text:
Cosmopolitanie est le quatrième album studio du chanteur Soprano sorti le  sur les labels Parlophone, Warner, Hostile Records et Street Skillz.

Trois ans après son dernier album La Colombe et le Corbeau, Cosmopolitanie marque un tournant dans la carrière de Soprano, passant d'un style rap à un style plus tourné pop, avec une musique décomplexée qui mêle chant, rap et instruments pop. Marqué par des tubes tels que Fresh Prince, Cosmo ou encore Clown, il connaît, malgré un avis critique très partagé, un énorme succès commercial, avec près de  exemplaires vendus à travers l'Europe, dont plus de  exemplaires en France, ce qui lui a valu la certification de disque de diamant. Il entrera à la première place des ventes digitales et en deuxième place des ventes physiques en France dès la première semaine de sa sortie.

Cosmopolitanie sera réédité deux fois : la première réédition, Cosmopolitanie : Cosmo Tour Edition, sort le , et la seconde réédition, Cosmopolitanie : En route vers l'Everest, sort le .

Composition
Le terme « cosmopolitanie » désigne un lieu qui regroupe des personnes ou des éléments originaires de différents pays. Pour la sortie de l'album, Soprano accorde une session de questions/réponses sur le site de 20 Minutes, durant laquelle il explique le choix du nom de Cosmopolitanie : « C'est un album "cosmopolite", j'ai volontairement essayé de faire des morceaux différents et des univers différents pour rester dans le concept du titre de l'album. […] À la base c'est un mot que j'avais inventé pour décrire Marseille, et depuis je l'ai gardé car ça correspond beaucoup à ma philosophie de vie qui est porté sur le mélange et sur l'ouverture d'esprit. Que ce soit culturellement ou musicalement. Voilà pourquoi chaque titre de mon album a des couleurs différentes. ».

La pochette de l'album est représenté par un smiley, sur un fond blanc, traduisant le concept du projet : « À chaque album, on a eu un concept, un truc unique. Il y a eu la colombe, le corbeau… et maintenant je voulais un symbole : un smiley avec le sourire mais une larme quand même, et plein de couleurs. C'est tout simple mais c'était exactement le concept de l'album ! ».

Production

Le titre Ils nous connaissent pas raconte l'histoire d'un jeune des quartiers, de la banlieue.

Le titre Fresh Prince, inspiré de la série Le Prince de Bel-Air, rend hommage à Will Smith, qui a commencé sa carrière sous le nom de scène de Fresh Prince dans le duo qu'il formait avec DJ Jazzy Jeff, avant d'être révélé dans Le Prince de Bel-Air. On peut entendre dans le morceau quelques références à cette série, notamment dans le refrain, où Soprano cite les noms de deux personnages, Jeffrey et Carlton.

Le titre Luna est dédié à sa toute dernière fille, née le . Il avait déjà écrit des chansons pour ses deux premiers enfants, Inaya et Lenny, sur ses précédents albums.

La première édition de Cosmopolitanie offre un titre bonus, Bomb, pour les achats en pré-commande sur format digital. Ce titre sera par la suite présents sur le deuxième CD de la réédition Cosmopolitanie : En route vers l'Everest.

Promotion
Le premier extrait de Cosmopolitanie sort le 23 juin 2014, il s'agit du clip intitulé Ils nous connaissent pas.

Le second extrait est le single Cosmo, sorti le 25 juillet. Son clip, dévoilé le 12 août (que Soprano a publié pour remercier son public pour avoir pré-commander l'album) est fait à partir de nombreuses vidéos filmés au smartphone, sur lesquelles on voit des gens, pour la plupart anonymes.  peut cependant aussi reconnaître une multitude de guest-stars apparaissant dans le clip, dont Zaho, Emeric Berco alias M'Rik (animateur Skyrock et MCE), Anaïs (gagnante de Secret Story 7), Cartman alias Sébastien Patoche, Shanna et Thibault (Les Marseillais, Les Anges 6), DJ Hamida ou encore Zack Reece. Ce clip connaîtra un succès, comptabilisant près de 100 millions de vues sur YouTube.

Avant la sortie de l'album, Soprano met en ligne sur sa chaîne YouTube un bon nombre d'interviews de courte durée dans lesquels il parle de chacun des morceaux qui seront présents sur le projet. Il publie deux autres extraits quelques jours avant la sortie de l'album : le morceau Fresh Prince le 22 septembre, dont le clip est mis en ligne 11 octobre.

Après la sortie de l'album, Soprano continue à réaliser des clips de morceaux extraits du projet. Le cinquième clip de l'album est celui du morceau Clown, sorti le . Ce clip, dans lequel Black M est invité, connaîtra également un grand succès, avec près de 100 millions de vues sur YouTube. Puis sort le sixième et dernier clip de la version originale de l'album, Le pain, le 20 mai suivant, avec comme invités les comiques marseillais Les Déguns.

Le  suivant, Soprano dévoile le clip de son nouveau single Millionnaire, qui sera le premier extrait de la réédition de l'album, Cosmopolitanie : En route vers l'Everest. Le second extrait est le clip Barman, dévoilé le 2 novembre, dans lequel on peut voir une apparition de Stromae.

Soprano dévoilé un troisième clip le , pour le morceau Alleluia, rendant hommage à son ami d'enfance et membre du groupe Psy 4 de la rime Sya Styles, décédé le .

Rééditions
La première réédition, nommée Cosmopolitanie : Cosmo Tour Edition, sort le . Elle contient, en plus du CD original, un second CD comprenant sept titres live extrait de l'album Cosmopolitanie, ainsi que la collaboration avec M. Pokora, présente sur l'album R.E.D de ce dernier.

