text:
iPhone X May Be Discontinued Later This Year
posted by Papa Keith - Jan 25, 2018
Via Complex,
The iPhone X is dead—well, sort of. Apple is reportedly planning on discontinuing the latest version of the phone in their series.
According to an AppleInsider report, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that the iPhone X didn't attain the popularity it was projected to reach, especially in China. Due to low sales, Apple might stop producing the phone as soon as this summer. If this turns out to be true, the phone would be off the market in less than a year since it debuted last September. There's also a chance that the X will be offered for a lower cost than its current $1,000 price tag when a replacement series is unveiled.
The replacements, which could arrive as early as this fall, may include an iPhone X Plus, created to offset concerns about screen size. (The report also noted that users perceived the iPhone X as having less space than the iPhone 8 Plus since the black bar on the top invades the screen.) Other controversial design choices including the removal of the home button and the headphone jack, on top of the iPhone's highest price point to date, probably didn't help.
9to5Mac stated that the rumored iPhone X Plus "will continue to improve Face ID technology, screen to body ratio, etc." on top of increasing the memory content and embedding AMOLED display in two of its models.
The iPhone X sales reportedly capped off at 29 million in their fourth quarter, according to numbers obtained by Fortune. Although it was the most popular iPhone at the time of its release, research company Canalys revealed that it sold at a slower rate than some other iPhones when they initially came out.


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Q: Why does reading a property sometimes throw an error in javascript? Suppose I have some variables:
var s = 's', i = 0, o = {}, a = [], n = null, nan = NaN, u;

How can I make any sense of when reading x.p will return undefined, and when it will throw a TypeError?
s.p;  // undefined
i.p;  // undefined
o.p;  // undefined
a.p;  // undefined
n.p;  // TypeError!
nan.p;  // undefined
u.p;  // TypeError!

P.S. Are null and undefined the only weird values in this way? Are there others?
Edit
I'm aware that by declaring variables as I have, several of my values have been automatically wrapped by objects (e.g. Number), despite being primitives. Therefore I can treat them like "proper" objects (e.g. {}, []) and attempt to read their properties. But I can't find much explaining what is and isn't wrapped this way.

A: Yes, null and undefined are the only values that throw an exception when being used in a property access. The dot and bracket property accessors do invoke the internal CheckObjectCoercible function, which is defined as following:

The abstract operation CheckObjectCoercible throws an error if its
  argument is a value that cannot be converted to an Object using
  ToObject. It is defined by Table 15:
Table 15 — CheckObjectCoercible Results
Argument Type | Result
--------------+------------------
Undefined     | Throw a TypeError exception.
Null          | Throw a TypeError exception.
Boolean       | Return
Number        | Return
String        | Return
Object        | Return

null and undefined being the values that represent Nothing cannot be converted to objects ("wrapped" as you say). Notice that you could of course have an object with an existing property that throws on access, like
var o = {get p() { throw new TypeError("you may not access this"); }};
o.p // TypeError

A: When you're reading the property of something that's undefined. You're basing saying:
What is undefined of undefined? or in the case of null what is undefined of null ? Neither undefined nor null are objects, therefore you can't set or get properties on/from them. With that in mind, an error will be thrown.

A: When the object is null/undefined, it'll throw an error because it'll try to access a property of an object that does not exist in first place.
On the other cases, it'll try to access a property of an existing object and will return undefined because the property is not found.
Please note that almost everything in js is an object, as you can see here.

A: let's firstly start with
why undefined on:
 var s='s';

You assigned s to string which is primitive type. Javascript is tricky here in one sense. Though primitive type, when you try to access the property by doing:
    s.p

It firstly does this internally:
    String(s)

and creates the object and then tries to see if it has that property which is, of course not defined and thus you get undefined. Almost similar things happen with numerical assignment and NAN.
For n=null:
If you do:
 var n=null;
 typeof n;//"object"
 n.p// throws typeerror

In fact,null can be thought of special kind of object without any properties or method to represent absence of value and thus, you get typeerror when you try to access any properties of null.
a.p
o.p

Easily, you can see that you are trying to access the property of an object than is not defined or not built-in and thus it should say, undefined. You should be surprised to see other than that :D.

A: To add to the other answers here, there is an easy way to check if a property access will throw an exception. Simply loosely compare the value you're unsure of to null, like so:
if(x != null) { // note the LOOSE equality, rather than !==
    // do something with x.prop
}

The reason this works is that only null and undefined * throw errors on property access, and they are only loosely equal to each other. See https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Equality_comparisons_and_when_to_use_them.
* There is also a case where some JS objects can apparently "emulate" being undefined, in which case they also are loosely equal to null and undefined.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Operation SPLASH members said they've gotten an unprecedented amount of help with the cleaning and conservation of the South Shore Estruary since Ed Mangano became County Executive. Not in SPLASH's 22 years of operation has the County had such a "open door environmental policy," members said.
Superstorm Sandy caused floods of more than 6 feet in the area of vital infrastructure – including 2 power plants. It has an integral stake in all the CRZ zones set up by the State.
"Ed's been very influential in getting things done as part of an extensive FEMA operation," a member said. "We've so far found and removed kitchen sinks, bulkheads, backyard toys, furniture from the trees and surrounding land." And the County has added sonar power to find boats that sank after Sandy. Officials found 40 boats the first week.
The members say they're just hoping Mangano is given the opportunity to finish the job. "These are not 1 term, 4 year projects." County Executive Mangano toured the Estruary with SPLASH members last week.


text:
About Lew Irwin
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You are here: Home / FILM News from STUDIO BRIEFING / FURY LIKELY TO CLAIM VICTORY AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
FURY LIKELY TO CLAIM VICTORY AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
October 17, 2014 by admin · Leave a Comment
Another World War II movie takes off for box-office glory this weekend as Sony's Fury, starring Brad Pitt, makes an expected No. 1 debut. Tracking surveys and Fandango pre-sales figures suggest that the film, directed by David Ayer and also featuring Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña and Jon Bernthal, will gross around $30-35 million. That would easily outdo David Fincher's Gone Girl, which had held on to the top box-office position for the previous two weekends. It's supposed to slip to No. 2 with around $20 million. However, analysts say that it could face a tough challenge for the runner-up spot from the animated The Book of Life. The film was directed and co-written by Jorge Gutierrez, produced by Guillermo del Toro, and features the voices of several prominent Latino actors, including Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Hector Elizondo, Cheech Marin and singer Plácido Domingo, as well as Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate, and Ice Cube. It's expected to attract a huge crowd of Hispanic moviegoers. Tracking studies, however, are notoriously inept at predicting their movie choices, and some pundits believe the movie could exceed the $15-20 million in ticket sales that its distributor, 20th Century Fox, thinks it will earn. Another Nicholas Sparks tearjerker, The Best of Me, also arrives this weekend, but it has neither sparked bullish presales nor positive reviews. It's expected to tank with less than $15 million. But all eyes may be focused on the limited roll-out of Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu's Birdman, starring Michael Keaton, which opens in two theaters in New York and two in Los Angeles. The film generated much high praise at film festivals earlier this year, with many critics predicting that Keaton will be a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination. It could produce the biggest per-theater average for any film this year.
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Welcome to one of the most traditional restaurants in Girona. Currently, the restaurant is run by the fourth generation of the family.
The situation of Can Marqués is unbeatable, professionally speaking: right in front of the Municipal Market. This privileged location totally marks the approach and philosophy of our kitchen: product kitchen.
Can Marqués has been, is and will be the restaurant of the Market of Girona, where you can find a menu made with products from "our" market, where there is no shortage of dishes with more tradition of the area, such as "Veal Paw and Gut" Or the "Legua de calf braised with mushrooms".


text:
Free Expert Picks and Predictions
Alabama vs. South Alabama Prediction, Odds, Line, Spread, and Picks - November 15 | 2022-23 NCAA Basketball Season
By Lucas Abrenica
Modified 15 Nov 2022
Alabama vs. South Alabama Basketball Prediction
The South Alabama Jaguars will be hosting the Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday. When these two Alabama schools met last year, we were treated to a closely contested affair, with the Crimson Tide prevailing at home, 73-68. Now, South Alabama sits at 1-1 after falling to New Mexico 80-74 on Friday. Alabama, on the other hand, is ranked 18th in the nation, and they're 2-0 after a blowout win over Liberty this past Friday.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Alabama Jaguars Betting Odds
Team Spread Total Money Line
Alabama Crimson Tide -10.5 (-115) Over 151 (-110) -675
South Alabama Jaguars +10.5 (-105) Under 151 (-110) +500
Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
$1000 Deposit Match with DraftKings Sportsbook
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Alabama Jaguars Match Details
Fixture: Alabama Crimson Tide @ South Alabama Jaguars
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 15, 10:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Mitchell Center
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Alabama Jaguars Key Stats
Alabama's Brandon Miller, Mark Sears, and Rylan Griffen have carried the scoring load through the first two games. Freshman power forward Brandon Miller is arguably Alabama's best player, and so far, he's recorded 34 points and 21 rebounds. Look for Miller, along with a lineup that boasts good length and size, to create problems for the Jaguars tonight. The Crimson Tide were lights out from deep on Friday, going 10-for-22 from three, and if they can replicate this shooting performance, they should be able to coast to their third victory tonight.
South Alabama won their opener but lost by six points to New Mexico previously. The Jaguars' offense wasn't the issue, as senior Isaiah Moore led the way with 19 points. The Jaguars' defense was to blame as they allowed 23 free throw attempts and only forced six turnovers. It wasn't that New Mexico shot the ball particularly well, but more so that they were awarded a ton of trips to the free throw line. South Alabama lost most of their leading scorers, but Moore, along with transfers Kevin Samuel and Greg Parham II, should fill the void. Look for South Alabama to fight hard at home tonight against an Alabama team that they hung with last season.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Alabama Jaguars Betting Prediction
Both teams have had pretty high-scoring contests so far, and both offenses have the firepower to run the score up tonight. Even though South Alabama has a lot of new faces, they did cover against New Mexico recently, and they were able to compete with Alabama last year on the road. Back the home side here to at least cover and look for the over to hit too.
Prediction: South Alabama +10.5 (-105) & Over 151 (-110)
Poll :
Alabama Crimson Tide College Basketball NCAA Basketball NCAA Basketball Predictions NCAA Basketball Picks NCAA Basketball Odds
Edited by Lucas Abrenica


