text:
#include <modules/qtwidgets/properties/buttonpropertywidgetqt.h>
#include <inviwo/core/properties/buttonproperty.h>

#include <modules/qtwidgets/inviwoqtutils.h>

#include <warn/push>
#include <warn/ignore/all>
#include <QHBoxLayout>
#include <QLabel>
#include <QPushButton>
#include <QInputDialog>
#include <QMenu>
#include <QAction>
#include <warn/pop>

namespace inviwo {

ButtonPropertyWidgetQt::ButtonPropertyWidgetQt(ButtonProperty* property)
    : PropertyWidgetQt(property), property_(property) {

    QHBoxLayout* hLayout = new QHBoxLayout();
    hLayout->setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0);
    hLayout->setSpacing(0);
    button_ = new QPushButton();
    button_->setText(QString::fromStdString(property_->getDisplayName()));
    connect(button_, &QPushButton::released, this, [&]() {
        if (!property_->getReadOnly()) property_->pressButton();
    });
    setFocusPolicy(button_->focusPolicy());
    setFocusProxy(button_);

    hLayout->addWidget(button_);
    setLayout(hLayout);
    updateFromProperty();
}

void ButtonPropertyWidgetQt::onSetDisplayName(Property*, const std::string& displayName) {
    button_->setText(QString::fromStdString(displayName));
}

void ButtonPropertyWidgetQt::updateFromProperty() {
    button_->setText(QString::fromStdString(property_->getDisplayName()));
}

QPushButton* ButtonPropertyWidgetQt::getButton() { return button_; }

std::unique_ptr<QMenu> ButtonPropertyWidgetQt::getContextMenu() {
    auto menu = PropertyWidgetQt::getContextMenu();

    auto renameAction = menu->addAction(tr("&Rename"));
    connect(renameAction, &QAction::triggered, this, [this]() {
        bool ok;
        const auto displayname = utilqt::toQString(property_->getDisplayName());
        const auto name = utilqt::fromQString(QInputDialog::getText(
            nullptr, "Rename", "Name of Property", QLineEdit::Normal, displayname, &ok));
        if (ok) {
            property_->setDisplayName(name);
        }
    });
    return menu;
}

}  // namespace inviwo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
From Candy To Casino: How Mobile Games Make Money (Part 1 - Strategy)
We're spending an extraordinary – and ever-increasing – amount of time playing mobile games. Our smartphones and tablets, packed with addictive apps, entice us to spend on average 3 hours a day playing games - a figure which rocketed 57% from 2012 to 2014.
Once there was just snake. Now there's Candy Crush Saga, Pokemon Go, Clash of Clans… You can race cars, wage wars, play cards, battle monsters... There are, in fact, now over 300,000 iOS / Android games to choose from!
Kids, of course, account for a lion's share of the 'binge-playing' time, "but it's the adult gamers who are spending more than kids and teens" shares industry analyst Liam Callahan.
Mobile Gaming: A $50 Billion (And Rising!) Market
Kids love mobile gaming, but grown-up players are where the money's really at. A new generation of gamers are paying big money for their digital pastime. How much? Well, today's most profitable mobile game, Game Of War – Fire Age, grosses around $1.5 million / day, whilst Mobile Strike and Clash Royale both exceed the $1 million / day mark.
In all, the global app market (of which gaming accounts for around 80%) is worth a staggering $50 billion / year. Mobile analysts App Annie predict that figure will double to $100 billion by 2020.
There's a whole new world of mobile gaming out there that's making big money for the developers, marketers and strategists who are tapping into this emerging mobile gaming trend. As digital recruitment specialists since 2001, we've enjoyed front-row seats to the rise of this fascinating industry.
In this article, we'll explore how mobile gaming business works:
Monetisation Models
– The 4 key strategies mobile games employ to bring in cash.
Jackpot or Joy
– Gambling vs gaming, and why it's really all about the playability.
– How the world's most successful mobile games make millions.
(Then, in Part 2: People we'll profile the key roles required for any mobile game to succeed.)
1) Monetisation Models: The 4 Ways Mobile Games Make Money
How does an app like Clash of Clans earn over $12million in just 1 month? Reaching the top of the download charts is one thing but ultimately 'how to make money' is the million dollar question. ($12 million dollar, even!)
Mobile games make money using a variety of models:
FREE, WITH IN-APP-PURCHASES (IAPs)
– Most common, and lucrative, model. Distributing a free, entirely open-access game attracts players to download. Once hooked, IAPs ('Gold', 'Power-Ups' or 'Continue Playing' passes) offer tantalising chances to skip ahead or enhance the playing experience.
– Subtly different to the above, Freemium apps involve some form of 'upgrade', perhaps to unlock exclusive levels. Non-game apps, particularly media providers, often use this model in the form of a 'paywall' protecting premium content.
FREE, WITH ADVERTISING / SPONSORSHIP
– Completely free to play. The
1 billion hours a month
we spend playing mobile games is of huge interest to advertisers, who'll pay big money for exposure. Some brands have started going even further, sponsoring whole games to get the reach the eyeballs they require.
PAID / PREMIUM
– Pay your money, get your game. The old fashioned way. Parents, many of whom have decried IAPs as honey-traps, rejoice at this model.
, for example, is a global children's smash hit, and can be purchased once and played almost infinitely.
Game developers are continually pushing the boundaries of these basic models. Various models can be combined together or modified to suit the game, its players and the markets they operate in.
But essentially, regardless of the playing experience, these are the ways that games make money.
2) Jackpot or Joy – The Gambling / Gaming Distinction
There's a rather counter-intuitive trend in mobile gaming. Players are spending big money on Vegas-style games of chance, with absolutely no chance of a pay-out.
Take a look at the top 50 highest grossing mobile games. You'll find a significant number of games offering slots, poker, casino, dice games and more. In fact, in May 2015, 4 out of the top 10 grossing iOS apps were classed as 'casino'. These figures from industry analyst App Annie show it's a growing trend:
All these, you'd presume, must be making their money from "gambling", right?
Well, technically, no, they aren't. Despite offering in-app-purchases (IAPs) to fund turns, many of these apps offer no jackpot or pay-out. They are, instead, purely appealing to players' desire for fun.
Take Double Down Casino, currently ranking as the highest grossing slots app in iOS. In Double Down, you can play hit slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, bingo and poker – everything you'd find on a Vegas floor.
And yet, as Double Down's website clearly states, the app "does not offer 'real money gambling" or an opportunity to win real money or prizes. All winnings are paid out in virtual currency which cannot be converted to real money or "cashed out."
People really are playing for playing's sake – and paying money in the form of IAPs for the privilege. It's all about the experience, particularly in the many games which allow collaboration with, or competition against, friends and matched players. Known as 'social gaming', these add a real-life interactivity element to the core game.
As counter-intuitive as it may seem, though if it looks like a casino game and plays like gambling, it really isn't necessarily gambling.
Where's the money at? Jackpots do exist
Of course, real-money gambling is becoming widely available on mobile too. This is where legal regulation tends to kick in. Some countries (like the UK and Ireland) tend to allow online gambling - with compliance restrictions of course - whilst others (most notably the USA) are much stricter on mobile gaming.
Jackpots, though, really aren't what attracts most players to spend big on mobile gaming.
Mobile gaming is all about the playability – it's the game itself, not the payout, that attracts players and earns their payment.
3) Winning Strategies: What Makes A Game Millions?
First launched in June 2009 as an app within Facebook, Farmville was, for a time, the undisputed king of social gaming. Players planted and harvested crops, decorated their farms, and interacted with fellow farmers.
Created by game developer Zynga, Farmville offered virtual items that could be purchased to speed up, or skip, parts of the game which took time. "Clearly, even people who play Farmville want to avoid playing Farmville," commented Business Insider.
Farmville quickly attracted more than 74 million daily users. And whilst we're now used to the idea of exchanging real-money to get game-money, investors were awed by the revenue potential of selling what they perceived as 'practically nothing', and finance poured in.
Yet, despite trailblazing, Farmville's creators Zynga has since been overtaken by hordes of competitors. The company is now, in fact, worth less than its own office building. Zynga, though, spawned a whole new, energised industry of game producers. Armed with the insight Farmville provided, its spiritual successors have since led the charge with smash hits like Pokemon Go and Mobile Strike.
So what separates a successful app from the 90% that fail to make it? Farmville's strategy (the 'Zynga model') is becoming more science than art.
Zynga's principles of gaming include…
Establish The Illusion Of Free
– Absolutely critical to attracting players is the "feeling" of freeness. Of course, this includes a free initial download, but the game also needs to feel playable from the start, and payment-trap-free. Players are increasingly wise to producers who use cynical tactics to lure them towards payment. Establishing an environment of proper 'free-ness' is critical.
Allow Unlimited IAP Payments
Half of In-App-Purchase (IAP) revenue is generated from 0.15% of players
. That's such a huge stat that it's worth repeating… a tiny fraction (just 0.15%) of players account for a colossal 50% of IAP purchases! The industry refers to these super-players as 'whales', some of whom invest $10,000's into a single game. When any game offers you IAPs of $100+ (as many do) they've got these 'whales' in mind.
Optimise Trigger Activities & Focus On Micro Data Detail
– What prompts a player to purchase an IAP? Trigger activities – think 'getting stuck on a level', or 'having to wait 30 minutes for some seeds' – drive IAPs. Understanding how these trigger activities work, and analysing individual or macro-level data is critical for showing the right paid products to the right players at the right time.
Constantly Source New Players
– Growth always requires new downloads. Social gaming increasingly uses online and offline social networks to grow player bases. You'll be asked to "share your results on Facebook", or "invite your friends to join in exchange for game tokens". The ability to attract new players, consistently, is the mark of a truly successful game producer.
Nail all that – as big winners like King.com, Supercell, Big Fish and others (including many more of our clients!) have – and you're on to an awesomely-profitable winner that could bring in revenue for years to come.
At Pentasia, our role is matching the people who make games succeed with the digital jobs that give them that opportunity. In Part 2: People we'll profile the key roles involved in any mobile gaming enterprise. (Perhaps you'll discover a whole new mobile world in which to apply your talent…!)
New Horizons: Payments Opens Car...
Career Guide: Working in iGaming...
25 Hotspots For Digital Careers ...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Wood coconut boho Beads Charms, mixed colors. Also available in pink, red and yellow plain lot.
These beads are made of nut. There is no need to add luxurious material or extra adornment, the charm of art can be still reflected in the simple nut beads. It can be matched with hooks and jumprings to be earrings, bracelets and so on. Colors are beautiful and with your imagination the possibilities are limitless.
Lovely mixture of colors (beads will be randomly selected so we cant garantee the colors you will receive. We will try to mix as many colors as we are able. This is a mixed listing only, no color choosing.).
Price is for 30 beads.


