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Don't blame officer for dirt-bike tragedy | Letters to the editor
How to get drugs into 50 prisons? Soak inmates' mail in heroin, ecstasy and fentanyl
Hard Rock Hollywood opens new food court, center bar and bigger Bol restaurant
Young mom left toddler in car while working at strip club, cops say
Husband of killer clown suspect: Cops 'had nothing before, they have nothing now'
Florida, 'the freest state' in America? What a farce | Steve Bousquet
Judge takes aim at UF arguments in professors' battle
By Dara Kam
News Service of Florida |
In a fiery hearing Friday, a federal judge excoriated a lawyer for the University of Florida who accused political science professors of having "misled" the court in a lawsuit challenging the school's conflict-of-interest policy.
Christopher Bartolomucci, who represents University of Florida officials, received a tongue-lashing from Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker after arguing that "newly discovered facts" revealed "misconduct" by political science professors Sharon Austin, Michael McDonald and Daniel Smith.
The tenured professors filed the lawsuit after university officials denied their requests to serve as plaintiffs' witnesses in a legal battle about a 2021 state elections law (SB 90) that would, in part, make it harder for Floridians to vote by mail. In denying the professors' requests, university officials said that going against the executive branch of the state government was "adverse" to the school's interests.
RELATED: Federal judge allows UF professors' lawsuit to move forward »
The professors, who were joined by three other faculty members in the lawsuit, contend that the university's conflict-of-interest policy violates First Amendment rights, discriminates based on viewpoint and content and has a "chilling" effect. The plaintiffs have asked Walker for a preliminary injunction to block the policy, adopted in mid-2020, from being enforced.
Bartolomucci said Friday that evidence uncovered Wednesday showed that the professors had already begun working on the elections case before their requests to serve as witnesses were rejected.
"This court should not enjoin a process that the plaintiffs don't even abide by. There's no chilling effect. The policy didn't chill them. … These plaintiffs went to work even before they made a request," Bartolomucci argued.
The lawyer also reiterated arguments that the plaintiffs lack "standing" to sue the university because they aren't being harmed by the policy.
"These plaintiffs aren't injured by the process. They don't even honor the process," Bartolomucci said, suggesting that Friday's hearing should be postponed until the defendants were allowed to file "supplemental" briefs on the issue.
But an irate Walker said he was "mystified" by Bartolomucci's "newly discovered" facts. The judge noted that he had given lawyers for the defendants — University of Florida President Kent Fuchs, Provost Joseph Glover and UF's Board of Trustees — ample opportunity to take depositions and conduct discovery before hearings last week and Friday.
EDITORIAL: By pandering to Tallahassee, UF disgraces itself once again »
The timing of the filing of the professors' expert reports in the elections case is "a matter of public record," Walker said during a telephone hearing attended by national media outlets including The Chronicle of Higher Education, CNN and The Washington Post.
"I'm just perplexed, and I'll go so far as it strains credulity, for you to suggest that these are newly discovered facts when placed in context that it's all part of the public record," Walker said. "I'm flummoxed that you're saying that these are the very reports and the expert testimony we're talking about, yet 'judge we had no idea, none at all.' I'm just flabbergasted, in the last two days I learned the earth is not round and there's gambling in Casablanca. … I'm using strong language for a reason, because at the end of the day both you and Mr. O'Neill [David O'Neill, an attorney for the professors] are officers of the court before you are lawyers representing a client."
Bartolomucci said lawyers for the defendants "pieced the facts together" after learning of them Wednesday night and argued that the timing of the expert witness reports and the requests was not included in the plaintiffs' legal complaint, drawing another rebuke from the judge.
"When did you decide, Mr. Bartolomucci, other than, 'We really don't have a defense … we're going to … for the press' benefit on this hearing drop this bombshell and attack the professors for having unclean hands,'" Walker said. "I view this 11th-hour epiphany on your part to be questionable. But again, did this miraculously come up as an issue?"
Bartolomucci said the defendants' lawyers "began to research the filings in the election case" Wednesday night.
"I've heard enough," Walker interrupted, adding, "serious ethics issues, I think, now exist in this case."
The UF conflict-of-interest policy drew a national spotlight after the political science professors were blocked from testifying in the elections case. Fuchs ultimately walked back the decision, saying the professors would be allowed to be paid as plaintiffs' experts if they did so on their own time and did not use school resources. Fuchs also quickly assembled a task force to review the issue and signed off on recommended changes to the conflict-of-interest policy.
Under the revised policy, there is a "strong presumption" that the university will approve faculty or staff requests to testify as expert witnesses.
But the lawsuit maintains that the revised policy doesn't go far enough.
UF has had "multiple opportunities … to say what should be obvious to any university administrator: We will never attempt to prohibit faculty from speaking as citizens because of the content of their speech or popularity of their opinions,"
O'Neill, the plaintiffs' attorney, argued Friday.
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"The university's interest is not the interest of the majority party in the state Legislature or its current governor. That is academic freedom 101," he said.
To bolster their arguments about the policy, the plaintiffs have pointed to comments by UF Board of Trustees Chairman Morteza "Mori" Hosseini, who lashed out at unidentified professors during a board meeting in November.
Latest Florida News
Florida had more COVID cases last week than ever, but the positivity rate fell for the first time since early December
Hosseini accused faculty members of having "taken advantage of their positions" by using their university jobs "to improperly advocate personal political viewpoints to the exclusion of others. … Our legislators are not going to put up with the wasting of state money and resources, and neither is this board."
O'Neill said Friday that Bartolomucci "has done an excellent job of explaining the chill that these plaintiffs and other faculty members are subject to" under the conflict-of-interest policy.
"Far from walking away from the initial denials … the defendants are now doubling down on them and making it clear that these plaintiffs may be subject to punishment for their refusal to follow what they strongly believe is an unconstitutional prior restraint," he argued.
Walker last week rejected a request by university leaders to dismiss the case. The judge said Friday he expects to issue a ruling on the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction within 10 days.
Lawmakers want to block teaching race relations in schools. Here's a look at content that was banned last year


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#ifndef __SOURCEMUD_MAIL_H__
#define __SOURCEMUD_MAIL_H__

#include "common/strbuf.h"

#ifdef HAVE_SENDMAIL

class MailMessage
{
private:
	std::string to;
	std::string subject;
	StringBuffer body;
	struct Header {
		std::string name;
		std::string value;
	};
	std::vector<Header> headers;

public:
	MailMessage(const std::string& s_to, const std::string& s_subj, const std::string& s_body) :
			to(s_to), subject(s_subj), body(), headers() { body << s_body; }
	MailMessage(const std::string& s_to, const std::string& s_subj) :
			to(s_to), subject(s_subj), body(), headers() {}

	void append(const std::string& data);

	void header(const std::string& name, const std::string& value);

	int send() const;
};

#endif // HAVE_SENDMAIL

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Sew a Baby Nightgown with the Sweet Dreams Nightgown Pattern.
I love giving my girls nightgowns! Now you can make your baby or toddler an adorable nightgown with this Baby Nightgown Sewing Pattern and tutorial.
The Baby Nightgown Sewing Pattern uses soft, knit fabric. It's a great way to recycle an old t-shirt of your own! You have the option of long sleeves or short sleeves to put on this baby nightgown, so you can make a stash for your kids for all year long. This nightgown sewing pattern for babies, features a "pull over" neck line that uses binding like your t-shirts.
Use this baby nightgown sewing pattern to make any size from tiny newborn up to 36 months. It is accurate sizing with real babies. The pattern uses regular 8.5 x 11 paper to print.
We've included helpful hints as well as great ideas on how to recycle clothing for your baby nightgown!
After purchasing this sewing PDF pattern you will get an email with a download link. You can download the sewing pattern anytime from any computer. Our system will store the pattern for you too, so you don't ever have to worry about losing it. PLUS any time we update the baby nightgown pattern, you will have free access to our updates. YES!


Ushers or Ministers of Hospitality contribute to the celebration of the Eucharist by welcoming members of the congregation and assisting anyone in need. Their main function is to greet, organize processions, assist parents with small children or the elderly. In addition, they collect the offerings of the people and distribute bulletins.
This ministry is open to men and women 14 or older and we especially welcome whole family groups to participate together. Training and regular updates will be provided.


Jesus plunges fearlessly into the cold perilous waves that life has thrown at us and he saves us. He doesn't stop and ask us if we deserve to be saved or ask us to fill out a form or read the fine print. HE SAVES US!!! Then, once he has rescued us from our sin and the mess we have made of our lives, he sets us confidently on the vast shores of his amazing grace.
Religion tells you that you have to perform to stay on the shore. Jesus says HE performed one eternal act on the cross that gives him the right to remain your Savior all the days of your life. Religion says, Jesus saved you once but after that you have to earn everything from God. Jesus says, I earned it all for you and I have given it to you as a gift. Now come walk with me on the shores of my amazing grace. Come let me introduce you to my Father, he loves you and delights in you. Come enjoy this beautiful kingdom that has been given to me. Come take your place as a son/or daughter of the living God. And if the waves of this life try to capture you and drag you down... I am, and ALWAYS will be your SAVIOR!! Nothing can separate you from my fierce love... not even religion... not even Christians!
We believe there is only one true God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Holy Scripture as the inspired and inerrant Word of God and therefore authoritative for all we believe and how we live.
We believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, worked miracles, died on the cross to provide for our redemption, bodily arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, is presently interceding for us, and will one day visibly return to earth in power and glory.
We believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, that He performs the miracle of the new birth in an unbeliever and indwells and spiritually gifts believers, empowering them for ministry and witness and enabling them to live godly lives.
We believe mankind was created in the image of God, but because of sin, was alienated from God. We believe that salvation is by God's grace through faith in Christ alone, which was made possible by His death and resurrection.
We believe the church is God's primary instrument through which He is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in the earth and that every born again believer is a part of this body.
GracePoint hosting the Georgetown Lightsaber League for battle.