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Home / Football
#4 Bennett Jackson – 2013 Top 25 Notre Dame Football Players
Frank Vitovitch Follow on Twitter August 29, 2013
Image: (Original Photo: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports)
(Original Photo: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports)
We are less than 48 hours until kick-off and we're reaching the top spot in our countdown of the top 25 players on the 2013 Notre Dame football roster. Our latest stop is the four spot occupied by none other than Bennett Jackson
Originally recruited to Notre Dame as a wide receiver out of the home state of then head coach Charlie Weis, Notre Dame fans were giddy about a senior year highlight reel that showed a potential playmaker with the ball in the open field. After Weis was fired and after spending on the scout team at wide receiver and terrorizing opposing special teams unit as Notre Dame's top gunner though, Jackson switched to the defense side of the ball in 2011 and hasn't looked back.
Jackson, a one-time track star, spent 2011 learning the cornerback position and putting the skills he gained as Notre Dame's top gunner to use. In a reserve role Jackson didn't see a whole lot of action behind Gary Gray and Robert Blanton, but he experience he gained in practice served him well in 2012.
With Blanton and Gray graduated and Lo Wood lost for the season in camp, Jackson was the only corner with any game experience on the roster last year. Jackson stepped in for Blanton and the Irish defense didn't skip a beat with Jackson picking off four passes and being a stalwart in the run game. Now a senior, Jackson is one of three captains for the 2013 season and the leader of a defense poised to once again be one of the nation's elite.
Why Bennett Jackson could be ranked higher
Jackson has the ability to be the first All-American cornerback for the Irish since Shane Walton was a consensus All-American over a decade ago. After seamlessly transitioning to defense and becoming an impact player in his first stint as a starter, the sky is the limit for Jackson.
Playing on a defense that will generate a good pass rush thanks to one of the nation's best defensive lines, Jackson will be able to take some risks this year since he won't have to cover opposing receivers very long too often. That could result in an even better reception total for Jackson in 2013 which would cement his place as possibly the best corner to play for Notre Dame in the last decade.
Jackson is only projected to be a 5th round pick by CBS right now. Expect that projection to change quite a bit between now and April.
ACCDN & Eric Hansen Breakdown Notre Dame's Chance of a Repeat Win Over Clemson
Why Bennett Jackson could be ranked lower
At this point in the countdown, it's tough to envision many of these players not being as good as they are ranked. Jackson proved last year he is more than dependable at corner and that he has the potential to be an elite corner on the college level for Notre Dame.
It would be a shock if Jackson was not one of the top 5 performers for the Irish this fall – especially after the coaches made him one of the captains for this season.
What would a successful season in 2013 be for Bennett Jackson
As a first time starter, Jackson recorded 65 tackles and picked off 4 passes. In order for 2013 to be successful Jackson doesn't have to see his interception total increase since a high interception total isn't always a good thing since it could mean that a lot of passes are thrown his way.
For 2013 to be a success, Jackson needs to be the vocal leader of the defense with Manti Te'o in the NFL. This year's defense has the potential to be even better than last years if things go as planned, but for that to happen, it will need a leader. Jackson is that leader as the only defensive player among the three captains.
If the 2013 defense plays at the same level it did in 2012, Jackson's season will be a smashing success since it will mean that he more than did his job as a captain. All that said, I don't think anyone will complain about another 4 interception season either. And, if we were betting men, we'd bet on Jackson finding his name in the All-American mix by the end of the season.
The rest of our countdown so far:
#5 – Prince Shembo – OLB
#6 – TJ Jones – WR
#7 – DaVaris Daniels – WR
#8 – Chris Watt – OG
#9 – Sheldon Day – DL
#10 – George Atkinson – RB
#11 – Keivarae Russell – CB
#12 – Matthias Farley – S
#13 – Troy Niklas – TE
#14 – Tommy Rees – QB
#15 – Amir Carlisle – RB
#16 – Danny Spond – OLB
#17 – Dan Fox – ILB
#18 – Jarrett Grace – ILB
#19 – Greg Bryant – RB
#20 – Christian Lombard – RT
#21 – Elijah Shumate – S
#22 – Jaylon Smith – OLB
#23 – Ishaq Williams – OLB/DE
#24 – Max Redfield – S
#25 – CJ Prosise – WR
Brian Kelly's Emphasis On Traits Comes Into Focus For Notre Dame
Bennett Jackson
Notre Dame's Top 25 for 2013
College Football Season is Upon Us
#3 Zack Martin - 2013 Top 25 Notre Dame Football Players
uncle jemima says:
I believe you mean head coach Charlie Weis. I think Jackson is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the coaching change, with Zeke Motta, Harrison Smith, Michael Floyd, and Manti Te'o as the others. I do wish he was redshirted in 10′, but maybe the special teams play accelerated his learning curve. I think Jackson is a 2nd rounder and he may slide into first round territory whick is rarified air for ND CB's.
By Frank Vitovitch


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Fred D. Nosal of Glen Ellyn passed away on February 4.
Beloved husband of Pat; loving father of Jim (Jane), Marybeth Moore, Don (Laurie) and Susie Nosal; cherished grandfather of 10 and great-grandfather of 5; dear brother of Roger (Nancy) Nosal, M.D.; fond uncle, cousin and friend of many.
Visitation Friday, February 8th from 3-8 PM at Leonard Memorial Funeral Home (565 Duane St. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, 630-469-0032). Friends and family will meet at St. Petronille Church (420 Glenwood Ave., Glen Ellyn) on Saturday February 9 for mass at 10 AM. Private interment Forest Hills Cemetery, Glen Ellyn.
In lieu of flowers, donations to: Ronald McDonald House of Madison WI are appreciated.


Need to ask for some information? Need to make a purchase? An administrative procedure to carry out? The local shops, from the sale of fresh produce to everyday items, are open all year round in Biscarrosse and Grands Lacs. Shopping is also on the agenda with many boutiques available.


With Bubba growing faster than a weed and our need to start a wardrobe for little Miss P, I was concerned there would be a giant hit to my check book in order to keep them trendy and comfortable. But then I was contacted to hit the racks at Kohl's and shop their selection of Carter's clothes, which was already one of my favorite brands!
I love buying Carter's for so many reasons, especially at Kohl's. Look how cute these shirts are?! I love the feel of them and how nice they stay after washing them. I also love the vintage look of these t-shirts, totally more my style than all the shirts with graphics/characters/etc. I like my little man to look like a little man and I can always count on Carter's to help do the job.
I usually find that Carter's runs a little small, so I purchased 2T thinking that's the size he would need. They were actually a little big but hey, he grows so quickly anyways that I know he will fit into it soon!
I also stocked up on some PJ's for the little guy. How cute are these sets?! I love that they come with four different pieces, each with a long sleeve and a short sleeve. It's so nice that you can mix and match all of the pieces, so it's like getting four pairs in one. I even went back to get the prices adjusted when I noticed they went even more on sale a day after buying them. Saved myself an extra $12 by doing that; I love that Kohl's is so good about giving their customers the best price possible.
And of course, I had to start a wardrobe for little Miss P! I love Carter's clothes for boys but I have to admit, their girls line is SO much cuter and more fun to shop for!
I love that the sets come in pairs; they make it super easy to complete a whole look with one swipe off the rack. And seriously, how cute are these outfits?! I can't wait to see Miss P rocking them in Georgia next summer!
I want my kids to be comfortable but also look like little stylish mini me's while doing so. It's hard to find quality clothes at reasonable prices these days but thanks to Kohl's, it makes it fun and easy to shop for them.
Be sure to check out the sales running now through the 22nd and make sure to use your Kohl's charge to get 15%, 20%, or 30% off! I just received a 30% off coupon and went back for more!
« What do you want to be when YOU grow up?


text:
package com.decker.javaProgramming.lab.lab1;

public class NumberCalculator {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        if (args.length != 2) {
            System.out.println("Arguments supposed be 2 numbers");
            return;
        }
        Integer firstNumber;
        Integer secondNumber;
        try {
            firstNumber = Integer.valueOf(args[0]);
            secondNumber = Integer.valueOf(args[1]);
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            System.out.println("Both 2 arguments should be integer numbers");
            return;
        }

        System.out.printf("%d + %d = %d %n", firstNumber, secondNumber, firstNumber + secondNumber);
        System.out.printf("%d - %d = %d %n", firstNumber, secondNumber, firstNumber - secondNumber);
        System.out.printf("%d * %d = %d %n", firstNumber, secondNumber, firstNumber * secondNumber);
        System.out.printf("(%d + %d)/2 = %.2f %n", firstNumber, secondNumber,  ((double)firstNumber + (double)secondNumber) / 2D);