Monday May 2 Tuesday May 3, 7 pm – Picture book star Mac Barnett presents his newest book, Rules of the House.
Saturday May 7, 3 pm – Caldecott Honor illustrator Molly Idle presents the latest in her Flora picture book series, Flora and the Peacocks.
Calling all builders! Stack up your LEGO, brick by brick. LEGO Club will be this Sunday, May 1 from 1:30-3.
Join us for free play. Target age is 3-10.
Join the annual bike tour of local libraries May 14. This year we are included! DC&MD library staff, advocates and community members are all welcome to participate.
The tour starts at the DC Takoma branch at 9 am, goes to Shepherd Park, over to us, then Silver Spring, Chevy Chase and Tenley-Friendship.
Snacks and water are provided. You must wear a helmet.
Please note: A Takoma Park Bike Map is available in print in the city building and the library, as well as for download.
We have bike parking at the library, a bike repair stand at the police dept downstairs, and a bikeshare station outside on Philadelphia Avenue, if participants are riding bikeshare bikes during the tour.
Our Annual Poetry Party - Tonight!
The Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library invite you to read a poem at our Favorite Poem Evening Tuesday, April 26, 7:30 at the the library.
Choose a poem you've admired by a published poet (other than yourself) or a poem you've recently discovered. Poems written in all languages are welcome but please accompany them with an English translation.
If you have sent the name of the poem and author, it will be included in the printed program -- otherwise, just come with your poem.
Now in its 19th year, the favorite poem evening was originally conceived by then-U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky. Takoma Park's gatherings have been warm community events. Last year's reading drew a record number of readers. All ages are welcome. Come! -- and bring your friends and neighbors.
Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Library.
Please share it with us on April 26th at our 19th annual Favorite Poem Evening.
Please get the information to us by April 22nd if possible. We want to list the poems in the printed program.
The tour, set for Sunday May 1st, explores the Park-Willow-Spruce-Valley View neighborhood. Tickets are $22 if purchased early, and available locally at Mark's Kitchen, Ace Hardware and TPSS Co-op.
The tour is a benefit for Historic Takoma.
This year it does not conflict with Sheep and Wool (the following weekend).
Local author Anthony Hynes will read passages from his self-published memoir, which chronicles his childhood as a black boy adopted by two white mothers in D.C. in the '90s. When cancer afflicted one of Hynes' mothers, and the courts threatened his legal guardianship, Hynes had to decide what his identity and his definition of family looked like. A Q&A with the author will follow the reading.
Takoma Park's Arbor Day tree give-away is scheduled for tomorrow morning, April 2, at the library. The trees are tiny, free, and suitable for local conditions. Eventually, yes, they do get big.
National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April. Maryland Arbor Day is the first Wednesday in April. Why does the date vary from state to state and community to community? Because ideal tree planting times vary.


I have always been outspoken about my beliefs. I was the one in high school that questioned whether the God that was talked about at church was the same God that was called Allah. Why couldn't they be the same, different names dictated by where they are located in the world? How did I know that all the religions of the world weren't related? Why did everything need to be so separate, so defined.
I believe myself to be a broad thinker. I also think that I try to find the best in people. I am at a total loss right now. I want to be able to have friends with differing opinions. I believe that having rich, intelligent conversation about the world from multiple perspectives can bring a fullness to one's life. I know that some might find this odd, but I appreciate where others come from as long as it is respectful dialogue.
Conversation is no longer the norm...anger and criticism is. I am genuinely concerned about our future, I am concerned about my son, my family, my students who I love so much. We are in dangerous times and, I am worried that those who have been holding a blind eye, will not see it until it's too late.
I have always been unafraid to speak my opinion, but it is time for words, deep breathing, then ACTION...We cannot sit silently.


text:
Q: Grails search mechanism I have the folowing gsp page:
 <g:form controller="??" action="??">

Search

    <g:submitButton name="search" value="Search"/>

    </g:form>

What i want to do is, everytime "Search is clicked", the database is searched for that record, lets imagine im looking for book titles. So everytime i write a title, the database finds the books and print every data related to the books. How can i do that=?
My idea is having something similar to this in the div:

<g:each in="${bookList}">

Name: ${it.name}, Locale: ${it.isbn}

</g:each>

So the point is, when the search button is clicked, the controller that handle that action should redirect the page to the same page, and pass the filtered list of books so it can be printed in the <g:each in="${bookList}"> tag.
I would like opinions about this being the best solution in this case. I could also render the results in the page directly, but i would like to do some css for the lookings so i think that wont be a good idea using render. Any help would be apreciated, and if possible, some lights with the code (specially the filtering part).

A: I would have one action in your controller, and render out the list.
ie: as pseudo-code (and not complete)
BookController {
  def search = {SearchComamnd search ->

    def books = []
    if(search) {
      books = Book.createCritera().list {
        and {
          title(search.title)
          author(search.title)
        }
      }
    }