U.S. President Donald Trump called for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night to immediately allow humanitarian aid to reach the Yemeni people, suggesting Washington had run out patience with a Saudi-led blockade that has been condemned by relief organizations.
The Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Iran-aligned armed Houthi movement in Yemen's civil war started a blockade of ports a month ago after Saudi Arabia intercepted a missile fired toward its capital Riyadh from Yemen.
Although the blockade later eased and showed signs of breaking on Wednesday, Yemen's situation remained dire. About 8 million people are on the brink of famine with outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria.
"I have directed officials in my administration to call the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to request that they completely allow food, fuel, water and medicine to reach the Yemeni people who desperately need it," Trump said in a statement, without elaborating.
"This must be done for humanitarian reasons immediately," Trump said.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said the first food and fuel had arrived in Hodeidah and Saleef ports, but supplies were at a trickle compared to what was needed, since Yemen's population of 27 million was almost entirely reliant on imports for food, fuel and medicine.
Oxfam International applauded Trump's statement, calling it "long overdue but hugely important." Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who has called for restrictions on U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, said he expected the Kingdom to heed Trump's call.
Trump's brief, one-paragraph statement is one of the clearest signs of U.S. concern over aspects of Saudi Arabia's foreign policy. Saudi Arabia has also split with Trump over his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Publicly, Trump, his top aides and senior Saudi officials have hailed what they say is a major improvement in U.S.-Saudi ties compared with relations under former President Barack Obama, who upset the Saudis by sealing a nuclear deal with their arch-foe Iran.
Even as ties improve, however, U.S. diplomats and intelligence analysts privately express anxiety over some of the more hawkish actions by Saudi Arabia's crown prince, especially toward Yemenand Lebanon, as Saudi Arabia seeks to contain Iranian influence.
In turn, Saudi Arabia has been unusually public about its concerns over U.S. policy on Jerusalem.
King Salman told Trump ahead of his Jerusalem announcement on Wednesday that any decision on the status of Jerusalem before a permanent peace settlement was reached would "harm peace talks and increase tensions in the area," according to Saudi state-owned media.
A White House official said Trump's statement on aid to Yemen did not represent retaliation for the Saudi position on Jerusalem.
"It has to do with the fact that there is a serious humanitarian issue in Yemen and the Saudis should and can do more," the official said.
The fuel shortages caused by the blockade have meant that areas hardest hit by war, malnutrition and cholera lack functioning hospital generators, cooking fuel and water pumps. It also makes it harder to move food and medical aid around the country.
The Saudi-led military coalition stepped up air strikes on Yemen's Houthis on Wednesday as the armed movement tightened its grip on Sanaa a day after the son of slain former president Ali Abdullah Saleh vowed revenge for his father's death.
Saleh, who was killed in an attack on his convoy, plunged Yemen deeper into turmoil last week by switching allegiance after years helping the Houthis win control of much of northern Yemen, including the capital.
"This is where we've all got to roll up our sleeves and figure out what you're going to do about medicine and food and clean water, cholera," Mattis said.


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Met Gala 2019: Inspiration behind the craziest outfits on the red carpet
All camped up.
Kong Wai Yeng
Lady Gaga shut down the Met Gala right when it started (Photos: Lady Gaga/Getty Images for The Met Museum)
The theme was "Camp" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute exhibit this year and, as predicted, not all red carpet attendees were really sure what it entails. While the origins of the word can be traced back to the reign of the French King Louis XIV, the contemporary take on the aesthetic was solidified in American critic Susan Sontag's Notes on Camp, a 58-point treatise that brought word and idea into the mainstream. She wrote:
It's love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration… In matters sexual, Camp goes against the grain, cherishing either the androgynous, swoony girl-boys and boy-girls of pre-Raphaelite painting or the plangent supersexiness of Jayne Mansfield or Victor Mature. In art, Camp's exaggeration must proceed from passion and naiveté.
Does it matter if our favourite celebrities pored over Sontag's seminal essay? Probably not, because camp is a very slippery concept. If you think it stabbed at the idea of artifice and exaggeration, you're probably half right. Is it frivolity? Irony? Perhaps. But camp is, ultimately, a "you can bring a queen to the ball, but you can't make her vogue" kind of proposition. Not everyone will get it," says Andrew Bolton, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of the Costume Institute and the effective arbiter of all things campy.
Dr David Russell, author and associate professor in English at Corpus Christi, Oxford also mentioned in The Guardian, "To define camp is to kill it. Camp can't be canonised – if it is, then it dies."
The Internet has kindly assembled all the looks from the night so you can decide for yourself who got it right. For starters, here are a few we thought stood out from the pack.
Lady Gaga: The real-life Russian doll
One of the co-hosts of the night, Gaga arrived at the Met Gala in a massive hot pink Brandon Maxwell gown, complete with a cascading train and a giant matching bow on her head. According to Vogue, makeup artist Sarah Tanno was inspired by her favorite fashion book: Backstage Dior by photographer Roxanne Lowit. And because Mother Monster never disappoints, she out-camped herself with three more live outfit changes on the red carpet like a flirty striptease, hauling a wagon full of champagnes and umbrellas behind her. At one point, she held up a giant black cell phone bag by Judith Leiber – probably to call 911 for setting the red carpet on fire.
Billy Porter: (Golden) Man of the hour
Photo: Billy Porter/Getty Images
Talk about making an entrance. Inspired by a sun deity, Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra and Bob Mackie's iconic costumes for Cher, Porter arrived on a litter, carried by six shirtless men on a pharaoh's throne. Like the red-carpet royalty he is, his regal, opulent look from the Blonds consisted of an embellished catsuit, 10-ft wings, a 24-karat gold headpiece as well as custom gold-leaf Giuseppe Zanotti shoes and fine jewels by Andreoli and Oscar Heyman.
"What I love about having it at the Met Gala, and contextualising camp, is it brings honour to a word and genre that can be discounted very often, or thought of as cheesy. When it's done properly, it's one of the highest forms of fashion and art," Porter told Vogue.
Jared Leto: The head-turner
Photo: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
Leto, clad in a design by Alessandro Michele for Gucci, paid tribute to the maison in the truest way possible – by nodding to a viral fashion moment Gucci ignited last year: the head-as-a-handbag look. The singer-actor seemed perfectly at ease, carrying a replica of his own head (as one does), and it even had his flowing locks down pat. Who needs blings when you can be your own accessory?
Janelle Monae: Blink of an eye, not.
Photo: Andrew Kelly/Reuters
A balloon-hipped number with a motorised blinking eye over one breast reveals Monae's professed love of science fiction and one of her favourite artists, Picasso. "I am camp. It's embedded in my DNA... Particularly, I wanted to highlight Picasso's African Period in the early 1900s," she said, referencing the years when the painter took inspiration from tribal masks to create his famously fragmented portraits.
Ezra Miller: It's a face-off.
They say it's rude to stare but the question here is where? Striding down in a Burberry suit, jewelled corset and diamond encrusted oxfords, Miller hid behind a mask before revealing his face which appeared to have seven eyes. The actor collaborated with Burberry creative director Riccardo Tisci for the look who said, "Miller saw the masked look partly as "this death... like this ultimate transformation that we all have to do at least once. The celebration of camp is almost funereal... It's almost like it dies as it walks in the room. But I think it consumes the other as well. You know? I think it's like fire and oxygen."
Cardi B: Traffic-stopping. Literally.
Though the singer went for something much more reserved than her plunging neckline and daring leg reveal look last year, she showed up in an elaborate piece, covered head to toe in oxblood custom Thom Browne gown that extends outward for about ten feet. The hand-embroidered dress took 35 people and more than 2,000 hours to put together, and it's finished off with a bugle-bead headpiece that Browne made in collaboration with Stephen Jones.
"I designed this dress for Cardi specifically because she has the ultimate beauty in a woman's body, and that is what the dress is about for me: taking advantage of that beauty," the designer said.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute
MaryamBayam preserves the culture of traditional batik through contemporary designs
Meet your #TravelGoals at Rimowa's pop-up store in Pavilion KL this July
Power duo and siblings Liane and Leonie Ng on co-founding jewellery brand VLT
You can now 'try on' Gucci's Ace sneakers without going to the boutique
Oxwhite provides quality fitted shirts for the Asian physique at an honest price

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Electromagnetic heating is ideally suited for modeling in COMSOL Multiphysics. This model shows the area of hyperthermic oncology but the modeling issues and techniques are generally applicable to any problem involving electromagnetic heating.
The purpose of this model is to compute the radiation field and the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in liver tissue for a thin coaxial slot antenna used in microwave coagulation therapy. A simulation of the resulting temperature distribution in the liver is also included.


Delicate sterling silver lariat necklace with a slender column of stone beads. The pendant slides through the ring, eliminating the need for a clasp. Choose from Sleeping Beauty turquoise on oxidized silver chain or faceted pyrite on shiny polished chain.
Pendant measures approx 1" long x 3 mm wide, ring is hammered and approx 10 cm in diameter.
Choose from 2 total lengths - 21" or 24". Pictured is the 21" length.


In Nima's vivid stories, the gloomy scrapyard becomes a formula 1 race track. His younger sister Tara listens to him, captivated. Tara is blind. While their parents quarrel, gesticulating silently, Nima creates a colourful, happy world in which Tara can grow up without worry. Even when their mother suddenly abandons the family, Nima playfully maintains his version of reality, confronting tragedy with hope.
Born in Tehran, Iran in 1989, she studied theatre directing at the city's Soore University and theatre practice at the University of Alberta in Canada. She has been working as a director since 2008, initially in radio drama. She is interested in experimental theatre and pays special attention to the various qualities of sound and noise in her plays. Magralen marks her first foray into filmmaking.