    }
}

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text:
Family donates 'Hager House' to ensure preservation
A nearly 140-year-old home in Lincoln County was donated to Preservation North Carolina to ensure that the home's historic integrity would remain intact.
The home, located at 134 Nellie Circle in Stanley, was built in the 1880's by J.P. Hager, a farmer. The home served as a post office in the area for many years. Former owners Eddie and Jane Hager were motivated by preservation to donate the home. Preservation North Carolina can incorporate covenants in the deed that would require a rehabilitation agreement with the new owners that would, among other specifics, prevent it from being demolished.
"That was the motivation," Jane Hager said from Florida, where the couple resides today.
Lincoln County Historical Association director Jason Harpe spoke to the Hager family at a reunion in late 2014 and said that the family as a whole was on board with the idea.
(Lincon Times-News, 3/31/2016)


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The R1900M is the perfect choice for contract caterers, pub chains and large restaurants, ideal where high output and extra capacity is required. This stylish stainless steel, touch control, 21 litre machine has been solidly engineered to withstand the heaviest of uses.
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text:
Previous (Republic of Venice)
Next (Reserve Officers' Training Corps)
République du Congo (French)
Repubilika ya Kongo (Kituba)
Republiki ya Kongó (Lingala)
Motto: Unité, Travail, Progrès (French)
"Unity, Work, Progress"
Anthem: La Congolaise (French)
"The Congolese"
(and largest city) Brazzaville
4°16′S 15°17′E
Recognized regional languages Kongo/Kituba, Lingala
Brazzaville Congolese
Presidential republic
- President Denis Sassou Nguesso
- from France August 15, 1960
- Total 342,000 km² (64th)
132,047 sq mi
- Water (%) 3.3
- 2009 estimate 3,686,000[1] (128th)
- Density 10.8/km² (204th)
27.9/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2010 estimate
- Total $17.108 billion[2]
- Per capita $4,426[2]
GDP (nominal) 2010 estimate
Internet TLD
Calling code
The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville or the Congo, is a presidential republic. It is a former French colony of western-central Africa. It borders Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and the Gulf of Guinea. Upon independence in 1960, it became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. After a brief civil war in 1997 between factions, former Marxist President Denis Sassou Nguesso was restored to power.
1.1 Climate
2.1 Independence
2.2 Civil unrest
2.3 2002 elections
3.1 Human rights
3.2 Administrative divisions
6.1 Marriage
6.2 Holidays
Petroleum extraction from offshore reserves has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, which has been boosted by the recovery of oil prices. Economic reform efforts continue with the support of Sassou Nguesso, who has expressed support for economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. His administration presides over an uneasy peace and faces difficult economic problems of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty.
Congo is located in the central-western part of sub-Saharan Africa, transected by the Equator. To the south and east of it is the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is also bounded by Gabon to the west, Cameroon and the Central African Republic to the north, and Cabinda (Angola) to the southwest. It has a short Atlantic coast.
The capital, Brazzaville, is located on the Congo River, in the south of the country, immediately across from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The southwest of the country is a coastal plain for which the primary drainage is the Kouilou-Niari River; the interior of the country consists of a central plateau between two basins to the south and north.
Since the country is located on the Equator, the climate is consistent year-round, though the rainy season is from October to May. The average daytime temperature is a humid 75 degrees F (24 degrees C), with nights generally in the 60s F (16-21 C).
Mausoleum of Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza
The earliest inhabitants of the area were Pygmy peoples. They were largely replaced and absorbed by Bantu tribes during Bantu expansions. The Bakongo are comprised of Bantu groups that also occupied parts of present-day Angola, Gabon, and Democratic Republic of Congo, forming the basis for ethnic affinities and rivalries among those states. Several Bantu kingdoms—notably those of the Kongo, the Loango, and the Teke—built trade links leading into the Congo River basin.
The mouth of the Congo River was the base for the Kongo Kingdom, which encountered the Portuguese in 1484. Trading contracts gave the Congolese textiles, jewelry, and manufactured goods in return for ivory, copper, and slaves. The coastal area was a major source for the transatlantic slave trade. Western education and Christianity were introduced into the region at that time.
The Portuguese did not venture into the interior but bought goods and slaves captured in the interior through African brokers on the coast. When the slave trade diminished because of depopulation, the Portuguese bought slaves from other tribes. Fighting between the tribes weakened them, including the Kongo. This increased the power of the Europeans and strengthened the slave trade. This situation continued until the European powers outlawed slavery in the early 1800s.
The Teke Kingdom of the interior signed a treaty with the French in 1883 that gave the French land in return for protection. On the land Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza secured on the north side of Stanley Pool he established a settlement now known as Brazzaville. He governed the area from 1886 to 1897.
The companies that were granted concessions in Congo abused their African workers to the extent that reports reached France, which eventually restricted the use of forced labor. In 1910, four colonies were brought together administratively as French Equatorial Africa, with Brazzaville as the capital. After World War II, there was an upsurge of nationalism. France, weakened by its wars in Indochina and Algeria, did not resist but granted internal autonomy to its African colonies. Congo became an autonomous republic within the Franco-African Community in 1958.
Following independence as the Congo Republic on August 15, 1960, Fulbert Youlou, a Catholic priest who had been instrumental in the steps to independence, became the first president until labor elements and rival political parties instigated a three-day uprising that ousted him. The Congolese military took charge of the country briefly and installed a civilian provisional government headed by Alphonse Massamba-Débat, who drew his inspiration from French Marxism.
Under the 1963 constitution, Massamba-Débat was elected president for a five-year term, though with only one party participating. His term ended abruptly in 1968 with a coup d'état. Capt. Marien Ngouabi assumed the presidency but continued his predecessor's socialist policies, proclaiming Congo to be Africa's first "people's republic." In 1977, Ngouabi was assassinated. Col. Joachim Yhombi-Opango replaced him as president and then Col. Denis Sassou-Nguesso was selected in 1979.
He moderated Congo's extremism and and established better relations with Western nations. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Congo completed a transition to multiparty democracy with elections in August 1992. Denis Sassou Nguesso conceded defeat and Congo's new president, Prof. Pascal Lissouba, was inaugurated on August 31, 1992.
Congo's democratic progress was derailed in 1997. As presidential elections scheduled for July 1997 approached, tensions between the Lissouba and Sassou camps mounted. On June 5, President Lissouba's government forces surrounded Sassou's compound in Brazzaville and Sassou ordered members of his private militia (known as "Cobras") to resist. Thus began a four-month conflict that destroyed or damaged much of Brazzaville and caused tens of thousands of civilian deaths. In early October, Angolan troops invaded Congo on the side of Sassou and, in mid-October, the Lissouba government fell. Soon thereafter, Sassou declared himself president. The Congo Civil War continued for another year and a half until a peace deal was struck between the various factions in December 1999.
Elections in 2002 saw Sassou win with almost 90 percent of the vote cast. His two main rivals, Lissouba and Bernard Kolelas, were prevented from competing and the only remaining credible rival, Andre Milongo, advised his supporters to boycott the elections and then withdrew from the race. A new constitution, agreed upon by referendum in January 2002, granted the president new powers and also extended his term to seven years as well as introduced a new bicameral assembly. International observers took issue with the organization of the presidential election as well as the constitutional referendum, both of which were reminiscent in their organization of Congo's era of a single-party state. A period of continued fighting ended with an agreement for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the rebel militias. The process moved slowly, with both sides full of distrust. Nevertheless, legislative elections were held in June 2007.
There were widespread chaos and malpractices during the voting on June 24, 2007, to choose 137 deputies for the National Assembly, according to international observers from the African Union and Economic Community of Central African States. Polling stations opened late and voter registers and ballot papers were not available in many polling stations, the observers said.
Congolese women were thwarted in their ambition to improve their showing, with only one woman being elected. The Center for the Promotion of Women in Politics had worked hard to raise the profile of its women candidates. Even though the status of women has improved in Congo, there are few women in top positions. In the two chambers in parliament, with 188 seats, there are only 20 women. Poverty is one obstacle, with most women lacking access to education, health care and good salaries. Congo, as in other African countries, has more women than men, with more than 70 percent living below the poverty line.
The most important of the many parties are the Democratic and Patriotic Forces or FDP [Denis Sassou Nguesso, president], an alliance consisting of:
Convention for Alternative Democracy
Congolese Labor Party (PCT)
Liberal Republican Party
National Union for Democracy and Progress
Patriotic Union for the National Reconstruction
Union for the National Renewal
Other significant parties include:
Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel Mampouya]
Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin Mberi]
Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere Tchicaya, president]
Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge Ngollo]
Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR leader NA
Union of Democratic Forces or UFD, Sebastian Ebao
According to the U.S. State Department, the government's human rights record remains poor; although there were some improvements in 2006, serious problems remained. The following serious human rights problems were reported: mob violence, including killing of suspected criminals; security force beatings, physical abuse of detainees, rapes, looting, solicitation of bribes, and theft; harassment and extortion of civilians by uncontrolled and unidentified armed elements; poor prison conditions; impunity; arbitrary arrest; lengthy pretrial detention; a corrupt and ineffective judiciary; infringement on citizens' privacy rights; limits on freedom of the press; restrictions on freedom of movement; official corruption and lack of transparency; domestic violence and societal discrimination against women; trafficking in persons; discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, particularly against Pygmies; and child labor.
Regions of the Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo is divided into ten regions and one commune, the capital Brazzaville. These are:
Bouenza
Cuvette-Ouest
Kouilou
Lékoumou
Likouala
Niari
The regions are subdivided into 46 districts.
Petroleum extraction from offshore reserves has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing 95 percent of export earnings. In 2005, Congo was the sixth largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa (after Nigeria, Angola, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon). In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5 percent annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its petroleum earnings, contributing to a shortage of revenues. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near-term prospects. The Chinese are granting loans to be paid back in oil. For example, they are largely financing a hydroelectric dam at Imboulou that is expected to be completed in 2009.
Economic reform efforts continue with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. When Sassou Nguesso returned to power at the war's end in October 1997, he publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions.
The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic problems of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty, despite record-high oil prices since 2003. Natural gas and diamonds are also recent major Congolese exports, although Congo was excluded from the Kimberley Process in 2004 amid allegations that most of its diamond exports were in fact being smuggled out of the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
In addition to petroleum extraction, cement kilning, forestry, brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, and cigarette making also are major industries. The most important agricultural products are lumber, sugar, cocoa, and coffee.
Under communist rule, the government was the owner of all commercial property. After the civil war, privatization was decreed. Almost 90 percent of homes are now owned by individuals or families.
The largest export partner is the United States, followed by Belgium, Luxembourg, Taiwan, and China. Imported items include manufactured goods, capital equipment, petroleum products, construction materials, and food. These items are imported from France, Italy, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Population of the Republic of the Congo (FAO, 2005; number of inhabitants given in thousands.
The Republic of the Congo's sparse population is concentrated in the southwestern portion of the country, leaving the vast areas of tropical jungle in the north virtually uninhabited. Thus, Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, with 85 percent of its total population living in a few urban areas, namely Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or one of the small cities or villages lining the 332-mile railway that connects the two cities. In rural areas, industrial and commercial activity has declined rapidly in recent years, leaving rural economies dependent on the government for support and subsistence. Before the 1997 war, about 15,000 Europeans and other non-Africans lived in Congo, most of whom were French. Presently, only about 9,500 remain. Nevertheless, the official language is French, used in governmental activities. Lingala and Monokutuba are commonly spoken trade languages. Over 60 local languages and dialects are spoken, the most widely used of which are Kikongo, Sangha, and Bateke. A talking drum language developed in the villages as a form of long-distance communication. Specific beats are broadcast for marriages, deaths, births, and other information.
There are 15 main ethnic groups and 75 subgroups. The largest ethnic groups are the Bakongo (48 percent of the population), the Sangha (20 percent), the Teke (17 percent), and the M'Bochi (12 percent). The Teke group suffers from widespread discrimination from all the other ethnic groups in Central Africa because they are unorganized forest dwellers with little political power.
There is no official state religion; the Fundamental Act mandates freedom of religion. About 50 percent of the people are Christians, while another 48 percent adhere to native religions. The remaining 2 percent are Muslims. Varying combinations of Christianity and animism have developed. In some rural areas, Christian missionaries have had little success in converting the forest dwellers.
Before the coming of Christianity, all the native religions were animist. The monotheistic religion of Nzambi is widely practiced among the Bakongo. In this tradition, Nzambi created the world after a great sickness, vomiting first the sun, then the stars, animals, and people. After the creation, he went to live with the ancestral spirits. It is believed that family members join the ancestral world after death to protect the living. In cases of wrongful or violent death, they roam until retribution has occurred. Medicine and religion are often indistinguishable in the native religions.
The Congo River at Maluku, Congo
Under communism, urban and educated people had jobs and could make more money than rural people, who had a lifestyle closer to that of the ethnic tribes. Discrimination against the pygmies, known as Teke, Aka, or forest dwellers, is widespread. They are turned away from hospitals, receive lower pay, and are not represented in the government. The literacy rate for the total population is 83.8 percent (male 89.6 percent and female 78.4 percent by 2003 estimates). Because of communism and local social customs, few people have accumulated personal wealth.
Women are underrepresented in politics and the higher levels of the government. In rural areas, women are often discouraged from attaining paid employment and secondary education. They are instead encouraged to focus on family and child-rearing activities. This gives them limited power in social dealings with men, who typically are better educated and have more money. Nongovernmental organizations have started initiatives to improve the status of women. An estimated 900 women die in pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births, according to UN data. Richard Dackam Ngatchou, Congo Representative for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), said the maternal mortality rate "remains largely above the average African level."
Traditionally, family members arranged marriages, though this is now less common, especially in the cities. Polygyny is allowed, but polyandry is illegal. Adultery is illegal only for women. A practice that dates back to ancient times is the dot, or bride price. Once a price has been set between the two families, the groom must pay it to the wife's family. The dot is often very high.
The family unit includes many relatives, such as grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and nieces. The infant mortality rate is high, and for this reason women tend to bear many children. The average woman bears five children, although in rural areas the number is often twice that high. Many of the ethnic groups, including the Bakongo, are matrilineal. The oldest uncle on the mother's side is considered the most important male and sometimes has more influence over a child's life than does the father. This uncle can be responsible for the child's education, employment, and marriage selection. Cousins on the mother's side are considered siblings. The family is responsible for sick, handicapped, and elderly members. Any care that is needed is distributed throughout the entire family system. The Legal Code states that 30 percent of a husband's estate must go to his widow. But very often this code is not adhered to, and a surviving wife may not get any of her husband's assets.
The major holidays are Christmas, New Year's, Easter, All Saints Day, National Reconciliation Day (June 10), Tree Day (March 6), and Independence Day (August 15).
Storytelling is part of the cultural tradition. Since the introduction of written language, novels, plays, and poems have become more popular. The Congolese are known for their singing. Songs fill the air during the performance of chores. Rumba and other forms of music are played with native and Western instruments.
↑ Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009). World Population Prospects, Table A.1. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Republic of the Congo. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
Countries and Their Cultures. Culture of Republic of Congo. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
Cutter, Charles Hickman. Africa, 2006. World today series. Harpers Ferry, WV: Stryker-Post Publications, 2006. ISBN 1887985727 and ISBN 9781887985727
July, Robert William. A history of the African people. Prospect Heights, Ill: Waveland Press, 1992. ISBN 0881336319 and ISBN 9780881336313
All links retrieved July 28, 2019.
World Factbook. Congo, Republic of the.
Reading Women Writers and African Literatures. Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville).
Republic of the Congo history
History of "Republic of the Congo"
Retrieved from //www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Republic_of_the_Congo&oldid=1022435


