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July 24, 2009 | General News
REUBEN ABATI - ANOTHER CRASH COURSE NEEDED
By Obiwu Iwuanyanwu
Introduction:Of all the reviews I have read on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's The Thing around Your Neck (2009), Reuben Abati's "The Thing around Our Necks" falls far short. One thing tightly hangs around the neck of Abati's review in The Guardian of July 20, 2009: it is clichéd in language, inconsistent in organization, and dated in style.
The numerous faults of the review represent its writer as one who cares very little about the prevalent mechanics of the literary book review. One could not help but wonder that The Guardian, a once self-described "flagship" of Nigerian journalism, should fail to hold its editorial staff to the highest writing standard possible. There is now an urgent need, as I will show, for the paper to consider a refresher course for some of its staff writers on the current mechanics and style sheet of the book review in the print media. As columnist and chairman of editorial board of The Guardian for over a decade, Abati has become one of the most recognizable names in the Nigerian mass media. It is not enough, however, to be celebrated with a good reader followership since even an established writer sometimes becomes redundant. At the twilight of a great writing career Iris Murdock was accused of being "overindulged" and "under-edited" and John Updike have been accused of "compulsive overproduction." The evidence of "The Thing around Our Necks" clearly points to a need for an immediate revamp in the writing of Reuben Abati.
This exercise is necessary for several reasons. The Guardian had, for many years, held a certain reputation among Nigerian readers of being the country's version of its London namesake and The New York Times. In other words, the paper was considered as the powerhouse of hardcore news dissemination. Many of Nigeria's university academic departments subscribed heavily to the paper's intellectual integrity as a model for their English composition and creative writing classes. As a student in the active contributing years of Chinweizu, Femi Osofisan, Stanley Macebuh, and Yemi Ogunbiyi (1980s to early 1990s), it was almost difficult for me to go through a day without reading The Guardian.. The late Professor Ayo Mamudu had a tradition of introducing topics from The Guardian for our graduate class seminars, with the students seated in a circle and contesting every issue. As a young lecturer in the same department I continued the Mamudian tradition with my own students often arguing over the spread pages of The Guardian in my classes and even at my home study. I published one of my early reviews, on "Ben Obumselu: The Responsible Critic" (June 19, 1993), in the fame Guardian Literary Series then under the editorship of the workaholic Jahman Anikulapo.
The inexcusable editorial standard of Abati's review of Adichie's short story collection exposes the intellectual risk in contemporary students' reliance on the literary pages of many Nigerian newspapers, and not just The Guardian. It has become urgent for students, scholars, libraries, institutions, and the general reader to question, contest, and exercise caution in what they accept or commend for literary consumption through the Nigerian media. Students and young readers especially need writers they can trust just as my own student-generation once trusted the Nigerian media. In the equivocatory parlance of the New York Yankees' baseball legend Yogi Berra, "The future ain't what it used to be."Adichie's The Thing around Your Neck is a well-received, 218-page collection of twelve short stories, many of which had been previously published in anthologies, print, and online journals. Going by its online presence and at least fifteen well-placed reviews alone, the book could justifiably be considered one the more widely reviewed books of 2009. For purposes of context and comparison I have selected five of the reviews, including those by Bernardine Evaristo, Ikhide R. Ikheloa, Michiko Kakutani, and John Madera, based on the distinctions of both the writers and their publishers. By his years of service on the editorial board of The Guardian, Abati is arguably one of the most experienced of the five reviewers in journalistic praxis.
Abati declares in the first paragraph of his review that Adichie's collection "does both old and new things in an extraordinary manner that confirms her mastery of craft." He also claims that the "collection is a triumph of form and content." Reading through the lengthy "book review," however, Abati makes no effort to provide a clear evidence of what he means by Adichie's "mastery of craft" or his so-called "triumph of form and content." Instead, what we have is Abati's repetitive dropping of stock phrases like the above all through the essay. A few of these include "a technique that is further put to masterly use," "well-shaped, real-life characters with whom we immediately empathize," "universal relevance of the humanism of her stories," "stories appear so well-chiseled," "symbolic power of language and its varieties," "stories ... bear the true marks of originality," and "confirmation of Chimamanda's
superb literary skills." Why would Abati feel such an overindulgent need to be superfluous and hyperbolic in a normal review of a collection short fiction that should be otherwise clear-eyed and distanced? Superfluity and hyperbole in writing is always already about impression. So, who is Abati trying to impress in his jargon-stuffed "review"?
Abati evidently makes his vague and verbose claims on the triumph of Adichie's "form," "content," "mastery" not through a consistent analytic discovery but out of sheer habit and impulse, or what could be described as "ritornelli" or "compulsion to repeat." So, what is Abati's own style of repetition? "The Thing around Our Necks" is supposed to be a newspaper editor's review of a collection of short stories. For some inexplicable reason Abati manages to drag his "review" through some fourteen long and windy paragraphs. There is reason to believe that it could have taken him two whole days, or in fact one long weekend, to write his review. The first part of the review covers paragraphs one through nine. The second part covers paragraphs ten through fourteen. Abati constantly cites long passages and paginations of the stories covered in the first part, including "Imitation," "A Private
Experience," "Ghosts," "On Monday of Last Week," "Tomorrow Is Too Far," "The Thing around Your Neck," "Cell One," "Jumping Monkey Hill," and "The American Embassy." By the time he could get to the second part of his review he is almost juiceless. Suddenly his quotationality fizzles, and his tone and language change. The impulsive or compulsive stock phrases become more frequent in the second part. He is in a hurry to finish but seems determined to fill a certain page quota. Unfortunately, he has three stories more to deal with, which include "The Shivering," "The Arrangers of Marriage," and "The Headstrong Historian." The second part of the review has neither the preponderance of page citations nor the running stream of long quotationality. How could Abati so ably deal with the encumbrance of nine stories in nine paragraphs of profuse, if useless, citations and yet fall flat in handling only three stories in five more paragraphs? As it is often said three is a crowd, and so is five.
Contradiction and Contraindication
In paragraph three of his review Abati claims that the "author refrains from melodrama or abject moralizing." Yet he contradicts himself in paragraph fourteen where he "contranpuntally" (to use Abati's own obsolete Italian, late Saidian word) claims that Adichie's writing is a "literature of relevance ... framed with subtle didacticism." Perhaps Abati means to stress that Adichie's moralizing is not "abject" and her didacticism is "subtle," but how does the author "refrain" from melodrama when that is exactly the object of stories like "The Arrangers of Marriage" and "Jumping Monkey Hill"?
Against his earlier claim about Adichie's "mastery of craft" and the collection's "triumph of form and content," Abati avers in paragraph eight that the lead story "The Thing around Your Neck" is "a classic description of a Nigerian female immigrant's typical experience in America." Yet in the last paragraph he claims again that the collection bears "the true mark of originality." What exactly does Abati mean by the contradicting statements? Is Adichie's narrative "original" because she describes what the reader always already knows, which is "a classic description of a Nigerian female immigrant's experience in America"? What is "original" or "mastery of craft" in describing a "typical experience" that is a "classic" or common discourse of Nigerian-American immigrant community? For the avoidance of doubt, two other reviewers specifically cited the same lead story in voicing their displeasure with Adichie's "conventional storytelling craft." In his own review, "These Things around Our Necks" (Next, July 17, 2009), Ikheloa posits that the story is "formulaic and improbable in parts." In "Delightful Gumbo or Strange Brew?" (Open Letters, June 2009), Madera suggests that though the story breaks "form a little" it is nevertheless a "low-frequency drama" conceived out of a "cookbook."
If Abati means to say what Ikheloa and Madera opine about the same story, why doesn't he clearly say so? How does he manage to turn his syntactic and semantic structures on their heads such that his syntax says one thing, while his semantics says the direct opposite? Of course, it is mostly true that the difference between syntactic meaning and semantic meaning is that they are not the same, but is that truly the contraindication that Abati means to convey in his discourse? Does he mean to advance some kind of "Abatease," "Abatrick," or "Abatickling," to either seduce the (true) object of his literary gamesmanship through an obfuscating minimalization of intent or excite his audience (whoever it is) through an undue magnification of purpose? George Orwell says that good language is a window pane, but political language is like a prefabricated hen house. Abati's review suffers a "failure to launch" because it lacks a dependable clarity of thought.
Style and Editing
At the risk of being accused of nitpicking I am sorry to note that Abati's carelessness grates at commonsense. His sense of order, organization, punctuation, spelling, and authorial marker is atrocious. He is also insensitive to the material object of writing. It was not long ago that several Nigerian scholars and organizations in the United States received inquiries from Microsoft and other American institutions asking for the appropriate way to address the "Igbo" people. Everyone knew that they were looking for a way to get out of the embarrassing complaints against their use of the dated spelling, "Ibo." Evaristo's review, "The Thing around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie" (Times Online, April 17, 2009), uses the word "Igbo" twice in the third paragraph. Kakutani's "Out of Africa, Into a Strange America" (The New York Times, July 3, 2009) uses the word once in his fourth paragraph. Madera uses it
once in his first paragraph, and Abati likewise uses it once in his sixth paragraph. All the non-Nigerian reviewers, including Evaristo, Kakutani, and Madera, have no problem spelling the word right as "I-G-B-O." The only reviewer who pitifully spells the word as "I-B-O" is the very "experienced" Nigerian chairman of The Guardian's editorial board Reuben Abati. The incurable Nigerian misspellers of the Igbo name have never been able to advance any other reason for their perpetuation of a national scandal beyond a shamelessly tongue-in-cheek apology, a passing of the blame to some "mistake" resulting from an imaginary ethnic "tonal interference," and yet a repetition of the same pathological "mistake." Perhaps, one should note that some Nigerian dialects (like the Nsukka and Onitsha) also have "interference," since their tonality naturally substitutes "l" for "r" and vice versa. In spite of that, I am yet to see any well-educated literate who would spell "Yoruba" as "Y-o-l-u-b-a" on the very dumb excuse of ethnic "tonal interference." Why would an American be conscious enough as to spell "Igbo" right, and a Nigerian so unconscious as to spell it wrong? The answer is anything but "tonal."
Authorial and Punctuation Markers
Abati employs three proper names as authorial identifiers in his review. The first is "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie"; the second is "Adichie"; and the third is "Chimamanda." Abati uses the author's first name "Chimamanda" alone twice in the last sentences of his thirteenth and fourteenth paragraphs. As I have pointed out earlier, those two paragraphs are in the problematic second part of the review. Under what circumstances would any trained writer employ only the first name of an author as an identifying marker for a publication review in a cerebral newspaper? Abati also commits a related blunder in his punctuation markers. He habitually places his commas outside the quotation marks throughout the review. Even if one were to accept such a practice as The Guardian house rule, is it also the paper's house rule to end a sentence with two periods? Abati ends the last sentences of his first and second paragraphs with two periods each, the first period inside a closing quotation mark and the second period immediately after a parenthetical page citation.
It is easy to blame Abati's misspelling and mis-markers on the drudgery of a long review. The truth, however, is that the errors clearly point to poor or total absence of an editorial standard at The Guardian. The Guardian press ought to have set up an efficient mechanism for catching some of the more outrageous blunders at some point before the print run. It is the primary role of The Guardian press to observe, uphold, and execute uniform editorial standards for all its articles and publications whether they are from in-house writers or outside contributors. Abati is, after all, human and should be expected to be prone to normal foibles and frailties like the rest of us. Even then, I still hold him responsible for much of the blatant excesses that are directly attributable to him as an experienced editor, columnist, writer, and scholar.
Comparative Context
It is baffling that Abati should want to write as much as three printed A4 pages, running through fourteen long paragraphs, as a newspaper review for a collection of only twelve short stories. How many pages would he write for a collection of fifty stories? What advice would he give to a reporter or an uncommissioned contributor who submits a three-page review of a small collection of stories to The Guardian? Why does Abati think it is necessary to pay close and detailed attention to each one of the twelve stories for a mere newspaper review? What does he think is the object or purpose of a newspaper review of creative writing? Is it the job of the book review to teach, theorize, and expound? In comparison, Evaristo's review is written in seven paragraphs over one and a quarter printed pages, with emphasis on eight stories. Kakutani's review is written in ten paragraphs over two pages, again with emphasis on eight stories.
Ikhide's review is written in fifteen paragraphs some of which are only one sentence long. Ikhide gives an overview of the whole collection, with closer attention to six stories in only one page. Like Ikhide, Madera gives an overview of the entire collection, with emphasis on five stories written over seven paragraphs in two pages. Abati is the only one who engages all the twelve stories which, perhaps, should be praiseworthy if it is well done. In Abati's handling, however, it is nothing but an avoidable incubus, an uneasy burden. No other reviewer has numeral page citation except Abati who has eleven page citations splashed across the first nine paragraphs. When will Abati and The Guardian be ready for a stylistic change that European, American, and many Nigerian writers have embraced even before the turn of the twenty-first century?
The book review by its name and practice is always already a reexamination and consistently selective, concise, and directional. No one goes to a book review to learn all about D. H. Lawrence's "one bright book of life." The book review is precise to its limitation of discourse, time, and space. In the context of its painful editorial failings, and even in spite of them, Reuben Abati's so-called review of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's The Thing around Your Neck does not just do a disservice to the purpose of its occasion it discountenances and vitiates literary taste and reason. Abati's "The Thing around Our Necks" is a magical wonder of fictional study and deserves academic attention in college classrooms as an instructive specimen on how not to write literary book reviews. Such a peculiar style which titillates above its scope and scintillates beyond its borders and teases aesthetic principle over the brink deserves recognition, and should henceforth be known as "Abatease."