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American Water Engineering Practice Leader to Participate in C2ES Webinar
American Water announced Suzanne Chiavari, engineering practice leader, will speak on a webinar hosted by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions…
Construction Begins on Perris Renewable Natural Gas Facility
Southern California-based CR&R Environmental Services has entered the construction phase of its anaerobic digestion facility in Perris, Calif.…
Village of Ridgewood Biogas Project Named Renewable Energy Project of the Year
The Village of Ridgewood Biogas – Renewable Energy Project in Ridgewood, N.J., which HDR is leading in partnership with Natural Systems Utilities,…
Nexus eWater Tapped by KB Home for Double ZeroHouse 2.0
KB Home, one of the nation's largest homebuilders, recently set new standards for water efficiency in California home construction with its Double…
Danfoss Showcases Technologies during Water Week 2014
During Water Week 2014, Danfoss joined other manufacturers and solutions providers, industry associations and non-profit organizations on Capitol…
Energy Savings in India
Sandoz Pvt. Ltd. has achieved an average of 17% energy efficiency and lower noise levels by choosing Atlas Copco screw blower technology for its…
Canadian Project Illustrates Potential of Biogas to Provide Green Power
London, ON, with population about 366,000, will this year see the launch of the privately owned Harvest Power Mustang Generation Limited plant that…
Economical Energy Savings
The Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority (SBRSA) in Princeton, N.J., provides treatment and disposal services for wastewater residuals. Its River…
Report Explores Nutrient Management in Water Utility Sector
In the past century, population growth, urbanization and intensified agricultural practices have combined to increase strain on wastewater treatment…
Clute, Texas Begins $5.7 Million Energy Efficiency Project
Schneider Electric announced the signing of a $5.7 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) with the city of Clute, Texas. The ESPC was…
Bluesphere Partners with Organic Waste Management on Rhode Island Biogas Plant
Bluesphere Corp., a clean energy company that develops, manages and owns waste-to-energy projects, has a signed a Letter of Intent with Organic Waste…
Less than an hour's drive from Manhattan, the village of Ridgewood is an old suburban community of about 28,000 residents nestled in Bergen County, N…
California Water District to Begin Energy Conservation Program
Honeywell will be working with East Valley Water District (EVWD) of Highland, Calif., to improve water distribution systems and reduce utility costs…
Report Finds Renewable Energy Resources in Southeastern Region
The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) released the Southeastern Region Report, the final portion of ACORE's 6th annual Renewable Energy in…
Growing With the Community
Water has been an important aspect in shaping the history of Kerman, Calif. Located in Fresno County in central California, the area was established…
Nottingham Plant Generates Energy from Waste
FCC Environment, a U.K. recycling and waste management company, is using energy-efficient compressor and filtration solutions from Atlas Copco to…
Energizing Liquid Waste
A waste-to-energy project, the first of its kind in the Milwaukee area and one of the largest merchant facilities in the Midwest, takes high-strength…
ACORE Appoints New President, CEO
The board of directors of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) announced that Michael R. Brower has been appointed the new president and…
EPA Releases Climate Change Video Series
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new series of short public service videos on climate change. The videos cover a range of…
First Green Roof Opens in Walla Walla, Wash.
Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance and Xero Flor America LLC (XFA) announced the completion of a green roof at Providence St. Mary Medical…


The number of people heading away on gap years is increasing, but many people are still not planning their trip adequately, according to one expert.
Predictions from Mintel claim the global gap year market will grow by around £11 billion by 2010, up from around £5 billion in 2005.
However, with the market demographic predominately consisting of younger travellers, concerns are often raised over the amount of planning that goes into overseas trips.
"It is imperative to check you have a valid travel insurance policy before travelling," a spokesperson for student holiday specialist STA Travel explained.
"It may not be the most exciting, but travel insurance is probably the most important purchase you'll make for your trip. Insurance is not just for emergencies, but also to help you enjoy your trip, secure in the knowledge that you are covered against the unexpected."
Earlier this month a survey from the Year Out Group found that India, Peru, and Tanzania topped the most popular gap year destinations for structured year placements in 2007.


Hong Kong Airlines cabin crew demonstrating why it's a good idea to fasten your safety belt when you're told to do so.
Hong Kong Airlines is teaching its cabin crew kung fu so they can deal with unruly passengers, the South China Morning Post reported yesterday.
The airline has ordered its 23 new cabin crew to master wing chun -- a form of kung fu practiced by martial arts legends Bruce Lee and Ip Man -- which is characterized by sharp movements and close-range combat.
While the prospect of female flight attendants busting slick kung fu moves may seem like pure anime fanboy fantasy, the training proved invaluable in a sticky situation on a recent flight from Beijing to Hong Kong, claims Eva Chan, the airline's deputy general manager of corporate communications.
"One of the passengers was sick but he was probably drunk and felt unwell -- the crew member attended to him and she realized her fitness was helping her especially because the guy was quite heavy," Chan told South China Morning Post.
The idea of compulsory martial arts training came about after the airline's top brass watched some crew members demonstrate wing chun and dance during a company function last year.
Katherine Cheung, one of the kung fu instructors, said wing chun is well-suited for cabin crew as it can be performed in small, confined places.
Lumpy Tang, a 22-year-old flight attendant trainee, said wing chun is good for her job because it is fast and "you cannot predict what will happen on the plane."
Chan reportedly said that on average cabin crew have to deal with disruptive passengers three times a week.


Thread in 'Research & Development' started by FeV, 16 Apr 2017.
So I decided to make a pentomino game with TGM's engine because my favorite clone Fierceblock wasn't ready to play yet. One thing led to another and now it aims to be an all-around TGM clone. The engine will eventually be (already is?) more accurate than Texmaster, and the code is cross-platform and MIT-licensed.
Input handling should be slightly better than Texmaster for keyboard play (in Texmaster you can't press down if you're holding left or right). Joy2Key is required for joystick play at the moment (sorry about that).
Disclaimer: I work on this for fun. Updates are sporadic and never guaranteed. It's written in C by someone who doesn't have enough patience for C C++ by someone who is still learning C++, and therefore the code is guaranteed to be buggy. Expect a couple crashes, especially in beta!
Extract the files; in game.cfg, set your preferred key bindings. Run the game from the same directory as game.cfg or specify the cfg filename as an command-line argument.
I don't have binaries available, so you'll need to build it from source. Dependencies are SDL2 (version >= 2.0.5), SDL2_image, SDL2_mixer, and SQLite3. Once you have these just run `make' and configure your key bindings.
Putting a "4" suffix onto a piece name will give you the tetromino with that name. If you are in QRS mode, for example, "T" will register as a T pentomino, but "T4" will be the standard T tetromino.
Cleared this section for now!
Also will mention, there's no music for the TGM modes right now, but you can supply your own in audio/g2 and audio/g3 directories. Just make sure they're either .ogg or .wav and rename them to track0, track1, etc.
If you want a different sound pack (*cough*), feel free to PM me on the QuakeNet IRC and I'll send you one. I usually use the nick "Felicity" on there.
Jii, FerSave, Cinnaminion and 12 others like this.
Good question. I am still (sort of) working on this, but the last few months have been a little unusual for me for various IRL reasons. There's talk of getting at least one more person on board and moving the code to GitHub once SGDQ is over, so by then hopefully we can clean up the code and get a minor release out. Still no promises, but I would say it's likely there will be an update by the end of July early August. Happy to see some interest.
deeden and Qlex like this.
Qlex, d4nin3u and FreakyByte like this.
CRIME also has bat-winged aircraft called Devil Sharks.
Shiromino v.beta2 released! See first post for details/download.
Qlex and joemaro like this.
Hope to see further progress on this one!
also: are the flickering fonts (time, level & score) intended to be like that? i think it's only in death & 20g modes, but i find it a bit annoying.
Fullscreen is.. not implemented yet I have a problem with ignoring features that I personally do not use (this used to be very much a personal project so... I'm just now trying to learn to be better at this). And, the "flickering" is something you see in TAP as well, if you are in 20G, and this is what I based it on. I tried to avoid making it obnoxious, guess I can take another look.
Haven't been able to look at it myself yet, but in case it helps, I think the gold shining text in TGM/TAP is 2 frames gold, 1 frame silver, repeat.
The editor is amazing! Thanks a lot for that, it helps me alot to practise some tricky moves, that i usually fail.
Would like to see other people commenting on it, especially because i'm lacking in experience to really comment on accuracy to tgm.
"Run the game from the same directory as game.cfg or specify the cfg filename as an argument" I'm having a real bad time dealing with this, i installed git but still can't make it work, can you give me more help on how to run the game?
No longer posting a full breakthrough of my records in the signature. Check my profile to see it.
NES: S-A, 0 denied grades.
Game Boy: S-A, 0 denied grades.
ShiRS: S, 0 denied grades.
Super Tetris 3: S, 0 denied grades.
Hey @FerSave if you would provide more details about your situation it would be much more easy to help you. Which Operating System? What did you do up till now? What didn't work the way you expected?
Question to FeV-Dev: What's the percetage display that shows up briefly when finishing a round?
Hi, I'm not dead. I have done literally nothing with this for like 2 months though, sorry about that. Flying out to Seattle for a couple weeks threw things off.
@FerSave yeah more details would be nice as was mentioned above. I'm going to guess you're on windows, but either way the game should work if you navigate to its directory in a file manager (windows explorer or w/e) and run it from there, assuming the game.cfg is there with it.
@joemaro red percentage display in the top right of the window means the game slowed down for a frame. If the number keeps changing that means it was more than 1 frame. It's kind of a weird metric, but if that number is under 100% it is also a measure of CPU usage more or less.
Again, sorry for like completely falling off with this project... have had zero motivation lately, basically.
i have no sound, i've filled the HOME_PATH and checked the volume.cfg in the audio folder and still nothing. Also the practice options are completely unreadable.
@FerSave Uhh nope, you don't need both versions to get it working. With the beta2 you need to compile it yourself still, I forgot about this... if you don't know how to compile on Windows then I recommend you hold off until I put up a binary. Sorry for all the confusion, I've really slacked on some user-friendliness with this project, admittedly!


Founded in 1980, the Legendary Pink Dots occupy an important and individual place in the field of experimental and psychedelic music. The band is fronted by singer, lyric writer Edward Ka-Spel and keyboardist Phil Knight alias The Silverman with Niels Van Hoorn (Saxophone), Martijn de Kleer (Guitar) and Raymond Steeg (Sound) forming the current line-up of the band. Their sound is often made up of a complex conglomerate of electronics, saxophones, guitars, drums and Ka-Spel's distinctive voice and unique lyrical invention.
What a long strange trip it has been… It was back in August 1980 that The Legendary Pink Dots was born in a crumbling squatted house in East London. Expectations were not an issue back then as the passion was all-consuming – this was something that simply HAD to last. Indeed it would seems that The Dots have hardly paused for a breath since those quizzical yet confident candlelit sessions. For sure, band members came and went ,especially in those early days, for such an intensity is not for everyone- yet founder members Edward Ka-Spel and Phil Knight (The Silverman) are still there, mad as ever, far too lost in the music to wonder where the next meal is coming from. 25 years and such is the musical ambition of The Dots that the occasion almost slipped by unnoticed.
However the acknowledgement of this landmark means that the band now has to present something worthy of such a lengthy endeavour..