Daryl Johnson (Worcester Park, United Kingdom) on 9 February 2008 in Art & Design and Portfolio.
In the grounds of Kochi castle. Yamauchi Kazutoyo was the feudal lord of the Tosa region of Shikoku in the early 1600s. He had Kochi castle built.
@Capture it, share it!: Thanks Capture it, share it!
Love the statue, the way light plays on it makes it almost look alive. I would rather have no background than the one made of naked branches....but I know that this was the location and it couldn't be helped!
thank you ... great subject !
Impressive statue, and nice framing.
Very bold! Love the comp!
Strong image with this angle and colors. Nice expression.


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Takeaways and details from Heat's loss to Hawks to open three-game trip
ATLANTA — The Miami Heat has leaned on its defense to make up ground in the standings in recent weeks, but that usually reliable defense was a no-show in Monday's first half. That proved to be too much to overcome, as the Heat rallied from a 26-point second-quarter deficit to make it a game that was decided in the final seconds but still fell to the Atlanta Hawks 121-113 on Monday afternoon at State Farm Arena to open a three-game trip. The Heat, which entered with wins in 12 of its last 17 games, allowed the Hawks to enter halftime with a 20-point lead behind an incredible shooting display. A…
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Westminster Wesleyan Lifelong Learning Institute
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Westminster/Wesleyan Lifelong Learning Institute: Spring 2023 Schedule
Please see below for the Spring 2023 Course Catalog for the Westminster/Wesleyan Lifelong Learning Institute. Copies of the catalog are also available in Westminster-Canterbury Resident Services or on the WC Resident Hub at residenthub.org.
Course 1 - Mystic, Humanist, Anarchist and Traitor: Four Writers Who changed our World.
Presented by: Dr. Benson P. Fraser, Westminster-Canterbury Fellow for Religious, Studies and Lifelong Learning at Virginia Wesleyan University.
Course Description: A study of the lives of four man who have helped shape the 20th century. You may be familiar with the names of Martin Buber, Viktor Frankl, Jacques Ellul and Paulo Freire but do you really know the struggles they faced and how they responded to these life situations? We will look at the lives of these extraordinary men and how their works have influenced us today.
Dates and Weekly Topics:
Lecture 1: Friday, February 3rd at 2:00 p.m. in the Anderson Bayview Room.
Martin Buber's Life and Work. This Austrian Jewish philosopher who immigrated to Israel is an important figure in our time. His most famous essay I-Thou is considered a classic study of the philosophy of dialogue. He and his works have much to teach us today with so many challenging voices cluttering our social conversation.
Lecture 2: Friday, February 10th at 2:00 p.m. Anderson Bayview Room.
Viktor Frankl's Life and Work. This Austrian psychiatrist whose life journey took him through several Nazi concentration camps (including Auschwitz). Frankl eventually wrote one of the most important works on the meaning of life ever written. His book Man's Search for Meaning sold millions of copies and has been translated into several languages. In 1991 it was called one of the most influential books in the US by the Library of Congress. After the war, Frankl went on to found a form of psychological therapy called Logotherapy (a form of existential analysis).
Jacques Ellul's Life and Work. This influential Frenchman was a sociologist and professor and lay-pastor who's greatest influences were Karl Marx and Soren Kierkegaard. Perhaps his most important intellectual contribution was in the area of communication and technology where he wrote an important work The Technological Society in 1964. This book as well as others he has written have continued to shape our understanding of technology and society to this day.
Paulo Freire's Life and Work. Freire is a Brazilian educator who champions the education of poor in his country. He is a leading advocate of critical pedagogy and his work Pedagogy of the Oppressed is a foundational text in this area. Today, he continues to have strong influence not only in his country but around the world.
Course 2 - Advancing the Beloved Community in the Public Square
Presented by: Antipas L. Harris is the founder and president-dean of the Urban Renewal Center (URC) in Norfolk, Virginia. Harris has a Master of Sacred Theology from Yale University, a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership in the Church and Society from Boston University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from St. Thomas University.
Lecture Date: Tuesday, February 7th at 3:00 p.m. in the Penthouse Lounge.
This course explores early 20th century philosopher Josiah Royce's philosophy of loyalty encoded in Martin Luther King's "Beloved Community." The Beloved Community is one in which all of God's children co-exist with harmony and with equal opportunities for a better world. It ponders the challenges in our own social context to live into the Beloved Community.
Course 3 - Special Showing of the New Documentary Film: Hollywood Teach Us To Pray
Presented by: Dr. Terrence Lindvall, C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought and Professor of Communication.
Lecture Date: Tuesday, February 21st from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Penthouse Lounge.
Special Showing of the new documentary film: Hollywood, Teach Us To Pray from Executive Producer Dr. Terry Lindvall. This film examines dozens of popular movies which have prayers in them. Included in this documentary are several clips of prayers from these important films with insights into there place in social consciousness. Furthermore, it examines how these films and prayers influence our understanding of prayer and religion.
Course 4 - The Supreme Court Confronts Five Huge Policy Questions.
Presented by: Dr. Timothy G. O'Rourke (Ph.D., Duke, Political Science) served as Vice President and Provost at Virginia Wesleyan University from 2007 to 2019. Dr. O'Rourke is now Vice President Emeritus, Virginia Wesleyan University.
Course Description: The Supreme Court is considering a series of cases that could have political consequences as momentous as last June's abortion ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The subjects currently before the Court include colleges' use of race in admissions, federal student loan forgiveness, partisan gerrymandering, border security, and artists' free speech rights. Significantly, the Biden Administration is a participant in all of these cases, either as a party or as amicus curiae (friend of the court). The Court already has heard oral argument in all but the student loan case and will likely issue decisions in all of these cases near the end of its current term in June 2023. This five-part series presents the views of the contending sides in each case and places the issues in the larger political context
Lecture 1: Thursday, March 2nd at 2:00 p.m. in the Penthouse Lounge.
Can a Public Accommodations Law Force an Artist to Violate Her Conscience? In 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (Docket 21-476), a Christian web designer, relying on the First Amendment guarantee of Free Speech, is challenging a Colorado public accommodations law that requires her to create custom websites celebrating gay marriage, a result at odds with her religious convictions. More than 90 amicus briefs have been filed in this hotly contested case.
Lecture 2: Thursday, March 9th at 2:00 p.m. in the Penthouse Lounge.
Can a State Supreme Court Overturn a State Legislature's Congressional Gerrymander? The North Carolina Supreme Court rejected, as a partisan gerrymander, the state legislature's congressional districting map. In Moore v. Harper (Docket 21-1271), the legislature argues that Article I, Section 4, of the Constitution assigns the line-drawing task exclusively to the state's legislature. A decision in favor of Moore, the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, would cast doubt on state constitutional and judicial restrictions of congressional line-drawing in many states.
Lecture 3: Thursday, March 16th at 2:00 p.m. in the Penthouse Lounge.
Can a College Use Race as a Factor in Admissions? Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina (Docket 21-707), challenges UNC's use of race as a violation of Equal Protection under the 14th Amendment. The case revisits a continuing controversy that dates to Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), in which the Court approved the use of race as a plus factor in creating a diverse student body. Also before the Court is a challenge to private college admissions under the 1964 Civil Rights Act (Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College).
Lecture 4: Thursday, March 23rd at 2:00 p.m. in the Penthouse Lounge.
Can the United States Control Its Southern Border? At issue in United States v. Texas (Docket 22-58) is the status of a set of Homeland Security guidelines on border enforcement, attacked by Texas and Louisiana as ineffective and contrary to law. In Biden v. Texas, decided in June 2022, the Court ruled that the Biden Administration could terminate the Trump era's Remain in Mexico policy. This new case presents different questions, but, with the number of immigrants surging, the Court's involvement in border controversies is likely to be ongoing. (A second case, centered on potential end of Covid screening at the border is also before the Court.)
Can the President Forgive $400 Billion in Student Loans? In Biden v. Nebraska (Docket 22-506), a group of states has challenged the President's authority under the Heroes Act of 2003 to forgive individual borrowers of $10,000 to $20,000 in student loan obligations (totaling about $400 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office). A key issue is whether the states have standing to bring the suit.
Course 5 - A Study of The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis.
Course Description: Lewis's study of the anti-human trend of modern Western culture has perhaps even more relevance today that when it was written. In this work Lewis sets out to persuade us of the importance and relevance of universal values such as courage and honor in contemporary society. The National Review chose this book as number seven in their "100 Best Nonfiction Boks and of the Twentieth Century" and the Intercollegiate Studies Institute rated the book as the second-best book of the twentieth century. In this series of lectures, we will explore this brief work and point out its relevance for issues we face today.
*Note: The Abolition of Man is a short work (just over 100 pages) and you can easily read it in preparations for each class, but it is not necessary to do so as I will summarize each chapter as we proceed through the book.
Lecture 1: Friday, March 3rd at 11:00 a.m.in the Penthouse Lounge.
The Reception, Occasion, Context and Overview. Lewis did not feel that this book was well received yet, few of Lewis's books have received more accolades or sold as well as this work. This small book (just over 100 pages) is a closely argued work with great insight into the thorny question of whether moral value is objective on not. This issue may seem rather abstract and be thought to have little relevance for us today, however Lewis felt that we needed to understand what we mean when we say something is right or wrong. This issue may sound abstract and unimportant, but in a day of alternative facts and questionable values we need to understanding of what we mean when we use the word "truth" with regard to our communication of values. Whether you agree with him or not he presents a work that is worth our attention.
Lecture 2: Friday, March 10th at 11:00 a.m.in the Penthouse Lounge.
