Today, Amazon unveiled a new product called Echo, a cylindrical speaker that doubles as your Google Now / Siri-like voice assistant that is able to answer a variety of questions and perform various functions.
The cloud connected device is controlled using only voice input and will wake when you say the word "Alexa." Like Google Now and Siri, the device can answer questions about the time and weather, as well as perform tasks like playing music or taking a note.
According to Amazon, Echo uses far-field voice recognition technology that utilizes seven microphones to detect a request no matter where you are located in the room. The device is also equipped with downward-facing speakers that will reportedly provide an immersive room-filling sound experience.
Echo allows users to access services like Amazon Music, TuneIn Radio, and iHeartRadio to play music straight from your device using the device's built-in Bluetooth.
The device is designed to learn and gain functionality over time. Using a companion app, which will only work on devices running Amazon's Fire OS or Android, or a web interface lets users perform tasks such as creating alarms, shopping lists, and more.
Amazon's Echo is priced at $199 (or $99 if you are an Amazon Prime customer), however it currently requires users to request an invitation from Amazon in order to be able to purchase the device. Note: The device appears to be U.S. only at the time of this post.


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"The Crow" Blu-ray
Posted in Labels: action, blu-ray, comic book, review
The Crow has always carried with it a macabre mystique due to the tragic accidental shooting death of star Brandon (son of Bruce) Lee during production. (It's really easy to spot when they use a body double: If you aren't seeing his face, it's the double.) But there is more to its lasting appeal than Lee's death that's made it a lasting cultural touchstone which lead to even South Park making this crack a dozen years after its 1994 release:
Hell on Earth 2006
Get More: SOUTH
PARKmore...
Killer, huh? (In case you haven't seen the full episode, Satan shows up dressed as The Crow.)
Anyways, it's been ages since I've watched the whole movie straight through and I'd forgotten how briskly paced, almost impressionistic the first half was in spelling out the scenario of Eric Draven and this fiance, Shelly, being murdered on Devil's Night, the day before their Halloween wedding and how Eric crawls from the grave a year later and with the invulnerability that a crow grants him hunts down and kills his and Shelly's killers. There is very little extraneous stuff in the first half, though it slows a bit as the original gang of knuckleheads is dispatched and the focus switches to their master, Michael Wincott, and his half-sister (Bai Ling in her American film debut) and their interest in this interloper with mystical powers.
Director Alex Proyas followed The Crow up with the similarly dark and moody Dark City in 1998, but the new millennium saw him making lackluster films such as Big Willie vs. the Evil Robots, er, I meant I, Robot and the Nic Cage Doomsday bum-out Knowing. The rain-soaked, monochromatic nighttime setting is pretty well rendered in this Blu-ray transfer. There was a little noise in the reds of the first optical shot showing the crime scene in the miniature's window, but it was isolated to there and it generally looks good and clear with all the black and black imagery. The audio was less impressive, but more a limitation of the source track than a problem with the disc.
On the extras front, I didn't listen to the Proyas commentary yet or watch the 33-minute interview with a seriously twitchy creator James O'Barr, but the archival interview behind-the scenes was interesting and sad as you realize how articulate and intellectual Lee was. The Extended Scenes are better described as Rough Cut First Edit Scenes as they feature much more violence, especially the addition of a poor woman at the arcade T-Bird and boys are introduced blowing up who is terrorized and left trapped in the exploding building.
The Crow isn't a flawless or unqualified "great" movie, but as a mood piece and Goth-comic touchstone it's got its merits. This new Blu-ray is available for around $10-$12 if you know where to shop, so there's no reason for fans to skip adding it to their collections.
Score: 8/10. Buy it.
October 2011 Review Roundup
"Real Steel" Review
"We Are the Night" Review
"Footloose (2011)" Review

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Now for the fourth time in Perth, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.
The 2017 event will be held at Burswood Park on Sunday 26th March. Registrations kick off at 8am.
We are inspired to support the hard work required to address the issue of violence against women.


text:
Q: FileChooser.ExtensionFilter does not filter .url files I'm using the FileChooser to select a file, and I've added a ExtensionFilter to the FileChooser so that the user is restricted to choosing only the specified file type. In this case I want the restrict the user to selecting .xml files only.
The problem is that my ExtensionFilter allows the user to select not only .xml files, but also .url (internet shortcut) files. The ExtensionFilter does work almost perfect, since no other file types than the two is shown (to my knowledge; I've only tried with the most common file types).
This is my ExtensionFilter:
FileChooser.ExtensionFilter extensionFilter = new FileChooser.ExtensionFilter(
            "XML Files (*.xml)", "*.xml");

I tried changing it to allowing only .txt files instead, just to check if it maybe grouped .xml and .url together somehow, but with the same result. The FileChooser then shows both .txt and .url. So it seems that .url files somehow slips through the filtering process.
Is this perhaps a design bug?
Edit: Environment: Windows 8.1 Enterprise + Java 1.8.0_45
Update: This seems to be an issue that is bound to my environment. All tested environments except mine has failed to reproduce the issue. I managed to reproduce the issue on another computer with the same on environment. Can any one else try this in a Windows 8  environment and confirm the issue?
Tested environments that isn't able to reproduce the bug:

*

*Ubuntu 14.10 with GNOME 3

*Mac 10.8.5 + Java 1.8.0_45

*Windows 7 Professional SP1 + Java 1.8.0_45
Here's a SSCCE that reproduces the described issue:
import javafx.application.Application;
import javafx.stage.FileChooser;
import javafx.stage.Stage;

public class SSCCE extends Application {
    private Stage primaryStage;

    public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
        this.primaryStage = primaryStage;
        this.primaryStage.setTitle("SSCCE");

    }

    public SSCCE() {
        FileChooser fileChooser = new FileChooser();

        FileChooser.ExtensionFilter extensionFilter = new FileChooser.ExtensionFilter(
                "XML Files (*.xml)", "*.xml");
        fileChooser.getExtensionFilters().add(extensionFilter);

        fileChooser.showOpenDialog(primaryStage);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        launch(args);
    }
}

A: I was having the same problem (in windows 10) and want to share what I've found:
This bug was reported to OpenJDK and the answer was that this is a Windows issue and would not be fixed.
"Seems the showing of .url file types is a "known issue" in Windows, and there is not a clean or easy workaround for the issue."
"Given that the core of this report is related to unfiltered .url files, and given that is a "feature" of Windows, I am closing this as will not fix."
Source: https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-8161668

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
World selected
Australia selected
Marree Man: The enduring mystery of a giant outback figure
By Frances Mao BBC News, Sydney
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-44597730
Image copyright PHIL TURNER
Image caption Marree Man was etched into remote South Australia in 1998
This week marks 20 years since a helicopter pilot flying over central Australia spotted the outline of a giant man drawn into the earth.
The 4.2km (2.5 miles) tall figure, on a remote plateau in South Australia, is often thought to depict an Aboriginal hunter.
Dubbed Marree Man after a nearby town, it is one of the world's largest designs to be etched into the ground.
But mystery surrounds who created it - and why.
Earlier this week, Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith offered a A$5,000 (£2,800; $3,700) reward for any information about the artwork's origins.
"How has it been kept secret for 20 years?" he said on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Monday.
'Professionally done'
Marree Man has been a subject of fascination since its discovery in the desert about 700km north of Adelaide.
It has gained popularity on tourism flights because it is too large to be viewed from the ground.
With an outline measuring a total of 28km, Marree Man had an initial depth of about 35cm (14 inches), according to local media reports.
Locals believe it portrays an Aboriginal man carrying a woomera - a throwing stick - in his left hand.
Marree publican Phil Turner says he is convinced that its creator, or creators, were "professionals" who possibly used GPS technology.
Australia's Lake Eyre from the sky
The famed painters who vanished into obscurity
Does Mona Lisa have a hidden personality?
"Whoever did the outline marked it out with bamboo nursery skewers at every 10m," Mr Turner told the BBC.
"If you didn't have the co-ordinates, you would have no idea if you were standing in his left toe or his elbow. Considering GPS technology was in its infancy at the time, it is an absolutely remarkable feat."
Mr Smith agrees, telling the ABC: "There were no mistakes - it was very professionally done."
Several theories about its creators have circulated over the years.
Image caption A stake that was possibly used in Marree Man's creation, locals say
Pilot Trevor Wright, the first to see Marree Man on 26 June 1998, says he spotted it by chance. But anonymous faxes were also sent to local businesses and media at the time, to inform them of Marree Man's existence.
Some suspected it was the work of American artists because the faxes used US spelling and references. A plaque showing the US flag and Olympic rings was also found at the site.
But others have theorised that those clues were deliberately misleading, with alternative suggestions including local artists and even members of the Australian Army.
'Mix of opinions'
The Arabana people are the traditional owners of the land on which Marree Man was created.
Arabana Aboriginal Corporation manager Lorraine Merrick said its appearance in 1998 had initially upset some Aboriginal people who viewed it as a desecration of their land.
She said there was "a mix of opinions now".
However, Ms Merrick said the corporation - which administers the land - recognised that Marree Man had become an icon.
"It's there now and you can't turn back the clock," she told the BBC. "So for us it's about working out a clear strategy for its future."
Marree Man has faded over the years, but locals, with the approval of the Arabana people, used machinery to help to restore it in 2016.
"Maybe the mystery is part of its attraction, but honestly I don't have people coming up to me asking who did it or anything like that," Ms Merrick said.
The best way to get news on the go
Download the BBC News App.
World Sections


Parker HLE-Z Rack & Pinion Drive - Advanced Motion Systems, Inc.
Parker's HLE-Z, the "endless" linear module, is a quiet running linear drive unit designed to position payloads over very long travels with high rigidity and repeatability. It is ideal for overhead gantry robots, storage and retrieval systems, and other applications requiring long travels, high performance, and maintenance free operation. A standard unit can transport payloads that weigh as much as 600 kilograms over distances up to fifty meters. The HLE-Z features a unique new "Par-Trac" drive system, an innovative variation of a conventional rack and pinion drive which offers the same advantages of the rack and pinion, without many of the drawbacks.