The Afan Valley, or Cwm Afan in Welsh, refers to the river valley through which the River Afan (Afon Afan in Welsh) flows; From it's source at the confluence of the River Corrwg and the River Gwynfi near the village of Cymer, the Afan eventually enters Swansea Bay at Aberafan (aka Port Talbot). Along the way, the Afan encounters several tributaries, including The Pelenna at Pontrhydyfen, and the Ffrwdwyllt..
According to Place names of the Afan Valley by Alwyn B.Jones ISBN 0 907117 481, the name Afan is of pre-Celtic origin, comprised of the elements 'a' (meaning from) and 'ban'/'fan' (meaning heights), suggesting the translation 'river from the heights' (or mountains).
Somewhat confusing for the visitor might be the fact that Cwmafan is also the name of one of a number of villages in The Afan Valley. Several sources suggest that the village was originally a hamlet known as Michaelstone Super Afan (Llanfihangel Ynys Afan), being in the parish of Saint Michael.
Worthy of reading is A brief history of The Parish of Llanfihangel Ynys Afan by Greville James.
Much of the original landscape of the valley was marred by the industrial revolution and the discovery of rich coal seams. The copperworks left everlasting scars on the lower half of the valley and surrounding mountains, while the upper half of the valley bore the scars of the unwanted byproducts of coal mining that resulted in "coal tips".
Pollution and waste products from some of these industries and, later, from the nearby steelworks at Port Talbot, limited the growth of vegetation on the hillsides of the lower Afan Valley.
According to a timeline on the Port Talbot Historical Society web site, the first blast furnace in Cwmafan was built in 1819, the Copperminers works was built 1835-1838, and the longest continuous length of rail was made in 1851.
Railways were a necessary part of the Afan Valley scene for many years. Coal was transported from the upper valley by "coal trains", and holidaymakers from the upper valley being transported to Aberafan Beach via the Swansea Bay line. As a lad, I used to travel by train to attend grammar school in Aberafan. Steam locomotives inevitably gave way to diesel electric.
The cessation of coalmining and the popularity of cars eventually resulted in the closing of the two railway lines that ran through the valley. Many of the bridges that carried the railway lines were demolished, but Y Bont Goch (the red bridge), a viaduct in Pontrhydyfen, still stands as a reminder of that era. Old railway lines throughout the valley were removed, providing miles of walking paths.
The South Wales Miner's Museum, located at Afan Argoed Country Park (now known as Afan Forest Park), provides an interesting insight into coal mining in the valley. You can read more about the museum at their web site: South Wales Miner's Museum.
Some excellent reading on the history of Cwmafan can be found in the publication Cwmavon Then & Now by A. Leslie Evans, Port Talbot Historical Society.
Another excellent publication is In The Valley Long Ago, industrial growth and the struggle for religious freedom in the Afan Valley in the first half of the nineteenth century, by John Rowlands, translated from the Welsh original by Graham Hughes.


text:
Scientology library: "Lawsuit"
bankruptcy • ben shaw • bernie mccabe • cult awareness network (can) (earlier form, citizen's freedom foundation) • david s. touretzky • death • elizabeth "beth" akiyama • fraud, lie, deceit, misrepresentation • glen stollery • joan wood • lawsuit • legal • lisa mcpherson • luke charles lirot • narconon (aka scientology drug rehab) • new zealand • pittsburgh post-gazette • settlement • silencing criticism, censorship • susan taylor martin • time magazine • threat of legal action, lawsuit • tom cruise • virginia linn • xenu (operating thetan level 3, ot 3, wall of fire)
Reference materials Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP)
10 matching items found between Jul 2005 and Dec 2005. Furthermore, there are 1226 matching items for all time not shown.
Final Victory! XS4ALL and Spaink win Scientology battle — XS4ALL
Type: Press release
Source: XS4ALL
The legal battle that the Church of Scientology has conducted against XS4ALL and Karin Spaink reached its grand finale today. The Dutch Supreme court dismissed Scientology's claims, which means that a decade of legal skirmishes has finally come to an end. The Supreme Court decided that the previous ruling, which was in favour of XS4ALL and Spaink, still holds. Scientology lost again. Freedom of speech prevailed over the alleged copyright of the Scientology Church, and Spaink can quote from Scientology's higher ...
Tag(s): Copyright, trademark, patent • Karin Spaink • Lawsuit • Netherlands • XS4ALL
Tom Cruise parody site defiant in face of Scientology threats, demands its day in court — Wikinews
Tag(s): Glen Stollery • Moxon & Kobrin • New Zealand • ScienTOMogy.info • Threat of legal action, lawsuit • Wikinews • [needtotag]
Item contributed by: Anonymous
25 years later, a high-profile Superior Court case is still on the active list — Metropolitan News-Enterprise (Los Angeles, California)
Author(s): Roger M. Grace
Source: Metropolitan News-Enterprise (Los Angeles, California)
A jury trial is slated to start in Los Angeles Superior Court Tuesday in a case in which an attorney who failed to secure a written representation agreement is seeking to recover the reasonable value of her services. So far, that probably seems hum drum. What makes this case worthy of note is that the proceeding will take place in Case No. C332027 — which was filed on July 28, 1980. The name of this 25-year-old case will probably sound familiar. ...
Tag(s): Bankruptcy • Church of Scientology International (CSI) • Church of Scientology of California (CSC) • Craig J. Stein • Disconnection • False imprisonment • Judge Edward Y. Kakita • Judge Harry Pregerson • Judge James M. Ideman • Judge John P. Shook • Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer • Judge Robert Hess • Judge Ronald E. Swearinger • Justice Earl Johnson Jr. • Justice Judith Ashmann-Gerst • Justice Richard Aldrich • Lawrence "Larry" Wollersheim • Lawsuit • Leta Schlosser • Metropolitan News-Enterprise • Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) • Religious Technology Center (RTC) • Roger M. Grace • Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) • Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)
Item contributed by: Ron Sharp
Spoof site faces religious lawsuit — TVNZ
Source: TVNZ
A New Zealand website spoofing Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and his religion of choice is facing legal action from the Church of Scientology. The church is not amused by scienTOMogy - which features spoof videos of the star - and says it is breaching copyright. When Cruise engaged in some sofa stomping, he coined a new phrase called jumping the couch - the defining moment when someone has gone of the deep end. From that moment Glen Stollery has been chronicling ...
Tag(s): Glen Stollery • Michael "Mike" Ferriss • New Zealand • Threat of legal action, lawsuit • Tom Cruise • TVNZ
Financial services firm that targeted retirees files for Chapter 11 — Tampa Bay Business Journal
Author(s): Jane Meinhardt
Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal
A financial services company that once ran newspaper ads touting its high rates on certificates of deposit is now seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Clearwater-based First Liberty Group LLC filed its petition Aug. 31 in Tampa bankruptcy court. The company has more than 100 creditors and estimated debts of $1 million to $10 million, according to the petition. Assets are estimated at $100,000 to $500,000. A case management summary in court records describes First Liberty as a financial services company that ...
Tag(s): Bankruptcy • Charles Keith Byington • First Liberty Group LLC • Jane Meinhardt • Lawsuit • Nowtrade Corp. • Tampa Bay Business Journal
The way to more questions // Scientology affiliate The Way To Happiness of Glendale teaches honesty in schools but, according to LAPD and others, utilizes dishonest promotions — Pasadena Weekly
Author(s): Carl Kozlowski
Source: Pasadena Weekly
If a high-ranking LAPD official can be believed, perhaps the Scientology-affiliated The Way To Happiness should take a page from its own teachings. Two of the Glendale-based nonprofit organization's 21 guides to achieving happiness are "Be Worthy of Trust" and "Seek to Live the Truth," neither of which were followed apparently in the group's dealings with the LAPD and a city in Texas. Officials with the group, which over the past two decades has distributed booklets of the same name to ...
Tag(s): Barbara L. Ayash • Carl Kozlowski • Children, youth • Connie de la Garza • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) • Fraud, lie, deceit, misrepresentation • Juan D. Villarreal • Lance Miller • Lawsuit • Michael Downing • Pasadena Weekly • Police • Roosevelt Dorn • Schools • Set A Good Example Foundation (formerly, Concerned Businessmen's Association of America) • The Way to Happiness (TWTH) • Tory "Magoo" Christman • Workplace recruitment
The A-listers' belief system — New Statesman
Author(s): Boyd Farrow
Source: New Statesman
Why was there a Scientology tent on the set of War of the Worlds? Boyd Farrow explains how this cult religion, whose followers believe that people are immortal spiritual beings, is gaining ground thanks to support from Hollywood's biggest stars The summer blockbuster season has been dominated by an evil galactic ruler who, 75 million years ago, blew up 178 billion abducted alien souls with hydrogen bombs planted in earth's volcanoes and bundled them into clusters that now cling to every ...
Tag(s): Boyd Farrow • Celebrity Centre • Curaçao • David Miscavige • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • John Carmichael • Lawsuit • Mimi Rogers • MV Freewinds (formerly, La Bohème) • Narconon (aka Scientology drug rehab) • New Statesman • Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power (article) • TIME Magazine • Tom Cruise • Volunteer Ministers • Xenu (Operating Thetan level 3, OT 3, Wall of Fire)
PostScript: When scientologists aren't so clear — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Author(s): Virginia Linn
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Leaders of the Church of Scientology have long had the reputation of being uncooperative with the media. Still, we were surprised at their tenaciousness in trying to control our stories. Whenever reporters delve into a topic that is even the least bit controversial, we take extra care in making sure we've pulled together as balanced a report as possible. Such was the case on a package of stories published last Sunday on the Church of Scientology, one of the most unusual ...
Tag(s): Bankruptcy • Buffalo News • Chuck Beatty • Cult Awareness Network (CAN) (earlier form, Citizen's Freedom Foundation) • David S. Touretzky • Elizabeth "Beth" Akiyama • Fraud, lie, deceit, misrepresentation • Jason Scott • Lawsuit • Mark Sommer • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette • Private investigator(s) • Richard Behar • Silencing criticism, censorship • TIME Magazine • Virginia Linn • Washington Post • Xenu (Operating Thetan level 3, OT 3, Wall of Fire)
Scientology comes to town // New religion in Pittsburgh brings controversy, high hopes — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In the 1900 block of East Carson Street on the South Side, there's an unassuming storefront that marked its first anniversary last month. It's the Pittsburgh office of the Church of Scientology, the controversial religious movement that recently captured international headlines when celebrity disciple Tom Cruise became increasingly public and, at times, combative, about his beliefs. Although the office opened here with little fanfare, Scientologists have high hopes for its growth as they try to regain a foothold in the region ...
Tag(s): Anti-psychiatry • Bankruptcy • Cult Awareness Network (CAN) (earlier form, Citizen's Freedom Foundation) • David Petti (Petit?) • David S. Touretzky • Detox • E-Meter • Elizabeth "Beth" Akiyama • Foundation for Religious Freedom (FRF) • Joe Kissel • Kristi Wachter • Lawsuit • Medical claims • Membership • Narconon (aka Scientology drug rehab) • Operation Snow White • Phil Campus • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette • Purification Rundown ("Purif") • Richard Evans • Sharon Evans • Silencing criticism, censorship • Stress test • Sunday services • The Problems of Work (book) • Virginia Linn
Scientology case takes toll on doctor — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Author(s): Susan Taylor Martin
Source: St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Dr. Joan Wood gives up her medical license after a report strongly criticizes her handling of a disputed 1995 death. Former Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner Joan Wood has relinquished her Florida medical license in the wake of a state health department claim that she "became an advocate for the Church of Scientology" in a bitter dispute over the 1995 death of Scientology member Lisa McPherson. Wood changed the probable cause of death from "severe dehydration" to "accident" based on "factors other than ...
Tag(s): Ben Shaw • Bernie McCabe • Death • Joan Wood • Lawsuit • Legal • Lisa McPherson • Luke Charles Lirot • Settlement • St. Petersburg Times (Florida) • Susan Taylor Martin