À la suite du succès de Cosmopolitanie, un an après sa sortie, Soprano sort une deuxième réédition du projet, nommée Cosmopolitanie : En route vers l'Everest, le . Elle regroupe deux CD, dont le CD de la version originale, et un second CD contenant douze titres inédits, dont le titre bonus qui était disponible à la pré-commande de l'album sur iTunes, ainsi que le morceau No Me Mires Más en collaboration avec Kendji Girac en titre bonus disponible à la pré-commande de l'album sur iTunes. Cette nouvelle édition est une transition entre Cosmopolitanie et L'Everest, cinquième album solo de Soprano sorti en .

Clips vidéo
Clips de Cosmopolitanie :
 Ils nous connaissent pas, dévoilé le 23 juin 2014.
 Cosmo, dévoilé le 12 août 2014.
 Préface, dévoilé le  octobre 2014.
 Fresh Prince, dévoilé le 11 octobre 2014.
 Clown, dévoilé le 4 mars 2015.
 Le pain, dévoilé le 20 mai 2015.

Clips de Cosmopolitanie : En route vers l'Everest :
 Millionnaire, dévoilé le 24 juillet 2015.
 Barman, dévoilé le 2 novembre 2015.
 Alleluia, dévoilé le 3 décembre 2015.

Liste des titres
{{Pistes
| total_temps   = 61:37
| colonne_extra = Compositeur(s)
| piste1  = Préface
| extra1  = DJ Mej
| temps1  = 3:34
| piste2  = Cosmo
| extra2  = DJ Mej & Houss
| temps2  = 3:01
| piste3  = Ils nous connaissent pas
| extra3  = X-Plosive
| temps3  = 4:05
| piste4  = Clown
| extra4  = Fred Savio
| temps4  = 4:29
| piste5  = Fresh Prince
| note5   = featuring Uncle Phil
| extra5  = Ludovic Carquet, Therry Marie-Louise
| temps5  = 3:17
| piste6  = Hello
| extra6  = Fred Savio
| temps6  = 3:45
| piste7  = Justice
| extra7  = DJ Mej & Houss
| temps7  = 4:20
| piste8  = Le pain
| extra8  = Ludovic Carquet, Therry Marie-Louise
| temps8  = 3:41
| piste9  = Danse ce soir / Midnightlude
| extra9  = Jo Rafaa
| temps9  = 6:31
| piste10 = Kalash & Roses
| extra10 = Médeline
| temps10 = 5:00
| piste11 = Ti Amo
| extra11 = Jo Rafaa
| temps11 = 4:06
| piste12 = Même pas un peu
| extra12 = Jo Rafaa
| temps12 = 3:37
| piste13 = M. et Mme Smith
| note13  = featuring Kayna Samet
| extra13 = Akos
| temps13 = 4:48
| piste14 = Luna
| extra14 = Ludovic Carquet, Therry Marie-Louise
| temps14 = 3:44
| piste15 = Mélancolie
| extra15 = Fred Savio
| temps15 = 3:39
| piste16 = Bomb [Titre Bonus iTunes]
| extra16 = Akos
| temps16 = 2:45
}}

 Réception
 Accueil commercial
Lors de sa première semaine d'exploitation, Cosmopolitanie réalise un bon démarrage, se vendant à  exemplaires en France, il se place ainsi en première position des ventes digitales et en deuxième position des ventes physiques. Un mois après sa sortie, il atteint les  exemplaires vendus, il est alors certifié disque d'or. Seulement quelques jours après, il est certifié disque de platine avec  ventes. À la fin de 2015, l'album compte plus de  exemplaires vendus, il obtient à cette occasion un triple disque de platine. À la fin d'octobre 2016, deux ans après sa sortie, l'album est certifié disque de diamant, avec plus de  exemplaires vendus.

Au total, Cosmopolitanie cumule plus de  ventes à travers la France.

 Accueil critique
L'album reçoit des critiques très variées de la part du public. Si certains reprochent à Soprano d'avoir changé son style de musique en passant d'une musique rap à un style plus R'n'B et pop, d'autres considèrent cet album comme étant un grand succès :
 « Je ne vais pas y aller par quatre chemins, c'est mauvais, très mauvais, archi mauvais. Il n'y rien de rattrapable dans cet album. Je ne critique pas le fait que Soprano ait voulu changer de crèmerie. Mais encore faudrait-il le faire bien ! Ainsi, oubliez les paroles, c'est mal écrit, les rimes sont pauvres dans les deux sens du terme, les textes sont bidons et ramassis de clichés. Ensuite, Soprano sait rapper, c'est indéniable, et le peu de morceaux sur lesquels il rappent sont les meilleurs. Par contre, il ne sait pas chanter, c'est atroce. De plus, sa voix est modifiée à chaque chanson. Je ne sais pas qui a réglé l'''auto-tune, mais ça part dans des délires aigus régulièrement. Pour finir, les instrumentations sont plutôt festives, mais restent très quelconque. »
 « À l'écoute de la première piste, j'étais content : "le morceau est bon, c'est de bon augure"… Et, malheureusement, la suite est vraiment décevante ! Pire encore, c'est pour moi le seul vrai bon morceau de l'album ! À part ça, j'ai quand-même trouvé : deux morceaux que je jugerais écoutables ; deux sont assez moyens ; deux morceaux supportables… en état de coma végétatif. Pour les restants, je n'ai rien à dire, je n'ai pas envie de commenter, c'est le néant musical. »
 « Je le conseil [sic] à tous ceux qui aiment bien la musique sans prise de tête, avec des thèmes exploités simplement et clairement, mais je ne le conseille pas du tout aux fans de la première heure, à la rigueur je vous conseille le clip de Préface, mais pas plus. Pour finir, je met [sic] 6/10 mais cette note est valable que 1 ou 2 mois après la sortie mais 10 mois après j'aurais plus mit [sic] 4 ou 5 car Ils nous connaisse pas, Cosmo, Fresh Prince et Clown sont trop passés à la télé et à la radio donc ils sont devenus assez détestable [sic] (surtout Fresh Prince qui a mis au monde plein de clones que je ne citerais pas…), mais le reste est assez bon, c'est pas parfait, loin de là, mais c'est pas une bouse non plus, ça reste écoutable et toujours mieux qu'un vrai artiste pop. »

