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Land consolidation is a planned readjustment and rearrangement of fragmented land parcels and their ownership. It is usually applied to form larger and more rational land holdings. Land consolidation can be used to improve rural infrastructure and to implement developmental and environmental policies (improving environmental sustainability and agriculture).

History

Land consolidation has existed in Europe for many centuries. In France, the first modern land consolidation took place in Rouvres-en-Plaine in 1707. The practice of private land consolidation began to be visible in the Paris Basin during the nineteenth century. Subsequently, it was usually done with the support of the public authorities. A law of 16 June 1824 authorized the exchange of land between individuals in order to fight against the fragmentation of agricultural parcels and to improve productivity. The concept spread more widely in Europe and the USA in the early 20th century. In the Netherlands the first land consolidation was in 1916 when 3659 plots were reduced to 500. In 1919, however, a further attempt to reduce fragmentation broke down against the opposition of one of the owners. This led to the Land Consolidation Act in 1924 which permitted land consolidation to continue without the cooperation of a small number of the owners. In Spain legal provision on land consolidation was not promulgated until December 20, 1952, but it was enthusiastically received by farmers. Similarly, in Germany legislation was passed in the 1950s as part of an overhaul of German agriculture. Land consolidation, known as Flurbereinigung, made possible landscapes being reshaped, for example with respect to construction of access roads. The process particularly benefitted the wine industry.

Following the collapse of communism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern bloc countries of Europe in 1991, state farms were frequently divided into fragmented parcels. Land was often returned to former owners who, by this time, were elderly, or given in joint ownership to heirs of an original owner. This resulted in a large number of absentee landowners residing in urban areas. In other cases, decollectivization resulted in households receiving several fragmented parcels of different qualities of arable land. Thus the need for consolidation was quickly recognised.

Different approaches
More recently there have been attempts to promote land consolidation in developing countries. Approaches used include increasing the average size of farms into viable commercial units through sale or lease; consolidation to reduce fragmentation of smallholder plots; and cooperative farming, where farmers retain ownership of their land but farm it jointly. China has been particularly active in promoting consolidation, which involves issuance of land certificates that confirm a person's entitlement to land, thus permitting sale and lease of land rights. To facilitate the process, land transfer service centers have been set up by local governments to collect information on who is looking to lease out; provide potential clients with information on location, area, major land characteristics, and suggested price of land to be leased out; prepare a formal land contract; and be responsible for contract dispute mediation.

In many countries individual smallholders' land is distributed among many small fragments. This increases production costs by requiring time for farmers to move between fragments and makes use of machinery almost impossible.  A response to this is to restructure land holdings while ensuring that farmers retain the same amount of land. In Uttar Pradesh in India a government program led to field boundaries being straightened and land areas as much as possible being reshaped in rectangular form. This improved ease of cultivation, particularly plowing, and lessened disputes due to unclear border demarcations and encroachments. In the Dinh Hoa commune of Vietnam, land consolidation has also been carried out in order to reduce the number of plots owned by individual farm households, thereby increasing the average size of a plot without changing the total farmland area of each household. This is done with the involvement of the local government and the smallholders. The move has resulted in reduced labour costs and increased mechanization, and has also permitted some restructuring of irrigation systems.

Difficulties
Successful consolidation has to overcome competing interests of the farmers. There may be objections regarding the initial inventory of ownership, the boundaries between land, and the value attached to different parcels. Consolidation cannot simply involve re-allocating land while ensuring that everyone gets the same amount, as the quality of the land re-allocated has to be taken into account and an owner should not be worse off after consolidation than before. Consolidation programs should aim at ensuring that an owner's holding after consolidation is equal in value to the original holding; if the value of the holding is less it may sometimes be necessary to pay financial compensation. However, soil quality is not the only factor in valuation as the value of a parcel can be affected by its position relative to roads, water supply, farm buildings and farmers' homes, as well as the value of trees or vines already planted on the land. Mediation arrangements to resolve these problems are essential. It is important to include respected farmers in the land valuation teams together with valuation experts.

See also
 Enclosure
 Flurbereinigung
 Land reform
 Sustainable agriculture
 Sustainable living
 Chak Bandi

References

Further reading

Property law
Sustainable agriculture
Land reform
Agricultural policy
Agricultural land


Aviation watchdog DGCA, in an audit of the cash-strapped Jet Airways, has cautioned that non-payment of salaries is a concern and may result in potential safety risk, the Economic Times reported.
The airline has not been paying salaries to its employees, including senior management, pilots, staff and crew for over two months now.
The airline, which defaulted on principal and interest payments due in December, has a debt burden of over Rs 8,000 crore and is discussing fresh fund infusion and restructuring with the lenders.
"Non-payment of salaries is a concern and the DGCA audit flags it off as a type 2 concern," the report quoted a government official as saying. The airline has not yet sent its response, the report said.
Type 2 concerns are those that don't impact the safety of the airline directly but have the potential to do so. In September, one of the carrier's pilots had forgotten to activate a switch that maintains pressure in the aircraft, the report quoted government officials.
Jet Airways Ltd, India's biggest full-service carrier, has been under dark clouds since 2018, and several efforts are on to save the sinking airline.
The airline, howewer, has refused that it has received such report.
"Jet Airways is not in receipt of any such reports as mentioned in your query and is therefore unable to comment," an airline spokesperson told ET. "The company continues to run normal operations, as per schedule and with appropriate safety approvals as per the DGCA. The airline is current in terms of payments as per the disbursement schedule that has been shared with the specific employee group," the airline said.