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White Nation Network
THE UNITED STATES IS DESTROYING OUR WORLD AND NOBODY DARE SAY NOTHING…
– 2018-05-04Posted in: Head Lines
Do you have news to tell us? Send your e.mails with news and inquiries to: w.nation@mail.com
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Article posted by: White Nation correspondent Tennessee USA May 06 2018
Entire US Town "Trapped," Homes Unsalable Because Military Poisoned Their Water Supply
Rothschilds leads the vultures to prey on India
81% Of Dollar Tree products tested positive for toxic chemicals linked to cancer, learning disabilities and serious illnesses.
UFO's – this is the real McCoy.
CERN: Real demons passing through portals
The Lawsuit That isn't in Corporate Media
NOT just within the United States but around the world, the U.S. military has contaminated thousands of sites, poisoned water supplies and made massive swaths of land entirely unlivable. However, despite its massive budget – which sits at around $700 billion this year – the U.S. military makes no effort to clean up its mess or compensate the many victims of its toxic legacy including military serviceman.
Even though the military's role in polluting sites worldwide is a known fact, such events rarely receive coverage in the mainstream media. For instance, the significant spill of 94,000 gallons of jet fuel at a Naval station in Virginia Beach last year was largely unheard of outside of the local newspaper. However, even less known is the fact that the U.S. military produces more hazardous waste than the five largest U.S. chemical companies combined and has left its mark in the form of toxic substances like depleted uranium, oil, jet fuel, pesticides, defoliants like Agent Orange and lead, among others.
U.S. military bases, both domestic and foreign, consistently rank among some of the most polluted places in the world, as perchlorate and other components of jet and rocket fuel contaminate sources of drinking water, aquifers, and soil. Hundreds of military bases can be found on the Environmental Protection Agency's list of Superfund sites, which qualify for clean-up grants from the government. The former head of the Pentagon's environmental program told Newsweek in 2014 that her office has to contend with 39,000 contaminated areas spread across 19 million acres just in the U.S. alone.
One of those still contaminated (and still functioning) military bases is Camp Lejuene in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where contamination became widespread and even deadly after its groundwater was polluted with a sizable amount of carcinogens from 1953 to 1987. it was not until last February that the government allowed those exposed to chemicals at Lejeune to make official compensation claims. Numerous bases abroad have also contaminated local drinking water supplies, most famously the Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa.
Beyond the U.S., the country's wars abroad have left their mark by, in some cases, totally destroying the environment of entire countries. In Iraq's case, U.S. military action there has resulted in the desertification of 90 percent of Iraqi territory, crippling the country's agricultural industry and forcing it to import more than 80 percent of its food. The U.S.' use of depleted uranium in Iraq during the Gulf War also caused a massive environmental burden for Iraqis. In addition, the U.S. military's policy of using open-air burn pits to dispose of waste from the 2003 invasion has caused a surge in cancer among U.S. servicemen and Iraqi civilians alike.
Yet, not only is the U.S. military the world's largest polluter, it is also the world's largest purchaser and user of fossil fuels. Despite that, the U.S. military is completely exempt from all international climate agreements. Like its role in polluting the environment on a global scale, the U.S. military continues to get a free pass to pollute and consume fossil fuels like there's no tomorrow – unless, of course, we do something about it.
The US Military is Destroying the Planet but No One is Talking About It
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5XdHbN-xNI
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text:
\section{Introduction}
Throughout this paper all groups are assumed to be finite. The function $G(n)$ and $\phi(n)$  denote the number of  non-isomorphic finite groups of order $n$ and the number of positive integers $i$ such that $1 \leq i \leq n$ and $(i,n) = 1$, respectively. For any other notation not defined here, we refer the reader to \cite{00,6}. Our calculations are done with the aid of GAP \cite{8}.

The problem of finding exact value of $G(n)$ in general seems to be very
difficult, but there are some very good estimations for this function in literature. M. R. Murty and V. K. Murty \cite{4},  used this well-known fact that groups of square-free order are supersolvable to prove that  for a square free number $n$,  $G(n) \leq \phi(n)$.

Dickson \cite{0} determined those positive integers $n$ for which every group of order $n$ is abelian. As a consequence of his result it can be proved that $G(n) = 1$ if and only if $(n,\phi(n)) = 1$. We encourage the interested readers to consult papers \cite{1,3} for a simpler proof  of Dickson's result. This result is our motivation to study the equation $G(n) = k$, for some small values of $k$. In an exact phrase,

\begin{qu}\label{q1}
For which positive integers $n$ does $G(n) = 2$? For which $n$ does $G(n) = 3$?
\end{qu}

This paper will be concerned with Question \ref{q1}. For the sake of completeness, we mention here some results which are crucial throughout this paper.

Given a group $G$ of square-free order greater than 1, a
theorem of H$\ddot{\rm o}$lder \cite{2} tells us that $G$ is metacyclic. If $n = p_1p_2\ldots p_s$, where $p_1 > p_2 > \ldots > p_s$ are primes then
\begin{equation}
G(n) = \sum_{S}\left(  \prod_{j=1}^r \frac{p_{S(j)}^{c_{S(j)}} - 1}{p_{S(j)} - 1} \right),
\end{equation}
where the summation is taken over  all the subsets $S = \{ S(1), 5(2), \ldots, S(r)\}$ of $\{ 2, 3,
. . . , n\}$ and $c_{S(j)}$ is the number of differences $p_i - 1, i \not\in S$, which are divisible by
$p$. If we define $f(n,m) = \prod_{q | m}(n,q-1)$, then one can see that $$G(n) = \sum_{d|n}\prod_{p | d}\frac{f(p,\frac{n}{d} - 1)}{p-1},$$ where $p$ and $q$ are primes, see \cite{000} for details.

Suppose $G$ is a finite group and $H$ is a normal subgroup such that $p \nmid |H|$ and $\frac{|G|}{|H|} = p^\alpha$, where $\alpha$ is a positive integer. Then $H$ is called a normal $p-$complement for $G$. In \cite[p. 252]{15}, the following result is proved:

\begin{theorem}
(Burnside's Transfer Theorem). Let $G$ be a finite group and $P$ be a Sylow $p-$subgroup of $G$. If $P \leq Z(N_G(P))$ then $G$ has a normal $p-$complement.
\end{theorem}

Suppose $n = \prod_{i=1}^rp_i^{\alpha_i}$ and define $\Phi(n) =\prod _{i=1}^r(p^{\alpha_i} - 1)$. Redei \cite[Satz 10]{7}, characterized the  positive integers $n$ with this property that all abelian groups of order $n$ are abelian. Such a positive integer is called an abelian number. He proved that:

\begin{theorem}\label{thm3}
 $n = \prod_{i=1}^rp_i^{\alpha_i}$ is an abelian number if and only if $(n,\Phi(n)) = 1$ , for each $i$, $1 \leq i \leq r$.
\end{theorem}

In the same manner,  we call a positive integer $n$ a nilpotent number if every group of order $n$ is nilpotent. Pakianathan and Shankar \cite{5}, proved that a positive integer $n = p_1^{\alpha_1}p_2^{\alpha_2} \cdots p_3^{\alpha_t}$, $p_i$'s are distinct primes, is a nilpotent number if and only if $p_i^k \not\equiv 1 \ (mod p_j)$, for all integers $i,$ $j$ and $k$ with $1 \leq k \leq \alpha_i$.