Men without Chests. In this first Chapter Lewis criticizes modern man's attempts to attempts to debunk natural values. In this chapter Lewis argues that thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Augustine believed that the purpose of education was to train children to like and dislike what they ought to like or dislike and to love the good and hate the bad.
The Way. Lewis introduces the concept of the Tao (the ultimate "way" or "path" of reality and human conduct) and he argues that without the Tao, no value judgments can be made at all. We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
The Abolition of Man. In the third chapter Lewis describes the ultimate consequences of this debunking in which values and morals of the majority are controlled by a the few. I will try to draw implications from this chapter to inform how we behave in our own time.
Lecture 5: Friday, March 31st at 11:00 a.m.in the Penthouse Lounge.
The Conclusion and Legacy. For Lewis morals must be taught through education. For him those who lack the proper values or morals may be called "men without chests" in that they lack the specifically human element. In this lecture we will unpack this term "men without chests" and make it clear as well as summarize the important points raised in this work.
Course 6 - A Study of The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.
Course Description: What Makes a Good Life? This class examines the new book The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, the director and associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. This study is based on research conducted over an 80-year period and brings together scientific and practical knowledge to shed light on the topic of how we can live a happy life. The Good Life addresses our greatest need: meaningful human connection. We can learn a lot from these two scholars on how to live our lives today and how to make and keep our connections with other people no matter how old we are. The findings of this study articulate how we can live happier and longer. This class will identify the important issues raised and explain how attending to the findings can improve our lives.
*Note: The Good Life is an interesting book and easy to understand. You can easily read the work in preparation for each class, but it is not necessary to do so as I will summarize the pertinent material as we proceed through the book.
Lecture 1: Friday, April 7th at 2:00 p.m. in the Anderson Bayview Room.
What Makes a Good Life. This lecture examines the findings of a more than 80-year study into the lives of hundreds of man (and now women), in order to understand what makes a good life. This first lecture examines the purpose and method used in this study. Furthermore, we will identify the initial findings of these Harvard researchers.
Lecture 2: Friday, April 14th at 2:00 p.m. in the Anderson Bayview Room.
Keeping Your Relationships in Shape. In this lecture we look at the importance of relationships in the lives of these people. In so doing we will examine the crucial predictors of happiness and glean from these scholars what they found to be most important to living a long and prosperous life.
Lecture 3: Friday, April 21st at 2:00 p.m. in the Anderson Bayview Room.
Adapting to Challenges in Your Relationships. By now it should be clear that good relationships are important to the well-being and happiness of the people participating in this study. But not all relationships are necessarily good for you nor are they easy to maintain. So, in this lecture we look at what the authors of this study have to say about maintaining your relationships.
Investing in Connections. In this final lecture we will explore why the authors interpret the findings of this study as important in expanding our brains and enriching our hearts. Furthermore, we will examine how to make new relationships at any age and the impact this activity has on one's well-being. It is never to late to make new friends and improve your life.
Course 7 - A View to Understanding Markets in our Time.
Presented by: Dr. Garrett Wood, who served as a Naval Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy before leaving to attain his Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University. He publishes research on the intersection of defense and economics while teaching at Virginia Wesleyan University.
Lecture 1: Wednesday April 12th at 1:00 p.m.in the Anderson Bayview Room.
Price Signals: Why Only Free Markets Deliver Prosperity. Most people argue about motivation when they argue about different economic systems. What incentive would anyone have to work under socialism or communism if the wealth of others is redistributed to them? That challenge stands, but it says nothing about the function prices serve in making the economy work, and this lecture explains how prices are formed, what function they serve, and why prices and prosperity are handicapped in anything other than a free market.
Markets and Morality. Most economists agree that the operation of price signals in a free market produces more prosperity than any other economic system. But even if that's true, can we call a system based on the pursuit of individual self-interest moral? Is a guilty conscious of the price of all that prosperity, or can markets make us better people?
Course 8 - Documenting Natural History
Presented by: Dr. Stu Minnis, Professor and Chair of Communication at Virginia Wesleyan University
Lecture Date: Wednesday, April 26th at 1:00 p.m. in the Anderson Bayview Room.
Broadcast natural history documentary filmmaking, such as PBS's Nature or David Attenborough specials on BBC, are very expensive undertakings requiring highly specialized equipment. How might an independent filmmaking on a shoestring budget go about doing it differently? Stu Minnis shares his experiences in making Time and Zion, a film about geologic deep time shot in Zion National Park, and The Old World: Mistaken Point and the Ediacaran Fossils of Newfoundland, about one of the oldest fossil sites on the planet.
Course 9 - European History through Art, Music, Architecture, & Literature, 1800-1914
Presented by: Dr. Sara Sewell, Professor of History at VWU
Course Description: This series examines the history of Europe from 1800 through 1914 through its culture. It focuses on examining cultural milestones in art, music, architecture, and literature. Tracing the evolution of Western cultural movements, the lectures are organized chronologically to elucidate why certain artistic trends appeared in a variety of forms and genres at specific times.
Lecture 1: Thursday, May 4th, at 11:00 a.m in the Penthouse Lounge.
Neo-Classicism & Romanticism. Revolutions for democracy in France and the United States ushered in new aesthetic sensibilities. Many Westerners rejected the Baroque style, viewing it as inextricably tied to monarchical rule and formal religious institutions. Cultural innovators advocated Neo-classicism (known as the Federal style in the United States). As calls for democracy began to wane by 1820, however, Romanticism supplanted Neo-classicism. Our discussion will include works by painters Jacques-Louis David, David Casper Friedrich, and Eugène Delacroix; architect Jacques Germain Soufflot; writer Mary Shelley; and composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz List.
Lecture 2: Thursday, May 11th, at 11:00 a.m in the Penthouse Lounge.
Realism & Naturalism. As industrialization took off and society grappled with the new social questions that industrialization posed, Realism emerged by the mid nineteenth century. Realism rejected idealized depictions of humans and society, preferring ones that portrayed daily life more objectively. Our discussion will include works by authors Charles Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, and Émile Zola as well as artists Gustave Courbet and Honoré Daumier. The lecture also examines the birth of a new radical popular dance, the Waltz.
Modernism, Part I. Following the lead of Realist and Naturalist artists, new cultural trailblazers appeared at the end of the nineteenth century. Under the broad umbrella of Modernism, this cultural movement deployed art and literature to analyze and to critique society. Our discussion will include works by psychologist Sigmund Freud, painters Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet, and playwright Frank Wedekind. We will also investigate architectural innovations with the use of steel, glass, and electricity in the Art Nouveau style.
Modernism, Part II. Modernism was an expansive and enduring cultural movement that persisted into the twentieth century, albeit with significant modifications as it continued to challenge aesthetic boundaries. In the realm of art, artists increasingly embraced abstraction. Modernist or avant-garde ideas also spawned modernist music, which fundamentally reconceptualized musical elements, such as melody, harmony, and rhythm. Our discussion will include works by painters Paul Gauguin, Franz Marc, and Pablo Picasso as well as composers Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky.
Course 10 - The Lives and Works of Two Men Who Have Influenced our Understanding of the Media Today
Course Description: This class will study the lives of two man who have helped shape our view of the media and society. You may not be familiar with the names of Marshall McLuhan and Neil Postman, but they have shaped our understanding of media use and culture for over 60 years. We will look at the lives of these extraordinary men and study how their works have influenced our world today.
Lecture 1: Friday, May 5th, at 11:00 a.m in the Penthouse Lounge.
Marshall McLuhan was a Canadian scholar whose work is the cornerstone of the study of media theory. He created and popularized the terms "the media is the message" and "the "global village". He predicted the World Wide Web almost a generation before it was invented. His ideas still shape our understanding of the media and its use today.
Lecture 2: Friday, May 12th, at 11:00 a.m in the Penthouse Lounge.
Neil Postman was an American media theorists who was influenced by McLuhan and went on to develop a critical attitude toward digital technology. He published over twenty books including Amusing Ourselves to Death and The Disappearance of Childhood. Postman argued that receiving our ideas through visual imagery seriously influences news, history, politics to entertainment.
Course 11 - Anthology Television of the 1950s-1960s: The Mysterious to the Weird!
Presented by: Dr. Dennis Bounds, Writer, Author, and Adjunct Professor at Virginia Wesleyan University.
Course Description: A series of three presentations on three of the key television anthology series that explore the mysterious to the weird, using mystery, science-fiction, crime, or fantasy to tell their tales.
Lecture 1: Friday, May 19th, at 2:00 p.m in the Penthouse Lounge.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1962) — Mostly adapted from short stories involving crime, detection, and mystery. Each episode is humorously introduced by the master director himself: Alfred Hitchcock.
One Step Beyond (1959-1961) — Each story is (very loosely) based on actual events of the mysterious and paranormal. Hosted and mostly directed by John Newland.
Lecture 3: Friday, June 2nd, at 2:00 p.m in the Penthouse Lounge.
The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) — Some of the best stories of fantasy (with some science fiction) that deal with contemporary social issues set in a fantasy or science-fictional context. Hosted and mostly written by Rod Serling.
Course 12 - Stories and their Origin from Germany and Scotland.
Lecture Date: Friday, June 9th at 2:00 p.m. in the Penthouse Lounge.
This lecture will examine the origins of stories from Germany and Scotland. In a recent trip to Germany, I identified and photographed the various sites where the Grimm Brothers collected the stories for their book: Grimms' Fairy Tales. In this lecture, we will try to understand how these stories developed into such important cultural messages. In Scotland I will focus on the folktales found in this culture during a recent trip I took to Scotland.