During its fall economic outlook the Progressive Conservatives laid out its strategy to deal with what they say is a $14.5-billion deficit. The strategy outlined spending cuts and eliminating independent oversight positions, including the Ontario child advocate and the environmental commissioner.
Hammond said the steps the government has taken so far will act as a precursor to privatization in transit, health care and possibly education.
Education has already taken a hit, he said, with the elimination of Parents Reaching Out grants, the chopping of plans for school retrofits and repairs, and funding cuts for teacher professional learning in math.
Indigenous writing lessons and curriculum updates to implement recommendations for of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission were also cancelled.
"I am concerned this government hasn't taken any steps to improve the publicly funded education system in Ontario at this point," he said.
Education Minister Lisa Thompson (MPP Huron-Bruce) defended Thursday's economic update announcement.
"Our government is taking action to restore trust, transparency and accountability in Ontario's finances, while making life more affordable for Ontario families and businesses," she said in an email.
The new tax cuts for low-income workers, which will provide relief to 1.1 million Ontarians, are the most generous in a generation, she added.


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Événements

 Construction du nouvel hôtel-Dieu de Laon.
 La table des pauvres de Dunkerque est mentionnée pour la première fois, dans le testament de Marguerite de Constantinople, comtesse de Flandre.
 La présence d'un hospice de passants est attestée à Villeneuve, au Châtel-Argent, dans le val d'Aoste, dans une charte où Philippe, comte de Savoie, octroie au bourg ses patentes.
 L'ancien hôpital est attesté à Châtillon, dans la Dombes, sur une charte de franchises accordée par Amédée, futur comte de Savoie.
 Un hôpital est signalé à Saint-Agrève, en Vivarais.
 L'hôpital  est mentionné à Valcarlos, au col du Somport, en Navarre.
  Le comte de Richemont, qui deviendra duc de Bretagne sous le nom de , fonde pour deux Carmes, à Ploërmel, un prieuré qui deviendra « l'hôpital d'en-bas ».

 Fondation du  à Greatham, dans le Hampshire en Angleterre.

Personnalités
 Fl. Aufredus de Novo Castro, clerc et médecin de Robert II, comte d'Artois.
 -1273 : Thomas de Weseham, médecin de , roi d'Angleterre.

Bibliographie
  .

Références

Histoire de la médecine
1273

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Transitioning email from the client to the cloud.
People who have meticulously organized years worth of emails into folders, and sub-folders and sub-sub-folders resist the idea of migrating to a different email client, or will at least insist on being allowed to retain local access to this content. While enterprise archiving tools are supposed to ease the transition, users often express that such systems fall short for useability and convenient access.
And companies may have CRM systems where .eml or .msg formatted emails have been attached to client records. If Outlook is migrated to the cloud, with no local application set as the default for .msg files, accessing email content can become a frustrating ordeal.
The problem with leaving a legacy email client installed is that people will want to continue using it, even though the administrators want usage pushed to the cloud.
One way to satisfy the needs of both the users (who need local access) and email administrators (who want users to move on) is to install an email viewing application in place of the client. This helps facilitate the transition to the cloud or a new client, ensuring some backwards compatibility and retaining the knowledge that resides in the legacy email.
A very popular email viewer for enterprise use is Pst Viewer Pro. Although named for Outlook .pst files, PST Viewer Pro can easily manage piles of Windows Mail or Thunderbird .eml files, as well as Outlook .msg files. PstViewer Pro does not require any help from Outlook to access email files, and can render even the most complicated emails accurately. Employees can use its search function to find important emails, and can reply, print or export emails to PDF and other formats.
For employees that truly just need "click to open" access to EML and MSG email files, there is a lite version of PstViewer, called Message Viewer Lite. This easy to use no frills software is super simple. Users just click on an email file, and it opens. They can print it, copy text, and access file attachments. Both PstViewer and MessageViewer Lite are available as .msi files for easy mass deployment to dozens or thousands of employee desktops.
While the cloud is both the present and the future of email, its important to let your employees retain the trove of data that resides in their local email stash. Using a transitional technology such as an email viewer can make that transition go much more smoothly for employees and email administrators alike.
Next PostNext What is a DBX file, and how do I open it?