In this paper, our interest is the study of the function $G(n)$. The main result of this paper is as follows:

\begin{theorem} \label{thm4} Suppose $n = \prod_{i=1}^rp_i^{\alpha_i}$.
\begin{enumerate}

\item $G(n) = 2$ if and only if one of the following are hold:
\begin{enumerate}
\item $r = 1$ and $\alpha_1 = 2$;

\item $r \geq 2$, $n$ is square-free and there is a unique pair $(i,j)$ such that $p_i | p_j -1$;

\item $n = p_1^2p_2\ldots p_r$, $r \geq 2$, and for each $i, j$ such that $1 \leq i,j \leq k$, we have $p_i \nmid p_j - 1$; and for each $k$, $2 \leq k \leq r$, $p_k \nmid p_1^2 - 1$.
\end{enumerate}

\item $G(n) = 3$ if and only if one of the following are hold:
\begin{enumerate}
\item $r \geq 3$, $n$ is square-free and there is a unique triple $(i,j,l)$ such that $p_i | p_j -1$ and $p_j$ $|$ $p_l - 1$;

\item $n = p_1^2p_2\ldots p_r$, $r \geq 2$, and for each $i, j$ such that $1 \leq i,j \leq r$, we have $p_i \nmid p_j - 1$; and there exists a unique positive integer $l$, $2 \leq l \leq r$ such that $p_l | p_1^2 - 1$.
\end{enumerate}

\end{enumerate}
\end{theorem}

\section{Proof of Main Result}
The aim of this section is to prove our main results. At first, we note  that there are exactly five groups of order $p^3$, where $p$ is prime. It is well-known that $Z_8$, $Z_2 \times Z_4$, $Z_2 \times Z_2 \times Z_2$, $D_8$ and $Q_8$ are all groups of order eight and if $p$ is an odd prime then $Z_{p^3}$, $Z_p \times Z_{p^2}$ and $Z_p \times Z_p \times Z_p$ are only abelian groups of order $p^3$ and there are exactly two  non-abelian groups of this order as follows:
\begin{enumerate}
\item $G_1 = \langle x, y \ | \ x^p = y^{p^2} = 1, x^{-1}yx = y^{p+1}     \rangle$,

\item $G_2 = \langle x, y, z \ | \ x^p = y^{p} = z^p = 1, yz = zy, zx = xz, x^{-1}yx = yz    \rangle$.
\end{enumerate}
This proves that $G(p^3) = 5$. The number of groups of order $p^2q$, $p$ and $q$ are primes, are recorded in Table 1. This table is first appeared in the famous book of Burnside \cite{00}.

\vskip 3mm

\centerline{\textbf{Table 1.} The Number of Groups of Order $p^2q$, $p$ and $q$ are primes. }
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{l|l}
Conditions & $G(p^2q)$\\ \hline
$p \nmid q - 1$ $\&$ $q \nmid p - 1$ & 2\\
$p | q - 1$, $p^2 \nmid q - 1$ and $q \nmid p^2 - 1$ & 4\\
$p^2 | q - 1$ & 5\\
$q = 2$ and $q | p - 1$ & 5\\
$q$ is odd and $q | p - 1$ & $\frac{q+1}{2} + 4$
\end{tabular}
\end{center}

Suppose $p$ is prime and $q | p - 1$. The Frobenius group $F_{p,q}$ can be presented as follows:
$$F_{p,q} = \langle a, b \ | \ a^p = b^q = 1, b^{-1}ab = a^u\rangle,$$
where $u$ is an element of order $q$ in the unit group of the ring $Z_p$, \cite[p. 290]{24}.

\subsection{The Case that $G(n) = 2$.}
Suppose $G(n) = 2$, where $ n=\prod_{i=1}^r p_i^{r_i} $. If there exists $i$ such that $ r_i\geq3 $ then there are five non-isomorphic finite groups of order $p_i^3$. This shows that we have at least five groups
$  Z_{p_i^{r_i-3}p_1^{r_1}\ldots p_{i-1}^{r_{i-1}}p_{i+1}^{r_{i+1}}\ldots p_{k}^{r_{k}}} \times A$, where $A$ is a group of order $p_i^3$. Also, if there are $i$ and $j$, $i \ne j$ and $r_i, r_j \geq 2$ then $$Z_{\frac{n}{p_i^2p_j^2}} \times Z_{p_i}\times  Z_{p_i}\times  Z_{p_j^2},
Z_{\frac{n}{p_i^2p_j^2}} \times Z_{p_i^2p_j^2}, Z_{\frac{n}{p_i^2p_j^2}} \times  Z_{p_i^2}\times  Z_{p_j}\times  Z_{p_j}, Z_{\frac{n}{p_i^2p_j^2}} \times  Z_{p_i}\times  Z_{p_i}\times  Z_{p_j}\times  Z_{p_j}$$ are four non-isomorphic finite groups of order
$n$ which is not possible. Thus, $n$ is square-free or $n$ is a cube-free number such that there exists exactly one prime number $p$ such that $p^2 | n$. If $n$ is square-free number then by Equation (1), there exists only one pair $(i,j)$ such that $p_i | p_j - 1$, as desired. So, we can assume that $n$ is a cube-free number such that there exists exactly one prime number $p$ such that $p^2 | n$. Since $Z_n$ and $Z_{p} \times Z_{\frac{n}{p}}$ are two non-isomorphic abelian group of order $n$, every group of order $n$ has to be abelian. By Theorem \ref{thm3}, the condition $1(c)$ in Theorem \ref{thm4} is satisfied.

Note that if there are only two finite groups of order $n$ then $(n,\phi(n))$ is primes, but the converse is not generally correct. To see this, it is enough to check that $G(75) = 3$ and $(75,\phi(75)) = (75,40) = 5$.

\subsection{The Case that $G(n) = 3$.}
In this case the finite groups with $G(n) = 3$ will be characterized. By the proof of Theorem \ref{thm4}(1), such a number $n$ is square-free or it is a cube-free integer that there exists a unique prime number $p$ such that $p^2 | n$. Our main proof will consider two different cases as follows:
\begin{enumerate}
\item $n = p_1p_2 \cdots p_r$, $r \geq 3$, is square-free. By Equation (1), there are exactly two pairs $(i,j)$ and $(i^\prime,j^\prime)$ such that $p_i | p_j - 1$ and  $p_{i^\prime} | p_{j^\prime} - 1$.
\begin{enumerate}
\item \textit{$p_{i} = p_{i^\prime}$ and $p_{j} \ne p_{j^\prime}$}. In this case, by Equation (1), there are exactly $p_i + 2 \geq 4$ finite groups of order $n$, which is a contradiction.

\item \textit{$p_{i} \ne p_{i^\prime}$ and $p_{j} = p_{j^\prime}$}. Under this conditions there are four groups $Z_n$, $Z_{\frac{n}{p_ip_j}}$ $\times$ $F_{p_j,p_i}$, $Z_{\frac{n}{p_i^\prime p_j^\prime}}$ $\times$ $F_{p_j^\prime,p_i^\prime}$ and $Z_{\frac{n}{p_ip_jp_i^\prime}}$ $\times$  $F_{p_j,p_ip_i^\prime}$ are four non-isomorphic groups of order $n$, which is impossible.

\item $p_{i} = p_{j^\prime}$. By Equation (1), there are exactly three finite groups of order $n$, as desired.
\end{enumerate}

\item \textit{$n=p_1^2p_2\ldots p_r $, where $p_i$'s are distinct prime integers and $r \geq 2$.} Suppose there are $i$ and $j$, $2 \leq i, j \leq r$, such that $p_i | p_j - 1$. Then there are four non-isomorphic groups as follows:
\begin{eqnarray*}
    &&Z_n,\\ &&Z_{\frac{n}{p_1^2p_ip_j}} \times Z_{p_1^2} \times  F_{p_j,p_i},\\ &&Z_{\frac{n}{p_1^2p_ip_j}} \times Z_{p_1} \times Z_{p_1} \times  Z_{p_ip_j}\\ &&Z_{\frac{n}{p_1^2p_ip_j}} \times Z_{p_1} \times Z_{p_1} \times  F_{p_j,p_i},
\end{eqnarray*}
which is not possible. If there exists $i$, $2 \leq i \leq r$, such that $p_1 | p_i - 1$ or $p_i | p_1 - 1$ then by Table 1, there are at least four groups of order $n$ leads again to a contradiction. We now assume that the prime integers $p_1, \cdots,$ $p_r$ are satisfied the condition $2(b)$ in Theorem \ref{thm4}. Choose $P_l$  to be the Sylow $p_{_l}-$subgroup of $G$ and $N_l = N_G(P_l)$. Since $(|\frac{N_l}{P_l}|,|Aut(P_l)|) = 1$, $P_l \leq Z(N_l)$ and by Burnside'e transfer theorem $G$ has a normal subgroup $N$ of order $p_1^2p_2\ldots p_{l-1}p_{l+1}\ldots p_k$ = $p_1s$. By Part (1) of this theorem, $N \cong Z_{p_1s}$ or $Z_{p_1} \times Z_{s}$. Since
\begin{eqnarray*}
Aut(Z_{p_1s}) &=& Z_{p_1^2-p_1}\times Z_{p_2-1}\times \ldots \times   Z_{p_{l-1}-1}\times  Z_{p_{l+1}-1}\times \ldots \times  Z_{p_k-1},\\
Aut(Z_{p_1}\times Z_s)&=& GL(2,p_1)\times Z_{p_2-1}\times \ldots \times  Z_{p_{l-1}-1}\times  Z_{p_{l+1}-1}\times \ldots \times  Z_{p_k-1}
\end{eqnarray*}
and $p_l \nmid | Aut(Z_{p_1s}) |  $, there exists a unique homomorphism $\varphi_1$ from $P_l$ into $Aut(Z_{p_1s})$. This homomorphism has to be trivial. On the other hand, $ |GL(2,p_1)|=(p_1^2-p_1)(p_1^2-1) $,
$ p_l \mid  | Aut(Z_{p_1}\times Z_s) |  $ and all Sylow $p_l$ subgroups of $GL(2,p_1)$ are cyclic. This shows that all subgroups of order $p_l$ are conjugate in $GL(2,p_1)$. If $\varphi$ and $\psi$ are two non-trivial homomorphism from $P_l$ into $Aut(Z_{P_1} \times Z_s)$ then
$ P_l\times _ \psi (Z_{p_1}\times Z_s)\cong P_l\times _ \varphi (Z_{p_1}\times Z_s) $. Therefore, there are three groups of order $n$ which can be presented as semi-direct product by the following homomorphism:
\begin{eqnarray*}
\varphi_1:P_l & \rightarrow & {Aut(Z_{p_1s})}\\
x&\rightarrow & 1\\ [.3cm]
\varphi_2:P_l & \rightarrow & {Aut(Z_{p_1}\times Z_s)}\\
x&\rightarrow & 1\\ [.3cm]
\varphi_3:P_l &\rightarrow & {Aut(Z_{p_1}\times Z_s)} \\
x&\rightarrow & y
\end{eqnarray*}
Here, $x$ and $y$ are two elements of order $p_l$ in the groups $P_l$ and $Aut(Z_{p_1}\times Z_s)$, respectively.