Du côté des médias, il reçoit notamment de bonnes critiques :
 Report Ouest : « Loin des standards actuels, Cosmopolitanie propose un éventail musical très riche. Il y en a pour tous les goûts et tout le monde devrait apprécier le voyage, au moins en partie. Toujours aussi bon rappeur, plus mûr et une nouvelle fois engagé, Soprano se place parmi les artistes urbains les plus complets. »

Classements et certifications

Notes et références

Album musical sorti en 2014
Album de Soprano
Album certifié disque de diamant en France


text:
from kivy.uix.effectwidget import EffectBase
from kivy.properties import NumericProperty, ListProperty

class DotFilterEffect(EffectBase):

    """GLSL effect to render an on-screen dot filter to look like individual round
    dots/pixels (simulating a DMD).

    This shader is based on code from a tutorial by Jason Gorski.
    http://www.lighthouse3d.com/opengl/ledshader/

    Potential bug: This GLSL filter seems to not work on Windows 10 running on
    VMware Fusion on Mac OS X. It works fine on Windows 10 native as well as
    Mac OS X Native.
    """

    width = NumericProperty(128)
    '''
    Sets the width in pixels of the display widget on the screen. Typically
    this is larger than the dots_x parameter.

    width is a :class:`~kivy.properties.NumericProperty` and
    defaults to 128.
    '''

    height = NumericProperty(32)
    '''
    Sets the height in pixels of the display widget on the screen. Typically
    this is larger than the dots_y parameter.

    height is a :class:`~kivy.properties.NumericProperty` and
    defaults to 32.
    '''

    dots_x = NumericProperty(128)
    '''
    Sets the number of dots in the horizontal (x) direction.

    dots_x is a :class:`~kivy.properties.NumericProperty` and
    defaults to 128.
    '''

    dots_y = NumericProperty(32)
    '''
    Sets the number of dots in the vertical (y) direction.

    dots_y is a :class:`~kivy.properties.NumericProperty` and
    defaults to 32.
    '''

    blur = NumericProperty(0.1)
    '''
    Sets the size of the blur around each pixel where it's blended with
    the background. The value is relative to the pixel. (e.g. a value of
    0.1 will add a 10% blur around the edge of each pixel.)

    blur is a :class:`~kivy.properties.NumericProperty` and
    defaults to 0.1.
    '''

    dot_size = NumericProperty(0.5)
    '''
    Sets the size of the circle for the dot/pixel relative to the size of the
    square bounding box of the dot. A size of 1.0 means that the diameter
    of the dot will be the same as its bounding box, in other words a
    size of 1.0 means that the dot will touch each other.

    dot_size is a :class:`~kivy.properties.NumericProperty` and
    defaults to 0.5.
    '''

    background_color = ListProperty([0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 1.0])
    '''
    A four-item tuple or list that represents the color of the space between the
    dots, in RGBA format with individual values as floats between 0.0 - 1.0. If
    you want the background to be transparent, set it to (0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0).

    background_color is a :class:`~kivy.properties.ListProperty` and
    defaults to (0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 1.0) (which is 10% gray with 100% alpha/fully
    opaque).
    '''

    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
        self.do_glsl()

    def on_width(self, *args):
        self.do_glsl()

    def on_height(self, *args):
        self.do_glsl()

    def on_dots_x(self, *args):
        self.do_glsl()

    def on_dots_y(self, *args):
        self.do_glsl()

    def on_blur(self, *args):
        self.do_glsl()

    def on_dot_size(self, *args):
        self.do_glsl()

    def on_background_color(self, *args):
        self.do_glsl()

    def do_glsl(self):
        background_color = tuple(map(float, self.background_color))
        dot_size = min(self.width / self.dots_x, self.height / self.dots_y)

        self.glsl = dot_filter_glsl.format(float(self.blur),
                                           self.dot_size / 2.0,
                                           dot_size,
                                           float(self.width),
                                           float(self.height),
                                           *background_color)

dot_filter_glsl = '''
        float blur = {};
        float dotRadius = {};
        float dotSize = {};

        vec4 effect(vec4 color, sampler2D texture, vec2 tex_coords, vec2 coords)
        {{
            vec2 texCoordsStep = 1.0/(vec2({},{})/dotSize);
            vec2 dotRegionCoords = fract(tex_coords.xy/texCoordsStep);

            vec2 powers = pow(abs(dotRegionCoords - 0.5),vec2(2.0));
            float radiusSqrd = pow(dotRadius,2.0);
            float gradient = smoothstep(radiusSqrd-blur, radiusSqrd+blur, powers.x+powers.y);

            vec4 newColor = mix(color, vec4({}, {}, {}, {}), gradient);
            return newColor;
        }}
        '''