Good morning! Great news for all the runDisney fans out there, runDisney announced yesterday that they are adding a component to the Disneyland half marathon weekend, a 10k! Not only that, but you can run the 10k and the half and get a special Dumbo medal (kind of like doing the half and full for goofy). How cool is that?!? Check out this video for the "official invite." I am SO EXCITED about this!
The new 10K race, the latest in the popular runDisney series, will be a timed event and will take runners throughDisneyland, Disney California Adventure and the streets of Anaheim. Each finisher will receive a specially designed commemorative finisher medal. Runners looking for an extra challenge can register for the Dumbo Double Dare, which involves running the10K on Saturday and the Half Marathon on Sunday (19.3 miles total). The limited number of participants who sign up for the Dumbo Double Dare will receive a Dumbo Double Dare running shirt and a special finisher medal, in addition to the Disneyland Half Marathon and 10K finisher medals.
The Disneyland 10K builds on the weekend of races and entertainment geared toward families and runners of all levels. In addition to the 10K, the weekend of events include the Kids Races, the Family Fun Run 5K, the Half Marathon and a two-day Health and Fitness Expo where guests can check out the latest in fitness apparel, running gear and high tech gadgets, plus learn from speakers such as runDisney training consultant Jeff Galloway, runDisney nutrition consultant Tara Gidus and former Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton. Runners and guests can add to their race weekend experience by purchasing tickets to a Pasta in the Park Party.
Registration opens for all Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend races on Jan. 22, 2013. Last year's half marathon sold out in a little more than a month. For more information about the race weekend and other runDisney events, go towww.rundisney.com.
In case you missed it…registration open January 22, and last year the half sold out in just over a month, so I imagine with the addition of the Dumbo double, it will sell out even faster, so don't delay once registration opens! Get excited friends!
QOTD: Are you excited about this new race? Do you plan to do it? Thoughts on back to back races?
I really want to run the 10k, although the Dumbo Double Dare looks awesome too. I just love runDisney.
Dumbo looks way cool, I can't wait to see the medal!
Hi heather, thanks for the heads up on the dbl dare. Sounds like my kind of event but, is it just me or are the Disney races really expensive? What am I getting (other than the really cool medals!!) for my $280?
Have you heard anything or do you think this may precipitate a dbl dare for the tinkerbell run?? That would also be great!
The races are expensive but you get a lot in my opinion. The expo is huge and has tons of great vendors, you get to run through the parks, stop and take photos with characters, there is snacks and drinks on the course and after the race, on course entertainment like marching bands, dancers, cheerleaders, etc. Plus they are really well organized, tons of port o potties, etc. Also you get a running/sweat wicking shirt, and an amazing medal!
To answer your other question, possibly in the future but I doubt right now. If you look at WDW, even though they have several halfs, only one race has the ability to do back to back runs for a 3rd medal.
not for me butbutbut Im back in for the princess half!
They are but totally worth it! My favorite races hands down.
I am so excited for this!! 10Ks are my favorite distance!!
One day I will do the Disney Half!
Looking forward to it! Although training for a race in August will be tough here in the Houston area…any tips?
I'm soooo tempted by the 10k. Training in Dallas for a half thru the summer is not something I'd consider, but I would for a 10k. I can easily do 5-6 miles on the treadmill.
I was worried about that when I did the half this past year, but it really wasn't that bad. I wasn't in GREAT shape but I trained enough to FINISH, not PR, and I did a lot on the TM with just a few early morning long runs outside!
I am dying to do a Disney race. Ahh.
I love the idea of running through Disneyland. I basically grew up there (seriously, we used to go once a month when I was a kid). That being said, I will never pay $95 for a 10k, let alone $175 for a half marathon. Maybe I'm getting too old, I remember the good old days of $50 marathons, but it is just getting too expensive for races these days.
I've never done a back to back race, but want to at some point… I'd love to do this one someday. But like Debbie said, yikes, that's expensive!
I'm totally doing this! SO EXCITED!
Oh this looks like sooo much fun!!!! I LOVE Disney races!!! I wonder if I could do this one??? I don't mind the race fee…Disney races are totally worth it. But not sure about having to fly out there. And I probably couldn't talk any of my running girls into doing it with me. But I SOOO want to do it!!!
My sweet husband gave me the green light to do the Dumbo Double Dare last night and I am so excited! Don't know how I'm going to pull off a second Disney trip in 2013 (I'm doing the Tinker Bell Half in 30 days!!), but we'll work it out. I'm so excited! This will probably be my last Disney race for a while though because of the expense of the race and traveling there, but I'm looking very forward to it!
Does this mean that you guys are coming out to DL again this year? You must, right???
thats awesome, lots of medals!
Looks like a lot of fun! I'm pretty undecided on the Disney races, I'm not one to care too much about registration costs but wooo! these ones seem hefty. I would be more likely to participate when I have kids and could run with a stroller, but I just looked up the rules and it looks like they're not allowed 🙁 I also remember seeing somewhere that you're not allowed to bring cameras on the course, is that true? Do they actually enforce these rules?
Oh! I just went back to the post where I remembered seeing that. An image of the writer next to a sign that says no photos at the Tangled race stuck out in my mind, turns out that it was just a sign near the exit where end of race official photos were being taken!


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Dentalium obtusum är en blötdjursart som beskrevs av Qi och Ma 1989. Dentalium obtusum ingår i släktet Dentalium och familjen Dentaliidae. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Tandsnäckor
obtusum