Insp. Jack Frost: It's Berland, right on time. That's his van, with the star attraction of some kind. How long should we give 'em?
Christine Moorhead: Let them start. Ten minutes.
As has been said by me numerous times already, 'A Touch of Frost' is a personal favourite of mine, and one of my favourite shows from the detective/mystery genre. Do have a preference perhaps for the earlier-mid-show episodes over the later ones, but none of the episodes are less than watchable and none do anything to embarrass the show.
So much appeals about 'A Touch of Frost'. Love the mix of comedy (mostly through Frost's snide comments and quips) and dark grit, the tension between rebellious Jack Frost and by-the-book Mullet which has led to some humorous moments, how he interacts with the rest of the staff, the deft mix of one or two cases and Frost's personal life, how Frost solves the cases, the production values, music and of course David Jason in one of his best roles.
There may have been people initially sceptical about whether the show would work, and with Jason (a mainly comedic actor) in a departure from usual in the lead role. Scepticism very quickly evaporated, the first six seasons were top notch with a few not-quite-outstanding-but-still-very-good episodes but most of them being near-perfect to masterpiece. Was not sure initially as to whether the Seasons 7-9 two parters would work, having seen two parters not quite work with 'Lewis' for example, but all three worked brilliantly.
Most of Season 10 was of a very high standard, "Held in Trust" was my personal favourite of the episodes but Jim Sturgess' performance in "Close Encounters" is one of the show's best supporting turns. Was a little let down however by "Hidden Truth", which was still decent and much better than a lot of weaker episodes from other shows but considering the high quality of Seasons 1-9 decent didn't seem quite enough. "Another Life" and "Dancing in the Dark" were very good episodes for Season 11, though neither high points. "Near Death Experience" was one of my favourite latter season episodes, while the next episode "Endangered Species", while a long way from bad (pretty decent still) is one of my least favourites of the series.
"Mind Games" was a great return for 'A Touch of Frost' after a two year absence, while "Dead End" while still decent was a disappointment and one of my least favourite episodes overall. As far as Season 14 episodes go, "In the Public Interest" is not as good as "Mind Games" but is superior to "Dead End".
Season 15 was the last, after David Jason decided to retire the role, and is comprised of one two parter. And it's a two parter that starts very strongly in Part 1, though the two parter overall is not quite as good as the previous three two parters from Seasons 7-9.
Production values still look great. It matches the dark, gritty tone of the episode beautifully with atmospheric lighting and the stylish way it's shot. The music is haunting without being over-bearing, the theme tune still iconic.
Good deal of the script is taut and thought-provoking, with a few amusing moments but a good deal of gritty ones. The story is absorbing, with a good deal of tension and suspense, especially the pretty nail-biting cliff-hanger ending.
Frost is remarkably well established as a character, with his faults but also good qualities. Can't fault Jason as Frost, he is simply brilliant in the role as always with not one foot put wrong. All the supporting cast are on point with not a weak link, with Bruce Alexander and John Lyons being as ever sturdy regular support and Phyllis Logan and Adrian Dunbar faring best of the guest turns.


The use of seawater and the exploitation of marine resources may cause serious damages unless they are carried out in a way that guarantees its sustainable use, i.e. that guarantees compatibility between the marine ecosystems and man's activities. Unfortunately, in many cases, since the antiquity the sea has been wrongly considered as a huge dumping ground in which all waste and dirt could be freely thrown. And it is still considered as such by poorly educated summer tourists, especially those who use sailing or motorboats and throw all their waste into it.
discharge of plastic containers and other non-biodegradable solid waste.


A leading manufacturer of concrete roofing tiles in both standard and lightweight designs, Borel Tile is the only company to create a sub-600 pound flat tile, weighing less than six pounds per square foot. Concrete roof tile is extremely durable and is inherently sustainable. Los Gatos Roofing installs all styles and profiles of Borel Tile to provide a lifetime roof with natural beauty and maximum performance.
A family owned company in the tile industry for over 40 years, Eagle Roofing Products offers the largest range of styles and colors among all tile manufacturers. They also offer integrated solar panels to fit with their flat roofing tile profiles, and Los Gatos Roofing is an authorized installer. All Eagle Roofing Products come with a lifetime warranty.


Looking for refactory installation companies? NBW provides superior refractor installation services across Ohio and the USA.Keeping equipment protected from intense heat while encapsulating flames and hot gases is the responsibility of refractory and insulation. Properly applied refractory allows for efficient operation and long life of equipment.
Personnel protection is always a concern. Aside from obvious scalding and burning hazards, gas entrapment can create an extremely dangerous situation. Proper refractory installation allows for dry out and expansion, thus minimizing cracking and premature failure. No cracking means no place for gases to collect.
Even the best refractory material will do you no good if it is not properly anchored. Not using the correct style or proper spacing of anchors will lead to sagging, cracking, and eventual collapse of refractory structures. A properly anchored refractory will have structural integrity.
NBW has established dry out procedures for all types of refractory products. This is an essential procedure to ensure proper curing and long life for your refractory.
Materials for all conditions, from abrasion resistant to ultra high temperatures, can be furnished and installed by knowledgeable crews. Allow NBW to help you from the material selection process through installation, and feel at ease knowing the job is being done right. Contact the leader in refractory installation companies.


As Nature unfolds her newness around you, the temptation to overdo your Springtime activity may creep in like unwanted weeds. Your revived energy may take you down the path of a worn-out-woman if you aren't attentive. Experiencing an internal cleanse can help you stay balanced during this season. Most health food stores or holistic health providers offer a variety of internal cleansing supplements or programs. Understanding the process before buying allows you to wisely choose the plan best suited for your body and your lifestyle.
Choosing a simple Spring cleanse often brings rewards as great as a lengthy, more involved cleansing process. An internal cleanse can be as simple as a cup of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice and one-half of a teaspoon of locally grown honey. This is a great way to begin your day. A lemon offers great therapeutic value following a heavy Winter diet of high fat and high protein.
You may decide that a gentle one or two day cleanse will be your next step. You can increase the length of time as your body and mind accept and adapt to this new seasonal ritual. Choose your days with minimal activities planned so your energy will be used efficiently for your cleanse. Plan and prepare to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices and broths. These may be prepared in a juice machine or purchased from an organic juice vendor. This period without eating solid foods gives the digestive and detoxifying organs time to rest, repair and rebuild.
Another internal cleansing method requires a temporary removal of all—or at least most—non-food items from your diet. The No White Flour, White Sugar, White Rice or Pasta elimination diet produces amazing results. These highly refined ingredients are devoid of nutrients and so they create internal deficiencies and contribute to inflammatory conditions. Many of my clients noticed a marked reduction in their body's discomforts when they removed these white items from their diet for a minimum of two weeks. This cleansing plan allows for pure, simple and seasonal foods—just as Nature grew them—prepared simply and healthfully. Raw, steamed, baked or grilled fruits, vegetables and lean protein provide the necessary nutrients without the overload of processed, additive laden and lifeless foods. Once health and vitality were restored, few women cared to return to poor dietary choices and nutrient-deficient foods.
Now that you've become more acquainted with some of Spring's characteristics, let's go to the garden and gather the goodness of this season.