    render [ books:books ]
  }

  class SearchCommand {
    def author
    def title
  }
}

and then when in your view
<g:form controller="??" action="??">

Search

    <g:submitButton name="search" value="Search"/>

</g:form>
<g:each in="${books}">

Name: ${it.name}, Locale: ${it.isbn}

</g:each>

you can now use css li.book to decorate the entry.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We believe that our board of directors is, and we intend that it continue to be, composed of individuals with sophistication and experience in many substantive areas that impact our business. We believe that all of our current board members possess the professional and personal qualifications necessary for board service, and have highlighted the specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led to the conclusion that each board member should serve as a director in the individual biographies below.
Mr. Zide became a director of our Company in June 2010. Mr. Zide retired from Bain Capital, LP, a private equity investment firm, in 2017, having joined the firm in 1997. Mr. Zide served as a senior advisor of Bain Capital from 2016 through 2017 and as a Managing Director from 2001 through 2015. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Mr. Zide was a partner of the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he was a founding member of the New York office and specialized in representing private equity and venture capital firms. Mr. Zide received an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law, and a B.A. degree from the University of Rochester. He also serves as a director of one other public company, Sensata Technologies B.V. (NYSE: ST) since 2010, and was previously a director of HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HDS) from 2007 through 2014 and Innophos Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPHS) from 2004 through 2013. Mr. Zide brings to the Board extensive negotiating and financing expertise gained from his training and experience as a legal advisor, and later as a private equity professional and financial advisor. In addition, Mr. Zide has had significant involvement with the Company since its 2010 formation, and has served as a director of numerous public and private companies during his career in private equity and law.
Mr. Pappas was named Special Adviser to the CEO on March 4, 2019 after serving as the Company's as President and Chief Executive Officer since joining in June 2010. He also served as interim chief financial officer from November 2015 until June 2016. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Pappas held a number of executive positions at NOVA Chemicals of increasing responsibility from July 2000 to November 2009, most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer from May 2009 to November 2009, President & Chief Operations Officer from October 2006 to April 2009 and Vice President and President of Styrenics from July 2000 to September 2006. Before joining NOVA Chemicals, Mr. Pappas was Commercial Vice President of DuPont Dow Elastomers where he joined as Vice President of ethylene elastomers in 1995. Mr. Pappas began his chemicals career in 1978 with The Dow Chemical Company where he held various sales and managerial positions until 1995. Mr. Pappas is currently a member of the Board of Directors of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) and Univar, Inc. (NYSE: UNVR), and he is a former member of the board of directors for Methanex Corp., NOVA Chemicals Corporation, and Allegheny Energy, Inc. Mr. Pappas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Pappas is highly qualified to serve on the board of directors due to his 40 years of business experience with major companies in the chemical industry, and by his leadership of the Company since its formation. In these roles he has also acquired and demonstrated substantial financial expertise which is valuable to the Company's Board.
Mr. Cote became a director of our Company in May 2014. Mr. Cote has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. (NYSE: ST) since January 2019 and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since July 2012. He joined Sensata as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in January 2007. From March 2005 to December 2006, Mr. Cote was Chief Operating Officer of the law firm Ropes & Gray. From January 2000 to March 2005, Mr. Cote was Chief Operating, Financial and Administrative Officer of Digitas. Previously he worked for Ernst & Young LLP from 1989 until 1997. Mr. Cote is a certified public accountant and received a B.A. degree in Business Administration and a Master of Accounting from Florida Atlantic University. Mr. Cote brings significant management, capital markets and accounting experience to the board of directors.
Mr. De Leener became a director of our Company in May 2014. Mr. De Leener served as interim CEO of Braas Monier Building Group SA from January 2016 to November 2016 and as Chairman of its Board of Directors from June 2014 to March 2017. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President for PPG Industries, Inc. from July 2010 until December 2012. From June 2008 until August 2011, Mr. De Leener also served as President of PPG Europe S.A. Mr. De Leener previously served as Chief Executive Officer of SigmaKalon Group from 1998 until January 2008. Mr. De Leener received a B.S. degree in Economics and Philosophy and a Master of Chemical Engineering degree from Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. Mr. De Leener brings valuable management and chemical industry experience to our Board.
Donald T. Misheff has been a director of our Company since February 2015. Mr. Misheff served as managing partner from 2003 until his retirement in 2011 of the Northeast Ohio offices of Ernst & Young LLP, a public accounting firm. As the managing partner of the Northeast Ohio offices of Ernst & Young LLP, Mr. Misheff advised many of the region's largest companies on financial and corporate governance issues. He began his career with Ernst & Young LLP in 1978 as part of the audit staff and later joined the tax practice, specializing in accounting/financial reporting for income taxes, purchase accounting, and mergers and acquisitions. He has more than 30 years of experience performing, reviewing, and overseeing the audits of financial statements of a wide range of public companies. He currently serves as a director of two other public companies: TimkenSteel Corporation (NYSE: TMST) and First Energy Corp. (NYSE: FE). Mr. Misheff graduated from the University of Akron with a B.S. degree in Accounting. Mr. Misheff brings extensive financial, accounting and public company corporate governance experience to our Board.
Mr. Martens became a director of our Company in September 2016. From February 2011 to April 2015, Mr. Martens served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Novelis, Inc., a leader in aluminum rolled products and can recycling with worldwide operations. He joined Novelis as President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2009. Prior to his employment with Novelis, Mr. Martens served as Senior Vice President of light vehicle systems for ArvinMeritor Inc., a distributor for engine and transmission parts and President and Chief Executive Officer designate of Arvin Innovation, a leading global provider of dynamic motion and control automotive systems. From 1987 to 2005, Mr. Martens held various product development and engineering roles at Ford Motor Company, including his most recent role as a group vice president of product creation from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Martens serves as Chairman of the Board of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), a leading provider of packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage and other consumer products companies, where he has been director since November 2013. Additionally, Mr. Martens served as a director at Plexus Corporation (NASDAQ: PLXS) from August 2010 until February 2017. Mr. Martens has an MBA from University of Michigan and received his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Martens brings to the board of directors significant leadership and management experience in global manufacturing operations, along with innovation expertise.
Mr. Alvarado became a director of our company in March 2017. Mr. Alvarado served as Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC), a global manufacturer, recycler and marketer of steel and other metals, from September 2011 until September 2017, and as Chairman of CMC's board of directors from January 2017 until January 2018. He joined CMC in April 2010 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, was named President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2011, and became President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2011. In January 2017, he passed his President title to his Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining CMC, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Lone Star Technologies, Inc. from 2004 to 2007. In June 2007, following the acquisition of Lone Star Technologies, Inc. by United States Steel Corporation, Mr. Alvarado was named President of U.S. Steel Tubular Products, Inc., a division of United States Steel Corporation, a position he held until March 2009. Mr. Alvarado began his career at Inland Steel Company in 1976 and spent 21 years with the company in roles of increasing responsibility. He then served in executive roles with Birmingham Steel Corporation and Ispat North America Inc. until joining Lone Star Technologies. Mr. Alvarado also serves as a director of Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) since January 2018 and previously served as a director of Spectra Energy Corp (NYSE: SE) from 2011 until February 2017. He received an MBA from Cornell University and B.A. degree in economics from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Alvarado brings years of experience in a cyclical commodities-driven industry and significant perspective on global operations and strategic planning.
Ms. Johnson became a director of our company in March 2017. Ms. Johnson served as Chairwoman of Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc., from 2015 to 2016 following eight years as President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Elevance, Ms. Johnson spent over twenty years in the oil and petrochemical industry with Amoco Corporation and BP p.l.c. (joining BP after its merger with Amoco in 1998). During this time, she held both operational and functional roles, culminating in her role as Senior Vice President of Global Derivatives within BP's Innovene business, which included P&L accountability for multiple global commodity and specialty chemicals businesses. Ms. Johnson has served on the board of directors for FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) since 2013. She received an MOB degree in Management and Organizational Behavior, and a B.S. degree in Psychology, both from Brigham Young University. Ms. Johnson brings to our board valuable experience in operational leadership and chemical industry expertise.
Mr. Steinmetz became a director of our Company in November 2017. Since 2016, Mr. Steinmetz has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Ceramtec Group, a global supplier of advanced ceramics. From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Steinmetz was Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ruetgers N.V., Europe's leading manufacturer of chemical raw materials made from coal tar. Prior to joining Ruetgers N.V., Mr. Steinmetz was President of Sulzer Metco, a worldwide technology leader in coating materials, from 2004 to 2008, and an Executive Vice President at Great Lakes Chemical Corporation from 2000 to 2004. Mr. Steinmetz graduated with a Master of Science in metallurgy from the Technical University Clausthal, Germany and has an MBA from INSEAD Fontainebleau, France. Mr. Steinmetz brings to the board of directors significant global chief executive officer experience and decades of chemical industry experience.


Md Fazlul Azim, independent member of parliament, lost his seat Noakhali-6 following a High Court election tribunal order yesterday declaring void the election result.
Delivering the judgment, a one-member election tribunal with Justice M Emdadul Haque asked the Election Commission to hold by-election to that constituency.
In the judgment, the court observed that the election process was affected materially with the change of a polling centre and redistribution of voters in nine centres on the polling day violating the prescribed rules.
Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, assisted by advocate Shamim Haider Talukder, appeared for the petitioner, while barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud stood for independent MP Fazlul Azim.