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Q: Fastest way to copy 1TB safely over the wire I want to transmit a 1TB file over the internet. I have control over both machines (sender unix, receiver linux). I can open FTP, OpenVPN, NFS, ...
So far resuming for some reason is not stable on FTP, so I cut the file in 1GB pieces and transmit file per file, then md5 on the other side. It's very annoying.
I have between 3 and 6 mbytes/sec to the other site. Which is a pretty decent speed.
I want it to be safe and I want resuming if it fails.
I tried NFS - no resuming.
Is there a cleaner, safer way?

A: I think rsync allows resuming previous transfers.
$ rsync -aP src/ dest:dir/

man rsync

A: If you need restart, rsync is probably the way to go.  One of the fastest ways over a network, I've found is with "Samba" -- but to get excellent performance it usually needs to be tuned for the environment.  But what I mean by "fast" is on a 1Gbit ethernet,
125MB/s writes and 119MB/s reads.  The 125MB/s writes are as fast as you are going to get unless your payload is able to be compressed -- i.e. a 1TB text file would likely compress to 1/10th the size.
Note... problem w/rsync, "direct" is that it generally uses some other protocol (rsh/ssh) to do do the transfer -- if you use rsync over 'ssh' you will incur an encryption cost, which on a good machine adds a ceiling of 140-160MB/s.  That will usually drive up latency on a network connection and slow down overall transfer be 50% or more.
So the fastest way depends on what type of network you have in place between the two machines. Slow-ish Internet speeds (i.e. .5-10MB/s), or a local area network (w/1Gb or perhaps even
10Gb).
If transfer speed is most important and more so than overall
speed, i'd "prep" the file for transfer by running it through
a good compressor (like xz or 7z) -- BUT that will take a large chunk of time by itself (so overall time is likely to be larger).  But if actual transfer speed is more important, then compression becomes a good way to cut down on that.
It really depends on where your priorities are and how much time you want to spend optimizing the transfer speed.    Overall, though, I think sirlancelot gave the right answer, just that there can be many mitigating factors depending on your priorities.


I don't know nuthin about welding but when I got a warranty replacement frame from Jamis, I didn't get to keep the busted frame. I had to make arrangements for replacement through an authorized Jamis dealer and dealer had to send frame back to Jamis. Is Bianchi gonna let you keep the broken frame?
Usually you must send the frame back so they can inspect it.
Where did it crack? At both the chain stay/seatstay part where they meet at the rear dropout?
There was some talk about "forgetting that I still have the frame" .... not sure why and It may not happen. I just was courious if IT could be welded.
Any yes- the crack is all the way around the weld at the drop out.
If it was welded once it can be welded again. I would guess a second weld will be even weaker than the first... and obviously that was not too strong. I donot know for sure, though.
Do you have access to welding equipment or have friend who does? Because if you have to pay more than $30 I'll bet you can just get a garage-sale bike wiithout a broken frame instead.
If it was welded once it can be welded again.
Actually, that's not quite true. Aluminum frames are heat treated after welding. If you reweld it, you'll also have to find somebody to re-heat treat the whole frame.
1 3/8 inch replace 1.95 tires?