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26-Year-Old Immigration Attorney Challenges Incumbent Rep. Cuellar For Seat In Congress
Jessica Cisneros is supported by the Justice Democrats, the same group that backed New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her New York congressional race.
By Reynaldo Leaños Jr.June 25, 2019 9:30 amGovernment & Politics, Partner Organizations, Texas Public Radio, Texas Station Collaborative
Courtesy of the candidates
Rep. Henry Cuellar and challenger Jessica Cisneros
From Texas Public Radio:
Congressman Henry Cuellar, a Democrat, has been in office since 2005, his wide 28th district of Texas includes parts of San Antonio, as well as Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. He hasn't had a serious challenger in the last decade, until now.
Texas House Conservative Jonathan Stickland Says He Won't Run In 2020
Texas Standard For June 25, 2019
AMLO Says Mexico's New National Guard Can Detain Migrants Crossing From Guatemala
Stand Whose Ground? How Guns Are Marketed To Women.
News Roundup: Reports Indicate Family Separations Are Continuing At The Border
Veterans Affected By Burn Pits Can Soon Participate In New Texas Registry
A Modern-Day Spindletop: How One Entrepreneur Exemplifies The Renewable Energy Boom In Texas


First and foremost, make sure they are a licensed home builder in the state of Alabama. The public can visit hblb.alabama.gov/content/Search/search.aspx and search for licensed builders, or they can call 1-800-304-0853 for license verification.
Secondly, verify liability and workers' compensation insurance. In construction projects, the homeowner has a lot of exposure, and many times the nuances of policies do not adequately cover every unique situation. Liability insurance provides a third party insurer between yours and the contractor's. If there was a catastrophic mistake made or accidental damage to your property by the contractor, this insurance provides the financial stability for you to recover. Workers' compensation will protect the homeowner against the risk of serious financial repercussions if a worker is injured on your property. Hopefully, most people will tell you the truth when asked a specific question like, "Do you have liability and workers' compensation insurance?" The best way to verify is to get confirmation directly from the builder's insurance agent through email or U.S. Postal Service.
Third, ask if they are a member of their local home builders or remodelers association. Most high performing business people believe in giving back to their industry and community; this demonstrates their support of the industry from which they make a living. People who hold leader¬ship roles are generally respected and have the leadership skills to work harmoniously with peers across the industry. Inquire about any industry certifications such as CAPS (Certified Aging-In-Place Specialists), CGP (Certified Green Professional), ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), and CGR (Certified Graduate Re¬modeler). These are evidence of someone of whom you can expect a higher level of performance than from builders that have not invested this money, time, and energy to learn.
Fourth, look for or ask for pictures of their work and references that you can contact. I prefer to give references from re¬cent jobs we have completed and for work that was completed five years or more ago. This provides support that the company has earned its reputation over a period of time, and the clients are still happy with the work. If further comfort level is required, ask to see some of their work. Most clients are delighted for their contractor to show prospective clients their work at a mutually convenient time.
Fifth, ask for a sample of the builder's proposal. Vague and undefined proposals leave significant room for interpretation. Proposals should verbally articulate exactly what work is being done, how certain parts of the job will be done, and what materials are being used; where materials have not been selected a specific dollar amount of allowance should be disclosed. Proposals should also be clear in defining what is not included in the proposal and pricing. For example, the proposal might state that all surface-mounted light fixtures are to be supplied by client.
Sixth, trust your instincts. Inviting a builder, their employees, and trade contractors into your home to complete any project (particularly a major remodel that will take weeks) is a huge commitment on the part of all parties. Positive answers to all of the issues discussed above should provide a level of comfort.
Now, finally, you have to determine the chemistry. Do you trust the builder? Have they communicated effectively with you? Have they demonstrated an ability and willingness to listen to your ideas and what you want? How did you feel about trade contractors that were part of a walk through to discuss the scope of work and provide pricing? Are you confident that this builder can deliver what you want and are you comfortable working with them in a relationship where you need to trust them and their people? This comfort and trust is essential in obtaining the best possible results.
I need to remodel my kitchen, but I'm worried that once it's all torn up the contractor will come to me with jacking up the price. How can I make sure this doesn't happen?
Most of our kitchen projects are design-build projects. Our ASID-accredited in-house designer and sales representatives work with the client to define and design every aspect of the project. We like to make as many selections as possible before the contract is signed so there are no surprises. If certain selections are not made, we provide allowances.
The key is to make sure the builder/designer understands the level of finishes you expect. Most of our clients are looking to go beyond builder grade fixtures of $1 per square foot for tile, for example. Make sure up front that allowances are at reasonable levels for all items that have not been specifically identified.
Builders should inform you up front and include in their proposal any items that will have to be brought up to code. The most common items are the required upgrade in smoke detectors. Some items will not be discovered until demolition has started or is complete and unseen items are uncovered. Some of these items are unavoidable, but good builders will have their key trade contractors visit the job site early on to help uncover as many of these items as possible.
The final written proposal should detail every aspect of the job: what is going to be done, how it is going to be done, what materials are to be used and what is not include if anything. The greater the detail, the fewer questions should be unanswered and the less the chance of unknown cost that may be incurred once the job starts.
We need to remodel our bathroom, but what I want and what my husband wants are totally different. Can someone help us make these design decisions?
That depends on what you disagree on and your willingness to compromise and/or make final decisions based on investment return, accessibility, or functionality if they are some of the items affecting the difference of opinion. If the difference is purely stylistic, the challenge will be greater, but we make every effort to work through the process with you.
Technology allows us to draw the space so that it can be seen in 3D, providing a real-life perspective. This often helps both parties better see exactly what the end product will look like and easily make changes, additions, and deletions before the work begins.
It's time to finish out our basement to be the "man cave," but I don't know where to start. How am I ever going to get this done?
A)Are they listening to your ideas and what you want?
B)Have they shared any ideas that you like?
C)Can they provide you with a design that includes schematics, elevations, and a 3D walk through?
D)Are they able to articulate a clear understanding of what your expectations are? For example, investments in basements have one of the lowest returns in the resale value of your home in an appraisal. Having said this, finished basements also often add some of the most used and enjoyed areas of the home. These spaces can serve from everything man caves, to in-law suites, and everything in between. How this space will be used will determine the ultimate design.
I recently bought an older home and will eventually need to remodel everything. Where should I start?
This answer requires an in depth discussion between the client and a Design/Build firm that can guide you through answering numerous questions, creating a realistic budget, providing a design for the new space and completing the work.
1. Let's start with defining what condition the basic systems are in and what changes are needed. This will include HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing systems. The range of cost for these items can vary widely and may have a significant impact on overall budget.
2. Can the existing footprint accommodate your future space requirements or will we need to add additional space? Again adding space will provide more options but also adds to cost. Very low square foot additions don't allow for any economy of scale and tend to provide less in new appraised value than the actual cost. Most older homes don't provide the open floor plan that is more desirable today. We like to evaluate the options to remove walls and change spaces based on the way clients live and use their space.
3. Will your budget allow for all of the work to be done at one time or will it need to be done in phases? There is usually some savings with being able to do all of the work at one time.
4. Is this your forever home, or do you plan to move in five years or less? Major investments in your home that have included higher quality materials and workmanship seldom yield a 100% return in the short term. These investments are generally made to improve the overall quality of life, functionality and will determine how much you really love and enjoy the space and the return on investment is realized over a longer period of time. Profit on short term fix ups frequently include the most superficial upgrades and often include builder grade materials and mediocre workmanship.
5. Today's world seems to seek instant gratification. Having once lived in a home that was built in 1865 and added on to at the turn of the century, I can suggest from experience that living in a space for a year before making major changes is probably a good idea for most people. This time allows you to really think thru how you will use the space, where you need more room, and how things can be arranged to provide more functionality for your particular lifestyle.
I want to turn my deck into usable space all year round. What are my options?
1. How will the space be used?
2. How large does the space need to be?
3. Do I want/ need an extension of existing space or do I want/need a separate room?
4. What will the additional HVAC requirements for this space be?
Many of our clients find a screen porch and/or other out¬door living spaces to be a preferred alternative to extending their living space to the out¬side. The mild Alabama weather coupled with numerous new products allows us to create outdoor living spaces that are very functional and enjoyable almost year round. Only the most severe heat and cold limit the use of these spaces.
That depends on what you disagree on and your willingness to compromise and/or make final decisions based on investment return, accessibility, or functionality if they are some of the items affecting the difference of opinion. If the difference is purely stylistic, the challenge will be greater, but we make every effort to work through the process with you. Technology allows us to draw the space so that it can be seen in 3D, providing a real-life perspective. This often helps both parties better see exactly what the end product will look like and more easily make changes, additions, or deletions before the work begins.
My kitchen just isn't functional. I want to remodel, but don't know how to make the space work. What should I do?
This is what Design/ Build Remodeling Firms do every day. We start with a list of questions which will help us understand what you don't like about the existing space, what you do like about the existing space and what you would like to have. We will delve further into understanding your lifestyle, any family dynamics that will determine design requirements, and the amount of investment you are able or willing to make. We will discuss options you may not have considered. Once we are able to verbally agree on one or two possible concepts that sound like they would work, a Design Agreement is entered into.
Design Agreements should define the scope of work at a big picture level the area that is being designed and what will be included in the design deliverables. Schematics, Elevations, 3D model, etc., the cost of the design, any product selections that are included and/or cost for assistance with additional Product Selections. The design documents provided will also be used for obtaining Building Permits and actually building or remodeling the new space. Once the design is agreed upon and product selections finalized, pricing can be pulled together in the form of a proposal. When the proposal is accepted a Construction Contract is entered into for the work to begin.
I want to remodel my home with sustainable materials, but I don't want to sacrifice quality. What are some of the best eco-friendly materials?
1.) Low VOC-or-no-odor-coatings paint. Sherwin Williams' Harmony Line provides you with no odors or low VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint in all the same colors that you typically use from Sherwin Williams.
2.) Recycled Tiles. There are several large tile manufacturing companies that have tiles with over 50% or more recycled content (either post-consumer or pre-consumer). These tiles have the same durability, styles and patterns as tiles with non-recycled materials.
3.) Windows. Installing a better performance window with Low-E glazing will help reduce the heat in the warmer months and help your utility bills throughout the year.
We'd like to enjoy the beautiful views of our backyard more. What are some options to turn our deck into an area we can enjoy for all four seasons?
Sitting outside in the summer heat can be too harsh for most people. Building an awning, covered porch, or pergola to shade at least some part of your outdoor deck and installing ceiling fans can provide a more relaxing and enjoyable environment.
Also, installing an outdoor fireplace for the cooler months will ensure that you could comfortably sit outside during most of the year.
Four kids sharing one bathroom is not working for our family any more. Is there a way to add another bathroom without disrupting our regular routine?
As kids get older, we often get calls to renovate basements into a bed/bath arrangement. This is typically the best way to add another bathroom to your home without disrupting everyone's schedule. When adding bedrooms in the basement , code requires that the space have a window with at least 5.7 SF opening for egress in case of fire.
If the basement does not provide for this code compliant egress, window wells can be added. This question is best answered on a case by case basis and would vary depending on the existing floorplan.
Our house feels so boxy. Are there ways make an older home more open?
By removing a few walls, the main living areas (kitchen and den) can have a nicer flow and appear more visually open and less cramped. You could even replace the main dividing wall (if not load bearing) with an island or a peninsula to connect the two spaces together.
Other ways to open up an older home would be to provide a seamless transition from one room to the next by installing the same flooring throughout each room such as hard¬woods. Lightening up these areas with a lighter paint color on the walls (try Sherwin Williams "Colonade Gray" instead of darker/bolder tones) will also make the spaces appear larger.
What are some upcoming new trends in kitchen/bath design?
Using a color palette with contrasting elements is a huge trend that has flooded the design market. For example, using white tile or countertops with black plumbing fixtures is a trend that many people are asking for. Also, in the kitchen, using lighter upper cabinets and a darker base cabinet for contrast is something that we are seeing a lot.
How do I make selections on items that are more timeless in nature than the latest trend, but still produces a wow factor.
Try to make selections that are more neutral such as lighter cabinetry or walls which tend to provide more options for spaces (or furniture) in the future. Heavier, more complicated or busy patterns on countertops, walls or even tile can "date" a space. Keeping it simple with regard to selections allows for more variety later on down the road.
I have several rooms in my home that get limited natural light and are dark all the time. What options are available to brighten this space.
If you have limited natural light in your space, you will need to focus on lightening the room with paint. You could use whiter tones such as Sherwin Williams Snowbound or a neutral, but light taupe, Collonade Gray. You could also focus on lighter (in color) furnishings and going with sheers or translucent shades instead of heavier drapes. Adding 6" can lights in the ceiling is also a great way to create more lighting within the ceiling itself.
We love our home, but we live in a little house on a little lot. What are some things we can do to get to most out of the space we have?
I would suggest starting with a list of needs and wants. Define what you and your family, if applicable, really need that the house does not currently provide. This list should include, or at least consider the possibility of, an outdoor living space. I would then have a second list of wants. These are items that would be desirable and add to the comfort of your lifestyle but are optional based on budget, return on investment, and limitations based on zoning or neighborhood restrictions.
Does everything have a place and is it put back there when not in use?
Are you utilizing any of the many organizational tools that are available on the market today. This might include cabinet dividers and hardware, closet systems designed to maximize the utility of small spaces and smaller furniture designed to accommodate smaller spaces.
Living a minimalistic lifestyle or hoarder lifestyle.
I know people that live each of these life styles. Obviously being a hoarder in cramped spaces can become problematic. It is also hard to just get rid of our stuff on a regular basis just because we have not used it recently. Most of us however have more than our share of stuff that we will never use again. Donate it to someone that can benefit from it. Start with the closets on this one and decide if you will ever really can or will wear it again.
There are people that will help you address each of these issues if you could use help with this. Once this has been completed an experienced design/build contractor can help you create a vision for modification and organizational improvements in your home that will help to meet your needs and wants list. This would be done by defining a scope of work and designing the existing space and/or additional space accordingly. A design/build firm can also explore with you outdoor living spaces that can tremendously to your actual utilization of space that is not now being used. Alabama's climate allows for these spaces to be used at least 9 to 10 months of the year.
Another resource we would recommend is the "Not So Big House" by Sarah Susanka. As a licensed Architect, Sarah has done an outstanding job of designing small spaces that truly utilize every square foot of space. Spaces are designed around lifestyle and the daily requirements of you and your family.
My husband wants to finish out our attic for a media room. I'm worried it will just be too hot with our Alabama weather to be a usable space. Is this a viable option in Alabama?
We have all heard the saying 'everything is possible' and without specific information on your attic I would say this is viable. Now let's talk about a few of the obvious questions and possible issues.
What accessibility does the current attic space have? Is it pull-down stairs only or is there a code compliant set of stairs that currently exist for access? If stairs do not currently exist, putting them in will probably take up space in your existing living space that you may not want to sacrifice. If it is unfinished space on the second floor with easy access it usually becomes much simpler. What we often see is unfinished space with ceiling joists instead of floor joist. If this is the case, adequate bearing support will need to be located and floor joists added.
Most of these spaces required additional framing and will include at least one knee wall with a sloped ceiling. Sometimes when planning this type of space, people have wanted to include a window or attic dormer. Troughs are installed for air flow on the sloped ceiling. While more expensive than fiberglass, spray foam insulation is probably the most effective way to go with insulating the space, as it provides both insulation a remedy to air leakage. Depending on the size of the space, HVAC requirements may allow you to 'piggy back' on the existing system, or a mini-split system might need to be added. Like most projects the cost can vary greatly starting with existing conditions.
When finished properly, this space should flow as if it were part of the original house design and function as if it were part of the original construction. These spaces can often add great value for creating a more comfortable lifestyle.