text:
Amyn Amlani – Economics of Audiology and Hearing Healthcare
Ear Device Patents for… Hearable is a relatively new word in...
Diffusion of Innovations and… by Amyn Amlani, PhD The Diffusion of...
Readers' Choice 2021: US… Dear Readers: During this holiday season, the...
Ear device patents for… No Longer a Joke Audiologists have...
Ear Device Patents for… The Sound of Music and Group Dynamics...
Diffusion of Innovations and… by Amyn Amlani, PhD In Part 1...
About Hearing Economics
Hearing In Private Practice
And They're Off! US Hearing Aid Device Patent Activity for January-February 2015
March 10, 2015 March 16, 2015 Holly Hosford-Dunn	6 Comments 1654 views	( words)
Amidst all the crowd-funded Hearable hype, with Nanoplug coming unplugged and others sure to follow, the Big 6 and a few well-seasoned companies and visionaries continue to quietly and efficiently amp up technology for ear-level applications. Today's lengthy list of new patents in the last half of this post shows the Big 6 firmly in the saddle, at a fast gallop, well ahead of the competition.
A few big consumer electronics companies are tinkering with ways to connect to hearing aids and those who wear them. Samsung's patent #8938082 is for an "Apparatus Having Hearing Aid." Home Box Office has a patent (#8943021) for a "System and Method for Assistive Caption, Video Description, and Audio Distribution." The patent trolls are nibbling at the fringes: A Pasadena company called One-E-Way, Inc. has requested a cease and desist order against the sale of wireless headsets to 13 manufacturers and distributors, including Sennheiser and GN Netcom.
Among the visionaries, academic/entrepreneur Diane van Tasell, PhD, Senior Scientist at Ear Machine, is inventor of record for US patent #8968209 (Methods and Systems for Hearing Tests), issued to Unitedhealth Group last week. Self-starter Zounds Hearing logged another patent in early February (#8948246, Method for Calibrating a Hearing Aid).
The real news is growth in Big 6 technology activity. Figure 1 compiles{{1}}[[1]]Individual manufacturer graphs in Fig 1 are taken from patentbuddy.com.[[1]] growth of patent applications (red) and patents awarded (green) for each of the Big 6 over the last 10 years. The figure is included here as a visual of the exponential growth pattern of patent activity in all 6 companies. It's hard to read the actual numbers on the axes, for which I apologize but can't do better. But it's the pattern that counts, not the quantity.
The Bi-Monthly List of USPTO Patents
Description Patent Number Assignee Issued
Hearing Aid with Cover and Programming Socket 8923537 Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) 12/30/2014
Systems and Methods for Providing a Pre-Stimulation Visual Cue Representation of a Cochlear Implant Stimulation Level 8923979 Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) 12/30/2014
Two-Piece Sound Processor System for Use in an Auditory Prosthesis System 8923541 Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) 12/30/2014
Method and Apparatus for Selecting Right and Left Circuit Configurations of Hearing Assistance Devices 8929559 Starkey Laboratories Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 1/06/2015
Output Phase Modulation Entrainment containment for Digital Filters 8929565 Starkey Laboratories Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 1/06/2015
Method and Apparatus for Audio Processing 8929560 J. Craig Oxford (Nashville, Tenn.) and D. Michael Shields (St. Paul, Minn.) 1/06/2015
Method for Tuning a Hearing Device Using a Percentile Analysis, and Tuning Device 8929576 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) 1/06/2015
Hearing Aid and a Method of Detecting and Attenuating Transients 8929574 Widex A/S (Lynge, Denmark) 1/06/2015
Monitoring Device and Method for Wireless Power transmission in a Monitoring Device 8929813 Widex A/S (Lynge, Denmark) 1/06/2015
Audio Processing in a Portable Listening Device 8929566 Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) 1/06/2015
Bone Conduction Device Including a Balanced Electromagnetic Actuator Having Radial and Axial Air Gaps 8929577 Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) 1/06/2015
Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Prosthetic Device with Antenna 8934984 Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) 1/13/2015
Visual Presentation of Speaker-Related Information 8934652 Elwha LLC (Bellevue, Wash.) 1/13/2015
Apparatus Having Hearing Aid 8938082 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS Co. Ltd. (Suwon-si, South Korea) 1/20/2015
Pre-Curved Electrode Array Loading Tools 8939993 Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) 1/27/2015
Enhancing Cochlear Implants with Hearing Aid Signal Processing Technologies 8942815 King Chung (West Lafayette, Ind.) and Fan-Gang Zeng (Irvine, Calif.) 1/27/2015
Subcutaneous Piezoelectric Bone Conduction Hearing Aid Actuator and System 942400 Dalhousie University (Halifax, Canada) 1/27/2015
Methods for wideband Receiver and Module for a Hearing Assistance Device 8942399 Starkey Laboratories Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 1/27/2015
Methods and Apparatus for Early Audio Feedback Cancellation for Hearing Assistance Devices 8942398 Starkey Laboratories Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 1/27/2015
Wireless Binaural Hearing System 942396 Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) 1/27/2015
System and Method for Assistive Caption, Video Description, and Audio Distribution 8943021 Home Box Office Inc. (New York) 1/27/2015
Sound Perception Using Frequency Transposition by Moving the Envelope 8949113 Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) 2/03/2015
Method for Calibrating a Hearing Aid 8948426 Zounds Hearing Inc. (Tempe, Ariz.) 2/03/2015
Hearing Aid with an Elongate Member 8948430 GN Resound A/S (Ballerup, Denmark) 2/03/2015
Hearing Aid Fitting Procedure and Processing Based on Subjective Space Representation 8948427 University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, Calif.) 2/03/2015
Hearing Aid with Histogram Based Sound Environment Classification 8948428 GN Resound A/S (Ballerup, Denmark) 2/03/2015
Hearing Device and Method for Operating a Hearing Device with Two-Stage Transformation 8948428 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) 2/03/2015
Amplification of a speech signal in dependence on the input level 8948429 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) 2/03/2015
Objective fitting of a Hearing Prosthesis 8945216 Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) 2/03/2015
Multi-Electrode Channel Configurations 8954158 Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) 2/10/2015
Synchronization in a Bilateral Auditory Prosthesis Systems 8953810 Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) 2/10/2015
Behind the Ear Hearing Aid with Receiver in the Ear 8953829 Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) 2/10/2015
Hearing Aid Retainer Accessory 8953828 Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) 2/10/2015
Spectral Band Substitution to Avoid Howls and Sub-Oscillation 8953818 Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) 2/10/2015
Hearing Aid with Integrated Telecoil and Battery Recharge Coil 8953827 Starkey Laboratories Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 2/10/2015
Systems and Methods for Loading a Pre-Curved Electrode Array Onto a Straightening Member 8954169 Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) 2/10/2015
Methods and Systems for Preventing Unauthorized Access to Patient Information 8959455 Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) 2/17/2015
Sound environment classification by coordinated sensing using hearing assistance 8958586 Starkey Laboratories Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 2/17/2015
Listening Device with a Rechargeable Energy Source Adapted for Being Charged Through an ITE-Unit, or a Connector Connectable to, or a connector of, a BTE-Unit 8958590 Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) 2/17/2015
Signal Dereverberation Using Environment Information 8958587 Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) 2/17/2015
Cable Length Adjustment in Auditory Devices 8958589 Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) 2/17/2015
Maufacturing an Electrode Array for a Stimulating Medical device 8955211 Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) 2/17/2015
Encoding Fine Time Structure in Presence of Substantial Interaction Across an Electrode Array 8965519 Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) 2/24/2015
Sound Processors with Light Transmissive Seals and Implantable cochlear Stimulation Systems Including the Same 8965020 Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) 2/24/2015
Sound Processor Housings, Sound Processors and Implantable Cochlear Stimulation Systems Including the Same 8965019 Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) 2/24/2015
Power Supply Voltage from Class D Amplifier 8965018 Sonion Nederland BV (Amsterdam) 2/24/2015
Automatic Determination of the Threshold of an Evoked Neural Response 8965520 Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) 2/24/2015
Automatic Hearing Aid Adaptation over Time Via Mobile Application 8965016 Starkey Laboratories Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 2/24/2015
Semiconductor memory with Similar RAM and ROM Cells 8964456 GN Resound A/S (Ballerup, Denmark) 2/24/2015
Methods and Systems for Hearing Tests 8968209 Unitedhealth Group Inc. (Minnetonka, Minn) 3/03/2015
Binaurally coordinated compression system 8971557 Starkey Laboratories Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 3/03/2015
Switching structures for hearing aid 8971559 Starkey Laboratories Inc. (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 3/03/2015
Hearing Device with External Electrode 8971558 Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) 3/03/2015
Coil Cable for an Implantable Medical Device 8972020 Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) 3/03/2015
Editor's note: The Patent Series is updated every two months. Click links for patents approved in Nov/Dec 2014, Sep/Oct 2014, July/Aug 2014, May/Jun 2014, Mar/Apr 2014, Jan/Feb 2014, Nov/Dec 2013, September/October 2013, Jul/Aug 2013, May/Jun 2013, Mar/Apr 2013, Jan/Feb 2013, Nov/Dec 2012
Holly Hosford-Dunn
Audio Devices Audiology Big 6 Capital-biased Class 1 Medical Device Class II medical device Dianne J Van Tasell PhD GN Resound Hearing Aid Manufacturers Hearing Aid Patents Hearing aids Hearing Apps Oticon Phonak ReSound Samsung Electronics Co. Siemens Sonova Starkey Technological Progress Technology United Healthcare United States Office of Patent & Trademark Office USPTO Widex Zounds Hearing Inc
Previous Post Signal & Noise: Are We Entering the "Just Good Enough" Era?
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About	Holly Hosford-Dunn
Holly Hosford-Dunn, PhD, graduated with a BA and MA in Communication Disorders from New Mexico State, completed a PhD in Hearing Sciences at Stanford, and did post-docs at Max Planck Institute (Germany) and Eaton-Peabody Auditory Physiology Lab (Boston). Post-education, she directed the Stanford University Audiology Clinic; developed multi-office private practices in Arizona; authored/edited numerous text books, chapters, journals, and articles; and taught Marketing, Practice Management, Hearing Science, Auditory Electrophysiology, and Amplification in a variety of academic settings.
Hamidreza Taghavi says:
Hi! I highly appreciate your great patent work on the big 6! May I receive a copy of the graphs you posted for big 6 from 2005 to 2015, if possible?
Thomas Armour says:
Thank you for a most interesting blog all round,I live in NI GB and it is wonderful to be able to tap into world HOH matters. Ther is a lot more help and interest than I had believed,very encouraging!
Holly Hosford-Dunn says:
Thank you for your supportive comment. It is surprising that a post on patents generates sufficient strong interest to prompt comments! But I have to plead ignorance — where is NI GB? This is a new abbreviation for me. Please advise.
So sorry I did not see your comment before. Thank you for the encouraging words and for taking time to read HHTM and write us about it.
Gregory Free says:
I very much appreciate your great patent work with the top six manufactures. I would like to obtain a copy of the chart you posted outlining a counting of the top six patents from 2005 – 2015. Possible?
Hi greg — Thanks for reading and commenting. I've sent you a jpeg.