On many occasions volunteers are given the responsibility to plan a meeting or event. They have little or no experience, no hotel or venue relationships, no negotiation experience, and perhaps no budget to hire a professional planner. Unfortunately this can cost an organization dearly. Volunteer planners sign contracts not fully understanding the ramifications to the organization they represent. As a planners with more than 25 years of international experience we have seen agencies lose thousands of dollars by poorly negotiated contracts. Great hotel or venue contracts won't save your event if it isn't planned and marketed well, but it will start the planning process on a solid foundation.
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Home › 17th Century Art › Flemish Art
Abraham Brueghel (1631-1690) High Baroques painter
Abraham Brueghel was a Flemish painter🎨 from the famous Brueghel🎨 family of artists.
He emigrated at a young age to Italy where he played an important role in the development of the style of decorative Baroque🎨 still lifes.
Abraham was born in Antwerp, the son of Jan Brueghel the Younger, the grandson of Jan Brueghel the Elder and the great-grandson of Pieter Brueghel the Elder🎨. Much of his artistic training came from his father Jan Brueghel the Younger, prolific painter and regular collaborator with Rubens🎨.
Abraham showed great promise as an artist from an early age, and started to make a name for himself in his teenage years. His father sold one of Abraham's floral still lives when he was only 15 years old.
Move to Italy
In 1649, at the age of 18, Abraham went to Italy to complete a commission for Prince Antonio Ruffo in Sicily. It was the first of many commissions in which Abraham demonstrated his artistic abilities in drawing floral still lifes.
Already in 1649 an inventory of his patron Prince Antonio Ruffo records nine flower paintings by the 18-year-old artist.
Ten years later, in 1659, Brueghel moved to Rome, Italy where he married an Italian woman less than a year later.
In 1670 he was invited into the Accademia di San Luca, a Roman academy, which had as its objective the elevation of the work of artists.
Abraham joined the Bentvueghels, an association of mainly Dutch and Flemish artists working in Rome. It was customary for the Bentvueghels to adopt an appealing nickname, the so-called 'bent name'.
He was given the bent name Rijngraaf, meaning 'duke of the Rhine', which was an old aristocratic title in Germany.
When Abraham Genoels joined the Bentvueghels in 1670, Abraham Brueghel signed the bentbrief as "Abraham Breugel".
Some time between 1672-1675, Abraham left Rome and moved to Naples, Italy.
He played an important role in the development of still life painting in Naples, which had before his arrival in the city resisted the Flemish-Roman style of decorative still lifes.
Breughel remained in Naples until his death. He is believed to have died c. 1690 in Naples and in any event no later than 1697.
Abraham Brueghel established a reputation for his still lifes and in particular, floral still lives. One hunting still life signed and dated by him is known.
Due to lack of evolution during the artist's mature period and the scarcity of dated works, it is difficult to establish a chronology of Abraham's artistic development. His brushstrokes were generally slightly more painterly during his Roman period, while his colouring became brighter and stronger during his later years.
The increasingly lush still lifes of the Flemish painters Frans Snyders, Jan Fyt and Pieter Boel who had also worked in Italy were the principal influences on Abraham Brueghel.
Joannes Hermans, another Flemish painter in Rome also painted grandiose still lifes combining human figures, flowers and fruit, which anticipated the arrival in Rome in 1653 of Abraham Brueghel.
Brueghel combined the Flemish preference for decorative profusion and anecdote with the sweeping movement of the Italian High Baroque of his Italian contemporaries, such as Michele Pace del Campidoglio and Michelangelo Cerquozzi. The result of the complementary influences were compositions that appear casual, while maintaining strong composition and clarity of detail.
Abraham Brueghel is especially known for his still life paintings of southern fruits and flowers, which were typically assembled in front of a landscape.
They are frequently enhanced by a precious vase, an antique monument or fragments of Roman sculpture. His cartouches are heavier and more decorative.
He painted his own landscapes but the staffage in his paintings was painted by well-known Italian painters, such as Carlo Maratta, Giovanni Battista Gaulli and Giacinto Brandi.
A few collaborations between Abraham Brueghel and Guillaume Courtois, a French painter active in Rome, are recorded.
An example is the Still life of fruits and flowers with a figure (Sold at Sotheby's on 29 January 2015 in New York, lot 302). The still life was painted by Brueghel while Courtois painted the figure. The painting is a variant of the Grapes and pomegranate with a vase of flowers and a female figure (private collection), which has been dated to the end of the 1660s. | © Wikipedia
Abraham Brueghel (Anversa, 28 novembre 1631 - Napoli, 1697) è stato un pittore Fiammingo🎨.
Appartenente alla celebre dinastia dei Brueghel - era figlio di Jan il Giovane e nipote di Jan Brueghel dei Velluti; il suo bisnonno era il celebre Pieter Bruegel il Vecchio🎨, Abraham Brueghel trascorse, al contrario dei suoi famigliari, quasi tutta la vita in Italia, dove giunse nel 1649.
Abraham dipinse quasi solo composizioni di fiori; la sua prima commissione importante fu quella per il nobile messinese Antonio Ruffo, un raffinatissimo collezionista che fu il primo italiano a richiedere un'opera di Rembrandt🎨.
Di seguito Brueghel soggiornò a Roma, dove si sposò con un'italiana e ritrasse soprattutto fiori e nature morte in dipinti richiestissimi dai collezionisti, completati da figure umane dipinte da artisti quali Giacinto Brandi, Maratta, Baciccio e altri. Nel 1670 fu accolto nell'Accademia di San Luca.
Negli ultimi anni la vita di Abraham si divise tra lunghi soggiorni a Roma e a Napoli, dove, a detta delle fonti coeve, si era guadagnato il soprannome di Brueghel il fracassoso.
Alla Galleria dell'Accademia (Napoli) si conserva la una tela, dal titolo Pomoma o Estate (dimensioni 76x102 cm, inventario 714) che nel vecchio inventario era attribuita a "Scuola Napoletana" e che risulta dal 1971 assegnata a Brueghel, con la collaborazione di "ignoto autore romano".