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Honda Civic & Gas Mileage (Ultimate Guide)
January 10, 2022 January 9, 2022 by Mark Andrews
The Honda Civic has been around since the '70s, and its reputation for well-built, reliable cars has made it one of the most popular compact cars in the U.S.
It is also known for its low running costs, which would suggest that it has excellent fuel economy.
But does it deserve its thrifty reputation?
We've done the research into Honda Civics' gas mileage to bring you the definitive guide to this perennial favorite's fuel efficiency. Read on to find out how it compares to some of its rivals, some things you can do to maximize your fuel economy, and everything in between.
Are Honda Civics Good on Gas?
Which Honda Civic Has the Best MPG?
Honda Civic vs. Honda CR-V Gas Mileage
Honda Civic vs. Honda Accord Gas Mileage
Honda Civic vs. Honda HR-V Gas Mileage
Honda Civic vs. Toyota Corolla Gas Mileage
Honda Civic vs. Mazda3 Gas Mileage
Honda Civic vs. Honda Fit Gas Mileage
Honda Civic vs. Toyota Camry Gas Mileage
Do Honda Civics Need Premium Gas?
Can Honda Civics Use Regular Gas?
How Big Is a Honda Civic Gas Tank?
How Much Does It Cost To Fill Up a Honda Civic?
How Far Can a Honda Civic Drive on a Full Tank of Gas?
How Far Can a Honda Civic Go on Empty?
How To Increase the Gas Mileage of a Honda Civic
Does a Honda Civic Waste a Lot of Gas?
What Type of Gas Is Best for a Honda Civic?
Final Thoughts – Honda Civic & Gas Mileage
For a car that runs on gasoline (as opposed to electric or hybrid vehicles), Honda Civics are pretty good on gas.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives all of the 2021 1.5L Civic models a combined miles per gallon (mpg) of 32 or higher, with the automatic versions registering the highest numbers (the best being 36 mpg).
When broken down into city versus highway driving, the various 1.5L models range from 29-32 mpg and 35-40 mpg respectively.
Unsurprisingly, the Civic with the bigger engine – the 2.0L model – gets less miles to the gallon than the rest, with 22 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway, making a combined mpg of 25.
Data from actual Civic owners puts the average combined mpg slightly lower for the 2021 model at 29, although this takes into account each iteration of the vehicle, no matter the engine size.
However, the figures look better when averaged as a whole over the last twelve years as the combined mpg becomes around 31.7, which is much closer to the EPA's assessment of the car.
The Honda Civic hybrid models from 2012-2015 all have the best mpg out of the Civic family, with an impressive 44 combined city/highway miles to the gallon.
New Civics are no longer available as hybrids, so when looking at the gasoline options, the 1.5L automatic turbo versions top the list: for the last five years, this model has scored a consistent 36 combined mpg on the EPA website, with 42 mpg on the highway and 32-33 in the city.
A couple of stick shift Civics come close though, as the EPA recorded a combined mpg of 35 for the 2017 and 2018 1.5L turbo manual versions that matched the highway mpg of the automatics and scored one less when driving in the city.
The Honda CR-V is available in even more versions and trims than the Civic, but since it is a bigger car, most of them have worse gas mileage.
Looking at the basic 2022 models, the Civic gets three extra miles to the gallon than the CR-V, with 33 combined versus the CR-V's 3 0.
In a slightly unfair comparison, there is an option to purchase a hybrid CR-V, which naturally increases the vehicle's fuel economy. You can expect a combined mpg of 38 in this version which beats all the latest gasoline Civics, but not the old hybrid ones.
The Honda Civic fares better when comparing its 2022 sedan version against the same in the Honda Accord range. Kelley Blue Book gives the 2.0L Civic a combined mpg of 35, two more than the 1.5L Accord's 33.
When looking at the 2.0L Accord, this number goes down even further, to 26 mpg combined.
If you really want to increase your gas mileage though, the Honda Accord offers the option of a hybrid version, which will get you a combined mpg of around 47.
Edmunds.com gives the 2.0L Honda Civic a better fuel economy rating than the 1.8L Honda HR-V, with the 2022 versions of each car scoring a combined mpg of 35 and 30, respectively.
CarBuzz echoes these figures, but again, this is to be expected, as the HR-V is a bigger car and therefore uses more power.
Edmunds.com gives both the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla a plus point for their fuel economy, but which is higher?
Well, when comparing the 2.0L Civic and the 1.8L Corolla on the same website, the Civic wins. It gets two more miles to the gallon than its rival in the small sedan class – 35 to the Corolla's 33.
The Honda Civic does it again when facing another of its fellow countrymen, the Mazda3.
The 2022 2.0L Civic's combined gas mileage is four mpg better than the 2022 2.0L Mazda3's, with 35 against the Mazda's 31 on Edmunds.com.
The result is the same in the 2021 versions of each car too, although the gap is slightly smaller – the Civic gets 33, while the Mazda stays on 31.
The Honda Fit has been discontinued in the U.S., but we can still compare recent versions of it against the Civic.
The 2020 1.5L Fit's highway stats are the same as the 2022 2.0L Civic hatchback, with 36 mpg, but it races into the lead when looking at its combined and city figures, which are 31 and 29 mpg, versus the Civic's 29 and 26.
However, in a more even comparison, the 2021 1.5L Civic hatchback claws back victory in a big way, coming in with a combined mpg of 34, including up to 40 on the highway.
The Toyota Camry comes with a bigger engine than the Honda Civic, giving it a worse gas mileage than its Japanese rival.
The various versions of the 2.5–3.5L Camry offer an mpg of between 22–28 in the city, and 31–39 on the highway, whereas the 1.5–2.0L Civic will do 30–33 miles to the gallon when city driving and 37–42 on the highway.
Honda Civics from the last ten years should not need premium gas. They are designed to run perfectly well on regular gasoline.
This will likely apply to the newer turbocharged versions too, so save a bit of money at the gas pump by using gasoline with an octane rating of 87 rather than anything in the 90s.
Although, to be absolutely sure, we do advise looking in your Civic owner's manual for a definitive answer about your specific car's gas requirements.
You might also like: Honda Civic Trim Levels (11 Questions Answered)
Yes, Honda Civics can use regular gas.
Their engines are designed to run on regular gasoline, and putting anything else in might even have a detrimental effect on the car.
The more recent versions of the Honda Civic's gas tanks have held a consistent 12.4 gallons of fuel, which went down from the 13.2 gallons of the 2001–2014 models.
EPA estimates that it costs around $41 to fill up a four-door Honda Civic.
It is important to bear in mind that this figure is an approximation based on current fuel prices as well as location, and the true cost will vary from place to place.
You might also like: Is A Honda Civic A Good First Car? (Explained)
A 1.5L or 2.0L Honda Civic should be able to drive between 397 and 434 miles, depending on the model year and trim.
One forum user confirmed this, saying that his Civic gets him over 400 miles, even with a pessimistic baseline of 30 mpg.
Individual driving habits can greatly influence this number though, and what one driver is able to do might not be replicated by another. Luckily, we've provided some tips to stretch your car's gas mileage a little further down this article to help you get to the top end of the range.
Data collected from real Civic owners suggests that a Honda Civic can go for an average of 43.61 miles on empty, which is no mean feat.
While we don't recommend waiting until your car says it's empty before filling up, this amount should hopefully be enough to see you to the next gas station.
Honda Civics already have good gas mileage for a car that runs on gas, but there are things you can do to get even more miles out of a tank, from checking your driving habits, to making sure your car's hardware is up to scratch.
Tires are an important part of fuel efficiency, and making sure they are properly inflated will add more miles between fill-ups. It is recommended that you check your tires' air pressure every month to ensure they're at the optimum psi.
Getting rid of any extra weight in the car will also contribute towards a better fuel economy, as your car won't have to work as hard with a lighter load and will therefore burn less fuel.
An even simpler method is to be aware of how you accelerate and brake, since a smoother pedal action uses less gas than letting rip after a stop light or harsh braking.
Don't neglect the stuff you can't see, either. Changing out various parts, like spark plugs, air filters, and the oil when needed will all add up to fuel savings too.
Generally speaking, Honda Civics have good fuel economy and do not waste a lot of gas. If you notice a significant drop in fuel economy, it could be due to a faulty fuel system.
Make sure to follow the regular maintenance schedule to give you the best possible chance of avoiding any component breaking down.
Honda Civics run best on regular unleaded gasoline, which typically carries an octane rating of 87 in the U.S.
Always check your car's owner's manual if you have any doubts about the best type of gas for your car, as that will tell you the minimum recommended octane rating of the fuel you should use.
It's clear to see why the Honda Civic remains such a popular car. They offer a great drive at a reasonable price without feeling flimsy and cheap, and as we have seen in this article they also provide a decent amount of miles to the gallon.
Their fuel economy outperforms many of their rivals in similar car classes, and gas mileage is often at the forefront of people's minds when thinking about purchasing these types of cars.
By offering such a competitive gas mileage, it looks as though Honda keeps the buyer in mind when making the Civic.
Jeep Compass & Gas Mileage (Ultimate Guide)
Which Toyota Models Have Lane Tracing Assist?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Request a quote for (3) Econo Glide Leveling Pads today.
JBF National's Econo Glide leveling pads are low cost, and can be used for many light duty applications. The base pads for these levelers are offered in black nylon, white polypropylene, and thermoplastic elastomer. From office furniture and cabinetry, to ice machines, display racks, and everything in between, these levelers offer the stability you need. Various stud lengths available. Please see component diagram below.