Think You've Been on the Job for a Long Time?
You may think that you've been employed for a very long time and some days it may feel like forever. But consider the work life of America's oldest worker. Mildred Heath of Nebraska is 100 years old and has recently been selected by Experience Works as America's oldest worker for 2008. She started working in the newspaper business at 15 and has been part of that business for the last 85 years. She continues to work 30 hours per week as a society news reporter, rides to work on her scooter and has no plans to retire. There's no word on what she thinks of the recent economic downturn and its effect on 401k plans.
As of April 28, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 64 cases of swine flu in five states (New York, California, Texas, Kansas and Ohio). The CDC, on April 27, also issued a travel warning recommending that people avoid nonessential travel to Mexico.
These reports serve as a good reminder for employers to ensure that critical policies and plans are in place and up to date.
The outbreak has some unusual characteristics which are raising concern among the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Homeland Security. The World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to phase 4, two steps short of declaring a full-blown pandemic. The swine flu has been confirmed in Mexico, United States, Canada, and Spain.
While the current outbreak is not expected to cause critical infrastructure disruptions in the United States, if it should intensify, it could cause a possible disruption in services due to high absenteeism.
Employers should revisit their contagious illness/pandemic policy to ensure that it covers important topics such as workplace hygiene, travel to high risk areas, and absence from work.
Likewise, this is also a good time to review your organization's business continuity plan. Key points to review include: staff contact information; methods of communicating to staff and members; cross-training and education; and alternative operations sites.
A New OFCCP Record for Recovery of $$$ From Affirmative Action Contractors.
In 2008 the Office of Federal Contract and Compliance recovered a record $67 million dollars from Affirmative Action contractors who had allegedly discriminated against employees and applicants based upon minority or gender status.
This is a 133% increase over what was recovered in 2001 and was up from $51 million in 2007. Nearly 25,000 individuals shared in the back pay and other damages collected.
Interviewing is frequently viewed as a "necessary evil." Most managers don't like the process or the time and energy it takes. It's a difficult undertaking that most of us freely admit we're not very skilled at.
Asking good questions takes some thoughtful planning. "Shooting from the hip" is unlikely to lead to good hiring decisions. A few keys to good questioning include: Keeping control of the interview, allowing the candidate to do 75% or more of the talking, not providing too much information or clues about what you're looking for as you ask your questions, chronologically examining the candidate's work history, and asking a variety of types of questions.
Providing managers with lists of possible interview questions not only makes their jobs easier but makes the interview process much more effective. A few good questions are provided on the next pages. You'll likely want to customize them to meet the needs of your particular organization.
It's not all bad employment news this week. Nor is it bad news for workers who have a grievance against their employer and plan to file a wage related complaint. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is hiring . . . in fact they will be adding 250 investigators, a staff increase of more than a third, announced U.S. Secretary of Labor, Hilda L. Solis.
Solis made the announcement after the release of a Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) report that found the department's system for receiving and responding to wage and hour complaints is ineffective and discourages wage-theft complaints.
Of the 250 new investigators, 100 will focus on contractor compliance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the economic stimulus package.
We knew that HR law would change with a Democratic Congress and administration. Well, the changes have begun.
President Obama has signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law. The law overrules the 2007 Supreme Court decision of Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Inc., making it easier for employees to bring discrimination cases by allowing them more time to do so.
Stressed out over Performance Reviews?
Would you rather go to the dentist than spend days filling out performance appraisal forms or meet with your boss to have your performance review? Are you an HR professional responsible for administering the employee performance management program in your company and the mere thought of the upcoming evaluation cycle has your stomach twisted in knots? The entire performance review process can be stressful, threatening, and unproductive. So what can you do to minimize your anxiety, make the process useful to you, and make a positive impression on your boss?
Employers are continuing to add workplace wellness programs despite the ongoing recession, according to a survey by Watson Wyatt Worldwide and the National Business Group on Health.
Nearly 58% of companies surveyed offer lifestyle improvement programs, up from 43% in 2007, and 56% offer health coaches, compared with 42% two years ago, according to the survey of 489 large U.S. employers conducted in January.
However, employee participation remains low.
Forty percent of companies surveyed said less than 5% of their workers participate in a weight-management program offered. Financial incentives do help drive participation in smoking-cessation and weight-management programs, the employers reported.
Supporting the trend data in the small business sector, HRN began a wellness program in 2008 by offering to pay a percentage of employee gym memberships. Approximately 20% of HRN employees are taking advantage of the benefit.
Prepare and review thoroughly. Remember, fair treatment wins cases.
Did the employee understand the rules and standards? Did he have notice or a warning (as appropriate)? Was there an opportunity to improve?
Technology has dramatically changed the way we do business, permitting us to communicate quickly, perform tasks that would have been impossible 20 years ago, and do things faster than we've ever done them before. Human Resource departments, like other areas of business have taken advantage of these ongoing technological advances.
paper shuffle was eliminated, rows of filing cabinets became expendable, increased automation meant that appraisals might be better customized to organizational needs, and HR managers could retain at least some of their sanity as appraisal administration improved.
What Does Your Pet Say About Your Job?


Another story of mine has been posted at bookscover2cover; called Kingdom of the Bronze Spider, it can be read by clicking on the link. The overall set-up here was a nod to the opening of 'The Left Hand of Darkness' by Ursula Le Guin, I remember. Oddly, perhaps, since I borrowed its atmosphere, I didn't actually like the start of that book although I went on to enjoy the story a lot.
Another Two short stories of mine have been posted at bookscover2cover, called 'Resume circa 800 B.C.' and 'Hype' The first story was written out of sympathy for the devil, the second story written out of sympathy for Jesus. They both got pretty raw deals, I think, always taking the blame for all this nonsense.


Dozens of local residents gathered at Richmond's Civic Center Plaza on Friday night to watch a short documentary produced by San Quentin prisoners to promote nonviolence among youngsters.
The 10-minute video, made by San Quentin prisoners who call Richmond their home, is part of the Richmond Project, which prisoners initiated to stay connected with the Richmond community.
The video opened with a panoramic view of the San Quentin Prison and followed with interviews of a group of Richmond natives who expressed their hope for change and willingness to work toward it. The video portrayed the ordinary lives of the prisoners and ended with an original rap song advocating peace and change.
"We were all on the same path. We made mistakes in our lives. We want to give back so others won't fall into the same situation and predicament," said another inmate, called Nate in the documentary.
"That's why this project is so important, because young people would listen to those who come from the same culture," said Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, adding that inmates reached out to her to help build a connection between prisoners and the community.
The video sparked lively discussion among viewers in the Whittlesey Room next to the main library, with some offering comments and others suggesting ways of how to get the message of the video to young people.
Richmond need to come together cause everybody pretty much kind please stop the devil from winning save our young childrens from the devils god bless the world !
We need a big change in richmond we all had love for each others back in the days now all the kids is fighting and killing each other please stop god bless us all !