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Distance Healing may be scheduled to begin at any time you choose.
I will send an email afterwards describing the session, or we may talk.
Payment accepted through PayPal or by check.
I see clients in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, southeast of Philadelphia.
Directions will be emailed to you when you make your appointment.
or email. Sessions are $75 for 60 minutes of Reiki.
Allow one and a half hours for the total appointment time.
Please call for my current hours.
you may have about receiving Reiki. I will respond within 24 hours.
If your need is urgent, telephone me to schedule a distance healing session.
healing, and the third (called Advanced Practice) is for spiritual healing.
an appointment or ask any questions you may have about Reiki classes.


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Family run for over - 30 Yrs -
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/**
 * Convert Kyero-XML data between different versions.
 *
 * @author Andreas Rudolph
 * @since 1.0
 */
package org.openestate.io.kyero.converters;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Menstrual headaches are one of the most common unpleasant symptoms of the menstrual period, and these headaches have a tangible impact that can be measured in dollars. Researchers estimate that migraines and headaches cost US companies $13 billion per year. Since headache sufferers are three times more likely to be female, those costs due to absenteeism and decreased productivity due to pain disproportionately affect women. Between 60 and 70% of women who get migraines or severe headaches say these are menstrual headaches, so menstrual headaches are not something to be ignored or taken lightly.
Characterized by pain in one or both sides of the head, menstrual headaches can last for hours with most lasting between four and 72 hours. They are often accompanied by nausea, dizziness, vomiting, or blurred vision—common symptoms of migraines. The exact causes of menstrual headaches are complex. The drop in the hormones estrogen and progesterone certainly plays a significant part, but researchers feel that psychological factors also play a role. General anxiety from work, family, or other areas of personal life causes physiological changes that can trigger menstrual headaches.
Menstrual headaches have overlapping triggers, and hormones are definitely the primary culprit, meaning that sufferers should talk to their doctors about any hormone treatments, including birth control pills or other hormonal contraceptives. However, for many women menstrual headaches are the product of a perfect storm produced by both hormonal fluctuations and extreme stress and anxiety.
There are many medications that can aid in treating menstrual headaches. Taking a NSAID for two to three days prior to the menstrual period and continuing throughout can make all the difference for many women. There are also other types of medical treatments available by prescription. For some women, however, because of the gastrointestinal effects of NSAIDs, side effects of the prescription options, or simply personal preference, nonmedical treatment is the best option.
Sometimes, these changes can make all the difference, but there is still a lot of research to be done to determine if chemically these lifestyle changes affect the body's production of hormones.
Alternative medicine also offers treatments for women who wish to avoid pharmaceutical medications. Herbal remedies like Black Cohosh or Macafem and acupuncture are the most common treatments. The idea behind the herbal remedies is twofold. Black Cohosh is an example of a phytoestrogen product that contains estrogenic components produced by plants. This approach seeks to replace the body's estrogen or supplement it with plant products. Non-estrogenic herbal remedies like Macafem contain no estrogen, but they are thought to nourish hormone producing glands to balance all hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Whether looking for medical, nonmedical, or mixed treatment options, all women can find relief for menstrual headaches.


A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Julie Gray of justeffing.com. Among the topics we discussed was the growing use of social media as a tool to help writers network and brand themselves. I didn't realize it at the time, but those words made quite an impact on me.
I'm not the most avid Twitter user. I check it from time to time on my phone, and occasionally from my laptop. Probably because I'm writing, and want to focus on that.
I can't help but notice that some people tweet A LOT. Sometimes about a project they're working on, or posting a link to an article, or maybe messaging with somebody.
Like I said, I don't tweet that often, and seeing these makes me feel like I'm missing out on something. Not being LA-based, it's tougher to become part of that community. Tougher, but not impossible.
I'm going to start making a more sincere effort to change that.
I'll follow more people. I'll make more comments. I'll retweet something I like, rather than thinking about doing it later and not.
I've been telling stories on Twitter in support of an upcoming movie called Saving Lincoln. The stories are being told in the voice of Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln's friend, former law partner, and main bodyguard during the Civil War.
If you don't mind checking it out and giving it a follow, I would appreciate it. Thanks!
I really like гeading through a post that will make men and women think.


Good dental care with routine maintenance can be costly, especially if you don't have dental insurance. The American Dental Association (ADA) and the doctors at Chadwell Orthodontics recommend you see your dentist twice a year for regular checkups and cleanings.
However, it is a great way to remove large pieces of food from between the teeth, especially while wearing braces. At Chadwell Orthodontics, we want to stress the importance of both brushing and flossing during treatment to maintain good dental health. If you want to use a Waterpik, that's great, just don't use it as a substitute for flossing.
After watching this video, how important do you think it is to take care of your teeth properly during orthodontic treatment? Please comment below.


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Q: How to pass a sequence to a function accepting multiple arguments in Scala Below are my 2 functions
def getProductAsDouble(nums: Double*):Double={
    var n = new BigDecimal("1.0")
    nums.foreach(num => n = n.multiply(new BigDecimal(num.toString)))
    n.setScale(2,java.math.BigDecimal.ROUND_HALF_UP).doubleValue()
  }

  def getProductAsString(nf:NumberFormat,nums: Double*): String ={
    nf.format(getProductAsDouble(nums)) // shows error here
  }

I am unable to pass nums from getProductAsString to getProductAsDouble. Is there any way to resolve this?

A: You can use : _*
e.g.
def getProductAsString(nf:NumberFormat,nums: Double*): String ={
  nf.format(getProductAsDouble(nums : _*))
}

There is a good explanation of _* type annotation here: What does `:_*` (colon underscore star) do in Scala?

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Ortho On Call
Weight Loss Assistance
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Neil Parry, PT, DPT, OCS
OrthoVirginia Offices
Neil serves as both the Residency Program Director and Director of Sports Performance for OrthoVirginia and is currently located in the Herndon office. He graduated in 2016 from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. During his time at Duquesne, Neil worked with the D1 Men's Soccer team as a practice player and later as an assistant for the goalkeepers. After graduating from Duquesne, he pursued his board certification in orthopedics in 2018. He has a special interest in lower extremity injuries, soccer injuries and strength and conditioning for all ages. In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer, working out, reading, listening to podcasts to further his knowledge and spending time with his growing family.
Organizations & Awards
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, Doctor of Physical Therapy, 2016
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, Bachelor of Science in Biology, 2014
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, 2014
American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists, Orthopedic Certified Specialist, 2018
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Parsing Science
Economics, Psychology
economics, open-access, Big Five, personality, developing countries, WEIRD, 250, altmetric, ad:sciencepods
What changes when we attempt to measure personality outside of the contexts where the instruments were developed and validated? In episode 57, we're joined by Karen Macours from the Paris School of Economics about her research into practical issues with using a popular Big Five personality measure......
Listen to the episode..Not-So Big Personality Traits? – Karen Macours
Men Without Work – Carol Graham
gender, economics, race, ethnicity, Brookings, happiness, wellbeing, well-being, open-access, transcript, ad:sciencepods
Why are less-than-college-educated White men in the US so much less happy and more desperate than their international counterparts? In episode 49, Carol Graham from the Brookings Institution and the University of Maryland talks with us about her research into why younger out-of-work men in the Uni......
Listen to the episode..Men Without Work – Carol Graham
Deciding to Move – Bill Clark
behavior, geography, economics, move, mobility, migration, open-access, ad:wss
Bill Clark from the University of California Los Angeles discusses his research applying the endowment effect of Prospect Theory to decisions of why people move from, or stay in, their homes. His open-access article, "Prospect theory and the decision to move or stay," co-authored with William Liso......
Listen to the episode..Deciding to Move – Bill Clark