Jeremy O. Harris is a playwright and actor currently living in New Haven, CT. He has appeared in experimental films directed by James Franco and Terrence Malick and has acted for Steppenwolf Theater, one of Chicago's leading theater companies. His play Daddy, a tale about a young black artist's homosexual relationship with an older European art collector, served as his writing sample for Yale University's School of Drama, where he is currently studying. In 2017, he participated in The Kitchen's two-week open work period Half Straddle: Here I Go, pt. 2 of You by giving a talk entitled "ALLOW & WOW, a rumination on my understanding of my family's criticisms of my plays last week; or why Scott Heller should hire Veronica Howerton, my mother, to replace Charles Isherwood."


Which products should you know about in 2015? Tech guru Steve Greenberg, author of "Gadget Nation," named TempTraq one of "the 9 tech gadgets that could change your life" this year – joining TODAY's Carson Daly and Hoda Kotb to break down some of best consumer technology products from the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show. Other gadgets to make the list included Connected Car, Misfit Bolt and PetCube.
We were even more excited when Greenberg put TempTraq to the test on live TV, wearing the patch to show how it sends immediate readings to a nearby iPad.


When a fellow mother is murdered, Kate finds that the unsolved mystery is the most exciting thing to happen in Upchurch, Connecticut, since her neighbors broke ground for a guesthouse and cracked their septic tank. Even though the local police chief warns her that crime-fighting's a job best left to the professionals, Kate launches an unofficial investigation — from 8:45 to 11:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when her kids are in nursery school.
As Kate is drawn deeper into the murdered woman's past, she begins to uncover the secrets and lies behind Upchurch's picket-fence facade — and considers the choices and compromises all modern women make as they navigate between marriage and independence, small towns and big cities, being a mother and having a life of one's own.
"Hilarious . . . begs to be read in one sitting."
"Weiner's got a brilliant eye for social stratum, character sketches, and rendering of suburban atmospherics."
"A Peyton Place for the 21st century, only more modern, hip, and funny than the original."
"Weiner's sharp wit, crisp writing, and wry observations are all abundant in Goodnight Nobody."