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Coordinates of Greenland: ° 0' 0", ° 0' 0"
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text:
package org.apache.nifi.stream.io.util;

import java.util.Arrays;

public class NonThreadSafeCircularBuffer {

    private final byte[] lookingFor;
    private final int[] buffer;
    private int insertionPointer = 0;
    private int bufferSize = 0;

    public NonThreadSafeCircularBuffer(final byte[] lookingFor) {
        this.lookingFor = lookingFor;
        buffer = new int[lookingFor.length];
        Arrays.fill(buffer, -1);
    }

    public byte[] getByteArray() {
        return lookingFor;
    }

    /**
     * Returns the oldest byte in the buffer
     *
     * @return the oldest byte
     */
    public int getOldestByte() {
        return buffer[insertionPointer];
    }

    public boolean isFilled() {
        return bufferSize >= buffer.length;
    }

    public boolean addAndCompare(final byte data) {
        buffer[insertionPointer] = data;
        insertionPointer = (insertionPointer + 1) % lookingFor.length;

        bufferSize++;
        if (bufferSize < lookingFor.length) {
            return false;
        }

        for (int i = 0; i < lookingFor.length; i++) {
            final byte compare = (byte) buffer[(insertionPointer + i) % lookingFor.length];
            if (compare != lookingFor[i]) {
                return false;
            }
        }

        return true;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Prof. Fawziah Al Bakr has had a long history in human rights activism. She is a professor of education at King Saud University. She is also a writer who spent three months in prison for her columns. You can read a translation of her article on gender apartheid here and you can follow her on Twitter here.
This is a translation of an article written by Prof. Al Bakr published in Al Jazirah newspaper today.
It is no longer easy to read our local newspapers, now full of painful news, especially related to children, young orphans and disadvantaged minors and women. These are those most vulnerable in a society that tends to substantiate male superiority while perpetuating the weakness and subordination of women and children.
The story of the little girl Lama that was sexually abused and murdered by her father, who is now in prison awaiting trial, and other recurrent stories like it, show the power of men in this society and their capability of harming weaker parties unable to defend themselves due to lack of awareness, mechanisms and laws that protect children and women from all kinds of harassment and abuse.
Societies are based on families caring for their children. A father and mother's immediate responsibility in every family is to care for and nurture their children, but that is not what occurs in all cases. In Saudi Arabia, there is a need to form laws that protect weaker entities within the institution of the family. The absence of such laws produce cases like Lama, who die waiting for justice, and this absence of legislation will keep producing others like Lama we may or may not know about.
In the past, it was acceptable and feasible to address similar cases within the context of the family and neighborhood due to the small population of Saudi at that time and the simplicity of the social system. This is no longer possible in this day and age. The population of Saudi has grown enormously and every family within this modern lifestyle system has practically barricaded themselves inside their cement homes, isolated from others around them. Many negative lifestyle options have now become accessible such as drug use and alcohol while the legal system has not caught up by implementing legislation, protocol and social services to prevent and protect against abuse and neglect.
Our modern times have seen a shift in how we define and view terms like childhood, abuse, neglect and other terms relating to rights in modern social institutions. Our generation was subjected to many forms of verbal and (maybe physical) abuse from teachers, parents, relatives and neighbors according to the prevailing intellectual structure of the society; as the Arabic proverb goes the meat is for the teacher and the bones for the parents. If at that time society did not criminalize many forms of abuse, today there is no room for such practices, even if it is for noble goals. No one can hit a child under the pretext of disciplining or slap a teenager under the pretext of returning him or her to their senses, let alone deliver deliberate harm or neglect or sexual abuse as poor Lama faced that left her body lying in the morgue for four months!!
It is time to wake up. Such practices must be criminalized because it is a crime in our modern time's definition. Many of the frighteningly light court rulings on cases of domestic abuse do not correspond to the severity of the crime. Civil and Shariah laws should be updated to catch up with Saudi society's intellectual shift in the understanding of rights and duties. All kinds of abusive behavior against children and women should be clearly identified by law makers and Sharia laws and codified.
There is an immediate need to call for a draft law that clearly defines all forms of abuse including verbal, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse and other forms of sexual harassment and abuse that women and other minorities in society face.
We have grown weary of hearing about the Lamas of our society. Their stories, reverberated by the newspapers and satellite channels, nationally and internationally, have created an awareness among society regarding the lack of a basic law for the protection against abuse. It is high time for legislation to cover this deficiency. Saudi Arabia has signed many international treaties that ensure basic human rights for all and rejects any kind of discrimination. Islamic laws also emphasize the protection of rights for all. Our shared religion and these treaties could help us to initiate laws against neglect and abuse that many have long waited for.