Successful Targeting - Articles - Market Mapping plus Inc.
Successful targeting can make your marketing dollars go further. Don't spend money talking to people who will never need your product!
Many business owners think, "Everyone is our customer". This is not necessarily true. This common misconception is the one trap that most often leads a direct mail campaign to failure.
Let's say you were a chocolatier— If you sell chocolates that cost $2.00 each, and come bundled in dozen-unit cases, then the least your customer would spend is $24 for a case of chocolates. However, people on fixed or low income, for instance, are highly unlikely to do so. After groceries, rent, gas, and electric, they are unlikely to have the disposable income for a $24 case of chocolates. Presenting this offer to them would simply be money down the drain.
This is why targeting is so important. By using a targeted mailing list, you put your marketing dollars where they are most likely to have results. By looking at geography, demographics, and the things your prospects already buy, own, or subscribe to, you find out who would be interested in the offer before you send it, and you don't end up using your marketing budget in unnecessary places.
Targeting starts with geography. Where do you want to sell? A radius around your store? A nationwide audience? Regional market area? No matter the size or scope of your market, it's important to focus on those segments that will be most receptive to your offer, and most productive for your company. If you can only afford to mail 1000 pieces, don't do a nationwide mailing. 20 mail pieces into every state is rarely productive. Unless you target your mailing so tightly that you are only reaching your very best prospects, you would be throwing good money after bad. You need to reach people who can buy from you today! Finding the balance— distributing your mailing into a geographic and demographic group that saturates properly, but remains within your budget and mailing run— maximizes your ability to reach new, ready-to-buy customers.
Next is demographic targeting: Who are your customers? Are they young? Old? Do they have children? Are they renters or homeowners? Asking these questions helps you eliminate households that would not have interest in your products, freeing up time and money to concentrate on those who do. I personally get mailings to my home (an apartment complex) trying to sell replacement windows, a new furnace, and roofing services. With over 758 units in the complex, that is a lot of money wasted on people that will never buy from them.
Look at your customers closely. Can you specify their age, gender, and income? Do they have children? Rent or own their home? Do they have high net worth, disposable income, or a specific interest in pets, crafts, boating or other such areas? These are the questions you need to answer.
As an example, Let's look at a single zip code here in Michigan: 49506, East Grand Rapids. It's an upscale market with some interesting characteristics.
If you were to send a "saturation" mailing, but your product or service was used primarily by homeowners, you would be sending 2,830 pieces of mail to renters, who have no use for your products. Even with a postcard, the cost of postage alone for 2,830 mailings would exceed $760!
If your geographic market area is wide enough, you can narrow down your list by using subscriber-based or lifestyle-based selects. Typically, these highly-targeted options have much lower counts per-area, but allow you to specifically target mailings to people you know are already interested. If your business has a very tight geographical range, you probably would not benefit from these selects, as each demographic selection generally contains far fewer people per area. However, if you want to narrow down a wide-ranging direct-mail campaign, subscriber-based and lifestyle-based selection is the perfect tool for precision targeting. Typically there is a 5,000-name minimum for subscriber and lifestyle lists so the focus geographically must be greater.
As you can see, you can focus your business lists as well by selecting the size and type of business you need to reach. Don't waste marketing dollars on market segments that are not going to buy from you. Less is more in most cases.


Just 113km away from Muscat, this legendary sinkhole can be found a short distance off of the main road. Although there are various stories behind the formation of the Hawiyat Najm, the locals have a legend that a meteor fell here which has given this sinkhole the name "Hawiyat Najm, meaning "The Falling Star". Though a fascinating origin story, expert geologists have concluded that the crater was in fact formed as a natural consequence of the limestone dissolving, which resulted in the collapse of the top layer of earth.
Once you step off on location, you'll notice a fence with an unlocked gate, along with some refreshingly clean restrooms and picnic tables. A short walk away under the palm trees and you'll find the sinkhole with very convenient steps that lead you down to a shallow entrance. The water is more salty than the nearby ocean, so you'll swim and float more easily than you're used to.
If you're feeling especially adventurous it's possible to jump in from the top, but be warned it's a dangerous leap – almost 20 meters down! For those who want a similar, yet safer, experience, we recommend you take the trail on the right side to a shelf 3-5 meters above the very deep water. Although at first glance this is an easy jump, the dark depths of the deep end easily conjure up imaginations of what creatures may lie below; but there's really nothing to worry about. Divers have explored the inky depths and found several cave networks hidden in the depths, but no monsters – unless you include the tiny fish in the shallows above you might discover nibbling your toes! If, like most, you choose to stick to the shallow end, you'll be able to see directly through the crystal waters and enjoy the little curious residents that congregate there.
This is a great experience for young travelers. The gradual slope into the calm water makes for an easy entry for little feet – but do keep a close watch as the waters get deep after few meters.
The bottom of the sinkhole is a bit rocky, and although it's possible to enjoy it barefoot, others may feel more comfortable wearing water shoes or sandals.
In your bag: plenty of water, snacks, a hat, and sunscreen. There aren't any kiosks or convenience stores nearby.
This would be a great stop on the way to another destination- perhaps on the way to/from Sur, Wadi Tiwi, or Wadi Ash Shab. If you want to spend a longer time in the area, there are beautiful beaches nearby complete with some wonderful snorkeling spots.


(2) Other officers of the United States traveling on official business.
(3) Secretaries and supplies of the Armed Services Department of the Young Men's Christian Association.
(4) Officers and employees of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico on official business.
(5) The families of members of the armed forces, officers and employees of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, and persons described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (4).
However, a person described in paragraph (4) or (5) may be so transported only if the transportation is without expense to the United States.
10:1371 (less last 29 words).
Mar. 2, 1907, ch. 2511 (6th proviso, less last 29 words under "Transportation of the Army and Its Supplies"), 34 Stat. 1170.
June 30, 1921, ch. 33 (8th proviso under "Transportation of the Army and Its Supplies"), 42 Stat. 81.
Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 209 (3d proviso under "Transportation of the Army and Its Supplies"), 36 Stat. 1051.
2011—Pub. L. 111–383 substituted "Persons and supplies: sea, land, and air transportation" for "Persons and supplies: sea transportation" in section catchline and inserted ", vehicles, or aircraft" after "vessels" in introductory provisions.
"(1) Members of the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard.
"(2) Officers and employees of the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, or the Coast Guard.
"(3) Supplies of the Department of the Navy."
Pub. L. 108–375, §1072(a), renumbered section 4744 of this title as this section.
1960—Pub. L. 86–624 struck out cl. (6) which authorized transportation of officers and employees of the Territory of Hawaii, redesignated cls. (7) to (9) as (6) to (8), respectively, and substituted "clauses (1), (2), (4), (5), and (7)" for "clauses (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), and (8)" in redesignated cl. (8), and "clause (7) or (8)" for "clause (8) or (9)" in closing sentence.


Derby-based sinfonia ViVA – the region's only professional orchestra – celebrates its 30th birthday this year and will start its celebrations with two high-profile projects and performances to mark the countdown to the London 2012 Olympics.
The 'starting gun' for the Orchestra's milestone will be a partnership project with Derby LIVE, Déda and two nationally-renowned artists as part of the BBC Music National Festival – one of the keynote countdown events for the London 2012 Festival and a key element of the nationwide Cultural Olympiad.
ViVA has commissioned composer Tunde Jegede who brings together classical, African and pop music in his highly-acclaimed work, to write a new piece of music for Cello, Orchestra and African percussion.
The work will be premiered at the Assembly Rooms on March 3 and will also be the inspiration for an education project involving 120 young musicians and dancers from city schools and colleges who will perform their work on March 1.
ViVA then turns its attentions to the Darley Park concert which has been brought forward this year to Saturday June 30 to be part of the weekend of celebrations to mark the city's high profile inclusion in the UK-wide Olympic torch relay.
The concert, which has grown over the years to become the UK's largest free outdoor classical music concert, has special resonance for ViVA as the Orchestra's very first performance orchestra was nearly 30 years ago to the day of Darley Park.
sinfonia ViVA started life as the East of England Orchestra, based in Nottingham, and held its first concert at St Mary's Church in Nottingham's Lace Market on June 26.
Thirty years later and the Orchestra is one of the UK's leading regional orchestras – earning a national reputation for high quality concert performances and particularly for its ground-breaking education work across the region.
Last year alone, more than 45,000 people enjoyed a selection of more than 30 sinfonia ViVA concerts and the Orchestra led 10 ambitious education projects delivering over 150 sessions to young people across the region.
ViVA Chief Executive Peter Helps said: "We feel honoured to be making two such important contributions to the city's Olympic celebrations and it makes the start of our 30th anniversary celebrations all the more special.
Peter continued that sinfonia ViVA had evolved a great deal since its early days and was now regarded as an orchestra of national repute with a regional focus.
"Milestones such as the 30th birthday are important to enable us to look back at what has happened and remind ourselves of the resilience needed to survive in a competitive world.
"It is also an opportunity to re-evaluate our aims and objectives and to look forward with renewed vigour to push the boundaries even further in delivering what we do best – high quality music that appeals to a wide audience.
"The difference between ViVA and orchestras who are based in London and travel around the regions is that we have strong regional links at practical levels and are truly part of the community.
In terms of engaging with young people, the Orchestra has worked with the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham for the past five years on an innovative Beanbag Proms programme for pre-school children. These regular events enable young families to enjoy familiar tunes and introduce them to classical music in a relaxed environment as well as meet the players and have a go on their instruments themselves.
Twice a year, the Orchestra works with more than 300 young people from city and county primary and secondary schools, further education colleges and youth groups who compose music in the classrooms and then come together and perform alongside professional musicians on the stage.
More than 1,300 young people have been involved in recent years and its education projects with local schools have included specially commissioned work to celebrate the life and times of Bess of Hardwick and Florence Nightingale and more recently a project which was inspired by the night-time sounds of the city which have all been nominated for prestigious British Composer Awards.
On stage, ViVA continues to perform throughout the East Midlands and beyond. Recent years have seen the Orchestra engaged on tours to Berlin and Ireland and collaboration work with a host of big names including Damon Albarn who invited the Orchestra to be involved in the Grammy nominated Gorillaz album 'Plastic Beach'.
Peter continued: "There are many reasons behind our continued success and stability as an Orchestra but one of the key reasons is that music making in its widest sense is the focus and heart of everything that we do.
"Our job is effectively to make magic and engage with audiences which is why I think we have such a loyal following.
"We are particularly good at working in partnership with composers, artists, other organisations and funders to bring together the sum of smaller parts into some major large scale projects.
Peter explained that maintaining consistency in the Orchestra's artistic direction and quality continues to be a key element in ViVA's growing success.
ViVA's roots were firmly established by the founding principal conductor Malcolm Nabarro. Nicholas Kok took over the reins in 1995 and was followed five years ago by international conductor André de Ridder whose tenure finishes this year with his successor due to be announced amidst the 30th birthday celebrations.
"We recognise that, although arts and culture are vital strands to any society, we do not have an ultimate right to be here so we need to be robust in our financial management to ensure that we are still around in 30 years time.
"We have proved our worth in the past 30 years but the current climate is tough and will no doubt continue to be so for the foreseeable future.
"Our focus remains clear – that our top priority is to create art that is new, exciting and that people want to engage with to enjoy, inspire and enrich their lives.
As well as working with key funding partners, including the Arts Council, Derby City Council and businesses such as Rolls-Royce, ViVA has launched a 30th anniversary year fund – inviting donations from as little as 30p a week to one off larger donations which support the cost of a major new commission or to launch new community projects.
Peter concluded: "We need to look at different ways of working, both as an orchestra and collectively with our fellow arts organisations to secure the future of the cultural offering in the city and region as a whole.