$150 FINE: Two groups of riders caught in wilderness zone of 2 million acres.
Two snowmachiners have been ticketed for illegally riding in an off-limits area of Denali National Park earlier this month in separate incidents, the National Park Service said Wednesday.
Each of the riders was the apparent leader among a group of riders, said park spokeswoman Kris Fister. Rangers saw the groups riding in the park's wilderness zone, she said.
Thomas Conley of North Pole was cited during the weekend of April 8-9, and Pierre Stragier of Anchorage was cited on the following weekend, Fister said in a phone interview.
The citation carries a fine of $150 plus a $25 processing fee, Fister said.
Conley's group numbered five, with his wife, son, a niece and the niece's boyfriend, according to his wife, Denise Conley.
Stragier said he was snowmachining with two teenage sons.
The groups had entered an area of the 6-million-acre park -- the 2-million-acre wilderness zone -- that corresponds to the former Mount McKinley National Park. Nearly all of the designated wilderness, including lands on both sides of the Alaska Range, is closed to snow vehicles by federal regulation, according to park managers.
Rangers who were patrolling on snowmachines outside the boundary saw the parties coming out of the wilderness zone in the area of Bull River, Fister said.
The location is about a dozen miles west-southwest of Cantwell and easily reached from a wayside at Mile 196 of the Parks Highway.
Both Denise Conley and Stragier said their groups never saw a small sign in the valley warning that "no motorized vehicles" were permitted beyond that point.
"The sign was way the heck over on a ridge," Conley said. "If you had binoculars, you could read it, but we couldn't read it from where we were."
Stragier said, "The Bull River (valley) is a half-mile wide, and somewhere in there, in that rolling terrain -- little hills 20 to 30 feet high, 200 to 300 feet in diameter -- and on one of these little hills, is the sign."
The ranger told him that the boundary is also marked with reflective plastic posts about 4 inches wide, but neither Stragier nor his sons saw those, he said.
Both Conley and Stragier, however, had nothing but praise for the ranger who cited them.
"They were being very nice about the whole issue," Conley said. "They said they could give all of us citations. We were kind of grateful over that (getting only one). They also informed us they could impound our snowmachines."
Stragier said, "The ranger was quite amenable. He could have given me three citations. ... I was treated fairly and very professionally."
Snowmachining is allowed for what is termed "traditional activities" within Denali's other 4 million acres, the 1980 additions to the old park that created Denali National Park and Preserve. Fister said the zone gives snowmachiners "a huge area for (riding) opportunities" when snow conditions allow.
Park managers have enlarged the ranger staff, and that has allowed for increased winter patrols, Fister said.
"We're focusing on the areas we certainly know are being used, where people historically have been coming into the park," she said.
Stragier, a fourth-generation Alaskan, said he puts in from 600 to 800 miles of snowmachine riding every year in the general Cantwell area, where his mother was raised and his grandmother was a teacher.
This is the first time he's been cited, he said.
Conley said her family makes a weekend outing in the area almost every April, driving the 150 miles from North Pole in a motor home.
On the weekend they rode into the old park, the highway wayside was filled with 60 to 70 snowmachiners, she said. People lit fires and enjoyed a picnic atmosphere.
"My husband calls it his Hawaii," she said of the Cantwell region, where lots of snow remains on the mountains. "This weekend, it's supposed to be 50 degrees. You can get sunburned down there."
Information about legal snowmobiling in Denali is available by calling the park at 907-683-2294 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by going online at www.nps.gov/dena.
I'll have to keep my eyes open more next time I go up the Bull River, that's where the wife and I went 2 Sat ago and I never saw a sign anywhere along there.
Maybe take some flagging along so folks will know.


