on a whim; all are prepared for, exhaustively.
Source Live About
Super pretty or eye sore disaster waiting to happen?
https://slaylebrity.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BF1479CC-E520-4372-A666-3A71706E007E.mp4
If you must Keep the release small
For many people, sending a balloon or a number of balloons drifting gently upward to the sky is a meaningful way to signify the thoughts, memories, and prayers they have for their-loved ones.
But hanging them up looks just as good without the complications
Lovely luxury home
How far would you go just to be an influencer?
Today's premium Slay pick
Milford Elevate Watch Winder


Beyond Bold & Brave is presenting the "The Evolution of Our Community" Black Lesbian Conference 2016 that takes place on March 25th and 26th in Harlem. BLC 2016 aims to unite transgender & cisgender lesbians of Black/African-descent & their allies of various ages, socio-economic, educational & life work histories. The goal of the conference is to responsibly & honestly discuss & address important issues & concerns in a respectful, welcoming & authentic environment. This is the first black lesbian conference ever to be held in Harlem & the first event of its type in New York City in over thirty years. The Conference is hosted by the Barnard Center for Research on Women (BCRW) & will open on Friday, March 25th at the Barnard's Diana Center. The featured keynote address will be given by Dr. Marjorie J. Hill, CEO of the Joseph Addabbo Health Center in New York. Dr. Hill's decades of pioneering LGBTQ public health work includes her appointment by Mayor David Dinkins as the first Director of the Mayor's Office for the Lesbian & Gay Community, Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of HIV/AIDS at the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene; and CEO of Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC). The Conference will continue on Saturday, March 26th with panels & workshops on a variety of topics including: The State of our Black Lesbian Community: An Intergenerational Perspective, Black Lesbian Poets: Bringing the Political to The Page & Stage, Whole Health & Wellness For LGBTQ Transgender & Cisgender Women, What Does It Mean to Draw A Line?: Black Lesbian Separation as Respite From Oppression, Black Lesbian Community Activism: From the 70's to Now & Black Lesbian Youth & Their Experiences With Homelessness & Gender Roles.


This timely and informative conference which, in the Palais des Nations, had special status as a Side Event of the 20th Human Rights Council, brought together Ambassadors, senior religious leaders, founders of charitable bodies, and human relationship experts. Several aspects were remarkable, in particular the rich variety of speakers and topics addressed in relationship to the theme and the substantial contribution of religious perspectives.
This was the 12th of a series of European Leadership Conferences that have been held at the United Nations in Geneva and Vienna, UNESCO in Paris, as well as at the National Parliaments in the United Kingdom and in Norway and in the Presidential Palace in Malta on issues of pressing concern for Europe. This program took place at two different UN venues: the International Labor Organization (July 5) and the Palais des Nations (July 6).
Dr. Yong Cheon Song, Chairman of UPF-Europe - UPF is deeply concerned by the extent to which modern societies seem to have lost the sense of connection between a good marriage and family life and the peace, well being, and prosperity of society as a whole. We are seeing the consequences of that in the increasing social decay and breakdown in so-called advanced societies the world over.
Dr. Rudolf Gehring, Chair of the Christian Party of Austria - A strong country needs strong families. When I was a candidate for the Austrian Presidency, I became aware that many Austrians support this view. Young people wish for family and friendship as a foundation for security, stability, and support. My political party considers itself as a party for the family and holds that the future of society depends on the family.
Dr. Katrien Beeckman, Director of the Principles and Values Department of the International Federation of Red Cross Crescent Societies - We owe our children a life free from violence and fear and full of love and care. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have a network of 13 million volunteers, more than half of them youth and more than half female. Parents are a role model for their children, and they matter as much or more than peers in terms of influencing children. Equality between men and women in decision making and between mothers and fathers in child rearing and domestic tasks are protective factors against domestic violence.
Mr. Dennis Stoica, Chair of Healthy Relationships in California, USA - The state of California spends $150 million per year on programs supporting marriage and family. Why such strong bipartisan support? It is all about the children. The evidence of studies is overwhelming that children who grow up in intact families do better at school, have better mental and physical health, are less likely to live in poverty, avoid gangs and crime, have improved lifetime earnings prospects, and are more likely to get married and stay married.
H.E. Mme. Soline Nyirahabimana, Ambassador of Rwanda to the UN - Rwanda's First Lady has educated and empowered people through initiatives in education, health, and employment. For example, the Guardian Angels project encourages adults who have shown remarkable compassion by caring for vulnerable children, and the Unity Club brings together women survivors and the wives whose husbands are in prison or exile as a result of their part in committing atrocities.
Dr. Tariq Ramadan, Professor of Islamic Studies at Oxford University, UK - To address peace we should consider not just religious beliefs and teachings but also commitment and implementation. Islam is family centered, and marriage is regarded as half of faith. The family should be a school of humility whose objective is peace. First, we should be at peace internally; finding God involves meeting our need for spiritual well being through truth. Then we need to think of how this applies in our family. Inner freedom is to know who you want to be, not what society says you should be or what others want you to be.
Ms. Carolyn Handschin-Moser, President of Women's Federation for World Peace International in Europe - A new paradigm is "familiarchy," a system of society in which the family unit is the nexus and in which parents, children, and the extended family members cooperate to maintain and uplift the families members and contribute both as a whole and as individual members to the development of the larger community, becoming an intertwined network of families.
Lord Raj Loomba, Member of the House of Lords and Founder, Chairman and Trustee of the Loomba Foundation (Widows Foundation), UK - Family life is so influential, but family life can break down through no one's fault when a woman's husband dies because of an accident or disease; then the woman often loses her place in society and, if uneducated, may depend on her children to work in factories or on the street; thus, they are vulnerable to abuse. In developing nations widows are often ostracized, prohibited from earning a living, or deprived of their property; thus, they face destitution.
Ms. Pindie Stephen, Senior Migrant Training and Integration Specialist in the Labour Migration and Human Development Division of the International Organization for Migration - The feminization of migration represents a qualitative change: women are increasingly the primary immigrants, not dependents. The social impact of migration involve uprooting and adapting; people are on their own in a new and unfamiliar environment, having lost their social network and support system; children become cultural facilitators. Migrants who succeed in settling well can in turn educate and prepare others, becoming a beacon of hope for the next generation.