text:
After WEG Double Silver, What's Next for U.S. Dressage?
Due South | October 12, 2018 | Comments
The WEG silver medal U.S. dressage team: Technical advisor Robert Dover, Kasey Perry-Glass, Adrienne Lyle, Steffen Peters and Laura Graves. Photo© 2018 by Nancy Jaffer
It took 16 years for the U.S. dressage team to replicate its historic placing at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, when it took team silver once again at the 2018 WEG, following years of Olympic and world championship bronze medals – as well as a couple of dry periods.
The day after the WEG team prizes were awarded at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, another chapter was written in the history books when Laura Graves became the first American to take individual silver at a global championship in the discipline. She finished second in the Grand Prix Special on her Verdades behind perennial star Isabell Werth aboard Bella Rose, the leading combination of Germany's gold medal team. Then following the Games, Laura and Verdades scored another American first, moving up to the top of the global dressage rankings, albeit by a single point.
Only one thing was missing during a remarkable time for U.S. dressage, another head-to-head confrontation between Laura and Isabell in the WEG's Grand Prix Freestyle. The WEG's third dressage competition was called off because of heavy rains and high winds, the legacy of troublesome Hurricane Florence that put a damper, literally and figuratively, on the Games in North Carolina. Organizers and the FEI said they couldn't figure out a way to hold the freestyle, since European horses were locked into a departure time on the day after the freestyle was cancelled.
When Laura was informed the freestyle wouldn't be held, she was devastated. About 12,000 tickets had been sold, which would have been the largest audience of her career.
"I burst into tears. It hit me really hard. This is something I've struggled with pretty deeply since that day," said Laura.
"It was pretty obvious Isabell was on great form. Whether or not I would have beaten Isabell in Tryon, to have that freestyle I would have felt some more closure on the whole week.
"There were 101 ways this could have been prevented, in my opinion," she contended.
"I'm sure it was disappointing for a lot of people, but it was especially for me, in my home country, to have that opportunity taken away," explained Laura, who was all set to share her "very American freestyle" highlighted by the song, "Coming to America."
Laura led the U.S. squad of Kasey Perry-Glass, Adrienne Lyle and Steffen Peters. All but Steffen are trained by Debbie McDonald, who will become the new U.S. Equestrian Federation dressage technical advisor in December.
Laura is still looking for her next horse, which she wants to train herself. If she has to miss the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she will, so she can take her time with her new mount. Verdades will be 18 in 2020, and she has no plans to push him for his second Olympics if it's not in his best interests.
Meanwhile, Laura hasn't even decided whether she will compete Verdades next spring in the FEI World Cup Finals, the most important dressage competition of 2019 for the Americans. Since they qualified for Tokyo by virtue of their Tryon placing, the country doesn't need to send the A-team to the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
"God knows, I love World Cup," said Laura, but her Dutch-bred gelding is barefoot in his paddock now. Laura will start thinking about her next move with him starting in November, when she trots him up after his break and sees how he is doing.
While Robert Dover, who retires this fall after six years as U.S. dressage technical advisor, predicted the rise of U.S. dressage, he isn't complacent.
"This WEG was an ongoing statement of America's strength in the sport of dressage. I was always hoping we would end up with the silver medal at least, and we did it in a very convincing way," he said.
"I'm really proud of the horses, the riders, all their teams behind them and of course, the federation and all they did to make it happen."
At the same time, he pointed out, "It doesn't really matter how well you have done, because you're only as good as your last gig. Just because you are a powerhouse in the world in a particular theater, you still have to re-prove yourself every single time you go out of the country.
"We have seen major countries in the sport like Holland [fifth at the WEG], truly fall from the podiums in the most dramatic way and have to really rethink their situation. We have even seen that with Germany, where they fell to a bronze at one point. They put a huge amount of energy and money into their U25 division, and brought along a whole new generation of new riders, with the exception of Isabell, who is a team unto herself," he continued.
He emphasized it's necessary to "insure we have a steady stream of athletes, both two- and four-legged, flowing up to the elite division.
"What we have to do is never rest on our laurels. We have to, as a country, keep improving the programs, both competitive and training, and improve the pathway that leads from the lowest end of the pyramid to the highest."
~Nancy Jaffer


Meghan Trainor may have just had the most epic fall of all epic falls while performing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
It happened when she turned around on her humongous high heels and lost her balance.
So she fell flat on her back and the microphone flew in the air.
But she of course handled it like a pro. If you are going to fall, fall this spectacularly.


Laila's attire reminds me of that of Utena Tenjou from the anime Shoujo Kakumei Utena. Just sayi'n…!
Utena was the reference Greg provided in the script. I had no idea… but for Google. Anyway, good eye, it is a little nod of the head.


MSME Technology Centre Sitarganj invites applications for recruitment position of various Managers, Engineers, Accounts Officer and Store Officer on contract basis. Apply within 15 days from the date of advertisement.
About: MSME Technology Centre, Sitarganj is being set up at Sitarganj (Uttarakhand). The Technology Centre is a Govt. of India Society registered under Societies Registration Act and is functioning as autonomous body under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
(1) For Engineering Posts – Degree in Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech) in concerned discipline.
How to Apply: Eligible Interested candidates should send their bio data as per prescribed format along with self-attested copies of certificates should be addressed to PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR, ELECTRONICS SERVICE AND TRAINING CENTRE, KANIYA, RAMNAGAR, DISTT: NAINITAL, 244715. (UTTARAKHAND). The last date will be 15/12/2018.


Four Seasons Explorer is the group's most intimate resort experience. Cruising between Four Seasons' two Maldivian island resorts, the 128 foot, 3 deck luxury live-aboard takes a maximum of 22 guests on 3, 4 or 7 night marine odysseys into the lesser-known Maldives.
Experience three dives a day as part of all-inclusive itineraries that cover some of the country's most sought after dive sites: untouched reefs, vibrant thilas, exciting channels and wrecks, prime sunrise and night sites plus seasonal manta ray and whale shark hotspots. And it's all done in style; the boat has its own PADI 5-Star Dive Centre, managed by a vastly experienced international team.
Savour gourmet cuisine, spend time with the marine biologist and castaway on secluded islands. Discover historic monuments and isolated villages or relax with onboard massages, sunset cocktails and sandbank barbecues. Comfort, luxury and style abound in the 10 State Rooms and larger Explorer Suite, which offer bright and fresh interiors with spectacular ocean views. Private charters and dedicated manta ray research and surf cruises are also available.
Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing a State Room, inclusive of full board and transfers. Flights are additional.
10 State Rooms and 1 Suite, 1 Restaurant, 2 Bars, Onboard Spa Therapist, Wake Boarding, Kayaks, Snorkelling, Water-skiing, Windsurfing, Diving, Fishing.
Prices are based on two people sharing a Stateroom, inclusive of full board and transfers. Flights are additional.