text:
Selective logging may best way to preserve tropical forests, finds study; 76% of carbon and 85%-100% of animal, plant species present before selective logging are present afterwards
May 10, 2012 – University of Florida By Allison Oesterle
Original Headline: UF study finds logging of tropical forests needn't devastate environment
Forestry/Timberland
GAINESVILLE, Florida , May 10, 2012 (press release) – Harvesting tropical forests for timber may not be the arch-enemy of conservation that it was once assumed to be, according to a new study led by a University of Florida researcher.
Selective logging may be one of the few feasible options left for conserving tropical forests given the huge financial incentives pushing tropical landholders to convert primary forests into cash-generating agricultural plantations.
The report analyzed data from more than 100 studies of tropical forests on three continents that had been harvested for timber. Results suggest that while biodiversity and carbon retention take a hit from selective logging, the losses are survivable and reversible to a degree if the forest is given adequate time to recover. The study appears in the online version of the journal Conservation Letters.
That's not the case when forests are converted to rubber or palm oil plantations, said the study's lead author, Jack Putz, a UF professor of biology. Once a forest is gone, it is hard to get it back in any semblance of its former glory.
"We aren't advocates for logging," he said. "We're just acknowledging that it is a reality — and that within that reality, there is a way forward."
The study found that on average, 85 to 100 percent of the animal and plant species diversity present before an initial harvest remained after the forests were selectively logged. Forests also retained 76 percent of their carbon after an initial harvest.
The authors concede that the reports they analyzed could be overly optimistic portrayals of forest health. They nevertheless maintain that even moderately well-managed forests provide valuable benefits, and that badly managed forests can recover many of their most valuable attributes over time.
The continued existence of indigenous people culturally bound to these forests depends on forest survival, Putz said. Other people benefit from the eco-services that forests provide like soil erosion control, carbon sequestration and habitat for wildlife.
The problem, he said, is that there are powerful economic forces driving developing nations to convert their forests to cash crops and cattle ranches. A forest sustainably managed for timber and biodiversity might earn $2,000 per acre every 20 to 30 years. In contrast, a palm oil plantation can bring in the same amount in less than a year.
But there are ways to tip the balance sheet in favor of conservation, according to the study.
Programs that root out illegal logging operations protect forests by raising the price of legitimately harvested timber, he said. And that makes sustainable logging a more economically viable option for cash-strapped nations. The study also suggests that climate change mitigation programs designed to prevent logging could be modified to include support for environmentally sustainable timber management plans.
Many conservation biologists and ecologists in developed countries north of the equator seem reluctant to get behind these policies in a public way, he said. A chronic lack of oversight has made programs that allow for selective logging a risky ecological proposition in the past. That makes people involved in conservation hesitant to be seen as aligning themselves with timber harvest in any capacity.
But logging is going to happen anyway, Putz said. "Conservationists should be working to make sure it is carried out in the most environmentally and socially responsible ways possible," he said.
Researcher from University of York, England, discovers new species of tree in Tanzania mountains, where forests have been reduced in size by thousands of square kilometers in past 100-plus years and are now threatened by climate change
Whole-tree aspen logging could boost biomass energy production, Michigan Tech researchers find, challenging hypothesis that removing leaves and branches of trees, rather than leaving them in woods to decompose, will deplete soil, weaken forest ecosystem
Study finds tropical forests of Western Equatorial Africa, including significant stands of Intact Forest Landscapes, increasingly under pressure from logging, poaching, associated disturbances; timber-rich lands are vital to economy and development
USDA funds project to develop drones that collect real-time data about wildfires, including fire front data and wind data in wildfire area; drones will perform test flights over prescribed fires ranging from 20 to 300 acres every year until 2022
Tree ring analysis identifies stressors such as drought and sheds light on how stress and competition for water can be reduced when certain species are planted together, research shows, offering model for reforestation as method for slowing climate change


What a start to the year it has been with a whole host of wonderful parties and events lined up for 2019. We are booking new acts all the time and we thought it might be nice for you to take a look!
Luke writes custom stories for your guests about any subject on an old typewriter, live. When each bespoke story is finished, it is read by Luke to the person who requested it, and then packaged into a golden envelope to be taken home. The stories become beautiful little objects that people treasure and make for fascinating conversation pieces. Highly recommended entertainment for all ages.
Snaparazzi are young, fun, interactive digital photographers with style. Acting in cheeky pap style, our photographers take quick snaps to greet your guests as they arrive, making them feel like celebrities as soon as they set foot in the venue. The photos are later sent across in a digital for all guests to enjoy.
Lucas is a circus entertainer that will wow crowds of all ages at birthday parties, anniversaries, corporate events and more. A hugely experienced juggler and unicyclist that will astonish guests with numerous props, he is guaranteed to provide excellent entertainment for all.
Edible Collection provides both exquisite and beautiful costumes with chocolate thrown in! If you have ever heard the phrase, "That looks good enough to eat!" then the Edible Collection is for you because guests can not only admire the costumes worn by our meet-and-greet artists but eat parts of them as well!
OK Worldwide is an entertainment dance collective that bring together skills including acrobatics, free running, breakdancing and fire breathing to create something truly original. On the hunt for something a little bit different for your guests? OK Worldwide will be an excellent choice.
Judge the Poet provides unique entertainment that has wowed Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and many more. Taking suggestions from the audience – words, ideas or concepts – he then immediately recites a rhyming, enjoyable and incredible poem that links all of the suggestions together. Poems can be funny or serious depending on the wishes of the guests. It really is a remarkable experience to see Judge the Poet in action and his act is perfect for corporate events, private parties and more.
If you are interested in booking any of our new acts then please feel free to get in touch using the contact details below.