text:
Q: Python regular expression for consonants and vowels I was trying to create a regular expression which would allow any number of consonants , or any number of vowels , or a mix of consonants and vowels such that we only have any number of consonants in the beginning followed by any number of vowels ONLY, no consonant should be allowed after the vowels, it would be more clear from the example:
The following cases should pass:
TR,   EE,   TREE,   Y,   BY.

But the following should not pass the expression :
TROUBLE,   OATS,   TREES,   IVY, TROUBLES,   PRIVATE,   OATEN,   ORRERY.

So generally it can be visualized as : [C] [V]
C - Consonants
V - Vowels
[ ] - where the square brackets denote arbitrary presence of their contents.
And I reached upto this piece of code:
import re

def find_m(word):
    if re.match("[^aeiou]*?[aeiou]*?",word):
        print "PASS"
    else:
        print "FAIL"

find_m("tr")
find_m("ee")
find_m("tree")
find_m("y")
find_m("by")
find_m("trouble")
find_m("oats")
find_m("trees")
find_m("ivy")
find_m("aaabbbbaaa")

But it is passing for all the cases, I need a correct expressions which gives the desired results.

A: All you need to do is to add another anchor $ at the end of you regex as
if re.match("[^aeiou]*[aeiou]*$",word):

*

*$ achors the regex at the end of the string. Allows nothing after The vowels

Note

*

*You can drop the non greedy ? from the regex as the non greedy does not have any effect on the specified character class

*The regex would match empty strings as well.

*

*The mandatory part in the string can be specified by replacing the * with +. Say for example if the input must contain vowels, then the regex must be
if re.match("[^aeiou]*[aeiou]+$",word):

*Or you can check if the string is empty using a lookahead so as to ensure the string is non empty as
if re.match("^(?=.+)[^aeiou]*[aeiou]*$",word):

Test
$ cat test.py
import re

def find_m(word):
    if re.match("[^aeiou]*[aeiou]*$",word):
        print "PASS"
    else:
        print "FAIL"

find_m("tr")
find_m("ee")
find_m("tree")
find_m("y")
find_m("by")
find_m("trouble")
find_m("oats")
find_m("trees")
find_m("ivy")
find_m("aaabbbbaaa")

$ python test.py
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
FAIL
FAIL
FAIL
FAIL
FAIL

A: Fill in the code to check if the text passed contains the vowels a, e and i, with exactly one occurrence of any other character in between.
import re
def check_aei (text):
  result = re.search(r"a.e.i", text)
  return result != None
print(check_aei("academia")) # True
print(check_aei("aerial")) # False
print(check_aei("paramedic")) # True


text:
**GetJobTaskTimes.py** shows an (indirect) example of working with the output of the GetJobTasks subcommand
to DeadlineCommand.

More specifically, this script prints Task times for the specified JobId.  See additional notes in the script's header.

## Usage Example ##
    "C:\Program Files\Thinkbox\Deadline7\bin\deadlinecommand.exe" ExecuteScript GetJobTaskTimes.py 563c31ef2f359219f8745420

## Output Example ##

    0: 00:00:05.0140000 (Completed)
    1: 00:00:02.4510000 (Completed)
    2: 00:00:03.3090000 (Completed)
    3: 00:00:02.7700000 (Completed)
    4: 00:00:04.6160000 (Completed)
    5: 00:00:02.8120000 (Completed)
    6: 00:00:02.0000000 (Rendering)
    7: 00:00:00.0000000 (Queued)
    8: 00:00:00.0000000 (Queued)
    9: 00:00:00.0000000 (Queued)
    10: 00:00:00.0000000 (Queued)
    11: 00:00:00.0000000 (Queued)

Feel free to make improvements to the script by submitted a pull request.  If you have questions, post them
to our [Forum](https://forums.thinkboxsoftware.com).


text:
Working Assumptions for White Activists on Eliminating Racism: Guidelines for Recruiting Other Whites as Allies
By Ricky Sherover-Marcuse / filmsforaction.org
/ Jun 19, 2020
#LiberationTheory
Assume that all human beings desire warm, close relationships with each other. This is also true of you and of all other white people.
Assume that you are a regular white person (not an exceptional white person) and that all whites are good people, caring, intelligent, compassionate, and hard-working.
Recognize that we have much to celebrate about our histories and our diversities; we have rich traditions of music and dance, and proud histories of struggle.
Assume that all white people have undergone some variety of systematic conditioning or 'training' to take on the 'oppressor role' in relation to people of color. Sometimes this training has been to participate in acts of violence, or to join in racial slurs or jokes; sometimes this training has been to keep silent in the face of injustice. Sometimes this training has been to be 'extra nice' towards people of color …
Assume that no human being would have ever agreed to take on any aspect of an oppressor role if they had not first been mistreated or oppressed themselves- originally as young people, and in a variety of other ways.
Assume that no white person ever chose to acquire any of the conditioning or training and that every one of us attempted to resist taking on any aspect of the oppressor role.
Assume that the history of our own acts of resistance has been obscured and hidden from us and that many of us feel no pride in our own heritages and traditions.
Recognize that most whites in the United States and Canada have a history of immigrant oppression in which their own ethnic group has been the target of mistreatment at the hands of other white ethnic groups who were in a position of relative social power.
Recognize that all people need the acknowledgement that their liberation issues are legitimate.
Assume that in spite of the material rewards and preferential treatment that our society gives to white people, these 'advantages' do not offset the real costs of racism to us as human beings.
Assume that the conditioning which white people have undergone has been hurtful to us as human beings: it has betrayed our sense of ourselves, robbed us of close and trusting relationships with our families, given us a false picture of reality, isolated us from the majority of the world's peoples, blunted our imagination, limited our vision, enforced a sense of powerlessness, hampered our ability to love.
Assume that at some level, all white people know this. Accordingly the task of the white activist is not to persuade or convince other whites of this truth, but to make their own buried awareness accessible to them.
Assume that the elimination of racism is in the real self-interest of all people.
Assume that all white people are eager to join in the project of eliminating racism and that appearances to the contrary are the result of feelings of despair and powerlessness caused by the individual's own experiences of oppression and mistreatment.
Recognize how the temptation to classify other whites into 'good whites' and 'bad whites' is often a mechanism for perpetuating other forms of oppression such as classism and regional oppression.
Recognize that engaging in anti-racist activity commits us to the building of real connections with all people and functioning as allies for them.
Assume that white people (like all other human beings) will change their minds and let go of deeply ingrained attitudes and behavior patterns when1) they feel acknowledged and appreciated as individuals;
2) they are listened to with complete respect on their own grievances and liberation concerns;
3) they trust the person presenting the new perspective;
4) the new perspective makes sense to them;
5) they are not blamed for their prior conditioning or behavior.
Recognize that recruiting other whites to join us is also an opportunity to learn from them, and that they have much to teach us.
Ricky Sherover-Marcuse is best known among a generation of political activists from the sixties and seventies as the initiator of workshops in "unlearning racism." She developed this form of consciousness raising, and conducted workshops all over the United States, Europe, and the Middle East until her death from cancer in December 1988.
A Jew, committed to the liberation of all peoples, Ricky was determined to forge an authentic, socialist revolutionary movement by encouraging both an understanding of the political roots of oppression, and of how it is personally internalized within each of us and enacted, however unwittingly, in daily life.
This work is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
Added by Tim Hjersted
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text:
October Sky (bra: O Céu de Outubro; prt: Céu de Outubro) é um filme estadunidense de 1999, do gênero drama biográfico, dirigido por Joe Johnston, com roteiro de Lewis Colick baseado no livro autobiográfico Rocket Boys, de Homer H. Hickam, Jr.