effect_cls = DotFilterEffect
name = 'dot_filter'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The holidays are over, and life begins all over again with the New Year and all its new challenges.
Children are trying to come to terms with new schools, new teachers and new classmates.
This time of year is exciting with its changes, and a bit frightening with the unknown of what the year may bring to us and our families.
The weather has been wonderful and the beach calls us all with its magic. It is so beautiful in the early mornings with the multi coloured sunrises and the blue of the water.
In Mermaid Beach by 6am you can hear the nippers starting to train, and the laughter of children is a great start to any day, especially sitting on a bench watching the waves roll in with a barista made coffee in hand – a millionaire's lifestyle for the price of a cup of coffee.
In February with 9 very special friends, I celebrated my birthday on a Dinner cruise with Rivers.net.au. It was warm balmy evening with calm waters and a sky filled with stars. We started out from the Marina Mirage wharf at 6.30pm and started to travel up the glittering Broadwater past SeaWorld towards Runaway Bay heading to Stradbroke Island and onto the Sovereign Islands where some of the Coast's most beautiful homes are light up like Xmas. It was an amazing sight .
We enjoyed a delicious Buffet where we were encouraged to keep going back and back to the most wonderful seafood fresh from the trawlers that come into the Broadwater. We all agreed it was one of the best buffets on the coast. The entertainer played all night without a break, Peter Tuitama sang and we danced and sang all the way back to the Marina.
Sitting on the upper deck halfway through the night to appreciate the lights and the spectacular scenery with the softness of the night, with the music playing in the background was so surreal.


text:
Q: how to do fql.multiquery using facebook php sdk 3.0 I'm in the process of migrating from the 2.x PHP SDK to 3.x.  All of the multiquery calls are broken and I haven't been able to figure out how to resolve.
The facebook connect login using oauth javascript works and allows data for the current user to be accessed server side. I assume this verifies my access token is legit.
I've tried the following code variations and get errors each time:
Old way:
        $id = $fb->getUser(); // RETURNS A VALID USER ID
        $fql = '{ "friends" : "SELECT uid FROM user WHERE has_added_app=1 and uid IN (SELECT uid2 FROM friend WHERE uid1 = '.$id.')", "profiles" : "SELECT uid, name, pic_square FROM user WHERE uid IN (SELECT uid FROM #friends)"}';

        $response = $fb->api( array('method' => 'fql.multiquery','queries' => $fql));

Gives the error: PHP Fatal error:  Uncaught Exception: 102: Requires user session\n  thrown

Assumed New Way of doing it:
        $id = $fb->getUser(); // RETURNS A VALID USER ID
        $fql = '{ "friends" : "SELECT uid FROM user WHERE has_added_app=1 and uid IN (SELECT uid2 FROM friend WHERE uid1 = '.$id.')", "profiles" : "SELECT uid, name, pic_square FROM user WHERE uid IN (SELECT uid FROM #friends)"}';

        $response = $fb->api( array('method' => 'fql.query','query' => $fql));

Gives the error: PHP Fatal error:  Uncaught Exception: 601: Parser error: unexpected '{' at position 0

Any help understanding how to do a multiquery using the new PHP SDK is appreciated.

A: For your particular query, use the new fql Graph API end-point and in only one query:
$user = $facebook->getUser();
if ($user) {
  try {
    $fql = urlencode("SELECT uid, name, pic_square FROM user WHERE is_app_user = 1 AND uid IN (SELECT uid2 FROM friend WHERE uid1 = $user)");
    $response = $facebook->api("/fql?q={$fql}");
  } catch (FacebookApiException $e) {
    echo '<pre>'.htmlspecialchars(print_r($e, true)).'</pre>';
    $user = null;
  }
}

Also use the is_app_user instead of the deprecated has_added_app one!

A: Just pass queries as associative array:
  $common_fields_fql = 'SELECT uid, email, contact_email, first_name, last_name, birthday_date, pic_square, sex, hometown_location, current_location, is_app_user FROM user WHERE uid ';
  $fql = array(
    'friends' => 'SELECT uid2 FROM friend WHERE uid1 = me()',
    'friends_details' => $common_fields_fql . 'IN (SELECT uid2 FROM #friends)',
    'me' => $common_fields_fql . '= me()',
    'family' => 'SELECT uid, birthday, name, relationship FROM family WHERE profile_id = me()',
  );
  $details = $facebook->api(array(
    'method'   => 'fql.multiquery',
    'queries'  => $fql,
  ));

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Massage is an ancient art of bodywork based on the universal benefits of touch. It aids the circulation of blood, lymph and neurological impulses. It helps the breakdown and elimination of waste products in the body and stimulates the production of endorphins to relieve pain.
In this at times overly medicalised western world, we forget that pregnancy is a natural process. Throughout history, massage has been an integral part of birth preparation and delivery. Sadly this has been lost in the more 'civilised' world. Things however can and are changing.
Massage during pregnancy and birth can be of great physical and emotional benefit. There is massage you can do yourself (perineal) which will reduce the risk of tearing during delivery; massage you and your partner can do together as you adjust to you changing lives, and there is massage by an experienced practitioner. All of which are beneficial to you, your baby and partner.
So how can massage help and support you during pregnancy?
Massage can help identify and address the inevitable postural changes that take place. These changes, in body shape, weight and centre of balance can cause muscular tensions, making themselves known as… backache, abdominal pain, sciatica, headaches and cramps…. Massage can increase muscle tone, release spasms and knots increasing flexibility and skin tone.
During pregnancy your body produces hormones to facilitate the delivery of the baby. Sometimes however this infusion combined with a pelvic floor weakness can cause a painful condition called symphysis pubic dysfunction. Massage can help stabilise the pelvis floor and help with pain management.
By improving the circulation of blood, massage helps maximise the flow of red blood cells, minimising anaemia and maximising the flow of nutrients to the baby. By improving the circulation of lymph, massage helps reduce swelling and oedema.
Massage does not just address the physical, it can and does address emotional issues. Pregnancy is a time of change for all involved. Massage helps facilitate bonding between mother and child, aids relaxation, and allows time to reflect, de-stress and be pampered.