text:
class Jar {
public:
	Jar();
	Jar(const Jar& other);
	~Jar();
	bool isEmpty() const;
	void putCookie(const Cookie& newOne);
	void takeCookie();
	const Cookie* getJar() const;
	const int getSize() const;
	void Jar::printJar() const;
private:
	Cookie* manyCookies;
	int sizeArr;
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We now have 3 billion Internet users globally, that is getting close to half the world's population, and that is a doubling of users in seven years up from 35 millions in 1995.
Not surprisingly USA is still the largest user followed by India and then China.
The increasing number of Smartphone users connected to the internet has also grown, but more slowly, with the largest increase to be found in the Asia Pacific area which now has 52% of the total number of users.
The disparity between Android and Apple's iOS operating systems is also growing with Android expected to account for roughly 86% and Apple 14% of the total. Microsoft barely shows and is unlikely to amount to much in the foreseeable future.
Cost of buying a smartphone as you may expect also has an impact on numbers, and as we know Apple's iPhones are generally rather more expensive than Android based units, but average retail price of a smartphone in different countries varies a good deal. As a percentage of the Gross National Income the highest percentage cost can be found in developing countries and the lowest in developed ones, thus in Ethiopia the percentage cost of a smartphone is around 48%, in Japan 0.6%.
Another matter the internet has helped to shape is our preferences as consumers, the internet advertising has grown rapidly compared to, say, TV or radio and retailing from shops or stores has also been subjected to technology changes and the way distribution works. We have lost many of our Department stores, shopping malls have flourished and e-commerce has come of age in a big way.
The latter is no big surprise as the under 15s as a percentage is increasing and the 15 -34 year olds comprise 25-27% of the population, most likely leading to their spending power rising significantly in the coming years. Where will they spend to buy? Again the internet looms large and from the 2% choosing to buy this way in 2000 we are looking at anything up to 10% today. This does not necessarily mean that we all buy from overseas, it could be from local sources, but via internet. You can shop for your groceries as easily as the new outfit or a pizza, because what we see is the coming together of technology and media advertising and distribution, the latter could even be by drone.
Most major retailers have websites where you can select and buy, and not forgetting that Google as well as the retailers will note your preferences and keep you well informed of new products of similar type to your earlier purchase so you don't miss out. At least that is how they see it.
Since you are now always-on connected to the internet, the hyper-targeted marketing and the ability to send you images as well as being personalized, the retailers either directly or through some of the many other means like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Google will aim at providing you and every other customer with a differentiated shopping experience.
Yet another aspect is the social network where the young generation communicates with images, watching videos and streaming on- demand, using snapchat and periscope and Facebook live. Facebook alone has video viewing at 8 billion a day globally, and snapchat at 10 billion daily so these platforms will have enormous influence in the way their storytelling and messaging is delivered.
Obviously advertisers will use these methods in the future to ensure maximum results whether it is to sell you a new pair of shoes or donate to a charity and it will be possible for them to single out individual locations for their messages.
You will of course have heard of, or may be using, adblockers which are increasingly used by internet users much to disgust of advertisers, so some websites will not provide you with content unless the adblocker is removed from that site so cookies can be placed and adverts shown.
There is also the usage and sharing of photos on various platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and others which adds up to somewhere around 3+ billion per day, how do they ever find the time?, and some platforms like Pinterest is often used as an image-based platform to sell products. I get emails regularly from Pinterest and gather that some 60% are viewing photos and up to 55% are looking for and shopping for products from shown businesses.
We know from members that using texts or messaging are evolving into more expressive communications, emoji are now used frequently, and in Asian countries what started as social messaging has evolved into business and services uses such as bookings e.g. hotel rooms or talking with a shop that chats which then develops into a purchase of a product and finish with payment and shipping.
The younger you are – generation Y – the more likely you are to use internet/web chats or social media, the next generation X is most likely to use electronic messaging and phone, the Baby Boomers prefer the Phone and us oldies ditto, although email and sms would be the second choice.
Worldwide a day in the life of a mobile user means having 33 apps installed on your device, 12 of which are used daily, whilst only 3 of them accounts for 80%+ usage.
Where to from here. Well it looks as if voice will be the next human to computer interaction, Apple is expected to add Siri from the iPhone to the Mac computers and as we move from touch to voice think of the evolution in our interaction with the computer.
I still remember working with punchcard operated input which started back in 1832, and no, I wasn't around then, then through mechanical keyboards to electronic ditto, paper tape and mainframe tapefeed. We had trackball and joysticks for mini and portable computers then the mouse and the pencil [PalmPilot] till we arrived at voice with Siri for the smartphone and now for ambient devices connected to the internet [refer the Internet of Things, IoT].
The advantages for voice input are clear, it is fast, hands free and convenient, no keyboard, and it has the ability to understand context based questions and instructions. You can use natural language and require just the microphone – present in most computers – and loudspeaker and a processor, also present in most devices.
The accuracy of voice recognition is presently around 99% and that has meant a big change because the fast response and accuracy is what such a system needs to become a game changer.
Since we are somewhat behind the USA with Siri, Google and apps for voice assistance it is worth noting that last year 65% of smartphone owners in the USA used voice assistants, no doubt owing to software improvements in these products and it fair to say that we here will be keen to make use of them when available.
There is another aspect that occurs to me and that is that voice interface will be great for visually impaired, no keyboard and hands free, let alone usage in the car or on the go. It will obviously also be a lot easier and faster to go shopping using a microphone that using menus in mobile apps.
Amazon introduced the Alexa Voice Platform which places microphones around the home to make it easier to shop with them and since they have something like 40-45 million subscribers in the US alone a fair percentage will likely install their 'Echo' system in their homes, another step closer to the IoT.
The last bit to talk about before I put you to sleep is what is happening to cars. Computerization is accelerating in leaps and bounds. Before the 1980s it was switches and wires to control the machinery, after that we moved to a central computer onboard to report and monitor performance, then in the 2000s we have gone to control gizmos, infotainment, phones. GPS, mapping and telematics. We now have up to 100 electronic units in a car with connectivity to internet embedded. And tomorrow? Perhaps car to car connections for autonomous self driving vehicles as well as connected to the infrastructure and maybe security as well. Just thinking about it one realizes that tomorrow isn't far away and you can bet on seeing more change in the next 5 years than we have seen in the last 50.
Perhaps a good place to stop for what for some is a bewildering picture suited best to a younger world, but technology and innovation go hand in hand and we must attempt to pick what gives us the best advantage for an enjoyable retirement and getting the most out of life.
Do enjoy life to the fullest and let Kapiti SeniorNet help you keep up with the technology.
This entry was posted in Tech-Trends and tagged internet, IoT, Kapiti SeniorNet by Thor. Bookmark the permalink.