It seems like just about everyone is opening an app store these days, even relatively obscure manufactures are starting to open app stores. Gamepark the company that created the popular GP2X Wiz gaming hand held has recently announced their plans to have an open source game/app store up and running by August 2009. Anyone will be able to create and upload a game to the store. Its a cool concept and Gamepark's fans are a loyal bunch, so it will likely be very popular with GP2X Wiz owners. The pricing structure has not been announced, but there will no doubt be both free games as well as ones that must be purchased.
App stores overall seem like a great idea to me, it adds additional functionality to devices. Its true that some tiny Korean manufacture is not going to challenge the dominance of the Apple app store, but that is not the point, app stores are about opening up simple aggregation and distribution center for the applications and games. Titles that would have otherwise been lost at least stand a chance of being found in a good app store.


text:
Home News Misc. News Google Launches 1Gbps Internet And TV Service, Kansas City Only
Google Launches 1Gbps Internet And TV Service, Kansas City Only
Andrew Kunesh
It looks as if the world is envious of Kansas City for more than just good barbecue for the first time in history. Google has announced that their Google Fiber Internet connection and cable TV service will be launching in the city on both the Missouri and Kansas sides of town in the near future. Google has promised that Google Fiber will have peak speeds of 1,000mbps (1gbps), which is crazy fast. Subscribers will receive unlimited bandwidth as well, which is great as most US broadband providers cap out at 250GB per month. However, while Google's Internet packages look awesome, their TV packages look pretty "meh" in comparison. Disney-owned channels are missing as well as premium channels like HBO, Starz and Cinemax.
So, what are the perks of getting Google Fiber besides the awesome Internet speeds? For starters, Google will give you a terabyte of free Cloud Drive storage to store whatever you'd like. Google will also throw in Nexus 7 if you pick up their Internet and TV plan as the Nexus 7 is the standard TV remote for Google's "TV Box". If you don't want to use the Nexus 7, you can also use your iOS or Android device as a remote. Google's cable box is also supposed to be pretty cool as it doubles as a wireless access point to extend your wireless reception. And while this cable box doesn't seem to be running Google TV or Android, it will allow you to stream YouTube and Netflix videos to your TV. You will also receive a "Storage Box" and a "Network Box". The Storage Box will house a network attached 2TB hard drive, which can record TV shows as well as house other files. The Network Box is pretty basic as it's a simple router/modem combo. However, the Network Box only supports Wireless 802.11n, so it isn't extremely future proof as we could begin seeing Wireless 802.11ac devices next year. Lastly, Google also offers a discounted Samsung ChromeBook to all subscribers for just $299.
So while this all sounds great, how much does the service cost? Google has said that they will be offering three different packages: "Gigabit + TV", "Gigabit" and "Average". Gigabit + TV will offer Google's TV service as well as a fiber connection. Google has said that their TV packages will come with on-demand video as well as most major channels — this plan will run you $120 per month. Google's Gigabit plan will only offer a fiber connection and will run you $70 per month. Last but not least is Google's "Average" plan. This plan will offer relatively slow speeds of 5mbps down and 1mbps up. However, this plan has no monthly fee as long as you pay the $300 installation fee.
If you're in Kansas City and want Google Fiber, how do you get it? Unfortunately, it's not as easy as just subscribing. You'll have to vote for your region on the Google Fiber website after paying a $10 fee. The areas of town with the most votes will get Google Fiber first. Google has not yet said when this service will expand to other parts of the world.
Source: The Verge, Google
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Andrew is a geek, Apple enthusiast, blogger and coffee lover from Chicago.
Amazon Makes It Easier Than Ever To Take Your Money With Amazon Dash
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The Keysight N3300A DC Electronic Load 1800 Watt Has Been Replaced By Newer Models.
The N3300A DC Electronic Load 1800 Watt is a full-rack width mainframe with 6-slots that accepts combinations of N330x user-installable load modules (150 W to 600 W) for easy system configuration and future reconfiguration. The N3300A holds up to six N3302A, N3303A, N3304A, and N3307A load modules, or up to three N3305A and N3306A load modules, allowing up to 1,800 watts of total maximum power.


text:
from iptest.assert_util import skiptest
skiptest("win32", "silverlight")
from iptest.cominterop_util import *
from System.Runtime.InteropServices import COMException
from System import InvalidOperationException
from System.Reflection import TargetParameterCountException
from Microsoft.Scripting import ArgumentTypeException

com_type_name = "DlrComLibrary.DlrComServer"

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Create a COM object
com_obj = getRCWFromProgID(com_type_name)

def test_DlrComServerArrays():
    dlrComServer = com_obj

    data = dlrComServer.GetObjArray() # returns 2 objects - one is itself, another one is something else
    Assert(data.Length == 2)
    Assert(dlrComServer.Equals(data[0]) == True)
    Assert(dlrComServer.Equals(data[1]) == False)

    data = dlrComServer.GetIntArray() # returns 5 ints - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Assert(data.Length == 5)
    Assert(data[0] == 1)
    Assert(data[1] == 2)
    Assert(data[2] == 3)
    Assert(data[3] == 4)
    Assert(data[4] == 5)

    data = dlrComServer.GetByteArray() # return byte string "GetByteArrayTestData"

    stream = System.IO.MemoryStream(data, False)
    reader = System.IO.StreamReader(stream, System.Text.UnicodeEncoding())
    s = reader.ReadToEnd()
    Assert(s == "GetByteArrayTestData")

def test_perfScenarios():
    AreEqual(com_obj.SimpleMethod(), None)
    AreEqual(com_obj.IntArguments(1, 2), None)
    AreEqual(com_obj.StringArguments("hello", "there"), None)
    AreEqual(com_obj.ObjectArguments(com_obj, com_obj), None)

def test_errorInfo():
    try:
        com_obj.TestErrorInfo()
    except COMException, e:
        # This is commented out to revisit it to see if we want to add coverage for str, or if we are
        # happy to have coverage just for e.Message
        # AreEqual("Test error message" in str(e), True)
        AreEqual("Test error message", e.Message)

@disabled("COM dispatch mode doesn't support documentation")
def test_documentation():
    import IronPython
    ops = IronPython.Hosting.Python.CreateRuntime().GetEngine('py').Operations
    AreEqual(ops.GetDocumentation(com_obj.IntArguments), "void IntArguments(Int32 arg1, Int32 arg2)")

@disabled('CodePlex bug 19282')
def test_method_equality():
    AreEqual(com_obj.SumArgs, com_obj.SumArgs)
    Assert(com_obj.SumArgs != com_obj.IntArguments)
    com_obj2 = getRCWFromProgID(com_type_name)
    Assert(com_obj.SumArgs != com_obj2.SumArgs)

    #Use COM methods as dicitonary keys
    d = {}
    d[com_obj.SumArgs] = "SumArgs"
    AreEqual(d[com_obj.SumArgs], "SumArgs")
    d[com_obj.IntArguments] = "IntArguments"
    AreEqual(d[com_obj.IntArguments], "IntArguments")
    d[com_obj.SumArgs] = "SumArgs2"
    AreEqual(d[com_obj.SumArgs], "SumArgs2")
    d[com_obj2.SumArgs] = "obj2_SumArgs"
    AreEqual(d[com_obj2.SumArgs], "obj2_SumArgs")
    AreEqual(d, {com_obj.SumArgs:"SumArgs2", com_obj.IntArguments:"IntArguments", com_obj2.SumArgs:"obj2_SumArgs"})

def test_namedArgs():
    # Named arguments
    AreEqual(12345, com_obj.SumArgs(1, 2, 3, 4, 5))
    AreEqual(12345, com_obj.SumArgs(1, 2, 3, 4, a5=5))
    AreEqual(12345, com_obj.SumArgs(1, 2, 3, a4=4, a5=5))
    AreEqual(12345, com_obj.SumArgs(a1=1, a2=2, a3=3, a4=4, a5=5))
    AreEqual(12345, com_obj.SumArgs(a5=5, a4=4, a3=3, a2=2, a1=1))

    # kwargs
    AreEqual(12345, com_obj.SumArgs(1, 2, 3, 4, **{"a5":5}))
    AreEqual(12345, com_obj.SumArgs(1, 2, 3, **{"a4":4, "a5":5}))
    AreEqual(12345, com_obj.SumArgs(**{"a1":1, "a2":2, "a3":3, "a4":4, "a5":5}))
    AreEqual(12345, com_obj.SumArgs(**{"a5":5, "a4":4, "a3":3, "a2":2, "a1":1}))

    # Named arguments and kwargs
    AreEqual(12345, com_obj.SumArgs(1, 2, a5=5, **{"a4":4, "a3":3}))

    # DISP_E_UNKNOWNNAME
    AssertError(COMException, com_obj.SumArgs, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, **{"a6":6, "bugid":"TODO"})

    AssertError(StandardError, com_obj.SumArgs, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, **{"a5":5, "bugid":"TODO"})

#Verify that one is able to enumerate over the object in a loop
#TODO: add more tests for enumerators - bad enumerator, different array sizes, different types.
def test_enumerator():
    AreEqual( [x for x in com_obj.GetEnumerator()] , [ 42, True, "DLR"] )
    AreEqual( [x for x in com_obj] , [ 42, True, "DLR"] )

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
run_com_test(__name__, __file__)


Everyone loves a bargain when shopping for something special there and there is no better way than with Victoria Secret Coupons 2017.
Discount coupons and codes are what more and more people are using these days to save money on their shopping. These printable coupons can be used at any store and allow you to save a significant amount of money when making your final checkout.
Victoria Secret Coupons 2017 will enable you to purchase a vast array of items at significantly reduced prices for the duration of the discount offer period. Some of these Victoria Secret Coupons 2017 will be for specific items within the stores during certain time periods and so it is important to check the eligibility of the coupon for the items you are looking for.
Victoria Secret Coupons 2017 are probably some of the best that have been released by the company over recent years and so you can start to enjoy the benefits of using these coupons will bring to you with no effort and at no cost to you.
Enjoy these Victoria Secret Coupons 2017 when you next go shopping and keep a lookout for the latest coupons coming your way.