\end{enumerate}
This completes the proof.

\section{Concluding Remarks}

In this paper the equation $G(n) = 2, 3$ is considered into account. In the case that $G(n) = 2$, we present a new proof for an old result of M. R. Murty and V. K. Murty. Then we continue the pioneering work of these authors to solve the equation $G(n) = 3$. We check also the case for $G(n) = 4$, but the problem for this case is so difficult. So, the complete solution of $G(n) = 4$ is a problem for future.

\vskip 3mm

\noindent{\bf Acknowledgement.} The research of the authors
are partially supported by the University of Kashan under grant no
364988/101.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


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Fourth Coronavirus Death Reported In India, Number Of Cases Rises To 173
Press Trust of India | March 19, 2020
People wear masks as they stand in a queue for COVID-19 screening, at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, in New Delhi. (Image credit: PTI)
New Delhi - India reported the death of a COVID-19 patient from Punjab on Thursday taking the toll in the country to four, the Union health ministry said.
According to the ministry, the number of novel coronavirus cases in the country has risen to 173.
The cases include 25 foreign nationals -- 17 from Italy, three from the Philippines, two from the UK, one each from Canada, Indonesia and Singapore. The figure also includes four deaths reported from Punjab, Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
"The total number of active COVID-19 cases across India stands at 149 so far," the ministry said. According to it, 20 others have been cured/discharged/migrated while four have died.
Delhi has, so far, reported 12 positive cases which includes one foreigner, while Uttar Pradesh has recorded 19 cases, including one foreigner. Maharashtra has 47 cases, including three foreigners, while Kerala has recorded 27 cases which include two foreign nationals.
Karnataka has 14 coronavirus patients. The number of cases in Ladakh rose to eight and Jammu and Kashmir four. Telangana has reported six cases which include two foreigners.
Rajasthan has also reported seven cases including that of two foreigners. Tamil Nadu and Punjab have two cases so far. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Puducherry and Chandigarh have reported one case each. In Haryana, there are 17 cases, which include 14 foreigners.


RUMOR: Bruce Springsteen Summer 2018 Tour?
With Springsteen's Broadway run only a few weeks away, here's something else to get excited about. Over the past week, I have heard that Bruce Springsteen may be exploring to tour in the summer of next year. Over on the BTX fan forum, user BruceAdam28 posted that Springsteen will be playing in Philadelphia next year at Citizens Bank Park, the local baseball stadium where Springsteen has played in the past. We've also heard that San Siro over in Milan, Italy is being rumored for sometime next year from an Italian newspaper. Of course, take these with a grain of salt as the rumors may just be" holds" for a potential tour. Springsteen's team has been known to do this in the past and then cancel the holds on venues if the tour doesn't pan out. Either way, if the rumors are indeed true, it appears the E Street Band would be joining Springsteen as the two locations rumored have been stadiums. We'll update you if we hear of any other rumors or information. Folks, don't get your hopes up or think that this is set in stone, we post rumors as we see/hear them. In the meantime, enjoy Springsteen on Broadway if you were lucky enough to score some tickets!
Confidence in rumor score: 3/10. Is it possible? Yes, but I wouldn't start making summer plans around a Springsteen 2018 tour.


Home / Newsroom / "Atos Origin acquisition of SchlumbergerSema: Creating a European IT Leader and World Player"
Atos Origin today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the core IT services activities of SchlumbergerSema from Schlumberger. The agreement, which is expected to be completed no later than January 2004, is subject to regulatory approvals and approval by the shareholders of Atos Origin. The transaction will create one of the leading global IT services companies, with combined annual revenues in excess of EUR 5 billion.
Together with a strong foothold in all key European markets.
Atos Origin and SchlumbergerSema have complementary geographic operations and key competencies, and the deal will strengthen the new company's offerings to its extended base of clients.
Atos Origin's primary strategy is to establish a strong and balanced presence in all of the major IT spending markets of Europe, in order to be able to provide comprehensive IT support services for its multinational client base. The acquisition of SchlumbergerSema creates an organization with a leading presence in the IT services markets in France, Benelux, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy and Atos Origin remains intent on achieving critical mass in the Central Europe region. The deal complements Atos Origin's strategy of providing extended support operations for its multinational clients in The Americas and Asia Pacific.
As consideration for the purchase of SchlumbergerSema, Atos Origin will deliver 19.3 million shares to Schlumberger including 0.3 million treasury shares, representing 28.9% of the outstanding capital of the combined group, together with EUR 400 million in cash. The transaction, based on the volume weighted average price of Atos Origin shares for the 20 days preceding September 19th, 2003 (EUR 45.9), values the purchase consideration at EUR 1,287 million.
Subsequent to closing, Schlumberger intends to reduce its shareholding in Atos Origin to 19%, which will improve Atos Origin's free float and stock liquidity.
Schlumberger has agreed in principle to enter into an IT services agreement with Atos Origin with minimum revenues of US$700 million, subject to final agreement on pricing and service levels.
During the remainder of 2003, SchlumbergerSema's existing restructuring plans will be accelerated. Atos Origin intends to execute its merger plans rapidly, thereby achieving incremental top line growth, organizational streamlining and significant cost synergies. Cost savings in excess of EUR 200 million per annum are expected to accrue within two years and the deal will be accretive to earnings in 2004, before the costs of restructuring and goodwill amortization.
At the completion of this deal, Atos Origin expects to have net debt of approximately EUR 750 million, representing a gearing level of around 50%. The group has negotiated a new syndicated loan facility for EUR 900 million with three major banks, which will provide adequate funding for the group's foreseeable needs. It is the group's intention to divest a number of non-strategic assets during 2004, which will enhance the group's strong operational cash flow.
Once we have shareholders and regulatory approvals, an integrated sales organization will be prepared in outline and plans will be determined for Atos Origin's large accounts program to be extended to integrate the major clients of SchlumbergerSema. The merged group is expected to be fully operational in January 2004 and will trade as Atos Origin.
"This transaction provides Atos Origin with critical mass in almost all of the major IT spending markets of Europe, together with strong extended support coverage on a global basis. This is absolutely essential if we are to provide our clients with effective support and have the capacity and flexibility to win major new clients.
The global IT services industry is going through an important phase of consolidation and Atos Origin intends to be at the forefront of this structural change. We are acquiring excellent management at SchlumbergerSema and fresh opportunities to drive top line and cost synergies. We will continue to execute our strategy and I am confident that the integration of our two companies will be a great success.
We are pleased and proud to welcome SchlumbergerSema staff worldwide. SchlumbergerSema is widely recognized for its competence and innovative technology, which will be of enormous value to our expanded client base."
Schlumberger is a global oilfield and information services company with major activity in the energy industry. The company employs 78,000 people of more than 140 nationalities working in 100 countries and comprises three primary business segments. Schlumberger Oilfield Services is the world's premier oilfield services company supplying a wide range of technology services and solutions to the international oil and gas industry. WesternGeco, jointly owned with Baker Hughes, is the world's largest and most advanced surface seismic company. SchlumbergerSema is a leading supplier of IT consulting, systems integration, and network and infrastructure services and employs approximately 22,000 staff in more than 40 countries. In 2002, Schlumberger operating revenue was $13.2 billion of which SchlumbergerSema generated just under $3 billion. The activities being acquired by Atos Origin currently produce annual revenues of approximately $2.6 billion. For more information, visit www.slb.com.


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City appeals court decision on school referendum that removed it from November ballot
The city is seeking to get the matter back on the November ballot after a state Supreme Court justice agreed that the referendum was illegal.
City appeals court decision on school referendum that removed it from November ballot The city is seeking to get the matter back on the November ballot after a state Supreme Court justice agreed that the referendum was illegal. Check out this story on DemocratandChronicle.com: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2019/08/09/city-rochester-appeals-decision-rcsd-board-referendum/1966420001/
Brian Sharp, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Published 1:31 p.m. ET Aug. 9, 2019 | Updated 6:23 a.m. ET Aug. 10, 2019
One week after a city schools referendum was yanked from the November ballot, the city has appealed — arguing to put it back on.
The city on Friday applied for an expedited hearing when the state Supreme Court's appellate division reconvenes on Sept. 4, trying to beat a Monroe County Board of Elections deadline of Sept. 6.
"Both of those elements are really our hope," said city Corporation Counsel Timothy Curtin. "If it goes our way maybe it will work out."
At issue is Mayor Lovely Warren's push for a temporary state takeover of the City School District.
The referendum would not have triggered a takeover, but could have been used to force the state Legislature to act. The city planned to use amendments to the City Charter related to the school board in order to get the matter on the ballot.
Mayor Lovely Warren said the school district's attempts to block a November referendum on the future of city schools was "a Hail Mary play," when speaking Friday, July 26, 2019, outside her office at City Hall. (Photo: Brian Sharp/@sharproc)
The school district sued, arguing the referendum was illegal, being advisory and not substantive. State Supreme Court Justice J. Scott Odorisi agreed with the district in a decision filed last Friday.
In its appeal, the city argues that while school systems are largely controlled by state law, the City Charter still provides that school board members are "elective officers of the city," and sets board members salaries.
Critical for the Board of Elections is a Sept. 20 deadline to mail military and overseas ballots, said Elections Commissioner Doug French. Staffers need about two weeks to assemble the ballots (there are 72 different ballot styles this year, across all election districts), program the election management system and otherwise get things in order.
The Sept. 6 date was set anticipating an appeal period, French said, but added: "If we don't hear on the sixth, we are going to work the hours to get it done."
When it comes to the legal battle over the referendum, Odorisi wrote that, "What the whole preceding legal discussion boils down to, is that the city respondents' actions — although unquestionably well intended — are matters reserved for state consideration."
Charter provides for salaries
The city argued in its appeal filing that Odorisi erred. The City Charter, "established through State legislative action and holding the authority of state law, complement and operate in conjunction with the Education Law," the city argued.
Only the charter provides for the salaries board members receive, and have been receiving since 1907, according to the city. The fact board members continue to collect those salaries is evidence that the City Charter sections are not preempted.
And removal of an elective officer, or a change in elected term or salary, requires a referendum, the city claims.
In a statement released Friday afternoon, district spokesman Carlos Garcia said officials were evaluating the city's arguments but were "confident in the merits of our case."
The 28-page appeal is a methodical recitation of legal history, both of the City Charter and state education law. When the size of the school board was increased from five to seven members in 1971, the state law expressly amended the City Charter so that it would conform with the state action.
"Thus, far from construing the Education Law as preempting the Rochester City Charter, the state legislature has continued to treat the Rochester City Charter as an independent source of law and has amended the City Charter as necessary
to maintain consistency between these two coequal and complementary laws," the city wrote in its filing.
The city's filing also claimed that Odorisi's decision "collected a series of sound bites from disparate appellate cases" and more than once faults the justice for a lack of "any real analysis." The city highlights "glaring grammatical problems" in one section of the decision. And it argues that the court, being Odorisi, outlined a state law preemption "in broad strokes while turning a blind eye (or perhaps not turning an eye at all) to the history and present function of the laws here at issue."
If the city prevails, but not in time to get on the ballot, Curtin said the state still could act and use the state law to amend the charter. But, he added: "We can't tell the state what they have to do." So if the state were to act, and not address the charter sections, he said, the referendum still would be required to eliminate any conflict.
BDSHARP@Gannett.com
Judge tosses referendum: Judge tosses RCSD referendum regarding state takeover of schools
RCSD sues to block: RCSD to sue city to block schools referendum
Read or Share this story: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2019/08/09/city-rochester-appeals-decision-rcsd-board-referendum/1966420001/
Here's how much snow has fallen across the Rochester region
Winter weather returns to Rochester
Woman struck and killed by vehicle backing out of driveway in Brighton
More snow coming but first we'll have to deal with frigid temps. How cold will it get?
Ex-Rep. Chris Collins gets 26 months in prison for insider trading scheme
Their sons were deployed to the Middle East. So these phone calls meant everything.