text:
Archives For Kinshasa
David Wasik
By David Wasik
10 days in Africa, DRC, Kinshasa, repayment rate
Day 10: Mobile Collections Squad
January 19, 2012, 2:07 EST – Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
I spent my second full day in Kinshasa with the HOPE Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) staff. Once again I spent the day in the field: this time visiting repayment meetings. As I said in yesterday's post, since the election at the end of November, things have been unsettled in the capital city of Kinshasa. The staff is working hard to get our program back to normal, working hard to catch up on both repayments (collecting payments on existing loans) and disbursements (distributing new loans). So while I wasn't able to see a normal operating environment while I was in Kinshasa, I did manage to cram a lot of action into two short days. Continue Reading…
10 days in Africa, corruption, disbursement, elections, gridlock, Kinshasa, Sarah Simba, Seguy
Day 9: The Life of a Loan Officer
I'm exhausted this evening, so this post will be short. I truly lived the life of a loan officer today, and as a result, I'm ready for an early bedtime.
HOPE Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has had a challenging couple of months, starting with the general elections that took place on November 28. There were accusations of fraud and tampering even before the election happened, and as you'd imagine, those cries grew louder after the election.
When the results were released, the incumbent was proclaimed the winner by a huge margin, which led to violence across the country in early to mid-December. Cognizant of recent unrest in other African countries, we decided to temporarily stop loan disbursements (new and renewal loan payouts), because we did not want to put our staff and clients in harm's way. The unrest abated just as the country celebrated the Christmas holiday, followed by several DRC national holidays. The consequence is that we're tracking behind our disbursement schedule, and the HOPE DRC team is hustling to catch up. I rode around Kinshasa with Seguy, one of our supervisors, and Sarah Simba, our executive assistant in HOPE DRC, who helped me out with translation. Continue Reading…
10 days in Africa, border crossing, Congo River, customs, Kinshasa, Mercy Allah-Asra
Day 8: Border Crossing
January 17, 2012, 12:15 EST – Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
I send you greetings from Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kinshasa is right across the Congo River from Brazzaville. It's about a 10-minute boat ride. Sounds like an easy day, right?
I started the morning at HOPE Congo in Brazzaville. My plan was to spend the morning with Manny Palis, our managing director of HOPE Congo, and his leadership team, then leave in the early afternoon to catch the ferry to Kinshasa. After morning devotions I parted ways with Peter Greer, who is flying back to the States, and David Johnson, who is flying to Liberia for his next photo shoot. Then, at about 10:30 a.m., we got a call from the HOPE DRC staff, saying that since today is a national holiday in DRC, the last ferry leaves at noon. Uh oh. We hustle over to the river crossing. Fortunately Manny was kind enough to come with me so we could finish our conversation. Continue Reading…

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home Magazine Policies KOCIS releases video promoting inter-Korean peace featuring Footbridge
KOCIS releases video promoting inter-Korean peace featuring Footbridge
A new promotional video released by Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), a subsidiary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on Dec. 3 features the Footbridge of Peace in Panmunjeom Truce Village that President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walked on during their inter-Korean summit on April 27.
By Kim Young Shin
Photos = Korean Culture and Information Service
The historic inter-Korean summit on April 27 brought global attention to the Footbridge at the U.N. truce village of Panmunjeom, on which the leaders of the two Koreas walked and talked. The Footbridge has since become a symbol of peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), a subsidiary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on Dec. 3 released "Walk On Your Own Footbridge," a series of promotional video featuring the bridge. Released this year, the videos convey the message that "anyone can walk on the Footbridge of peace and reconciliation when walking together with an open heart."
The video shows a zombie and a man who were out to kill each other make peace at the Footbridge. In a parody featuring a busy mother and her lazy son, the video has a twist than turns a thriller into a comedy.
A new KOCIS promotional video for 2018 released on Dec. 3 is available on Korea.net's YouTube channel and Facebook page.
The videos are available on Korea.net's official YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/GatewayToKorea) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/KoreaClickers).
The English-language versions of the teaser, promotional video and its parody were uploaded on Dec. 3. The videos will also be offered in Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and French.
"KOCIS released the videos to remind internet users abroad of the message of peace and reconciliation through Footbridge and the importance of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world," said a KOCIS official. " We hope that people walk on their own footbridges of peace and reconciliation in their daily lives."
ysk1111@korea.kr


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from enum import Enum
from azure.core import CaseInsensitiveEnumMeta

class IdentityType(str, Enum, metaclass=CaseInsensitiveEnumMeta):
    """The type of identity that creates/modifies resources."""

    USER = "User"
    APPLICATION = "Application"
    MANAGED_IDENTITY = "ManagedIdentity"
    KEY = "Key"

class ResourceIdentityType(str, Enum, metaclass=CaseInsensitiveEnumMeta):
    """The identity type. The type 'SystemAssigned, UserAssigned' includes both an implicitly created
    identity and a set of user assigned identities. The type 'None' will remove any identities from
    the Azure Health Bot.
    """

    SYSTEM_ASSIGNED = "SystemAssigned"
    USER_ASSIGNED = "UserAssigned"
    SYSTEM_ASSIGNED_USER_ASSIGNED = "SystemAssigned, UserAssigned"
    NONE = "None"

class SkuName(str, Enum, metaclass=CaseInsensitiveEnumMeta):
    """The name of the Azure Health Bot SKU."""