Yesterday saw what was surely the most full-on winter conditions we have had this season so far.
Heavy snow was falling for lots of the day and some blustery winds as well especially in the afternoon. I cleared a good 15cm off my measuring area yesterday evening and overnight there has been more snow with another 9cm added (somewhat less than we were actually expecting overnight), so I make that 24cm since my report yesterday morning.
Interestingly Kagura are reporting 10cm and Maiko report 5-15cm. With those numbers I can only think they are leaving out what fell yesterday as there has certainly been more than that since yesterday afternoon!
When I say 'lots of the day' above, there was this one curious period late morning when the clouds cleared up quite a lot - we even had blue skies - and we thought that might be the end of the snow for the day... but happily it started up again quite quickly and got heavy.
It has been snowing this morning and still is, though just as I write this report things it is lighter and it's actually quite bright. Perhaps it will be similar to yesterday and the heavy snow will be back quickly - it is on the forecast for the day.
It's fantastic to see some decent amounts of snow fall of course and fingers crossed we will get more today.
The chances of a clear and sunny day tomorrow are high - being here tomorrow should be excellent timing.
Temperatures do look like they are going to creep up somewhat higher later in the week and there's chance of some rain as well which doesn't sound very good. Hopefully we'll avoid that.
For now though, fresh snow to play in and some fine to excellent conditions to be found.
Checking around resorts early on it seems that Tashiro area of Kagura will be closed due to wind up there. Kagura via Mitsumata will be open at the beginning of the day up to Kagura Number 1 pair lift.
All slopes have enjoyed a decent refresh of snow over the last few days.
Excellent news this morning from a very snowy Grandeco area.
32cm of fine powder snow has very kindly been delivered to base of resort here, surely more higher up, and more on the way during the day today with the clouds starting to clear sometime tonight according to the forecast.
The wind is not strong now, so it's a lovely calm morning with all that fresh snow to enjoy.
The Ura Bandai resort (north area of Mt. Bandai) is also now fully open and resorts in the Inawashiro and Bandai area to the south of Mt Bandai are now also able to open most of their courses.
Roads are fully covered with snow - be careful!
The forecast is looking good for the coming week too with more snow mid-week and over the weekend.
Good morning from Nozawa and it's keeping really cold at the moment.
I have some decent snowfall to report this morning as well with the resort officially reporting 18-22cm of fresh snow across the mountain since yesterday morning; I have had to move around that amount from down here at base too.
The only difference I can make out in resort operations for this morning is that the Jumping Course is now open. Untouched fresh snow and a decent steep, I like it.
Snow is forecast for most of the day today and the skies are supposed to be clearing up by tonight.
Tomorrow will probably bring clear skies and sunshine but hopefully it will keep cold.
Mid-week it might get slightly milder but there's more snowfall on the way by the weekend.
Morning from Zao where we have more snow - 12cm of it at base by my measurements - so I would expect up to 20cm or so in higher areas.
This morning snow is still falling. It's cold and there's a moderate wind but the resort is open as planned - all lifts moving except the weekend-only Karamatsu lift.
The Jukkii Snow Park has been opened by the Omori car park from Saturday. Jukkii-kun is the loveable 'juhyo' character, and he (?) and his (?) friends were to be seen over their being friendly and cute. Kawaii! The Snow Park is free to use.
Weather conditions: The base area is ok today but most of the upper lift stations are inside the fog.
Today is looking like it`s going to be another pretty snowy day. Since yesterday`s report we`ve had an additional 5cm of snow with more falling even now.
Yesterday turned out to be an excellent day with 15cm of snow having fallen during the day.
Unfortunately because of the wind today a lot of lifts that were earlier advertised as being open are currently not open. For now only the bottom of the mountain is open.
The snow forecast is still looking good for the coming week with snow most days and then a dump over the weekend again!
The snow keeps coming down, even if we haven't seen the big increases that we keep getting promised.
Yesterday was a morning of good snowfall, the real Myoko kind (and it was a little colder than I had reported, actually, around -6° even at 10 am). But it didn't want to keep going, and we saw some sun before the snow came back in the afternoon as well. That, too, looked pretty promising, but by the later afternoon the snow had changed to partly sunny skies and some very cold strong winds (made for some especially unpleasant snowthrowing, with cold wind on the nose enhanced with snow flying everywhere).
Light snow continues to fall this morning, though, which is always welcome, even if it probably won't build up to the potential 40cm the weather reports were talking about this morning. We're still doing OK compared to a lot of places, but the snow just doesn't want to keep on falling for extended periods of time as it normally would. It's cold, too, with the car thermometer reading -9° at around 8 this morning.
The backcountry remains very bushy; we could still use a couple of meters of good heavy snow to finally push all that stuff down and get it under the surface. A sort of test team is out there right now, so I can give some more on-the-scene reporting tomorrow. It is getting better, but nobody's going to be doing massive powder turns for a while, unless this light snow decides to keep falling for many days, which looks unlikely. The freezing line will be heading up the mountain again toward the end of the week, with heavy rain even a possibility on Saturday. If that would just change to a heavy fall of physically heavy snow, maybe we could get rid of that bush and tree problem even faster!
Tenjin shut today due to wind, Hodaigi was open except for their number 9 lift and had at least 40cm of snow on anything not groomed.
Forecasts off as usual, the snow arrived during the day which has been a feature this season. Tenjin was very windy at the base through the day though the highest open pistes at Hodaigi seemed fine.
Should be clear tomorrow and plenty of snow out there.


text:
Alcatel delivers GSM network in Afghanistan
Alcatel has signed a deal with Telecom Development Company Afghanistan (TDCA) to provide a GSM network solution consisting of both infrastructure products and services throughout Afghanistan.
By Zoe Moleshead Published August 5, 2003
Alcatel has signed a deal with Telecom Development Company Afghanistan (TDCA) to provide a GSM solution consisting of both infrastructure products and services throughout Afghanistan. The system is already up and running in Kabul, under the name of Roshan, and will be extended to the other main cities of Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad and Kunduz by the end of this year.
Under the terms of the deal, Alcatel will install its Evolium solution, as well as providing a radio base station subsystem (BSS) and a core network subsystem (NSS), which includes a mobile switching centre (MSC).
The completed network will also provide a short message service centre (SMS-C) and voice mail services. Furthermore, Alcatel will install microwave radio and carrier-class transmission solutions, which will be managed and monitored by its integrated transport network management platform.
Domestic and international communications will also be facilitated by the use of Alcatel's VSAT connections.
"In the next 12 months with the support of it's engineers, Alcatel will roll out the network to cover five of Afghanistan major cities. This is a very ambitious plan. The challenge of rolling out the network confirms Alcatel's strengths in the fast delivery of mobile networks tying in with Roshan's plans for supplying a reliable mobile network to the new Afghanistan," says Karim Khoja, CEO of Roshan.
"Taking this step in Afghanistan is a major achievement for Alcatel since we will be able to play a role in the rebuilding of the country's telecommunication infrastructure. Through this co-operation with AKFED, Alcatel is also proud to contribute to the country's development by building the first major quality GSM network," adds Marc Rouanne, CEO of Alcatel's Mobile Communications Group.
TDCA, which is an international consortium led by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and Monaco Telecom International, attained the Afghani GSM license in January 2003.