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Tag: Tua Tagovailoa
Noontime Football, Professional Sports News	 July 30, 2021 July 30, 2021
Mac Jones Embraces Quarterback Competition
Mac Jones knows starting jobs in the NFL are not handed out after three days of training camp.
"We're all competing for a job," said Jones while speaking with members of the media after the New England Patriots' third day of training camp concluded earlier this morning at Gillette Stadium.
Jones has the potential — well, more the skillsets, to be exact — to be the team's starting quarterback in week one. However, for the Jacksonville, Florida native to secure the starting gig, he will need to outperform Cam Newton, who is entering his second season with the Patriots after starting 15 games last fall.
"Our goal is to win," said Jones, who quarterbacked the University of Alabama to a national championship earlier this year against Ohio State. "I guess they're going to obviously play the best player and that's going to be whoever it may be, but I'm just here to work."
Mac Jones spoke with members of the media on Friday, July 30 to discuss his first few days of training camp with the New England Patriots. (PHOTO COURTESY/Screenshot: New England Patriots YouTube Channel)
Competing for the top spot on the depth chart is nothing new to Jones, who has experienced numerous camp battles over the years at both The Bolles School and Alabama. He competed with two current NFL quarterbacks in Tuscaloosa for the starting role, including Tua Tagovailoa, whom he replaced down the stretch of the 2019 season when the current Miami Dolphins signal-caller suffered a season-ending injury against Mississippi State.
His experience in both 2019, as well as last fall, should position him well to possibly snag the team's starting role. But as the first-year signal-caller explained, "I've got to get better (because) I'm young and I know that, and I have to produce on the field and do exactly what I'm supposed to do on each play and fix every problem. So, if I can do that then things will work out."
Indeed, things could work out for Jones, who certainly has aspirations to lead the Patriots this fall. But as many believe (or think?), we'll gain a better understanding of how Jones operates the offense when the team competes later this summer in a trio of preseason games, along with a pair of joint practices with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.
"Every day is a new day," said Jones. "I'm going to have bad days and I'm going to have good days, and we're all going to get better together. And when I'm in there, I'm going to do what I'm supposed to do, and everyone else is going to do what they're supposed to do."
Filed under: Bolles School, Gillette Stadium, Mac Jones, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, NFL, Ohio State, Philadelphia Eagles, The Bolles School, Training Camp, Tua Tagovailoa, University of Alabama
Daily Noontime	 November 9, 2020 November 9, 2020
Daily Noontime (Monday, Nov. 9, 2020)
Happy Monday, everyone!
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed the beautiful weather – it is very nice outside today!
And speaking of the great outdoors, the New England Patriots will be outside later today when they visit the New York Jets. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
Fans of the Patriots – and yes, the Jets, too – can watch the game on ESPN.
New England enters tonight's contest with just two wins – they have not won a game since late September when they beat the Las Vegas Raiders at home. Can they snap their four-game losing streak against the winless Jets? Hopefully, but if we have learned anything over these past few weeks, anything is possible these days in the National Football League (NFL).
The second half of the NFL's 2020 season truly began yesterday with some interesting outcomes, including the Miami Dolphins outlasting the Arizona Cardinals, the Carolina Panthers putting a scare into the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Dallas Cowboys almost beating the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Did you watch last night's match-up between Drew Brees and Tom Brady? If not, you missed an impressive showing by the New Orleans Saints, which beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a score of 38-3.
And finally, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills scored an impressive win at home, defeating the Seattle Seahawks, 44-34. Allen tallied four touchdowns, including three through the air, while the defense intercepted Russell Wilson twice.
Here are a few other news and links from another wild and crazy day of professional football:
Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray put on a show yesterday in Arizona. I can't wait for these two young quarterbacks to compete against each other in the future.
Lamar Jackson is showing signs of improvement, even if he is not producing the same numbers from one year ago.
Dalvin Cook was the player to watch for a second-straight week as the Minnesota Vikings topped the Detroit Lions.
The Tennessee Titans picked up their sixth win of the season by defeating the Chicago Bears at home by a score of 24-17.
Alright, that will do it for now, but stay tuned for more blogs and social media posts as the day progresses! And remember to smile, but also be good to everyone!
Filed under: Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Daily Noontime, Dallas Cowboys, Dalvin Cook, Detroit Lions, Drew Brees, ESPN, Josh Allen, Kansas City, Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami D, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Noontime Sports, Pittsburgh Steelers, Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Tom Brady, Tua Tagovailoa
Daily Noontime	 April 3, 2020
Daily Noontime: Friday, April 3rd, 2020
By Matt Noonan | @NoontimeNation
We have made it to Friday – yay!
I hope you are somewhat excited for the weekend – sure, Saturdays feel like Mondays and Sundays feel like Wednesdays, but at least we can take a break from our home offices and enjoy time with our family, right?
Let's kick off a new weekend with the 'Daily Noontime.' As usual, be well and stay safe, everyone, and we'll chat with you again next week – I promise!
Noontime's Daily Headlines for Friday, April 3rd, 2020
The New England Patriots team plane arrived in Boston last night from China with 1.2 million N95 protective masks, which is phenomenal news for our amazing health professionals in Massachusetts.
In addition to providing the state of Massachusetts with N95 protective masks, Robert Kraft also purchased 300,000 masks for New York.
Here's a thought: what if the Patriots secured the third pick from the Detroit Lions in the upcoming NFL Draft to select quarterback Tua Tagovailoa? I would be fine with that decision. However, the Patriots may need to surrender a current player, including wide receiver Julian Edelman.
Here is (another) thought: what if Steve Belichick became the next head coach of the Patriots instead of Josh McDaniels? Apparently, Mike Florio thinks that is a possibility.
Apparently, my thought above about Julian Edelman being traded or dealt to another team for a draft pick (or another player) won't happen, according to NBC Sports Boston. But that was according to a report from Tom E. Curran yesterday (Thursday, April 2nd) at 2 p.m. (eastern time).
On this Date in History:
Birthday: Today is actor and comedian Eddie Murphy's birthday.
1991: Bo Jackson signed a one-year deal with the Chicago White Sox after the Kansas City Royals released the 28-year-old outfielder.
2000: Ken Griffey Jr. made his debut with his hometown Cincinnati Reds. The game was unfortunately postponed to the following day due to rain in the sixth inning.
2006: Billy Donovan led the Florida men's basketball team to its first-ever NCAA Championship with a 73-57 win over UCLA.
2007: Candace Parker was named the Most Outstanding Player after leading the Tennessee women's basketball team past Rutgers in the 26th NCAA Championship. The win against Rutgers provided the Volunteers with their seventh national title in program history.
Filed under: Billy Donovan, Bo Jackson, Boston, Candace Parker, Chicago White Sox, China, Cincinnati Reds, COVID-19, Daily Noontime, Detroit Lions, Eddie Murphy, Florida, Josh McDaniels, Julian Edelman, Kansas City Royals, Ken Griffey Jr., N95 Protective Masks, New England Patriots, NFL, Robert Kraft, Rutgers, Steve Belichick, Tennessee, Tom E. Curran, Tua Tago, Tua Tagovailoa, UCLA


Corporate policy restrictions got you down? Me too! I've been struggling to find a good reliable solution for local Slack, Github, or cloud development when Ngrok, the most commonly used tool for exposing services locally, is restricted by either local execution policy or via OpenDNS (or similar). I've found the following Docker based method to be a reliable workaround to those typical corporate or public network restrictions, while still having the full functionality of Ngrok.
You could roll your own, however there are already several popular options on Docker Hub to get you up and running right away. I recommend wernight/ngrok, its well documented and easy to configure.
On the host, I'm exposing a local rest api on port 5000, which Ngrok will expose on the internet. I also want to access the Ngrok request inspector running inside of the container on port 4040.
On Mac, the host address changes, so you need to utilize the reserved DNS name host.docker.internal in your port binding. See https://docs.docker.com/docker-for-mac/networking/#httphttps-proxy-support for more info.
The NGROK_AUTH and NGROK_SUBDOMAIN env args are optional and are primarily used with a paid account. Free accounts will generate a random cname each time you initialize a tunnel.
When using explicit port binding, you may run into a port conflict with your service. Be sure to start your service before starting the docker container, which should mitigate the issue.
Rather than binding the ports individually, you can use the host network directly via the --net=host flag. When used in combination with -p, the port mappings are ignored. The only limitation I found with this solution, was the inability to connect to the ngrok http inspector from the browser.