    F0 = "F0"
    S1 = "S1"
    C0 = "C0"


text:
Trump's Secretary of Commerce Allegedly Stole $120 Million
sbamericannews August 15, 2018
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
White man affirmative-action – the most often seen kind of affirmative action in America.
By Keka Araujo
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross allegedly bamboozled $120 million dollars from his Wall Street buddies over the years during his tenure as the head of the private-equity company WL Ross & Co., according to a report from Forbes.
The report alleges that Ross has been the target of numerous lawsuits alleging various financial improprieties. Ross is reported to be worth about $700 million. Last year, it was discovered that he overwhelmingly inflated his wealth in order to gain access to the exclusive Forbes billionaire's list.
Forbes's Dan Alexander reported that, based on conversations he had with 21 sources, Ross took incredible amounts of money from business partners and consistently swindled investors for his own personal gain.
The magazine states: "If even half of the accusations are legitimate, the current United States Secretary of Commerce could rank among the biggest grifters in American history." Forbes went on to cite:
In 2005, former WL Ross vice chairman Peter Lusk sued the future commerce secretary for $20 million, ultimately alleging that he had tried to cut him out of his interests. The executives reached a settlement in 2007, which former WL Ross employees say cost roughly $10 million. Asked to comment on the suit, Ross responded, "The Lusk case ended with mutual confidentiality requirements."
Three years ago, [equity manager David] Storper launched what became a $4 million lawsuit against both his former employer, WL Ross, and former boss, the commerce secretary, alleging that Ross stole his interests. Attorneys for Ross admitted in court filings that one of his companies took Storper's interest and reallocated part of it to the commerce secretary. But Ross' lawyers also insisted all of that was allowed under internal agreements. "Simply put," they wrote, "this lawsuit is a personal vendetta against Mr. Ross." After a judge rejected attempts to prevent the case from going to trial, just days before the jury selections the two sides agreed to settle.
A former colleague was even quoted saying, "He's a pathological liar."
It appears that Ross has had a problematic business reputation for quite some time. His dealings in upper echelon business circles landed him on Alexander's radar again after Ross was appointed to the Secretary of Commerce position in 2017 by President Trump. After being appointed, Ross upheld his assets in foreign companies. This is an obvious conflict of interest. One of these firms had major ties to a Russian business magnate who had been hit with American sanctions. Last November, Ross signed a form stating that he had divested all the assets he had with the companies. That was a lie.
Of course, the White House vehemently denied the accusations. A statement issued by the Department of Commerce said: "The anonymously sourced Forbes story is based on false rumors, innuendo, and unverifiable claims. The fact remains that no regulator has made any of these accusations against the Secretary. This rehash of old stories is clearly the result of a personal vendetta. The baseless claims made in this story were well publicized long ago and are not news."
Many people are unaware of what the Secretary of Commerce actually does. That role, specifically, develops and maintains relationships with the business community in order to initiate and grow job opportunities in industries for American workers.
The role requires someone who actively works in various communities, businesses and universities. This appointee would also engage with American workers to promote economic growth, job creation and balance economic development.
Having integrity and being ethical are paramount to this position. Given Ross' alleged unscrupulous business dealings, how is he qualified or worthy of this role?
Bail Reform This Year? Proposed Legislation Raises Fears of Computer-Based Bail System
Michael Cohen pleads guilty to 8 charges