Conta a história verídica do filho de um mineiro de carvão que, contra a vontade do pai e inspirado no lançamento do Sputnik 1.º, em 1957, tornou-se engenheiro da NASA.

O título October Sky é um anagrama do nome do livro que inspirou o filme Rocket Boys. O título do filme foi usado originalmente em uma transmissão de rádio em 1957 que noticiou o lançamento do Sputnik 1 descrevendo que o objeto "cruzou o céu de outubro". Homer Hickam afirmou que "o pessoal de marketing da Universal se envolveu e eles só tiveram que mudar o título porque, de acordo com sua pesquisa, mulheres com mais de trinta anos nunca veriam um filme intitulado 'Rocket Boys'", então a Universal Pictures mudou o título para que o filme pudesse ser mais convidativo, buscando um público mais amplo. O livro foi, mais tarde, relançado com o mesmo nome empregado na produção a fim de capitalizar o interesse no filme.

October Sky é ambientado na cidade de Coalwood, na Virgínia Ocidental, porém a maior parte do filme foi rodada na zona rural do leste do Tennessee nas cidades de Oliver Springs, Harriman e Kingston e nos condados de Morgan e Roane. O filme teve uma recepção crítica positiva e ainda é cultuado nas regiões de sua ambientação e de filmagens.

Enredo

Em 4 de outubro de 1957 a notícia do lançamento do Sputnik 1 pela União Soviética chega à cidade de Coalwood, onde a maioria dos habitantes trabalha nas minas de carvão locais; as pessoas da cidade se reúnem naquela noite para verem o satélite soviético orbitando no céu. Homer H. Hickam Jr., completamente admirado pelo satélite, pretende construir seus próprios foguetes para, esperançosamente, sair de Coalwood. Sua família e colegas de classe da escola não aprovam a ideia inicialmente, especialmente seu pai John (o superintendente da mina), que quer que Homer se junte a ele nas minas.

Apesar disso, Homer acaba se juntando ao nerd geek Quentin Wilson, que também tem interesse em engenharia de foguetes; com o apoio de seus amigos, Roy Lee Cooke e Sherman O'Dell e de sua professora de ciências na Big Creek High School, Srta. Frieda J. Riley, conhecida como Srta. Riley, os quatro constroem pequenos foguetes amadores. Depois que seus primeiros lançamentos tornam-se fracassados, eles experimentam novos combustíveis e aprimoram seus projetos, tendo alguns sucessos posteriores; o jornal local publica uma matéria sobre eles depois de alguns de seus lançamentos bem-sucedidos, no entanto eles são acusados de iniciarem um incêndio florestal com um foguete perdido e são presos. Depois que John busca Homer da delegacia, Roy Lee é espancado por seu padrasto abusivo Vernon; John intervém e salva Roy Lee das agressões, avisando a Vernon que ele irá proteger Roy Lee como o falecido pai do menino iria fazer.

Os quatro garotos decidem abandonar os testes dos foguetes e destroem o local de lançamento previamente construído por eles. Depois de um desastre na mina de carvão de Coalwood, John é ferido enquanto resgata outros homens. Um dos mineiros, Ike Bykovsky, um trabalhador da oficina mecânica das máquinas da mina que tinha ajudado Homer a fabricar um de seus foguetes e que havia sido transferido de cargo para ganhar mais dinheiro, é morto. Homer deixa o ensino médio e trabalha na mina para sustentar a família enquanto seu pai se recupera.

Mais tarde Homer começa a ler um livro de foguetes que a Srta. Riley havia lhe dado, aprendendo a calcular a trajetória de um foguete. Usando isso, ele e Quentin localizam um de seus foguetes caídos na floresta e posteriormente provam que eles não eram os verdadeiros culpados do incêndio, já que os foguetes dos meninos eram incapazes de voar tão longe à ponto de chegar no local do incêndio. Os rapazes apresentam suas descobertas a Srta. Riley e ao diretor da escola, Turner, que posteriormente descobre que um sinalizador vindo de um aeródromo próximo havia sido o verdadeiro motivo do incêndio. Homer é rematriculado na escola por um convite especial do próprio diretor; os meninos retornam aos projetos dos foguetes e conquistam o primeiro lugar na feira de ciências do colégio. O feito lhes dá a oportunidade de participar da Feira Nacional de Ciências, em Indianápolis, mas como apenas um único representante por grupo é aceito os garotos elegem Homer para ir ao evento por eles.

Enquanto isso, o sindicato dos trabalhadores da mina entra em greve contra John. Naquela noite, quando a família janta, Vernon passa de carro na frente da casa dos Hickam e dá um tiro na cozinha, quase acertando John; Homer e Jim expressam sua preocupação ao pai, mas John não reconhece seus medos; farto, Homer confronta seu pai e uma discussão acalorada segue. As minas seguem fechadas e não há nada além de problemas para Homer resolver; ele se ressente das pressões de seu pai para seguir com o seu trabalho na mina e sai furioso da casa, prometendo nunca mais voltar.

Na feira nacional, a exibição de Homer é recebida muito bem. Depois de alguns dias programados os prêmios são entregues e Homer desfruta de grande popularidade no evento. Durante a noite, alguém rouba seu único modelo de foguete usinado, um bocal de Laval, bem como sua foto autografada do Dr. Wernher von Braun. Homer faz um telefonema urgente em casa pedindo ajuda; sua mãe, Elsie, implora a John que ele acabe com a greve em andamento para que Bolden, o substituto de Bykovsky, possa usar a oficina mecânica da mina para construir um bocal de reposição; John inicialmente não acata o pedido de sua esposa, mas cede relutantemente quando Elsie, farta de sua falta de apoio ao filho, ameaça deixá-lo. Com o apoio da cidade, Homer ganha o prêmio principal e recebe inúmeros convites de faculdades que lhe oferecem bolsas de estudos; Homer também é parabenizado por sua maior inspiração, von Braun, mas não o reconhece quando ele o cumprimenta no evento e vai embora, só percebendo isso depois.

Homer retorna a Coalwood como um herói e visita a Srta. Riley, que agora está sofrendo de doença de Hodgkin. Um lançamento de um foguete mais potente, batizado em homenagem à Riley, é programado para o final da tarde. John, que jamais testemunhou algum dos lançamentos dos foguetes do filho, participa e recebe a honra de apertar o botão de lançamento; o "Miss Riley" é lançado e atinge uma altitude de 9.000 metros. Enquanto a multidão do local e o resto da cidade olham para o céu, John lentamente coloca a mão no ombro de Homer e sorri, mostrando a Homer que John finalmente está orgulhoso dele.

No final do filme é mostrado que fim levou os personagens principais da história.

Elenco

 Jake Gyllenhaal como Homer Hickam
 Chris Cooper como John Hickam
 Chris Owen como Quentin Wilson
 Laura Dern como Senhorita Freida J. Riley
 William Lee Scott como Roy Lee Cooke
 Chad Lindberg como Sherman O'Dell
 Natalie Canerday como Elsie Hickam
 Randy Stripling como Leon Bolden
 Chris Ellis como Diretor Turner
 Elya Baskin como Ike Bykovsky
 O. Winston Link como engenheiro ferroviário
 Andy Stahl como Jack Palmer

Produção
As filmagens começaram em 23 de fevereiro de 1998, quase um ano antes do lançamento do filme. Embora o filme seja ambientado na Virgínia Ocidental, o Tennessee foi o local escolhido para filmagens, em parte devido ao clima e ao terreno da área. As equipes de filmagem remodelaram os locações de modo que ficassem idênticas à Coalwood. O clima do leste do Tennessee causou problemas aos cineastas e atrasou a produção do filme. Tanto o elenco quanto a equipe de filmagem lembram até hoje das principais mudanças climáticas e tornados oriundos da região durante os meses de filmagem, mas Joe Johnston afirma que "em última análise, o filme pareceu ótimo por causa disso. Isso deu ao filme uma aparência muito mais interessante e variada". A produção do filme também recriou uma mina para as cenas subterrâneas. O diretor Joe Johnston expressou que sentia que a aparência da mina no filme possuía um teor maligno, como se a mina fosse a "vilã" da história; mais de dois mil figurantes foram contratados para serem os operários da mina. As filmagens foram concluídas em 30 de abril de 1998.