text:
Home»Sports»Brewers»Brewers and Brandon Woodruff Agree To 2023 Contract, Avoid Arbitration
Brewers and Brandon Woodruff Agree To 2023 Contract, Avoid Arbitration
By Tyler Koerth_ January 13, 2023 Updated: January 13, 2023 No Comments2 Mins Read
Brandon Woodruff is excelling since returning off the IL in June.
This off-season, Brandon Woodruff, Willy Adames, and Corbin Burnes were Brewer players that many thought could receive contract extensions. Earlier today, Willy Adames and the Brewers agreed on a one year deal worth $8.7MM. Now, it has been reported that Brandon Woodruff and the Brew Crew have agreed on a contract for the 2023 season. This deal will play him $10.8MM and helps avoid arbitration.
The Brewers and Brandon Woodruff have agreed on a contract for the 2023 season and have avoided arbitration.
MLB trade rumors had Brandon Woodruff projected to earn $11.0MM in 2023. Them agreeing to a $10.8MM salary means that neither side will have to go through a hearing to determine Woodruff's salary for next season.
Right-hander Brandon Woodruff and the Milwaukee Brewers are in agreement on a one-year, $10.8 million contract to avoid arbitration, a source tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 13, 2023
Woodruff has been great in the starting rotation since becoming a full time starter in 2019. He finished fifth in Cy Young voting in 2021 and has been elected to two All-Star Games. In 2022 he missed a few starts due to injury, but still put together a phenomenal season consisting of a 3.05 ERA over 27 starts.
After this upcoming season, Woodruff has one year of team control remaining. Unless an extension occurs, this means that after the 2024 season Woodruff will be eligible to become a free agent. At that time, he will be 32 years old.
For now, it is great to have Woodruff locked up in a Brewers uniform while he is in his prime playing years. Hopefully he can put together another great season in 2023 as the Brewers will be looking to get back into the playoffs after missing out last year.
Follow me on Twitter @tylerkoerth. Follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
Brandon Woodruff Brewers Brewers news
Tyler Koerth_
Tyler Koerth graduated with a BS in Athletic Training from Carroll University and then a MS from Western Michigan University. He enjoys watching the Milwaukee Brewers and baseball in general. This has fueled his passion for sports writing. For WSH, he contributes to the Brewers page as well as serving as an editor.
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Dirty Play in the AFC North?
Yesterday's episode of Monday Night Football had more than its share of unpleasant moments. Starting with an accidental, but particularly scary back injury to Ryan Shazier. That transcends the game and I'm sure every player in the NFL, even those who really don't like the Steelers, shares genuine concern here and hopes for a full recovery.
Unfortunately, the game quickly devolved, mostly between Pittsburgh's offense and Cincinnati's defense. The Bengals' George Iloka looked like he was going after Antonio Brown whenever possible, and finally was flagged after a touchdown. He was suspended for a game (strangely, his suspension was the only one retracted this week, since his behavior seemed the most calculated). The Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster head-hunted Vontaze Burfict during a play, then stood over him and received a taunting penalty. He was also suspended for a game.
These incidents, combined with the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski's disturbing behavior on Sunday, have the NFL once again at the top of the sports news cycle for all the wrong reasons.
That got me thinking… are some teams more prone to dirty play or is it just perception? Is the AFC North some sort of special haven for teams that can't help but goon it up against each other? How would you study this?
Given that dirty play stemming from high emotion is fairly easy to spot, my assumption is that penalty yardage would correlate to these games. So I constructed a spreadsheet with some penalty numbers from 2013-2017. This covers 1,260 games, including playoffs. I also separated out all the games involving two AFC North teams – a sample of 58 games.
Among these AFC North games, the 239 penalty yards yesterday was the most in a single game. The 173 from Cincinnati was second only to Cleveland's 188 against Pittsburgh in their first matchup of 2015. Third place – and the only other +200-yard combined penalty performance was the infamous 2015 playoff game between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
I think NFL fans remember that game. Cincinnati looked like it had completed a fantastic fourth-quarter comeback. With Pittsburgh ahead, 15-0, Roethlisberger was sacked and injured on the last play of the third quarter. The Bengals scored two touchdowns and a field goal to take the lead with 1:50 remaining. Landry Jones promptly threw an interception and it looked like two decades of playoff futility had finally ended for Cincinnati. To that point, Pittsburgh had been penalized 142 yards to Cincinnati's 49.
But the Steelers still had time outs, so the Bengals needed one more first down to secure the victory. Jeremy Hill fumbled on the next play. Still, Pittsburgh was back at its own 9. Roethlisberger returned. He moved the ball downfield quickly, but time was running out. He threw a long pass for Brown, maybe their last chance, and it fell incomplete. But Burfict was penalized for a nasty hit on Brown and Adam Jones drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and all of a sudden Pittsburgh was in position for the winning field goal in the closing seconds.
The way that game ended – with Cincinnati losing simply because their defensive players couldn't control their emotions – cemented the Bengals' reputation as an undisciplined team and lends a lot of credence to the claims Roethlisberger made yesterday.
Over the last five years, NFL teams average 56.2 penalty yards per team per game. Cincinnati has averaged 56.0 penalty yards per game. So, no, the Bengals are not a particularly high-penalty team. Teams range from Carolina (49.0 yards) to Seattle (66.3 yards). Baltimore, at 60.8 yards, is the only AFC North team in the top quartile.
Are AFC North games particularly penalty-prone? AFC North teams, overall, average 57.4 yards in penalties per game. However, divisional games average 58.3 yards in penalties. That's not a huge difference, but Cincinnati's 70.6-yard average against Pittsburgh (not including yesterday, it's 57.0 yards) is the highest team versus team average.
The numbers really aren't all that notable except for one total: in the 30 games against Pittsburgh, opponents are averaging 66.4 yards of penalties while in the 52 games against Pittsburgh played by the rest of the league, they've averaged 55.4 yards.
Now, one thing I haven't done is split all divisions in this manner (I don't want to turn this into a major project), but Roethlisberger's perceptions seem valid (53.7 out-of-division committed by Pittsburgh, 58.2 in-division), though that experience does not hold true for the rest of the division. So, over the course of the last five years, Pittsburgh's AFC North games have averaged about one major penalty per game more than you'd expect based on team averages. That seems significant and worth some extra attention from the NFL.
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In our final day of partnership, we explored the diverse world of body modification. I defined body modification as any deliberate act to change one's physical appearance. When we looked at some examples from around the world like Nigerian earlobe stretching and Japanese teeth blackening, the students seemed shocked. They could not believe that someone would do that to themselves! I explained that in their communities, the modifications were more typical and held meaning. One very insightful student then noted that we all get our hair cut, and we see it as normal, though it may not be in other cultures.
Following in that theme, we considered the question: who modifies their bodies? Simply put, everyone does. I presented evidence from as far back in human history as 5,300 years in the form of Ötzi the Iceman and his 61 tattoos. We looked at examples of body modification in its many forms from a wide selection of cultures. Finally, we discussed examples of body modification in our own culture. The conclusion we reached was that people modify themselves in different and sometimes extreme ways in depending on the place, time, and situation, but modification itself is very normal.
I then queried the fledgling anthropologists: why? Why do people modify themselves? The kids gave a range of astute answers, because it's beautiful, to express yourself, and to identify yourself, among them. I added that in some places body modifications are thought to connect people to the spirit world, or bring them closer to their ancestors. In other situations, body modifications mark people of a certain social status, using Polynesian chiefs and their full facial tattoos as an example. Finally, we delved deeper into the idea that people modify themselves to look beautiful. I pointed out that the idea of what is beautiful varies between and within cultures, so when people change themselves to look a certain way they are responding to their own cultural conditions. We hope that explaining that all communities have their own internal logic and meaning attached to their actions will help the students respond with tolerance when encountering people unlike them.
Then it was time to have some fun and do some of our own body modification. Students had the option to create their own tattoos, paint their faces, and adorn their hair with feathers and flowers.
Face painting and some impromptu hair coloring!
At each of the stations they had the opportunity to look at examples from other cultures and the meanings they attached to their ornamentation. We thought the kids would take their cues from the examples, but most of them were keen to create their own styles.
I think they used the opportunity to express personal identity and creativity more than anything and evidently had fun doing it.
All in all, we had a great last day of a wonderful semester at TMSE. I know I learned a lot from the experience and hope the kids did too. I would like to thank everyone involved for making anthropology a fun and enlightening part of the TMSE partnership.


text:
Cup of Coffee: Salem clinches title, Washington goes deep
6/14 Cup of Coffee: With Boston, Pawtucket, and Portland all off last night, the lower levels of the minors completed a sweep. Yoan Moncada was on base four times for Salem, while Josh Ockimey and Kyri Washington (pictured) each tormented the Crawdads. Matt Kent's strong start combined with Moncada's offense helped Salem clinch the Carolina League First Half South Division Title.
Salem Red Sox 7, Potomac Nationals (WAS) 1
A quality start from Matt Kent led the way in Salem's win over Potomac. Kent fired the first 6 1/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking one and striking out five. Over his last 25 innings, Kent has only allowed five runs, good for a 1.80 ERA while striking out 21. Jamie Callahan followed with three strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings, and Simon Mercedes closed it out with a scoreless ninth.
The game was tight until the eighth when Salem scored four runs to blow it open. Yoan Moncada was on base four times with two doubles and two walks, though surprisingly he did not attempt to steal. Moncada has been on fire over the last two weeks, hitting .378 with 11 doubles over his last 12 games. Mauricio Dubon went 2 for 4 with a walk, and Deiner Lopez and Bryan Hudson each added a triple.
Greenville Drive 4, Hickory Crawdads (TEX) 3
The middle of Greenville's order did all the damage as the Drive edged the Crawdads. Jose Almonte struck out seven over five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks. Jake Cosart picked up his second win of the year with two hitless innings of relief, walking two and striking out three, and Adam Lau got the save with two scoreless innings.
The combination of Josh Ockimey and Kyri Washington almost single-handedly won the game for the Drive, with Ockimey going 2 for 3 with an RBI double and a walk, and Washington going 3 for 4 with a solo home run and two RBI singles. Michael Chavis went 1 for 3 with a walk and he is now 8 for 20 since returning from the disabled list.
DSL Red Sox1 6, DSL Rays1 (TB) 5
A grand slam from Ramfis Berroa was enough to push the first Red Sox squad to victory. Rayniel Adames made his professional debut, going the first four innings allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits. The six-foot-six left-hander walked one and struck out three. Manuel Ramirez came on in relief and allowed only an unearned run over three innings, and Angel Padron and Juan Florentino each followed with a scoreless inning to close the game out.
Berroa drove in five of the six runs for the Red Sox as part of a 2-for-3 performance that also included a double. Carlos Pulido recorded the only other hit as the Red Sox capitalized on their few opportunities to put runs on the board.
DSL Red Sox2 13, DSL Rays2 (TB) 7
The second Red Sox squad used a 14-hit attack to drop the second Rays squad to 0-8 on the young season. Jose Zacarias struggled mightily in his season debut, walking five and surrendering four runs in only two innings. The bullpen was able to limit the damage, led by Rayniel Moreno and Shair Lacrus who combined to throw five scoreless innings and strike out six.
The offense was led by Keibert Petit, who went 3 for 5 with a walk. Petit now has five walks in only 18 plate appearances. Not to be outdone, Kleiber Rodriguez walked four times in this game alone, and the team combined to walk 11 times. Everlouis Lozada, Antonio Pineiro, Albert Guaimaro, and Ronaldo Pulgar all had two hits, with Guaimaro adding a double.
Player of the Night: It has been an impressive full-season debut for Kyri Washington, who is now slashing .298/.314/.565 after a 3-for-4 performance last night. Washington, a 23rd-round pick in the 2015 draft, has shown great power while he continues to work on his pitch recognition and approach. He is still striking out in 28 percent of his at-bats while walking in only three percent, but he is proving to be a worthwhile gamble in the later rounds of the draft.
Photo Credit: Kyri Washington by Kelly O'Connor
Posted by Jim Crowell