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June 10, 2014 By Conor Bateman | Sydney Film Festival Reviews
Distorted and out of focus, "this is a true story" and the rest of the accompanying opening title card from Fargo encompasses the screen, barely readable but instantly recognisable to aficionados of the Coen Brothers' modern classic. Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, the latest film from SXSW favourites the Zellner Brothers, plays with the idea of the truth in fiction in ways both playful and poignant. The plot of the film itself is an appropriation of an urban legend, which alleged that a Japanese woman believed that Fargo's parodic title card was truthful and that this belief led her to venure to Minnesota in search of the buried cash from that film, where she froze to death. Rather than flog this concept for all that it's worth, the Zellners instead supplant it with an impressive character study that waivers between the amusing and the tragic, whilst subverting expectations by setting half of the film in Tokyo.
As expected considering the urban legend's structure, the story follows Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi), a Japanese woman in her late twenties who works as an 'office girl', is alone save for her rabbit Bunzo and who spends her free time entranced by a scene in the Coen Brothers' film Fargo, which she watches on repeat on a VHS tape. A sudden shift from VHS to DVD, in an amusing commentary on home video interaction and imagination through imperfect imagery, along with the pressures of work and family hitting an apex, causes Kumiko to leave for America on the spur of the moment, in search of her 'treasure'. The Zellners are clever in playing with an audience's knowledge of the urban legend. Whilst diverting from it at points to deliver character, it manages to tie in the role of a deputy (David Zellner himself) who assists her, a reference to the deputy who allegedly got the urban legend started. It's with this play with fact and fiction that makes Kumiko even more intrinsically linked to the "this is a true story" label than Fargo.
In an often quiet and meditative style, the film uses visual motifs to great and subtle effect. The opening sequence, in which Kumiko uses her handsewn map to retrieve the VHS tape of Fargo from a cave, could have been merely a comedic scene ridiculing Kumiko for thinking that this tape is treasure or accusing her of some arrested development. Instead, this minature adventure, coupled with a shot of her well-thumbed notebook of scrawled musings, creates in our minds a cycle of escapism; the knowledge that she has hidden this tape and has, presumably, doubled back to 'discover' it time and time again provides a wealth of character development in such a short amount of time. Subtle motifs alone, though, aren't what make Kumiko such a compelling figure, it's also got a lot to do with a stellar performance from Rinko Kikuchi, who showcases an impressive range here, able to make you laugh and break your heart in the space of a few minutes.
The usage of music in the film, with an original score from The Octopus Project, is likewise impressive, only relenting and dipping into the Fargo score later in the film. Even that, though, has an impact. The score from the Coens' film haunting Kumiko like a spectre in her hotel room isn't merely a callback device – like many elements of the film it has major thematic underpinnings. The fact that the score haunts her here – and not the exact sound or music from the scene of the buried treasure – acts to once more confirm her knowledge that it is a fictional film, not at all truth, thus making the bittersweet oh so much more bitter. The credits song of the film, "Yamasuki" by the Yamasuki Singers, is also of major thematic importance.1 A French band creating a fad out of an obsession with Japanese culture, its usage here shows the Zellners are fully aware of how they are approaching Japan and the depiction of cultural divisions. Whilst naturally the cultural divide provides some scenes of humor, it also makes allows the film to make a statement about cultural appropriation through art, specifically also in its mention of Shogun.
Playing with metatextuality is one way to get my attention in a film, especially if done well. Here the Zellners deftly incorporate the motives of Don Quixote 2, the idea of the American Western – Kumiko wearing a quilt like she's The Man with No Name – whilst also dealing with the way each of us engage with objects of popular culture and art.3 As mentioned above, when the lonely widow offers Kumiko Shogun as a means of engaging with her, we see a lack of comprehension of the power of artistic texts. Kumiko herself is entranced by Fargo, but not the entire film, just one scene and one element. She diagrams it, memorises distances and images. Her exercise of concentration is embelmatic of pure adoration of any text – an obsessive focus that results in highly personal interpretations and readings. There's something about art that clicks on a subjective level which Kumiko is able to capture in a way rarely seen in cinema. She calls it "her treasure" because it is – it is her personal response to a creative work and a portal into a world she wishes was real and only half-convinces herself that it is.
Perhaps seeing the names Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor in the producing credits in the opening of the film placed a germ of comparison in my mind that only blossomed when Kumiko reaches America, that being that the film is, in some ways, quite similar to Payne's recent Nebraska. Both films explore a journey through a state, across empty roads and containing interactions with well-meaning and amusing characters. Both films also have the same theoretical crisis of narrative, that being what to do in the final act of a story that hangs on a seemingly fruitless search for life-changing riches. Such a plotline, in its very construction, has issues with regards to narrative expectation, something Nebraska near-miraculously avoided with a very clever final five minutes. Kumiko doesn't quite pull a cat out of the bag like Payne, though, instead letting us sit with our expectations, to varying deals of satisaction. That's not to say the film's end doesn't work, just that it seems to veer away from the wonder of the previous hour and a half as the story loses thematic focus in place of a plot point. However, I was impressed with the final sequence on the whole, the film stuck to its guns and didn't play with pleasantry for the sake of a happy ending.
For a film about self-delusion, Kumiko feels emotionally real. Engaging both conceptually and through its characters, it's a film that I know will continue to grow on me over time; the more I watch it I may too find myself planted in front of a television, circling the posts in the snow on screen, or perhaps sitting further back, like Bunzo the rabbit, letting the images wash over me. Kumiko is a rare treasure of a film, seemingly divisive yet so personally rewarding if you can connect with it.
Around the Staff:
Jess Alcamo
Lidiya Josifova
Christian Byers
Mei Chew
Dominic Barlow
Brad Mariano
Virat Nehru
Imogen Gardam
Saro Lusty-Cavallari
The song's name was brought to my attention by Carol Bowditch over at Something You Said.
"I am like a Spanish Conquistador" is a more explicit aside but the obsession with believing a blatantly fictional text is true and following that on an epic journey is the general plot of both Cervantes' work and this film. Also Bunzo, Kumiko's pet rabbit, as Rosinante would make for an interesting comparative anaylsis.
I think the way in which the quilt positions her as a Clint Eastwood type on one level is hysterically funny – particularly when the scenes of her walking on snowy roads are a literal polar opposite from the desert of Leone westerns.


Whether you're hosting a meeting or event, baby shower, christening, confirmation, Bar/Bat Mitzvah or Quinceanera, allow Rockwood Tap House to be your dining destination. With private and semi-private banquet rooms available, we offer a variety of menu options. Big or small, elegant or casual, let our culinary expertise create a memorable occasion for you and your guests.
Rockwood Tap House is a unique, casual, owner-operated restaurant which has an exhilarating ambiance mixed with the creative tastes of exceptional, quality food and superior service. Located in Chicago's western suburb of Downers Grove, we're just minutes away from Naperville, Willobrook, Wheaton, and Villa Park, a great location for any private party or banquet.
We take considerable care in preparing our menu, whether it's individual dining or banquets up to 220. We have also taken great care in designing our private dining menu to cater to a variety of tastes and budgets.
As you look over your options please keep in mind that Rockwood Tap House has the ability to custom prepare a menu to fit your specific needs and any budget banquet or private party. Rockwood Tap House offers six (6) unique private dining rooms to accommodate any size function from 20 to 220.
Whatever you desire, rest assured Rockwood Tap House will take great care to deliver a most memorable and special event for you and your guests.


Payday Loans & Personal Loans in Le Claire, IA.
The population of Le Claire, IA in 2019 counting up to 3,974 people. More than 15% of employed adults in Iowa apply at least onse a year for a Payday Loans from $100 to $1,000. And as the time shows, more than 298 people, even with bad FICO credit score get approved for small-dollar loan.
Personal installment loans are used by more than 47% of occupied population. It's obout 934 people.
Personal Loans such as mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and rents are borrowed by 83% of adult (from 18 to 65 years of age) residents of the state - it's 1,649 lending service users.
We offer short-term Payday Loans up to $1,000 and long-term Personal Loans up to $15,000 in Le Claire, Iowa.


How to configure Color Factory to read from an ODBC connection to update metadata, or read from metadata dn update an ODBC connection.
This functionality makes it possible extract text from a database and store it in the files processed in the channel or to store metadata from the files in the connected database.
This is done by setting up a data source and mapping database fields to XMP metadata fields.
First, select Activate ODBC connection, then enter a Data Source Name (DSN) or choose one by clicking on the Browse button. Note that a System DSN must be configured on the server for this to function correctly; a User DSN will not work. Optionally type in a user name and password required to access the DSN.
Read from database, write to file will search the database for a matching record and extract content from it and store the information in the file processed in the channel.
Read from file, update to database will update the matching record in the database with the content in the files processed in the channel.
Read from file, update and insert to database will update existing records in the database with metadata from the files, and insert new records in the database if new files are processed that don't have an existing record in the database.
Now configure the mapping of column contents to metadata fields. To do this, click on the Configure button and choose a table from the DSN under the Select table dropdown list.
Next, choose the metadata field to which the content should be mapped and the action that should be performed in this field. You can choose to replace any existing content in the chosen metadata field, or to append the new data before or after any already existing text.
Now choose which metadata field you want to use as the primary key field. Color Factory will try to match the content of that metadata field an existing record in the database. When a match has been found, the action specified for each field will be performed (replace or insert before/after).
If you choose File name in the Primary key list you can make Color Factory search for a part of the name, the full name or the full name with extension. By choosing Use part of name you can specify the number of characters Color Factory should compare in the file name and the database column content.


By now, you've probably already heard that sitting all day is bad for you, but exactly how many hours of sitting may be too much? New research says reducing the amount of sitting to less than 3 hours a day can increase life expectancy by 2 years.
Researchers from Louisiana State University and Harvard Medical School analysed data from five studies of nearly 167,000 people over 4 to 14 years. Participants in the National Health and Nutrition Survey reported their sedentary habits, including how many hours they spend sitting (e.g., using the computer and watching TV). The researchers eliminated data for patients with existing diseases (who might be more prone to sitting a lot) and then folded in mortality risk into their meta-analysis.
The results indicate that US life expectancy drops by 2 years when people sit for more than 3 hours a day, and another 1.4 years for watching TV more than 2 hours a day. Researchers Peter T Katzmarzyk and I-Min Lee conclude that reducing the amount of time you sit, including TV viewing time, can potentially increase life expectancy.
While that conclusion isn't really new news (a previous Australian study linked TV watching with reduced life expectancy), spending less than 3 hours in a chair is a new goal. It's clear that the fewer hours you spend sitting, the better (even if you do exercise regularly).
So consider this just another friendly reminder to adopt a standing desk either full or part-time or try other solutions to counteract the damages of sitting too long.


Following four amazing events Big Fish Little Fish return to Cliffs Pavilion.
World renowned legend Andy Smith (Ex-Portishead) will be playing a House/Acid House classics set. Anyone who has heard him knows what an amazing DJ he is!
Support comes from Moving Shadow legend DJ Trax who will be playing Rave classics + Drum and Bass. Live Percussionist Paul Fistfunk Crowley also takes to the stage.
The event will feature themed crafts, giant balloons, glitter cannons, bubble machine, club lighting (no strobes), face painting stall and the BFLF famous parachute dance. .
IMPORTANT Ts&Cs:Parents must remain responsible for their children at all times.
A max of 3 children per adult. A max of 4 adults per child (and such groups must be pre-approved by emailinginfoeast@bigfishlittlefishevents.co.uk before buying tickets).
Please be prepared for the event to be busy - it is a rave!The event is conducted indoors with limited club lighting(no strobes) as the venue will be quite light , when entering please allow a few minutes for your eyes to adjust. Please no running!