O astro do filme, Jake Gyllenhaal, tinha 17 anos de idade na época das filmagens (a mesma idade que o seu personagem Homer Hickam tinha). Em uma entrevista em 2014, Natalie Canerday lembrou que Gyllenhaal teve que ser bastante orientado no set e que ainda estava no ensino médio durante as gravações.

Lançamento e recepção

Comercial
October Sky foi lançado nos Estados Unidos em 19 de fevereiro de 1999 em 1.495 cinemas e teve um final de semana de abertura bruta de US$ 5.905.250. Em seu lançamento mais amplo, 1.702 cinemas estavam com o filme em cartaz. O filme teve uma renda total bruta de US$ 34.675.800 em todo o mundo.

Crítica
O filme recebeu aclamação da crítica. O site agregador de críticas Rotten Tomatoes relata que 91% de 74 resenhas deram ao filme uma avaliação positiva, com uma classificação média de de 7.6/10; o consenso crítico do site afirma: "Rico em sinceridade doce, inteligência e bom drama inspirador à moda antiga, October Sky é uma história de amadurecimento feita com o coração para combinar com sua habilidade hollywoodiana." O Metacritic deu ao filme uma classificação de 71/100, indicando "críticas geralmente positivas", baseada em 23 resenhas de críticos do site.

Muitos críticos elogiaram bastante o filme por seus valores familiares e aspectos inspiradores. Muitas críticas focam no relacionamento do personagem principal com seu pai e nas performances dos atores; Roger Ebert reconheceu que o filme "não simplifica o pai em um vilão ou um tirano. Ele compreensivelmente quer que seu filho siga seus passos, e um dos melhores elementos do filme é que Homer quer se libertar, embora ele ainda tente respeitar o seu pai. Este filme tem valores profundos." Comentários das revistas Entertainment Weekly e TV Guide destacaram as atuações de Jake Gyllenhaal e Chris Cooper.

James Wall da revista The Christian Century descreve o foco do filme na relação pai-filho como "às vezes doloroso de se ver. Não há vencedores ou perdedores quando os filhos seguem caminhos separados dos pais. October Sky não ilustra uma boa paternidade, em vez disso tenta mostrar como os pais têm apenas uma visão limitada de como moldar o futuro de seus filhos; essa tarefa requer uma enorme quantidade de amor e muita assistência divina".

Prêmios
October Sky ganhou três prêmios, incluindo: Prêmio OCIC para o diretor Joe Johnston no Ajijic International Film Festival de 1999, Critics 'Choice Movie Awards de Melhor Filme Familiar em 2000 e um prêmio do Humanitas Prize em 1999 na categoria melhor filme.

O filme também foi indicado para participar na seguinte lista da American Film Institute:
 2006: AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers - Nomeado

Diferenças entre o filme e o livro
Embora o filme tenha sido elogiado por seu retrato fiel do final dos anos 50, ele tem várias diferenças importantes e menores em relação ao livro no qual se baseia.

 Homer Hickam é o nome do personagem principal; no entanto, no livro e na vida real, ele era apelidado de "Sonny".
 O pai de Homer não se chamava John, ele compartilhava o mesmo nome do filho (cujo nome completo é Homer Hadley Hickam Jr.). Isso foi mudado para impedir que o público ficasse confuso.
 Na história real havia seis garotos entusiastas em missilismo amador, em vez dos quatro mostrados no filme. Algumas das representações no filme dos personagens são combinações dos garotos reais; seus nomes eram: Homer Hickam Jr., Quentin Wilson, Jimmy O'Dell Carroll, Roy Lee Cooke, Billy Rose e Sherman Siers.
 Em nenhum momento os garotos roubaram partes da ferrovia como fizeram no filme, eles apenas tentaram pegar um cano de ferro fundido sob os trilhos e, de acordo com o site de Homer, isso quase o matou.
 Homer nunca abandonou a escola para trabalhar na mina da cidade. Ele, no entanto, trabalhou na mina de seu pai nas férias de verão seguintes, como descrito no livro de Hickam, Sky of Stone.
 Homer também nunca cumprimentou Wernher von Braun pessoalmente. Eles realmente estavam na mesma sala da Feira Nacional de Ciências, mas Homer nem sequer notou a presença de Braun e saiu do local sem cumprimentá-lo; quando Homer foi avisado de que Braun estava na cerimônia o cientista já havia ido embora.

Legado
Há dois festivais anuais em homenagem aos "Rocket Boys" e ao filme que são realizados. Um deles é realizado na Virgínia Ocidental, onde os eventos da vida real que o livro e o filme apresentaram, e o outro é no Tennessee, onde o filme foi filmado. Os "Rocket Boys" frequentemente visitam o festival, que também é chamado de "Rocket Boys Festival", da Virgínia Ocidental regularmente, enquanto o festival no Tennessee foca mais nas locações de filmagem, onde os locais das cenas filmadas são visitadas por turistas. O site do festival do Tennessee alega que o festival é "uma celebração de nossa herança".

Jeff Bezos, o bilionário fundador da Amazon, viu uma exibição de October Sky em 1999. Em uma conversa subsequente com o escritor de ficção científica Neal Stephenson, Bezos comentou que ele sempre quis abrir uma empresa espacial; Stephenson incentivou para que ele fizesse isso. Bezos então fundou a Blue Origin, especializada em fabricação e serviços aeroespaciais, e Stephenson se tornou um dos primeiros funcionários da empresa.

Filmes dos Estados Unidos de 1999
Filmes de drama biográfico dos Estados Unidos
Filmes com trilha sonora de Mark Isham
Cinebiografias de cientistas
Filmes baseados em obras de autores dos Estados Unidos
Filmes ambientados na Virgínia Ocidental
Filmes baseados em casos reais
Filmes ambientados em 1957
Filmes dirigidos por Joe Johnston
Filmes sobre tecnologia
Filmes da Universal Pictures
Filmes sobre a Guerra Fria
Filmes baseados em biografias
Filmes sobre transporte ferroviário
Filmes em língua inglesa
Filmes sobre amadurecimento

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
info@springfieldchamber.org
Top Tier Members
Veteran Spotlight - Flowers 'n' Ferns
Charles McCaffrey
Inspired by our March issue, Karen Fountain sent me an article about her father (Larry Denholm,) his experiences in the Navy (Go Navy!) and getting into the florist business in Springfield. Enjoy!
Larry Denholm moved from Ohio to Arlington when he was in fifth grade. He likes to share that in those days it was normal for a kid to take the bus into DC and roam around the city. He did this every Saturday for accordion lessons for several years and still enjoys pointing out buildings he visited when he was in his early teens. In his junior year, while attending Hammond High School, Larry joined the Navy reserves. After graduation he went on active duty and was assigned to the navigation department aboard the U.S.S. Boston, a guided missile cruiser.
"Before giving me my assignment, I was asked if I knew how to type. I was grateful that I could say yes, as I knew I didn't want to have to paint," Larry shared. In the navigation department Larry was an aerographer's mate. His duties included plotting weather maps and systems for the navigation of the ship. "I served during peacetime and it was an enjoyable experience. I found myself in many places such as North Africa, Turkey, Cuba, crossing the Arctic Circle and the Mediterranean Sea. I enjoyed visiting Holland and meeting the gracious people. It was fun seeing the windmills. I even bought a pair of wooden shoes and tulip bulbs. France and Italy were interesting as well, but what I remember about Cuba was that it was hot, but thinking back, it was August. One memory that I had as a naïve young man was being shocked to see the children drinking wine at dinner."
"Unfortunately my father passed away unexpectedly, so I didn't continue my career in the Navy, but I probably would have stayed in, as I was enjoying my duties." After returning to the states, Larry found a job working in a bank as a teller in Arlington. "One of my customers was the owner of a florist. He asked if I was interested in helping in the office. I said yes, and found myself working as a bookkeeper."
Larry feels that joining the Navy was one of his best decisions, next to marrying his wife, Fern.
"I was able to take accounting classes using my GI bill to fund a good portion of my college tuition. That allowed me to continue to advance my career, learn more about the floral industry and eventually buy my own flower shop. When Springfield Florist came up for sale, we jumped at the chance. It has been a wonderful experience and living in Springfield and being a part of the Chamber has allowed me to meet many people. We raised our family in a wonderful community. Being in an area like Washington, DC gives me pride and one of my most honored duties I still have is to delivery flowers to Arlington Cemetery."
Larry Denholm started in the floral industry in 1965 as an accountant. In 1975 he and his wife, Fern, bought their first shop in Springfield, and then opened Flowers 'n' Ferns in 1979. While the original shop, Springfield Florist, is no longer in business, Larry still finds himself at Flowers 'n' Ferns with his daughter, Karen Fountain. "I'm retired, or that's what I keep telling everyone, but I like seeing the customers and smiles that flowers provide, so I pop in almost every day," Larry concluded.
Karen Fountain grew up watching her parents, "Mr. Flowers and Miss Fern," run the family business with love and attention to details and to their customers. During high school, Karen eventually started working with customers; and after several years of watching her mother and the many talented designers in the shop the design bug finally took over. Karen, along with her team, is proud to create each and every design with love and care and is pleased to continue in her mother's footsteps.
Flowers 'n' Ferns is located at 9562 Old Keene Mill Road in Burke Town Plaza. Visit them on the web at flowersnferns.com or stop in the shop and say "hello" to Larry, Karen and the gang.
Charles McCaffrey is chair of the Chamber's veterans committee. Each month he collects and spotlights the story of a veteran-owned business in the Greater Springfield area.
Community Coupon
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
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703.866.3500 info@springfieldchamber.org
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Full service hotel conveniently located along Hwy 16 west, minutes from major shopping and business district.
The Royal Hotel offers your family or business the quality value that you deserve. Visit the Exercise Room or rejuvenate in our soothing Steam Baths. Grainfields Restaurant and Harvest Lounge provide diverse menus and exceptional service. Let us cater your next function in one of our banquet rooms.


text:
Amasa is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in southern Hematite Township, Iron County, Michigan, in the United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 283.