text:
'Lord, please let me get to my babies,' says mom who lost 3 children in duck boat horror
By ABC News
July 24, 2018 at 6:18 am EDT
Tia Coleman talked about the support she has received from family and friends and her faith since surviving the duck boat tragedy that left nine of her relatives dead.
When Tia Coleman and her family boarded the duck boat at the dock on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri, on Thursday afternoon, the sun was shining and the temperature was in the 90s.
Her boys, Reece and Evan, couldn't wait to get out on the water and cool off.
"The captain did say something about life jackets," Coleman recalled Saturday. "He said, 'Above you are your life jackets. There are three sizes. He said, 'I'm gonna show you where they are, but you won't need them. So, no need to worry.' So we didn't grab them."
As she spoke during a news conference at the Cox Medical Center in Branson, she frequently paused to break down in tears. She and her 13-year-old nephew, Donovan Hall, were the only members of their family to survive what they had expected to be a fun outing on the lake, one of several ventures they had incorporated into their annual summer vacation.
She said she has always loved being on the water, but now that's all changed.
"I never want to be on any boat ever again in my life, anybody's boat," Coleman said.
[READ: Sunken duck boat had a video recorder. Officials have it, but aren't sure if it works]
The Indianapolis woman remembered taking a seat at the front of the duck boat, an amphibious vessel modeled after ones used in World War II. Her oldest son Reece, 9, who she said was on the autism spectrum, sat next to her.
Other family members cradled her baby girl, Arya, and watched her other boy, 7-year-old Evan. Her husband, Glenn, sat behind Tia with his parents, Horace and Belinda, his sister, Angela, and her son, Max. Tia's uncle, Ray Coleman, 76, the oldest member of the family, and her nephew, Donovan, also joined the "Ride The Duck" tour.
A total of 11 Colemans took up most of the space on the boat.
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A crew member mentioned there was a storm brewing, but as they pulled away from the dock the sky appeared clear, she said.
"The water was splashing. It was so hot. We thought this was great. But when a big wave came in, that's when I got nervous. And then the next big swell."
In a flash, the sky grew dark, the wind started to howl at 73 miles per hour, nearly the force of hurricane gusts. The waves crested at six feet.
The suddenly rough water capsized the duck boat, turning the pleasure voyage into one panic and chaos, Tia Coleman said.
'Lord, please let me get to my babies'
"I've always love water. I don't know if it's being a Picese or what, but I've always loved water," she said. "But when that water came over the boat I didn't know what happened. I had my son right next to me, but when the water filled up the boat I could no longer see, I couldn't feel anybody. I just remember saying, 'I gotta get out! I gotta get out!'"
She recalled hitting her head on what she thought was the ceiling of the boat and then being in the water.
"When I got out into the water, it was ice cold. And I remember as we were going [out] into the water, they said the lake stays pretty warm, like in the 80s. So I knew from it being so cold that I'm close to the bottom, I'm not close to the top," she said.
"I just remember kicking and swimming, swimming up to the top," she said. "And as I was swimming up, I was praying, just saying, 'Lord, please let me get to my babies. I gotta get to my babies, I gotta get to my babies.'"
But the harder she fought to break the surface, she felt something was pulling her down. She felt like giving up.
"I kept fighting, and kept fighting, and then I said, 'Lord if I can't make it there's no use to keeping me here.' And so I just let go and I started floating, and as I started floating I felt the water temperature change and it got warmer," she said. "And as it got warmer, I knew I was to the top so I stuck my hand out and I just kept swallowing tons of water."
When she broke the surface, she saw a riverboat nearby and people aboard were jumping in or throwing life jackets and life rafts to those who had been dumped in the water.
"The waves were crashing over my face and every time I'd get my head a little bit above water I'd scream 'Help! Help!'" she said. "They were throwing life rafts out to everybody, but I couldn't reach it, I couldn't get there in time and so somehow I managed to get to the boat and these beautiful people, angels ... they pulled me up. And when they pulled me up onto the boat I didn't see any of my family, but I believe I survived by the grace of God and by good Samaritans."
Authorities said 17 of the 31 people, including two crew members, aboard the capsized boat died.
Brian Young, the lead investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said late Saturday that divers retrieved a recorder of the boat's trip data, the equivalent of an airplane's black box, and it was flown to Washington, D.C., to be analyzed.
The cause of the tragic incident remains under investigation.
But Robert Clifford, a veteran Chicago maritime and aviation attorney, said it was obvious the duck boat, and another one that made it back to shore, should not have been on the water.
"For some inexplicable reason, these two ducks were out there," Clifford told ABC News.
He said that in the past 20 years, 43 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in duck boat mishaps, including one in Seattle in 2015 that killed five people when a Ride the Ducks amphibious vehicle swerved into oncoming traffic on a bridge and slammed into a bus.
Clifford said duck boat operators are not required to check weather reports and wave heights before leaving the docks, and most of the operators have minimal training and experience maneuvering through rough waters.
"These boats were never really built and designed for challenging waters," Clifford said. "You don't have highly-trained operators. You don't have a vessel that's really designed to stand those kinds of conditions. You don't have the adequate distribution of the life-saving devices, people aren't required to wear them.
"When you hear the horror stories of people being in the water without life jackets on and life jackets just floating around, that's a problem."
The article was written by ABC News


Councilman Adam McGough with links to the Confederacy we are told made a failed attempt voting to keep the Confederate monument.
ack and Hispanic we are told. There are others in the group who are also seeking to keep McGough as the councilman in the 10th District to advance their agenda.
Civic leaders who served on the city's Confederate monuments task force — including rights activist John Fullinwider and CitySquare's Gerald Britt — said it was past time to bring the monument down.
"There comes a time when a generation declares enough is enough, and this is the time," Britt said.
"We will never be free … until we free ourselves from this prison of white racism," he said. According to the Dallas Morning News.
In 2017 McGough admitted on the city council that the monuments are racist and "oppressive," yet after consulting with his confederated supporters, including Susan Fountain we are told, he voted against the wishes of the Black community and its leadership, including all but one of his council colleagues.
The same group that pushed him for the youth curfew after the community stated it was targeting minorities and is racist. The groups reportedly said, "the did not want to see any "Blacks" walking around their neighborhood at night.
Before the vote, McGough lobbied several Black leaders to attend his kick-off campaign to support him. No word on their reaction since he voted for the Confederate War Memorial and the alleged "racist" curfew.
Previous PostPrevious IF YOU VOTE MCGOUGH BACK IN YOU WILL BE SORRY, MORE CRIME, MORE TAXES, MORE BUSINESSES AND FAMILY LEAVING.