QBCC is enforcing waterproofing of external decks and has issued a reminder that waterproofing is to comply with AS4654 Waterproofing membranes for external above-ground use.
The standard provides the requirements for the design and installation of external waterproofing membrane systems to prevent water leakage into buildings.
To view QBCC's notice, please click here.


This module is a 15 credit module at level 6. The module covers all methods of contraception and the most common sexually transmitted infections. The assessment is a 3,000 words assignment and the topic is chosen by the student.
On completion of the course the student will be able to give advice on all methods of contraception and have an understanding of the signs, symptoms and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.


Finally, an off topic area where I can post this.
Post your picture, don't be shy.
no i'm not emo. lol.
Two days to shave? That must be some impressive facial hair.
Is it possible to post your friendster or multiply photo here? Can somebody teach me how?
You mean when you're driving your new GT-R32 VspecII? ;D Good show, mate.
But then again, you do work in a law office, so you probably look smarter than I do all the time!
I can neither confirm nor deny rumors of said vehicle. Besides you guys know I frequent car shows and worked on them overseas (Philippines; China).
But who am I to stop a juicy rumor? I guess you can all dance for my amusement :shifty: . One way or the other, you'll still see me driving around in my unsuspecting little Jetta.
If he does have one I sure haven't seen it. Then again, anything is possible... There's a lot of stuff he has that I haven't seen.


text:
/*************************************************************************/
/*  rect2.h                                                              */
/*************************************************************************/
/*                       This file is part of:                           */
/*                           GODOT ENGINE                                */
/*                      https://godotengine.org                          */
/*************************************************************************/
/* Copyright (c) 2007-2022 Juan Linietsky, Ariel Manzur.                 */
/* Copyright (c) 2014-2022 Godot Engine contributors (cf. AUTHORS.md).   */
/*                                                                       */
/* Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining */
/* a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the       */
/* "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including   */
/* without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish,   */
/* distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to    */
/* permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to */
/* the following conditions:                                             */
/*                                                                       */
/* The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be        */
/* included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.       */
/*                                                                       */
/* THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,       */
/* EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF    */
/* MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.*/
/* IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY  */
/* CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT,  */
/* TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE     */
/* SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.                */
/*************************************************************************/

#ifndef GODOT_RECT2_H
#define GODOT_RECT2_H

#ifdef __cplusplus
extern "C" {
#endif

#include <gdnative/math_defs.h>

#define GODOT_RECT2_SIZE (sizeof(godot_real_t) * 4)

#ifndef GODOT_CORE_API_GODOT_RECT2_TYPE_DEFINED
#define GODOT_CORE_API_GODOT_RECT2_TYPE_DEFINED
typedef struct godot_rect2 {
	uint8_t _dont_touch_that[GODOT_RECT2_SIZE];
} godot_rect2;
#endif

#define GODOT_RECT2I_SIZE (sizeof(int32_t) * 4)

#ifndef GODOT_CORE_API_GODOT_RECT2I_TYPE_DEFINED
#define GODOT_CORE_API_GODOT_RECT2I_TYPE_DEFINED
typedef struct godot_rect2i {
	uint8_t _dont_touch_that[GODOT_RECT2I_SIZE];
} godot_rect2i;
#endif

#include <gdnative/gdnative.h>

void GDAPI godot_rect2_new(godot_rect2 *p_self);
void GDAPI godot_rect2_new_copy(godot_rect2 *r_dest, const godot_rect2 *p_src);
void GDAPI godot_rect2i_new(godot_rect2i *p_self);
void GDAPI godot_rect2i_new_copy(godot_rect2i *r_dest, const godot_rect2i *p_src);

#ifdef __cplusplus
}
#endif

#endif // GODOT_RECT2_H


We know that credit applications aren't an exact science. They may require tweaking before they can be approved. Instead of spending the valuable and short time you have with your customers on the phone with your buyer, why not try the Rehash Tool on the Dealer Extranet.
If you need to update the numbers on your customer's application or revise the type of vehicle being purchased, there is no better, faster way than the Rehash Tool.
You can plug your new information into the Rehash Tool and receive a new structure in real time.
Even if deal negotiations run late, the Rehash Tool allows you to work deals at any time, day or night. This gives you the flexibility to close more deals despite the time of day or the time zone you're in.
Learn more about what the Rehash Tool can bring to the table when working deals with Santander Auto Finance.


This is the first article of my series of articles about EOS. I am creating a series of articles in which I answer commonly asked questions about EOS. In this post, I will try to explain the fundamental principles of EOS blockchain and how it works. This specific post is not directed towards the users of the EOS community but those who want to invest in EOS. New investors who are either investors of other cryptocurrencies or are totally new to crypto and EOS.
EOS is a blockchain operating system. It was built to run semi decentralized blockchain applications. It is similar to how Windows 10 runs applications like Office and Skype but in EOS, the applications are run online in the internet. It is a operating system that runs on the internet and thousands of people can use it at the same time.
It is expected to stay online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is designed to perform tasks (produce blocks) continuously without fail. Due to the EOS Network's high security design, it is able to handle financial transactions securely and that is its main purpose. When the internet was built, money wasn't built into it. EOS is one of the many blockchain projects trying to be the money of the internet.
General internet servers are mostly run on linux systems and they are not designed to run all the time. They are also centralized and have a single point of failure. That is enough for running the internet but that is not secure enough to run financial applications. EOS solves the reliability and "single point of failure" problems of traditional web based ledgers to some extent.
EOS is expected to have at least 21 nodes producing blocks and blocks are verified by 15 out of the top 21 block producers. This spreads the point of failure to 15 since at least 15 nodes need to be hacked to get total control of the network. This distributed system also provides higher stability since there are more than a single node that stays online.
EOS currently is an unfinished product and much of what was stated in the whitepaper haven't been implemented yet. As time goes by, new features will be added to EOS or is expected to be added to EOS to solve the current issues.
This post summarizes the fundamental principle of EOS and is not meant for investment advice. All investments in cryptocurrency have risks.
This Article has Earned 1404 Tokens.
thanks for sharing your post @littleboy, I will post this forward.
simple and straight to the point! thank you! What are your favorite dapps of EOS ?


The new Emerald point source midrange/tweeter offers amazing imaging and sound-staging. The innovation continues in the Bass range with our unique Aperture Bass Propagation Technology. This proprietary system is used for the custom Emerald 15" dipole woofer, improving low frequency power and linearity, while improving on the speed and articulation of the original CS2.3. The custom designed Emerald 15" woofer moves 80% more air than the original CS series woofers so a single 15 gets us almost as much bass as the dual 15's of the older models. DSP equalization and active crossover functions are provided by the included Emerald Physics DSP2.4 Digital Processor and the upgraded included $600.00 passive Special Edition crossover uses custom Emerald Physics caps as well as many other upgraded parts & internal OCC long grain wire.
EP4.3 priced at $4995/pr in standard Satin black finish with DSP2.4 digital electronic crossover & included $600.00 Special Edition passive crossover.
Low/Mid –External DSP Asymmetrical active network @ 200Hz/250Hz.


Escapade Borneo - Travel Borneo the Alternative Way: We are finally up!!!
After struggling for so long, more than 6 hours in front of the laptop (well, I admit that I'm slow in tech stuff) Escapade Borneo finally have it's own blog and Facebook Fan Page.Whoohoo!!!
What's the difference between the 'old' Escapade Borneo and the 'new' one? It is the same... :p The 'new' Escapade Borneo has a blog, a fan page, and a new website on it's way. More organized, so that you can have the updates of what we are doing and where we visited.
Even thought we always says that we are specialized in custom made trips according to your special interest and personal schedule, the 'new' Escapade Borneo' does have a 'menu' of packages for you to choose. For those who can't make up their mind on where to visit in Borneo, I think these will help you in making up your minds.
We have uploaded an album named 'Glimpse of Borneo' to feed the hunger travelers who wanted to visit Borneo, and yet, doesn't or couldn't have the chance to see it from the eye of a local - Borneons.
**yawn** time for me to get my beauty sleep. Good night everyone.