History
Amasa was named for Amasa Stone of Cleveland, Ohio. It was formed by mostly Finnish settlers, and was primarily a mining town. It was originally named "Hemlock," but was renamed to Amasa in 1892. The community has a general store called Tall Pines, a museum, and a restaurant called the Rusty Sawblade.

Geography
U.S. Highway 141 passes through the forested town, leading north  to Covington and south  to Crystal Falls, the Iron County seat.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which , or 0.15%, are water. The Hemlock River, a tributary of the Paint River and part of the Menominee River watershed flowing to Lake Michigan, flows from northeast to southwest through Amasa.

Demographics

Notable People

 Jim Christensen, a folk singer-songwriter, is from Amasa. He released his album "Heart Winds" in 1998.

References

Unincorporated communities in Iron County, Michigan
Populated places established in 1890
Unincorporated communities in Michigan
Census-designated places in Iron County, Michigan
Census-designated places in Michigan


Chicago Area Mensa is a welcoming organization that provides a framework for intelligent individuals to interact and pursue common interests in order to build a social community.
Mensans come from all walks of life. They range from three to one hundred years old. They represent both sexes, all races, various professions, and many beliefs. In fact, there's only one thing all Mensans have in common: high intelligence. To qualify for Mensa, you must have scored in the top 2% of the general population on a standardized intelligence test. There are many tests we accept. Once you've decided to join us, a world of social and intellectual opportunities is open to you.
If our local events don't keep you busy enough, there are many other opportunities to meet other Mensans from all over the globe. Each October, Chicago Area Mensa hosts HalloweeM, one of the grandest of all the Regional Gatherings. In the summer, Mensans from around the country get together at the Annual Gathering, which is a feast of presentations and activities for our omnivorous minds. There are also Mensa colloquia: "The Evolution and Revolution of Manufacturing" was the most recent one held this last July. Past topics included "The Nature of Genetics," "Between Science Fiction and Science," "Crime Scene Intelligence," "Social and Video Games", "Electronic Gaming and Its Impact on Society," and "Weather."
In a Twitter world, it's good to find some PBS minds. Come, see what we can do for you.
Only 194 days until HalloweeM 44: May the Fours Be With You!
Join over 500 Mensans here in Chicago for an amazing, long, family-friendly weekend. Our Regional Gathering (RG) is the largest and the program offers plenty of variety to stimuate your mind, plenty of games and contests to challenge you, and many opportunitys to have fun, dance, converse and just enjoy yourself. Many of the pun-tastic costume parade entries will make you laugh (or groan). Meals, snacks, and beverages are included with the exception of dinner on Saturday. Click/Tap here for all the details.
Mensans, you can now register for HalloweeM 44: May the Fours Be With You! You don't want to miss this incredibly fun experience that runs from Thursday, October 31st through Sunday, November 3rd. The rates increase after May 4th.
The hotel is offering a special $117 WeeM rate through October 10th, subject to availability.
It's Halloween and you want to dress up and go to a party, of course. The stars have aligned this year and this is a fun opportunity to join the largest Halloween party by attending our RG Friday, November 1st . See great costumes, participate in the contest (best & worst pun, traditional, etc), enjoy a delicious meal, imbibe if you like, meet Mensans from all over the country (even some from across the oceans), and dance the night away. It's the perfect party!
Chicago won the Diamond Jewel Award in 2018, 2016 and 2014, the Sapphire in 2017, and the Emerald Jewel Award in 2015. Chicago is also the only nine-time GOTYA (now replaced by the Jewel Award ) winner in Mensa.
index.php last updated April 3, 2019.


If there is one thing that can get my grinchy self into the holiday spirit, it's peppermint and chocolate. Actually, mostly the peppermint, but the chocolate is always a welcome bonus. It's all doom and gloom until someone rounds up that first carton of peppermint Blue Bell ice cream and then I think everything might be okay in the world. So when I started thinking about what I REALLY wanted for Christmas (because despite what Mariah Carey says, all I want for Christmas isn't really you…it's peppermint), I decided it was mini peppermint chocolate cheesecakes.
For the crust, you'll need some Oreos (just regular Oreos–not the thin ones or Double Stuft) and some melted butter.
Line a 12-cup muffin tin with foil liners and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 F.
and gently press with the back of a spoon. Set aside.
For the cheesecakes, you'll need some cream cheese, sugar, an egg, peppermint and vanilla extracts, baking powder, flour, and some peppermint white chocolate candy.
I would have actually preferred to use a bag of those Andes Peppermint White Chocolate pieces from the baking aisle, but I couldn't find them, so I used Hershey's Peppermint Kisses instead and just chopped them up. And when I say, "just chopped them up," I mean, I wondered halfway through, "Why am I doing this? Should I have used a food processor? If I do things like this, do I really love myself?" Yeah.
with an electric hand mixer until smooth and combined.
and divide the mixture evenly among the lined muffin tin cups.
Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of one of the cakes comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. When the cheesecakes are cool, place some chocolate chips and a little shortening in a small bowl and microwave for about 30 seconds or until the chocolate is melted and smooth and the shortening is incorporated. Transfer to a small ziploc bag and cut the corner off the bag. Drizzle evenly over the cheesecakes.
Allow to harden in the refrigerator.
Immediately before serving, make the peppermint whipped cream. You'll need whipping cream, vanilla and peppermint extracts, powdered sugar, and some more of those stupid chopped Kisses that made you wonder who you are and why you're here. In a medium bowl, combine the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and peppermint and vanilla extracts.
Beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
In a blender or food processor, blend the Oreos until they're crumbs. Mix in the melted butter. Place 1 tablespoon of the cookie mixture in each lined muffin cup and gently press with the back of a spoon. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and sugar with an electric hand mixer until smooth and combined. Add the flour and baking powder and mix until combined. Add the extracts and the egg and mix until completely smooth. Fold in 1 cup of the chopped peppermint candy pieces and divide the mixture evenly among the lined muffin tin cups.
Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of one of the cakes comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. When the cheesecakes are cool, place the chocolate and shortening in a small bowl and microwave for about 30 seconds or until the chocolate is melted and smooth and the shortening is incorporated. Transfer to a small ziploc bag and cut the corner off the bag. Drizzle evenly over the cheesecakes. Allow to harden in the refrigerator.
Immediately before serving, combine the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and peppermint and vanilla extracts. Beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Dollop over the prepared cheesecakes before serving and then sprinkle with remaining candy pieces (you can also fold them into the whipped cream if you prefer.) Serve immediately.
Wondering what your thoughts are on this. What if you just put a whole cookie in the bottom of the liner and drizzled and little butter on it? Assuming that the size is correct, I feel like this would work just fine – then you don't have to dirty a food processor to make crumbs (unless you use one to chop up some Hershey kisses for some crazy reason), plus it seems less tedious. This isn't a question I'm expecting you to know the answer to – it's more philosophical.
Also, have you ever had Bob's Sweet Stripes? I stumbled upon them in Wal-Mart and I put one in my coffee this morning and it pretty much made my day (which is saying a lot when I'm at work on the Monday before Christmas). They would be FANTASTIC in some OBB hot cocoa (basically they are "soft" candy cane sticks that readily dissolve into hot liquid – don't want to leave people in suspense).
And yes, I loooove Bob's Sweet Stripes!
Where did you get the cute robin's egg blue plate and measuring cup?
Hey, Kate! Thinking these might have to get added to our Christmas Eve menu. How would peppermint oil work in this in pmace of extract? Would the amount be the same?