text:
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text:
NFL exec: Oakland stadium plan for Raiders 'carbon copy' of failed efforts
Tom Pelissero
IRVING, Texas — With city and county officials voting to approve Tuesday a term sheet for a $1.3 billion stadium deal that supporters hope will keep the Raiders in Oakland, the NFL's point man on stadium matters raised significant concerns about the viability of the plan.
Those concerns include the involvement of a private investor group that would have an exclusive and confidential 60-day window to negotiate with the city and county on the land it would develop as part of the project, according to the term sheet released late last week.
"I think the intentions are good," NFL executive vice president Eric Grubman told USA TODAY Sports at the league meetings Tuesday. "But I don't think there's been any progress that suggests a breakthrough anytime soon."
Grubman said a friendly meeting Monday to discuss the term sheet in San Francisco lasted roughly 90 minutes with representatives from the investor group — managed by football hall of famer Ronnie Lott and the Fortress Investment Group — as well as non-elected Oakland and Alameda County officials, the NFL and the Raiders, but not team owner Mark Davis.
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There is no deal on the table for the team or league to consider right now, Grubman said, adding there are parallels to past failed efforts involving a Raiders stadium proposal and a private investor, including businessman Floyd Kephart last year.
"And I dare say if you pull up the descriptions of what the agreement was with Mr. Kephart when they entered into it and then the problems that ensued, it is a carbon copy of what they're about to enter into today and the problems that are likely to ensue," Grubman said.
Time isn't on Oakland's side either. The Raiders are eligible to apply for relocation when the regular season ends Jan. 1. Davis publicly committed to Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, who in October signed a bill approved by the state Legislature for $750 million in public funding towards a nearly $2 billion stadium project that would relocate the Raiders to Las Vegas, with backing from billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. There is still the Oakland Athletics' baseball stadium issue to sort out as well.
The Alameda County of Board of Supervisors approved the plan in a 3-1 vote, while the Oakland City Council approved the plan in a 7-0-1 vote later Tuesday night. Clearance would allow administrators to negotiate a formal agreement with the Lott Group/Fortress that is pitched to include $350 million in public money by way of land and future revenue. But approval also would mean local officials have "given up the ability to have a direct conversation with the Raiders" about an alternative solution, Grubman said.
"I think it's a mistake to add third parties and fourth parties to what really should be a two-party negotiation," Grubman said. "In this instance, you put someone who needs to profit and you may put other motivations in there. The core task is to find something that works for the Raiders and the community, and when you put developers in or other third parties, then you're going to have there the things that are important to them in the conversation. And that's what happened two years ago and one year ago and I think that's what happening now."
The Raiders would need 24 of 32 owners to approve relocation. The team is expected to provide an update on developments in Oakland at the league meetings Wednesday, and a vote could come as soon as next month.
Grubman declined to comment on developments in Las Vegas or the stadium situation involving the San Diego Chargers, who have the right to join the Rams in Los Angeles. If the Chargers decline, the Raiders would have that option as well.
While Grubman wouldn't call the involvement of a third party a nonstarter in getting something done in Oakland, he said: "It's an enormous roadblock in any city if you're trying to put a deal together with a sports team and you're outlining the basis on which the land be developed, controlled, taxed, improved, and the sports team is not in the conversation. That's a fairly big impediment to getting a deal done."
Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.
PHOTOS: NFL power rankings entering Week 14


text:
'use strict';

const Container = require('./container');
const Component = require('./component');

/**
 * Object to hold the container object and expose middleware functions to stop and start it.
 * @param componentConfigs the application configurations that represent components to be added to the container.
 */
module.exports = function(componentConfigs, customLogger) {

  let _container = null;

  Object.defineProperty(this, 'container', { get: () => _container });

  function invokeConstructorWithArgs(clazz, thisContext, argumentArray) {
    return new (Function.prototype.bind.apply(clazz, [thisContext].concat(argumentArray)));
  }

  this.startContainer = (req, res, next) => {
    const container = new Container(customLogger);
    componentConfigs.forEach(({ name, componentClass, additionalArguments}) => {
      let component;
      if (Component.isPrototypeOf(componentClass)) {
        component = invokeConstructorWithArgs(componentClass, null, [container].concat(additionalArguments));
      } else {
        component = componentClass;
      }
      container.register(name, component);
    });
    _container = container;
    return next();
  };

  this.stopContainer = (req, res, next) => {
    if (_container) {
      return _container.stop().then(next);
    }
    return next();
  };
};


text:
So this is us...
HUNT THE VIGAN are the world's funniest comedy duo (according to their mothers) highlighting the absurdities of being human through series and sketches, tackling everything from Brexit to public breastfeeding and that global pandemic…man-flu. The half Irish-half American duet is made up of James Gavigan from Donegal and Erin Hunter from Los Angeles, which is glamorous but in no way as beautiful as the Northwest coast of Ireland!
They went viral with comedy parenting video "Boobies in a Box" which has amassed over 8 million views & was featured in global press including The Huffington Post who called it "hilarious" and The Irish Sun newspaper and the big parenting websites.
The pair originally united to create 1940s screwball comedy web series A Quick Fortune about the madcap adventures of Kate & Archie trying to recover her lost fortune. The series was selected for 10 global festivals including Raindance, won a screenwriting award at the DC Web Fest and was nominated for multiple other awards.
Erin and James were recently commissioned to make a comedy sketch 'Its Grand' for Irish mental health charity, Connect and created a vintage video about sexual consent with national British Magazine, Stylist. Working with international partners, they're currently developing several TV pilots.
ERIN HUNTER is an experienced actor-writer who hails from Lalaland (AKA Los Angeles). Pre-pandemic, Erin toured her one-woman show Surfing the Holyland about the mad Middle East, surfing and survival to rave reviews worldwide: "a virtuoso performance", "quirky and funny and gorgeous" and "the best one-person show". The show features twelve colourful characters, four comedy ukulele songs and one woman searching for her inner courage on a
surfboard. In London, Erin's performed at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, The Soho, The Bush, Southwark Playhouse, Arcola and many more internationally. She's a two-time cast member of the world's longest running sketch comedy show, Newsrevue. She's also collaborated with many renowned theatre companies including Tangled Feet (ACE Nat'l Portfolio), Teatro Vivo, Dash Arts and Firehouse Productions. Erin is a busy voice-over artist & ukulele-ist penning comedy songs like "What If My Baby's An A**hole" and "Pregnancy is So Sci-Fi." Erin trained at LAMDA and UCLA's School of Theater, Film & TV with a year abroad at Trinity College Dublin where she was devastated to discover her Irish name is only found on packets of instant soup. www.erinhunter.net
JAMES GAVIGAN is a graduate of IADT Dublin, Ireland's national film school. He's been involved in the film industry for the last seventeen years and acting since he was five. James has appeared in numerous works ranging from big pictures to short films. Straddling both sides of the camera, his work has featured as both a filmmaker and an actor in festivals internationally including London, Dublin, Rio, DC, Florida, Mexico, Bilbao, and many
more! Domestically his ad "Smirk" for Becks Vier ran in a national TV and cinema campaign. He featured in the Ellen Paige horror film The Cured and is currently exploring new online development collaborations after the success of the distributed, award-winning web series A Quick Fortune. All of this and recently voicing a lead role in "Zandra: A Sentimental Journey" a co-production of RTE Lyric FM and The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, James is the swiss army knife of Hunt the Vigan!


text:
Unemployment Rates, Poverty Rates and Race as Potential Indicators of Crime Rates in 100 U.S. Cities
Jim Campbell, The College of Wooster
This thesis explore unemployment rates, poverty rates and race as possible determinants of crime in 100 U.S. cities varying in size and population composition. Unemployment rates for the city as a whole and for blacks, in particular, were used along with raw numbers of all individuals unemployed as predictors of crime rates. Poverty rates of different populationsn were also used. Race, as a variable, was used as a third major predictor, measuerd by the total number of black female headed households. Data on (1) unemployment, (2) poverty and (3) race were gathered from the 1990 Census. The crimes being examined include robbery, larceny and murder. FBI arrest rate data were used to determine the number of arrests made for each crime. Previous studies containing the elements of unemployment, poverty and race are mixed in their results. Anomie/strain theory and control theory are used to provide a theoretical perspective to explain the relationships which occur between the bariables. Data from frequencies, a zero-order Person' correlation and multiple regressions were gathered in order to determine the relationship, if any, between the independent variables of unemployment, poverty and race and the dependent variables of arrest rates for murder, larceny and robbery. The arrest rate for larceny was shown to be positively correlated with the percent of blacks living in poverty (Sig .0475). Significant inverse zero-order relationships existed between the arrest rates for larceny and the total number of unemployed individuals (Sig .021) and the toal population of blacks within the city (Sig .011). Robbery was also shown to have a somewhat significant inverse correlation with the percentage of black female headed households (Sig .0635). These relationships are discussed in the following text.
Hurst, Charles
Campbell, Jim, "Unemployment Rates, Poverty Rates and Race as Potential Indicators of Crime Rates in 100 U.S. Cities" (1995). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 6282.
© Copyright 1995 Jim Campbell


Adam Kowalsky, an unsuspecting American photographer, has a film slipped in his pocket by a girlfriend as he is about to leave Greece. Back in New York he finds himself the victim of a cruel relentless hunt, the content of the film is obviously wanted by more than one organization and they are prepared to kill anyone in their attempts to regain it. Adam processes the film and, shocked by the contents, decides to return to Greece and expose the truth. A film with brutal action and breathtaking suspense, the plight of an innocent man caught in the web of international intrigues.
Starring: George Ayer, Mary Chronopoulou, Allen Lieb, Joanne Jackal, Phaedon Raphael, Michelle Megale, Hollis Granville, Rusty Salling, Mary Mark, Lorne Polansky, Elizabeth Kelly, Artemis Matsas, Dimitri Joacim, Chriss Zorbas.


Python in four weeks. Or in eight!
The Mechanical MOOC is in full preparation of the Python programming course. As reported before the mMOOC combines several existing open courses, such as the MIT Opencourseware, Peer 2 Peer University, OpenStudy and CodeAcademy.
During the preparation the learners are introduced to those other platforms. The first instalment was interesting: I was aware of the MIT Opencourseware (the semester-long course Introduction to Computer Science and Programming by Prof. John Guttag), but the mMOOC points out that MIT also offers a four week Python-course, A Gentle Introduction to Python teached by Sarina Canelake. Actually, that course will be the basis for the mMOOC, but they'll cover it in eight weeks. Indeed, why hurry!
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