Sri Lanka's east coast is one of its least visited areas, and has long been the secret destination for the better informed. Trincomalee (or more commonly just Trinco) is the largest town and has been a key port for at least two thousand years. It was a major centre of trade between the Annuradhapura, and later the Polonnaruwa kingdoms and the ports of eastern India, Cambodia and Indonesia. The east coast later became a major area of Muslim settlement and Trinco, Battcaloa, and Pottvil (Arumgam Bay) were trading areas.
The Dutch first settled at Batticaloa, while the British and French vied over Trinco. There are miles of glorious beaches stretching from Kuchchiveli, to the north of Trinco, south to Passikudah, Arugambay and Kumana National Park at the island's South Eastern point. The beaches of Passikudah Bay are an attraction for water sports and relaxation.
The nearby village of Kalkudah has retained its original charm. In addition to great beaches along the coast is some world class surfing, seasonal whale and dolphin watching, and some spectacular diving. Trinco is a quiet town and easy to explore. Fort Frederick and the Maritime Museum are both accessed from the Dutch Bay.


text:
« May 2012 | Main | July 2012 »
Twillo's Nine Things--Corporate Culture at it's Simplest
June 30, 2012 in Managing start-ups | Permalink | Comments (0)
Supply Chain Innovators: Kindstar--Creating a Logistics Network from Scratch in China
Wuhan Kindstar Diagnostics does lab work for more than 2000 hospitals in 320 cities in China. Last year, the startup added 700 new hospitals as clients, and it expects to keep growing as more Chinese enter the middle class and can afford diagnostic tests. Kindstar's CEO, Dr. Shiang Huang, was educated in China, but spent time working in the United States before returning to China and starting Kindstar. The company recently received investment capital from the Mayo Clinic, as well as from Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers.
In starting Kindstar, Huang had to work through some of the government bureaucracy in China, where local officials wanted to own a part of the company before they would give him a license to operate. He also had to develop his own logistics network to transport samples from hospitals to his lab, and currently half of Kindstar's 1000 employees are couriers that pick up over 25,000 blood, urine, and tissue samples each day.
Having to start your own logistics network for small parcel pickup and delivery is one challenge US and European start ups do not have to face. If you are going to start a logistics intensive start up in many less developed areas of the world, you do need to consider how you will get products from your suppliers and to your customers. FedEx and UPS simply do not have the coverage they have in the developed world. The same is true in Africa, where many products travel the last mile to customers by bicycle or motorcycle.
June 23, 2012 in Supply Chain Innovators, Supply Chain Strategy | Permalink | Comments (0)
Supply Chain Innovators?: Macy's Turns Stores into Warehouses
Speaking of the man biting the dog, Macy's has decided to build a new network of internet fulfillment centers across the US--using the backrooms of their existing stores. The reason? Amazon and their success at capturing the consumer with high in stock positions of hot items and rapid shipping.
Macy's might have a hot item in stock in the stores but not in one of its current on-line fulfillment centers. As a result the consumer is disappointed and the store may end up selling the hot item at a discount since no one in that region wanted it.
This will end up being a major and costly undertaking...about one-third of their 800 plus store backrooms will be expanded, additional inventory added and new technology put in place to identify available inventory across all stores so as to be able to fulfill on-line orders.
The upgrades will be particularly valuable for selling hot items, such as new ready to wear fashions from leading designers, which typically sell out on-line in a few days, but can languish in the stores for weeks and often end up in markdown if no physical buyer shows up.
But we are not speaking about super efficient pick, pack and ship operations like Amazon robotic driven fulfillement centers. The entire store level process at Macy's is manual, with runners finding the product in the store and hustling back to the storeroom where employees wrap and ship orders.
Macy's is playing catch up in the "omnichannel" strategy world, where bricks & mortar retailers are integrating internet and physical locations to try and compete with Amazon and eBay. On-line sales are growing at four to five times physical store sales and show no signs of letting up. Nordstrom's started t a similar program in 2009 and can ship internet orders from any of its stores. Same for Toys R Us, which was useful last year for me to acquire a hot Lego set from a midwest store when the New England ones were all sold out. You can even be notified when new stock of a desired item appears in one of the Toys R Us stores and order it for direct shipping.
But the reality of this "new" approach to supply chain management is much higher fulfillment costs compared to Amazon. Stores like Macy's and Nordstrom's can justify these costs to avoid lost sales and keep high margins on hot items, but the fulfillment of ordinary items will suffer margin degregation if done at an inefficient store-level back room. Long term, look for the physical retailers to adopt a model similar to Amazon. It is ironic that Amazon bought Kiva Systems and now gets to sell the technology back to its competitors.
Managing Your Start-up: Stripes Aims to Reinvent Web Payments
According to BusinessWeek (27 February 2012), when Patrick Collison began trying to sell Marc Andreessen on the need for a drop-dead simple way for website owners to accept credit cards, the venture capitalist and creator of the Netscape browser cut him off. "I know!" Andreessen said excitedly before launching into a story about how he and the original Netscape team had wanted to make payment processing as fundamental to the Web as the ability to e-mail or display pictures. They were foiled by the complexity of working with banks, credit card companies, and other essential partners.
Stripe aims to pick up where Andreessen left off. Founded by Collison and his brother John, both Irish emigrés and college dropouts, the four-month-old service is winning praise from Web developers. E-commerce sites typically accept credit cards online by connecting withPayPal software, which some say is hard to use, or by spending time and money to set up a merchant bank account and build a network for storing card information. Big companies such as Amazon.com have already mastered this; Stripe lets Web developers of any size do the same thing in minutes. "Using Stripe is almost as easy as embedding a YouTube video into a website," says Mike Moritz, a venture capitalist with Sequoia Capital. The Collisons expect that ease of use to inspire entrepreneurs to proceed with ideas they might have scuttled due to the hassle of getting paid. Making payments easier "doesn't just make it more pleasant. It also changes what gets done," says Patrick.
The idea is big enough to make Stripe one of the most highly valued early-stage startups in years. In early February, Sequoia led an $18 million investment at a valuation of about $100 million, according to the venture capital firm. Andreessen invested, as did three PayPal founders—Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and Max Levchin—say the Collisons.
To a consumer, a Stripe-powered website looks ordinary, with the same credit card submission forms seen anywhere else. Developers love it because Stripe handles the dirty work. They simply sign up for an account and enter a few lines of JavaScript into their site's source code. When users enter their card information, it goes straight to Stripe's servers, so site owners don't have to worry about securely storing sensitive data. Stripe processes the payment, checks for fraud, and takes a fee of 2.9 percent plus 30¢. The merchant gets a deposit in its bank account with the proceeds seven days later.
The brothers Collison, who hail from tiny Dromineer, Ireland, built Stripe because they wanted something like it for their own projects. The pair stand out even in an industry known for precociousness. Patrick, now 23, won an Irish national science award in high school for creating a new version of a 50-year-old artificial-intelligence computing language called Lisp. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he majored in math and physics. John, 21, received the highest score ever on Ireland's nationwide college entrance exam, then headed to Harvard. While in Boston, the pair built an Ebay competitor called Auctomatic and sold it less than a year later for $5 million.
The idea for Stripe came when Patrick realized that although the brothers had created a number of programs, the only ones they'd charged for were iPhone apps that rely on Apple's (AAPL) easy-to-use payments infrastructure. The Web software they ended up distributing for free. "We'd looked into various payment options, but they all seemed like way too much of a hassle," Patrick says. Just complying with government regulations would have required hiring payments experts, he says.
The most common alternative is PayPal, which has a mixed reputation with merchants. Some dislike that PayPal whisks customers off to its own site to complete a transaction, reducing the merchant's control over user experience. And the pricing of PayPal's many features mystifies some. "It was very hard to tell how much PayPal would cost," says Russell Quinn, digital media director for McSweeney's, a San Francisco publishing company that ended up using Stripe. PayPal spokesman Anuj Nayar says that over half a million small businesses started using it to collect payments in 2011, and "we are already light-years ahead" of startups just developing their technology now.
June 16, 2012 in Managing start-ups, Marketing & Sales Innovators | Permalink | Comments (2)
Managing Your Start-up: How to Run a Board Meeting
Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures had a great post in BusinessWeek recently on how to run a board meeting. The only addition is making sure that you speak with all Board members in advance if you have a possible contentious item on the agenda. No one likes a surprise....
"Board meetings should not be for the benefit of the board. They should be for the benefit of the CEO and the senior team. Some boards meet monthly, but for most companies that's overkill. Eight meetings a year is a great heartbeat for a board. Some CEOs and board chairs make the mistake of driving the board line by line through the agenda, cutting off meaty discussions in the name of staying on schedule. The purpose of board meetings is to have those meaty discussions. Most of the items should be strategic and thorny questions that the business must tackle to be successful. A technique I like a lot is when the CEO puts up a list of the three or four things that are "keeping me up at night" at the start of each meeting. Possibly the most important technique I've observed is the executive session at the end of the meeting. This is when the board meets without the CEO and team in the room and debriefs the CEO afterward. Boards should not miss this opportunity, and CEOs should demand it of them."
This article is an adaptation of a longer post on Wilson's blog, AVC.com.
Supply Chain Innovators: Planetary Resources--to the Asteroids and Beyond!
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 24: Planetary Resource's Arkyd Seris I satellite seen as a full-scale mockup during a press conference announcing plans to mine asteroids at the Museum of Flight April 24, 2012 in Seattle, Washington.
Well, this post will probably mean most to my grandchildren, who will likely think nothing of designing and implementing supply chains to support efficiently mining the universe.
Funded by a number of billionaire innovators (think Larry Page and Eric Schmidt of Google, James Cameron, among others), Planetary Resources plans to send an unmanned spacecraft to an asteroid and mine it for valuable metals and water that could be used for further space exploration or returned to earth. In their own words:
"Planetary Resources is establishing a new paradigm for resource discovery and utilization that will bring the solar system into humanity's sphere of influence. Our technical principals boast extensive experience in all phases of robotic space missions, from designing and building, to testing and operating. We are visionaries, pioneers, rocket scientists and industry leaders with proven track records on—and off—this planet."
Of course, the plan is not without huge risks and costs (hundreds of millions of dollars for starters). And what about an effective vehicle for bringing supplies to and ore from distant asteroids? Gotta invent that one as well.
But many reputable scientists believe that we must look to mining asteroids if we are going to extend space exploration. Instead of hauling stuff up from earth to build space stations or colonies, why not mine it at the source, or nearby?
I must admit to being skeptical, but have the strong feeling that my grandchildren will consider this to be a normal part of their lives....