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Core Stage Pathfinder Departs Kennedy
Backdropped by clouds lit with sunrise, NASA's Pegasus barge departs the Launch Complex 39 turn basin wharf. Photo credit: Cory Huston
NASA's Pegasus barge, with the 212-foot-long Space Launch System (SLS) rocket core stage pathfinder secured inside, departed the Launch Complex 39 turn basin wharf at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 31, 2019.
The 212-foot-long Space Launch System (SLS) rocket core stage pathfinder is moved inside the Pegasus barge on Oct. 28, 2019, in preparation for departure. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
The pathfinder is a full-scale mock-up of the rocket's core stage. It was used by the Exploration Ground Systems Program and its contractor, Jacobs, to practice offloading, moving and stacking maneuvers inside the Vehicle Assembly Building using ground support equipment to train employees and certify all the equipment works properly. The pathfinder was at Kennedy for about a month.
The barge is carrying the pathfinder back to the agency's Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana.
Author Anna HeineyPosted on October 31, 2019 Categories Artemis 1, Exploration Ground Systems, Kennedy, Space Launch System
Kennedy's Senior Management Team Honored at Sammies Awards Gala
Senior leaders are photographed at the Partnership for Public Service's 18th annual Service to America Medals awards gala in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 16, 2019, after receiving the Management Excellence Medal. Holding the award is Center Director Bob Cabana. Photo credit: NASA
NASA's Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana and senior management's forward-facing vision of transforming Kennedy into the multi-user spaceport it is today has led them to receive one of six Samuel J. Heyman Service to America medals.
Named after the Partnership for Public Service's late founder, Samuel J. Heyman, the "Sammies" awards gala took place Oct. 16, 2019, in Washington, D.C., honoring six of our nation's career civil servants and showcasing their remarkable achievements in tackling America's most pressing challenges. Cabana and senior leaders were presented with the Management Excellence Medal for ushering in a new era of space exploration by opening Kennedy up to both government and commercial organizations.
This year's award recipients were chosen from a group of 26 finalists, narrowed down from more than 300 nominations. Cabana and Kennedy's team of senior leaders also were chosen as a crowd favorite, winning the Service to America Medals People's Choice award in July – voted on by the public once the 26 finalists were selected.
Read the full story at https://go.nasa.gov/2qfv0mm.
Author Danielle SempsrottPosted on October 17, 2019 Categories Kennedy
ICON Successfully Launches from Pegasus XL Rocket
Northrop Grumman's L-1011 Stargazer aircraft, with the company's Pegasus XL rocket attached beneath, takes off from the Skid Strip runway at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Oct. 10, 2019. NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) is secured inside the rocket's payload fairing. Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux
A Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket launched NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, satellite at 9:59 p.m. EDT on Oct. 10 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) to study the dynamic zone in our atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather from above.
The satellite was attached to the Pegasus XL rocket, which hitched a ride on the company's L-1011 Stargazer aircraft. Once the aircraft reached an altitude of 39,000 feet, the rocket was dropped, with ignition occurring five seconds after.
ICON is expected to improve the forecasts of extreme space weather by utilizing in-situ and remote-sensing instruments to survey the variability of Earth's ionosphere. The mission also will help determine the physics of our space environment, paving the way for mitigating its effects on our technology, communications systems and society.
For more, visit https://www.nasa.gov/icon.
Author Anna HeineyPosted on October 10, 2019 Categories Launch Services Program
Teams Prepare for ICON Launch Tonight
Northrop Grumman's L-1011 Stargazer aircraft has arrived at the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Oct. 1, 2019. The company's Pegasus XL rocket, containing NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON), is attached beneath the aircraft. ICON will study the frontier of space – the dynamic zone high in Earth's atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather above. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
The Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) will launch tonight on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from the company's Stargazer L-1011 aircraft. The Stargazer will take off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 8:33 p.m. EDT.
The first launch attempt for ICON is 9:30 p.m. EDT. Follow live coverage here on the blog as well as on NASA TV and on the web at http://nasa.gov/live beginning at 9:15 p.m. EDT.
ICON Launch Moved Back 24 Hours
Due to weather in the area, NASA and Northrop Grumman have decided to move the Pegasus XL and ICON launch 24-hours to October 10 at 9:30 p.m., with takeoff of the Stargazer L-1011 at 8:32 p.m.
NASA's live broadcast will begin tomorrow at 9:15 p.m. on www.nasa.gov/live.
The teams are not working any issues. The rocket, airplane and spacecraft are ready to launch tomorrow. As always, safety of the crew and mission success are our main focus.
Author James CawleyPosted on October 9, 2019 Categories KennedyTags ICON, NASA, Northrop Grumman, Pegasus XL, Stargazer L-1011
NASA, Northrop Grumman Prepare for Launch of ICON
NASA and Northrop Grumman will hold a mission briefing at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in preparation for the launch of NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite. Tune in to NASA TV and the agency's website to watch the mission briefing live.
The Northrop Grumman L-1011 Stargazer aircraft, carrying a Pegasus XL rocket with the agency's ICON satellite, will take off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Skid Strip on Oct. 9. The launch window will be open from 9:25 to 10:55 p.m., with a targeted release at 9:30 p.m. Ignition of the Pegasus XL rocket will occur five seconds after release from the Stargazer.
ICON is designed to study the frontier of space: the dynamic zone high in our atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather above.
Be sure to follow our blog for launch updates. Live launch coverage here and on NASA TV will begin at 9:15 p.m. on Oct. 9.
Author Danielle SempsrottPosted on October 8, 2019 Categories Launch Services Program
Ascent Abort-2
Ascent Abort-2 flight test
Atlas V rocket
Boeing CST-100 Starliner
Commercial Crew
Commercial Crew Program
Commercial Resupply Mission
Crew Dragon spacecraft
CRS-17
CST-100
Dragon spacecraft
Falcon 9 rocket
In-Flight Abort Test
Kennedy Space Center History
Launch Abort System
Launch America
Launch Complex 39A
Moon to Mars
NASA astronauts
Orbital Flight Test
Space Launch Complex 40
Alan Feinberg
Amanda Griffin
Robert Granath
BRIAN DUNBAR
DANIELLE SEMPSROTT
James Cawley
Kindra THOMAS
Sarah Loff
Kennedy Space Center	National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Official: Brian Dunbar


I longed for a simple home, but didn't see an end to the clutter. I wanted to believe that a simple, welcoming home was possible for me. Then, sometimes more than that, I wanted to give up. I wanted to call it quits on that dream and assume beautiful, simple homes were reserved for people with bigger budgets, better style, or less attachment to things.
In last week's post, Why Your Home Isn't Simple Yet, I shared some hard facts I had to face in order to find the simple home I longed for. Those truths were a little bit focused on theory, so today I'm going a little deeper in the very practical ways I was able to finally simplify our home.
Really, what it all came down to was I either wanted that simple home of my dreams or I didn't. If I didn't really care about the beautiful and practical organization, the earthy yet minimal decor, the clean surfaces and emotion-filled carefully-curated wall art… if I didn't really care about all of that, then I didn't really have to face the hard truths about simple. I wouldn't have to embrace the simplifying process or make hard decisions to let go of things full of memories. On the other hand, if I really did care and really did want that calming, welcoming home of my dreams, then it was time to decide the hard work would be worth it. That decision was a game-changer in the actions that followed. It was a very important first step.
Next, creating that beautiful home in my head meant acknowledging my current habits were hindering me, not helping me. I was an accept-aholic, meaning I said yes and took in more than I needed or even wanted. Freebies, clearance finds, hand-me-downs. I loved browsing sales and clearance racks, even if I had nothing specific on my wish list. Heck, I didn't even have a wish list, it was just all an endless scroll in my head. After I decided I really did want a simple home, it was time to stop bringing things into the home that were not helping make that happen. I learned to start better evaluating what was needed and simply wanted. I implemented a wish list where items stayed written down for weeks before it became apparent they would either contribute positively to the simple space I was creating, or they needed to be left off the list. I focused on quality over quantity, focusing on less things but better.
Finally, I dove deep into simplifying routines to get all the unnecessary in our home out. It started with some serious Freecycling when our first baby was a few months old. It got more intentional with a couple yearly Home Cures I did through Apartment Therapy. It got kicked up a lot when I created my own Project Eliminate to clear as much as possible before we relocated during a short homeless, jobless season. And, finally, I started following seasonal simplifying routines each spring and fall to maintain my progress, keep improving our spaces, and giving the excess a dated eviction notice.
The question for you: do you want a simple home or not? That's really what it comes down to. If you do, then accept the hard truths and do the work of changing your habits and following new routines. If you don't, well, it's your simple home dream being given up, so that choice is yours.
For more, checkout my ebook Simplifying Home, and sign up for emails to help you finally simplify your home this year.


text:
What caused Germany and Italy to become a unified state?
What caused the unification of Italy?
How did the German and Italian states become unified nation states?
Why did Germany have to unify?
When did Italy become Germany unified?
What was Italy called before unification?
What were the main problems of unification of Italy?
Which German state was the most powerful?
What is the difference between Italian and German unification?
What would happen if Germany never unified?
What was the condition of Germany before 1871?
What was Germany before 1871?
When Germany became a country?
Could Italy have unified without Prussia why why not?
What made unification of Italy and Germany difficult?
How did nationalism affect Italy and Germany?
The Congress of Vienna brought peace between England, Austria, France, and Prussia, which resulted in the reformation of old boundaries in Europe. This separated many Italian territories, which resulted in protest from Italians who wanted a unified Italian state.
The Franco-Austrian War of 1859 was the agent that began the physical process of Italian unification. … The northern Italian states held elections in 1859 and 1860 and voted to join the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, a major step towards unification, while Piedmont-Sardinia ceded Savoy and Nice to France.
Bismarck initiated a war with Austria known as the Seven Weeks War that brought Prussia more territory. He next helped to engineer a conflict with France over border states in 1870. This became the Franco-Prussian War and the Prussian victory was the final piece to unifying the German state.
IT\'S FUN: How much is a pound of Lebanon bologna?
His main goal was to further strengthen the position of Prussia in Europe. Bismarck had a number of primary aims: to unify the north German states under Prussian control. … to strengthen the position of the King of Prussia, Wilhelm I, countering the demands for reform from the Liberals in the Prussian Reichstag.
Inspired by the rebellions in the 1820s and 1830s against the outcome of the Congress of Vienna, the unification process was precipitated by the revolutions of 1848, and reached completion in 1871, when Rome was officially designated the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.
Prior to Italian unification (also known as the Risorgimento), the United States had diplomatic relations with the main entities of the Italian peninsula: the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and the Papal States.
There were three main obstacles to the political unification of Italy:
The occupation of the northern states of Lombardy and Venice by Austria.
The Papal States of the central swathes of Italian peninsula would not be given up by the Pope.
The Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia were the largest and by far the most powerful members of the Confederation.
The unification of Germany was relatively easier than that of Italy. Unlike the Italians, the Germans had a Confederation Parliament and a Custom Union (Zollverein) which brought some form of political and economic unity. … The actual unification of Italy took a longer period compared to that of the Germans.
IT\'S FUN: Which form of government did Japan Italy and Germany adopt during the 1930s?
In a Europe without the single currency, smaller countries would have been able to devalue their money in the wake of the economic crash of 2008. … Without reunification, Germany would have chosen the path of a federal Europe where continental institutions were more important than ethnic nationalism.
Condition of Germany before unification: Before its unification in 1871, Germany was not a nation; it was only a collection of about 300 states. Prussia was the only German state that could match the power and influence of the Austrian Empire.
Before 1871 Germany had always been a motley collection of states – which shared little more than a common language. … The German states in 1789. They were then part – in name at least – of Charlemagne's ancient Holy Roman Empire. Another Emperor – Napoleon – would finally dissolve this ancient group of states in 1806.
Without the alliance with Prussia, the Italians may not have achieved so much. Their quest for unification would have been even more delayed. The Prussian's would prove to be again of help to the Italian's during the Franco-Prussian War.
In 1848, Piedmont-Sardinia attacked Austria in order to unity the northern Italian states. During the war, the southern Italian states didn't give Page 2 2 any respond or even sent troops to help Piedmont against Austria. Therefore, disunity of Italian made it hard to complete the unification.
IT\'S FUN: What are the names of the Week in Italian?
Nationalism in Italy and Germany. -Nationalism became the most significant force for self-determination and unification in Europe of the 1800's. -During the reign of Napoleon, Italy was unified for a brief time. Nationalist began to form secret societies throughout Italy.
How long do you cook Italian sausage in the microwave?
How can I travel from London to Italy?
Is cheese cheap in Italy?
How does Italy celebrate harvest?
How do you say introduction in Italian?
Who are the wealthiest people in Italy?
Is Russian similar to Italian?